Fashion and Beauty

Aminaka Wilmont- Batwing Dress

Sat, 8 Nov 2008 12:06:00 -0600

This is probably the ultimate batwing dress. Typically, I hate the whole idea of a batwing dress. I mean, I want to get rid of the flab on my arms, not accentuate it! But this folds so gracefully, and yet, there's also a very strong punkish sort of element to it. Very edgy, but a delicate edgy. And again, that's the very definition of innovation right there. Make people see things in a new way. Absolutely gorgeous!

By the way, I've got to call attention to the outfit in the background. At first glance, it appears to be a backless vest, with a halter type neck. If you look closer, there's some very transparent gauzy fabric in between the black bits. Quite interesting.

Go vote!

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 12:11:16 -0600

See, if you don't vote, then my vote counts more. And if you're going to trust me with your vote, then I may do something stupid with it. So just go vote for yourself. It's easier in the longrun.

Aminaka Wilmont- Futuristic Dress

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:40:30 -0500

This futuristic dress is interesting. It's got a very geometric sort of cut, especially at the bottom.

For the runway, it's really not my favorite. Kind of dull, somewhat weird... But commercially? I actually dig it. There's a favorite store of mine in London, called Cyberdog. This is totally something they would have (although theirs would probably be hot pink and have bright lights installed in it). And Cyberdog is a staple of that area, and they've done very well for themselves. Which tells me there is a market for it.

Now, that sounds like I'm ignoring the runway aspects. Not entirely. I mean, Gareth Pugh also hits on a few futuristic themes, and this is so much more wearable than ANYTHING of his. But overall, the fashion scene just doesn't feel like it's very futuristic right now. I think that when it gets there (and it will again someday), Wilmont will be leading the rest of the designers with some very fresh, interesting, and innovative looks. For now, let's put it back in the design book...

Project Runway 5!

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:19:00 -0500

This makes my record 5 for 5!! Woot!

Like I said, I didn't have cable this time around, so I had to kind of catch bits and pieces here and there. And if you read my previous entry about it, I picked Leanne. Well, I just found out that she won. Great job, Leanne. It was a great collection!

Bald Billboard

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:09:38 -0500

I know you guys have heard about this on the news- Air New Zealand is holding a casting call in Los Angeles later this month to find 30 people who will agree to shave their heads and be a walking billboard, as part of a marketing campaign. After getting their heads shaved, they will get temporary henna tattoos that read, "Need a Change? Head Down to New Zealand. Airnewzealand.com" You can read more about it on their website at www.airnewzealand.com.

Now, naturally, you're not allowed to cheat and wear a hat the whole time it's on there. And frankly, they are giving the 30 people who agree to do this their choice of a cash prize or an economy ticket to New Zealand. I don't know how much the cash prize is, but I know that with the price of airplane tickets and having a friend in nearby Australia, I'd be more than happy to shave my head. And I'm a girl. In fact, I'm the kind of girl that wouldn't look good with a shaved head like Sigourney Weaver or Natalie Portman, and I'd STILL DO IT!! :D

But, seeing how I don't live in LA, and probably wouldn't be eligible, let me nominate someone. I found the pic below earlier this year when I was searching for tragic sideburns (apologies to the guy in the pic, but it's true). Now, tell me this guy couldn't use a haircut anyway. And he looks pretty fierce. That dude would have a REALLY cool adventure vacation! And he's probably not a stranger to tattoos. lol

You know, I envy the people who enter and win this contest, odd as it sounds. I know there are a lot of people out there giving them grief over it, as in, "Who would do such a thing just to win a contest?!" Well, these people are going to be having quite an adventure, and they have an incredible story to tell for the rest of their lives. I've actually had a life-changing vacation, strange as it sounds. My Project Runway trip led to me becoming a fashion writer, which led to me wanting to start a magazine, which led to my becoming acquainted with and working for a local artist. And that led to me showing my own artworks in a gallery. Who would have thought that something as simple as a vacation would lead to so many opportunities?

Aminaka Wilmont- Loops

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:13:00 -0500

I really like this outfit, but I'll admit that it's just unusual enough that it's hard to decide if I LOVE it. Do away with the black loops, and it's just another boring outfit (well-made, but relatively bland). Leave them on, and no real person will ever wear it. Now, my long term readers know that I NEVER judge an outfit by how wearable it is. But that doesn't mean we should ignore it either.

What do you guys think?

Aminaka Wilmont- Samantha Ronson

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 16:30:16 -0500

How can you look at this outfit and not think of Samantha Ronson? It's got that same kind of harsh, masculine female look that she favors. Personally I hate it, but it definitely grabs your attention. The outfit might be bearable, except for the horrible waist. It's flopped over, and just ask nothing at all to the outfit.

Dear Reader

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 07:51:53 -0500

I've been thinking a lot about this blog. Well, more accurately, I've been dreading it. Why? I used to come here and enjoy it. It used to be fun for me. But lately, I just cringe whenever I think about updating it.

I do know why that is. I've got some people that follow good netiquette. They come on and leave and insightful comment, or have a discussion. I LOVE getting those comments! It's the others that are bumming me out. Everyone hates getting spam, and most people wouldn't even think of sending it. But for some reason, there's a group of people that it doesn't seem to bother. Well, guess what? It should. They are soulless assholes.

Now, what has me in such a foul mood? What sort of comments have made me dread my own blog? These are all fluid, and many problem comments fit in more than one problem behavior:

1) Linkers- You're here only for the link. This is obvious by what you put in the anchor text of the link. "IntricateGirl" is okay. "ToastTheTrends.com" is not. Nobody cares what so-and-so.com has to say about anything.
2) Spammers- I realize where I can get medicine to help my erection. If I ever have that problem, I know how to use Google. But being a girl, I don't suspect I'll ever need your services.
3) Repeating the same thing over and over. I have literally come here some days and found 20 pages worth of comments across five blogs. When I banned them, they changed their IP address, and the next day, there were 20 more pages. Same again with a third day. It ended when I blocked the entire country of China from even accessing my blog. And by the way- I don't mean 20 pages as in 20 posts. I mean that my email was filled with 20 pages worth of comments from the same person, and there are 15 messages per page. And you wonder why I dread it.
4) Being creepy. Guys, don't tell me the model has "gorgeous, haunting eyes"- usually misspelled. The way it reads on a computer screen is that you want to cut them out and save them in a jar on your shelf. Besides, in the fashion pics I post, the eyes literally take up about 1/64th of an inch of space. You can't even see her eyes well enough to know whether you like them! Don't tell me about her legs. I'm a girl. I'm not likely to drool with you. Discuss the fashion. It's a fashion blog, not a "I want to sleep with a model, but really don't have a chance in hell" blog.
5) Pandering, kissing up, and being annoyingly suckupish. I am not ready to join the staff of the New Yorker. I could probably handle Vogue though. ;) The problem is, I really don't need someone to tell me. Nor do I need to know what a great, excellent, amazing, stupendous, superlative blog I have. I can put words together and make a sentence. I can share my feelings on various things. That doesn't make me Hemmingway. And I've done websites for nearly 13 years. God, I hope I can put together a blog (especially since it's a freakin' template) by now. I know, it seems weird to complain about a compliment. A true, heartfelt compliment will never get a complaint from me. But most of the fawning also comes with problems 1 and 3. They go from post to post, telling me how amazing I am. And it doesn't brighten my day, because they've cut and pasted that phrase across ten of my posts, and a hundred throughout the web.
6) Belligerent people. Dude, don't come up on my blog and tell me I know nothing about fashion. There's this wonderful invention called the back button. And a big, wide internet to explore. I may very well know nothing about fashion. Evidence suggests otherwise, but that's beside the point. The point is, if we were face to face, you wouldn't walk into my living room uninvited, pull down your pants, and leave a big steaming pile on my carpet. So why are you doing it behind a computer screen? Trust me on this- I eviscerate people like this. You may think you've got balls from picking a fight, but when I finish, I will be handing them back to you in a paper bag. Oh, and I sell your email address to the spammers, just to mess with you.

