Jenna Lyons and J. Crew

Jenna Lyons, Head Stylist of J. Crew, was on Oprah today. Her personality was more effervescent than I had expected. She truly loves clothes and how she works with them. She should be happy because J. Crew is one the few retail companies doing well in today's market.

Now, others are quick to copy the brand but a copy always looks like a poor imitation. J. Crew has mastered the look of preppy, girly, tomboy, color, cut and flair so well. They have established a reputation for good quality at a good price point. J. Crew succeeds because it is all about contrast and that is what is going on in our society today. Big business vs. the individual, red states vs. blue states, bullies vs. good students, pro-health care vs. anti-gov't involvement. We are a divided nation on many levels and in our homes where the divorce rate is so high. It is not surprising that this is represented in how we choose to dress . . . full of contrasts.

Successful designers or companies have always had their hand on the pulse of people... Chanel did, Poiret, Dior . . . they came forth at the right time--when women wanted change. Women today want to express individuality and a good retailer will give them well defined choices that complement each other at affordable price points. J. Crew allows women to express their tastes and in doing so reflect all of the conflicts individuals face in modern society . . . yet they can blend it into a cohesive fashion look, accepting the boyfriend jean with sequins. Fashion is easier than real life . . . which is why it should be fun!

bornfashionable may sound pretentious but I chose this for two reasons. First, anyone who had ever known my parents would know that I was born to very stylish parents. My Mother was quite beautiful . . . someone once mistook her for Ingrid Bergman's little sister. Some daughters learn how to cook, garden, sew or acquire other domestic skills from their moms. My Mother was not gifted at any of these endeavors but she had a great eye for clothing and was always highly stylish. I loved traveling to NYC with her and visiting a jewel box of a shop on Madison and 65th. It was Mariko--smaller than a shoe box and Mariko and her mother made clothes. My Mother had beautiful clothes made there; mostly black, very tailored pieces with flashes of hot pink or green. Mariko was the most sophisticated woman I could ever imagine; simply dressed with beautiful paste jewels in rich colors. I loved that my Mother knew of this store and enjoyed the process of fitting and selections of fabric.

My Dad also loved "dressing" and I always ran upstairs after breakfast to help him. He only wore white, french-cuffed shirts from Sulka. I loved to select the cufflinks and ties that he would wear each day and just"visiting" with him before we went our separate ways: I to school and he to work. The art of dressing, I acquired from my Dad.

The second reason I chose this title for my blog is that I believe all people are born fashionable. They are born with their best colors, features, build and "soul" for them. Far too many lose their way, trying to look like someone else, buying into a plastic look or not taking the time to care for themselves. Too many women rush out having jumped out of a shower, running a comb through their hair in ill-fitted clothing. It is no service to them or to those who admire and love them. Dressing is an art. It is not about money, trends or looking like someone other than yourself; it is about self-respect for each persons' individual beauty. Time is short. We should make ourselves little gems every day.

What we take from home....

My parents instilled in me a love of fashion and the ability to express oneself through choice of dress. I remember starting Kindergarten and loving my selection of dresses to wear to school. I had a little dress covered in rich colors of fruit with different pieces of fruit as buttons. My mother took me shopping for a change purse to carry my milk money in...it was a little blue, tooled leather pouch. On autumn days, I wore a navy blazer with a jazzy, decorative emblem and for the rain I had a red plaid umbrella. It was all of these little details that pleased and comforted me as I started my school days away from my Mother and sisters and brothers. Clothing was as fun as my chipmunks lunch box.