Staple This: Invest in a Trench

When you hear the word, investment, you probably picture some financial acquisition or exchange on Wall Street. But there are more ways in which we invest and there is no exception when it comes to our wardrobes, well there shouldn't be at least. I'll continue to share my take on wardrobe staples monthly, so stay tuned for more "Staple This" posts.

Staples should be investment pieces; these timeless pieces that you will wear for years to come deserve to have a little money spent on them so that they last you. Like your LBD (that's little black dress) or white button up Oxford shirt, some items of clothing will never go out of style. This season think about investing in a belted trench coat. The details this season are sophisticated and have transformed the classic trench coat just enough to make it feel modern yet not overworked. Look at Victoria Beckham's trench pictured left. The gathering of the fabric and the belt make it modern and sophisticated plus it maintains its classic look. Hint: Pick a trench that is a neutral so you can wear it with all your favorite outfits. Picture credits to www.people.com and Ditoj/Splash News Online.

A Lesson in High Heels

I love heels. I love wearing them. Fist of all, I'm on the short side so high heels allow me to wear some jeans and trousers that would otherwise drag on the ground. Yea, I could get them tailored for my flats, but why bother? Second of all, I feel sexy and confident in high heels. Granted, I do have the occasional, 'Oh my Goodness, I'm going to face plant while crossing this intersection in front of all of these cars,' moments, but (and a huge b-u-t) my desire to feel hot, sexy and confident outweighs such a risk. So who decided to start adding height to shoes? How did we get up to 4, 5, 6"? Why do I feel sexier in heels than flats? I hit the books to find out, (well wikipedia to be exact).

Shoes with height can be traced back to old Egypt circa 3500 B.C.- WOW- as a display of class! They took the shape of platforms (chopines) and were practical during the 1400's in Turkey as they kept your feet clean from mud and further from debris in the streets. {See right image} During the 1500s heels grew taller as a means for riders to slip into stirrups easier. It comes as no surprise that the the heel as a fashion statement was first worn (according to some reports) by the Italian wife of King Henry the II of France in 1533. {See left image} "Well-heeled" became a word to denote class and wealth in the French Court throughout the years thereafter. Over the next few centuries, heels were banned, then resurfaced, then sort of boycotted during war years as a way of saying "stick it to the man." Then in the 1800s resurfaced as a mainstay for women's fashion.

The high heel gives women the appearance of a longer leg, a smaller foot, a voluptuous chest, a more defined gluteus maximus, and toned calves. No wonder I feel sexier in heels. High heels have taken many forms over the years; from stiletto to kitten heels, from platforms to wedges, they are here to stay. I can't wait for the detailed shoes this season, I'm due for a new pair of sexy sandals anyway!! Look at these by Tory Burch. I found them on the Nordstrom website. The caged look is HUGE for Spring 2010.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

The thing that I love about fashion is that it's all about perspective. I love that what one designer creates some would call it genius and others would call it crazy and off the wall. Designers such as Betsey Johnson and Vivienne Westwood display this philosophy-- boy do they have their own aesthetic. I thought it'd be fun for you to also see what I'm talking about. The video included is (supposed to be, I wouldn't know because my laptop has stopped playing video) Vivienne Westwood 2010 Spring/Summer Womenswear full show. Personally, I think the collection is incredible. I love how she drapes clothing and truly creates a look, HER LOOK. She puts a spin (more like a tornado) on classics, like the pant suit, (I'm not too sure if it is shown in this show- you can see many pant suit pieces from her LNFW show) and makes them truly unique- you either love it or hate and that's because beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

My Shoe Story

I said that I would share my shoe story and so I shall.

I was 13 or so and in middle school. I played the violin and was looking forward to our upcoming orchestra field trip to Georgia for a competition. My mom helped me pack up and sent me on my merry way with $40 to cover my food costs. Before the big competition we made a quick stop at a food court in some mall nearby the music hall. As my friends stood in line at Sbarros and McDonald's, I decided to try on shoes. Then, I saw them, the black 2 1/2 inch classic penny loafers that set me $40 and some change back. I bought them on the spot, spent EVERY penny I had, but I did love them! We were in Georgia for an additional 2 days and I became a scavenger; I ate off the plates of my friends and begged chaperons to spare me some change. You see, when you impulsively buy shoes and spend your entire budget on them, you do not have money for vital things, like bread and milk.

I remember complaining of my hunger pangs and eating everything in sight when I finally got home. My mother questioned why I was soooooo hungry and I had to spill the beans. I imagine she was mortified when she learned that I had to borrow money from the other moms on the trip. I'm sure those chaperons thought, 'what kind of a mother sends their daughter away on a trip and doesn't give them money for food?' Little did they know, my mother was more than generous, it was my shoe goddess possessed mind that brought my funds to $0. My mom was less than thrilled when I brought her my shopping bag and explained that I spent my 'lunch money' on shoes instead. And thus my obsession with shoes was known and there was no turning back. For the years to come, I would be held by the hand while walking through department stores just so I could be jerked away and held tight when nearing the shoe salons. Now my husband has to deal with it. I'm used to the eye rolling now, it doesn't phase me. You will never weaken my desire for shoes. Muhahahahahahahahaahahahahahaa!

Here's an image resembling the penny loafer I bought in 1998:

mine had a taller heel.

Here's what I'm loving now in 2010:

Look for more Look for less

Jimmy Choo $1,195-OR- Michael Kors $96.23


Love these too:

Look for more Look for less


Gucci $695 -OR- BCBG $89.25

Addendum to "Welcome to. . . " post

Forgot to mention: I have been watching videos from Milan and Paris Fashion week. My observations are of all major FWs. Here are some photos. . .

Welcome to a Dash of Class

Who am I? I am a girl, well a woman, and I love fashion. I always have. When I was a little girl, I was sure that I'd grow up to be a model and walk the catwalks. That was before I knew I'd only grow to be 5'4" tall. Nonetheless, I worked at it as much as a 10 year old girl growing up in Annapolis, MD could. I had a few photo shoots for local companies and boy did I think I was super cool, destined for fame- "Hollywood, here I come." Then came my huge break when I was 12, The Nordstrom Fashion Expo. My loving mother signed me (and my sister, Erica, I love you) up for this event. We got to choose our VERY OWN outfits and, BONUS, could keep them at the end of the show. With a catwalk and an audience and some stylin' gear, I was well on my way to being a famous model. Then, that was the last modeling thing I did.

So let's fast forward 13 years later. Here I am, loving fashion and just starting to finally share this passion with others. Things in life are so much more fun to enjoy when you can enjoy them with others who share that passion- right? My love for fashion grew from my dream to be a model. I started an obsession with shoes and nothing has changed. I'll tell a funny story of my obsession for shoes some time in the future- remind me. Anyway, I love fashion and hope that I can teach a few things, but learn a whole lot more. This blog is going to take many forms before I finally decide the route I want to take it. For now, I'll share my knowledge.

I have very apt timing as it is NYFW. I've been watching some videos and thought that I'd share the trends that I'm seeing.

1. Muted colors- grays, peaches, taupes. From head to toe. Even tights seem to be muted, which is opposite of their outbreak of the winter.
2. Feminine- I'm loving this. Flowy garments that really accentuate the body, but in their movement not their hip hugging quality- love!
3. Cut outs- like color blocking, but its cut instead, revealing sexy skin.
4. Showing off the back- all over the runway, which I just love.
5. Structure- of course. Structure pieces like architecture are here to stay for a while I'm thinking. Structure especially across the upper body and shoulders.

Anyway, more to come in the upcoming week. Thanks for reading and PLEASE share your thoughts, be honest, I can take it.