So, I've been thinking long and hard about the problem. I've spent nearly a year being upset about it, and trying to find a way to change the problem. Here are my solutions:

1) Turn off comments. A few spoil it for many.
2) Let it continue and burn out completely.
3) Make it list your email address. Would you spam if you knew you'd get much more in return?
4) Spend four hours deleting nonsense comments, or ones filled with spam, everytime a spammer gets on here.
5) Announce that I've gone no-follow on the comments. If they aren't getting the link, most of the spammers will go away.
6) Allow comments, but they all begin with "A ToastTheTrends Reader Says:" That way, you can still have a link to your site. But the anchor text is mine. Net benefit to me.

I've chosen a combination of 4, 5, and 6. Beginning today, I am deleting every comment, no matter how insightful and lovely, that has a product or a a site link. WorldofWarcraftOnlineGamers is not an appropriate handle. The sole discretion is up to me, and if I cannot tell whether it was a link placed solely for the link juice- I delete. The no-follow on comments is already complete. You are not getting link juice, so if that's the only reason you're here, kindly leave. Finally, and the one that kills me- I'm changing the text so that all comments are more or less anonymous.

Blame the idiots for ruining everything.

At the end of the day, this is my blog. I have to feel comfortable coming here, not dreadful. If you don't like it, I'm sorry. That probably means you were in one of the above listed categories of people who are making this a place I hate. My blog, my rules. And if you want to participate, you'll follow them.

Aminaka Wilmont- Sheer Top

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0500

LOVE IT! What a unique way to do a sheer top. It seems like every season, some designer sends a poor model out with only the thinnest layer of fabric on, to walk in front of hundreds of people. But this is a new, somewhat more mature, and yet also edgier way of doing it. It covers the naughty bits, but in the end, it seems much more revealing than the tops that actually show nipples.

Aminaka Wilmont- Spiderweb

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:47:00 -0500

I love this. It's a very simple cut, but it's been engineered to have a sort of harshness to it. And the way the pattern has been done, it really makes it look like a spider spun this dress, fully formed. lol Not the typical sort of compliment I would pay to a garment, but that's what innovation does to you. It makes you look at a standard thing in a new light.

Project Runway Prediction

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:17:00 -0500

Now, I have seen one, maybe two, episodes of Project Runway this season. I canceled cable, so I haven't really had an opportunity to catch the show. I'm going off the photos alone here, and I'll warn you that it's very different seeing it actually move than checking out a photo. That being said, I have absolutely no attachments to any of the designers. I'm not rooting for anyone or against anyone. It's just what I see in the photos. So, here we go.

First of all- 6 collections?! WTF?? Just let everyone show at Fashion Week already. I mean, you practically are anyway.

Jerrell- I see a lot of costumes, but not much fashion. There was one purple dress with an exquisite neckline. But there was a whole other dress that seemed to be hiding under the first, and it really didn't look right. There's shades of Comme des Garcon, and you know, they are quirky and strange, but also considered quite successful. So maybe I'm being too hard on Jerrell, but I personally don't get this at all.

Joe- I very nearly vomited when I saw the thumbnail. Cowgirl?? And such a cliche of a cowgirl look? But when I expanded the photo, I was very surprised. It looked a lot nicer than I expected. But sadly, that isn't enough of a compliment. Joe is an incredible commercial designer. If I was a buyer for a large clothing store chain, I'd buy any one of his outfits because I know I can sell a million of them. But are they really what Project Runway is looking for? Joe will probably make a ton of money in fashion, but I don't see him being one of the revered names like Chanel or Oscar de la Renta. Sorry. There's just NO innovation, and that's what sets apart the really good designers.

Kenley- Eek. This collection was a mess. So many different styles, some of them within the same outfit. Several copycat items that were from past Project Runway participants. No.

Leanne- THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! That's some innovation right there!! Good collection, the colors worked not only for spring, but as a collection. Then again, the judges may object to the colors being too "one-note", and tell her she needed more variation. If they do, I think it's a travesty, because most of them use the same fabric over and over within a collection. But then again, they also show more than ten pieces. One of the skirts was godawful, but everything else captivated me. It's the kind of clothing that you want to see and touch up close.

Korto- Again, a lot of innovation here. As a collection, it wasn't so great, and the colors tended to be more for late summer, straying into early autumn. Also, the hemlines were wacky. Are hemlines long this season, or are they short? Make up your mind. As a collection, not my favorite. As individual pieces, excellent job.

Suede- Oh god. All innovation, no beauty. I'm trying to think of how I would describe this, and the best I can come up with is that the fabric looks like the flag twirlers in a high school band. Now, if you've got a collection, is that really the phrase you want used about your clothing?? It's very brightly offensive, and looks like he made the collection out of fabric that costs $1.25 a yard. (Note to non-sewers, cheap cotton tends to run about $4 a yard.)

My pick? Leanne. Leanne was extremely solid. Korto was good, and I wouldn't be too surprised if they picked her, but Leanne really nailed it. If that color objection or the skirt doesn't get in her way, I'd say this is hers.

Project Runway News

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:11:00 -0500

As has been reported elsewhere, the next season of Project Runway is going to be delayed until 2009. Smart move, considering I don't know what fashion week they planned on sending the people to!!

Also reported elsewhere, Jennifer Lopez was going to be the judge at the finale. Well, no more. She had a foot injury and had to drop out. And in what I consider worse news, Tim Gunn is filling in. Now don't get me wrong. I ADORE Tim. Everyone adores Tim, except maybe Jay McCarroll (who's had some complaints about him in the past). Part of what makes Project Runway work, and even Tim Gunn himself has said this, is that he's impartial. He can stand there and tell them that their outfit is awful, and at the end of the day, it's done. They can take his advice or leave it, but it won't necessarily affect their "score". With this arrangement, there's no impartiality.

But, I do understand the need for the exception, even if I don't like it very much.

Simon Alcantara Elongated Chain Necklace

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:19:00 -0500

While I'm waiting for fashion week to sort itself out, I'm continuing with the jewelry and accessories.

This necklace by Simon Alcantara is so interesting. Along a very thin band, you have many dangling chains. Overall, it creates sort of a scarf type necklace, which is a very interesting concept. That's the thing I love about Simon Alcantara. The pieces are always so graceful, but they really play with the whole concept of jewelry in ways that a lot of other designers don't. And yet, they are also totally wearable. Well, assuming you can afford it. This necklace is $4475, which is a fairly hefty price tag, but it's worth it.

It's Fashion Week!

Mon, 8 Sep 2008 12:11:00 -0500

Yay! It's time once again for fashion week! Finally! I felt like the entire last season was dead, and devoid of any real discernible trend. It just felt like everyone was kind of going for anything that fell under the heading of fall, without much thought as to a trend.

So far, there are a couple of names getting a lot of press. Charlotte Ronson, who is the sister of Lindsey Lohan's girlfriend, has gotten a lot of attention. I haven't seen her collection yet. Tracy Reese is getting some insane press, and I see why. It's a gorgeous collection.

A word to fashion newbies- the collections are always two-three seasons ahead. It's fall now, so they are showing you the spring and summer looks. The reason is so they can go around to the major fashion cities, show their collection, fine tune it along the way, and then have time to produce it for sale.

Ross-Simons Rose Ring

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:47:00 -0500

See, this is what I was talking about yesterday when I said that Ross-Simons had a playfulness, while maintaining a high level of sophistication and quality. This is perfectly adorable, and the absolute epitome of what a "right-hand ring" should be. At 1.1 carats, it's a nice quality piece, but it definitely makes you smile when you see it.

Ross-Simons Fleur de Lis Ring

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:27:00 -0500

I'm sure I'm going to be talking about Ross-Simons a lot in the next few weeks. I love them, and I think they bring a playfulness to jewelry, while maintaining sophistication.

I love this Fleur de Lis ring. They've got a couple of different styles of this ring, and I like them all equally. Fleur de Lis symbols are always a classy look, and when you're in a period where shabby chic is more in style, then the Fleur de Lis is even more trendy. Right now, we've kind of moved away from shabby chic, and into chic shabby. :D Things are a little less distressed, but it's still got that old-fashioned sort of look. So this sort of ring REALLY works right now, because it's new and shiny, but has some of that tradition that's so hot.

