Summer Festival

As summer approaches fashion becomes lighter, brighter and more innovative. While fashion weeks (in New York, Milan, London, etc) simply highlight the fall and spring fashions. Local designers give great options and have a great way to feature their works in the summer.
What is that great way, you ask, it’s the festival. Most summer festivals feature food, crafts and music but many are expanding to include fashion shows.
For example in Baltimore, Artscape will be celebrating its second year with a fashion show as one of its attractions.
Not only can local designers showcase their works and sell their wares at these summer city festivals, but attendees can get to scope out the scene.
Like any large public gathering this is the best time to people watch. I always not only look at what people are doing and all the art around, but I look at what people are wearing. Is there a horrendous fanny pack incident or has the curse of summer spandex returned? It’s unending amusement.
I love the mistakes but the people who actually look good can be very inspirational. These are normal people, who are making fashion work for them and I bet the majority of the well dressed bought their ensembles on a pretty moderate budget. It truly is something to be commended for, especially when the temperature is in the upper 80s and 90s. To make something look effortless while still being comfortable enough to walk around without air conditioning, now that’s awesome fashion.

Who Wears Short Shorts?

Everyone knows the cute little song from the Nair commercials, “who wears short shorts.” Well the answer for me is, Not I. I used to wear short shorts, but then I grew up and looked in the mirror. Shorts are awkward, they ride up, they bunch in the wrong places and in most cases they are inappropriate.
So of course they are a making a comeback this season. Many claim this look can be achieved by anyone and I simply disagree.
The difference this season is the shorts are longer, coming to the top of the knee. The shorts in the Bermuda-style are only an option if you have a. nice legs and b. weigh less than 120 pounds.
This trend has been sparked by celebrities namely Fergie the female member of The Black Eyed Peas.
There are plenty of stores offering up the inexpensive and modern short and there are plenty of magazines and early morning television segments telling you about this horrendous trend and how “everyone can pull this look off.” Do not believe the hype very few can actually pull off this fad.
Instead of the short short, I’m still a fan of the Gaucho pants. The jersey material is stretchy and comfortable and they end right at mid-calf. They’re comfortable and light for the summer.

Closet Staples

For every closet there are some pieces that are absolutely necessary and never grow old or out of style. These pieces may be different in every closet but let me give you my picks.
1. Jeans – The timeless wardrobe piece can be paired with a sweatshirt for the football game or a sequined camisole for night on the town. Jeans go with everything. I recommend a good dark pair and a good “comfy” pair. The recent trend of expensive jeans from brands like Seven and Paper Denim have caused a stir. Yes, they are pricey, but there are some brands that have the great quality and don’t charge as much. Expensive jeans are a good investment though. For the higher end look, I prefer Express jeans; they just feel great on your skin. For lower end, more day-to-day look, check out American Eagle.
2. Black Dress Pants – When you have work or a dressy event, black pants may not make you stand out, but they will be appropriate and a quick go-to when you’ve got “nothing to wear.” Black dress pants can be found anywhere just keep your eyes open for a durable material that will work for your needs.
3. Peacoat – The peacoat works on all bodies. You can do a long one, a short one, a pink one or a green one. It’s a classic coat that will keep you fashionable and warm in the cold months.
4. Sweater Sets – Get one good sweater set in a variety of colors. It works well in the professional environment to pair with your black pants, khakis, or skirts. Sweater sets are great when the weather is transitioning you can remove the jacket when the air gets too toasty.
5. The Little Black Dress – This is the classic closet turn-to. Make sure the little black dress you get is simple enough to look timeless and make sure you are comfortable in it. There are so many little black dresses out there, find the one that makes you feel good. It’s important to have the proper accessories to make your black dress a little different from everyone else’s. I recommend colorful and big earrings that make your face pop.
All of these wardrobe necessities should not be skimped on. In this instance it is all right to spend a little extra. These are pieces that will be in heavy rotation and they will need to last. The classier these look the classier you look.

