What I learned from Fashion Week

I normally don't comment on Fashion Week. Usually I write about what I feel like wearing, what I saw on other people and was inspired by, or what I just think is striking or funny. But this time, that all sort of ties in to Fashion Week.

I went to a couple of shows this year (Matthew Ames and Ports 1961) and both shows, in addition to showing beautiful clothes on the skinniest people you will ever see (seriously, every time I go, it pains me to see how thin the models are.. please let those girls eat!!), both shows also gave me a bit of inspiration on how to see and wear what I already have a bit differently.

At Ports 1961, a lot of the models had big curly hair. Big BIG curls. And messy. Hurray for messy! It suits my style better and takes less time! Plus, if it gets messy during the day, it stays the same, right? I've been doing messy hair and a single braid (a style Prada has made popular again) ever since my office asked all of us to get to work earlier in the morning. With the alarm set for 5am, it was either my social life, my sleep, or neatly styled hair that had to give first. What would you pick? Btw, if you wonder, as I have, how to pull your hair back when you're going to wear a hat and don't want to look like you have no hair - a loosely pulled back braid is your answer to that as well...

At Matthew Ames, there was no mess, but strong lines and clear colors that make me want to pair colors you wouldn't think would go so well together - and to wear more light colors in winter. Pale aqua and caramel, or aqua and yellow... so much cheerier than all the black the audience was wearing! And a couple of outfits were all in pale ivory. Really beautiful.

It's always also fun to see what the audience is wearing, too. How do fashion show attendees address snowy streets? Lots of high heeled boots - I think they made the same decision that I did to ignore it. Maybe they also hadn't found a satisfactory fashionable solution. My friend, Elena, had a great pair of solid Prada boots - very cool-looking in their sort of military practicality. One of the best solutions I've seen so far!

I was surprised a photographer asked to take my photo outside the Ports 1961 show - she took a couple, one just of my blue tights and and ivory lace-up shoes. I had originally thought of ivory tights when I was getting dressed that morning, but changed to blue last minute as I didn't want to look like a nurse. But some of the most beautiful outfits I saw were pale monochrome, so maybe I'll give that a try next time. I think the way not to look washed out with all these pale monochromes is to wear bright lipstick, which I'm also really into. Orange, red, purple, hot pink. I noticed a lot of this in the audience, too..

Well, hey, I'm going out tonight. I think I'll go mess up my hair, put on fuchsia lipstick and wear head to toe ivory (or as close as I can get)!

Lighten Up

It's usually when I'm really feeling the gloomy weather, when my sunshine-generated Vitamin D levels have fallen to critical lows, and when I realize how much time has passed since my life was filled with Christmas parties and pretty decorations, that I start to see store windows and shelves filling with red plastic hearts, shiny paper, cheap candy and even cheaper sentiment. I think back to my first valentine's memory when I was 6, lying in bed ill from the flu and too much sugar. I don't know, maybe this cheers some people up, but despite efforts from those I love (mostly my mom) to make it a fun day, V-day is not for me.

May I propose a couple of alternative holidays for this time of year? Mardi Gras/Karneval/Carnaval anyone? And how about fashion week? Aren't you sick of wearing black and gray wool by now? Surely the fashion week holiday would be welcomed by stores who are trying to drum up sales in the post Christmas/post sale lull...

Celebrating Mardi Gras is pretty easy to figure out.. (and they've started in New Orleans this year already).. My proposal for celebrating fashion week as a holiday? Break out of that black and gray box. Things don't have to be so serious! Wear green nail polish, fun tights, a white dress. Guys can play too - maybe skip the nail polish and tights (unless you don't want to), but bright colors? That's not too hard. And you can celebrate at work! (I'd keep the Mardi Gras/Karneval celebration to after hours...)

Laissez les bons temps roller!!!

Things don't have to be so serious...

I see London, I see France

The wheel that cycles us through the rotation of fashion trends gone by keeps moving and as we move deeper into '90s trends, we hit another old stand-by: lingerie-influenced clothing. And yes, I know attention starved starlets never let this one go, but I'm talking about real designers, editors, and buyers marketing this to real people - for real! Honestly, that old adage of not wearing a trend that you wore in a previous cycle has become impossible, I believe!! (So ignore it!!)

