I Want To Be Famous!

    Most children dream of being famous at one time or another, right?  I was like that, you were like that, Cinderella was like that - well maybe not Cinderella, but you get my drift.  As we "mature", we also see the down side of fame: the paparazzi, tabloids, gossip blogs and E! News, but hey, a kid can still dream.  They may not all become famous, but they are certainly more style savvy, fashion forward and label conscious than kids were back in the day!  It's scary... and amusing at the same time.

     I was staying with my younger cousins for the week in what I used to call their shoe box apartment, but now I call it the Village Mansion because I have a new found appreciation for a 3 bedroom NYC apartment (hard to come by and even harder to afford).  As I was getting ready for work and they were getting ready for school all squished in the bathroom the youngest one was watching me apply mascara to my long lucious eyelashes (ok, so my sister has the long lucious eyelashes, whatever).  She procceds to say, "I need to learn how to do that because today I am going to be famous."  Surprised, I said, "Oh, really, and how do you plan on doing that?"  With serious written all over her face she said, "Annie, you are going to be my photographer and post pictures of my outfits on your blog."  Flattered that she thought my fashion blog was meaty enough publicity to make her famous, I told her to strike a pose.

     Don't think it stopped there.  She waltzed over to me with a pen, a pad of floral Papyrus paper and generously offered me her autograph and granted an interview if I was interested.  They really do grow up so fast and they're so full of it, aren't they?  She reminded me of a younger, harder to understand version of myself.  So, I graciously accepted her autograph and commenced with the interview.  I found that she gets her style inspiration from H&M and Gap Kids because they are always colorful, she will love all of her fans, she likes Juicy Couture and even if she's late for school she will stop and give autographs.

     As Andy Warhol said, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes."  With her penchant for leadership (bossing people around) and pure determination I can see her becoming the President of the United States or the CEO of some outlandishly successful company and therefore her fame will last far, far longer.  But, for now, here she is! When you recognize that mug someday, somewhere, remember you saw her here first!

Fame and fortune!

Ciao,

Annie

Break Down Of A Fashion Show!

     A fashion show can be anywhere from 10 - 30 minutes of actual "model strutting" time and even longer in some rare Karl Lagerfeld cases.  Designers and their crews slave for months to meet the Fashion Week deadlines all for a show that lasts minutes.  Although it seems a bit barbaric when you really get down to the nuts and bolts, it's tradition and kind of the law, (well...fashion law) and you know what happens when you break the law!  Nothing good can come of it.
     So what exactly is the focus of a fashion show?  The clothing, right?  But, if one look is flashed before our eyes for a mere 30 seconds, how in the hell are we supposed to process the look, be able to clear our buzzing mind and have a clean slate for the next look?  Unless you have supernatural sensory power, (which is totally possible for us fashion lovers, it's the power of the clothing!) then you have to break it down into  manageable pieces and then thank Steven J. Sasson (the inventor of the digital camera).
     When I assess a fashion show I start at the bottom, with the feet.  Funny, I know! I am a shoe lover therefore, missing the shoes would be akin to missing the first act of a great Broadway production. To ensure that doesn't happen I glance at the model's feet, drink in the shoes, and then go straight to the head.  Scanning the head, neck and shoulder area for any dazzling or perhaps fabulously subtle accessories, I look very carefully and then move on to the outfit. If it's a dress, it allows a little more time to really analyze the whole look and if it's a top and bottom I get a quick peek and then like a flash it's gone.  Instantly I want to yell, "wait, stop, come back" but they have already turned the corner and are off.  Speaking of back, you simply must allot time out of your 30 second assessment for the back of the garment! There are always forgotten details that float at the back of these outfits so, make sure you don't let them pass by you.
     There you have it, my way of making sure that I see as much as I can during a fashion show. Everyone has their own methodical approach to it, just make sure you don't skip a beat because there is so much to see and so little time!

Photographs thanks to Vogue.com!

How can you drink it all in?

Ciao,

Annie

The Bookend To The Oscars!

     No one wants the Oscar fun to finish, but as they say -  all good things must come to an end!  This high profile event can be the highlight in an actor's career and that likely comes with a tremendous amount of celebrating.  Charles Finch and Chanel hosted a Pre-Oscar bash, Mario Testino hosted the opening 'After Party' and of course, Vanity Fair Magazine hosted the Vanity Fair Oscars Party on February 24th.  These events were crawling with producers, award winners, millionaires and billionaires and mega talent.  With all of that in one room there must have been some serious couture floating around, right?

     White: the humble, innocent and darling trend that lots of celebs indulged in.  Seems that many stars are assuming more of a quiet, somewhat toned down look for the runway and saving the real spice for the after parties.  Some went hog wild in the color and texture department while others turned up the heat by revealing themselves with plunging necklines, bare shoulders, nonexistent backs, and slits up to their nether-region!  Very spicey!   Demure and innocent are out, bold and shameless are in.  These stars are on to bigger and better things.

Alessandra Ambrosio at Mario Testino's

Nicole Hanley Mello at Mario Testino's

Natalie Portman in Christian Dior
Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Rose Byrne in Lanvin
Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Allison Williams in Valentino
Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Dree Hemingway in Calvin Klein Collection
Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Mamie Gummer in Acne Studios
Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Images courtesy of Vogue.com!