The Case for Clutches

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:06:00 -0500

I had a conversation a few months ago with someone about small purses. We both agreed that we loved small, tiny purses. But we also agreed that it's difficult to find small purses, or indeed, other women that like them. Personally, I think nothing is quite as classy as a woman who reaches into her purse, spends less than a second, and pulls out exactly what she wants. And likewise, I think it's very tacky to carry a bag so large that you have to put it down to open it up properly, and practically dive into the middle of it, spending a few minutes before you finally emerge. And with what?? A lip gloss? How big a purse do you need to carry a lipgloss?! And I can hear the arguments now. "But I need my cell phone, credit card, mascara, AND lip gloss!" Okay, and it take 4 cubic meters to carry this??! Cell phones these days are tiny. Bring your credit card, by all means. Fortunately, I haven't run into a clutch yet that can't hold it. Even the largest mascaras are pretty small, and so are lip glosses.

But it's all the other stuff that people are convinced they need, that they really don't. My mom packs Kleenex. You know that whole classy thing I brought up?? It totally goes out the window if you reach in and pull out a Kleenex. There just aren't that many situations where you would need a Kleenex, but be unable to find one. Or eye shadow. How long do you plan on being out of the house?! The only thing eye shadow has ever done in my purse is crumble and cover my cell phone in a weird, glittery powder. An organizer?? Frankly, carry an organizer INSTEAD of a purse. It's got a spot for credit cards, although you may have to leave everything else home. Instead, why not carry a small notepad and transfer notes?

All I'm saying is that small purses are cute, and women really need to stop fearing them. There's a lot of potential there.

A word about the next month

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:28:00 -0500

I've been very bored with this latest season. It seems that no real trend ever emerged, and the whole season was something of a waste. As such, it just sort of dragged on forever. To be perfectly honest, I don't think I can bring myself to talk about another designer's collection, until we see some real change.

Fortunately, next month is when Fashion Week happens, so we should see something interesting then. But until then, I believe that I will cover all the purses, shoes, jewelry, etc. I miss doing those sorts of posts anyway, and it will give me a chance to cover some things I've wanted to talk about for a while now.

Enjoy, and let me know if you'd like to see it become a regular feature.

Rent Fashion

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:57:51 -0500

I found a new site that I wanted to pass along. Ladies, have you ever wondered why men are able to rent a tux for special occasions, but it's almost impossible to rent a nice dress for a special occasion? And when you can, it's almost never worth wearing. Rental clothing for women tends to be an off-brand, and it often looks like it. While men can go and pick up an Oscar de la Renta tux, if you want to rent a dress, you will often find your choices limited to cheap turquoise satin Bridesmaid-reject dresses.

The site I found is called ILUS NYC. Based out of NYC, they offer some of the labels I regularly discuss on this blog. The rental is typically for three nights, although you can rent it for longer periods if you need to do so. I found some clothing by Badgley Mischka, Jill Stuart, and Gilles Montezin. Needless to say, these are pretty big designer names in the fashion business.

These are perfect for those occasions when you need a nice dress to wear to a special occasion, but it can't be one that people have seen you wear, and it doesn't make much sense for you to buy. I mean, how many times are you really going to wear a strapless black tulle dress with paillette confetti? Especially if it's to something like the company Christmas party, where you won't be able to show up in the same dress next year. This way, you can just rent it and return it when you're done. You get all the luxury and compliments, but there's none of the concerns or price of actually owning such a pricy dress.

Furthermore, they have everything for that special occasion. Handbags, bracelets, you name it- you can borrow it. They really make shopping and clothing rentals easy.

Designers to Watch- Style Rookie

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:48:00 -0500

My boss turned me onto this blog. At first glance, I felt a little assaulted by all the bright colors in the clothing. I still do a bit, just because it's typically not my thing. I chalked it up to it being a typical 12 year old, writing about fashion. I knew that she was a very good writer, and I saw various things that were copied from different designers, but I fell into the age trap and dismissed her because of her age.

I was wrong, and I hope the author will forgive such thoughts.

There's a photo on there that has her in some pink vintage clothes. I caught a glove on the side, and I chalked it up to copying Comme des Garcon's spring 2007 line. And that's the idea that stuck with me. The more I thought about it, the more I remembered that fashion is SUPPOSED to inspire. If it doesn't, then it has no point. Fashion is the art of being dressed!

But it goes beyond that. I can't count the number of adults I've met that don't understand designers like Comme des Garcon. They use labels like that to crucify the whole world of fashion by sniffing, "Are things like that even meant to be worn?? I mean really! Who would wear an outfit with stuffed hands sewn onto a dress?" This 12 year old girl that writes this blog already understands fashion better than most adults. And even though I like to believe that I understand fashion, I have to admit that in that moment, she understood it a lot better than I did.

Kudos, Tavi, and I apologize for being an ass.

Designers to Watch- Catherine Holstein Lyell

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:48:00 -0500

Lyell's inside out type designs, where the seams are clearly visible, are very unique. I mean, it's been the standard thought that you should hide the seams as well as you can. But here they are, showing.

It's a unique take on fashion, and its the kind of innovation that makes your name.

Designers to Watch- An Intro

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:31:00 -0500

Elle did a series on designers you should watch in the next few years. With these designers, they are at the beginning of their careers, and they have so much promise ahead of them. But whether they can turn that promise into a career is another matter.

I love looking at new designers because they are so raw. They are convinced that they can do anything, and sometimes, they are actually right. Their hits are much bigger, because they lack that jaded quality that comes after many years of listening to the critics. But their misses are also usually much bigger.

Purse Sale!

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:45:54 -0500

Ahhh, my two favorite words in the English language- purse sale! :D

Bagolitas is having a sale on their purses. Most of their items are 10-35% off AND, if you buy three, you get one free. They are getting ready for their new fall line of fabrics, so they are giving out these fantastic deals to clear out their inventory.

Bagolitas is cool, because they let you combine your favorite style with your favorite fabric. It's so interesting seeing all the different choices. I'm partial to small bags, so I tend to like the Bitsy in all the fabrics. Here's some of my favorites:

Bailey in Urban Squares Fabric

Becca backpack in Flip Flop Fabric

Boho in Geodots Fabric

Also, you've got to check out the Brooklyn bag. It switches from being an over the shoulder bag to being able to hook onto a walker or stroller easily, so it's perfect for moms on the go. And at these prices, it's a really good deal.

Project Runway- New Season

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:11:00 -0500

I'm kind of ehhhh on the new season of Project Runway. I mean, I didn't even realize it was debuting, and I completely missed the first episode. And I'm not the only one. My boss didn't realize it was showing, my sister caught it kind of by accident, and even Blogging Project Runway has commented on the lack of marketing. And yet, it had the biggest debut ever. How, if nobody is watching it?

At any rate, I'm canceling my cable, so I won't be doing updates the same evening each episode airs. I believe I'll be able to find the episodes onlne, but it's not going to be live blogging by any means. And sadly, I'm not even sure I'm going to miss it all that much. :S And god help us all when it completely jumps the shark and moves to Lifetime.

Fashion Articles- Alexander McQueen

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:05:00 -0500

Here's one more article for you to wrap up the series. This one is about Alexander McQueen's Fall/Winter 2008 Fashion Collection. Enjoy!

Fashion Articles- Abaete

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:14:00 -0500

A lot of people aren't familiar with Abaete, but they should be. Their Spring/Summer 2008 Fashion Collection was interesting, and they have a very modern classic look. Give it a read, then view the photos, and see what you think.

Fashion Articles- L.A.M.B.

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:11:00 -0500

Check out my article on Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. Spring/Summer 2008 Fashion Collection. This was one of her first efforts as a designer, and she really got a lot of respect for her collection, which is fairly unusual in the music world. While it seems like every actress is coming out with a shoe line or perfume line, and some are trying to pull off a whole fashion line, Stefani is one of the few that actually manages it.

Fashion Articles- Rag & Bone

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 12:08:00 -0500

This piece I did on Rag & Bone's Fall/Winter 2008 Fashion Collection is one of my favorites. I had a lot of fun writing it, because they are such an interesting label.

Flirting and Victory Hair

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 01:09:06 -0500

Okay, tell me you've heard of Victory Hair before. You know what it is. You start out the evening with the perfect hairstyle, go out on a date, things heat up, and suddenly your hair is not so neat and tidy. One could say you have a different sort of "bed head". ;)

For me, it's gotta start with my hair down and loose. It shows I'm not uptight, and I'm ready to have some fun. My bangs are perfectly framing my face, but in a way so that it looks like they just fall there naturally. And there's a little bit of messiness to it to begin with, just as a promise of what could happen later. :D For clothing, I like to dress up a little bit, but wear my naughty shoes.