If you're like me, the idea of lingerie as outerwear is not immediately appealing and it's pretty downright impractical right now in the dead of winter. Actually, I don't care how hot it gets, but I can't imagine running around the city or meeting up with friends in a bar wearing a just a slip.. And it's not a cheap trend either - if all of your layers are showing, you can't get away with old, granny underwear.. (not that you or I have any.. of course!!)

On further thought though, I realized that a lot of things that I already wear are lingerie inspired. What is a bustier, for example, or over-the-knee socks? And, while the first images that come to my mind about lingerie-inspired fashion are either some ethereal fairy-like floaty thing or scary dominatrix leather, there are many interpretations that are much more creative and forgiving than that and possibly even appropriate for work (let me clarify.. I mean office work at a desk).

So, I took some photos of outfits I really like that I think are lingerie-inspired and one that is actually technically lingerie (the camisole with metal fringe on it, worn with tux jacket and black pants).

I mentioned to my friend Judy that lingerie-inspired fashion was going to be my next post and she observed that we don't have to follow that trend just because it's come around again. People should feel free to let a trend pass them by and just to pick and choose which ones appeal to them. I agree completely. But I also think it's fun to interpret a new trend in your own way as an opportunity to shake up your wardrobe. Trends can bring up a new shape or nuance that affects your eye and, if you choose to do something with it, it may look nothing like what you see in magazines or on runways. But that's where your personal style comes in - including, of course, the choice to opt out!

No muss, no fuss

For New Year’s Eve plans, I have a rule: keep it as simple and flexible as possible... and my New Year’s Eve outfit follows a similar rule. With available taxis on New Year's Eve about as rare as unicorns, inevitably, I will have to walk home. And this year, with snow forecast to turn into slush, I gave it extra thought as there was no way I was wearing clompy flat boots to a party, nor was I going to destroy my heels walking home in the salty slush. I'd already learned the uneven layering trick for New York winters (flimsy layer for over-heated interiors, thick layer over that to keep you warm outside or if you're next to a drafty window). And this time, I needed to be able to make an easy change into snow boots. So, my solution? T-shirt/jacket/shorts/tights/boots (and a spare pair of snow boots in my bag).

And sure enough, while the streets were filled with cabs and the air resounded with honking, not a single available light was shining. But I was comfortable, my feet were warm and dry (as were my high heeled boots) so I really didn't care... As my colleague Sanne says, "there is no bad weather, only bad clothes". Too true.

A different challenge faced me on New Year's day when I woke up: I was tired, I was hungry, and all I wanted to do was to lounge in my pyjamas with tea or coffee.. but I had no milk. Or food. When I lived on 10^th and Ave A a few years ago, I would go to the bodega in my pjs, boots and a coat, but I can’t really do that in the more civilized Greenwich Village and at an age when I really should know better (i.e., older than 8. I was older than 8 on 10^th St too, of course, but chose to ignore that then.)

Plus in my additional experience in perfecting lazy weekend mornings, I have found how to dress with only slightly more effort than putting a coat and shoes on over pyjamas, but which creates the appearance that I actually am dressed for the day and can actually walk quite respectably a few blocks further from my sofa if the closest grocery store doesn't have what I want.

What's the trick? Bright lipstick and pulled back hair takes care of the grooming in 30 seconds, a dress and boots gets you covered (add leggings if it's cold)..grab your coat (or sweater and vest), your bag from last night, sunglasses, et voila! you are golden! A smile may be asking too much..

And Happy New Year's everybody!!

Ice Ice Baby

New York has had its first snow and it’s caused massive delays as we struggle to work out transportation alternatives – namely, what do we wear on our feet as we try to go about our normal lives? This morning, the TV news attempted to help, suggesting that boots were a must. Hey, you don’t have to tell me twice! After already taking a tumble last night on the packed-down snow and seeing all the salt on the sidewalk and picturing the damage that can do to soft leather, that was a given.

So.. wear boots to keep your feet dry and warm in the snow and to prevent an embarrassing (and painful) skid on the ice. Okay. That choice is easy.

But, as always, the challenge is how you make it look good. My friend Christina told me last night that she is trying to figure out how to go from work to evening on wintry sidewalks without too many awkward shoe changes and without destroying your normal shoes (and having to walk in those mincing little geisha steps that are so frustrating to the people walking behind you). Do you pretend like there’s no snow and hope you can cab it the whole way, or do you plan for the high probability that you’re going to be on foot?

