Monday Eye Candy..Viviane Sassen

Viviane Sassen was born in Kenya and lives in Amsterdam.  Her photography portrays the beauty of the human body in sculptural form.  She was a model for Viktor& Rolf before becoming a Photographer.  I hope to go to Amtserdam to meet her one day as she is my friend on Facebook. 

Lexi's 10 Essentials

Hello again.  I've been thinking and rethinking my list of top 10, anytime and anywhere essentials.  Here they are with places I'd wear them to, and how to change them for hot or cold weather.  Oh, and just a note: these are in no particular order, I love them all equally.


1. A simple, knit cardigan.
These are so versatile, it's ridiculous.  I may have a favorite here.  My favorite ways to wear simple cardigans:
If you're the type of person who wears a lot of neutrals, try adding a cardigan over your outfit - a not-too-dramatic way to add a little color (this is especially nice in fall or winter when brights tend to fade out a little).
Or, in the summertime, I love to throw a cardigan over a tanktop or summerdress when it gets cooler at night.  Plus, the contrast between something short and something long looks great together.

(Picture from F21)




2. A cute flat.
For this, go wild with color or construction, but make sure it's not too gaudy or attention-grabbing.  I actually had the flat in the picture below with a closed toe, and loved them to death.  Wear these anywhere, but especially:
Dress up your every day jeans and t-shirt just by putting these on.
If you choose one with a small heel, you can wear them from day to night to be professional and laid-back.

(Picture from DSW, Steve Madden shoes)




3. The live-in-it buttondown.
Speaking of professional, a comfy button down is one of my favorite things to have.  Choose one with a soft material.  I love these because I don't have to feel to restricted, but can still look serious. I'm sure you all know that this paired with some nice black or khaki pants and a heel create an instant professional look.  However, I also like to wear these like this:
If you pair a buttondown with a plain skirt and a heel, the look is more feminine but still polished.
I also tend to wear my comfier buttondowns like a cardigan over a silky tanktop or printed tee (kind of the girl like how Ryan Seacrest is big on the graphic tee + blazer deal).

(Picture from Gap)




4. A clear lipgloss.
This is truly the perfect thing to have in your bag.  It feels nicer and makes you look a little more made-up without taking a lot of time.  My favorite is the Mentha Organics™ brand from Bath & Body Works, which is why I chose that picture.  However, mine is a peppermint flavor that doesn't have any color.
If you can find a clear gloss with a mint flavor, you'll smell fresh, too.

(Picture from Bath & Body Works)

5. A pretty tank (or two) (...or three).
I am in love with pretty tanktops.  Wear them alone, with a blazer, under a cardigan, with jeans or a long skirt.  The rules of these are basically, not to have rules.  Like I mentioned earlier, a cardigan is a really classic way to go.  Or try:
Belting them.
Tucking them into the waistband of whatever you're wearing.

(Pictures from Anthropologie)

6. Straight/bootcut jeans.
These are a jean that every woman should own.  Jeans are, of course, the ultimate staple for anytime.  However, their versatility makes them amazing.  It's what you wear with and how you wear jeans that determines what kind of style you're going for in an outfit.  For instance:
In spring, rolling up the bottoms of your jeans and pairing them with a cute blouse and nude heel or flat will instantly create a chic, light appearance.
Fall calls for boots: tuck your jeans into a high pair of boots with a trenchcoat - adorable.

(Pictures from Gap and AE)

7. A lightweight scarf.
Scarves are one of my greatest loves.  I have way too many, but for good reason.  Wrap them all the way around until you can't see the edges, don't wrap around at all and just drape them around your neck, learn to tie a bow with one, use as a belt, an anklet...well that might be a bit much.
My favorite places to wear scarves are out to shop or out to lunch.  They're so cute and change up a normal outfit.  Plus, I love scarves that are neutral but with prints; for instance, I have a gray and white striped scarf that I wear with almost anything.

(Pictures from F21 and Macy's)

8. The LBD!
I'm very excited about this one because I just found my perfect LBD a few weeks ago (see Night Out).  The LBD should be good for your body type, most importantly, and should be able to be worn with anything.  You wouldn't want something like:

(Picture from Macy's)
That dress about speaks for itself.  I like to focus on subtle detailing when it comes to an LBD to change up a plain color. A few ways and places to wear an LBD:
In colder weather, put some printed or colored tights on with a pair of black boots - cute!
This is the ultimate dress for a nice dinner.  Heels or flats, pair the LBD with shining, elegant jewelry.

(Picture from Charlotte Russe)

9. A windbreaker
Now, I don't own a very fashionable windbreaker, but I was completely inspired by J. Crew's collection video and this windbreaker:

(Pictures from J. Crew)
Fashion is becoming less and less about rules and more and more about how interestingly pieces are put together. On that note:
Wear the windbreaker to a spur of the moment dinner at a friends house.  Throw it on over your bathing suit in case of a shower. Put it on over your workout clothes for a jog on a rainy spring day.  Throw a scarf around your neck with some gloves for a chilly day in early Autumn.

