New York City

I haven't blogged in almost three weeks - and believe me I feel terrible for it. However, I think it's going to be worth the wait. Tomorrow I depart for my vacation to New York City, which means that I will be documenting my time in pictures to post on this lovely blog. Stay tuned for more. I promise not to ignore this blog for so long again.

XOXO,

Abbey

Summer 2010 Wardrobe Staples

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I have never been this excited about fashion for summer as I am now. Finally, being classy (not trampy) is in style. Being classically feminine (Think Jackie O and Audrey Hepburn) is more fashionable than dressing like you’re a twenty-something barfly. In my opinion, summer 2010 is the perfect setup for fall. With old-fashioned bikini’s (not skimpy), longer shorts (booty-shorts are out!), and full skirts (not mini-skirts), summer 2010 is fun, fresh, wearable, and classy.

The biggest wardrobe staples of the summer are as follows:

1. White jeans. White jeans can be tough to wear but have endless possibilities.

2. Maxi dress. No longer just for hippies or the beach – they come in every possible style and color, and are also super versatile.

3. Marc Jacobs tote bag (or any tote bag for that matter). A Marc Jacobs tote bag sounds expensive, but is actually is in the range from $15.00 - $30.00. Unfortunately these amazing totes can only be bought either at the Marc Jacobs store in New York or over the phone (there is a $20.00 shipping fee). For more information go to marcjacobs.com and click on “special items”

4. Beach cover up. I am proud to say that there will – hopefully – be less scantily clad girls running around the beach this summer.

5. LWD. For fall/winter we have the LBD (Little Black Dress) for spring/summer there is the alternative LWS (Little White Dress). White dresses are a must-have for this summer and fortunately are easy to find.

6. Tie-Dye. You can thank Proenza Schouler for this one. With their spring/summer ready-to-wear collection these two up-and-coming designers revamped this old worn out design and made it chic and more wearable.

7. Shirtdress. Tee shirt dresses, polo dresses, collared dresses – anything goes.

The thread running through every trend is versatility/wearability. Everything is practical and easy to wear. Nothing is just for one body type. Everything from 1-7 on the above list is something anyone of any size and shape can wear and look fabulous in. So with that being said: I hope you all have an amazing summer 2010!

Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear Sneak Peek

Looking through the fall 2010 collections I am seeing so many trends for clothing, hair and makeup that I love - so much so that if I could get away with it, I would start wearing the clothes now. Unfortunately, we cannot start wearing these amazing trends until September, but there is no rule that says no one can see a sneak peak now. If I could I would show whole collections but, since this is only a sneak peek and not a complete showcase, the following is a compliation of my top four favorite trends:

1. Fur! About five years ago I was given these amazing pair of Ugg boots (shown below) -say what you want, but they are fabulous, warm, and well. . . amazing. This fall I am very excited because I can finally wear them out in public and have it be socially acceptable - all thanks to Chanel. Chanel's Fall/Winter 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection heavily relied on fur placed on everything and anything.

2. The fifties. This fall the fifties are back in the form of poofy (in good way) skirts, cat-eye sunglasses and color coordinated sweater/skirt ensembles. This trend is, I think, best represented in Tommy Hilfiger's all-American look, shown here:

3. Schoolgirl. This isn't the typical Catholic schoolgirl look. The term "schoolgirl" has taken a whole new look by adding color with very little plaid. The look is more structured but at the same time is fun without looking childish. The following look is from Rochas fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection:

4. Seemingly ugly sweaters. In the movie "The Devil Wears Prada," Anne Hathaway's character, Andy, is criticized for wearing what was referred to as a 'lumpy blue sweater' - now that same 'lumpy blue sweater' is actually fashionably acceptable. If you don't believe me, well let Prada prove you wrong:

Up and Coming Fashion Stars

There are a lot of young starlets making their way into the fashion limelight. They all display a clean and classic look that infuses their own personality and style. While looking at the young women to display in today's blog post, three in particular caught my eye: Carey Mulligan, Janelle Monae, and Dakota Fanning.

Carey Mulligan is a British actress who recently got her big break in the blockbuster "An Education." I picked Miss Mulligan because of her ability to classy but funky and quirky at the same time - which is not an easy feat. Often she opts for black on the red carpet, but when she plays with color, it's perfect. With her great sense of style and wonderful talent, I think Carey is easily not only up and coming in the acting world but in the fashion world as well.

