Fingerless and Fabulous

As we fashionistas prep for the winter ahead, the question always becomes one of function versus fashion. The truth is that no fashionista likes the word "practicality," as it very rarely appears in the same sentence as "hot" (except here!--I defy the rules). I have given much thought to this issue during these recent chilly mornings, when I can hardly stand to touch my icy-cold steering wheel, much less drive the whole way to work. Brrr!

The problem is this: I looove mittens, but you really can't drive in cozy wool mittens. Believe me, I've tried. Your hands slip all over the steering wheel, which is never a good thing when you're trying to operate a motor vehicle (then add snow or ice to the equation--forget about it). BUT I really hate gloves. I hate having my fingers separated like that, and I just find nothing cute about them whatsoever. So how does a girl stay warm when enough dexterity is required so that you can't wear mittens but don't want to wear gloves? Yes, my life is full of complications.

Fortunately for my cccold hands, I've figured this one out; it's all about going fingerless to stay fabulous. I am now officially obsesed with fingerless gloves. The genius behind this simple concept: my hands stay warm, while my finger tips are free to grip the steering wheel, use my Blackberry, get my credit card from my wallet, etc. For the New England fashionista on the go, they are absolutely crucial for winter survival.

The added bonus is that the current styles are doubling as arm warmers. They say that your arm span is equivalent to your height so, if you're anywhere even close to my height, that means there sometimes an irritating gap between where a jacket ends and a mitten begins. No longer! At least half of the fingerless gloves I've spotted lately have a lengthy fit, extending practically to the elbow in some cases. Another common feature is the adjustable mitten, which is exactly what it sounds like. When you need your fingers free, the mitten top can be fastened with a button; then, when you want to maximize the cozy factor, all you have to do unbutton and cuddle up.

Fashionable and warm? Please, they had me at "hello."


Images, in order of appearance: (1) Cable Fingerless Gloves by Vince $125, available from Shop Style (www.shopstyle.com); (2) Long Fingerless Wool Gloves by Milly $95, available from Net-a-Porter (www.net-a-porter.com).

Fashion Flashback: Combat Boots Still Rock

Feeling slightly nostalgic this past weekend, I simply couldn't resist an Empire Records (an oldie, yes--but definitely a goodie) viewing. You should know that, as teenagers, fellow blogstar Sarah and I couldn't get enough of this cult classic. Our first love was undoubtedly AJ (sorry, Dallin), and I basically wanted to be Cory--so much so that I rocked my own version of her plaid skirt/mohair cardi/combat boots outfit on numerous occasions.

Though I am now far from being a teen (in spite of my love for Twilight), this movie will forever hold the key to my heart. Yet, from the perspective of the grown-up fashionista that I am today, I couldn't help but reflecting on their oh-so-90s style: the midriff-bearing tops that nearly all the female characters wear; AJ's patched jeans; Gina's clunky platforms... How far we've come! With one exception, for I maintain that, like Empire, Cory's combat boots still rock.

Clearly, I'm not the only one who thinks so. When Tory Burch's Donna Boot hit stores this fall, I immediately thought, "Doc Marten?" When it comes to fashion, we know all about reinterpretation--evident here in the 4-inch stacked heel; the ankle cuff with square buckles; and the gold hardware and side zipper detailing. To avoid a biker- chic subtext, an industrial-inspired boot like this is truly meant for a mixed aesthetic--and is best paired with something traditionally femme. Think: big bad boots + flirty party dress...

Not that I ever doubted her, but Cory obviously knew what she was doing. Rocking her Docs with a plaid skirt and soft sweater, she remained too preciously good girl to ever be mistaken for punk (someone should tell Avril Lavigne that the same applies to her--but we'll leave that to her skater boy). As it turns out, there is a lesson to be learned from this fashion flashback, so let's turn up the fierce factor by adding a little edge to our step, shall we? Just another tasty treat from the gang at Empire Records.

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Empire Records, 1995; (2) Donna Boot by Tory Burch $595, available online at http://www.toryburch.com/.

Unheeled? Maybe Never...

A couple of weeks ago, I asked you, my lovely fashionista friends, to tell me your thoughts on heels. More specifically, to heel or not to heel?--that was my question. Given the name of this blog, it seems like an appropriate forum to discuss heels. But the more I think about it, the more I wonder when she/me will indeed "come unheeled?" Maybe never...

