This Is Why Women Can't Get Ahead

All the talk of Leaning In and Harvard Case Studies about gender equality are useless if we continue to put out and purchase magazines like this. (This was on the magazine rack at Duane Reade on 34th Street and Third Avenue.)

It's one thing to like fashion -- even Marissa Mayer takes it seriously -- but to like it with no context or purpose is just being a twit.

This Is Why You Can't Let The Interns Write Anything

The fashion start-up that sent out this e-blast this morning will remain nameless (to protect the guilty), but I don't know anyone in Manhattan who would consider Babbo a new restaurant. It's been around since 2006. Even interns have the technology to fact check their own stories. (The internets!)

And suggesting a brasserie in Paris as a hot new eatery, again, is hardly the stuff of style innovation.

File this one under: Fail.

A Great Interview With Vera Wang

In light of the piece last week about liking fashion without being a twit, check out this interview with Vera Wang.

One of the best take aways from this is how she talks about that doing anything is all about the process, not the destination. Important to remember when you are working on any creative endeavor, be it a book or an animation or design. You'll get to the end, sure, but the meat and potatoes is along the way.

It's Tank Top Season!

Everyone knows the guy who wears shorts all year long. I'm the woman who wears tank tops 12 months out of the year. I layer them under cardigans and obviously need them for the assorted exercise classes I love so much. I don't see them as a seasonal item as much as they are wardrobe staples.

Since it is finally warm enough to wear them appropriately, here are a few of my favorite picks. Buy them now, and they'll work year round.

Not a fancy girl? The best cotton tanks are actually made by Fruit of the Loom, for men. Get them in fashion colors. I have stolen them from every single guy I have ever dated.

7 For All Mankind Textured Tank	7 For All Mankind Sequin Top With Mesh Inserts

Fab Adios Tank Top	Fab Owl Tank Top

Lauren Moshi Lips Tail Swing Tank	Lauren Moshi Jewelry Skull Rib Tank

How to Like Fashion Without Being A Twit

If we have to blame anyone, it's the woman who blankets herself in labels every day. She leaves the house in her Tory Burch flats while carrying a bag covered in Gucci G's. She commits multi-label violations and expects people to take her seriously. It's part conspicuous consumption, part status symbol, and for good measure, throw in a dash of insecurity. She makes liking fashion unfashionable, a silly hobby for dilettantes and dim wits.

It's a shame because when it comes to work and raw creativity, the fashion industry demands high amounts of both. Those runway shows don't put themselves together, and each must be created around a solid theme. In 2008 I wrote a piece for The Huffington Post, explaining why Fashion week mattered not just for the buyers who had to be there, but for the creative community as a whole.

And there is nothing like a true luxury item to mark a special occasion. If you got a new job or big promotion, girl, get yourself something nice. Even I asked for baubles from Baccarat after having a baby a few years ago. But wearing too many at one time can cause suspicion. Why so flashy?

I'm a firm believer that if you're going to be into something, be into it. Be nerdy and know it on a molecular level. If men can be dorks about their fantasy football leagues then there is no reason why someone who likes the artistry and creativity of fashion can't have an intelligent relationship with it.

Here is how you do it:

1. Watch some movies: The best place to start is with The September Issue, the 2010 documentary that followed Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington as they put together the mega issue. Wintour comes across exceptionally well, as a smart but firm editor, not to mention a mother.

Along those lines, Valentino, The Last Emporer is a fascinating look at a year in the life of Valentino, as he puts together his last collection before his retirement. His legacy is miles wider than I think most people realize, and his creative process -- not to mention his middle aged seamstresses -- are a delight.

Since everyone seems obsessed with the 1970s lately, Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston, is an amazing documentary about the rise and fall of the fashion giant. Since Halston's reign was only 30 years ago, the producers were able to track down many of his associates, including models, who give very candid interviews.


2. Read some books: In light of the recent Bangladesh garment factory disaster, a lot of attention has been paid to the book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Price Of Cheap Fashion. As a consumer, it's important to know certain stores keep prices low and what conditions are like in the factories where they are made. You can then decide if you want to be part of it.

Another important book to read, which is now in paperback, is Dana Thomas' genius look at the luxury industry, Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster. She goes through the history of many of the brands and how they function in our modern world. I've always found it to be a great gift.


3. Those fashion magazines have words in them: Fashion mags are great for flipping through while getting a pedicure, but in between all those shiny pages are actual articles, and 90% of the time they are very good. Conde Nast and Hearst can afford to hire good writers, and those writers deliver. This month Vogue has a memoir by Molly Ringwald and Elle is known for their pro-female articles and columnists. E. Jean, anyone?

