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| Armani, 2008 |
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| Brooklyn Decker 2012 |
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| Rosie Huntingdon, 2011 |
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| Cloud Nine 9, 2012 |
Sunday, May 20, 2012
I'm Dreaming of Jeannie
Sheer skirts (and tops) are my favorite re-emerging trend of the spring/summer season. The hanging fabric from the skirts does appear non-committal at times, but the sheerness is deliberately sensual, with a hint of magic....very I Dream of Jeannie-esque.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Jelly Sandals: A Love Story
I grew up in inner city Baltimore during the mid-90s, when glass hair "ballies," sectioned ponytails, and "jelly" sandals reigned supreme. I remember one of the first times I really noticed those plastic, transparent shoes on the feet of one of the most popular girls in my class: she'd paired them (or her mother had) with the cutest jean jackets and sunflower print dresses. And of course, those jelly sandals matched every effin' outfit.
One summer afternoon while my mom and I were in Sears, I asked her to buy me a pair, but she was all, "you'll step on [drug] needles wearing those." And so I had to resign myself to voyeurism, looking on as my friends played tag in their jellies--they even had the ones with glitter inside the straps! Life wasn't fair :-/
Jellies went out of style for awhile after elementary school (at least, for people my age). When I entered middle school, in fact, bragging about one's "butters" [Timbaland boots] became the norm. I guess we all had kind of outgrown those fragile shoes, wanting more durable ones to establish some sense of status in our little social spheres, perhaps.
Just when the memory of jelly sandals was fading from my mind, I saw a yellow pair dangling from a shelf in Aeropostale, the other day. Then I spotted some green ones in Aldo. (It was then that I wanted to give the merchandisers the highest of fives for bringing these shoes back in style). Instead of the squishy soles of our youth, plastic sandals are now reinforced with hard bottoms--totally upcycled if you ask me.
And so, the love story between me and these sandals is nearing its culmination; I plan to wear them on a sun-bleached sidewalk somewhere in the middle of a city summer :-)
One summer afternoon while my mom and I were in Sears, I asked her to buy me a pair, but she was all, "you'll step on [drug] needles wearing those." And so I had to resign myself to voyeurism, looking on as my friends played tag in their jellies--they even had the ones with glitter inside the straps! Life wasn't fair :-/
Jellies went out of style for awhile after elementary school (at least, for people my age). When I entered middle school, in fact, bragging about one's "butters" [Timbaland boots] became the norm. I guess we all had kind of outgrown those fragile shoes, wanting more durable ones to establish some sense of status in our little social spheres, perhaps.
Just when the memory of jelly sandals was fading from my mind, I saw a yellow pair dangling from a shelf in Aeropostale, the other day. Then I spotted some green ones in Aldo. (It was then that I wanted to give the merchandisers the highest of fives for bringing these shoes back in style). Instead of the squishy soles of our youth, plastic sandals are now reinforced with hard bottoms--totally upcycled if you ask me.
And so, the love story between me and these sandals is nearing its culmination; I plan to wear them on a sun-bleached sidewalk somewhere in the middle of a city summer :-)
Monday, May 7, 2012
Top Wardrobes in Film
I have a recurring fantasy in which I enter a room at a party and stun everyone with my beauty-- you know, like the heroines do in the movies.
Moments like these are celebrated in fashion magazines all over the world; however, there's something to be said for unexpected looks--the styles that may not smolder off the screen and find their way into our literature, but which still manage to leave an impression anyway.
Here are my (not-quite-so-obvious) favorite styles in film:
A coronet of hair paired with a menswear suit? Check! A tomato colored scarf draped over the greenest of dresses? You got it. In this fascinating biopic, Frida Kahlo (played by Salma Hayek) wears whatever she wants and it all looks great. Sure, her wardrobe doesn't always make sense to the eye, but its refreshing blend of influences--- folkish, modern, and somewhat masculine, give the film a surreal feeling. And just look at that bundle of flowers growing from her hair. You wish you had fresh blooms lying around to tuck in yours (well, I do).
Long before there were any black swans, there lived the innocent Simonetta (played by Loretta Young). In this silent classic, she traipses about in tulle and satin, courted by her, er, adopted dad, Lon Chaney. Throughout the film, her hair is appropriately poufy and her eyeshadow, smeared in the flapper style. Running away with the circus never looked so appealing.
Don't even lie to yourself: Meryl Streep is a pure BAMF here, perpetual somber face and all. Take a quick gander at those frizzy, Pre-Raphaelite curls in the trailer below. And then envy her 1980s razor bob as the scenes alternate between centuries.