Forget dinner out, forget the movies. The best way to win me over is to take me on a picnic. Not many people do picnics in my area, and to just grab a blanket, a basket full of food, and a bottle of wine, and it shows me that you spent a lot of time preparing, and that you want to spend time getting to know me. And that's just sexy! You'll be lucky if I don't claim my "victory hair" right there in the park! Now, before I start getting propositioned in the comments, I'm married, and if my husband took me on a picnic, I would make him a very happy man.

Extreme Style by VO5 has a new site that cracks me up. You can play an online dating game where you ask questions and choose the person with the best answers. Can you win at the Ultimate Flirting Championship?

Fashion Articles- Balmain

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 12:06:00 -0500

Here is a piece I did on Balmain's Fall/Winter 2008 Fashion Collection. I should note that all of the items of clothing that I reference in the article can be seen here on this blog. So after you read the article, check the back entries for the photos of the pieces.

Fashion Articles- John Galliano

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 12:44:00 -0500

I wanted to spend this week sharing some of my fashion articles that I've written. Enjoy!

Today's article is about John Galliano's Spring/Summer 2008 Fashion Collection.

Alexander McQueen- Reverse Snowflakes

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 12:42:00 -0500

Building snowflake designs into a dress can be very dangerous. I mean, snowflakes are such a childlike thing, so it runs the risk of looking very immature and silly. But this doesn't. Build lace snowflakes onto a black background and you have a cool contrasting dress. On the side, there are multiple layers of tulle, as if the dress is spilling out from under a snow that's become so heavy that it weighs it down. Which is interesting all by itself. We think of snow as being lightweight and fluffy, but in this case, it's the dress that is, not the snowflakes. Very nice job on this piece.

Alexander McQueen- Plaid Suit

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 12:42:00 -0500

Hmmm. I'm not really in favor of this look. Instead of being a cute, somewhat punkish suit, the ruffles make it look more like a bandito. This is one fashion piece that I'm not really anxious to own.

Alexander McQueen- Peacock

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 12:48:00 -0500

While the other peacock dress is good, this one is not. Dress or headwear, if you want to be honest. The headwear is just goofy, and looks absurd. The dress looks like a cheap, acetate taffeta (or maybe a garbage bag), with a corset over the top. Ick!

Alexander McQueen- Peacock Dress

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:21:00 -0500

The lacework on this dress is amazing. And working the peacocks into the design is absolutely inspiring. It's a very masterful design, and they did excellent work on it.

Alexander McQueen- Loops

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:06:00 -0500

Look closely at this dress, and you'll realize that it's made of a bunch of red loops. It's like a weird, looped shag carpet. I love the innovation of the piece. Is it wearable?? Not really. Well, I wouldn't wear it anyway. :D

Alexander McQueen- Goth Wedding

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:04:00 -0500

Except for the black rubbery looking leggings, this would make a perfect dress for a goth wedding. It's a really beautiful dress, and I'd love to see it in white at an actual wedding. Black's okay, but I think it could be better in white.

Alexander McQueen- Fluffy Skirt

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:03:00 -0500

I honestly love this skirt. Though I can't be sure, I believe it's made of hundreds of thousands of layers of the thinnest black tulle you've ever seen. Look at the side and the bottom, and you can see little parts where it's thin. That leads me to believe it's that way down to the very bottom.

Absolutely beautiful, and really amazing how much work was involved.

Alexander McQueen- Feathers

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:02:00 -0500

This is a really interesting piece. Sure, it's kind of ridiculous in its size, but the execution of making a garment with feathers is really difficult, and this was done beautifully.

Alexander McQueen- Empress

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:01:00 -0500

This dress reminded me of something an Empress would wear. It's perfectly balanced, with the skirt underneath, because neglecting that one aspect would make the dress too full in the hips. My favorite part is the shrug. This is so barely there that it looks like she's wearing tissue paper. Not only is the fabric translucent, but it slips so far to the back of the shoulders that it's the smallest shrug in existence. Which is saying a lot, since shrugs are such a tiny little piece of clothing anyway.

Alexander McQueen- Czarina

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:52:00 -0500

This is an extremely delicate looking dress. The embroidery is absolutely breathtaking, and it's so intricate that you can't help but respect it. I think the skirt is rather bland, but the jacket more than makes up for it, and ultimately, it provides a nice balance to the entire piece. The ruffles along the edge of the jacket are the most beautiful part, and give it a truly luxurious look.

Alexander McQueen- Cute Suit

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:49:00 -0500

This is an adorable suit. I think the way the zipper on the suit slants is interesting enough. But the the really interesting thing is that the piping on the pants matches the slant of the jacket. It provides a really crisp look to an otherwise overly fancy suit.

Alexander McQueen- 101 Dalmations

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:45:00 -0500

Though this collection is meant to be dresses that resemble something various female heads of state would wear to an official function (if they were to dress in outfits that resemble their cultural heritage), this doesn't do it. This dress resembles Cruella DeVille much more than an English outfit. It's probably the most costumey dress of the entire bunch.

Alexander McQueen- Ruffled Shrug

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:17:00 -0500

This ruffled shrug is really beautiful. I'd have to say that if anything, this is the one and only trend for the fall. There seems to be a lot of clothing where the fabric itself is manipulated and folded, in order to create the garment. If you want a good example, Rami on Project Runway has done a lot of this. Alexander McQueen has always been pretty good at this, but I'm noticing it in more and more designers.

I like this outfit, and I think it's a beautiful, classy, and also playful design. And look at that beading on the bodice. *sigh*

Alexander McQueen- Ugly Sweater Dress

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:25:00 -0500

This dress is a perfect example that a piece can be really great or really lousy, depending on what you pair it with.

This is a really pretty sweater dress. I love it. The only problem is, with that much tulle underneath, it bunches and stretches it into weird shapes. The contortion of this dress ruins it, and turns what could be a very interesting sweater dress into an ugly, hideous look overall.

Balmain- Flames

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:16:00 -0500

I'm not exactly opposed to this dress. I'm just not thrilled with the execution of the idea. It seems that the designer went right up to the edge, and then backed off. Here's what I mean...

The dress is short, and it's unapologetic for being so short. When Britney wants to flash the naughty bits, THIS is the kind of dress she wears. And the flames, especially being different colors, is cool. But they are too structured. The flames have a lot of order to the design. The problem is, this dress wants to be much less ordered and distinct. It doesn't want to follow the rules. So forcing it with the design ruins a bit of the coolness factor that it could have had.

Balmain- Lightning Bolts

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:15:00 -0500

Not in a billion years. This dress is singlehandedly going to ensure that the 80's don't come back. In that regards, it's a raging success. In every other way, it just makes me ill.

Balmain- Red Cheetah

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:08:00 -0500

Okay, you're going to think I lost my mind here, but I have a soft spot for these pants. Just a couple of days ago, one of my friends (who happens to be a model) was ranting about people wearing pajama bottoms in public. I can't help but wonder what took so long for it to get to her area. It's been around here forever! And these pants are sort of pajama bottom-ish.

But that's not why I kind of like them (and I should stress, it's only sorta like, not love). I have a dress. On the hanger, it looks like a turquoise blue, cheetah print muu-muu. It's SOOO ugly. The reason I got it is because I used to work at a retail fashion store where they sold it. One day, one of my co-workers told me, "It's a really ugly dress, but it's cute on." Meaning, it looks a lot better when you're wearing it than it will ever look on a hanger. I knew there was no way she could possibly be right, so I went and tried it on to prove a point. And you guessed it- it's cute. The curves of the dress hit in all the right places, and I looked like Bettie Page. Now, I think just about every girl on the planet will agree that any dress that makes you look like Bettie Page is a dress that needs to be in your closet. :D

These pants remind me of it because it's that same weird colored cheetah print. But you have to experiment with things like that occasionally, and you end up with very happy accidents.

Balmain- Rhinestone Jacket

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:06:00 -0500

You know, when I downloaded this photo, I hated this jacket. Since then, it's kind of grown on me. I don't think I'd ever buy it, but if you've got the guts to wear a rhinestone jacket out in public, AND if you promise to keep the rest of the outfit simple- you go girl.