Last month, the New York Times' Room for Debate Blog addressed "Why We Love the Shoes That Hurt Us." Not surprisingly, that headline caught my eye immediately, as I ask myself that very question all the time. Why do I keep going back to my gorgeous black Christian Louboutin pumps when, after wearing them for a whole day, it feels as though my shoes are filling with blood? Is the fact that I constantly get paralyzing foot cramps any indication that maybe I should lay off the sky-high heels? Perhaps. Yet, I don't (or won't?). I like to consider myself an intelligent and fashion-forward individual, so what gives?

Some would suggest height as a motivation, but I can confidently reject that reason. I've been walking tall at 5'11" for as long as I can remember--yet, I still opt for death-defying footwear that places me around 6'3" on an almost daily basis. Plus, these days it seems that everyone is in heels. If we're all tacking on the inches, then the added height is essentially pointless. So if not height, then what?

We're so vain. The Times blog debate quoted Nancy Rexford, author of Women's Shoes In America: 1795 to 1930, who explained this seemingly inexplicable lust for heels: In an age of slovenliness and fat, simply being thin is a mark of status, and high heels emphasize the advantage by lengthening the leg. Add platform soles, and you rise superior to a wasteland of waddling sweatshirts and dumpy athletic shoes.

At least for me personally, it's difficult to deny Rexford's explanation. After all, I look much, much better in heels than I ever would in flats. If I'm wearing a skirt or a dress, my legs look longer and leaner with heels on. If I'm wearing pants, I prefer the way the fabric falls over heels. Though I might be more comfortable in a pair of flats or even low pumps, I am willing to pay quite a high premium for a confidence strictly available with a 4-inch boost.

So what do we heel-lovers sacrifice in the name of fashion? My sister is one of the few fashionistas I know who doesn't wear heels. When I asked her why, she quoted Agador from The Birdcage, saying with a smile, I do not wear the shoes... because... they make me fall down. Joking aside, I remember walking arm-in-arm with Daddy at my wedding, frantically whispering, "Don't let me fall, don't let me fall!" as we made our way across the sloping lawn. Wearing 4-inch wedges, I clutched his arm--delicately, of course--for dear life. But my shoes, like my wedding, were perfect. So it was worth it.

Yet, as far as health goes, Marlene Reid, the Naperville, Illinois podiatrist and spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association quoted in the Times blog piece, explains that many podiatric physicians are concerned about the future problems stemming from shoe choices. High-heels are an obvious target, causing pain in the ball of the foot and knees as early as one's 20's. More interesting is the fact that flats are not exempt. Rather, continuously wearing (unsupportive) flats can result in arch problems for both women and men. I'm no podiatrist, but it looks to me like we're damned if we do, damned if we don't--short of wearing running shoes all the time (gross).

The age-old expression, beauty is pain, seems appropriate for this footwear conundrum. Are sacrifices in the name of fashion simply inevitable? In a recent Washington Post article, shoe maestro Christian Louboutin confessed, I would hate for someone to look at my shoe and say, "Oh my God! That looks so comfortable!" That's not what I want to project. But I'm not a sadist. I don't believe suffering makes you beautiful. But comfort is not part of my creative process. The take-home message? Suffering, while not mandatory, may be unavoidable--at least as far as your L'Bouts go.

Reid, on the other hand, argues that healthy feet does not require sacrificing fashion. To keep your feet happy and healthy, she suggests dropping down half an inch in heel height for stability, selecting shoes with padding, and alternating your heel height daily. Never wear a shoe that doesn’t allow you to walk normally. Alternatively, if you're wedded to those gorgeous sky-high heels, you can cheat a bit. Remember that scene in The Devil Wears Prada when a faceless Runway employee quickly slips out of her clogs and into her pumps when word gets out that Miranda has entered the building? Similarly, I have a friend who keeps a pair of flats or flip-flops in her bag for commuting purposes. Another friend will only wear heels when there is no extensive walking involved.

