No More Reindeer Sweaters!
Now that I’ve seen what the UK Telegraph has published as Christmas clothing.
13 comments November 7th, 2007
Posts filed under 'Fashion'
The blouse: it’s back, they say
In today’s UK Telegraph there’s an article about the return of the blouse. There’s some useful information there, especially about what this incarnation may mean to us. There’s a list of dos and don’ts, too, but they left one off: if you have a notable bosom, don’t put ruffles on it!
I’d also add that you should at least try to wash any blouse you have, because otherwise no matter what it cost to begin with, it will end up one of your costlier garments. Blouses tend to get sweaty and cuffs get into whatever you do. Break out the iron, lads and ladies.
And yes to that hat, too.
2 comments October 31st, 2007
Remember your “Feel Good” clothes?
I’d said October, but it is almost over and I have received pictures from just 2 people, and one of them is related to me!
Please, send me a photo of something you turn to a lot because it makes you feel confident and pleased with yourself. My pseudo-scientific study is going all pear shaped.
4 comments October 30th, 2007
The benefits of a walk
Saturday I went to town, both for the market and because I needed to pry myself from my mousehole, to which I had become far too adapted when I wasn’t feeling so well. I lost an entire size in a week! I don’t recommend the method, however. Still, when my jeans wouldn’t stay where I put them, and I pulled out that tight, black pair and zipped them on, it was pretty interesting from my point of view.
Everybody was bundled up. Except me. It was cool and I was wearing this knit jacket, but they were wearing down jackets, all black but one. 
As the day wore on it got hot, but they only unzipped their jackets. Why do Italians feel the cold so much?
I visited friends here and there. I made an appointment and got a haircut. I lunched on ravioli ai porcini and it was splendid, the simplest rendition I have ever had and my favorite waitress in the world was right to recommend not using the cheese on it. I only ate half, so she proposed next time she’d give me a half portion. Oh, and they’ve added flavored ciabatte to the bread basket, which is a brilliant move in a place where the local bread is salt free! They make it in house, too, and the onion one was great. I drank my first glass of wine in over a week. Good.
The haircut is good as usual, but figlio Andrea was given the styling and made it so crazy I rinsed my hair when I got home. What gets into those two kids? Sister does that too, although Mata at least uses something flexible rather than what seems to be Elmer’s Glue-all. That family is one of the best things in Italy. Mum offered me homemade pastry as well as an espresso. I wish I could have eaten it.
So, I returned home with two tiny artichokes, a kilo of Pugliese tomatoes (in spite of Jeffo’s objections, they still truck them up here from Foggia,) a big bunch of white grapes that make my lips curl up into a smile, and two very small eggplant/aubergine. And 4 belts, all looking as if they might have come off Marc Jacobs’ runway, given me by a woman in Patrizia’s shop because I was the only one they fit. Three years ago I searched all over for a 24″ belt and never found a one. Now I have four, all in shades of red, red/brown and ranging from glazed leather to suede. The buckles are very nice indeed.
I need to get out more.
3 comments October 29th, 2007
Something pretty to wear
I’ve been combing through the “best of” lists to find fashions it might be fun to wear. The problem seems to be that editors often think the oddest things are the best. But with some scouring, I’ve found what would make me happy. Some would require that I shed some years or some pounds or find somewhere totally different to go, but all of life in all the world are not about me, which it took me some of those pounds and years to figure out. I’ll admit that occasionally Victoria Beckham comes to mind when viewing these, but maybe that just means I should be her stylist?
Is it on purpose? Or does that dress not fit her?
OK, I showed only street clothes and nothing that looked like it could come from Walmart. I included nothing transparent because I don’t approve of bare nipples on the street or at lunch or work, unless there is a baby attached. If your standards and interests are different, sobeit, but you can always see the rest by clicking over to The UK Telegraph.
I had some ideas from the collections, things I could cobble together or come up with by recombining what I have. Is that happening also for you?
5 comments October 28th, 2007
Paris Runways: clean up your act
“Vacuum cleaners and clothing formed a bizarre fashion marriage of style and science on the Paris prêt-à-porter catwalk yesterday.”
I cannot adequately explain the article from which this quote came. You will have to read it yourself here.
I want you to know I looked at hundreds of runway shows until 01:00 this morning and there is good news to report. Lots of good news.
