(Appropriate) Holiday Event Wear

Wih the holiday season comes many festive get-togethers. The most common being the office holiday party and the family Christmas. Just like most other events, these, too, have certain fashion do’s and fashion don’ts. Here are some brief tips to look great and not be a fashion faux pas:

The Office Holiday Party

For an office party, first consult your invitation when deciding what to wear. Is the event casual? Black tie? Novelty-themed? Follow what the invite says. If there is no dress guidance listed, it is best to error on the side of too dressy rather than too casual. There’s nothing more tacky-looking than showing up in jeans and an applique holiday sweater when every other party attendee is in a tux or taffeta.  Also, remember that though a party is a time for fun, this is still an office and your bosses are still watching you. Keep your attire modest and save the club wear for, well, the club.

Courtesy of www.gothamist.com

The Family Christmas

Whether you’re attending your own family Christmas or your significant other’s, you can do right by your fashion choices and you can do wrong.  Just like the office party, dress on the conservative side. You don’t want your grandma (or his) whispering about how revealing that slip-of-a-dress is. Rather, match the season. It’s cold out so dress “warmly.” You can still wear a dress, but make sure it’s constructed out of heavier, more luxurious winter-worthy fabrics and doesn’t have the skimpy traits of a summer dress. J. Crew has some good options this season. It’s also a smart idea to dress in layers, so whether you’re breaking a sweat running after the kids or out in the elements singing Christmas carols, you’ll be prepared.

Courtesy of www.marieclaire.com

LKJ

Boots, boots, boots!

I love boots. They add depth to an outfit, an element of style that just can’t be achieved with your standard shoe. Beyond the fashion pluses of the footwear, they also keep your feet dry in the rain and toasty in the winter. All that said, I’m ashamed to say that my fashion wardrobe contains only two pairs. Thus, inspired by Shelby’s insistence last week that every girl should be outfitted in boots this season – and I must say that I agree – I thought it would be prudent to bring you some of my favorites, and in the process, shop for myself.

1. Kamik Rain Boots

Now, I’m usually an advocate of what I call mainstream clothing: no neon, construction-worker wear colors; no obnoxious all-over prints. But rain boots are the exception. Go wild. The ones I want to go wild with? Kamik boots. They have a variety of fun patterns that will bring cheer on a rainy, cloudy day. And who doesn’t want that?

Courtesy of kamik.com

2. Bamboo Boots

I fell in love with these boots when I saw them. They’re not by any means haute couture, nor are they even high-end. But these Bamboo Boots by Journee struck a chord. They’ve got the flat look that’s in style right now, mixed with the gladiator trend from the summer. Win, win, win.

Courtesy of overstock.com

3. Coach Joele Boot

I couldn’t resist including this Coach Joele boot, despite its $348 dollar price. They’re perfect. The leather looks buttery smooth. My mouth’s watering. I’m in boot lust. The pair is both fashionable, yet not so trendy that I won’t be able to wear them a year from now. Thus, I would say that they’re actually practical. Yes, that’s it. They’re definitely making my Christmas wish list this year.

Courtesy of coach.com

LKJ

Q&A with Future Fashion Designer, Shelby Steiner

This week I thought I’d give you a peek at the life and thoughts of a future fashion designer. Hailing from a small town in rural Iowa, Shelby Steiner, 18, began her first year this fall as a fashion design student at Columbia College in Chicago.

Q: Why did you want to become a designer?

A: Fashion design has always been my dream; I wanted to become a designer since I was 7 years old. I was always making dresses for Barbies out of washrags when I was little.

Q: What are your career goals?

A: My main career goal is to open up my own boutique some day with my own designer line. I want to be self-employed. My biggest dream is to have my line featured in the New York fashion week.

Q: Who or what is your inspiration for your designs?

A: I can get inspiration from almost anything. A lot of my inspiration comes from other designers. I really like Danielle Scutt‘s designs this year. She has a lot of techno, edgy stuff. And Audrey Hepburn is my fashion icon. In general, though, I like to look at things with texture and color when coming up with ideas for designs.

Q: What are the similarities and differences between fashion school and a regular university?

