It's Getting Hot In Here

Yeah- that is all the words I know to that song. Is that even the name of the song? I don't know. But I thought it was a clever title. One of the reasons I like writing this blog- I can be creative and whimsy and sometimes snarky. But let me ask you...what do you do when you want to blog but can't think of anything and you made a deal with yourself you would write EVERY day??? I still don't know the answer but I thought in place of words I would entertain with videos!

Here are some really great videos of beautiful girls getting all steamed up!

I love the whole process of make up and hair for this exotic aviator

I didn't know there was an actual clothing line called Steampunk Couture. This video is for their 2011 line and it is all handmade- 

And I will leave you my reader with some music. A band I just got familiar with called The Melting Pot. I like the song and the video is ok- don't know what "Fred and Ginger" style dancing have to do with Steampunk but; for a glimpse, I thought I saw Vampira!

New Romantics: Never Old To Me

Nothing new is ever new but re-designed; a re-used idea. When you mention mens' double breasted suit coats worn with short wide ties and fedoras; you might recognize it at as The Swing Era or Post War fashion. My generation (makes me sound so old when I say "my generation"!) was the start of The New Romantics.

Remember Adam Ant? Duran Duran? Specifically, Simon Le Bon or A Flock Of Seagulls? (A-FOS) as I always called them. These guys are perfect examples of The New Romantic look. I still have a huge crush on Simon!

He even sings about New Romantics in this song!

I think one of the reasons I am such an Anglophile is the influence of the fashion, music, traditions and such. I mean, in the 60s, American girls wanted to copy the Carnaby Street look. In the 70s, American kids ripped their t shirts and put safety pins on their clothes like the London punks and the 80s brought the New Romantic fashion from across the pond via music videos. I was immediately attracted to these "dandy" boys with make-up and swashbuckling shirts. I, myself, remember wearing ruffled, high collared blouses with puffy sleeves and military styled buttons in a "7" pattern. Long silk scarves, a carry over from the glam era, and pirate or pixie style boots were also worn by me and my peers.

Another popular figure in the 80s wearing New Romantic look was Princess Di.

The original New Romantics were writers and musicians of the 19th Century AKA Neo-romantisicim. Some names of this movement you might have heard of: Louis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling and Yeats.

Normally I don't follow trends - even though I am aware of some of the current aspects. I have seen elements of my youth resurfacing in stores. I walked into Target the other day and I needed to keep my sunglasses on because the young girls' department is closest to the entrance and it was filled with bright neon colored tops, skirts, sweaters and hats! This was not a favorite look of mine in the 80s and most definitely does not qualify as new romantic style.

Plaid Is My Favorite Color

If my daughter ever reads this blog, I hope that she understands that a little teasing is not meant to hurt her feelings but to show her diverseness. (I even make up words too!)

Jennifer said, "Plaid is my favorite color!" We giggled, but knew this to be true. She wears a lot of plaid and I think she does consider it to be a color.

I didn't think that there were other plaid patterns besides red tartan and even then, I believe I am wrong in that description. When I looked up the definition of plaid is says there are several types of plaid; madras, tartan and glen and then those types have subcatagories too.

I am watching "The King's Speech" for like the 1000th time, because I cannot resist a Colin Firth film!

In the film Colin (King George XI) is seen wearing a kilt in the Windsor family plaid, its called Balmoral plaid. Colin looks SO much better in one than Prince Charles EVER would.

The plaid design was first introduced by Queen Victoria's court and first worn by her husband Prince Albert. Today, the royal family still wear the design. Royal designs date back to medieval times and each design is unique and you can tell the name of different families.There is a world registry to find colors, styles and names.

         http://www.tartans.scotland.net/world_register.cfm.htm

Athletic Supporters

I am not a sports fan at ALL. I went to an event here and there but never got into being a "fan" and NEVER a fanatic. I can also say that I would never intentionally buy any sports team apparel. If you go to any major sporting event you can easily point out who is rooting for who in the seats by what they are wearing.

Over the past 10 years (at least) sports teams have been trying to get more female fans by creating more figure friendly clothing; tank tops with glittering rhinestones, baby doll tees and yoga pants with team logos.

Despite these progressive fashion thinkers in the sports industry you cannot get me to wear a team's piece of clothing.

Tonight, the New Orleans Saints won the playoff game against the Detroit Lions. The Saints bring lots of joy to a city still suffering from disasters over the years. I know plenty of people in the city who may not watch a game or be able to follow along but nonetheless are Who Dats and don't need to be dressed head to toe in black and gold attire to show their support.

I have found lots of artisans on Etsy making wonderful pieces of black and gold to show love and support of the New Orleans Saints. Here are a few examples:

Here is a treasury of black and gold items I put together

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTAyMTM5MjF8MTczODE3NzIxMA/aint-no-aints-no-more?index=1

Seeing Through Rose Colored Glasses

I have had to wear glasses ever since I was 2 years old. I didn't like wearing glasses in grade school and the selection was slim and unattractive in the 70s. When I was in high school, in the 80s everyone had cool sunglasses, mostly Ray Bans, remember Corey Hart???

