Age

I wonder if we allowed nature to take its course and we accepted gray hair, lines, sagging bodies and saw the beauty in that...would we not be a better society? Would we accept mortality and thereby enhance life with wisdom and kindness toward others....would we be humble and generous? If all stars saw life as limited.....would movies be different, fashion? art? music? What would the Beatles be like if Paul McCartney was gray and simply missed his first wife and fellow beatles? Would his work be different? What if Michael Jackson accepted his natural deterioration- would he be there for his children? Aging happens despite surgery, cosmetics and magic acts..shouldn't we accept it as it arrives then face everyday with fear? Potential is in growth and strength ..not avoidance....

Why?

Our young girls walk into school with short, too short shorts and loose tank tops...it is not appropriate. How did our youth become cheap and well, sleazy looking..?? Calvin Klein! Ever since the Brooke Shields commercials that proclaimed "Nothing comes between her and her Calvins" youth became a market. A market for fashion and for portraying fashion as something unattainable by adults. Thus jeans , the backbone of the working man, become fashion and "designer" and botox necessary...no one can compete with a sexy 13 year old in skin tight jeans...a knowing 13 year old. A new merchandise market born...and we accepted. Lolita's charm was that she was unaware..but in "our great age" we prostituted our youth for wealth for the few, and an aging complex for everyone over 25. We bought it and sold it and now we live with the consequences. Life and its stages are not beautiful...Levi is not good enough and wrinkles are the enemy..... J Brand, Botox, even men wear Spanx...we beg for youth but "time"s winged chariot "carries all of us "off". Accept the stages of life like seasons because they are our teachers....accept and learn. Please..preserve childhood .

Guilt

Speaking of necklaces.....this morning I was racing to get out to work and searching frantically for the necklace that goes so perfectly with my ballet pink sweater.....stung! hit right between the eyes....I realized I have a problem! I was pulling out little jewel bags and rolls searching for the necklace and rediscovering necklaces I had forgotten. I truly have a stash and I really like all of them...one after another I found tucked away under lingerie, notes from my children and all the bits of my life that I keep hidden in my dresser drawers. They were like old friends...they attended fun events with me, sad days and picked me up on the day we met. I suddenly remembered after my parents' deaths the sorting out of their things...oh no, if I die before my husband, he will see. He will be disappointed in me for my weakness
and utter frivolity...I now feel like Madame Bovary. What to do?? Murder is not the answer; suicide seriously limits all future occasions to which I could wear said necklaces. I must furtively ponder options....tomorrow. Tonight I will wrap two or three around my neck and go out and laugh and sip champagne!

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!