"As white Whinnie as white!"

Ciao,

Annie

A Month Worth Of Street Style!

     We are all fashion lovers here and overly familiar with the term fashion week, right? If not then perhaps do a couple of clicks to the nearest home renovation blog or something!?!

     But seriously, let's call a spade a spade - it's Fashion Month not Fashion Week - and I for one couldn't be happier!  I mean it's kind of false advertising right???  Thus far we have survived through New York, London, Milan and now, Paris Fashion Week.  It's a true accomplishment and amazing when people say that they made it out alive.  It's a jungle out there, full of fashion fauxpaus, makeup catastrophes, garment slips, sizing issues, shipping mishaps, hair extension dilemmas and utter disasters.  The show must go on because the runway shows are the true highlight of Fashion Week, but running a very close second is the equally inspiring, knock out, edgy, chic, contemporary, street style worn by the adoring masses.  After all, our society has adopted the trickle up theory and bits and pieces have been used as inspiration for many runway designs.  From country to country let's see what the truly fashionable locals have to share with us.

     The city slickers in New York City don't mess around.  They get down and dirty and straight to business.  They power walk in their 4 inch heels from place to place, texting and e-mailing everyone they know to make sure that everything is running on time and done to perfection.  The days of the New York - hold everything you own bag - bag lady is gone for good.  The smaller the better, consolidation is key when you are spending your days traveling from one runway show to the next.  A small clutch filled with invitations, credit cards, some small change, a cigarette (I don't recommend it) and maybe a cube of cheese in case you feel faint - that ought to do it!  These ladies don't skip a beat.

    Across the Atlantic in London we see that coats are the statement piece.   In the royal land where, when it rains it pours (almost every day), they were lucky enough to have a little peep of sunshine and not a drop from the sky to ruin the week.  Londoners are the queens of outwear and nobody does it better!

     Milan, Italia, my favorite of them all.  Sorry if I seem a bit biased right now - it's because I am!  Somehow the fashion no matter what it looks like, is over the top fabulous set against this most beautiful backdrop.  But, they weren't so lucky in the weather department.  Although, it never put a damper on designer spirits here.  A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, even if that means holding your fabulous clutch over your head to ward off the frizzies that inevitably crop up in the rain and snow.

     Now we are finishing up Fashion Month in the city of light, the epicenter of fashion on earth, none other than Paris, France.  This was the last stop for most fashion goers and it was their last chance to make a grand statement.  And that they did!  What a great way to end this insanely fabulous month where we celebrate the new fashions for months to come.  J'adore!

Photo's courtesy of Vogue.com!

Who's street style do you like best?

Ciao, 

Annie

Kate Young For Target!

     Gals, prom season is just around the river bend and so is the line of cocktail attire and formal dresses by Kate Young for Target.  Don't you just love a good Target collaboration?  It's affordable, fashionable and most of all easily accessible (there's a Target on every street corner)!  Young just recently shot her ad campaign for her collection that will be released in Target stores across the country on April 14th.  She used four style icons to drive her campaign.  DJ Leigh Lezark, model Hailey Gates, actress Nathalie Love and model Lily Kwong all helped Young get her style across to the masses.  With a little bit of edge, quirk and class I cannot wait to see what else Kate is going to bring to this collection!  For now, here is a sneak peak.

The best has yet to come!

Ciao, 

Annie

For All You Juniors Out There!

     I remember back in high school, always trying to create the best look and be the most fashionable.  The trouble with high school was/is everyone tends to look a little homogenized.  In my day we were all rolled up like little sausages in the ever popular Juicy terry track suit.  Not the best look for everyone and certainly not a standout style!  High school can be a tough place to define yourself and your style.  Back then it really felt like what you wore mattered.  I have a secret for you young ladies, (take it from me... I won best dressed for my senior superlatives!) be yourself and go with whatever you feel comfortable and fashionable in.  Some might think it's strange and other will love it to death.  I got a sideways glance now and then for sure, but hey, who were they to judge?  Fashion is supposed to be fun, it's supposed to be the thing that sets you apart from all the other kids at school.  Ok, I guess school is not the runway and who you are and what you do should be what sets you apart.  But, they say if you look good, you do good!  So it's never too early to hone your own personal style. 

     Here's something for you to consider - L'Amor by Nanette Lepore sold at JCPenny.  The well known fashion designer has nailed this fabulous collaboration.  She created a fashion forward collection of Junior clothing that has completely blown me away.  If it fit me I would be running to the nearest JCP right now and buying one of everything.  It's such a fun collection, the colors, the prints and the fabric choices give the line the feeling of high fashion apparel.  Her collection ranges from studded shorts and graphic tee's to colorful camouflage baby doll dresses.  Best of all it is ridiculously affordable.  No need to break the piggy bank here!  Now it's your turn - go out and put together a unique outfit that has your own personal stamp on it!

“In order to be irreplaceacle, one must always be different.”
― Coco Chanel

JcPenny, I love your style!

Ciao, 

Annie