Yves

“Fashions fade, style is eternal.”

- Yves Saint Laurent

Kate Spade

“I think that playing dress-up begins at age five and never truly ends. ”

Kate Spade

Looking Good And Dressing Well

“Looking good and dressing well is a necessity.  Having a purpose in life is not. ”

Oscar Wilde

What Really Matters

Today's experience has proven to me that, as I already knew, fit is undoubtedly the most important factor when choosing an article of clothing.  My button-down shirt, cute on the hanger, does not transfer to my body...and, as an almost curve-less girl, this is bizarre.  Not only does it look bad, I'm totally aware of it and trying to make it go away.  It definitely hasn't ruined my day or anything, but it's really annoying.

No matter how many people beat this advice into the ground, it's so true: it's not about the brand, it's not about the size, make sure it fits and you've already won. 

Also, try things on.  Maybe I'll learn my lesson when I'm tossing this shirt into my Going to Goodwill basket...

Helpful Tips: Ebay Edition

Confession: I love eBay.  If you can stand to wait a few days until you get something, I 100% recommend checking eBay for anything you're in the market for.  My most recent find: vintage brown leather mid-calf flat boots - $40.  I couldn't find any similar boots I liked in stores, but these were totally perfect and an absolute steal.

Based on this experience, my most important tip for buying vintage and over the internet: know your measurements, not just your size.  A lot of the boots I looked at said that they were my size, but when I got to the measurements section of the description, they were a few inches too long.  If the seller doesn't offer measurements, ask -- especially if the item can't be altered.

Tip #2, from a magazine (Glamour, maybe?): This was mentioned regarding premium denim, but can work for almost anything -- go to department stores and try on the items you're looking to buy so that you know your size and how different items fit, then look for them on eBay.  Again, though, know your measurements -- many people alter their jeans, decide they're not going to wear them, and sell them.  The benefit?  If someone has altered them to your measurements, you get a perfectly fitted item for a fraction of the cost.

I think my favorite thing about eBay, and thrifting, come to think of it, is that you never know what you might stumble upon, and it's almost always at a great price.  Some trips online might be a total bust, but your next great wardrobe piece might just be a click away.

Make Your Own LookBook

For as long as I can remember, I've had a magazine obsession.  I started out with Teen, Teen People, and YM, then moved to Seventeen.  Now, I have subscriptions to InStyle (still my fav), Allure, Cosmo, Glamour, and Marie Claire...and regularly buy Elle and People StyleWatch on the newsstands.  The worst part of all this?  I have a hard time parting with them.  This led to a LARGE collection.  Finally, after moving many times to different dorm rooms, apartments, and cities, I finally accepted that I had to do something (they're very heavy!).  I knew that I couldn't just throw them away -- there is very valuable information there -- so I had to come up with an alternate idea.

I decided to go issue by issue and pull out things I wanted to read, advice I liked, etc., but I focused on clothing pictures that I thought I could be the basis of a future outfit.  There are all sorts of great ideas out there, and most of the pictures I pulled show outfits that I could make with pieces I already have, but in combinations I haven't put together yet.  Since I'm always trying to come up with new outfit ideas, I'll take all the help I can get!

Once I had all my magazines ripped apart, I took the salvaged pages and put them in folders that have built-in sheet protectors.  Now I have 4 LookBooks that I can flip through for ideas and no back issues taking up room in my apartment.

Style vs. Fashion

I've been wanting to write an article about the important and marked difference between style and fashion for a while.  I saw this article today and it perfectly gets to the point of what I think; it is most definitely worth reading:

The Style Imperative

The difference between style and fashion is exceptionally important, especially as someone who can't buy a new wardrobe every season.  Fashion can be very easy -- anyone can wear the exact outfit shown on a runway, with the fiscal availability, of course.  It's so much harder to have style, though.  It means seeing beyond the label, seeing beyond what everyone else is doing, and making something work for you.  This is a much bigger challenge and shows infinitely more skill than just being able to regurgitate "fashion." 

Style can be anything from knowing how to put just the right pieces together to accepting that not all fads and fashions will work on your body -- and not forcing them.  Understanding what works with not only your body, but your personality and persona is key, too --if the clothing is wearing the person, it can look like a costume.

Style absolutely must be honed and encouraged, and it often doesn't come easily.  When something just clicks, though, it's apparent and well worth it.