4. There are a lot of inspiring stories: Ralph Lauren was born in the Bronx as Ralph Lifshitz. His father painted houses for a living. In a 2006 interview with New York magazine, Vera Wang admitted she was living off her parents well into her mid-30s, until she reluctantly put together a bridal line. No matter where you are in your career, fashion is full of success stories that will give you a swift kick in the pants to get you to level up in life.

5. Get some culture: Creativity begets more creatvity, and it's easier to understand collections and runway shows, even as a casual consumer, if one understands the larger world of the arts. Theater, ballet, dance and books all heavily influence the designers whose shows we want so desperately to see. Where one person sees just a blouse, a more enlightened one will see a chemise that references costumes of Madame Butterfly.

6. Accept that fashion is a business: We all want to have nice things, but where you are, economically, will dictate what kinds of products you are exposed to. Brands make a lot of money marketing to the aspirational shopper -- the woman who wants something designer but can't afford anything from the current collection. So she buys the perfume, the handbag covered in logos or maybe some sunglasses. These are entry level items that are easy to obtain and hopefully will lead to larger purchases down the road.

Understand that the Calvin Klein dress you buy at TJ Maxx or Marshalls is a vastly different product than what you would buy in the store on Madison Avenue. Designers create different lines for different stores. I am always shocked when people do not realize this. So even after you buy that dress at the discount shop, you still own 0% Calvin Klein.

Punk At The Met: Well Worth A Visit

Erin C. and I checked out the punk exhibit at the Met today, and it is well worth a visit. It's a lot of clothing from designers' collections that had a punk influence, but it's very well put together. There are a few iconic dresses in there, such as the safety pin dress Elizabeth Hurley wore to a movie premiere in 1994.

It's a great place to go if you are in a bad mood and/or feeling salty. It's very dark and the first three rooms have lots of animations and footage of angry punks. You'll be in good company. The guards constantly tell visitors not to take photos, but I took a few anyhow. Because it would be totally punk to get kicked out of the punk exhibit. Anarchy!

One room is totally pink, so great for photos.

Like an old negative	Give me pouty

These shoes are, surprisingly, made by Burberry.


This is the re-make of the bathroom at CBGBs. As someone who has been in Manhattan long enough to have used the original bathrooms, I can say with some authority this is a totally sanitized version. For starters, there is toilet paper. The bathrooms in CBGBs never had toilet paper.


A few favorite dresses:

Shredded Chanel suit	A Vivienne Westwood frock

FYI, I took this photo of Erin outside CBGBs in 2006. We are such bad asses.

TED Talk: Model Edition

Model Cameron Russell gives an honest talk about the life of a model, especially about their personal insecurities, among other topics. There's lots crammed into nine minutes. Amazing to watch.

Zen And The Art Of Short Hair Maintenance

Right before the Life of Pi premier Erin C. made an offhand remark about how she liked how my hair went from dark to light. Oy. Since I'm not a fan of the ombre look, either intentional or unintentional, I realized it was time to go see Maria at the Davidov Salon, which is, quite literally, right across the street from my apartment.

I'm a big fan of short hair. Lately I've been telling anyone who will listen that this time next year short hair will be it, thanks in large part to The Great Gatsby movie. I'm just trying to get ahead of the game.

I will never understand women who are afraid to cut their hair or try something new. I've heard everything from "My husband would kill me if I cut my hair" to "My hairdresser won't let me." (What is he, your warden?) Given what we know about men liking variety, a dramatic new hairstyle would likely only help one's relationship, not send it spiraling into a death spin. New look = a whole new woman! Without actually being with another woman.

I digress. The point is that short hair takes a little upkeep, and not just at the salon. You do have to pay more attention to your face, since there is nothing to hide behind. That said, every time I lop off some hair, I get into long earrings. It's not in my fiber to shy away from drama, and I think big earrings add to a look that people already are going to notice. Some may call this attention-seeking behavior. I call it mojo.

Below, a slideshow of a few pairs that I'm totally coveting. (Click on the photo and find a link to purchase them.) My affinity for green is apparent. (I did a similar post for SheFinds a few weeks ago, long before I realized that I was starting to look like a mop.)

Valentino And Other Fashion Documentaries

This big news since Friday is that Valentino released a sketch of the dress he desgined for Anne Hathaway's wedding. You can read more about it here.

Last night the documentary about Valentino that came out in 2008 popped up in my Netflix. It follows Valentino and his partner, Giancarlo, during the year that Valentino planned his 45th anniversary celebration. Valentino comes across as a lovable genius, with five English bulldogs running amok. Definitely a life worth emulating.