We all have our reasons for loving heels: longer legs; better posture; feeling confident, powerful, sexy, etc.; that irresistible clicking sound they make against the floor. Or not: they hurt; they're bad for your feet/body; you can't walk properly; that annoying clicking sound they make against the floor. Heels or flats? Given the option, as Victoria Beckham once said, Heels! I just can't concentrate in flats. But that doesn't mean that a girl can't come unheeled every now and then. I mean, Chanel does make some darling ballet flats, and I lovelovelooove my Chucks with jeans when I'm bumming around! But at the end of the day, I'll side with Manolo Blahnik every time: You put high heels on and you change. End of story.

Sources: (1) "Why We Love the Shoes That Hurt Us" from the Editors of the The New York Times (click here to see the full text); (2) Christian Louboutin, quoted in The Washington Post (click here to see the full text); (3) Thanks also to all the fashionistas who shared their opinions on heels with me!

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Girl in heels, photo from FabSugarUK (http://www.fabsugar.co.uk/); (2) Me! putting my shoes on, photographed by Ross Jacob Photographers (online at http://www.rossjacob.com/); (3) Christian Louboutin, image thanks to http://www.panachereport.com/; (4) Victoria Beckham, photo from SoftPedia (www.news.softpedia.com).

Every Girl is a Princess

Every girl everywhere is a princess, as Sara Crewe and Frances Hodgson Burnett would have us believe. But what defines a princess, and how she looks, or what she wears? After reading "Sick of Pink," an October article in the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine, I was reminded of another I read several years ago in the New York Times magazine about so-called "Princess Culture" and its effects on girls and color presentation.

"What's wrong with being a princess, mommy?" is the question raised by Peggy Orenstein's young daughter--to which she responds, most everything. Everything that surrounds her daughter is about being a princess, about being clad in pink, and Orenstein's complaint is that Cinderella, pretty as she may be, "doesn't really do anything." Is Peggy right? Who are these princesses, as far as role models?

As a former Disney princess girl myself, I'd say I turned out all right, but I did hit a phase where I began rejecting pink. To that point, I also find it interesting that Ariel dolls are marketed wearing a pink dress that she wears in the movie for probably fewer than five minutes. I guess it's kind of tricky to market a standing figurine with a green tail and sea shells--perhaps not the most conservative option. Details, details. But as Orenstein points out, even Mulan is marketed in her pink dress attire, which she actually rejected in order to fight for her family's honor.

In a search for some non-pink princess friends, I found this altered image of Cinderella. After the pink dress the mice sew for her is destroyed, her ball gown is white, maybe even pale blue, and at no point after that do we see our heroine in pink. So what gives? Where did this picture come from, Internet? Can a princess only be a princess if she wears pink?

It wasn't always this way with pink. As Orenstein notes, When colors were first introduced to the nursery in the early part of the 20th century, pink was considered the more masculine hue, a pastel version of red. Blue, with its intimations of the Virgin Mary, constancy and faithfulness, was thought to be dainty. Why or when that switched is not clear, but as late as the 1930s a significant percentage of adults in one national survey held to that split. Perhaps that’s why so many early Disney heroines — Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Wendy, Alice-in-Wonderland — are swathed in varying shades of azure. (Purple, incidentally, may be the next color to swap teams: once the realm of kings and N.F.L. players, it is fast becoming the bolder girl’s version of pink.)

Which brings us to what struck me this past week: the Globe Magazine article discussing the implementation of pink during the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Some survivors have reached a point of exhaustion and are tired of seeing it everywhere and having it remind them of their disease, remind them that they are waiting for their CT results (an excruciating process which I experience alongside one of my closest friends, a two-year Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor). But a color, triggering? Especially one as cheerful and well-intentioned as pink? Distressing!

So what's the problem with pink? Certain fashionistas, like our gracious blog host, swear by it. I have nothing but love for the pink garments I own. Late last night, over pizza bagel bites and relationship moans, my Beloved Housemate and I ended up realizing that we both had pink bedrooms as young children and eventually rejected the color and went for others (my bedroom at home is now blue, but at school, it's a combination of purple and green). We also discussed the fact that, though we had Barbies, they served as a device to act out our own stories (camping Barbies, in my Beloved Housemate's case). We are now distressed that pink and Barbies are no longer simply a vehicle for imagination, but rather a part of a greater pink lifestyle.

