New York Fashion Week Spotlight

According to pretty much everyone, 18-yr-old Karlie Kloss is the one to watch during NY Fashion Week. She's six feet tall, a former ballerina and presents herself with a refined walk belying her age.

She's also very excited to be there, which makes cheering her on all the more enjoyable. Because, really, who wants to watch a model drone down the runway, trying to look as disinterested as possible? Boring! (And a little obnoxious, since her only job - which so many covet - is to make the clothes look good by working them, both in body and face.)

Check out Karlie in Donna Karen (the 'embodiment of womanhood,' she says. Agreed!), Jason Wu, Altuzzara and Derek Lam. She's pretty dang stunning in all of them. And feminine, which is such a nice alternative to the droves of almost-androgynous tomboy models of today. (Am I wrong?) Kloss is, let's face it, the reason why I lament both my below-model stature and unprofessional dance training! Arrrrgh. Well, at least I can live vicariously through her!

Credit Where It's Due!

Normally I am not feelin' the First Lady's choices...

on policy or fashion...

but I am TOTALLY loving this dress and bold accessories!


It just screams SPRING! Ahh, yes, the return of color to so many lines is a welcome sight, especially here in the [ever-blanketed-by-mounds-of-dirty-snow] Midwest.


And you know where it's from? H&M. Loving it even more because I can afford it! ($34.95)

Do you embarass your daughter with your style?

A U.K. retailer surveyed tons of young women to find out what they think of their mom's clothing choices. Turns out one quarter of them said their moms dress too young.

A fifth said they consider their moms fashionable.

"One in four believes her mother wears clothes that are simply too revealing, and more than two thirds claim never to want to dress like them."

Those are some pretty big sums - over two thirds don't want to dress anything like their moms?? Then again, it isn't hard to understand when so many women well past the intended age for certain trends cling to them like... guns and religion. [hee hee]

But.. dressing drab isn't necessarily the prescription. You could look just as embarassing in a modest frock as you could in a mini and peep-toe platforms.

Do you think your daughter would be happy to claim you in public? What's the best balance for fashionable mamas?

Let us be so, so happy she does not have children to embarass!

Stripe Obsession

I love me some stripes.

While going through my closet with Sofia the other day pointing out all the different colors, fabrics, patterns, I noticed I have a TON of striped items. Wide, pinstripe, multicolored, Missoni-style, I don't care. Give me a stripe over a polka dot any day of the week.

Patterns in general, though, are my friend. Even before being pregnant - and needing the distraction they afford - patterns drew me in. Houndstooth is a close second, followed probably by crazy allover print. Never been a fan of animal print, but I do have a muted gray/black zebra patterned purse.

Yesterday, case in point, I was perusing a sale rack and zeroed in on the striped 3/4sleeve boatneck tunic. So typical! That's my go-to style of shirt because it's super flattering. Shows off the decolletage, hits right on the arm not to get in the way, gives the illusion of a shaplier waist and bust. Perfecto!

This spring's (and, seriously, every spring's but who cares?!) nautical style is right up my ally.

The classic boatneck in Breton stripe. I had this shirt when I was a kid; my parents got it for me in Paris. How appropriate! Many, many ways to wear the Breton. Tunic length is flattering, even though it goes over your hips. No, stripes do not make you look bigger. On the contrary, they demarcate the edge of your figure, making it more shapely. Touche!

The L.A. version. With cutoffs and, most assuredly, Ugg boots. Not. my. thing.

The NY version. More my style, though I can't see wearing something this short. Still, the blazer/stripe combo is so classic it works.

If you must have color here is a trendy version...

and a super cozy one, too. Hmm... looks like a Saturday shopping outfit with dark jeans and riding boots, huh? Or.. sweatpants and a cup of coffee at home!


Adorable!


AHHHHHH! Even MORE adorable!!

No stripes, but... This is an image I found of bridesmaid dresses. Can you imagine?? What a fun theme, and not too literal.

Three classic ways to wear this stripe: long-sleeved with a pencil skirt, dress and long cardi, skinny jeans and a blazer.

I am IN LOVE with this look. The trench skirt with high waist, oversize tie detail, fur collar! I think I need to invest in a skirt just like this...

How about you; do you have a favorite pattern or print?

