Young, broke and (unfortunately) fabulous

As is often the case with recent college graduates, I’m really, really poor. Now, this particular situation is largely accepted and manageable amongst we, the young and broke. Here’s the problem: though I fit comfortably under the umbrella of both young and broke, I am further embedded into a small subset of the demographic; the young and broke with expensive taste.

In order to address this problem I’ve been sentenced to self-imposed exile from any retail establishment outside of Walgreens, SuperTarget, and Safeway. This, however, doesn’t prevent me from masochistically browsing the internet domains of my favorite designers and retailers. I’m sad to say that it’s not uncommon for my roommates to walk in on me wistfully surfing NeimanMarcus.com, trying to justify $365 for a pair of ballet flats* while eating a bowl of Top Ramen. It’s twisted.

My latest online window-shopping obsession? Mulberry, British purveyor of flawless shoes and handbags, amongst other truly fabulous things. The iconic Bayswater tote in green ostrich leather may or may not have changed my life.

*Ok, in my defense, they truly are the most unbelievably fantastic ballet flats you’ve ever seen. Look. 

Likes & Dislikes

Things I Like:

• Google Chrome*
• Red Carpet fashion- The Oscars are coming up and I can barely contain myself. To whet your fashion appetites, here‘s some wardrobe highlights from last year’s Academy Awards, and here is a generally** accurate slideshow overview of the Oscars’ best and worst of all time.
• Ikea
• Gin Buckets – they are the recipe for instant fun*** 

Things I Dislike:

• Congressman Alan Grayson****
• Bananas
• The fact that there’s no Ikea in Colorado*****
• Hipsters that take themselves seriously

* Until now, I wasn’t sure I bought into the idea that one good browser was better than another. Sure, Safari is infinitely superior to, say, Microsoft’s awful Internet Explorer, however, I’ve always found well engineered browsers like Safari and Firefox to be largely interchangeable. Then I tried Chrome. And holy shit, it’s awesome.

** I say generally because, obviously, the slideshow makes a few mistakes. For example, Halle Berry’s 2002 dress does not qualify as one of ‘the best’. In fact, I’m inclined to categorize it as one of ‘the worst’. Because it’s hideous.

***Ingredients: 1 large bucket, turkey basters, 1 quart of gin, and 2 liters of Fresca. Put gin and Fresca into bucket. Mix. Invite friends. Pour into each others’ mouths by way of the turkey basters. Repeat. A lot.

**** Now, I know I tend to stay away from politics and that when I do brave the political seas, I generally sympathize with the center-right Democratic position that Mr. Grayson supports. That said, I can’t really pinpoint what it is about him I find so repugnant. Possible suspects include his disgusting dye job, or the fact that he’s a horse’s ass. 

***** To be fair, Ikea does own a 12 acre plot of land just outside of Denver but as of now, construction is not scheduled to start until 2012. In my humble opinion, the mirage of an Ikea just out of reach is a huge tease. Honestly, it might be worse than no Ikea at all. 

Words to live by…

“I went through a preppy phase, with boat shoes and stripes. It was not cute. I went through a phase with lots of sweatshirts and baggy pants. Then I went really gay with sequins and mesh. And then I went to art school. That’s when I got fabulous.”

– Christian Siriano

I love pretty clothes. I love America.

Therefore I love New York’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Need more of a reason? Fine– how’s this? I love New York’s fashion week because it sort of gets you out from under the oppressive shadow of the classic French and Italian design houses. That’s not to say that Givenchy and Bottega Veneta aren’t flawless– but I can’t help feeling that some of the younger design houses that show in New York (think Zac Posen, Cynthia Steefe, and Marc Jacobs) have modern takes that are far more inviting to fashion newcomers than what we see in Paris and Milan.

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think that the exclusivity cultivated by the fashion industry exactly puts it in a position to succeed in today’s economy. I think that the modern approach fostered by New York’s fashion week is less exclusive in a way that allows it to reach a wider, and perhaps less experienced audience. To me, that’s awesome. It means that more and more people get excited about the clothes they are wearing, and that subsequently, the design houses cultivated in Bryant Park’s wake are going to do a lot more for today’s fashion business than some of the classics whose approach is to pander to a narrow, exclusive audience and then ignore everyone else.

In addition to the designers I mentioned before, I’ll be looking forward to some other collections– Michael Kors, Tibi, Hervé Leger by Max Azaria*, Badgely Mischka, Caroline Herrera, and my personal favorite, Christian Siriano**.

The festivities start tommorrow, folks. Heads up.

* Footage above is Hervé Leger’s fall/winter collection. I have mixed feelings about it but it’s worth a gander.

**God, I love this little man. He’s just such a delicious little slice of bitchy fashion genius. Actually, if you check out his official twitter, you’ll get not only a nice look at his personal prep process for the big show, but also a maddening teaser picture of his obviously-going-to-be-flawless spring collection.

Quick Note: Thanks

As you guys know, I plugged Lauren Chlebowski’s Ollie Sang line a few days ago. I was checking their website today because my mom got me a peacoat of theirs for my birthday (which, incidentally, is tomorrow. Pay attention to me…). Once there, I came across a link to their Facebook page and I decided to check it out. Lo and behold, they had put up a link to my humble little blog.