History and Influences

Last week I talked about keeping up with fashion lingo. More importantly, if you want to have a better grasp on what you are buying its always a plus if you understand the modern of history in fashion.
Different decades come in and out of vogue, each year a new twist is put on something that was originally popular in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Also many of the major designers have been around since as far back as the ‘50s; there is Oscar de La Renta, Karl Lagerfeld, Lilly Pulitzer and so many more.
Knowing history is especially important if you are going vintage shopping. Sometimes different designers were more significant during a certain decade. For instance Gucci was very big in the ‘70s as was Diane von Furstenberg’s wrap dress. Buying those items that were from that time period would be much more expensive than if they were from the ‘80s or ‘90s.
Fashion has changed so rapidly yet it still references its past in the most modern pieces. It is also important to know up and coming designers, and who those designers cite as influences. For instance you can see a lot of the ‘70s in Marc Jacobs’ design and Michael Kors’ design.

Lingo

Knowing the fashion lingo is a nice step in keeping up with the trends.
You know the saying ‘_______ is the new black.’ It’s become a point of reference for those who make fun of fashion minded people. I am the fashion-minded person who can seriously discuss that phrase as well as make fun of it.
For instance, wouldn’t it be great if spandex were the new black. In fact, it would not be great if spandex were the new black, however, it would be 1983. Just a friendly reminder the new black can be a pattern, a material or an accessory (like dangly earrings).
In my senior year of high school, I made a total ass of myself when a teacher complemented me on my bright orange sweater. Out of nowhere, I replied: Thanks, you know orange is the new black! I walked into the classroom and then realized how much of a jerk I was.
All joking aside, within the past five years or so, I have seen gray, pink, orange, metallics and most recently green take on the title of the new black. This is definitely the season of the neutral; shades of brown are back in a big way. Old Navy is putting their spin on it for the season, and you can see it at Nine West too.

Feelin' Lucky Punk

Magazines are always a great resource for finding cheap clothes. No matter if the ads are only for Versace and Jimmy Choo shoes, you can get great ideas. Lucky Magazine however provides a great mix of expensive and reasonable in the advertisements and their content.
On their Web site they offer many daily features and archives of their past work, including a shopping guide to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. They have a feature called “site of the week” and “Love the store, Love the site.” These features link the reader to shopping sites that will provide them with quality products at varying prices.
“Catch of the Day” is updated each day with a different item at a relatively low price. Monday it was a $10 leather mini-clutch from newport-news.com.
They also have “Lucky Breaks” which are deals that the magazine has secured for their readers.
One other great thing I like about Lucky is that it covers not just clothes but furniture, accessories and beauty products. It gives celebrity tips, coupons and sometimes a regional focus.

Spring Break

This spring break I changed it up a little. I went on a cruise with a friend to Cozumel and Costa Maya, both are in Mexico. I learned a lot about traveling on a cruise ship.
1.Don’t plan on seeing sights the vacations is more about the boat.
2.The drinks they serve are flooded with liquor (cause they want you to get drunk and keep drinking).
3.There is unlimited food. You can order free room service whenever.
4.Royal Caribbean does not pay their employees that serve the travelers (waiters, room attendants), instead the workers rely on customer tips for their salary.
While I did learn a lot from the experience I had a good time. The water down in Mexico is beautiful. It goes from aquamarine to the most gorgeous shade of turquoise and finally blends into a wonderful cerulean color.
The activities on the boat were fun and the food was great.

Sharing is Caring

In February, I read an article out of Elle Magazine socialite ladies who share their clothes. Their closets become a lending library of sorts.
I thought to myself while reading: this is a ridiculous article. Everyone shares their clothes with someone, usually a close friend or relative. The article, though it seemed to discover the obvious, had some ups to it. It showed that the ‘other half’ try to save money on clothes just like the rest of us.
I mean they are sharing $10,000 dresses from Gucci and Narciso Rodriguez, but at least they are making an effort to look like they don’t have all this money.
I share my clothes with friends if they need them, usually accessories. Sharing clothes works best on vacation. It’s like you have two suitcases instead of one. My main sharer is my mother. She has a closet full of clothes, most are ugly in my opinion, but every now and then you find the diamond in the rough.
Sharing can be unsanitary though, never share underwear no matter who it is. Be careful with shoes and jewelry. Shoes get sweaty and gross; you may want to keep them to yourself. Jewelry is expensive and if someone losses your diamond necklace or damages it; how are you going to react?
Don’t share something that means something to you. The antique brooch your grandmother gave you. That dress you love because no one else has it (if you share it someone else does).
Sharing is fun and a great way to expand your wardrobe, just make sure to set rules about replacing lost or damaged clothes and what you will or will not lend.