Project Runway All-Stars

They're back.

It doesn't seem like too long ago that Anya Ayoung-Chee won the ninth season of Lifetime's Project Runway with her tropical, free-form dresses. But that doesn't mean it isn't time for a new season. The tenth "All-Star" season will premiere on January 5th at 9pm/8c, and it promises to bring back some of the most memorable contestants from all the previous seasons of the show. Let's take a look at some of the contestants who will bring the style, drama and sass to this all-star, second-stab season:

Sweet P. Sweet P lived up to her name on her first season of Project Runway, serving as a mother and mentor to a number of the contestants. You could tell that she was uncomfortable about being in the oldest designer on the series, but she's still coming back. On her recent work collection, Sweet P seems to be designing nightgown-inspired, chiffon dresses, occasionally with birds on them, and she's not even from Portland. Since her last season, she's gone to make-up school, and is now doing hair and make-up for TV and film.

Anthony Williams. Anthony Williams, from Atlanta, Georgia, was flamboyantly gay, overweight and southern--and proud of all of these things. His fashion decisions reflected a class and understanding of women's bodies that didn't reflect his personal biography, and he has since started touring the country as a fashion director for Macy's. On his recent work collection page, he has a bridal gown with a mermaid-tail skirt and a blue evening gown for an elderly lady. He's definitely catering to a different demographic than last season's winner, Anya, who only designed for the under-30, beach-going set.

Jerell Scott. Season 5's designer and model made blinged-out, opulent designs that cost a lot of money and could be worn by very, very few. He's lucky that's he's dreamy because his recent collection is quite reminiscent of Anya's flowing, bohemian-chic dresses, but go a step further with explicit Czech-inspired, mixed patterns. All of the models in his recent show have their eyes blacked out and coupled with the kinds of clothes he makes, it's just weird. Jerell, we remember you for being eye candy, but we don't particularly remember you for being good. We'll have to see.

I was a bit surprised that the contestants chosen to return weren't a bit more fiery; I can't even remember them all. Are you going to watch Project Runway: All-Stars? Do you think that the series had a long enough hiatus to be back on the air?

Worst Fashion Trends of 2011

Jeggings, fruit prints and corsets.

2011 brought some great fashion trends, but wherever comes good also comes bad, woefully, woefully bad. I know that I saw way too many short skirts and tights, pastel bright dresses and excessive flannel-on-flannel. Not to mention individuals who still thought that it was acceptable to wear Crocs in public. Here are my picks for the worst fashion mistakes of 2011.

Neoprene. Neoprene is that slick and shiny fabric originally used in wet suits. It clings directly to the body, hugging every curve and ounce of fat. Unfortunately for the world, neoprene made its way to runways around this year, including into a losing collection on Project Runway. It made the model look terrible--imagine what it looks like on the rest of us.

See-through mesh. Another fabric that caused a Project Runway downfall, mesh looks a little too hooker to be worn by anyone with any sense of decorum or any worry of body imperfection. Which means it isn't and shouldn't be worn by anybody. But alas, fashion isn't for the masses, and it was seen all over the runway world this year.

Fruit prints. Fruit prints--read, table clothes turned into fabric--were everywhere on the runway this year, and it was bad. We had kind of accepted that southern housewives liked wearing graphic, lifelike prints of oranges or limes on their clothes, but we didn't think that this trend would be forced onto the rest of us. Next year, let's give the southern ladies their lime-printed culottes back, please.

Jeggings. Jeggings were the terrible invention this year that make you look both lazy and insane. Sure, it's difficult to fit some boots into your pants, but continuing the terrible trend of leggings isn't the answer to making it easier. Nobody's legs or backside looks good in bottoms that hug their curves that tightly, and no matter how you hock them, leggings still are not--and will never be--pants.

Corsets. Corsets made a comeback this year in a lot of different circles, from the steampunkers to the high fashion runways. Corsets are certainly an unfortunate homage to the age of misplace ribcages and smelling salts for women who couldn't breathe in them, but hey--anything to make us remember a woman's rightful place is passed out on a chaise lounge, thin. It's painful to be beautiful, right?

What did you think were the most terrible fashion faux pas of 2011?

Top Gift for Her

I don’t know about you, but this adorable beanie is at the top of my Christmas wish list this season. This hat was featured in the “gifts for her” list on urbanoutfitters.com. The price is reasonable, less than 30 bucks. This snuggly winter accessory is knit with soft acrylic yarn, so it will be soft on your forehead, not itchy like wool. I tend to avoid wool hats like the plague.