I think the solution is to accept reality and embrace the ski lounge look as much as possible. A cozy sweater and skinny pants or leggings tucked into boots offsets the clompiness of practical snow boots and is a seasonally-appropriate (and comfortable!!) look, I think. For work, I think the easiest footwear transition is with similar clothes – skinny pants or tights tuck into boots easily and, once at the office, you can slip on a pair of heels.

Still, the biggest struggle – and a topic of discussion among most of my friends – is what boots? I mentioned above that I love the après ski look (probably because I love après ski!), so fluffy ski bunny boots are appealing to me – but the last thing I want to do is to look like Mariah Carey in Aspen. (would you?)














I searched and searched three years ago and settled on these boots (in photo).. I like the fluffiness and dark color (practical for city snow!), but they’re not nearly as waterproof as I’d like, so I’ll either keep searching or try to find some waterproofing solution.. Btw, this is NOT my après ski look (that look is helmet flattened braids, red cheeks, and ski clothes).. I consider this look more citified ski lodge and hopefully not furry woodland creature or Lord of the Rings character.. (Another awful photo, I know.. BUT, please note, different pose and a smile! I listen!)














As I was walking back to my office around lunchtime today, I ran into my friend Emily who had a great pair of boots – lace-ups that are fluffy at the top and rubber at the bottom – sort of après meets LL Bean’s duck boots.. a little feminine without looking drag queen .. and practical! (and silly me – I forgot to ask her who made them!!) Looking at what friends have suggested/tried: Michele mentioned some of the new Timberlands, Simi had Moon Boots (very cute, though white needed maintenance), and Lovey had wedge heeled Gucci boots (look great, not waterproof).

I found a few other pairs on-line, but the choices are really limited: super sporty (fine, but uninspiring), UGGS (not waterproof and hideous if you pick the wrong style, though I will admit that my boots are UGGS), fur boots (not practical, think wet dog on your feet), and moccasins (think wet cow..?). Here are a few I found that have an appealling style/practicality ratio. (The grey patent Stella McCartney boots with the wedge would be great in the rain, I bet.. not snow so much, though..)


But really, I think I'm just going to buy a can of Scotchguard...

Supersize Deluxe

Is the fashion industry trying to pull a frog in boiling water trick on us? I'd sort of suspected that prices were rising gradually over the past few years. I even remember a few years ago my friend Janice asking "remember when we thought that $800 was really expensive for a bag?" Well, $800 IS actually really expensive for a bag - but you are not going to find anything designer under $1,000 nowadays - even in a recession!! And probably not even on sale!!! What's going on here? Are they offering us more for our money? Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes all have moved some of their manufacturing to China, India, and Mauritius where labor is cheaper, so what's the deal?

Well, in my unscientific study, surveying my own purchases made over the years, I can say: yes, they are offering us more. We're being supersized! Bags have noticeably grown bigger - what used to be my work bag size is now my going out bag size (bag on left)


















.. and has anyone noticed heel height? I think that they are rising in step with prices.

I picked a few shoes to illustrate this argument.. they are arranged in chronological order of purchase, from left to right. Amusingly, I had thought that shoes on the left (Sigerson Morrison sling backs) were the perfect pair of heels - today, I consider them flats! And, aside from the two strappy pairs, I purchased them with work wardrobe in mind (though I admit that the furthest right pair has occasionally defeated me and I now bring a back-up pair of shoes when I wear them.)






Where can we go from here? How much higher can we get? My nephew, Soren, told me over the summer that the pair of wedge heel sandals that I was wearing were heels not shoes, since they are 80% heel. Can we go to 90%? 95%??

Well, here's one suggestion for the next direction from my sister-in-law, Erika (and Soren's mom).. They're Alexander McQueen's "lobster claw" heels.



Prepare yourselves!

Blurring the high/low line

Excuse me, but is this Jimmy Choo for H&M or Jimmy Choo at Saks? Believe it or not, these boots are still priced at ca $700. Do discount bins appeal to luxury goods shoppers? Give me 80% off and I'll pick through a bin. 30% doesn't justify making the boots look sad.

I actually prefer H&M's environment - I stopped by the 5th Ave store Monday after the Jimmy Choo launch at 10am and it was fun. Granted, the lines hadn't started yet (my friend Lovey told me that the line to get a wristband to get in the store started at 4am the day of the launch) but it felt like an event. I didn't get anything (I need more shoes like a hole in the head) and the quality definitely wasn't comparable to regular Jimmy Choo's, but at $90-100, the trade-off seems fair.