My second choice for the newest up-and-coming style star is Janelle Monae. This Kansas City native is making her way into the music way in a very fashionable way. In fact, I think her funky, glam style is giving her a better name than her music is. Her custom made suits with the the feminine flair of puffed sleeves and outrageously sized bows make her style quirky, fun, yet wearable.

My third, and last choice, may seem like a surprise since she has been around for years; but I think Miss Dakota Fanning is finally making her way into the fashion world. For many years, whenever she has appeared on the red carpet she has always looked as if her grandmother dressed her up for Easter Sunday. In the past year or so, however, all that has changed. Her style is only in the beginning stages of evolution, but I think as the years go by she will turn into quite the style force on the red carpet.

There is an element of each one's style that I love that not only makes them who they are, but makes their style worth admiring. Carey Mulligan's quirky choices and ensembles aren't run of the mill - they're quirky, fun, and have personality to them. Janelle is all glam. She's loud and proud in her outfit choices - letting her personality show right through. Dakota has that clean cut, all-American girl look. I don't think that she has quite gotten to the point where she can express herself through clothes yet, but in time I'm sure she will.

The Emaciation of Women

Over the past few months I have observed the newest double standard making its way into the fashion world. The fashion industry is filled with hypocrisy, but none that equals the terminology used when describing a young woman who is not a sample size zero. Despite the “movement” in the modeling industry towards “healthier” looking models with “athletic” builds, the message is clear – skinny is always the agenda.

While reading the April 2010 and June 2010 issues of Vogue recently (the April issue being the "shape issue"), I came across a story in each magazine that not only contradicted each other, but proved to be uncomplimentary to the modeling/fashion industry as a whole. The first article in the April issue, co-written by Sally Singer, described the rehab process through the eyes of Kim Noorden. Miss Noorden is a very successful European model who has graced hundreds of runways and became the face of Stella McCartney’s 2009 lingerie line. A few months before she modeled Stella’s lingerie line she checked herself into a rehab clinic for women struggling with eating disorders. Kim said herself that she never really saw her eating as “disordered,” but came to the conclusion that even that statement proved to be a byproduct of the disorder of her relationship with food. Upon checking herself into the clinic, the staff told Kim that she would be expected to be fully committed to the program, one of the requirements was that she gain a pound a week – Kim has been modeling since she was fifteen. She is ‘5”11 and weighed 110 pounds – naturally that sent her nerves into a frenzied state. In the article, Noorden describes her shame in not only checking herself into the clinic but the shame of stepping looking into a mirror and trying to figure where she would want that first pound added.

I blame the industry. Model scouts demand that the new models they recruit be at least a size zero. The size itself is ridiculous and unrealistic giving the impression that it is “normal” to be that skinny. I’m calling this blog post “The Emaciation of Women” because that is what it has come down to. The industry has become so intense and competitive that it is “be skinny or don’t be a model.” What I find most offensive is that anyone that does not fit into these impossible sample sizes is deemed “athletic” or “healthy” (two words a high fashion model never wants to hear from anyone).

In the June Vogue issue that I mentioned earlier there was an article about Lara Stone. Stone has gone from waif like to a size four – almost a crime in the modeling world. The article highlighted her bravery to come out as a size four. "Bravery" really? Does one have to be "brave" to be a size four - I was always under the impression that it was normal to be a size four. Lara is a talented model, but unfortunately her new size may cost her some jobs. Regardless of the effort to the "accept" girls who are not sample sizes, the girls with a size zero jean size will be the ones to get the jobs. Only for the sake of the modeling industry, I hope that they eventually own up to the fact that they carry a double standard when they go to hire models.

Music and Fashion

Both fashion and music are known to be forms of free expression of one’s self. Both allow for a person’s individuality to come through whether it is from an unusual instrument choice or from a bold silhouette. Often, you now see a lot of musicians making the transition from the music industry to the fashion industry in one form or another. The most popular lines being Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. line, Beyonce Knowles’ House of Dereon, and Justin Timberlake’s William Rast. The coin flips both ways. Even couture fashion is sometimes influenced by what musicians are wearing. From hair, to clothes, makeup, and shoes, music and fashion work so close together that some would even say that music influences fashion trends more than fashion designers themselves influence fashion.

I think it would be safe to say that music influencing fashion first started with the Beatles in 1963 in London. From the second John, Paul, George, and Ringo put on their tailor-made collarless suits and black heeled leather ankle boots, they took their places as the reigning kings of fashion for almost the next decade. Arguably the most popular fashion trend was started by the Beatles in 1964 with what was called the ‘mop-top’. Before long, virtually everyone had the bowl shaped bangs combed over their foreheads and a guitar to match. . Still, today, everyday you see boys and even some girls copying the same haircut that the Beatles introduced nearly fifty years ago.

