How Was Your Weekend?

Not much to do with fashion today, just catching up…

Last Friday I attended my dad’s 60th birthday party.  It was a lot of fun and was nice to catch up with two of my cousins that I haven’t spoken to for some time.  One may think that a 60th birthday party would be a staid affair, but not this one.  I was amused as the night went on, how my dad and his best buddies broke into loud beer drinking songs—much like you would expect to hear at a fraternity party—several times that evening.

It’s interesting when you turn that corner in your relationship with your parents and you become more like a friend.  Sometimes it’s still a little shocking to see the adult side that was hidden from me as a child—like my dad’s secret passion for karaoke—which I think is hilarious.

Let’s see, what else can I report about the weekend?  I had planned on going shopping for something new to wear for my trip to Chicago this weekend, but we had a pretty strong storm on Saturday that even knocked out my cell service for awhile, so I stayed home.

Then, just when I had the perfect outfit picked out online for the trip,  I learned that the weather report predicts cold, rainy weather for the weekend in Chicago.  That’s so disappointing.  Now I need to regroup and find something relatively warm for a rainy weekend in the upper 50’s.  Boo-hoo!  I am hopeful that by some miracle, an unexpected warm front moves in instead.

The last time I went to see my girlfriend, I was caught in a terrible rainstorm after leaving the El train station.  Picture me with my hair all ready for a big night out, and the crazy wind is blowing my umbrella inside out—and my freshly salon styled hair with it.  This time, I am planning on getting ready when I arrive, rather than the other way around.

Oh, I also received my new gladiator jelly sandals that I won from Running With Heels on Friday.  They are very cute, and best of all—they fit! 

Just as an FYI, RWH is giving away a Clarisonic Skincare brush today, so you better hurry and leave a comment!

                                                                     Photo:  runningwithheels.com

Well, that’s about it for now.  I’ll talk to you again soon!

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Fashion Sensei Says…

Louis Vuitton Sells Scraps As Art?

Photo: STEFANO PALTERA, FOR THE LA TIMES

Louis Vuitton is in some hot water with a man who purchased $12,000 worth of what he thought was limited edition art, two years ago by artist Takashi Murakami.  It turns out, that the prints were merely scraps of leather mounted as art.  Now he is suing LV which could possibly cost the company 12 million dollars.  Read more at latimes.com.

 

Question of the Day:  Fashion Faux-Pas…

So what is the biggest office fashion faux-pas that you have ever witnessed?  I just got word from my pals over at Shop It To Me, that they are giving away free subscriptions to Marie Claire for your answer.  Five winners will be chosen on May 1st. 

I’m curious to know your answer too, so leave me a comment. 

 

This Week’s Affordable Shoe Find…

alice + olivia for Payless  $38

 

 

Oh Dear…

SplashNews.com

Evidently Amy Winehouse is a little confused—it appears that she is trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue while on a recent vacation in St. Lucia.

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Save The Earth and Money—Swap Clothes

       

  Photo: Serge Krouglikoff/GettyImages

Growing up, my younger sister and I would borrow each other’s clothes all the time.  The practice continued with my High School and College friends.  I can’t help but laugh when I look at old photos of myself and friends, all outfitted from one person’s closet.

With Wednesday being Earth Day, and the fact that the economy is still trying to pick itself up out of this recession, swap parties have become a popular way of saving money and embracing some eco-friendly ideals.

The idea is to gather a group of friends, each of whom bring 4 or more items of clothing, jewelry, accessories or shoes, to swap with other friends.  These items may be new or gently used items that you no longer find a need for.  In return, you get to take home an equal number of items—thus preventing them from decomposing (or not) in a landfill.

If you are thinking of having a Swap Party, here are a few tips:

• Grab a Large Group of Friends.  The bigger the party the better. 
• Encourage Each Person to Bring Anything of Value.  This could be apparel, shoes, accessories, jewelry and even unused cosmetics or hair products.  Don’t forget the maternity wear too.  You may be done having kids, but there may be someone at the party who is planning on having children soon.
• Food, Music and Libation!  The best way to save money is to make the party a pot luck, where each guest brings a dish to pass.  Then you need some inspiring, up beat music to get everyone in the mood.  Last, but certainly not least, enjoy a few cocktails with the girls while you relax.  You may also want to have some non-alcoholic drinks on hand for those who wish to abstain and your pregg-0 gal pals.
• Rock the Runway.  Now that everyone is in a comfortable frame of mind, turn the music up and have everyone show off their new looks with a little runway show!

If the Swap Party doesn’t appeal to you, or if you have more of an entrepreneurial spirit, you could sell your clothes on e-bay or swapstyle.com—a virtual swap party from around the world.  One can swap anything from clothes to CDs.

Has anyone attended or hosted a swap party?  If so, let us know what your experience was like.

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Fashion Lesson #31: Spring Dresses For Every Shape

 

In today’s Fashion Lesson, we will take a look at dresses that flatter several body types and some tips on what to look for when you are out dress shopping.