Since I'm a big fan of understanding what you are buying -- and not blindly draping oneself in labels -- I found other documentaries about different designers. Definitely a good way to spend Sunday Funday

Halston
Tom Ford
Karl Lagerfeld
Jean Paul Gaultier(En Francais. Pas de subtitles.)

While We're On The Subject Of 90s Nostalgia...

'The Tents,' a documentary about the fashion shows in Bryant Park which came out earlier this year, is free to watch on Hulu. There's a lot of history to be mined in fashion, a point that I think a lot of people overlook. The video should be mandatory viewing for anyone who thinks they want to be in the industry.

...And Now For Some 90s Nostalgia

Not sure if you're aware, but MTV is bringing back House of Style on October 9th.

They made a documentary about the show that aired on their style blog back in early August, and it's very well done. Look for vintage footage of Jon Stewart and Anna Wintour, among others.

My favorite part is the segement they do about mixing high fashion with low, which is not only my approach every day, but also my philosophy for life. Never trust anyone in blatant, head to toe labels, kids.

Isaac Mizrahi Tells Us What We Need

I love Issac Mitzrahi. I love that he was one of the first designers to do a line for Target, because his designs were great. I loved his talk show and I wish it would come back. He's one of those celebrities that when they get in front of us plebeians, genuinely seems to care about what someone has to say.

I found this video on Ramshackle Glam and I have to share it. Isaac gives authentic advice about three things women need. And he's right.

Trends From The Jazz Age That I Hope Catch On

Source: trend-ish.com via Sandi on Pinterest

I'm a little disappointed that The Great Gatsby isn't coming out in theaters until nesxt summer. I was looking forward to the inevitable flapper fashion craze it would bring on.

So I wrote a piece about it for The Huffington Post/Stylelist. Bring on the bobbed hair.

Trends From The Jazz Age That I Hope Catch On

The September Issue Cometh...

Source: michellephan.com via Banu on Pinterest

Vogue's September issue landed with a thud in my mailbox earlier this week. I say a thud, because it is 916 pages deep. It's the biggest one ever, bigger than the last one that was 720 pages. It's Vogue's 120th birthday, so a nearly 1,000 page magazine seems fitting.

September, for any magazine, is always the biggest issue of the year. Fall is big, in general, for any big launch, fashion or otherwise. People are back from vacation, starting school, focused and more likely to spend cash. After all, the holidays are coming.

Naturally, this brings out the critics of the issue: Why is it so large? It's mostly ads, anyway. Is there even anything to read in there? (There is.)

Years ago a woman I worked with came into the newsroom after sitting through a few Fashion Week shows in Bryant Park. She had never done any fashion writing before, and someone asked her how she planned to keep track of all the different styles.

"You have to look at it as an art," she said. "You have to look for themes in styles, silhouettes and how it compares to years past. You don't necessarily have to remember the details of every single piece.

Her response stuck with me, and I think about it whenever I hear someone moaning and groaning about the frivolity of fashion and the spectacle that comes with fall. It's not about the skirt or the dress -- it's the artisticness behind it. I think it's easy to forget that designing anything -- be it clothing or art or wooden chairs -- is a creative endeavor. I once wrote a piece for The Huffington Post that suggests that fashion week matters not so much for the clothing, but the fact that being around so much creativity begets more of the same.

It's also a good starting point for looking deeper. I always encourage fashionistas to read Dana Thomas's book Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster as well as Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. When one examines the industry beyond the realm of status symbols, there are some fascinating -- and sometimes inconvenient -- truths to be found.

If you've never seen The September Issue, the documentary about putting together Vogue's flagship issue, you must, Below is a clip.

Thoughts After Buying Maternity Clothes

Six and a half months into this pregnancy journey, it occurred to me this morning that I was going to need some maternity clothes. I am literally down to three dresses that fit me, and zero pants. After work this evening, armed with a gift card courtesy of my Pop, I tackled Motherhood Maternity and Pea in a Pod on 57th and Madison.

Observations/Take Aways:

1. Maternity clothes, by their very nature, suck. Apart from some of the higher end stuff, pretty much everything was cut boxy and square and with an empire waist. Basic rules of design dictate that no one looks good in an empire waist, so when you're preggo these clothes only make you look more like an orb than you already are. (For the record, I'm nowhere near being a planet, at least not yet.) I spent two hours in the store and walked away with two pairs of pants and four really cute tops, all for $157. (La Pauline never pays full price.)

I realize there are women who just want to be covered when they're pregnant, and don't care about things like cuts and fabrics, because what is one to do when they're 20 pounds heavier than normal? Unfortunately, I do care. Perhaps vanity is my albatross. Is it wrong to want to look hot when you're pregnant, to not look like some bored, barefoot housewife?