Long story short, this is just a quick note from me and my writers to thank Ollie Sang for giving us props. If you, my lovely readers, liked the clothes, go ahead and become a fan on Facebook and tell your friends. If anything it’ll help maintain a karmic balance in these matters.

Dom.

Flowery goodness

After having found one of her skirts in a Baltimore consignment store, I’ve become obsessed with Colorado designer Lauren Chlebowski’s contemporary women’s wear line, Ollie Sang. The website to which I’ve linked doesn’t really do the clothes that I have seen justice, but you can get a nice taste from the posted coats & jackets collection. Also, if you go to the storefront, there’s a really great sale happening.

It’s all so visually delicious that it actually makes my eyes water.

If you’re like me and thus prone to spending money you don’t have on shit you don’t need, explore this further. Go here to find a store near you that might carry the line and see for yourself.

Omigod sooo fierce

Tell me that’s not the most breathtaking hat you’ve ever seen. I mean, come on, it’s gorgeous. 

Believe or not, this unbelievable ensemble is just one of many such beautiful looks from Project Runway winner Christian Siriano’s Spring 2009 collection. Until today I’d sort of forgotten about him, but a quick look at his website told me that I really shouldn’t have. Say what you want about him, but the kid is disgustingly good at fashion. 

I’m obviously not the only one who thinks so. In a time of marked economic recession, Siriano’s fashion career has been growing. Not only was his entire spring line picked up by Saks Fifth Avenue, but he’s debuted his own high-end make up line with Victoria’s Secret, collabarated on a mid-range maternity line (Fierce Mammas) to be sold at Nordstrom, designed a line of shoes an handbags for Payless Shoe Source and, come this holiday season, will be joining forces with Starbucks. If that’s not fierce, I don’t know what is.

For those of you interested, you should check out the rest of Siriano’s spring line here, and his Project Runway finale show here.

Shoulder Pads

Having watched a number of 80’s movies over the past week, I’ve had some exposure the fashion of the age and, frankly, it got me to wondering– what was America thinking when it allowed the shoulder pad to come into style?

 I mean, come on. The above shouldn’t be ok under any circumstance. Ever. I don’t care how stylistically disinclined the populace is, it’s just wrong. Anyway, as ever when such questions occur to me, I did a little research. Here’s what I found out about shoulder pads as a ladies’ fashion. 

Turns out that fashion legend, Elsa Schiaparelli (the famous rival of her contemporary Coco Chanel), first introduced them in her designs in her 1931 line, drawing inspiration from the leg of mutton sleeves that dominated women’s wear in the 1890’s. Despite this, shoulder pad didn’t become widely fashionable until the 1940’s when, with WWII a looming presence, women’s styles drew influence from military uniforms. I guess I follow this rationale. If you shape and place a shoulder pad correctly, it’ll effectively create a boxy, tin soldier kind of look. 

By the 1980’s though, you can hardly justify using WWII as inspiration for your fashion designs. You can’t really use Vietnam, either. And you could try to bring the Cold war into it, but I’m not sure militarizing fashion would be the best way to convey anti-Communist sentiment. Why then were shoulder pads so big in the 80’s?

Two reasons:

1. Fashion is cyclical: Consider some of today’s styles like the skinny jean or the high waisted skirt. Though both looks have been modernized to fit today’s standards, they were prevalent 20-30 years ago. All this to say therefore, that though they weren’t directly inspired by a war, fashion designers in the 1980’s were drawing from the heavy, square look favored in the 1940’s. 
2. Sociological factors play heavily into style: I would argue that American women in the 1940’s were drawn to military-inspired ensembles in part because it allowed them to feel connected to the war efforts overseas. By donning an article of clothing that was reminiscent of a military uniform, women were showing support for U.S. soldiers, consciously or not. Fast forward to the 1980’s, the advent of the corporate business woman. Broad shoulder angles effectively masculinize the lines of a woman’s suit, and so shoulder pads in a blazer became a way for women to command respect in the corporate world. Today, we term this fashion ideology “power dressing”. 

As to why shoulder pads became popular outside of the meeting rooms, I really can’t say. Like belly shirts and pleated pants, some fashion faux-pas can’t be explained. Tragically, the Spring 2009 fashion shows suggest that shoulder pads might be making a comeback. I’m really unsure about it. I’m just afraid that a shoulder pad comeback  could justify a the resurrection of one of the other atrocities I mentioned above. I’m pretty sure though, that if belly shirts ever come back, I will have completely lost faith in the human race.

DIY

an innovative way to approach the recession…( and little something to keep you going)

The very worst in golf fashion

Time.com has posted a fairly hysterical photo essay chronicling the very worst in Golf fashion. Not all of the ensembles are heinously offensive, however those that are make up for the rest.

In the same vein, Golf magazine has an unintentionally funny article that highlights the history of golfing attire. Also of note is a guide that tells you how to sport the green jacket (the traditional trophy given to Masters’ winners, for more info click here). I particularly enjoy “Acid jazz with [a hint of] country”.