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I've been playing with ShopStyle.com, where you can create a profile and put together outfits from pieces available on the internet.

To see my profile, click here.

Spring Cleaning at Chloe

Just read that Paulo Melim Andersson is leaving Chloe, and a new creative director has been selected. This new individual was a part of the fabulous Phoebe Philo's design team when she was in charge at Chloe.

The Chloe brand has been influenced by a few talented designers, first the prolific and influential Karl Lagerfeld, then the minimalist Stella McCartney, but it was under Phoebe Philo's direction that Chloe hit the big leagues with its trademark hipness and femininity. Phoebe was responsible for producing, most memorably, the Paddington, Silverado, Betty, and Edith handbags in her tenure. She decided to retire after the Spring 2006 collection to be a full-time mother. An interim team was in place for 1 year (producing the successful Bay bag) and then Andersson was brought on from Marni. It was then Chloe became less feminine and more edgy/eclectic (like Marni!). Handbags Andersson will be credited for are the Heloise and the Anouska.

As a fan of the brand, I'm still working on getting a few pieces of the "it bags" from the Phoebe years. Can't wait to see what's next!

Check out the current collection and the new perfume at Chloe's website.

I'm feeling wild...

Why am I such a sucker for prints? I just placed a bid on a "vintage" Kate Spade animal print satchel on eBay. Even though I am supposed to be on the quality-over-quantity program (especially with bags because I am a handbag whore), every now and then I see something I just need to have. And it usually involves some sort of print -- either logo or animal.

Today, I'm just going to ponder my animal print fetish; I'm quite fond of animal print, particularly leopard.


My *fabulous* Kenneth Cole "Soft Serve" pony-hair pumps -- I wore it with a retro looking Diane von Furstenberg dress to my friend Jessica's Spring wedding in Orlando. Being that it was such a contrast to my all black dress, it was quite noticeable. I didn't even have to wear an inkling of jewelry!




Here's me and the ladies at Pastis in NYC for my bachelorette party. Note my Sweet Pea doe-colored print top. I was feeling a little Carrie Bradshaw that evening, wearing a black bra w/ that top. Hey, I'm in New York, I figured why not. Actually, I think it was because I forgot to pack something more appropriate to go under the tank.

A few weeks after that, at my bridal shower, I wore a leopard-print blouse with a necktie from H&M (tres retro chic), and dark AG Merlot jeans. I spent more time searching for the perfect black shell to match that blouse than I did on anything else for that event. (I have to dig up the photo...it was so cute, seriously).

Other items of animal nature:
- JC flats in leopard print
- Steven flats in black snakeskin print
- Kenneth Cole "Banana Split" leopard print pony-hair loafers
- Kate Spade giraffe print tote (a score off eBay)
- J. Crew giraffe print cardigan
- Forth & Towne python belt (By the way, I'm really sad about this store closing. They have some great stuff!)

Do I have a problem? Maybe, but these things dress up a plain outfit. Plus there's just something about it that speaks to me.

Let's hope I win that bid!

Note: The Kate Spade Madison satchel in Lizard Faille is no longer in production.

Yes, disdain for the Boho lifestyle

I must have been fueled by hunger or caffeine withdraw when posting yesterday about the abominations of fashion facing me everyday when I walk out the door. In hindsight, the post seemed rather angsty, which I often get when I don't eat enough during the day.

Do not misunderstand the purpose of my post -- my point was not to rag (at least not viciously) about Anthropologie and the like. I realized that my post could be misconstrued as a mean criticism of mass marketing of trendy clothing, which is not all bad. I think it benefits everyone. I had two issues: 1)the premise of enabling upper-middle class women spending their money to dress like each other, and 2) spoon-feeding this bohos-in-paradise/francophile style in 5-10,000 square feet of retail.

That second realization happened as I walked past the store today. I looked at the window displays and asked myself, "What style is this place selling to the shopper?" It is clear that they are selling "one-of-a-kind items", except it's really en masse. But let's not draw attention to that. It is also clear that most of this stuff is designed to appear like you randomly reached into the closet and grabbed a handful of things to wear. Funky knits with odd prints, quirky colors, awkwardly cut pants and shirts...everything layered together into something that is supposed to be effortless, NOT bourgeois.

