Coat Time!

As I walked into Pacific Trading Co., I noticed that the summer dresses were at the back of the store, and up front was... oh, no! I couldn't believe it. Coats? Here already? I guess Fall really is approaching, or at least in the fashion world. Luckily, I love coats. 

In fact, that very day, I found myself a new fall coat that day. Surprisingly, not at Pacific Trading Co. I found mine at New Deal. In her book, Nina Garcia writes about the importance of having a great coat, not just the basic black one, but a stand out great coat. One that is you. I already have a black and a white coat, so this year I wanted a really fun coat, something that would be my new favorite. That was why I was stoked when I found a 60's style gold-yellow coat with big buttons. Usually I can't buy coats that have full length sleeves, because they are always too long for me, but these sleeves actually fit! This coat had a great collar and great pockets- it was perfect! I bought it promptly and hung it up in my closet to wait for fall and winter. Next year, you will see my walking across campus, not in a sweatshirt or jacket, but in a funky golden coat.

Fashion Show 2008-'09

What will the theme be for the SLV Fashion Show this year? I have no idea. Last year it was photography "Fashion Through the Lens". It was a very fun theme and flexible towards everyones individual lines. The theme has to be very broad so everyone's lines can fit into it. If you have any thoughts on this please leave a comment on this post. I would love to hear some ideas! Also you can leave general suggestions, questions, or things that you would like to see this year. Thank you!

The Packing Challenge

This summer, as I packed for my European adventure, I tried to keep two goals in mind:

1. Keep a balance between practicality and being stylish

2. Not to over pack- leave room for things that I buy

The weather I knew was going to be quite warm, so I only packed one pair of pants (jeans) as well as a pair of white capris. I bought a new purple jersey skirt at American Apparel, that was comfortable, soft and wrinkle-free, and would go with a lot. I also brought a jean skirt, a knee-length skirt, and camisoles and T's that would match. I brought three maxi dresses and a sun dress. For warmth, I just brought my gold yellow cardigan and of course my scarfs. I also brought my white sunhat and some earrings and bracelets. 

For shoes, my parents insisted that I needed some new good shoes, that would be comfortable for lots and lots of walking.

I bought a pair of black sandals and a pair of bronzy flats. I also brought my trusty thongs (shoes that is).

After throwing in a few swimsuits, I was pretty good to go! Packing is hard- especially for a long trip. Luckily we had washers

and dryers in our apartments so I could wash my clothes. I also bought a lot- so that also helped. I found a really cute in France 

called Camaieu (visit www. camaieu.com). I shopped there in Paris and in Nice. Clothes there were affordable and cute. I bought

several skirts and dresses there, as well as some bags for my darling friends. I also bought some dresses at a Monoprix in Paris.

Monoprix was like a Target. They were awesome! In Venice I found a store called Promod (www.promod.com) where they had

beautiful clothes for good prices. That was a very fun store. I picked up pieces of jewelry along my journey and bought a pair of navy

blue sailor pants in London. I bought more scarves and a European speedo for Brian. It was such a fun and exciting place to shop in!

What would you like to read about?

Hello readers! I want to know what you want to read about. What questions do you have? I will do my best to answer them! If you want to throw out a topic for a future post, please leave a comment on this post. I will be more than happy to blab about it!

The Classy Clutch

The clutch purse is so classic and a closet must-have. It is perfect for that romantic night out, or to go with that adorable twirly cocktail dress. It holds just the bare basics- cash and lipstick. What else does a girl need for a night out on the town?To the left is a picture of my clutch purse, which my brother got me for Christmas at Target. That is right- Target! This low-profile purse will go with anything and will go anywhere. Whenever I use it I feel like a 1940's movie star- poised, sophisticated, and mysterious. You can't help feeling beautiful with this classy clutch. 

Cuff It

I am not afraid to buy pants that are too long for me anymore because I just cuff them and look cute. I have a favorite pair of cuffed jean capris, which are a closet basic- comfortable, sporty, and sassy. Dress them up with a blouse or babydoll top or dress them down with a cute sweatshirt or sweater. Don't wear cuffed pants with sneakers but wear them with flats, sandals, and even heels. 

Skinny jeans look great cuffed and so do wide leg pants. Slacks and corduroys also look good cuffed. Make sure to iron your cuffs so they look clean and crisp instead of frumpy and sloppy. I like just cuffing jeans once, so the hem of the pants still shows as well as a glimpse of the ankle. Cuffs are a cute twist on a simple outfit for any age or body type. Cuffs are back and they are classic, timeless, and S-A-S-S-Y.

Fashion Hero of the Week: Coco Chanel

"This perfume is not just beautiful and fragrant. It contains my blood and sweat and a million broken dreams."