This lovely gift can be found exclusively at Urban Outfitters and comes in an array of colors. Each color features a different design. Pink is an adorable cupcake creation and my favorite of the four colors to choose from. Gold is a subtle representation of a pineapple, yet manages to look very hipster. Purple is reminiscent of a bunch of grapes, but not in a weird way. The green bobble at the top intended to look like leaves is more fashion forward than poorly designed.

The red one (pictured) will make it appear as if there is a strawberry on your head. Though, don’t worry, you won’t look like you are four years old channeling your inner Strawberry Shortcake. The hat is cute and fashionable in a grown up way. Though you could probably also picture your teenage daughter/niece/friend donning this cute hat in the hallways of school post Winter Break.

If you spend more than 100 bucks on gifts and maybe a little something special for yourself, Urban Outfitters will take 20% off the total price of your order. Enter BIGDEAL at checkout. You’re Welcome.

Fashion Trends of 2011: Simplified

Because you don't want to look like a clown and can't look like a model.

Fashion was certainly a blast from the past in 2011. Not that fashion is really ever new, but simply innovative mash-ups of elements of fashion history. Take it from me, it pays to dig through your mom's closet for big-shoulder blazers and silk blouses from the '80s. Yes, they are back again.

But sometimes, fashion trends are a little bit harder to wear on a day-to-day basis. As crazy as you are, you probably don't want to look like a clown when you walk into your neighborhood coffee shop for your cup-o-joe. Let's take a look at some of 2011's biggest trends, and discuss how you can make them work for street wear:

Double-breasted suits. For dudes, these double-breasted suits are all over the place. They shouldn't be that hard to pull off if you work in a place where suits are expected--everyone was doing in every decade before the '90s, you know. But these are a bit tougher to dress down than a typical suit jacket with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. If I were you, I wouldn't try it.

Androgyny. For ladies, androgyny is in. That means button-down shirts and suit jackets, skinny pants and tuxedos. Androgyny isn't anything new, but the new element of this year's trend is upscale touches: fancy bowties and cummerbunds, you know the drill. The runway likes to give these androgynous models some bold red lips and hoop earrings to feminize the look, but if you don't want to look like your dad at some opera gala, I'd recommend ditching the silk pants for a pair of skinny jeans and Chucks.  

Jewel-bright colors. Jewel-bright colors are all over the runway in jumpsuits or in matching tops and skirts or pants. If you don't want to look like Designing Women incarnate, though, I'd suggest that you pick one really bright piece to pair with a laid-back jacket and dark jeans. Try a pair of bright pants for an unusual look, circa 1985 in the right way.

Chunky knit sweaters. Thankfully, chunky knit sweaters have hit the runway in a big way, so we all can say we look fashionable when stealing our grandmothers' oversized cable-knit from their 1960's to Ireland (I wish that I had were a true anecdote). On the runway, these knits are long and flimsy, and many of them appear to be cashmere. I would suggest a sturdier knit. If you're going to wear a heavy-duty sweater, you need it to hold up in heavy-duty weather.

Check Out Alloy for Perfect Fitting Jeans

Fact: Tall legged and petite women have a hard time finding jeans.

Are you seeking a longer or shorter inseam pair of jeans than what the department stores and chain stores in malls across the country carries? The industry standard for women’s jeans is a 31 ½ inch inseam.

Being a tall legged gal, I find this inseam to be too short for me. A good friend of mine who’s only 5’1” usually has to crop these industry standard jeans, because the legs reach down past her feet. Whether they wear as high waters for me, or you swim in the pant legs like my petite friend, it is not a good look.

What’s a sullen long or short legged girl to do? Check out Alloy.com, they feature not only cute tops (most can be found for under 20-30 bucks), but longer and shorter inseam jeans. On the website under jeans, you’ll read: “Too long or too short? You’ll find your perfect length here. Alloy features jeans that come in 4 different inseams: 30 inch, 32 inch, 35 inch and 37 inch. The 30 inch inseam is perfect for my friend, and my long legs will be completely covered in 35 inch inseam jeans. Have fun browsing the different styles!

These jeans come in all sorts of washes and looks, whether you like to follow trends and pride yourself on being a fashionista or just want a classic pair of well-fitting jeans that have a classic tailored cut, you can find both here. The price is right for these jeans too, they start at $29.90.

Best Boots for Autumn

Hey there lovely fashionistas! Are you currently on the hunt for an amazing pair of boots to take you from autumn to winter?