My favorite part of the above article is the final thought:

"As the speed of all our transactions increases, we need fast ways of transmitting information about ourselves without losing authenticity; we have less and less time to make our mark in other, more leisurely ways of knowing. Style, like a perfectly fitting book jacket, evokes the substance within by way of the surface. It makes an authentic visual impression, is a memorable mark of identity in a world that otherwise strips people of identity. There was a time when style was a luxury. Today it is a necessity."

Thrifting Guidelines

One of my worst habits is thinking that if it's cheap and I like it at the moment, I should just get it.  It is for this reason that I will almost always walk out of a thrift store with a bag of stuff and only half of it will ever be worn.  The other day I heard some good advice (I think it was on What Not to Wear): all that cheap stuff you buy and never wear adds up -- if you don't throw around a few dollars on a bunch of items that you don't wear, you can afford to buy nicer things that you love. 

Using this advice, I did something I don't think I've ever done before: I went to a thrift store and didn't buy anything.  Though a little sad to not have anything new, I was glad I didn't settle for stuff that didn't fit and that would have just added to my already crowded closet.

Binder Clip to the Rescue!

This morning, as usual, was a super rushed one.  Luckily, I picked out my clothes last night, which saved a lot of time.  Unfortunately, because I had never worn the skirt I picked out (Banana Republic from a thrift store a while ago), I didn't know it was waay too big.  I literally had about 4 minutes to leave my apartment and I was really hoping that I'd be fully dressed when I did.  I untucked my shirt to hide the top of the skirt and grabbed a belt to try to hold it up.  It really didn't look great, but I had no other option -- I had to leave.

On my way to work, luckily covered by a trench coat, I had a brilliant(?) idea.  Since the belt could only do so much, I had to make the waist of the skirt smaller so that it could sit at my natural waist and look like it fit.  So, when I arrived at my office, I grabbed a binder clip, folded the waist vertically so that it would sit right, and clipped it.  Yes, my clothes are being fitted by office supplies, but I have gotten so many compliments on my outfit, I'm not too bothered by it.  In the words of Tim Gunn, "make it work!"

The Soundtrack to my Runway Show

After all that goes into putting together the right outfit, it's time to celebrate, right?  Life is too short to be taken seriously and every day is a runway.  To that end, this mix helps me wake up and strut my stuff whether I listen to it when I'm rushing around my apartment getting ready or on my iPod once I'm out the door:

1.    Don’t Trust Me – 3Oh!3
2.    Here Comes Trouble – Pink Spiders
3.    Hot Girls in Good Moods – Butch Walker and the Let’s-Go-Out-Tonites
4.    Sheena is a Punk Rocker – The Ramones
5.    Womanizer – Britney Spears
6.    The Queen and I – Gym Class Heroes
7.    Yummy – Gwen Stefani feat. Pharrell
8.    Shake It – Metro Station
9.    Whoo! Alright Yeah… Uh Huh – The Rapture
10.    Cobrastyle – Teddybears feat. Mad Cobra
11.    New York Girls – Morningwood
12.    Girls Do What They Want – The Maine
13.    The Weight of Her – Butch Walker

The Balancing Act

With the economy the way it is, now, more than ever, it is important that fashionable young women decide what is really important and what is worth spending money on.  Personally, I rarely spend much on individual items of clothing.  I love finding great pieces at thrift and consignment shops, and stores like H&M are great for trendy clothes that are affordable, too.  However, there are two features of my final look that I will spend more for: my skin and my haircut.  At the end of the day, all make-up, from the drugstore or MAC, looks better on clean skin and a great haircut complements any outfit you put on.  Also, unlike that $300 pair of jeans, your skin and hair come with you everywhere, everyday.  Both lead to increased self confidence, too, which always makes you look infinitely better.  They’re really the ultimate investment pieces.

I know that many women love to spend big bucks on shoes and bags.  My problem with that?  Because I commute to New York every day, my shoes wear out faster than most people's – and not just from the normal wear of the sidewalk.  There are grates everywhere, people are going to step on your feet, and you never know what you may accidentally step in (eek!).  I really can’t justify spending hundreds of dollars on shoes that are just going to be worn to death.  Also, because of the commuting, my bags get a lot of wear.  I have to carry so much every day (water bottle, book, iPod, sometimes other shoes) that bags get stretched out and put on the floor fairly often.