Balmain- Rocker Chick

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 12:41:00 -0500

This outfit, complete with very prominent nipple (sorry mom) is only fit for a really cool rocker chick. Think Juliette Lewis. No, scratch that. Think Juliette Lewis in Strange Days. :D

I love the top (and I'm fairly certain every male reader is going to comment on how much they love it too). The pants, a little less. The pants look a little too rubbery to be really cool. I will give the designer some credit. If you had done PVC pants, it would have been too shiny, and turned out a mess. So, they fortunately avoided that trap. But I think they could have done a bit better.

Balmain- Shiny Black Top

Fri, 6 Jun 2008 12:25:00 -0500

What can I say? I LOVE this! It's so punk and edgy, but it's mainstream enough that it doesn't look odd. And the shimmer coming off that black top adds so much. Heck, even the model's hair is just perfect.

But, I will say that the pants aren't perfect. If you look at them from a distance, they look great. The zippers are spot on, and really work well with this style. But the plaid is off. Look at the knees. The stripes in the plaid pattern don't match up. And I can't come up with a good reason why they don't match.

Balmain- Zebra and Cheetah

Thu, 5 Jun 2008 12:22:00 -0500

I think this dress is kind of odd. I really admire the rocker style, but this is a really bad combination of prints. The lightning bolt section that separates the two fabrics is interesting, and it adds a lot of attitude, but ultimately, it makes it more of a mess. See, not only do you have the two main patterns, both of which are a whole lot of look to try and pull off, but the lightning bolt adds a third pattern.

Shoes- Alexander McQueen Sparkle Shoes

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 12:19:00 -0500

I LOVE these. These are the exact shoes I want to wear when I win my first Oscar I plan on winning three, BTW. ;) Anyway, it would be absolutely necessary that we're talking about an occasion like that. See, the shoes cost $1689.00 Those first two digits just aren't working for me. :)

Shoes- Alexander McQueen Square Toes

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 12:18:00 -0500

These Alexander McQueen shoes are so awesomely strange that I can't resist them. The square toes are really unusual, and to be perfectly honest, I like that they don't even try to hide the square toe. They flaunt it, if anything. Unfortunately, they sell for $714, so there's absolutely no chance of me ever owning them. :)

Shoes- Alexander McQueen Grey

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 12:18:00 -0500

I love these, but not nearly enough to justify the price. Heck, I adore everything Alexander McQueen has ever done. But at $2049, there's no way... I suddenly like them a LOT less.

Shoes- Betty Muller Ballroom

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:54:00 -0500

I think everything about these shoes is elegant and classy, though I wouldn't necessarily agree with calling them "Ballroom", as the designer decided to do. But, I suppose if I object, I should start my own shoe line so I can call them whatever I want. I LOVE the toe, and how the thin gold bands are shaped. Absolutely perfect.

These shoes sell for $260.

Shoes- Christian LaCroix Asian Shoes

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:51:00 -0500

These Christian LaCroix shoes have a sort of Asian inspired design at the toe and heel. I like the design, and the edginess of it, but the gold just doesn't work for me. It's not that the shoe is awful, but I just don't look good in gold. So, I hope that one of you enjoys them for me. :D

They sell for $279.

Shoes- Christian LaCroix Flower

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:48:00 -0500

Who else could make these shoes, other than Christian Lacroix?! Despite the flower, which would usually be playful and flirty, these are somehow sophisticated, with a hint of sadness. The muted colors give it that sort of a look, and the pointiness of the flower petals helps.

They cost $299.40, which is almost a bargain for Christian LacCoix shoes.

Shoes- Dolce and Gabbana Poppies

Tue, 13 May 2008 12:46:00 -0500

I LOVE these shoes by Dolce and Gabbana. Typically, D&G isn't my favorite. But in this case, I think they are so masterfully done that I can't help but love them. Having the flower right at the toe is really perfect.

These shoes sell for $499.

Shoes- Donna Karan Oil Slick

Mon, 12 May 2008 12:42:00 -0500

These shoes remind me of an oil slick on a driveway. If you look very closely, they have that same weird, black, rainbow of colors. I'm not too fond of them. The colors are kind of ominous, and that's the best part about them. The style is rather bland, and the bottom of the shoe has such deep treads that it looks like you could run a marathon in them! Not that I recommend that, of course.

They sell for $344.40

Shoes- Missoni ZigZag

Fri, 9 May 2008 12:21:00 -0500

These shoes are so much fun! I haven't a clue where you'd wear them or what you'd wear them with, but that shouldn't keep you from buying them. ;) Now, the $463.20 bill- THAT should keep you from buying them!

Shoes- Marc by Marc Jacobs

Thu, 8 May 2008 12:21:00 -0500

These shoes are rather unusual, and I like them because of it. They are see through. If you look at the heel, it's easy to pick out. But that is also true on the toes. The little circles are sewn into it, to give it some detail, without taking away from the see through aspect of the shoe. I love it. I think it's a very unique idea. Now that being said, I'm not sure how it would look on the foot. The outline of toes might ruin the whole look. Sadly, some shoes are better off the foot than on. lol

Shoes- Givenchy Classy

Wed, 7 May 2008 12:36:00 -0500

I like these $549 shoes from Givenchy, but the problem is, I don't think I'd like the person who wears them. Right now, I'm imagining some blonde heirhead with a cell phone stuck at her ear and her head stuck up her ass. lol She's got a stupid dog in a stupid purse, which matches her stupid personality. Sorry, but the shoes just look like they'd be worn by someone who's vapid. lol They're cute, but the kind of girl who wears them often isn't.

Shoes- Giuseppe Zanotti Painful Shoes

Tue, 6 May 2008 12:46:00 -0500

These shoes, that sell for $457.80, look painful. They are the sort of shoes you give to somebody when you really don't want them to walk anywhere. Sorry, I've got a lot of shoes. Maybe I even have one with this type heel. If I do, I've blocked it out. It's a little too insane for me (says the girl who can walk in 6" heels).

Shoes- Gianfranco Ferre Blue & Brown

Mon, 5 May 2008 12:36:00 -0500

These shoes sell for $283, making them one of the least expensive designer shoes I'm discussing. They have the most gorgeous blue and brown color, all mixed together without any set pattern. And as lovely as the shoe is, it seems as though you wouldn't be able to wear them that often. Not true, I say. Wear them with jeans or any sort of brown suit. Something that brings out one of those colors is sufficient.

I love these shoes. They look comfortable, cool, and dressy casual.

Shoes- Moschino Peekaboo

Fri, 2 May 2008 12:57:00 -0500

These shoes have a little peekaboo panel on the side. I have some that are similar in that respect, but it's such a different shoe. Now, let me tell you about a conversation I had this week, and you'll better understand where I'm going with this.

This week, a guy I know from a blogging site asked, "Why do women need so many pairs of shoes." The simple answer is, each one is different, and you need different shoes for different occasions. For the longer answer, let's compare the peekaboo shoes I have to these. These are fun and flirty, but a little dressy. I personally wouldn't wear them, because they are the kind of shoe that is perfect for church, except the patent leather makes them look a little too dirty for church. lol To me, they don't really have a good niche that they fit into. I suppose if I was going to put together an outfit, it would be a pair of dressy capris and a lightweight blouse. My peekaboo shoes on the other hand, are total vamp. They were a size too small, but so pretty that I had to have them. Besides, this was while I was in high school, and I wanted them for prom. They are 3" tall pumps, and also patent leather, and there is nothing innocent enough about them to consider wearing to church. :D But if you want to look sexy, they can't be beat. So why could I possibly need two pairs of patent leather shoes with cutouts on the side?? Because one is worn to church and the other is preached against in church. lol

These sell for $454.

Shoes- Sergio Rossi Bloodsplatter

Thu, 1 May 2008 12:08:00 -0500

Wow. There are some titles that you never contemplate when you begin a fashion blog. And yet, I've talked about dominatrix jackets, rat capes, and now, bloodsplatter shoes.