Add comment October 4th, 2007
Paris Fashion Week: will no one save us?
Sure, this is the way we want to look next spring and summer.
or at least Jean Paul Gaultier thinks so.
But then, Jeremy Scott thinks we should get down and dirty. I don’t think that phrase has entered my head since the 1970s.
Comme des Garcons has entertainment in mind. Let’s all run off and join the circus!
The grand illusionist, Christian Lacroix, who once presented us with the most beautiful boots ever made, has designed a dress a girl could wear , but NOT THAT HAT!
Dries van Noten does not do pretty girl, but this? I think I saw her at a bike shop in Adams Morgan a few years back.
We have at last reached the zenith of the ripped jean in this Maison Martin Margiela presentation.
I have some curtains I could copy Junya Watanabe with.
I want you to know, this is the best of Bernard Willhelm.
One doesn’t expect to be able to wear Vivienne Westwood, but surprise! Perhaps not in all of its many details, one could actually wear this Little Brown Ridinghood outfit without creating disaster in the streets– at least if you were in Milan or New York.
All photos are linked from the wonderful UK Telegraph Fashion pages. They don’t design them, folks, they’re just reporting. And so am I.
Later I’ll show some things that one actually might wear– at least once they get humanized from the runway version.
6 comments October 3rd, 2007
London fashion barrel
Or scraping hard to come up with something worth showing — really. When looking at today’s photos, my thought was, “Does she or doesn’t she; who cares?” What I’m seeing is very seldom covetable, and yet not ridiculous enough to post for a laugh, and certainly not interesting enough to spark off any philosophical debates. If it doesn’t sharpen up, Paris is our last hope.
I divided what I’ve seen into some categories. First category is nutty cousin. Have we not all got a friend or a relative who has nice clothes and is hopeless at putting them together? Are you related to any of these girls?
Didn’t Hermione actually dress better than that?
The next category is say what?
Even I wouldn’t wear that hat.
Last is things you might wear. Whew! I was afraid that London would be nude next year, and you know what their weather is like.
I actually love this one.
I could see the point here.
Is this the cousin or wearable? I’m not sure.
All photos are from the UK Telegraph coverage.
Add comment September 19th, 2007
Do not cook while wearing this fashion!
Or anything else on Christopher Kane’s spring and summer runway show.
I’m watching every show coming out of London’s Fashion Week, but so far I haven’t seen much I’d pay money to wear.
UK Telegraph carries it all
2 comments September 18th, 2007
Homemade fashion, why not?
Net a Porter is a site that could be more practical for the non-rich than the latest copy of Vogue. Agree with the choices or not, an attempt is made to present things real people can actually wear. Varying levels of courage may be required. Prices are baldly stated.
For me, however, it is a lesson in practicality. My budget doesn’t stretch to €1000 skirts. When I clicked to see all the skirts, most not €1000, certainly, my thought was, “If I want almost anything on that page I could make it or get someone else to make it.” Most skirts are the easiest article of clothing to make. Not, unfortunately, stitched down pleated skirts, which are the one skirt flattering in the correct length to almost everyone and still offering complete freedom of movement. But all the rest are easy. You choose the fabric, the style, the length and it takes from one to three hours to get it onto your body.
And yet, very few of us bother. Why is that? A good seamstress can even relocate darts and seams to take pounds off or to accommodate our peculiarities, whereas even for €1000 an off-the-rack skirt isn’t designed to do that for anyone but the fitting model. Who is perfect.
Most people have never even thought of hiring a dressmaker to make anything other than a prom dress or a wedding dress. Many people have sewing machines gathering dust unless there’s a household repair to be done. Unlike this woman, most people don’t even think about creating inspired fashion for themselves, but if they love clothes instead save up their pennies to buy a longed-for item or wait for the shops at a mall to knock it off.
And yet, once upon a time, women couldn’t wear what they couldn’t make. I don’t want to go back to those days! I do wonder why we can’t do a little more, though, just as we do in the kitchen. Only a privileged few can eat at The French Laundry but many can buy the cookbook and make some of the food.
This is all wondering out loud. I do have one message for the day. If you don’t think your legs are slim enough, don’t wear the now-stylish opaque black tights, but instead wear black tights with whatever level of transparency suits you. Opaque tights make tree trunks of legs, translucent tights cast shapely shadows. Really.
7 comments September 16th, 2007
