You know – I wish that I could say that I always, always, always dress for myself. The fact is, though, that most of the time when I am picking what to wear, I am thinking about the impression that I will make on whomever I am meeting. I wouldn’t wear something bare and sexy for a conference with my boss, and I wouldn’t go out to dinner all somber and subdued in the kind of clothes I’d wear to a funeral.
I have to add that when I get dressed, I always think about what the other women in the group will be wearing – and what they’ll think about what I am wearing. I don’t think this is so much from a viewpoint of competition – though who wants to be outshone by anyone, much less her friends? – but because, quite frankly, the other women are more likely than the men to notice what I am wearing. The men might notice how I look in what I’m wearing, but ten to one odds are that, 24 hours after seeing me, they won’t remember whether my shoes were red or black or my top was lime or periwinkle.
So – all of that said, I really, really think about what I wear when I go out for a night with the girls. And what would I wear?
If I am going out for a casual evening, I might take the tried-and-true look of a T-shirt and denim mini to the next level with a really eye-popping graphic tee. I love to take something that seems so effortless and swing it around with a look that’s really cute. If the evening is a little chilly, I’ll throw on a really easy jacket, like my Save the Queen black jacket – special enough to stand on its own, but classic enough to wear with everything.
If we’re going someplace really special – the hottest new restaurant in town or even someplace such as the opera or a show, I never want to be the girl wearing the same outfit as some other one. In this case, I’d pick something really unique and eye-catching, like my favorite new dress by Sonia Fortuna. The modern shape and geometric print, as well as the dressmaker details, make this the perfect dress to play up, up, up: I mean, really –when a dress is this amazing, why play it down?
If we’re out for a night clubbing, I’ll pick something that I can move in – but which is also really sexy. I love my Mascia dress by Otitude – it hides a lot of flaws and plays up all the good parts, and it’s so comfortable that I can dance all night.
With a little forethought and a lot of style, you can go anywhere and know for sure that you are the best-dressed woman in the room.
In this global community we live in today, there is no reason – no reason at all – not to enjoy little glorious bits and pieces from the cultures with which we share the planet. Granted, a lot of our views of these cultures stems from generalizations – that Italian joy of life, French style, English reserve, the American can-do spirit, the Japanese ability to embrace wild trends while at the same time paying homage to centuries of tradition, the relaxed attitude of Australians, and the spicy elegance of the Spanish. While most of the pieces in my wardrobe work together, I can see little hints about the various cultures I admire. When I find myself getting too wrapped up – in work, in my social life, in just getting every little thing done that needs doing – I try to embrace a little piece of the philosophies that combine to make this world, if you really think about it, such a remarkable place. Let’s face it – there are some days that we could all use a little support. Whether I am trying to show off curves or merely keep them in check, I always find that a little German-inspired restraint helps. That’s when I turn to my Save the Queen corset. It makes me feel like a pretty German Fräulein – all business and all sexiness at the same time. When I am trying to channel my dolce vita Italian self, I always turn first to my orange and fuchsia Gattinoni top. I love to wear it with white jeans and my most gigantic white sunglasses and channel my inner jetsetter. This makes me feel as if I should be sitting on some sun-baked terrace overlooking an Italian beach – and talking to some incredibly handsome Italian man who can’t take his eyes off my Glamorous Italian Self! Whether I am channeling the streets of Madrid or the beaches of the Yucatan, I always feel like a Latin Goddess in my multicolor print tunic from Custo. This works as a minidress or a tunic – I love it over leggings or skinny jeans and my highest high-heeled sandals. This dress evokes sexiness – although it’s usually too hot to have my hair falling all over the place (I should have it in a neat ponytail), this is the dress that makes me tousle up those curls and strut like a supermodel. There are days when you just have to get stuff done. That’s when I go for the American can-do feeling of my Hale Bob shift dress. There’s a little bit of many cultures in this dress – the vibrant tropical feeling of the print, the Far East touch of the silk, and the nod to European couture in the cut. But this is a no-holds-barred dress – I can move and I can get my tasks completed, but I always look goof doing it.