10. A classic watch
A watch is something that's become quite important to me.  It's easier to look at then a cell phone because it's right on your wrist.  A simple, well-crafted watch will last years.  My mom got me one for a Christmas present last year and I don't feel right if I'm not wearing it, it's one of the first things I put on in the morning - even before I get dressed.  A good, simple watch goes with any outfit.  Try:
If you're a diamond lover, get a watch with a few sparkles.
Wear all different bangles that match the silver or gold of your watch - the watch will stand out but still look unified with the other jewelry.
Show it off a little: find a watch with a larger face or interesting numbers or hands.

(Pictures from Piaget)

Culture clash

The New York Times today printed two articles on French women and the aging process.  The articles were focused on Parisians and how they maintain femininity and beauty while aging.  Much has been written on this topic and a lot of the observations are generalized but I do agree that the French are more concerned with feminine beauty than their American counterparts.  I think that they take the time and interest in themselves to develop a personal style.  I have visited Paris and known several French women and though they are not more physically beautiful than the average American woman, their dress and personal appearance is more feminine and stylish.
I think our culture is so sport-centered in the suburbs and schools between soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball, lacrosse and swimming that a certain femininity is lost.  Many women spend their time after work car pooling to so many events that they have no personal time. They become efficient in appearance cropping their hair short, minimal if any make-up and casual pants and tops for attire.  I doubt there is any sexy lingerie on under this "uniform" but hope so.   In fact, our country was the first to market womens' sportswear.  Being casual is fine but I think it is taken too far.  With the advent of running, many women adopted sweat suits as their everyday garb.  This has a snowball effect...if one is wearing elasticized waistbands most of the time then those few pounds creep on quickly and soon too many.  Once uncomfortable with one's weight then elasticized waistbands are a comforting refuge.
I also am surprised by the women I meet who have teenage daughters and look to them for their opinion on dressing.  I have seen this many times and it always surprises me that by a certain age one would look to a teen for advice.  This is indicative of a lack of a sense of self.
The other teen-mom dynamic that I notice is the teen become center stage.  She is the one who buys the new clothes, has the latest make-up, hairstyles and manicures while mom no longer counts and is usurped in any areas of beauty by her daughter.  It's as though mom's time is up.  Women have too many excuses..oh I never took the weight off after children, I have no time, there is only extra money for the children.  Family life should be more balanced and the mother an example not a follower.  Needless to say,  glorification of youth in our society is very unhealthy.
I do wish more American women invested in themselves and set role models for the young.  Women matter at every age. They should be attractive and sexy at every age because that reflects self-esteem.  Please put on a skirt, a little heel, great lingerie....stand erect, do your hair, wear some lipstick and feel pretty.

Sneakers

Adorable...imagine with a rolled jean, navy tee and a sparkly bracelet.....

Crave..Sarah Kane

melt when you smile and dissolve when you laugh

and i want to play hide and seek and give you my clothes and tell you i like your shoes and sit on the steps while you take a bath and kiss your feet and hold your hand and go for a meal and not mind when you eat my food and talk about the day and laugh at your paranoia and give you tapes you don’t listen to and watch great films and watch terrible films and take pictures of you when you’re sleeping and drink coffee at midnight and have you steal my cigarettes and never be able to find a match and want you in the morning but let you sleep for a while and kiss your back and stroke your skin and tell you how much i love your hair your eyes your lips your neck your breasts your arse your and sit on the steps smoking till your neighbour comes home and sit on the steps smoking till you come home and worry when you’re late and be amazed when you’re early and give you sunflowers and be sorry when i 'm wrong and happy when you forgive me and look at your photos and wish i'd known you forever and hear your voice in my ear and feel your skin on my skin and get scared when you’re angry and hug you when you’re anxious and hold you when you hurt and want you when i smell you and get cold when you take the blanket and hot when you don’t and melt when you smile and dissolve when you laugh and wonder who you are but accept you anyway and write poems for you and wonder why you don’t believe me and have a feeling so deep i can’t find words for it and buy you presents you don’t want and take them away again and ask you to marry me and you say no again but keep on asking because though you think i don’t mean it i do always have from the first time i asked you and want what you want and think i’m losing myself but know i’m safe with you and tell you the worst of me and try to give you the best of me because you don’t deserve any less and answer your questions when i’d rather not and tell you the truth when i really don’t want to and try to be honest because i know you prefer it and forget who i am and try to get closer to you and speak german to you badly and hebrew to you worse and make love with you at three in the morning and somehow somehow somehow communicate some of the overwhelming undying overpowering unconditional all-encompassing heart-enriching mind-expanding on-going-never-ending love i have for you

-

Night out

Last week, my boyfriend and I decided to go out to a nice dinner with some of his graduation money.  Of course, I took this as a reason to get dressed up!  A couple of days before, I had randomly found an amazing LBD on a sales rack at Charlotte Russe - voilà!  Here's some of the detail on the dress to give you an idea of the beautiful-ness I was working with:

The restaurant is called Antipasto's and specializes in vegetarian fare.  But carnivores, fear not - their pasta and pizza is supposed to be out of this world, too.  I've been vegetarian for almost 2 years, a reason why my boyfriend had mentioned this place to me a few months back and I'd fallen in love with the menu online.  Since fashion is so much more than clothing, and can be about atmosphere, too, I wanted to share a little about this place, and how perfect the dress felt floating around me as I ate and laughed.