A: There’s really no partying in the fashion school; everybody’s really focused on their major. The fashion world is really competitive for designers. Another way it is different is that there are not any sports teams here. As for classes, we take a mixture of subjects as gen eds, but there are not a lot of requirements for science and other subjects outside fashion design. For instance, I only have to take one math class.

Q: What is the best item of clothing you’ve designed? The worst?

A: I haven’t sewed that much yet at Columbia. We’re mainly focusing on drawing flat design sketches. For instance, right now for class we’re designing our own fashion line. I have to make 7 pieces that are all cohesive inthe same group. But I have sewn dresses in the past, and I really liked making them and the way they turned out. My worst designs are handbags. I’m terrible at them.

Q: Favorite place to shop for clothes and why?

A: My favorite places to shop are probably Betsey Johnson and Akira, which is a Chicago boutique. Betsey Johnson isn’t very affordable, so I can only get so much there. But Akira has trendy pieces and classic pieces that I can mix and match, and they’re all fashion forward.

Q: How can a person best recreate runway styles?

A: Shopping bridge lines is a great way to get runway looks. Many designers, for example Calvin Klein, design high-end fashion but also have bridge lines for stores like Younkers. Klein  uses the same ideas from his design line for his bridge line except that he uses less expensive fabrics and less detail. And then they do it at mass production.

Q: What should every girl have in her closet this winter?

A: Textured tights and knee-high, flat boots.

Designer Duds, For Less

I remember in my early teen days flipping through Elle, coveting every designer piece way, way over my budget. I would gaze at the pictures, imagine myself sashaying down the street in the $2,000 dress and the unlisted-price heels featured on the glossy page. Then I’d sigh, close the magazine, and go back to my AE jeans and hoodie.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I happened upon Target’s Go International line a few years ago. Since then, I’ve gotten a Tara Jarmon handbag and Proenza Schouler top, among other items. The line of clothing and accessories is designed by a different, well-known designer each month and is cheap compared to legit couture. Prices range from $10 to around $100. Rodarte will be designing the line from late December through the first days of February, and get this, Jean Paul Gaultier will lend his design genius to the line in early March.

Rodarte line for Neiman Marcus. Courtesy of www.fashionlines.com

Target isn’t the only store offering lines by designers or celebrities. Lauren Conrad (formerly of the Hills) has been designing pieces for Kohls (prices range from $35-$60 on average), and Wal-Mart features a line by Miley Cyrus and Max Azria with pieces under $20.

Lauren Conrad line for Kohl's. Courtesy of marlomc.wordpress.com

You can also pick up some relatively inexpensive ($30-$40) designer-inspired shoes at Payless, which has a line featuring Lela Rosa.

Lela Rosa heels. Courtesy of www.life.com

So, all my fashionistas, whether you’re a scrimping-and-saving college student like myself or the recession has hit you hard, you can still get that designer look but on the cheap. More and more stores are carrying designers lines; all you have to do is head to your nearest Target (or Wal-Mart or Kohl’s or . . .)

LKJ

Avoiding Costume Cliche

Mix Halloween fashion with the college scene and you often see the oh-so-cliche ensembles. There’s the creeper behind the mask guy who eyes every girl in sight as he slurps his drink by the punch bowl. Then there’s the lame party attendee dressed as himself with the “My name is ___” sticker. And, of course, there are the girls who adhere to the Mean Girls writ of the holiday: “Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.”

But I like to “expand my horizons” beyond the cliche, to not take “the easy way out,” to go “against the grain.” You get what I mean. Thus, I searched the Internet and came up with three unique, yet clever, costumes.

1. Noami Campbell on Trash Duty

Courtesy of http://media.timeoutnewyork.com

This is one of my favorites. Why? Because, number one, you get to look fabulously fashionable at the Halloween party, leaving every clown-outfitted, ill-fitting costume wearing attendee in the dust rising up from your high heeled pumps. And, two, it’s just plain amusing.

2. Static Cling

Courtesy of http://burdastyle-1.s3.amazonaws.com

Another amusing costume that can be thrown together cheaply and quickly. Just don a solid color from head to toe, safety pin a few small items of clothing and dryer sheets to your shirt and pants, and you have it. Clever, yet simple.