This is the time of year where it becomes almost desperately hot…the operative word for our weather is sticky. This is when I think about the great style of the Riviera – not so much the topless swimsuits, which would certainly raise some eyes if I wore them at work – but the look of breezy white clothes that just exude relaxed elegance. With casual hair and natural make-up, there is nothing that can beat the look of white. Not only does the color work for anything from the beach to the most important occasions (here comes the bride), but it also works for just about any skin tone or hair color. I love to wear a skirt during this time of year. With a good high-heeled shoe, a white pencil skirt looks great at the office – add some jewelry and a little more dramatic make-up, and you can go straight from the office to dinner or drinks. This is the Gina Lollobrigida look: classic, sexy, and above all cool. I also love the look of a circle or A-line skirt. Buttoned up with cardigan or a little twinset, it’s all about demure. However, change your shoes to sandals or flip-flops, and you’ve got the perfect look for prowling the malls, the antique stalls, or the local bars! Think white’s too sweet for a date? Think again. While a black dress is all about sophisticated city style, there’s something that guys just can’t resist about white. First, it makes everyone look young and fresh. Second, it makes you look cool and crisp. And if you can pull off a sexy little number that plays off all your best personal assets to perfection, go for it! I love the one by 3J Workshop – I would feel like a temptress milkmaid! And a very, very hot one! Going for a more Bohemian chic look? Try the Sophia dress by Jonny Was on for size. This dress is all about sultry walks on the beach and cool, crisp white wine. I love this dress for its figure-flattering lines and for its totally of-the-moment Indian-inspired embroidery. Hippie, hippie chic is all I have to say about it. If you’re looking for something a bit more buttoned-up – and at the same time completely cutting edge – choose Hale Bob’s new A-line shift with adorable crochet trim. This is just a dream dress – the shape is very modern and yet at the same time the trim gives it that little pop of ingénue dolce vita. White is the color of summer – wear it and look cool and refreshed!
There is no question that women have moved forward in the world. Just a few decades ago, the hope for most women has been that they will be raised by nice father and marry men who will treat them like children – pampered children, but children nonetheless. However, the number of women in top CEO positions – and those who are heads of state or hold important roles in state government – shows us that women can definitely achieve great heights in this world.
Yet, there are places in the world where women have few choices – or none at all. In this world where so many of us have so many opportunities, it’s important to realize that there are millions of girls and women who are sold into slavery or forced into war. There are women whose children are ripped from their arms and sold to the highest bidder and women who work long hours in bad conditions for a fraction of what a man would earn in her place.
A fashion Web site may seem a strange place to talk about the plight of women, but there’s no question that beauty is a quest for women the world over. It’s in our genes to seek beauty and to create it. It’s how we’re wired.
Our common bond of all things beautiful can remind us of our sisters in other places. A dress with a tribal flaircalls to mind our girlfriends in Africa, and a kimono sleeve is reminiscent of our friends in Japan. Jeans with an edge have that American casual feeling, while a dainty dress speaks of an English garden party. Italy’s knitwear is revered the world over. All of the lovely things we live with are based on someone’s culture, someone’s craft.
Beautiful things come from everywhere. Embrace beauty and create as much of it as you can. Speak out about ugliness.
A lot of people around the world look at Americans as experts in excess – after all, new American millionaires at the turn of the 1900s were so big on overindulgence that they were able to woo royalty from Europe! The plain fact is, though, that Americans have always been good at making use of what they have – whether in the throes of the American Revolution or riding out the Dust Bowls of the Great Depression. Add to that the entrepreneurial spirit that has created so many great retailers on this side of the pond, and you get a nation of good shoppers. The difference between a good shopper and a great shopper? A good shopper knows what’s in style, but a great shopper knows where to find deals on what’s in style. Luckily for everyone, great shoppers are no longer limited to their neighborhoods when it comes to searching out the most important trends and the best bargains – we have the world! (That’s where Glamway24.com comes in!)Recession dressing is about choosing the most significant new trends and making them work with what you already have. That means buying a chic tunic with last year’s jeans or a floaty new dress with classic stiletto pumps. Adding these new pieces to your investment clothes – those classic staples for which you paid big dollars (or Euros or pounds or whatever) during the economic boom – will give your wardrobe the punch it needs without breaking the bank.As the saying goes: when the dollar is up, skirts go up; when the dollar drops, so do hemlines. Minis will always look fun and flirty, but this year look for longer, flowing styles such as those by Sonia Fortuna and Appartamento50. Pair these beauties with this year’s most surprising accessories – tights! – or a flattering high-heeled sandal, and you’ll look au courant without encumbering your debt load. Or choose another style guarantee and snap up an architectural skirt – I love the creatively constructed ones from Save the Queen. These skirts can be worn with T-shirts or tops that are already in your wardrobe, making them a style must. Remember – recessions are cyclical, and what goes down will come up. Spend carefully, but remember – there’s no excuse for looking shabby!