One of my biggest pet peeves with regards to boots is they get far too slouchy after just a few times wearing them. Last season, I invested in a pair of tall 70+ dollar boots from Urban Outfitters. They were faux suede in a camel color. I loved them, they had so much style!

Unfortunately, after wearing out and about maybe two or three times, they no longer reached almost to my knees for a sleek sexy look. They now slouched down around my ankles. Worse still, the right one slouched more, while the left boot maintained some of its shaft height. I was not a happy camper.

This season, rather than impulse buy based on styles I like, I decided to scour reviews of all the boots I was considering. This is my top pick.

Ladies, I love the Zoey Riding Boot, available from alloy.com here. I adore Victorian style, the bottom of these boots remind me of those lace-up Victorian boots that were popular for school girls and boys to wear in the early 20th century. Yet, with these boots there is no need to lace them up, every time you have to put them on. Featured is a handy side zipper so you can slip them on and off easily. I personally love tall boots, the taller the better. These boots feature a 15 3/4 inch shaft height. The price is right too, you can buy these boots for less than 50 bucks.

Way to Empower Girls, Coldwater Creek

Paint us like the vain, depthless dearies we are!

I’ve never really seen a Coldwater Creek commercial on television, so when I saw this one on Food Network the other day I wasn’t sure what it was about. Of course, you could say that about any general commercial these days, from hamsters riding in cars to guys on boats. Nothing really has to do with anything anymore, right?

In this commercial, however, Coldwater Creek seems to believe that women and girls fall into a certain stereotype. They really had an opportunity to paint a picture of a strong, individual woman seeking her own style; instead, they made it sound like a petty inter-sibling fashion war.

Sure, the images look like girls physically playing ball and chasing each other in the backyard; but the actual monolog about competition between sisters is contemptible from the perspective of this oldest sibling. The speaker apparently competed with her sisters over not sports or skills or even parental affection (which happened in my house), but over the prettiest haircut, the cutest boyfriend, the best-fitting jeans. The highest grades are thrown in there as well, but the majority of the focus is on the girl’s looks and value as a girlfriend rather than a person. “Every day, we’d try to outdo each other,” the speaker insists—but these “outdo each other” moments do not focus on the worth of each girl.

The speaker says you can imagine what life was like in a house with five sisters because of this. Hmm. My mother grew up with five sisters of her own, and while fashion and beauty and boys certainly played a part in it all, I know a lot of it was also about individuality, art, being brave, standing up to a totalitarian father, and even fishing. My mother and her sisters (and brother) were poor, and their lives certainly didn’t revolve around jeans.

Coldwater Creek, I’ve never purchased anything from you, and this is probably why. You don’t seem to “get” girls or women. You think that we are things to dress up and make pretty for cute boys, apparently. We are worth so much more than this. Perhaps your next commercial should focus on that idea rather than this attempt at marketing toward a single sliver of what it means to be female—to some females. I would love to see you market your wares to women who love sports, or lead meetings, or read by a fireplace, or chase toddlers, or any of the other thousands of hats that we wear other than sheer vanity.

Top Three Holiday Dresses

Sexy, body hugging dress picks for the 2011 holiday season

Ladies, are you a twenty-something looking for some ideas for perfect going out dresses for this Autumn and Winter season? The holidays are almost here, before you know it, all those invites to fun cocktail parties and holiday club promotions will start rolling through the mail, through your email inbox, etc. Will you be ready?

You will be if you continue reading. I have presented my top three picks for sexy holiday dresses for the upcoming season. These dresses are timeless, classic and they all cost less than 30 dollars. That’s quite a steal in this downed economy, when every fashionista out there, is pinching pennies.

My first pick is this amazing red hot metallic dress. Your date won’t be able to take his eyes of you. This lovely number will seamlessly take you from pre-Thanksgiving wine fetes’ to all the raging parties on New Year’s Eve. This dress hugs every curve and features a styling that has clean lines. The price is right too at only $29.80

My second pick is that illusive little black dress, perfect for every get-together. I love the daring neckline and the braided banding, nipping you in at the waist, this dress will hug all of your curves. The shape is beautiful. I could see wearing this dress in both summer and winter. I consider it season-less, and at $25.80, why would you consider anything else?

My third pick’s name is Start a Fire. In this dress, I could see you starting a fire in the hearts of a thousand men. All cheesiness aside, this really is a beautiful dress. I have blue eyes, so the royal blue color would really serve to make my eyes pop. Though the dress is so lovely, a green or brown eyed gal would look great in this $28.80 dress too.