But that’s my life.  Knowing your daily habits and what’s most important to you should be the determining factor in what you decide to spend your money on.  When I lived in the Midwest and South and drove everywhere, I was much more willing to spend money on shoes (mostly heels, which I wear much less frequently now).  I’m all for keeping up with the basics of the current trends, just make sure it always translates to your life.  Nothing’s worse than tearing up your feet to wear those great six inch wedges and not being able to walk for two days afterwards…trust me. 

Life-Saver of the Day

This morning I woke up 25 minutes late and still managed to make it to work on time (and have time to stop for coffee!).  My one saving grace?  Dry shampoo. 

As much as I praise it to my friends, you would think that I had stock in it, but it really is such a life-saver. When you don't have time to wash your hair, spray dry shampoo on your part and anywhere near the roots that looks greasy.  Then, style as normal.  Easy, fast, and super easy - perfect for running late mornings.

I use Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder, which is great, but there are many different brands available.  Amazon and Sephora have a variety for sale, so be sure to check out their reviews.  Mornings are stressful enough without having to worry that your hair is going to look flat and greasy all day: dry shampoo is a great investment and a necessity for your hair care collection.

Edit: To Chitowngirl:  B&B is the only kind I've tried, but I found that if you hold the spray high enough above your head, move fast enough, and then brush it out afterwards, your hair looks perfectly matte.  B&B also offers a smaller, and cheaper, 1 oz size of the powder.  If you don't want to make the commitment to the larger 4 oz size, give the small one a try first. :)

Project Runway Finale

Project Runway's fifth season ended last night.  I totally loved Korto's show and would absolutely wear at least half of her garments.  Leanne had some beautiful pieces and I liked her color palette, but I agreed with Nina when she said that it seemed very one note.  Kenley had some good ideas, but it wasn't my style.  At all.

I've watched, and loved, Project Runway since it's second season.  The designers are always characters, the challenges are clever, and the final results are either brilliant or massive disasters.  Until this season.  Once Bravo realized that they would be losing their former cash cow to Lifetime, they gave up on it.  The challenges were mostly rehashed or ridiculous, the designers were either boring, not very talented, or knock-offs (don't get me started on Blayne's "-licious" thing -- Christian's "hot tranny mess" got the PR catchphrase award already), and many of the garments were fairly forgetable.  All in all, a seriously disappointing season.

The Challenge

Over four years ago, my parents helped me pack my things to move to college.  It was exciting, terrifying, and made me realize just how much stuff one accumulates over 18 years.  After we had loaded my, luckily walk-in, closet at the dorm, my mom gave me a challenge: never wear the same outfit twice.  It seemed to her, and, honestly, to me, too, that I had more than enough clothes to force myself to be creative. 

To this day, I still try to live by this.  And, as she likes to remind me, the challenge doesn't give free reign to constantly buy new outfits.  Simple things like jewelry, belts, and shoes can make all the difference in getting more mileage out of your wardrobe.  Lately, I've been belting lots of my tops.  Not only does it give a totally different look, it adds an instant hourglass shape.

Admittedly, some days I fall back into an easy outfit.  Usually, this is following oversleeping and/or not planning ahead the night before.  But more often than not, I enjoy the process.  If you're feeling bored with your closet choices, I challenge you to try this!

Review: Bitten by SJP

Arguably, one of the best things to happen in a long time for fashion-forward, but financially-strapped, young women is the recent influx of affordable, and still cute, clothing lines.  One of my favorites is Sarah Jessica Parker’s line, Bitten.  Sarah Jessica may be Hollywood royalty, but she definitely realizes that the average girl doesn’t have the money or availability to haute couture that she does – everything in the line is $20 or under!

When it first arrived, critics denounced Bitten as too plain and unexciting.  What they were really saying is that Carrie, Sarah Jessica’s Sex and the City alter-ego, wouldn’t have worn it.  After looking at the collection myself, and buying a lot of pieces, I have a different opinion.  Much of the line is made up of basics: khaki-type pants (in a variety of colors), jeans, sweaters, t-shirts, button-down shirts, etc.  But, all of those things, while they may be “plain” or “unexciting,” are the building blocks of a wardrobe.  Also, it’s not as if the line is without flair – there is a fairly wide range of jewelry offered, as well as great shoes.  Any girl with a sense of style can easily show it off.  My favorite piece is an adorable short black double-breasted swing jacket -- I literally wear it almost every day this time of year.

Anyone looking to add some basic, all-American pieces to her wardrobe, without breaking the bank, should absolutely check out Bitten.