Falling for the Fifties

Fifties style means feminine, flirts, soft. And of course, fabulous. I am obsessed with this adorable cut out Prada dress.

I I stumbled across Elle's Trend Report yesterday that had a version of the dress featured. Check out the beautiful collection of retro looks.

Letter From the Editor

It's my dream to have the opportunity to write a monthly feature for a magazine. A letter from the editor, a back page or an intro letter to the style section, a la Nina Garcia. I flip through countless fashion magazines and definitely have my favorite and not so favorites.

I love it when the letters aren't just shameless promotions for what's in the magazine that month. Often, it seems letters are just a written translation of the coverlines or one more chance to gush at the celebrity featured that month. By the time I'm reading the letter, I've already purchased the magazine. I don't need to read what the cover says again. I've already spent my 5 dollars.

With that said, I always look forward to reading Joe Zee's "Elle Style A to Zee." His letter is relevant to the issue without being repetitive or boring. This past issue, he proposed five different "first impression" outfits and had interns and Elle staff model them. Real girls with real looks straight from a fashion maven.

His column is personal too. He always includes personal anecdotes, whether it's him learning how to DJ or what classic trends he swears by, each month is an exciting sneak peek at his fabulous job as Elle's creative director and more importantly what skills and passion it takes to get there. It's a breath of fresh air to get something for the letters instead of just flip to page 265 for Fall's must have items!

I think many columns and letters from the editor could use a serious shake up. Hopefully I'll be able to do my part soon.

Moves at Chloe

Geoffroy de la Bourdonnaye is taking over Ralph Toledano's roll as chief executive of Chloe. Despite running Chloe for ten years, Toledano was officially dismissed for not producing good enough financial performances. It seemed Chloe was certainly on the rise, especially after it's fabulous fall collection which I could only imagine will bring in strong sales but none the less, it'll be interesting to see if the company improves with a new chief.

Give 'em the Boot

Whenever I see someone wearing cowboy boots I can't help but cringe. I remember back in the day when girls started dropping $300 or more on terrible looking cowboy boots that might see the outside world all of one time. The trend is still around and while some girls can rock them decently well, I feel there are a whole lot of fashion victims who suffer as a direct result of the wild wild west. Example:

I love all other boots. I tend to lust for beautiful, polished boots but have recently been getting into boots with a bit of a more rustic feel. A friendly meeting place between those adorable Chanel booties and, well, cowboy boots.

Even though frye does make cowboy boots as well (steer clear), they do have a pretty excellent selection of several different styles that will add a little edge to your look without adding thoughts of the rodeo or the country music awards.

Fur, Fur, Fur

I had seemingly forgotten all about fur and great fall looks as I have been perusing all of the designers resort collections. Fall is, of course, already old news as we eagerly anticipate the spring looks which will be unveiled at Fashion Week (can't wait). But today was a typical grey and chilly day in Pittsburgh so rather than let it bring me down, I decided to revisit all of the fall trends that I can't wait to see switch from runway models to street fashionistas when the temperature continues to drop.

I've been hoping to buy a few fur pieces for this fall (faux, of course) ever since Chanel produced such a fabulous fur line.

I also really liked Miu Miu's use of fur this fall. These RTW looks are both chic and fun.

Nordstrom's Make Over

Nordstrom finally did a complete overhaul of their website. It is much more user friendly and easy to navigate now. I've always thoroughly disliked online shopping at department store websites but I think this redesign is a step in the right direction. There are added categories, photos, and previewed items that greatly enhances the shopping process. I'll still opt for shopbop, gilt and singer 22 over the nordstrom's online site but I will be much more tempted to look around now.

Here's the new site.

My New Motto

I read Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love a few years ago. I always recommend the book to just about anyone going through anything even remotely unpleasant in life and frequently gave it as a present. It's a fun take on the "self help" book that is sure to guarantee a few giggles and moments of self reflection.

That being said, I didn't love the movie nearly as much (but I'd still say it's worth seeing). It was a little long whereas the book was an enjoyable quick read. On a side note, Julia Roberts looks great all over the news and magazines, as well as in her first ever cosmetic's advertising campaign.

After reading the book, I decided to implement my own eat, pray, love plan to get over or work through any issues I had (albeit most were minor). But I'll be honest; that just resulted in a lot of eating, none of which occurred in fabulous Roman restaurants like where Elizabeth dined. I really can't put wheat Eggo waffles in the same category as fresh pasta sauce or the best pizza in italy, even though I do love them and might even argue they can get anyone through some tough times.