These shoes look like the wearer was wearing these while a heinous murder was committed. On them. From behind. Sorry to get so graphic, and I'm not sure I need to anyway. It's no stretch of the imagination to say that these are kind of disturbing. At $464, I'm going to go ahead and pass up the chance to be the ultimate horror fangirl. ;) :)

Shoes- Sergio Rossi Classy

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:16:00 -0500

These shoes are probably the most perfect shoes I've ever seen. You can wear them with any sort of grey outfit, and it will make it look very classy. The black piping and the open toe give it a little something that makes it extra interesting. They sell for $464, which is a lot of money. I do realize that. But I would also make the argument that this one pair of shoes will go with so many different things that it's probably worth the cost. Especially if you have any sort of job where you need to wear a classy suit.

Shoes- Tapeet by Vicini

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:11:00 -0500

These shoes sell for $214.00, but I can promise you, the broken leg will cost much more. And yes, I'm being serious. A few years ago, I had some shoes that were exactly this same style. That wedge on the front is deadly. It likes to tilt forward, taking you with it. I bought it from a clothing store where I worked at the time, and every single woman that worked there had these shoes, and every single one of them fell, tripped, or twisted her ankle. I retired these shoes after one use.

Shoes- Vera Wang Grey

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:09:00 -0500

I found these lovely shoes by Vera Wang. I love the color and pattern, such as it is, but I cringe at the thought of cramming my wide feet into these. In fact, I'm not sure what kind of woman wears shoes like these, but I am certain she is keeping her podiatrist's kids in college.

Elie Saab- Bad Fur Wrap

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:05:00 -0500

This is so over-the-top, and not in a good way. It is supposed to look rich, but it strikes me as cartoonish. It's supposed to look classy, but to me, it looks like a child playing dress-up. I mean, it looks like one of the costumes from Green Acres!!!

Elie Saab- Bad Red Dress

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:55:00 -0500

This dress seems rather dowdy to me. I think that Saab was going for a wispy look, but instead, it just seems like something my grandmother would wear. Imagine it without the belt, and it's easier to see how old fashioned looking it is.

Also, I am firmly of the opinion that you should not wear the same color as your hair color. For example, blondes should not wear yellow, brunettes should not wear brown, grey-haired women should not wear grey, and redheads should not wear red. It just seems to wash people out. The only exception is that if it's a significantly different color than your hair, you can get away with it. For example, those with dark brown hair can get away with light brown outfits, but even then, it should be kept to a minimum.

Elie Saab- Barbie

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:53:00 -0500

This dress is such a mess. They took a really good idea (the ruffles) and combined it with a really bad idea (the sequins). And what a disaster it is! Frankly, sequins have been dead for at least 20 years now. Let's leave them that way, please.

By the way, I should mention that it could be a lot worse than this. But just because it could be worse doesn't make this a winner.

Check out the new clothes

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:03:00 -0500

I'm putting a link, but I'm not going to post an image this time. The simple fact is, you MUST see these in person. So go to Target and check out this dress. I guarantee you, you will not be able to make out the specific details I want you to see if you just look at the picture.

This dress is a very futuristic mod style. It reminds me of the clothing in a shop in London called "Cyberdog". You absolutely have to go see this in person, because the pockets are really amazing. It blows my mind how much detail they put into such a small thing, and how well that detail turned out. That's it. I'm not going to spoil the surprise. Whether the dress is your style or not, I dare you to be unimpressed.

As you may have noticed...

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:11:13 -0500

We have a new ad here. We're experimenting with new things, and this is just one of the new types of ads you'll see. Please let me know what you think, so we can know whether to continue doing this sort of thing. Thanks!

Nina Garcia Fired from Elle

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Nina Garcia has been fired from Elle Magazine, according to Access Hollywood. No word on why, but it comes soon after the news of Project Runway switching to Lifetime.

Elie Saab- Barcode

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:09:00 -0500

This is an interesting pattern. I'm all in favor of the dress, except for one part. At the bottom, it switches from diagonal to horizontal stripes. And I think it's in that area where the dress goes from being a crisp, clean look to a sort of boho look. Perhaps it's the mismatched stripes. At any rate, I am NOT a fan of boho, so that one small part makes me like this much less.

Elie Saab- Beautiful Blue Dress

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:34:00 -0500

What an unusual style of dress. This is definitely innovative.

I don't like the wrap aspect of it, but it's quibbling over a small detail. I don't really think it detracts from the dress, but it's just not my personal style. So, I guess I can't give it too much crap. Also, the bow isn't my favorite, but I do think that the dress would look worse without it, so I suppose it needs to stay. What I really love is the sash coming down between the ruched area at the top. It's a really cool look.

Elie Saab- Black Lace

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:14:00 -0500

Though I'm not a fan of the dress overall, I love that lace. The swirls on it are exquisite, and it gives it a very old-fashioned sort of beauty.

I think the belt is nice, although it is a bit of a risk to put something that bold with this dress. The rest of the dress is pretty demure, but the belt is very bold. I think the risk is what I like about it so much. Now, for my objections to the dress, the swath of sheer fabric across the sleeve is pointless and useless. The sheer panel is cute, but it looks a little crooked. And the hips of the dress are huge. I couldn't wear this without looking like I had a bustle underneath. And though it's old-fashioned, we're not going back quite that far.

Project Runway Changing Channels

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 12:17:00 -0500

Stick with me here, because this can get confusing. Project Runway is switching channels, moving from Bravo to Lifetime. (Personally, I hate Lifetime, and this is a big turn-off for me.) The move is set to happen with the sixth season in November 2008.

Yes, that's right. The SIXTH season in NOVEMBER, 2008. Count on your fingers and toes, and you'll realize that we just wrapped up season 4, which means that season 5 is missing. What this means is that as of this second, it looks like there are going to be three seasons of Project Runway in 2008. Ugh. I love the show. Don't get me wrong. But that's a little stupid.

Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, I collected Cow Parade figurines. I love those little things. They were cute little ceramic cows, modeled after lifesize cow art projects that had been displayed in various cities throughout the world. I loved collecting them, and in truth, I would still like to have the complete collection someday. But eventually, they started milking that poor cow for all it was worth. And it dried up!! They got to the point where they were issuing a collection of about 12 every month. Now, these suckers ran about $10-20 each. So, die-hard collector or not, I couldn't afford that! And when you start getting behind, it's too easy to put off buying any, because there are so many older ones that you don't have. Eventually, I saw the value of some go from $700+ to less than $100. I had many in my collection that used to be worth over $100, but when everyone started backing off of buying them because they couldn't keep up, those prices dropped so low that I can't sell them at any price.

Moral of the story- don't oversaturate the market. Project Runway is still great because it seems as if they are really committed to quality. But how can they really oust a designer for having "quality issues" when the show itself is cranking out episode after episode. Remember how in virtually every season, the clothes begin to suffer at the end, because the people are worn out from the insane pace?? Take a lesson from your own show. Less is more.

(And please don't switch to Lifetime. I feel like I lose IQ points just turning past that damn channel.)

Elie Saab- Bunching Dress

Tue, 8 Apr 2008 12:34:00 -0500

Sorry, but this dress just doesn't work for me. It's a little dowdy, but that's not my biggest problem with it. My biggest problem is that it's bunching up in the front. Now, if this dress looks like this on a model, on a runway, under very controlled conditions, how horrible is it going to look on my butt, walking down the street??? It's just not a cute enough dress, and the bunching problems don't help either.

Elie Saab- Good Fabric, Bad Dress

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 12:36:00 -0500

Okay, let me explain how I normally do this, before I get to my review. Typically, I pick a designer, go through their entire collection for the season, and pick out the outfits that really stand out in some way. If they are good, they are really good. If they are bad, they are really bad. Sometimes, I even pick out ones that I think are boring, but they are REALLY boring. lol After I fly through 28-65 designs, I have it narrowed down to 5-15. I save these, name them on the spur of the moment according to my initial gut reaction, and then move on. I review them later.

Now that you know my process, I've got to admit that I don't know what I was thinking when I named this "Good Fabric, Bad Dress". Maybe I thought it was too flowy. Maybe I didn't like that it was a two piece dress. Maybe I was just in a bad mood and I had seen a bunch of other Elie Saab dresses that I didn't like. I don't know. Looking back on it now, I've come to my senses, and I think it's gorgeous.

I apologize for my temporary insanity.

Elie Saab- Magazine Photo

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 12:16:00 -0500

It's kind of hard to put my dislike of this dress into words. I think it's because it seems overly good.