Coco Chanel was a fashion pioneer who has made a huge mark on fashion as we know it to day. She set women freefrom the stiff and proper clothing that they new in the 1910's and designed a new look for women which would give them confidence, independence and sophistication. She dressed very feminie yet very powerful, which was new concept for her time. She popularized the little black dress and shocked the world by designing a backless and strapless little black dress, which soon became a sensation. It was actually on the cover of the third edition ever of Playboy Magazine. She took risks, empowered women, and was a huge creative artist of the turn of the century. She revolutionized fashion and took brave actions. Go Coco!

Magic Metallic

Metallics are great accents to any outfit. They add a little sparkle and glamor to your look. Gold looks great on brunettes or those with darker skin tones. Silver looks great on blondes and those with fairer complexions. 

Gold is easily my most practical color- I wear it all the time. It makes you stand out and shine a little bit, and it is just fun to wear. My closet has filled up with gold belts, shoes, bags, and jewelry. My gold flats are so worn out they have holes in them. They are comfortable and cute and go with everything. One of my favorite easy outfits is jeans and a black shirt with gold flats, gold bangle bracelets and a

pair of heavy gold earrings. Not only does gold look great with black, but any other color as well, including white. This summer I like to wear a simple white linen dress with my gold sandals and jewelry. It is easy and always looks chic. For any age or style, dress up your everyday look with a little shimmer. 

Pointy Black Practicality

Last year I bought myself a pair of black pointy kitten heels. At first I thought the shoes were a little bit too much for school- too pointy, too evil looking, too adult. 

Soon though, I warmed up to these scary shoes and learned to love them. This was because of their sophisticated look, their classy charm, and their ability to go with everything. These were the little black flats on steroids, a step up from the irresistible classics.  I could wear them with a cute shift dress or wear them with jeans. The best part was definitely the tapping action. My presence could always be known by the dainty clicking down the hallway or quad- for the size of these little heels, the sound that they create is quite impressive.

Months went by, and I found myself leaning on my back heels more and more. I was becoming dependent and weak. In the mornings when I was feeling uncreative I could always use the formula that I had created over the course of the year: black dress+black pointy kitten heels+red lipstick+white coat+ jangly jewelry+ black sunglasses= instantly chic.  As winter approached I added tights and a scarf and maybe a black beret. The look was timeless and I felt good whenever I put the formula to use. 

I basically wore out my black pointy heels, an occurrence which rarely happens to me (unlike Conor). I have decided that for next year I really need another pair. My running shoes have lasted me two years and are in fine condition and my sneakers look brand new. It is sad to say, but very true, that my most practical shoes in my closet are a pair of worn out black pointy kitten heels. 

My Friend Rose

Last Christmas an unusually large box sat under my tree. No matter how hard I racked my brain, I just couldn't remember asking for a punching bag or blow up boat.  On Christmas day I was highly anticipating the opening of this present, because it was the only one that was unexpected. This surprise and wonder caught me off guard and took me back to the days of Santa and his gang of elves and the excitement and mystery of it all.

 When I finally I opened it up,  I was delighted at the sight of a dress-maker's dummy, something that I had asked for, but had long forgotten in all the holiday craziness. The dummy had soft cloth over its frame and had light wood legs. With white with pink roses patterned over her shapely body, I immediately named her "Rose", a name that is very befitting but lacking creativity. I set her up in my room and stood back to get the effect- so chic.

She still stands in the same corner of my room, often dressed in mini dresses and twirling skirts with a silk scarf fastened around her neck, or a belt at her waist. Not only have I used Rose as an outfit organizer, but also to design and make dresses. She came in great use during the fashion show, where she was temporarily displaced from the pink palace into the sewing corner in my parent's room. She is so fun to play with and always likes the outfits I put on her. She has a confidence about her, which is impressive for someone with such square sides and lack of arms and legs and head. 

Strutting the Speedo

As my family and I were going into "Aqua boulevard", a water park in Paris, an employee warned us that no swim trunks were aloud inside the park, only Speedos. My father and brother, being who they are, were not turned off by this- Conor brought his and my dad went and bought one. When we turned the corner into the park, a truly European sight hit me, men and boys all in Speedos. The old men had their  hiked up to their belly buttons, showing off their muscular and hairy hips. Cheerful little boys had their Speedos dragging behind them, their pale butt cheeks naked and exposed. It was just the way it was, and people didn't look twice. 

In Nice I wasn't surprised to see Speedos covering the beach as well. My dad also wore his Speedo that he bought in Paris and claimed to be a "convert". He sat in his tiny black shorts reading and sleeping on the warm pebbles with a pride and confidence that would have been impossible to achieve in the states with the stares of disapproving critiques. Women had their shirts off as well, and it didn't seem strange at all. They were mainly old women too. Old and withered, dried out by the sun. You could tell that they had grown up in Nice and the sun and sea were just part of their life. Nobody cared. The mindset in France was whatever, so what?. The environment was just different. 