Photo: A model in the Gattinoni Haute Couture catwalk. The USA flag on the background
Let’s face it: we’ve all been layering on sweaters and jackets for so long now that all those layers – no matter how fabulous their individual components – are beginning to feel a little tired. It doesn’t matter how much we love those pieces: there’s no question that as the weather begins to warm up, we’re all thinking about shedding some of those extra coverings. That’s why I always think that a dress is the perfect antidote for winter’s bulky extras. Not only is a dress cool and ultra-feminine, but it’s also true one-stop dressing! Luckily, though it’s seemed that for a long time in recent years there have only been two kinds of dress – the fashionable super-bare one and the dowdy one – this year’s crop is chock full of different styles that can suit any event and any figure. Think of your iconic spring dress. Are you imagining a sexy Marilyn Monroe dress, a constructed Audrey Hepburn sheath, or a bare little number that calls to mind all the world’s best beaches? If the dress makes you think spring, it’s definitely going to make you look and feel your best. Channel your inner ingénue with a girly-girl floral printor aswingy skirt. A flirty cut that defines your waist is going to give you a young and fresh look that’s all about femininity. Pair this look with minimal, ladylike jewelry and classic shoes. If spring turns all your thoughts to love, go all-out sultry with a sexy Little Black Dress. Choose from a more tailored style or a flowing shape – either one will show off those curves! Add a jacket or a cardigan, and go from day to night. For the more daring, dial up the heat with a red dressthat’s sure to turn heads. Any of these dresses can be the go-to number in your wardrobe that you know will always be appropriate and elegant. Dresses have definitely always been one of the staples of spring, but thanks to America’s stylish new First Lady, Michelle Obama, even more people are looking at the possibilities of the frock. Mrs. Obama favors sleeveless dresses that show off her toned arms in a look that many say harks back to the days of Jackie Kennedy! However, if you’re shy about baring your arms – or just perpetually chilly – choose aflattering style that will hug your curves and hide your triceps! Either style is going to work for spring – and beyond. A pretty dress will help you build your wardrobe – a smart investment that’s both trendy and stylish.
The new Isla Fisher movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic, has hit the big screens. Based on the book by British author Sophie Kinsella, Shopaholic chronicles the tale of Becky Bloomwood and her rarely advisable addiction to snapping up great fashion and great deals. The Shopaholic books have been smash successes throughout the world. Women – even frugal women – understand Becky’s drive to attain the most enviable tops and dresses, and the most coveted handbags. We totally understand her devotion to shopping: not only is it great for the world economy, but it also makes the planet a much, much more beautiful place! Some of her ideas about shopping make a lot of sense: sample sales, amortizing the cost of clothes, and looking for a great bargain online. However, we don’t advise keeping several super-emergency-only credit cards for the rare chance to snap up a limited edition when the rest of your cards are maxed out! Becky’s adventures with her credit cards would horrify you if she were an actual person, rather than a made-up character. And, to be honest, the movie has gotten less than rave reviews (note to producers: don’t try to cram the contents of a series of books into one movie and then change the characters around to fit the personalities of the cast you’ve hired – or make a movie about fiscal irresponsibility during a time in which this trait is being massively vilified in the press). However, there does seem to be a market for this kind of movie: none of us really get the wild success and approbation for The Devil Wears Prada move, which (to us) seemed like a watered-down version of a fun book with a great bite. But, no matter how bland and tiresome this movie genre movie may be, it offers an excellent opportunity to put on a cheery fashion show. And we’re all about fashion shows. So – no matter how much we’d like to chastise the producer, writers, directors, and Kraft services people who made Shopaholic, we’ll give kudos to the clothes. Cute, form-fitting jeans, super accessories, frothy skirts, and to-die-for dresses are all great things to seek out. We just suggest you do it in a more responsible manner…