 

All items from Anthropologie.com

 

Starting with the petite woman, this strapless dress elongates a small frame with the clever black and white stripes and the shrunken khaki overlay.  Finishing touches include a punch of warm color.

 

 

Necklace, Forever21.com; Shoes and Dress, Anntaylor.com, Handbag, Botkier, Piperlime.com.

 

A straight shape is sometimes also referred to as a “boyish” figure due to the decreased definition in the waist.  This turquoise dress adds just enough definition with a empire tie waist to flatter a straight figure.  A big trend for spring, snake skin shoes complete the look.

 

 

Dress, neimanmarcus.com; bracelet, forever21.com; shoes, piperlime.com.

 

When I saw this dress, I immediately thought of Charlotte from Sex and the City.  Kristen Davis who plays Charlotte, is a sister pear shape and would look amazing in this floral print dress.  The nude pumps are one of this seasons “it” shoes.  The fantastic benefit of a nude shoe, is the illusion that it provides in elongating the leg.

 

 

Dress, earrings,  TheLimited.com; Shoes, KateSpade.com; Clutch HaydenHarnett.com.

 

A mix of several trends—bold color, metallics, asymmetrical lines and a floral print—this dress’ assets are the undefined waist, bold print and asymmetrical line which draws attention away from an apple shape’s middle and up toward your face.  Don’t forget your shapeware with this dress for a sleek silhouette.

 

 

Dress Stella McCartney Organic, Barneys.com; Wood necklace Bodenusa.com; Sunglasses and belt, OldNavy.com; Tote KateSpade.com.

 

If you are an hourglass shape, the most important feature you should be looking for in a dress is a cinched waist.  This dress is a take on the khaki/safari look that is popular for spring and summer.  Feel free to add a little color to this ensemble to make it special.

 

Do you have a question that you would like answered?  Leave a comment on the Ask Fashion Sensei tab and your question may be answered featured as a Fashion Lesson.

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Fashion Sensei Says…

This Week’s Fashion News and Gossip

Keep Your Pants On…

I’m revealing my age a bit, but the last time bodysuits were in style, we wore them with Girbaud jeans.  The new millennium however, brings a mix of young pop-tarts—I mean stars—with a new take on the leotard.

Katy Perry (Splash News)       Lily Allen (Hale/Getty)        Lady GaGa (Splash News)

 

Team Klum Rumored to be Growing…

 

Photo: Ramey/People.com

Gossip is proliferating that Heidi Klum is pregnant again. Sketches of Heidi’s wardrobe for the forthcoming season of Project Runway revealed maternity styles with ample room for a baby bump . [Dailynews.com]

 

Cute Grad Gift…

It’s a little pricey at $88, but this Juicy Yearbook Tote and Markers is a cute gift idea for the graduating gal in your life.  She just might be a little less homesick when she re-reads your graffiti.

 

Caption This…

 Source: the cut Photo: Getty Images

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Catching Up

Hi everyone, my apologies for the lack of posts last week.  It was a very busy week.  I had both of my kids at home for spring break and I was fortunate enough to do some wardrobe styling for a local magazine for their summer issue.

The theme for my assignment was swimwear and funny enough, only one store in the whole city carried swimwear (for the assignment, I was to only use local boutiques).  Luckily, I was able to find two lovely swimsuits for the shoot; however, they were “Brazilian” sizes which means that most of us would only be able to fit half our tush in the bottom of the suit.

Here is a picture of one of the suits we used made by BeachBunnyswimwear.com as pictured in Sports Illustrated.com and on their company website. 

 

The model to the left looks very awkward laying on that rock doesn’t she?  Whenever I see a pose like this, I wonder what the judges from America’s Next Top Model would say?

Because the bathing suits were very sexy, I couldn’t pair them with an average pair of flip flops, so I borrowed some pretty incredible shoes for the shoot as well.  My favorite pair were a black pair of black patent Lanvin stiletto sandals with a pink satin bow on the heel.  I wish I had a picture of them, but the boutique that I borrowed them from, often has exclusive styles only available at their store.  Looking back, I wish I would have taken a picture of them myself.  They were also quite pricey—$995.  I sent my wish to the Shoe fairy for the exact pair in a size 10.5 wide.  I’ll let you know if they show up under my pillow one morning—but I’m not holding my breath.

The new issue of the magazine doesn’t come out until June, so I will keep you posted when it comes out.  I’ll be sure to put the pages up on this site when I get the green light.

I hope everyone had a nice Passover/Easter. 

Tanya

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Eco-Friendly Shoes

April welcomes Earth Day 2009 and lucky for us, eco-friendly products have come a long way.  Last year, I wrote a story for the online shoe magazine Running With Heels called Earth Day & Eco Shoes and I have to admit, while I found some really lovely shoes, the majority of shoes available were geared more for comfort, rather than style. 

This year, with the demand for eco-friendly products increasing, the selection of innovative and stylish shoes has grown and I found some fantastic eco-friendly shoes that you will covet for  your own collection.