In America we just have problems with our bodies. We are shy and scared to show them, self-conscious and conservative on the shore. It is funny that we live in this new and revolutionary country, and yet we have such prude and closed mindsets toward things such as skin and a persons body. But whatever. When I go to the beach and see my dad strutting his Speedo, I don't feel embarrassed or try and burrow myself deep into the sand, but I am proud of him, and glad that he is striving to get the best tan lines possible. 

Me, My Dress, and I

Today I went against all common sense and reason and bought my dream LBD. My brain said no! and my bank account said no!, but my heart said yes! yes!. Folded and wrapped delicately in tissue paper, my grand purchase swung from a crisp brown paper bag as I jotted down the street cheerfully this afternoon, and I felt, quite surely, that this dress was well worth anything.

Although I usually dress well, I don't always wear the most quality clothes. It doesn't really matter to me- Target, Ross, The Goodwill, Forever 21, the flea market...I enjoy the challenge of the hunt. Hey, I try and get the most out of my limited disposable income. However, it is always nice to have a few really great pieces in your closet that you can throw on if you are going to court or maybe to a Hollywood cocktail party. 

I was itching (actually dying) to wear it, so this evening I put it on just for fun. I modeled it for my family, twirling in circles in our backyard, my bare feet dancing on the grass. At the dinner table, in fear of getting food on my dress, I put on an old lumpy t-shirt over the top of my dress and padded my lap with paper towels. After dinner, I took of the t-shirt and twirled around more in my dress. I felt a bliss that I hadn't felt with any other dress, and I knew then that this love was meant to be.

The Fashion Bible

The Little Black Book of Style is definately a must-read for all fashionistas and fashionistos. With beautiful illustrations, Nina Garcia's witty, informative, and fun book inspires all to dress the best they can and to develop an individual and unique style. I have read it from cover to cover many times when I need inspiration or am having trouble getting rid of clothes. Nina encourages creativity and shopping tips along with the words and advice from many designers. She introduces "The Basics" of fashion, "The Inspirations", "What to Wear When..", "Insider Tips and Tricks", and "Fashion Cliff's Notes, Decade by Decade". Pick it up! You'll like it.

The Lore of The Little Black Dress

Last night I met my soul mate. As I walked in to Pacific Trading Co., I was so unaware so oblivious to the beauty and enchantment that I would encounter there on that evening. Hanging in the back was my little black dress, the one that I had been waiting to meet forever. I gently took off the rack and held it in the light, swaying it slightly as to see the magnificent swirl of the filmy skirts.

When I tried it on, it fit perfectly, clinging to my waist and hips and flattering my hour-glass figure. The skirt was full and twirled as I walked in the hall to look in the big mirror. It was so beautiful, and with it I was beautiful too. "Where will you wear it?" my mom asked. But I tossed the ridiculous question aside, simply answering, "Oh...you know."

The point was, once this dress became a part of my life, I would have to accommodate it appropriately. Dinner dates would have to be made, weddings to go to, bat mitzvahs to attend. Homework and silly school obligations would obviously have to be eliminated for the sake of the dress. You would no longer find me babysitting on Friday nights, dressed up as a detective with a fanny pack around my waist and police badge displayed on my chest. No way! I would be out on the town, clipping around on black pumps and adorned with diamonds, taking my dress out on a date.

I Love My Ray-Bans

No matter what I am wearing, I know that I can count on black square Ray-Bans to accent my outfit with the same classic look that they bring to everything. They are sophisticated, sexy, smart, and timeless. For girls or boys, these glasses look amazing on all. Put them on, and suddenly you are someone mysterious and interesting. Someone with style. They look great with jeans and they look great dressed up with a little black dress.

Fashion Hero of the Week: Valentino

While in Paris, I got the chance to see an exhibit on Valentino in the Louvre. In it, there was a maze of his couture creations. There were dresses that he made for Elizabeth Taylor and Jackie-O. His themes of flowers and long feminine lines were very apparent, as well as his seductive hints of red. I learned that he is one of the only designers who still mainly sticks to haute couture clothing. He only has ready-to-wear in America. He hit me as one of the most creative and classic designers of our time, and inspired me for my line next spring. In Venice, I summoned up the courage to step into one of his beautiful showrooms, where is clothes hung from dainty little hangers around the marbled room. Wow! Valentino is the essence of glamour and elegance, and for that I have grown a great respect and admiration for him.