For me, the verdict is this: I love pink. But not everyone does; the way some feel about pink is how I feel about chartreuse. And perhaps we should take into consideration how we suggest things (like an appreciation for pink) to the younger members of society. They may love it, they may not, but let's give everyone a fair chance for love towards all colors. Some men pull off pink better than anyone I've ever seen, and some women rock burgundy and navy like it's a profession. Love what you love.

In the end though, every girl everywhere is a princess--pink, blue, purple, or otherwise.

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Sara Crewe from A Little Princess (http://www.stars-now.net/images/movies/alittleprincess/lieselmatthewsthen.jpg); (2) Ariel from The Little Mermaid (http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f112/drsd2kill/LITTLE%20MERMAID/MERMAID15A.jpg); (3) Ariel dolls as marketed by Disney (http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/12/19/magazine/24cinderella.2.190.jpg); (4) Alternate Universe Cinderella (http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/cinderella.jpg); (5) Breast Cancer Awareness Pink (http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Third_Party_Photo/2009/10/01/pink_big__1254425291_3471.jpg); (6) Belle from Beauty and the Beast (http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/6600000/Belle-beauty-and-the-beast-6615760-300-336.jpg); (7) Still from A Little Princess (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3007972433_9ceaeb2883_o.jpg).

My Sister's Closet (well, sort of): Going Green

Since we have ventured into my sister's proverbial closet on numerous occasions to date, I thought we would do something different this week and boldly venture into the unknown: her medicine cabinet. After all, fashion without beauty is a total non-sequitur, and any fashionista worth her salt will tell you that the medicine cabinet is a treasure trove of beauty secrets. So what's inside Miss Annie's medicine cabinet? Well, as in many other facets of her life, my sister is going green.

No, I'm not going to preach to you about the environment (but you better not be tossing those Diet Coke cans into the trash either!). This season, my fashion-savvy sister has predicted that green will be the new "it" color for manicures everywhere, and after extensive research, our favorite option (from Rescue Beauty Lounge) is appropriately named Recycle. My sister and I agree that Recycle's appeal is the way it turns up the volume on your standard hunter green, bedazzling the nails in a striking blend of emerald green and black. With this shade, green is (quite literally)the new black.

For you manicured fashionistas out there who are unfamiliar with Rescue Beauty Lounge, it's reputation is founded in its high-quality products. As they confess on their website, Several lab technicians quit their jobs before Ji was satisfied with the polish that would bear the Rescue name. The result is a long-wearing polish created with resin and high molecular polymers to improve flexibility, durability and high shine. What you won't find - harmful and drying Touluene, Formaldehyde, or DBP. Their high-quality polish and lack of harmful toxins results in a slightly higher price tag ($18 per bottle), but their selection of long-lasting colors is truly unbeatable. You know what they say: you pay for what you get.

As far as this particular Rescue gem in concerned, I can guarantee you that my sister has done the due diligence. For those of you who don't have the privilege of knowing Annie, she is (unlike me) what you would call a "cautious shopper." Translation? She read all the customer reviews of this color on the Rescue Beauty Lounge site. That said, I'm glad she did, for we had to giggle at one customer's endorsement, My hubby luvvvsss it! Looks soooo wealthy! Hmmm... Aside from the fact that green is the color of money, I don't know what that means exactly, but I can certainly match the enthusiasm: Recycle is a fantastic color. It's bold, different, unexpected--shocking even (and we fashionistas looove shock value).

Fortunately, as the leaves disappear from the trees and the frost begins its hostile takeover, your life doesn't have to be completely devoid of green. Take heed from the contents of my sister's medicine cabinet! Even if you drive a clunker, you can still Recycle.


Image: Recycle nail color $18, from Rescue Beauty Lounge (available online at www.rescuebeauty.com).

Cozy Up With Something Sweet

As the temperature began creeping down down down, lolly.brand decided it was time for something a bit more cozy. Hence the newly reinvented lolly.brand Signature Cupcake Tee! If you haven't tried it yet, then you have no idea what you're missing--so allow me to enlighten you...