I know, I know. I've finally lost my mind. Now I'm complaining because the outfits are too good! The problem is, it looks like it belongs on a magazine cover in some outrageous Annie Leibovitz style, fan blowing the ruffles just so... And then in the magazine, whichever starlet is wearing the dress on the cover will spill one moderately newsworthy headline in a teary confession. It won't be that scandalous, but it's got to be big enough for the magazine circulation to go up.

Elie Saab- Miss America

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 12:13:00 -0500

Heeeere she is. Miiiiss Amer-i-ca.

Sorry, but this dress, as pretty as it is, doesn't work. It's pretty in a way that my daughter would like. Lest you think that's a good thing, my daughter is in Kindergarten, her favorite color is pink, and her top fashion inspiration is Cinderella. If it sparkles, it's perfect.

Elie Saab- Tiered

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 12:10:00 -0500

No. This is like a walking chessboard. She's dressed as the bishop, the black and white are the colors of chess pieces, and there are even rooks on her dress!! It's way too literal! Is it god-awful? Nope. I've seen much worse outfits. But it's not the best. Not by a long-shot. And especially not for Elie Saab.

Elie Saab- Too Many Ruffles

Tue, 1 Apr 2008 12:08:00 -0500

It's not that this dress is hideous. It's just got a few too many ruffles. It would have been much better if they toned it down a bit. I do have to say, look on the left shoulder. I LOVE that! I wish it was on the right shoulder too.

Elie Saab- Too Much

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:02:00 -0500

This is just way too much going on in one dress. You've got a bold colorblocked print, you've got striped ruffles, you've got an alligator belt, you've got a scarf, and you've got parts that are sheer and parts that are opaque. There's just not a single thing working in its favor. (Not to mention, the model's neck is kinda freaking me out.)

Elie Saab- Vegas

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:16:00 -0500

I usually love Elie Saab. But this season is really off. It's like some weird Americana stereotype fashion show. This outfit is something you'd see at las vegas shows . It's got a certain showgirl kind of look to it. And no, I don't mean that as a compliment. It's too showy, and the use of sequins is kind of retro.

Pringle of Scotland- Baggy Coat

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:13:00 -0500

Why?? Why did they make a coat this large? Were they planning a plus-size fashion show (plus sized models tend to be around a size 12-14, and this is clearly larger than that)? Did they just want to put something so large on the tiniest model they could find?? Too weird.

Pringle of Scotland- Capelet with Metal

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:10:00 -0500

This would be okay looking without the severe hairstyle and the leggings. But I detest the capelet portion, and the big metal plate on her chest does not help anything. It looks like a weird, historical costume that's pulled out of a museum so world leaders can occasionally wear it.

And they wouldn't have pockets. ;)

Pringle of Scotland- Enormous Dress

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:07:00 -0500

The pleating on this dress makes it just incredibly large looking. I think the only person who could pull this off is Angelina Jolie. When she's pregnant. At least 5 months pregnant. Oh, and on a red carpet. It's too dressy for normal occasions.

In other words, don't bother.

Pringle of Scotland- Good Top, Bad Pants

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:02:00 -0500

I really like this top. It's sheer, but there are different levels of opacity throughout. The neck is very opaque, and the ruffles along the neck and arms are still sheer, but much less transparent than the shirt itself.

The pants are a different story. They are awful!! Low slung, wide legs with small cuffs, and an unusual waistband don't do anything for the look. Furthermore, the fabric is so cheap looking.

Pringle of Scotland- Grey Coat

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:48:00 -0500

What a cool coat! The only part that's somewhat iffy to me are the sleeves. They are a little large at the bottom for my tastes, and just seem overly worked. Other than that, it's great.

I especially like the front. You've got the front flap with it's multiple rows of stitching. But my favorite is the belt that seems to come out of nowhere and go back into nowhere. It's really cool, and I think it's one of the more interesting things I've seen on a coat in a long time.

Pringle of Scotland- Odd Sweater

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:44:00 -0500

This sweater is strange all around, but I still kind of like it. Not love it, mind you. Just like. :)

The rows on it are going sort of diagonal, but not enough that it's blatantly obvious. The body of it looks like a Mr. Roger's sweater, with that neck. But the sleeves- the sleeves are just wacky. They look like someone knitted some kimono-type sleeves, made them too long, and stuck them onto the sweater. Her hands emerge at a weird place.

And I have to mention, the pants are awesome!! Love the color, love the fabric, love the cut- it's all nice!!

Pringle of Scotland- Silk Dress

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:40:00 -0500

I'm sort of conflicted by this. I hate the shape, because it just looks like a fat dress. I think that it should be about 4 inches shorter, and have more of a shape to it. Otherwise, it just looks like a decent maternity gown. Also, the leggings must go now! I'm so tired of them!!

But the fabric is such a beautiful silk, and there's such a cool, retro sort of look... It's hard to completely hate it. I just wish there were more reasons to love it.

Pringle of Scotland- Triangle Dress

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:38:00 -0500

You know something? As simple as this shape would be, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this before. The triangle neckline is really interesting, and it would be so easy to make. I wish the fabric was a bit nicer, because this just looks like dingy, damaged satin that's been pulled out of the closet after many decades. But apart from the fabric, it's a cool dress.

Pringle of Scotland- White Top

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:34:00 -0500

This is a beautiful skirt, but the part that is really interesting is the white top. Certainly, it could be called a baggy top, but because of the way it's cut, it still has a bit of a shape to it. I love the little satin inserts in the arms, and I think they add a lot to the overall piece.

Now if we can only lose the leggings, there will be a really cool outfit left behind. :)

Project Runway 4 Finale

Thu, 6 Mar 2008 10:26:00 -0600

*I have to be upfront here. I am in the middle of moving and don't have cable at the new place yet. So I haven't seen this episode. I do have it recorded, and hopefully I'll get to watch it today. In the meantime, thank god for recaps! :)

Christian wins, which brings my record to 4/4. Whew! lol I was a bit worried. I knew that all the designers had strong collections, and even Chris's collection looked nice enough to fit up there with the rest of them, even though he was eliminated. I have to agree with what Tim said. Remember how in past seasons the designers have all resorted to glue by this point? But we only saw that once. By about the 7th episode from the end, the judges are ripping them apart for having such unfinished, ugly pieces. But in this one, it was fairly consistent all the way through. Even when you look at the highlights of the bad designs, most weren't so god-awful that they could never be worn. I've seen uglier things in professional shows. So, they maintained a very high level of taste and design throughout. Well done to all the designers!!

Dresses

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 13:19:00 -0600

With spring almost upon us, it's time to break out the dresses! I'm so excited, and I can barely wait to get my favorite dress out of the closet. Here are some of the hot dresses for this season, and some of my favorite examples of each style.

First up, floral print dresses. These are perfect for spring, for obvious reasons. The colors this season are a little more muted than they have been in the past, so something with a fairly neutral background is best. The best example of this is a grey silk belted dress by A.B.S. It's very muted, and has a retro sort of look. If you're looking for something that stands out a little more, try the empire waist dress by Jill Stuart. It's got a white background with what appear to be red poppies. Throw on a small shrug for those colder spring days.

A button-front shirtdress is almost essential, because it's been a staple of the fashion scene for so long. For me, it almost has to be a Diane von Furstenberg dress. She is a master of the style.

Finally, dresses with a full skirt are always a good pick for spring. There's just something about a full skirt that's so girly. :) These kind always look really good on me, and they are my personal favorite. Personally, I prefer either the 50's retro style where the skirt keeps its fullness all the time, or I like the type where the fullness sort of disappears at the waist, but is shown at the hem. In other words, the material just flows so well that it seems to lay flat, but when you see the bottom of the skirt portion, you realize just how much fabric was used to create the look. Knit fabrics often achieve this very well.

Oscars- Tilda Swinton

Mon, 3 Mar 2008 14:02:00 -0600

Tilda Swinton had the distinction of being the worst dressed celeb at the Oscars. Naturally, this isn't really a title that most people seek. The dress by Lanvin is fitted and sleeveless on one half, then loose and long-sleeved on the other half. It looks like it's made from panne velvet, or something equally hideous. And then the red hair, pale skin, and no makeup to speak of have me questioning whether she got confused about where she was headed. This isn't the goth ball, sweetheart.

