vince tunic, carven coat, lipstick queen, talbots jeans, What I'm wearing now, style 2012, winter wardrobe

1.  This is a Carven Coat. It was a holiday gift from my husband. We got lucky at a Barney’s after Christmas sale! My only criterion was I didn’t want another BLACK coat. This one is really charming and I feel really cool in it.

2.  Gold leather gloves. I bought these and paid full retail very early in the season. I wear them carefully. Leather gloves seem to have a short life span, either I lose one or they get all stretched out. I usually buy them on sale after Christmas but I LOVED this color and knew if I waited I’d never find it again.

3.  Cashmere cardigan. There are a few items I buy and wear ALL the time and cardigans are one of them. I like to wear them under blazers too. This one is a White & Warren grey cashmere. I’m trying to wean myself off black so I buy grey!

4, 6, & 8.  My jewels. I load them on. Since I’m a jewelry designer and seller, I wear mostly my own stuff. The Gautama bracelet (4) and the Industrial Wrap (8) are at the top of my current rotation. The tray of necklaces contains items I like to layer on. My style has evolved around jewelry. My clothes are simple to accommodate all the accessories I wear.

5.   My shoes. These are Talbots. I like heels but need to be comfortable, these work. Christian Louboutin is always quoted saying that his shoes are works of art and art should transcend comfort. Every time I read one of his crazy quotes I want to put HIM in a pair of his 5 inch stilettos and make him walk from the Empire State Building to the Port Authority, a distance of about half a mile which New Yorkers do regularly.

 
7.  Red Lips. I wear Lipstick Queen Sinner in Rouge. It has 90% pigment which means your lips make a statement without saying a word.

9.  My Vince Tunic. This was a splurge this past fall. It’s silk and feels like heaven on my body. It dresses up my jeans and looks great under cardigans. I wore it with high heeled sandals and coral ankle pants on vacation.

10.  My bag. Carol S. Miller’s bags are a secret that should be shared. After a long career in the fashion industry (just like moi) Carol started designing handbags. Her bags have no visible labels. They look like a million and cost a whole lot less.

11.  My jeans. They’re Tallbots Straight Leg and have a lot going for them. They are well priced and fit like a dream. For the most part, once a girl is over 40 her jeans should NOT call attention to themselves. Bad fitting jeans can be as damaging to your look as a 2 month cake binge.

Prints can create a number of illusions especially when worn below the waist. Printed pants can make us look twice our size or half our size depending on the print, the fit, and what we wear with them.

The Elizabeth & James pant, even though it’s in a busy print, can still minimize because it’s in a soft flowing fabric and has a wide leg. The wide leg is slimming if the fit is right. The pant should fall from hip to hem without touching the body. If it’s too tight anywhere the minimizing properties are instantly reversed. This style will work if you’re 5’4” or taller.

When wearing a wide leg pant chose a solid color top that is not tucked in. It should fit close to the body and hit between the top of the hip and mid hip. Pants this full usually work best with some heel height: consider a high heeled sandal or wedge heel.

 
The Diane Von Furstenberg pant is higher waisted and tapered at the ankle so it’s going to work best if you’re on the taller side. Tucking in your shirt will show off your waist and camouflage any tummy. Wear with either a flat or heeled sandal.

 
The Talbot’s paisley print has a lot of good things going for it. The monochromatic print with a lot of dark color will minimize hips. The ankle length works for any height. If you’re petite, this is a good way to wear a printed pant without looking like the print is wearing you. The ankle length will work for any height and with any casual shoe regardless of the heel height. Tuck in a crisp white shirt or throw on a white linen tunic.

 Bottoms Up!

2012 Fashion: How to SPARKLE!

Even with the THE most fashionable accoutrements, a girl is more than just a clothes hanger.

Although we’re only a few weeks into the New Year, many of our best laid resolutions have already been broken. According to behavioral scientists, milk has a longer shelf life than most New Year’s resolutions. Most are toast by January 30. So, chuck em.’

Instead try our Top 5 De-Resolutions for 2012

1.  Stop comparing yourself to Oprah, Madonna, or the Kardashians. Not all of us were put here to build media empires or sing and dance naked in front of millions. Nothing puts us in a funk faster than thinking we’re not good enough as we are. There’s something good about you and if you’re not sure what it is (or you need a little ego boost) ask someone you trust.