Mad for Maxi

The first time that I saw a maxi dress, I was unsure of its boldness. When I tried it on, the floor length hem and the flowing skirt seemed intimidating. It was a cute yellow flower print dress, and I wanted to buy it, although I doubted that I would ever wear it. It would surely just sit in my closet where I could gaze at its beauty longingly,I thought, wishing that I had some elegant event that I had to attend. It seemed too long, too dramatic...ha! little did I know about its everyday charm. I bought the maxi dress that day, and soon after I found myself wearing it quite often. The empire waist top with the long flowing lines of the skirt made me feel classically elegant and outstanding. With my scarf knotted around my shoulders and my huge purple sunglasses on, I was a movie star. Not bothering with my beaten and bruised legs (water polo), I could easily throw on my maxi dress for an outing down town or out to dinner. Paired with comfortable flat sandals and a huge sunhat, this summer I could be a 1970's beauty. 

After that first dress, there came more. The fuchsia strapless maxi, the purple and gold floral maxi...Soon all of these became my sunny day preference. Chic, comfortable, and fun, maxi dresses are this year's summer dress. Flattering on the young and the old, these dresses make the most of everyone's height. They come in so many beautiful patterns and colors, that I am sure there is one out there for everyone. 

A Nap In The Park With My Scarf

The first thing that I packed this summer to go on my trip to Europe was my white scarf. Old and worn, I felt like if I somehow blanked on bringing any shirts, pants, or sweaters, this soft stained knit could protect me from embarrassment and nakedness with its versatile charm. If I got lost and had to spend the night under a bridge, my scarf would comfort me as a blanket or a pillow, or even as a weapon which I could whip at unwanted intruders. When I woke up the next morning I could use it to towel myself off, after I bathe in the Seine or the Grand Canal. 

 

Really though, think about it. A scarf is easily transformed into a wrap around skirt, dress, or top. It can be wrapped around the head for a hip look, or draped over the shoulders on a warm night in Nice as a elegant wrap. Often sweaters look frumpy over cute dresses, but scarves are simple and chic and just as warm. My brother smartly pointed out that I could tie it over the lower half of my face for bank robberies and hit jobs, fashionably a step up from the traditional bandana or ski mask. The practicality is endless! For sunny naps in the park I lay out my scarf on the ground and fell asleep with my cheek against the soft fabric, which was no stranger to drool, leaves, and the insects that were crushed under my sleeping body. On the airplane I used it both as a blanket, pillow and a form of entertainment. My brother and I arranged it over our shoulders and necks seeing how many styles we could create, turning our heads this way and that to model our creations.

After ditching an expensive restaurant at the top of the Pompidou Center, I realized at the bottom that I had left my beloved scarf at the restaurant. Although I had just lost a dear friend, I remained calm and optimistic about the issue at hand. The great thing about scarves is that they are so cheap! In Paris, London, and New York, all you have to do is walk around the corner and you will undoubtedly find a shop to purchase two silk scarves for under $20. Haggle a little bit and you might  be able to get three! They come in every shade imaginable and fun prints too. That night, after losing my greatest fashion accessory, I got two new scarves. I replaced my white one, and also bought a gold one which is my new favorite. For any age or taste- scarves are endlessly chic and practical. You will find my most prized possession, not folded neatly in my closet or hidden in my cedar trunk, but crumpled and scrunched at the bottom of my purse.

Harem Pant Horror- A "Poo Poo" to the Diaper Pants

For the last three weeks I have sadly witnessed perhaps the most heinous of fashion faux pas- Diaper pants! Throughout Paris and London this wretched style is flooding the streets and subway. Not only diaper pants, but also diaper shorts and capris, in denim and corduroy fabrics! Why? Why!? Pair these with a pair of monster leather gladiators and you will really turn heads! If you have a pair of these unflattering and awkward fitting pants in your closet, well...ugh. I am so glad to be back here where we know where the crotch on our pants belongs!

Summer Sandals

A good pair of sandals are a necessity this summer- wear them with dresses and skirts as well as jeans and shorts. Find a good versatile pair that are not too flashy. Gladiators have come, whether we like it or not. The key  to footwear this summer is to stay away from long ropes of leather that lace up your legs. Please save your poor feet from being eaten by some of the awful monsters out there. Stick to simple and low profile gladiators- don't overdo it. 

The Scoop on Swimsuits

Retro swimsuits are must haves for this summer! Also, funky vintage one-piece suits are in. The time has come for strappy low back one-pieces that will still give you a great tan.  Halter tops and cut-out suits will scatter the shores this season. 

This summer forget surf shops and look for your new suit at thrift stores and vintage clothing shops. Look for cute 50's fits- high waisted bottoms and fitted tops. Keep an eye out for sailor suits and vintage florals. This summer is no time to shy away from bold prints and daring shapes.