Oscars- Marion Cotillard

Mon, 3 Mar 2008 10:59:00 -0600

Marion Cotillard wore a gown by Jean Paul Gaultier that resembled fish scales. Personally, I think it was way too costume-y for the Oscars. As an actress, she has all year to dress in costumes, and even resemble fish if she wants. But the Oscars offer her the chance to dress glamorously for one night. Personally, I think she can do a little better than this undersea adventure.

I'm Getting Naked and Staying that Way!

Sat, 1 Mar 2008 12:55:34 -0600

No, I'm not joining a nudist colony. When I say that I'm getting naked and staying that way, I mean that I'm getting some naked naturals shampoo, and I'm going to keep using it. I got a sample, and I'm a BIG fan after just one use.

My hair needs a lot of help. In all honesty, it hasn't had anything natural on it for years! I've been coloring my hair since I was 12, and it's been every naturally occurring shade (and a lot of unnatural ones). Currently, it's red. Not just red. RED. It's about the color of Milla Jovovich's hair in "The Fifth Element". Very unnatural. lol And while I love the color, it's difficult to maintain. Red is already such a difficult color because the maintenance on it is so high. It's widely recognized as the most difficult haircolor, because it fades so badly. With my particular haircolor, this effect is magnified. Every single time I wash my hair, I wash a lot of the color out. If I want to keep it fresh looking, I should color it about once a month. But because this color requires some lift (it bleaches my hair before applying the red, to provide a more vivid color), I can't do that to my hair without serious damage. So I always have to make the choice between having a great color, but damaging my hair, and having it faded out to an orange-red sort of color, instead of the vibrant red I want.

So why am I such a big fan?? Well, for starters, I didn't notice any significant color loss after washing my hair. Usually, the water is very pink, but this time, I didn't notice anything. I've tried other color safe shampoos, and they didn't do a thing for me. I suspect this is because it's PH balanced, so it's not stripping my hair of anything but oils. Furthermore, it doesn't have any synthetic fragrances. This is a big plus to me. I am actually allergic to most shampoos, and the fragrance in them has left my head so itchy at times that I've scratched it raw. Not fun. I have to be very careful to use shampoos that have no added fragrance, or to rotate them until I build up a sensitivity to it.

But beyond that, I like the company's ethics. When they say natural, they mean it. No animal testing or animal by-products. No Lauryl or Laureth Sulfates, no DEA or TEA, no harsh chemicals. I love that. There aren't any nasty chemicals being dumped in my water system. Lauryl sulfate is a potential mutagen, and I'd rather stay away from it. It's what makes shampoo lather when you use it, and because it's missing, so is the lather. I personally don't care, and I'd rather people adapt to going without it, in order to keep safe.

Best of all, the conditioner can make your hair up to 7 times stronger. lol I don't even need to explain why I love that!

Seriously, I love everything about it. I'm going to look for some the next time I'm in Walgreen's. Thanks to Naked Naturals for the sample. I love it! :D

Oscars- Katherine Heigl

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:40:03 -0600

You know something? I'm really getting tired of Katherine Heigl. How can a person be that gosh-darn cute??! lol

This gown by Escada is really cool. It's got that vivid red color that so many people use on the red carpet, but that most women can't pull off. And the little cut out on the shoulder is one of the most interesting innovations in fashion that I've seen in a long time. It really inspires me, and makes me want to run right out and make a tank top that uses that same feature. :D Hey, I copy, but I copy from the best. lol

Oscars- Jessica Alba

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:36:48 -0600

Wow! I've always thought that pregnant women are beautiful. Well, except for myself. I just felt like a walrus. :) But Jessica Alba puts most pregnant women to shame. She's just stunning here. Typically, she's not one of those girls that I look at and think, "Man! I wish I looked that good." But in this case, I finally get her beauty.

Special kudos to Marchesa for the beautiful gown she's wearing.

Robes

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:54:12 -0600

I found a great site for Bathrobes. This is something I considered getting for my mom for Christmas, because her robe is getting quite old, and I thought she might like a new one. Ultimately, I decided to get her something different, but that doesn't mean I stopped looking. Ever since then, I've kept looking for whatever nice robes I could find.

I personally like the waffle fabric robes, but I know my mom would prefer the Terry Robes. I am fond of the waffle style because they always look so luxurious, and remind me of a day at the spa. But I have to admit, the terrycloth ones are really absorbent, so they are always nice for when you step out of the shower. Plus, the terry ones tend to be rather large, and it's so comfy to toss on a great big, oversized robe, and just relax.

The Hooded Robes are also really nice. And because these hooded robes are made from Turkish cotton terry cloth, you can put on the hood and use it to towel dry your hair. They are 52 inches long, so it has that incredible long length that is so popular. But best of all, they can be personalized with a monogram, so it makes a really nice gift for someone.

Ultimately, I think the chenille robes are best for my mom. She really likes the soft feel of the fabric more than anything else. I think the terry cloth is more absorbent, and the waffle print is more luxurious, but if I'm buying for her, it makes sense to get her something she will like. These chenille microfiber robes are used in some of the best spas, and they are one of Oprah's favorite things.

For myself, I want something a little sassier. Sure, I'd be very happy with one of the waffle print robes, but my favorite is the leopard print robe. What can I say? It's just cool. :D The leopard print robe has a shawl collar, two front pockets, and can be personalized. I can definitely see myself wearing this as we open presents on Christmas morning. lol

When I get one, this is where I'm going to order from. A lot of places will monogram the robe, but Plushrobes.com goes a step beyond and allows you to put up to 15 letters. You can even choose the font style you want to use (Script or Block), and the color of thread. And it only costs $7.95 to personalize it. I can't think of anywhere else that offers that level of customization. Beyond that, they offer free shipping, free cards with your order, and the widest selection of robes anywhere.

Oscars- Hilary Swank

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:25:00 -0600

Hilary Swank looked amazing in her Versace Oscar's gown. The way the fabric criss-crosses itself, but it still sheer makes it look very detailed, without adding much bulk. This isn't the first great Oscar's dress she's chosen. In fact, she's usually one of the best dressed women at the Oscars, without usually being recognized as such.

Jewelry

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:01:19 -0600

I married a good man. He regularly buys me jewelry. Nearly every anniversary, Valentine's Day, and sometimes for no reason at all, he buys me a piece of jewelry. Usually it's a small diamond ring of some sort. Lucky girl, ain't I? :D So today, just because I'm in a romantic mood, I wanted to talk about some cool pieces I found.

I found some beautiful ruby floral earrings. Rubies are my birthstone, so I've always been pretty fond of them. Typically, I'm not that into floral earrings, because I like a sleeker look. But I can definitely make an exception for rubies. :D

For rings, I like the look of the simple Bulgari cabochon rings. They are brushed metal (I prefer the gold), with a sort of bubble on top. There are grooves on the sides, which cut into the bubble, and make it seem to rise from the ring. It's very simple looking when you first initially glance at it, but when you really start examining it, you realize how innovative it is.

Chandelier earrings have been in style for years now, and I can't see them going out of style anytime soon. They look good on most women, and this type of earring allows you to accessorize more than a lot of other styles. They almost always look classy, and you can dress up your whole outfit with just a simple pair of earrings.

Now, for my least favorite. I know that pink sapphires are all the rage. They're almost always too girly for me. But I do have one ring that I love that has tiny little pink sapphires set into it. In the center is an oval opal, and around it alternate white and pink diamonds. It's so retro, and it has a really antique look. So, even though it isn't one of my favorite stones, it just depends on the jewelry piece in particular.

So there you go! These are some of my favorite pieces, and some of the most interesting choices I've found. Now I've got to drop the hints to hubby for my birthday. :D

Adam Lippes- Baggy Silver Pants

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:07:00 -0600

The top of this outfit is cute, but the pants are awful. They are just too baggy for their own good. See, when the fabric is that shiny, they need to have a more streamlined look. Instead, they are just a really baggy pair of pants that are tailored, but not that great looking.

Adam Lippes- Blue Dress

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:00:00 -0600

I LOVE this dress. I'm typically not a fan of button front dresses, because they are almost always begging for disaster. But this one really works. The neckline could have easily become frumpy looking, but by plunging it so low, it avoids that. And the belt and boots really set off the look.

Perfect!