With some careful consideration I came up with a fool proof plan: Eat, Run, Shop. Much more to my liking with the added bonus of burning off those extra eggo calories. This combination will you get through just about anything, including a painfully slow unpacking process that feels like it'll never end. And, more importantly you don't need to fly anywhere to accomplish it. Trust me: Eat. Run. Shop.

Fashion Don't: Ugly Shoes to work

The slogan for this shoe line is: "Warning Women, No man will ever satisfy you like this again (below the ankles)." I'm intrigued...

It seems Kenneth Cole was also annoyed with women rocking sneakers on their way to work. While it started with just a few shoes a little under a year ago, Cole is now incorporating his "925" (nine to five work day) technology into all of his shoes so we don't have to switch shoes or suffer in the name of fashion.

The shoes' technology combines several different elements: Lining, flaxseed pillow, foam layers, cellulose layer, cork layer, soft rubber sole, a heel cradle... all to add a little comfort to our feet. And best yet? The shoes are still fabulous and beautiful. I haven't tested them out yet but am totally anxious to do so.

Material World

There are no longer any career boundaries in Hollywood. Singers become actresses (and vice versa), reality TV show stars attempt to burst onto the pop scene (Heidi Montag) and models try to go in every which direction.

So, it only seems natural that Madonna tries her hand at clothing design too. Material Girl is now available exclusively at Macy’s. Gossip Girl’s Taylor Momsen is the face of the new line which ends up giving it a little bit of a grungier feel. I’m not really a fan of the line but check it out for yourself here.

Recent Find

I stumbled across the site wikifashion a few weeks ago. I think the site has a really cool premise anyone and everyone can talk fashion and uploads pictures. It lists designers history and even more importantly, tons of different fashion blogs across the world. The site still needs a lot of work and improvements but it's worth a look.

Back to the Pitts

I’m officially back to the city with obnoxious sports fans and never ending road construction. But hey, at least with stifling humidity it’s not cold out.

I am a huge sports fan and love my Patrick Willis jersey as much as the next gal but the city of Pittsburgh takes it to an entirely new level. Waves and waves of Steeler jerseys hit innocent and unsuspecting by-standers every Sunday (and of course, the occasional Saturday preseason game like yesterday). I believe you shouldn’t attend a game without wearing a jersey, absolutely, but Steeler fans also attempt to rock the jerseys for a night out on the town.

Scenario A: Sometimes they’ll just go into a nice restaurant fully aware they are not to dress code in their Roethlisberger jersey and flip flops but it’s Pittsburgh so no Steelers fan will ever be turned away. The fashion of the city begins to suffer.

Scenario B: And then, there is my personal favorite: attempting to “dress” up the jersey with a pair of knee high boots, gold bangles, and a short black skirt. People seemingly accept this as a good fashion choice. I do not agree and the city fashion slips just a bit further.

I can’t wait to start snapping some photos of Scenario B.

…And it’s time for Niner kick off!

Project Runway Is Back

Project Runway Season 8 (it seems like we have another Survivor on our hands but hey, I’m certainly not complaining) debuted on July 29^th. The third episode airs tonight on Lifetime.

I haven’t picked my favorite from this season yet but I am sure I will become attached to someone soon. Only once has my favorite contestant won. Kara, Austin, Daniel and so many others fell short to Heidi’s expectations. I did, however, love Christian Siriano from the beginning (the prom dress disaster nearly reduced me to tears).

I’ve been following his career post win. He’s enjoyed some great successes: Saks picked up his fall 2009 line, he’s working with payless on a shoe collection and even wrote a book which I unfortunately haven’t gotten around to reading yet. Take a gander at a few looks from his fall/winter 2010 line. I wouldn’t call it ground breaking but I definitely do like many aspects and pieces of it.

Down Under

One of the best things about being an Australian citizen is gaining access to Australian designers. There are two designers I love in particular: Marie Hatzis who designers the brand Hussy and Alannah Hill who has an eponymous line. The first has a serious edge and seriously innovative silhouettes and designs. Alannah Hill is super feminine and girly, think bows, fancy stockings and cute accents.

Here are some of their Winter 2010 looks:

Fashion Don’t: Look Silly While Flying... The Immense Importance of “High Flying" Style

When you glimpse through old photos it seems flying used to be a big deal. People put on their Sunday best to hop aboard the jet. Sure, flying is no longer restricted to the wealthy and glamour has certainly dropped, but how did flying attire plummet from utter chic to juicy valor sweat suits and UGGS?