Well, we were a little overdressed - my dress was quite nice and he wore a shirt, tie, and nice dress pants. The restaurant was very small, snuggled in between stores in a Price Chopper strip mall plaza. It could fit maybe 20 people, and supposedly is known for it's very extensive wine collection (maybe in a few years). I had veggie chicken parmesan, which was amazing because since becoming vegetarian I haven't been able to experience the taste of a good chicken parmesan in almost 2 years. The lights were very dim and it was cozy. I loved it!  And more than that, a good LBD can really amp up a low-key night.  Just dinner and a movie - made special.  Why not dress up for no good reason?

Sunday Eye Candy

1. 

I LOVE Tim Walker.....

Ah, the French

This photograph taken at the Chanel couture show in Paris is a great example of American beauty in contrast with the French.  Leighton Meester and Clemence Poesy were both front row guests at Karl's show and to me Clemence captures the radiance, simplicity and self containment of French beauty.  She is dressed beautifully and simply in an elegant, feminine dress.  Make-up is minimal and her hair is au natural...I love this look!  On the other hand, her American counterpart looks overdone in every way...almost craving camera attention (which she probably is).
I admit I have always been a fan of Clemence Poesy. .I first noticed her in the movie"In Bruges" which I highly recommend.  In that film she was beautiful and natural with a dancer's grace.  She is always dressed simply but with an air of elegance. I love best that one can easily see that she is comfortable being herself....that is the essence of true beauty.

Miriam Haskell jewelry

In the heat and humidity of yesterday, I ventured out to the library and took out a beautiful book about Miriam Haskell and her jewelry company.  She founded the company in 1926 in NYC and it still exists today because it makes the finest costume jewelry.
Shortly after opening her company, Frank Hess, a window dresser from Macy's, joined her and provided the company with artistic flair...he was a great colorist!  Most credit Miriam with the business savy and Frank  with the creative talent.  Frank was a very private man who maintained tight control over his designs and work.  He showed up for work everyday in a top hat with a silver tipped cane (I would have hired him for that alone). He even approved the way that the employees dressed in the showroom....I guess Abercrombie & Fitch took note.
It was very interesting to read about the craft of jewelry making as well as how an excellent company survives during hard times such as World War II when they could not use metal.  Another designer for the company who made outstanding jewelry was Richard Clark.

I must admit that I am quite surprised at how large most of the pieces are..some might find them garish but some are truly beautiful.  The company produced an A line, B line and C line....rather like the stocking of  retail stores today.  As a jewelry company, it has a fascinating history and it also provides a great business model. Its legacy is that the best quality and adept business skills allows a company to produce a treasure trove of magnificent jewelry.  Miriam Haskell's health started to fail during the late 1940's and she sold  her company to her brother in 1950.
The large, opulent pieces the company was famous for seem to be having a resurgence today. Bib necklaces, multi-layered chains, bold bracelets, huge cocktail rings....they are all the rage today.  I wonder if in difficult financial times the sheer weight of jewelry makes one feel a tad more secure. Women in many cultures collected jewels as a way to measure their worth.  Chanel's motto was dress simply but wear lots of jewelry.  We all want to feel beautiful, secure and perhaps even regal.  In trying financial times...jewelry provides us with the power to transport ourselves on a magic carpet through the mundane.

An Introduction

I'm Lexi.  I've known Colleen for quite some time, but we've recently gotten connected again (thanks of course to the ever-growing internet community).  So, quickly, a little about myself:
Next fall I'll be attending SUNY Oswego as a French major.  The language is my everything, mon raison d'être.  Photography is my passion, and I shoot for bands, families, and myself.  I believe in really using our eyes to not only see, but to understand the world around us; allowing them to define what we like and don't like or how we interpret something.  This, I think, is the reason that fashion has become so appealing to me in the last year or so.  Fabrics, detailing, and most importantly the coexistence of pieces of clothing tells a person's story.  It can be so much more.

Lexi

I've invited a young friend to help me with my blog.  Lexi and I met years ago and we share a love of fashion, France, fabric, art, music and poetry.  She is sensitive, insightful and artistic and I think she will bring a dynamic perspective to our blog.  Lexi is Springtime and I'm Autumn.

My Ideal Summer Outfit

my summer dress.... by Colleen Geary featuring Alexander McQueen dresses

Flower Hmong

Who could be born more fashionable than Flower Hmong babies. In this Vietnamese culture, babies are decorated in beautiful, embroidered garments to be disguised as flowers. They believe that the disguise will keep evil spirits away and that the wearing of hats will prevents one spirit from being distracted and leaving the body. A beautiful book about this culture is "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" which details the life of an epileptic Hmong girl and her family whose culture clashes with that of California.
Hmong women are the best embroiderers in the world and will often being sought by suitors for their sewing skills..highly prized in their culture. Their word for baby is also used for flower...what could be more beautiful than flowers and babies. All cultures love babies but how magical is it to live in a culture that decorates babies as flowers with hours of needlework and love.