Back in the 1990s, I aspired to look like Janet Jackson, mid-back length braids, belly shirt, and all. Even now in 2012, I imagine my best-looking self with long ropes of hair. The Poetic Justice style remains popular (re Solange), because braids are timeless. They might change in thickness or length, but are always chic.
Deborah Kerr is utterly first-world in every frame of An Affair to Remember. Because of this, I couldn't muster up much sympathy for her, while watching. Maybe I would have if she didn't own such an awesome fur stole.
Kate Hepburn wore menswear before Diane Keaton made it popular in the 1970s (and I guess Marlene Dietrich made it popular before anyone, but that's beside the point). In Bringing up Baby, Hepburn's smart, tailored dresses offer a glimpse of the things to come for women-- mainly shoulder pads, neckties, and a certain androgynous swagger.
And so, I end my short list with a deliciously hipster film. In the 500 Days of Summer, Zoey Deschanel is a modern muse, wearing a mix of trends from the last few decades. She exudes a devil-may-care attitude, manifest in strappy summer dresses, faux pearls, and distressed short-shorts. Of course I love her for it.
Some honorable mentions:
Undercurrent (1946)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Vertigo (1958)
La Dolce Vita (1960)
Daughters of the Dust (1991)
All images provided via google.
Moments like these are celebrated in fashion magazines all over the world; however, there's something to be said for unexpected looks--the styles that may not smolder off the screen and find their way into our literature, but which still manage to leave an impression anyway.
Here are my (not-quite-so-obvious) favorite styles in film:
Frida (2002)
A coronet of hair paired with a menswear suit? Check! A tomato colored scarf draped over the greenest of dresses? You got it. In this fascinating biopic, Frida Kahlo (played by Salma Hayek) wears whatever she wants and it all looks great. Sure, her wardrobe doesn't always make sense to the eye, but its refreshing blend of influences--- folkish, modern, and somewhat masculine, give the film a surreal feeling. And just look at that bundle of flowers growing from her hair. You wish you had fresh blooms lying around to tuck in yours (well, I do).
Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928)
Long before there were any black swans, there lived the innocent Simonetta (played by Loretta Young). In this silent classic, she traipses about in tulle and satin, courted by her, er, adopted dad, Lon Chaney. Throughout the film, her hair is appropriately poufy and her eyeshadow, smeared in the flapper style. Running away with the circus never looked so appealing.
Sabrina (1954)
Audrey Hepburn's classically gamine style is no more stunning than in this mid-20th century film. Here, we witness her evolution from mere ponytail wearer to Paris-educated sylph. Admittedly, Hepburn is equally stylish in Roman Holiday, but Sabrina's aesthetic seems less forced.
The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
Don't even lie to yourself: Meryl Streep is a pure BAMF here, perpetual somber face and all. Take a quick gander at those frizzy, Pre-Raphaelite curls in the trailer below. And then envy her 1980s razor bob as the scenes alternate between centuries.
Poetic Justice (1993)
Back in the 1990s, I aspired to look like Janet Jackson, mid-back length braids, belly shirt, and all. Even now in 2012, I imagine my best-looking self with long ropes of hair. The Poetic Justice style remains popular (re Solange), because braids are timeless. They might change in thickness or length, but are always chic.
An Affair to Remember (1957)
Deborah Kerr is utterly first-world in every frame of An Affair to Remember. Because of this, I couldn't muster up much sympathy for her, while watching. Maybe I would have if she didn't own such an awesome fur stole.
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Kate Hepburn wore menswear before Diane Keaton made it popular in the 1970s (and I guess Marlene Dietrich made it popular before anyone, but that's beside the point). In Bringing up Baby, Hepburn's smart, tailored dresses offer a glimpse of the things to come for women-- mainly shoulder pads, neckties, and a certain androgynous swagger.
An American in Paris (1951)
The 1950s was famous for its high fashion musicals (re Funny Face). I may or may not prefer this one because of Gene Kelly's overall
attractiveness over Fred Astaire's. Really though, it's because the clothes are buoyant and fun, much like the (highly improbable) plot.
The 500 Days of Summer (2009)
And so, I end my short list with a deliciously hipster film. In the 500 Days of Summer, Zoey Deschanel is a modern muse, wearing a mix of trends from the last few decades. She exudes a devil-may-care attitude, manifest in strappy summer dresses, faux pearls, and distressed short-shorts. Of course I love her for it.
Some honorable mentions:
Undercurrent (1946)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Vertigo (1958)
La Dolce Vita (1960)
Daughters of the Dust (1991)
All images provided via google.
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