3. Swine Flu

Courtesy of http://inventorspot.com

This one is for those who like to border on the macabre with their Halloween getup. Slightly more expensive than the previous two, the swine flu costume will be money well spent, guaranteeing you many laughs, a shot at the party’s award of Best Costume, and probably the glares of the few unlucky enough to have spent a week of their life in bed thanks to the friendly little flu bug. Perfect.

LKJ

Feelin’ the Flannel Fever, Finally

I’ve been faced with a dilemma of sorts: to accept flannel or not to accept flannel. Having been raised on a farm, I saw a lot of flannel growing up; my dad wore it almost every day. Thus, flannel has acquired many connotations in my mind over the years: farm, cattle, dirt, and machinery to name a few.  My past feelings on the fuzzy fabric hit a plateau and then plummeted when I was forced by my mother to wear a “cute” flannel shirt for my second grade pictures. The shirt never touched my skin again.

Nonetheless, flannel has made a rise in the fashion world, and I must admit that I’m intrigued. Flannel has been transformed beyond the rural look, beyond the lazy, beer-gut man’s choice of pant, to something worth noticing. Personally, I have my eye on Hollister’s wide selection of flannel shirts this fall. The colors are low-key and will work with the average person’s current wardrobe, going great with a variety of neutrals.

Courtesy of www.hollisterco.com

My one ultimatum when it comes to flannel is the avoidance of the lumberjack syndrome. This is key. Do not, I repeat, do not turn yourself into a man when you pull on that plaid, button-down number. When wearing your flannel shirt, steer clear of puffy vests and anything else bulky or baggy (unless it’s belted). One of my favorite looks is pairing flannel with skinny jeans and ballet flats, creating a fun, feminine look. Closet Couture shows additional ways to wear your flannel this season.

LKJ

Cheap Shoes, High Price

I recently had a conversation with my cousin’s wife and found out she has been cursed for the next year with an existence of limited shoe options. One pair to be exact. White, athletic sneakers. (Shudder). What brought about this fashion travesty? A lifetime of wearing inexpensive shoes and $5 flip-flops (you know, the ones you can afford to have in every color). They did a number on her arch, and now because of the damage, walking and doing just about any other motor activity is very painful. Hopefully, the specialized athletic sneakers can heal her feet so that she might – might – be able to wear other shoes a year from now.

While I generally adhere to the pain-for-fashion mentality,  I no longer support the mindset so wholeheartedly. When it comes to shoes, I had always thought the get-what-you-pay-for idea came into play with their quality, i.e. a pair of shoes is inexpensive (+), but they’ll fall apart after a few months (-). While this may be so, I now know that I’ll get something else too: internal damage to my feet.

As I don’t wear athletic sneakers, well, ever and stick to a rather strict diet of not-so-supportive, cheap ballet flats myself, I about had heart palpitations when I heard about my cousin’s wife’s situation. The severity of the risk of palpitations increased when I went through a week of very sore feet from wearing $10 ballet flats that have no foot support whatsoever. I could barely walk.

Thus, I’ve recently coughed up the bucks and bought myself a couple pairs of cute ballet flats from L.L. Bean. They’re comfortable, fashionable, and they have a good deal of support built into them. No white, athletic sneakers for me.

Photo Courtesy of www.llbean.com

For when the temptation to revert back to my collection of cheap shoes gets the better of me, I bought some Dr. Scholls arch support shoe inserts, and they’ve also been keeping my feet pain-free.

So, ladies, please take my advice; take care of your feet.

LKJ

The Scary Skinny on Skinny Jeans

Lately I’ve come across some fashion scares that are, well, downright terrifying to me. One of them concerns the oh-so-popular skinny jean. “What’s wrong with them?” you might ask. “Audrey Hepburn wore them. They’re on the runway constantly.” Well, put simply, they can cause you to lose feeling in your legs, albeit the loss isn’t permanent.

Wearing denim that is too tight has led to the development in some women of “tingling thigh syndrome” (or meralgia paresthetica in doctor lingo) which causes their thighs and part of their buttocks to burn or tingle as if they are asleep. What happens is that some women’s femoral cutaneous nerve, located in the thigh, becomes compressed thereby cutting off sensation when tight pants are worn. The effect is intensified if high heels are worn with the skinny jeans, as heels cause the pelvis to shift forward placing more pressure on the nerve, said Dr. Jennifer Ashton in an Early Show interview.

