Collet -set riviere necklaces

Sometimes I am sooo slow. Recently we had a necklace returned to J. Crew that was so pretty. It was an amethyst stone colored necklace of simple round stones that sat on the collar bone. we all took turns playing with it..trying it on and I just loved it. I noticed how the colors just lit my face and the sparkle was sophisticated not garish. Then I remembered "The September Issue" the fascinating documentary about Anna Wintour...the high priestess of the fashion world, and the necklaces she wore throughout the movie. I love the way she dresses..beautiful, feminine dresses and skirts, immaculately tailored and her necklaces. She wears three collet -set riviere necklaces of amethyst, citrine and aquamarine ...either alone or together. They are elegant, timeless and add color to the face of women of a "certain age". Who would know better how to dress than Anna? I saw it in my own experience of playing with the necklace at J. Crew. It is far prettier than the classic pearl strand. Pearls add glow but no color or sparkle. I often think to myself that once women hit a certain age ...they have to add color to their faces...either through jewelry, scarves, clothing or make-up. The riviere necklace is perfect! Then it took a day before I realized that, of course, J. Crew copied the necklace from the film knowing that everyone would notice every detail of Anna's dress. Yes, I was slow on the uptake here but I am glad to have discovered it.....it's as though Anna gave the advice just to me and she was soooo right.

My Bride

Two weeks ago when I was working at J. Crew, a young woman came in with a friend looking for a dress. She brought two dresses into the dressing room and neither fit that well. I questioned her about the event she was shopping for, much to my surprise , it was her wedding...next Saturday! She seemed too casual. I asked her friend discreetly the circumstances and she said it was on and off again and now due to time it was on. The timing of what I wondered, pregnancy..she didn't look at all pregnant..perhaps she was marrying a man being shipped off to duty. The bride felt no compulsion to discuss it further and I liked and respected her privacy. Anyway..I told her I would check the back where we sometimes have fancy party dresses being shipped to other stores.
Shock! We had a wedding dress...I grabbed it and ran it out to her...just noticing it was a size 6 and thinking it might fit. She was shocked as well. She tried it on and it looked as if it was made for her. Ivory silk chiffon graced her figure and olive skin...she looked enchanting. At that moment, she realized she was getting married. She couldn't catch her breath and had to walk away to think. The price was reasonable but she, at that moment, realized her life was changing forever. I watched her become a bride and wife in a flash in her eyes. After her walk, she did come back to purchase the dress. She said it was meant to be...a dress that fit her perfectly one week before her wedding...We all like to think that "things are meant to be"... not random luck. The magic was in seeing that young woman face and desire her future with that one dress. The power of one dress can be magical!

MET Gala

The best fashion party of the year was held Monday at the MET. Anna Wintour, Oprah Winfrey and Patrick Robinson of the GAP were host for the Costume Institute's biggest fundraiser. The gowns were beautiful, the people all beautiful and yet is seemed flat to me...all brands. Oprah represents her own brand, Anna - Vogue, Patrick - The GAP....it semed liked the ultimate commercial evening for fashion. The red carpet was filled with beautiful, professional posers...selling a movie, a designer, a t.v. show, the Patriots.....
I have always enjoyed the costume institute..it introduced me to the fabulous fashions of YSL, Josephine's Bonaparte's wardrobe, yes..the Jackie O. show...and the fabulous Poiret and Chanel....This show was to honor the American Woman...yet the spirit seemed to be represented by the American Brand. Meanwhile, the Victoria and ALbert Museum in London is doing a show on Grace Kelly...which somehow seems to represent what the American woman always aspired to and classic American fashion style..sweater sets and pearls of the 50's. Pristine WASP American grooming on display though Grace was Irish American...ironic, no doubt.

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.