The Sartorialist in the real world

Heed his fashion advice! Sort of.

The Sartorialist’s founder, Scott Schuman, has an amazing life. He seems to fly to Paris, London, New York and all over the rest of the world at a moment’s notice. The women and men that he photographs for the blog are trendsetters whose style is used to create fashion advertisements, magazine covers and outfit inspiration for stylish beings the world over.

It must be nice.

I certainly check The Sartorialist for the barest bones of my fashion ideas. I will never wear the towering heels favored by most of the women on the blog, nor can I afford the haute couture labels to which Schuman gravitates. But inspiration often has little to do with the finished product. The Sartorialist is still a fantastic place to get fashion advice, and then articulate it with your personal style and budget.

Here are some of The Sartorialist’s big ideas for fall, dumbed down for those of us who live in the real world:

-Wide-leg pants. Wide-leg pants are a difficult addition to one’s wardrobe, especially if you aren't a fan of spindly heels. Schuman’s model wears white linen pants, which sounds like the most difficult combination to replicate by anyone, anywhere. Wide-leg jeans are easier, as are stiffer fabrics like cotton. You’re probably going to need heels so you don’t look as wide as the pant though, so choose a solid-soled wedge, rather than a dainty heel for more durability.

-Snakeskin print. Schuman’s snake lady wears a chic blouse that is made completely out of a snakeskin pattern. Most ladies or gents would probably think that this is too much. Instead, snakeskin fabrics can make for an interesting belt, bag or pair of shoes. It’s important that you look for a neutral pattern, though, so you don’t end up looking like a Las Vegas showman circa 1985.  

-Polka dots. Schuman’s photographs depict three women in head-to-toe polka dots and long, tight skirts. Most of us aren’t as thin as Schuman’s women, and would probably look like poorly upholstered furniture in a long, dotted dress. Instead, a polka dot blouse always looks nice, particularly in a soft chiffon with buttons or a ties in the front. Take Schuman’s advice, and make it sheer with a plain camisole underneath it.

-T-shirt dresses. I love t-shirt dresses because they make you look like you rolled out of bed still wearing the sleep shirt from the night before. Schuman’s lady wears one with just a pair of boots, but this isn’t practical for most women because of temperature and modesty. I like the t-shirt dress with a pair of leggings, a hoodie and sneakers because you still achieve that casual-cool look without freezing.

PIa Jacobsen: Part II

Know Your Body Type


Pia Jacobsen focuses on empowering women through helping them learn their own personal body types, as well as the fashion types that they are most comfortable. She stresses good grooming, diet, and exercising as ways to for women to take good care of themselves. In addition, Pia emphasizes that women should know their own body types and avoid the pitfalls that come with different body types. The four body types in no particular order are: hour glass shape, pear shape, pencil shape, and apple shape.

Each particular shape has its own strengths and weaknesses and the same outfits will not necessarily look good on people with different body types and figures. What looks great on Pia Jacobsen, for example, would not necessarily look all that fantastic on someone with Oprah’s body shape or even Kim Kardashian's body type.

Hour Glass Shape: The hour glass shape is traditionally curvy. Kim Kardashian would be a perfect example of the hour glass figure shape. Pia has a few recommendations for women with hour glass shapes:
  • Define your waist.
  • Minimize the emphasis at the top and the hip.
  • Avoid big pockets.


Pear Shape: The pear shape is defined as a person with a shape that is more slender on the top and fuller at the bottom. Pia’s recommendations for women with pear shapes are:

  • Avoid narrow ankle straps.
  • Wear heavier heels to balance out your shape.



Pencil Shape:  The pencil shape is defined by a woman who is thin all over. Think Twiggy. Women with pencil shapes are lucky because they can wear many styles of clothes. Pia’s recommendations for women with pencil shapes are:

  • Create an hour glass with accents.
  • Add detail to both the top and the bottom of the body.


Apple Shape: The apple shape is defined as a person who tends to carry her weight in the mid-section. Recommendations for women with apple shapes are:

  • Wear long tops.
  • Avoid short jackets.
  • Avoid tiered skirts.

 

Pia also believes in the importance of knowing your own personal style. To achieve success and confidence in terms of presenting yourself, it’s important to know not only your body type, but also what kind of fashions you comfortable presenting yourself in. The combination of body type and style equals an individualized fashion that is tailored to your body type and lifestyle.

All of which translates into a simple message; don’t just copy the latest trendsetters. Instead, find out what works best for you.

 

Pages