Available at Nimili.com

Available at MelissaPlasticDreams.com

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Buyer’s Remorse? Blame It On Your Period

 

According to a recent study, you may want to refrain from going shopping ten days before your period if you want to avoid overspending.

British researchers have discovered that women in the “luteal” phase—the day after you ovulate, until the day before your period—increases your odds of overspending.  “Professor Karen Pine, who conducted the study of 443 women aged between 18 and 50, said: ‘The later women were in their menstrual cycle, the more likely they were to have overspent.” [Daily Mail]

So does this mean their is now science backing a woman’s need for a little retail therapy?

Unfortunately, researchers found that your little retail bender may give you a classic case of buyer’s remorse. “Almost two – thirds of [women studied] reported buying something on impulse, while 57 per cent said they had overspent by more than £25 ($37 USD).   Another 6 per cent admitted to spending £250 ($373 USD) or more than they had intended to.” [Daily Mail]

I suppose we didn’t need a study to tell us that if we spend more than we can afford, we will feel guilty, depressed or stressed out.  Thanks PMS.

Photo Source

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Fashion Lesson #30: The Miniskirt

I recently received an excellent Ask Fashion Sensei question from Candy regarding denim mini skirts for women over 30.

Hi~
I’m 30ish and have the hankering to wear a mini blue jean skirt. First, are they hot right now or so, so?? A friend of mine mentioned that she was going to pair a jean skirt of hers with leggings. I think we’re too old to do that trick. What do you think??? IF I can rock a jean skirt, any tips/ideas on how to make it fabulous? Thanks

Jean skirts are as timeless as jeans themselves.  Like denim pants, they can be dressed up with a blouse and heels or dressed down with a pair of flip flops and worn over your swimsuit to the beach.

With regard to your question on wearing leggings with a mini skirt, I would pass.  I agree with you Candy, I think that look would be better suited to the 18 and under crowd.

How Old, Is Too Old?

Your query provokes another question that many other women have.  When are you too old to wear a mini skirt?  In considering the appropriate hemline for women over 30, my general advice is to limit the length of your skirts to 2-3 inches above the knee.  Notice I said general advice—there are countless caveats to this recommendation.  For example, if you have long legs, you will want to stick to a slightly longer length than someone who has very short legs. 

You should also take into consideration the proportion of your legs.  If you have heavy legs, the most flattering length for a skirt is at the narrowest area of your leg—which is just above or just below your knee.

Take a look at these pictures of mother of three Heidi Klum, who will be 36 in June. 

Photo Source: People.com

Frankly, I think the first skirt is too short.  For the average woman over 30—and especially over 35—a micro mini is a hard look to pull off.  The third picture has a perfect length; it’s sexy without having to worry if one of your butt cheeks are hanging out.

Jean Skirts—In or Out?

As I mentioned before, I think jean skirts are always in.  Like denim pants, it depends on the cut and what you pair with the skirt.  The other great advantage to owning a jean skirt is that you can wear it during all four seasons.  You can wear a jean skirt in the summer with sandals; or with a sweater, thick tights and a pair of boots in the winter.

I did a little shopping online—here are a few jean skirt looks that I would suggest.

Shopping Info:  J.Crew skirt; J.Crew top; Salvatore Ferragamo Scuderia Satchel; Laser Cut Sandal Peep-Toe Bootie by Nicholas Kirkwood for Pollini; Miu Miu Shoes; More-Than-Half Clutch by Lisa Perry; Callouge Ring by DANNIJO; Merona printed shrug by Diane von Furstenberg.

Shopping Info: Gap White Denim Skirt; Limited: flowered top, Rayon Wrap, Indian hinge bracelet, Shell Disk Earrings; Nine West Sorcer, Piperlime.com; Gap: Denim mini, Striped Summer T; kate spade Caprice; bright lights, big city charm bracelet;Alena Stud Earrings, Forever 21.

Thanks for your inquiry Candy, I hope this information helps.  If you have a question regarding style, click on the Ask Fashion Sensei tab and leave a comment.  Your question may be used for a future Fashion Lesson.

Have a great weekend everyone and GO MICHIGAN STATE!

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Style Pirate

One woman’s encounter with a fashion kleptomaniac. 

A friend of mine approached me today and asked if I had ever dealt with a style thief.  This friend we’ll call Diana, has an acquaintance that after seeing Diana wear a skirt to the gym, went out that very same day, bought the same skirt, and wore it to the gym the following day.

This wasn’t the first time the style rogue commandeered Diana’s look.  This woman has been showing up in Diana’s clothes for over a year now.

Diana’s concern is that she didn’t want to look like the Bobbsey Twins on their way to Disney Land. 

I understand her concern.  At least once in our lives, nearly all of us have been somewhere and another individual is wearing the same shirt or outfit.  I read recently that during her time as First Lady, Laura Bush arrived at a White House ball only to discover not one, but, several women were wearing the exact same red Oscar de la Renta gown.  How embarrassing is that?

Unlike the gaffe at the White House, our style thief in question is deliberately purchasing an identical wardrobe.

So what’s your advice to Diana?  How would you approach this woman?  Has this ever happened to you?

 

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