Every facet and genre of music has had its representation at one point or another in the fashion world. In the early 60’s it was the mop-top haircut and the mini skirt; the mid to late sixties brought the hippie/unwashed era. The sixties also introduced the music of greats like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Janis Joplin. The 70’s brought bell-bottoms, disco music, feathered hair, John Travolta and ABBA. The 80s introduced the world to styles such as grunge, punk, glam rock and disco glam along with Michael Jackson, Joan Jett, and Blondie. I think the most exciting thing about all the trends that music has brought fashion is that what they have contributed has been timeless. In the past two years, Dior brought back the big 80s hair and Chanel brought back the modernized version of the early-sixties beehive (as so un-glamorously copied by British singer, Amy Winehouse). Even further the cigarette (skinny) jeans and leggings from the eighties came back in a new and modern way revolutionizing 21st century style.

Now a new generation of fashion-obsessed musicians is making their way into the limelight. Like the Beatles before them, the Jonas Brothers captivated everyone with their innate sense of style from the start. From sporting plaid shirts, skinny jeans, and Ray Bans to custom-made Italian silk Dolce & Gabbana suits have made Kevin, Joe, and Nick fashion icons. Likewise the “Jo Bro’s” friend and collaborator Miley Cyrus even launched her own fashion line with designer Max Azria, called Miley and Max.

Musicians are artists. Their music is as much ear candy as a painting by da Vinci is a feast for the eyes. However, for most musicians their music is their real art; fashion is only a secondary priority. In a fall 2008, interview with Vogue, I think Justin Timberlake sums up this theory perfectly: “You think of Stevie [Wonder], you think of the glasses, the braids, and his voice. You think of the Beatles, you think mop-top, haircut, suits. You think of Prince, you think purple. You think of Marvin Gaye, you think skullcap with a pea coat. I don’t think you plan stuff like that. You sort of just are who you are.” Justin himself is singlehandedly credited for the comeback of the three piece suit.

Just like music, fashion is always evolving and new silhouettes and re-vamps of old ideas are being discovered every day. It’s the same with music. You think you’ve heard the same thing before but one thing – just like one accessory – can make all the difference.

"Zest is the secret. . ."

"Zest is the secret of all beauty," Christian Dior once said. Ernest Hemingway also said, "Wearing underwear is as formal as I ever hope to get." Whether or not those two quotes have anything in common is beyond me - all I know is that both those quotes inspire me. The Dior quote reminds me that even if I'm not enthralled with my outfit choice of the day, my personality and love for life should transcend any fashion faux pa I might have made. Hemingway's words remind me not to take fashion too seriously and to see the humor in making a fashion faux pa, however heinous it may be.

My personal fashion philosophy revolves around one idea: wear what looks best, but, at the same time, have fun with your outfit choices. I believe that fashion is moving in a direction that sees everything as fashionable. Fashion is becoming what Coco Chanel always saw as fashion - life. Life itself can be fashionable if one takes the time to do it right. If I were to put my thoughts down as they pop into my head, my paragraphs would be random jumbles of ideas for this blog mingled with my unpleasant thoughts toward 65 degree weather and rain in the beginning of June. However, if I took the time to write my thoughts out in coherant sentences, they have the potential to be something great. And that's what fashion is to me. Fashion is silhouettes, patterns, fabrics, and shoes. If done poorly it's disasterous; if time and effort is put into it, the clothes made will be fashionable.

This blog is for those of us who wake up every morning, burst open our closet doors, and dive in to the wonderful wardrobe choices that await us. Those of us who have learned the secret to the "zest" that Dior spoke of. Fashion is a form of entertainment - for entertaining ourselves and the people who surround us. I love it when I see someone walking down the street who's originality in their clothing choice makes me smile. Just letting your personality come through in your clothes is enough to brighten someone's day. If your day is started by putting on something that makes you feel and look great and beautiful that same energy will encourage those you come into contact with.

My biggest hope for this blog is that, as my readers you will not just see it as "that Abbey girl's blog" but part yours too. There is nothing that I will enjoy more than to see my readers interact with what is being posted here. If you love it, hate it, have comments, suggestions, or even pictures to share I welcome them all. I am not writing for myself but for those of you who love fashion enough to take time out of your day to sit down and read this blog; and for that I thank you.

Enjoy!

♥ Abbey