You may be wondering, what's so "new" about this new tee anyway? Well, beyond the signature sweet cupcake graphic, everything. lolly.brand is now screen printing on a new brand of cotton tees that are softer than soft; in fact, the word snuggly is coming to mind (not to be mistaken for snuggie--which is just creepy). As you can see, the color has changed too. Though we loved the crisp, classic navy of the original tee, lolly.brand has gone soft (in the best of ways) this season with a shady navy (that's fancy talk for blue grey) that is universally flattering--and looks fabulous when paired with denim.

But that's not all... Since lolly.branders love being girly (did the cupcake give it away?), the fit of the tee has also evolved. As you can see from the photo, the new tee is a more tailored, feminine fit--ooh la la! And, knowing that real women have curves, the new lolly.brand Signature Tee is now available in XL as well. I mean, a girl should have options, right?

Clearly, change is in the air--with the seasons, the clocks turning back, and now the lolly.brand look has changed too! But never fear, dearest fashionista friends; I assure you that change is good. Especially when it means that you can cozy up with something sweet!


Image: Favorite lolly.brand model, Miss Annie, photographed by me, wearing the New lolly.brand Signature Cupcake Tee $25, available from lolly.brand (www.lollybrand.net).

Into the Working World

As my college town has yellowed in autumnal glow, and I continue to bask in the glory of the last warm days, I find myself (and a few of my friends) putting the finishing touches on my resumé for grad school--and thus pondering business-appropriate attire.

I have been fortunate to hold a job this year, my final year at an undergraduate institution, that requires me to have weekly meetings with highers-up in my institution, and hence, a dire need for a business appropriate wardrobe. Even more fortunate was the fact that my darling mother was more than willing to indulge in these purchases, as we all know there is nothing, nothing worse than ill-fitting or inappropriate business attire.

My colleagues tend to be conservative in their business dress, relying heavily on easy staples like brown trousers and bland black sweaters, which is acceptable (if only just because it's unoffensive), I suppose. However, there have been instances of very ill-fitting and bulging button-up blouses, which are cringe-worthy. Though it is hard to look pulled together in the wee hours of the morning, please.

I have learned that, as a result of my bustiness, I cannot wear many, if not most (if not all), button-up garments. This has been a struggle for me to accept because, in case you have not noticed, the fashion world is full of beautiful things that button up the front. I keep trying them on, hoping maybe just this one. Maybe this one will be the one. But alas, I must let them pass me by in favor of garments that fit my body. Heaving sigh.

Speaking of bustiness, here is another issue that I encountered in meetings this week: undergarments. I have written of these before, in the context of exposed straps (tsk tsk!), but in this case, I feel the need to address the complete dearth of undergarment worn by a certain higher-up in my institution. This is ridiculous. There are three or four people that I have ever met in my life whose figures are boyish enough to not need a bra. Even if this state of being made it appropriate, this individual is sadly not among them. I implore you to imagine this sweater set (minus duster) with submerged dangling in front of you on an early Thursday morning. At least I thought to bring bagels for breakfast. Om nom nom.

The point, fashionistas, is this: Even an up-and-coming lady to business attire can put her best foot forward early. In fact, I had a discussion with another certain contributor to this blog about her early business attire, and how she has since learned. And even with two dance classes on the Tuesdays and Thursdays during which I seem to have the most meetings, especially at lunch between them, I manage to change and keep it classy. My colleagues were astonished that I owned a pair of pointy-toed heels, which when paired with a pencil skirt and blazer, made me look about twenty-seven. I hope to think that I'm starting with an equipped toolbox, and so I once again implore: Please. Take the time to buy well-fitted things. Take the time to invest in classy things. Your resumé and options will thank you.

In cooperation,
Risingly Professional Fashionista


Images, in order of appearance: (1) Ill-fitting business attire (http://images.forbes.com/media/2009/07/21/office-clothes_ill-fitting.jpg); (2) Mildly heinous sweater set (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvqbjN_XUzcMMLEEy8w4hZLRINbkMdsYl9Ha90YhaBn9csBQdacn2JiywyWc3LvQ7ksuqmhV4HZLeATtwzgFUhJUaaPsb_BOuvmFuwm1Su4ISIwj5YeNA6A_p78JkjjI3bRAuH_D4aBd_/s1600-r/sweater+set+12.3.07.jpg); (3) Banana Republic business staples (http://moodboard.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83539e9ed69e2010536e572a1970b-500wi).