2.  Stop apologizing. If you’re responsible for creating a dastardly problem then take the responsibility, say you’re sorry and then let it go. Chronic apologizing is not conducive to healthy self-esteem. You are NOT the cause of most problems so you don’t need to apologize for them.

3.  Stop procrastinating. Avoidance is the antidote to what overwhelms us, which may commonly be the BIG unrealistic goals we set for ourselves. Earn more. Eat less. Lose weight. Find love. Get in shape. Get out of debt. These are some common BIG goals that end up on resolution lists. Listing any one of these without a clear path of small steps to reach the end goal is a sure way to create a climate ripe for procrastinating.

4.  Stop beating yourself up for comparing, apologizing and procrastinating. It’s the least you can do while you’re working on the only real goal that should be on your resolution list: self-acceptance.

5.   Start loving yourself. To jump start loving yourself see points 1 through 4 above!

If I had more arms, I could wear more bracelets!

I designed Flashionista Karma Gems using items of personal importance and meaning from my personal stash. Each beautiful piece contains at least one component meant to draw good health, long life, love, luck, peace, and/or abundance to the wearer.

Many of the components are “found” in one way or another. I’m always on the hunt! It’s what makes Flashionista Karma Gems special.

Jewelry doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be meaningful.

Peace, Love, and Big Jewels!
Mary

This past weekend was the annual New Yorker Festival. The Festival spans several days during which many of the magazine’s contributors participate in readings and discussions.

I attended a panel discussion between two well known photographers, Martin Schoeller, a 40-ish man whose work I was not familiar with, and Mary Ellen Mark, a 60+ woman whose work I’ve admired for over 25 years. Their photographs were hung around the gallery in a carefully curated story. Beautiful art is ageless.

The discussion was moderated by their former editor at the New Yorker. Mr. Schoeller was funny, engaging, perceptive, and creative. Ms. Mark was condescending, intimidating, perceptive, and creative.

Personalities are as unique as fingerprints, but the differences didn’t become glaringly apparent until the floor was opened to questions. Someone asked the two about how digital technology was influencing their work. BOOM!  The concept of digital photography was embraced by Mr. Schoeller as a game changing medium, and slashed bashed and hashed with ferocity by Ms. Mark who said it was something to be “appreciated” but would not be part of her art.

Considering the importance of digital technology and its integration into almost every part of our lives, her emphatic denunciation seemed defensive and old school. It reminded me of a family story: It seems my great-grandfather fought vehemently against his son’s decision to purchase a car. “Why should I buy a car when I have a barn full of horses that can take me anywhere I want to go?”

Fall Fashion: Ankle Boots High( $$$) & Low ($)

What I Bought for Fall 2011: At Talbots

Wine Women & Fabulous Clothes

Fall Fashion 2011: The BEST Dresses

Fall Fashion 2011: How To Wear a Dress

Ankle boots are at the top of my Fall Wish List. They have a versatility I’ve grown to appreciate because of the black patent leather ones I’ve worn several times a week for the past 3 falls and winters. The cost per wear is pennies by now. It’s time for some new ones.
Here’s what looks good now by color, heel height, and by price point.

1. Miz Mooz $137, Foster Ankle Boot.  2. Rachel Comey $341, Sir Barton Bootie. 3. Donald J. Pliner $285, Monica Booties.  4. Earthies $159, Halley Booties.   5. Elizabeth & James $295,  Shane Booties.  6. Rag & Bone $495, Lovell Booties.1. Born $130, Tie Ramsey.  2. Stella McCartney $385, Preston Ankle Boots.  3. Stuart Weitzman $450, Xplain Bootie.  4. Teal Wedge $110, Aldo.  5. DVF $150, Military Tie-Up (Editor’s Pick!) 6. Jeanette Booties $480, Opening Ceremony.

The NEW shoe guide lines:

• Shoes should NEVER match the bag if you’re a day over 30. It’ll age you at least 10 years.

• Shoes and clothing that match should be limited to bridal occasions and not much else. In other words, if you’re wearing a red dress don’t wear red shoes. The most modern way to do it is to wear either a contrasting or a neutral color.