This what is regularly referred to as Boho. We're not talking about celebrity-styled boho cause that kind of style costs tens of thousands of dollars to achieve. True Boho style is to avoid looking like you spent a lot of money on superficial things like clothing, rather spending more on the "necessities" of life. You are to look artsy, free-spirited, and could care less about money. And so I ask you: Is it really Boho to spend $398 on a satchel purse? And does Paul & Joe really have to charge $60+ on a floral print cosmetic bag?

I guess it does if you have the money to try and look Boho, not actually be Boho.

Yuppie Housewife Fashion

I love clothes. Shoes, accessories, beauty products, etc., you name it, I probably have an affinity for it. I shop and shop often (but I'm trying to resist the urge now that I'm job hunting.) In my various jaunts through neighborhood shopping areas, I have noticed the sudden sprouting of stores geared towards a particular woman: the yuppy city housewife.

Before I get into this, I have to confess that my husband thinks we're yuppies. I am in disagreement...so let's get on with it.

This woman is in her late 20's/early 30's, with one or maybe two children under the age of 4, who drives a VW Jetta, Land Rover or some kind of SUV. She has the latest in baby stuff, be it the sling/pouch, the hi-tech double stroller, or camouflage jumpers and tees for $70 a pop. She likes to meet other moms & their babies out at the Einstein's Bagels in the neighborhood around 10:30-11:00am when they've finally managed to wrestle the kids into clean clothes and gathered all their equipment. This woman is not shy about being loud, commanding towards her children, or taking up public space on the sidewalk and in stores. She believes that if you don't have a child, then you must acquiesce to her.

Contrary to the image of the housewife as portrayed by the tv show, Desperate Housewives, these yuppie women are not what I would call fashionable. Just as Phoebe on Friends described Pottery Barn furniture as having "no soul", I would say these housewives are fashion drones because they wear what certain retailers market to them as hip. For example, while I am a fan of reasonably priced clothing, did Anthropologie really have to open up right by my house? For those of you not familiar with the brand, Anthropologie is for women who want non-conservative, tasteful, stylish, maybe slightly bohemiam...shabby chic, if you will. We're talking from clothing, books, housewares, right down to the little bar of soap you put in your bathroom. Nothing is tailored just right, it all looks a little worn, so you don't look canned, even though you are because they are mass marketing these goods nationwide via retail locations and catalog. I won't be a hypocrite and say I don't shop at the store, because I do. I have bought several candles for gifts, but I can't bring myself to love the clothes. Everything is laid out so you as a shopper do not have to do much thinking. You can pick up several items on the same table, rack and get an outfit out of it. We're talking quirky colors & prints, cuts, and materials. And because it's shown together, you think, "this must look good!" Despite my beef with the concept, the store, having only been open for 2-3 months, is doing spectacularly because of all the yuppie housewives patronizing it daily.

I'll give these women Anthropologie; they are attempting to look good, trendy even. However, I cannot excuse the ones who dig the frumpy sections of the department stores. My friend, Jen, recently got as a Christmas gift, something from the Karen Kanesection of Nordstrom. She was aghast, and so was I. Jen is a very stylish person, with a slant for European design in her clothes. I believe what she received was this odd peasant skirt which...I don't even have words for. Can anyone look good in this? I also take issue with the other items being shown, such as the crewneck mesh tee, the paisley faux wrap top, and the long denim skirt. What I find disturbing is that the target audience (aka our yuppie housewives) are being told it's ok to put all these "trends" on, often at the same time. That faux wrap top looks like someone threw up on it, and nobody, unless you are an anorexic 20 something could possibly look flattering in that denim skirt. If even the model looks crappy, why would our everyday shopper look any better?

IF you are a housewife with child(ren), looking find some stylish pieces or flirt with the latest trend, but not spend a fortune on clothing & accessories---I beg you to look at H&M, the soon-coming Zara, and the specialty designers for Target (ie. Tara Jarmon, Behnaz Sarafpour, Isaac Mizrahi). All three stores carry big trends of the day in disposable materials and a variety of cuts and colors, have many transition lines, turn product over quickly season-to-season, and won't break your bank account. H&M is also carrying some of their select, more timeless pieces in higher quality fabrics for just a fraction more on the price.