2. I walked away from a super cute green tee with a sparkly collar, that looked great on me, mostly because it was $60, and that's way too much to pay for a t-shirt, no matter how good the cotton/lycra blend. The voice of my father, who worked in textiles for years, echoed in the back of my head. That fabric is probably $3 a yard and the shirt was put together for pennies in Malaysia. The mark up is ridiculous.. I guess I'll just wait for a sale.

3. A Pea in a Pod had maternity wedding dresses. They were off white. Ha!

New Website: Corporette!

Are you a female in the corporate world? Lawyer? Banking? MBA-type?

A friend of mine runs Corporette, a new fashion and lifestyle blog for women in the corporate world. Check it out.

Some Observation's About Target Clothing

Target Department Store, originally uploaded by Tortuga One.

Today I made the mistake of going to the Target in Stamford, CT. Under normal circumstances I love Target, because you can literally buy everything you need under one roof without suffering the shame of shopping at WalMart.

One of the biggest draws to Target, especially for a city gal such as myself, is all the Isaac Mitzrahi clothing on offer. A few years ago Isaac came out of left field with his designs for the chain, and now he even does wedding dresses for them.

I've walked out of Target with some great clothes from their women's deaprtment, things that I get compliments on every time I wear them. I am, however, wondering if Target is becoming a victim of its own success. Target, as I mentioned before, is a wonderland of finds for women who really like clothes and accessories. Almost all of my fashionista friend in NYC often say things like, "I have to go to the 'burbs this weekend, but at least I can go to Target."

Today, though, I realized that Target has gotten to a point where they're pretty much throwing the Isaac name on anything and calling it art. The thing is, for people such as myself who follows trends, we see that Target has reached a new low. Today the Stamford store was riddled with bad trapeeze dresses and poorly constructed babydoll shirts, which make everyone look pregnent and are very last year.

I realize that I shouldn't have high hopes for a place like Target, since it is, at its core, a discount chain, but I'm wondering where in the marketing/corporate machine did someone make a decision to start putting out sub-par clothes, even if they are made in China? Marketers are smart to put a designer's name on an inexpensive line (I'm looking at you, H&M) but consumers are also smart enough to realize when a garment is just cheap, and even not worth the $20 price tag.

That's all I have to say about that. On my way home I stopped by Anthropologie, which leans towards overpriced, but at least their fabrics are of higher quality and won't give me a rash.

Saks Fifth Avenue Is Not Real Life

Saks Fifth Avenue detail, originally uploaded by Joe Architect.

I spent part of the afternoon at Saks today. I was en route between Le Doug's office and another appointment and I decided to stop in. I was in the mood for a signature scent for summer, anyway. I thought I wanted one of the new Versace scents, but walked out with some Marc Jacobs instead, because it came with a shimmery body lotion.

It's easy to get sucked into Saks. It's nine floors of endlessly pretty things, and everything smells good. The cosmetics are top-of-the-line, they have every designer imaginable and the gems and jewelry are downright obscene, and you know how I love obscene jewlery. Inside Saks, it seems perfectly normal to spend $500 on a dress or a pair of shoes. There must be something in the air, because rational thought goes right out the window when you're staring a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps in the face.

I love Saks, I really do. I love that there exists a happy place where fashion and pretty things rule and the only thing that matters is that your credit card goes through. I love the sense of escape one feels on the fifth floor, among the Nanette LePore frocks and the Tori Burch flats. I love that I can manhandle Baccarat water goblets on the eighth floor, right next to the Hermes place settings. It's tremendous, it's all happening. If grown women are allowed to have fairytale indulgences, I believe Saks is it.

And then, before you know it, you're back on Fifth Avenue, and there's some homeless guy asking you for change and a bunch of tourists taking pictures in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral. But with your little bag of goodies, be it a Miu Miu purse or maybe some Creme de la Mer, you have your oasis of splendor to indulge in once you get back home.

Bag, Borrow or Steal -- My Time!

Louis Vuitton, originally uploaded by 14da.

Some of you may have been wondering where I've been for the past few days. The short answer is cruising Bag, Borrow or Steal. The site has been around for a while, but thanks to some insomnia and a credit card that was too close at hand, I got sucked in.

I love handbags, but not large bags. I'm not a large bag kind of gal unless I have to drag my laptop somewhere. I do, however, like a nice looking sack, and Bag, Borrow or Steal solves a lot of of my purse ADD. My apartment is littered with handbags mines all over the place. Thanks to this site, I can send back a bag when I am done with it. It's genius!