While preparing for travel, I think comfy chic. You really never know who you’ll spot in the airport and I for one, will not be donning UGGS in front of a chance run in with my dream boss, celebrity crush, or influential person x y or z. And besides, when you look good, the kind gentleman in the row behind you will be that much more inclined to squeeze your overstuffed suitcase into the overhead bin for you.

Here, Will looks great! See it's not very hard.

Needless to say, we all are used to spotting extremely unfortunate outfits in the airport. But I was subjected to a new low a few days ago when returning home from Europe. While he didn’t look like a slob, per say, his outfit choice was really quite awful and frankly I would have rather seen him in valor suit rocking MUGGS (Man Uggs).

He selected a white short sleeve button down (it’s coming) and chose to only button the bottom button… exposing his rather large belly and natural “sweater.” Ah yes, his fat and chest hair was exposed and sitting next to me for 11 long hours. I know Europeans are rather open with their style (usually I applaud this) but this was just overwhelming. We’re not on a beach! We’re on a freezing international flight… It really baffles me how he wasn’t the least bit chilly. I suppose fashion is pain.

Of course I snapped some photos:

To make matters worse he will be meeting his girlfriend’s parents immediately upon our arrival and that was his outfit selection. Wonderful impression, I’m sure.

I am thinking I’ll make it my life mission to bring style back to flying. I will stop at nothing. Grass root movements, demonstrations, advertising campaigns—the works.

Check Out the Hook (While My DJ Revolves It)

Robert Van Winkle, you likely know him as Vanilla Ice (but his real name doesn’t get old) delivered a serious jam in the early 90’s. His career looked promising before his stint in jail but years later he’s set to rebound from the flop… He announced he will be hosting his own home improvement TV show called “The Vanilla Ice Project.” Each episode will be a room-by-room makeover of an entire house. Winkle will be calling all the shots.

I’m not sure I’ll appreciate his style (see photo) but I’m absolutely tuning in to the DIY network on October 14^th for the debut. I suppose it would be pretty cool to say Vanilla Ice designed your home, no?

Charlotte Wedding Photo Shoot

I spent my second day on the job this summer helping out at the Wedding fashion shoot. I was a newb so didn't get to do as much as I did at the fall shoot I blogged about earlier. But, I still had a wonderful time. Here are a few shots of my day; the photos look stunning in the current edition of Charlotte Wedding.

The Ethics of Fashion

If you stroll through the mall today, especially in inexpensive stores like Forever 21, I can guarantee that you’ll see knockoffs of expensive designer pieces. Some of these knockoffs look pretty darn close to the real thing, minus differences in fabric quality and detailing.

I absolutely support affordable fashion, as I for one don’t have thousands and thousands of dollars to drop on this fall’s “must have” designer pieces. In fact, H&M is one of my favorite places to shop when I can muster up the courage to fight the crowds. However, I can’t help but cringe when I realize that I’ve seen that $30 military jacket parade down the runway in a slight more chic form a few months before. When I pick up pieces like this, I realize a designer’s blood, sweat, and tears have been transformed into eerily similar mass produced jackets.

Where should we draw the line? Or do we even need to draw one? Should inexpensive stores be able to copy top designer’s work and provide fashion pieces for all price ranges? Or should an artist’s work remain absolutely their own as they created and executed it?

Just yesterday, Senator Charles E. Schumer introduced a bill to protect designers against being copied. The proposed bill is rather limited and will require designers to prove that their design is not only unique but also that it was copied exactly. It’s certainly a step in the right direction for parties attempting to prevent anyone from replicating top designers’ work but it seems to me that there will be a lot of wiggle room within the law if it passes.

The bill is up for voting this fall.

The Pant Dilemma

I don’t wear pants. Pretty much ever. I don’t have anything against them at all, I just find a skirt to be much more flattering on me. This fashion choice has its ups and downs. One serious down is feeling stuck to opt for stockings over the denim hanging untouched in my closet when the snow starts (and continues…) to fall. However, this autumn we’ll be seeing womanly (and more crucially, elongating and flattering) pants that might just simmer my strike against pants.

High-waisted pants with a long leg and slight flare are representative of the fall collections that will be filling stores: feminine and luxurious. Away from boyfriend blazers and other intense masculine influences, this season is all about celebrating the women’s body and her ability to look fancy and fabulous, even in the midst of the recession.

Here are some of these long leggy pants that I love. I might even hop to the stores and, heaven forbid, try some on.

Back to Blogging

Sadly, my vacation has almost come to an end…