• Do NOT be afraid of colored shoes!

READ MORE:

Wine Women & Fabulous Clothes: Guess Where?

Here’s What I Bought!

Fall Fashion 2011: The Best Dresses

1. I’m a cardigan lover. I’d like this one in all the colors, but for now I settled for Charcoal Grey.  2. I never would have tried this color (Pool) but Debbie, the manager, convinced me. It looked great with the rust jacket.  3. Animal prints are like cardigans, I can’t get enough. Can’t wait to wear it with jeans and a cardigan, of course!  4. The Rust jacket, the fit is so modern; cropped and nipped at the waist.  5. Grrr! Another animal. Zebra pumps, I’ll wear them with almost anything EXCEPT other animal prints.  6. If you haven’t tried Talbots pants on yet, do yourself a favor, the fit is awesome. These signature fit black pants are going to get a real workout in my closet.  7. The rolled up leg is MY look, so these boyfriend jeans were a no-brainer.  8. This wrap is deceptive; it’s so lightweight you’d never guess how generous it is. I’ll wear it as a scarf and a wrap.

See the photos from Fall 2011 Talbots Hostess Night Event

Flashionista was invited to cover Talbots recent Hostess Party, an event they do yearly in their village stores. It was a blast roaming around with a camera and even more fun trying on the clothes. With the lovely discount I was given, I was thrilled to shop and ended up with some great wardrobe boosters. The clothes look like they have designer pedigrees, but the prices are easy to swallow (even without the discount)!

Here’s what I bought!

Use volume and design details to call attention to what’s not there. Color, pleats, draping, tucks, and strategically placed gathering are design features that move the eye toward some body parts and magically conceal others. Soft fabrics such as chiffon and jersey create fluid forms that generally need extra volume. Fabrics like crepe, gabardine, and twill are more substantial. They can fit closer to the body and usually need a little more tailoring.

Call it Carnaby Street, Mod, or Mondrian: The visual created by the blocks of color has huge practical advantages in fashion. It’s slenderizing, especially when the design forces the eye to travel vertically. 1. Maggy London, $148. Nordstrom.  2.Calvin Klein $80, Macy’s.   3. Maggy London, $138, Nordstrom.   4. Knit Dress $70,  Lane Bryant.   5. Rag & Bone Fulton Colorblock $325, Bergdorf Goodman.  6.Calvin Klein, Macy’s.

The difference between us and the ladies of the Mad Men era, is that we’ve made it from the typing pool to the corner office in style. 1. Keyhole Dress $128, Ann Taylor.  2. Cowl Neck Dress $149, Talbots.  3. Shirt-dress, Lane Bryant.  4. DVF $385, Bergdorf Goodman.

Draping is magical, if you’re curvey, a draped style creates the illusion of an hourglass figure. If you’re slender as a twig draping gives you curves.  1. Donna Morgan Faux Wrap $128, Nordstrom.  2. Suzi Chen Bluefly.  3. Lanvin Dress $3896, Barney’s.  4. Pleat Neck Dress $148, Nordstrom.

Red is showing up as the standout color for the season. In fact maybe red and animal prints are the new black!  1.Beaded Empire Waist $79, Macy’s. 2. Charter Club $60, Macy’s.  3. Wool Sheath $199, Talbots.  4. Animal Print $85. Ralph Lauren.

Pleated style with a little volume can soften and minimize curves (like 1, 3, or 4). If you’re slim, pick a style that’s closer to the body ( like 2 or 5).  1. Donna Morgan $138, Nordstrom.  2. Donna Ricco $138, Nordstrom.  3. Pleated Dress $189, Talbots.  4. Pleated Tie Dress $119, Jones NY  5. Maison Martin Margiela $1055. Neiman Marcus.

READ MORE:

How to WEAR the Dress!

Advanced Style: Fashion Week Party 2011: PHOTOS!

Fashion’s Night Out: In Pictures

Fashion’s Night Out: What is it?

Lessons Learned From a One Year Fashion Fast

Building a Core Wardrobe

Getting Dressed is Easier When Less is More

Feed Your Fetish; Shoes To Sigh For

Seasonless Style: What to Buy Now & Wear All Year