AMAs: Not a one was pretty

We have a t.v., but no cable hook up. Not that I would watch the AMAs anyway. Anyone who applauds Justin Bieber is...well... clearly out of their mind. You've got better things to do. Like...

wait until the next day for the best and worst dressed lists! I'm a bit of a junky for those, following any major awards ceremony. I don't READ about celebrities, but I will happily look at their clothing. Here are some lowlights from the AMAs.

First, Christina Aguilera.

She's a mama, by the way. I've always thought she was trashy, and definitely wears too much make-up. Now we can add "wears sequined granny panties" to the list of why I am not her friend.

Speaking of the "Biebs," as he is affectionately known, he's wearing a shirt with leather sleeve cuffs. Blech. And for the love of everything sane, will someone please cut that kid's hair???



The Black Eyed Peas give us a nice lesson in the fashion wisdom "dress your age."



As does Pink. In fact, the evening's collective ensemble could be summed up in that phrase. I guess after you've spun around from a rope while singing in a sequined see-through costume, suspended over the audience... well, you can't outdo yourself anymore. So better just stick to the tried-and-true do-rag/size xxxs combo.



Jessica Alba doesn't look bad, per se. But it's that she's waaay overdressed for the night that bugs me.


Miley Cyrus is apparently unaware that Janis Joplin's style (and singing) was never very cool. Or maybe she (Cyrus) thinks she's being original? I'll vote for that!



Rihanna. If you remember her bandage jumper, this one might actually look ok to you. Still, I have no words for it...



Photos courtesy cbs.com. "courtesy" meaning, I borrowed them without asking. Thanks cbs!

Etsy spotlight : Sohomade's tea dresses

Many of you have noticed the delightful revival of 1950s/60s tea dresses and tailored suits on the fall runways. I for one an *thrilled* at this open endorsement by the fashion industry that Mad Men style is making a comeback in a big way.

There's always a catch though, isn't there? You see something amazing on the runway and, not wanting to wait until the watered-down version makes it to the local Target (and not being able to pay the price for the designer variety) you run out to your favorite vintage store and scour the racks for original designs.

Alas! Women who lived and cooked in those fashions the first time around were tiny. Not because they were all naturally size 2, but girdles helped a lot of women achieve that hourglass look. Thus, modifying a true 1963 tea dress is a no-go; there's simply not enough fabric to let out (yes, even if you're a size 6). What's a modern, yet vintage-minded, lady to do?

This is the genius of Etsy. You love chiffon-rich dresses drenched in watercolor prints? There is an Etsy seller who is making just that. In fact, there are probably 1,000 sellers making varieties, practically guarenteeing you can find something that suits your exact taste, size and budget.

Case in point: Etsy seller Sohomade. She hails from - duh - New York, and specializes in tea dresses with sashes, lace and oh-so-flattering wide necklines. Her choice of prints is worth noting, too: feminine and colorful, in muted colors and floral allover loveliness. Nothing too modern to be found here! She also makes accessories, belts mostly, and skirts.

An Etsy-specific feature is a seller's willingness to custom make items also (Sohomade does this), as well as their "Alchemy" feature, by which you can request a completely new, custom item from the entire community. Sellers who think they can make what you want respond with bids to create your item within your parameters. How fun! For people like me - who know what they want but can't make a pattern to save their lives - this is a major plus for joining Etsy!

You can visit Sohomade's shop at this link, and here are some items I found particularly pretty:

If you could wear a cupcake, this is what it would look like.

Watercolor-y landscape print? It makes it feel like summer lasts all year long!

Everything about a print that I like. Maybe I'm a 70 year old woman trapped inside a 30 yr old's body!

This one hits another fall trend - gray, gray, gray.

This belt would also satisfy your trendy urge for plaid, too!

WIBN Wednesday - Boots!

Ahh... it's almost time for fall fashion. I'm SO glad I will be a "normal" shape so I can wear some of the lovely offerings this year!

Wouldn't it be nice to have feet of a normal size also... meaning, less than a small watermelon... so I could work it in some of these boots? Thank goodness those feet will start to de-swell soon. There are just too many cute styles to pass up!

WAY too many styles... check out the plaid... the details... this year I am saying 'yes' to last year's booties trend. I'm not above it!

P.S. Be on the lookout for the September fall fashion post in the next two days!!