The syndrome is usually found among the obese, pregnant, and those who stand or walk for prolonged periods of time. But it has been seen in increasing numbers among otherwise healthy young women, doctors say. The reason? Their tight denim choices.

On a good note the nerve is for sensory purposes only and is not used for muscle function. Feeling will return to the legs once the compression is removed and no permanent health damage has been to result from the snug duds. But, as we slip into fall and with it pull on our jeans, I wonder if the numbers of  tingling thigh syndrome will increase or if women will say enough is enough.

I for one plan to continue wearing my own skinny jeans, but if my thighs start tingling, I’m done. Heck, there are always jeggings – a cross between jeans and leggings. They look like jeans but have a more spandex, legging-like fit, and BeBe has a cute pair. I might give those a try if worse comes to worst. No freaky thigh sensations for me.

LKJ

Scarves – J’adore!

Well, it’s another chilly, rainy day in Iowa, and I’m sitting here wrapped up in a blanket wishing I was on some tropical island where I could soak up the sun all day. But I’m not. So my mind is still, like last week, focused on how to achieve that tropical island warmth through what I wear without piling on layer after layer and looking like the Michelin Man. Not so attractive.

A few years ago, I discovered a wonderful thing while in France: scarves. They were everywhere and cheap too: around 7 dollars. There were heavyweight scarves and lightweight scarves. Scarves in almost every color and print. And everyone was wearing one – men, women, and children. To sum things up, I bought many scarves, and I must say that our relationship grows deeper every time I wear one of them.

If you have never worn a scarf before, I think you’ll be amazed at how much warmer you will feel with a little piece of fabric wrapped around your neck. Even lightweight scarves can make all the difference between being comfortable and cold. They also stop the wind from navigating through that annoying gap between the neck of your coat and your chin.

Besides the warmth factor, scarves also make really cute accessories. They add instant interest and depth to an outfit and can be tied in a variety of ways. They also allow you to experiment with color and pattern in small doses, thereby (hopefully) preventing the tragic overindulgence. Think: orange scarf = cute, orange from head to toe = walking construction cone.

Courtesy of American Eagle

Because scarves have really taken off in the States, they are not hard to find; almost every store carries them. Unfortunately, scarves are generally more expensive here than in France, although Forever 21 has some at a bargain price this fall. Just remember to choose scarves that will go with several outfits and you’ll get the most for your buck.

LKJ

Ditch the Hoodie, Grab a Cardie

Like it or not, fall is approaching fast which means that the weather is in that awkward pubescent phase of being neither cold nor hot. In the middle of the afternoon it’s a nice 72 degrees, but once the sun sets the temperature drops to 50. What apparel item does this temperature fluctuation cause the typical teenager or 20-something to reach for? The hoodie. Yawn . . .

Now, I have nothing against hoodies per se; I wear them myself occasionally. But the fact remains that most are shapeless, and they’re so . . . typical. Everyone has one and one in every color at that. Not to mention when a breeze comes up and you throw on a hoodie with that cute dressy top and ballet flats, you’ve suddenly transformed yourself from a sophisticated chica to a fashion faux pas.

Instead of the cliché hoodie, throw on a cardigan next time you feel a chill in the air. These cute, little button-down sweaters add sophistication to almost any outfit, be it a tee and sneakers or a silk top and heels. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and cost about the same as a hoodie anyway. Old Navy has some particularly cute ones this fall.

Courtesy of www.fashionrat.com

Another great item to layer with is the structured jacket. This is especially true for people who carry their weight on the top half of their body. Structured jackets are designed to fit to women’s curves, giving them an hourglass shape and a narrower waist. Look for jackets that have buttons and/or belts that sit just under the bust line to emphasize curves. American Eagle came out with a cord jacket that is especially nice this fall. Note, not all jackets are great: unless you’re super thin, always avoid jackets with a boxier shape unless you desire to look like a box on toothpicks.

Courtesy of www.plussizethis.com

So leave those hoodies on the shelf for a lazy Sunday at home, grab a cardigan or a jacket, and welcome the fall temperatures – be they hot or cold – in style.

LKJ