During my high school days, my love of vintage and eccentric dress flourished. There were a few vintage shops that I shopped at regularly and a couple shopkeepers I knew on a first name basis. During one of my shopping trips, at one particular store, the owner said she had something for me. It was a vintage, framed advertisement for Tura eyeglasses. I couldn't believe it! Not only did she think enough of me to offer me such a cute gift but it had my name on it!

After that, I began looking at wearing glasses in a whole new way. I went to my optometrist and inquired about these glasses and the company. They said they COULD do special orders from the company and two weeks later I had a selection to choose from for a new pair of glasses.

The 80s were reliving the 50s, so by a stroke of luck, I was able to find the cutest pair of modern cateye frames! From that day on I didn't mind wearing glasses. I owned it! Today, I have several pair of glasses including prescription sunglasses. Glasses have become my favorite fashion accessory.

  

 Tura Company

Fabulous, Darling- Cheers!

Last month BBC aired a new episode of Absolutely Fabulous, its 20 year anniversary Christmas special. Us Yanks, don't get to watch it until this Sunday, January 8th on BBC America.

I am proud to call myself an anglophile and I have been avid watcher of this show since its beginning. I love how the show revolves around the fashion industry and the indulgence of vanity. Most of the time you think the show is just about two middle aged women who drink too much, smoke too much and shop too much; sometimes all at the same time!

Jane Harrocks

One of my favorite characters on the show is Bubble, played by Jane Harrocks. I always hoped she would be in the next episode so 
I could see what crazy, outrageous outfit she would wear!

If I had watched this show in the 80s you might have thought she was my inspiration for some of  my ensembles. Almost 30 years later I still wear a crazy piece of clothing or two. She also plays 2 other characters on the show. I think she is completely brilliant!

Here are a few of my favorite Bubble outfits:

If you are not familiar with this show- I highly recommend you catch an episode or two. It is...Absolutely Fabulous!

Wintertime Blues and Greens and Yellows and Pinks...

With winter just days away, I ponder upon the notion of seasonal clothing. Why do fashion designers and media tell us to wear clothing to match the landscapes?

Fall clothing is usually burnt oranges, mustard yellows and browns. Winter clothing is usually black, navy and grey. I have lived in climates that reach the below zero temperatures and the skies are grey and cloudy for several months. As a result of the dreariness, I became susceptible to depression and lack of energy. I blamed it on lack of color.

I have researched this phenomenon and found several studies about wintertime blues and the lack of color. Albeit, these studies explain a serious mental disorder and obviously there are other symptoms involved, but I would like to take this opportunity to challenge fashion designers to offer brighter, happier colors in their winter collections. In the past, cold weather clothing made of wool or cashmere was only available in dark or dull colors. I have noticed a slight increase in brighter colors in these fabrics over the recent years but I think the fashion industry only wants to encourage the use of color by adding accessories- just a little bit to "make it pop" as the phrase goes.

I do not live in that cold climate anymore. I reside in a much more even tempered environment that will let me wear more choices of clothing and fabrics year round. For this I am grateful- but it doesn't stop the window dressers at the local mall from outfitting the mannequins in black and grey. So my advice to those with a craving for color in the winter is: wear weather appropriate clothing in any color, shade,pattern or fabric.

Yes Virginia, there is a cure to the wintertime blues.

The Law Of Clothing

May 5, 2010

Society as we know it has the freedom to wear pretty much what he or she wants to. There are exceptions where fashion is not a freedom and laws do govern how we wear clothing. There are some strict guidelines in some cultures and religious sects. For instance; Islamic culture requires women to wear a burqa, a head to toe enveloping outer garment worn for the purpose of hiding a female's body when out in public. Nuns and Monks are required to wear habits as their daily wear. For the most part, these examples can be said that they are a person’s freedom to choose as well. She chose to be a Nun; therefore her clothing depicts her choice.

I would like to be perfectly clear on this subject. I am not disputing or debating the rules of fashion: “Can’t wear white after Labor Day” or “Women over 30 shouldn’t wear mini skirts”; I’ll leave that to Stacy London and I am not wanting to discuss freedom of personal attire. Let’s talk about laws for a moment. There are several laws or ordinances on the books right now concerning fashion. They currently may not be enforced; but, there was a time and a thought behind them for lawmakers to think that they were necessary.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND- it is illegal for a woman to be topless in public unless she is employed in an exotic fish shop.

JAPAN- It is illegal to wear purple unless you are in mourning.

THAILAND- a man must always wear a shirt if he is driving.

OREGON- Women must not wear see through clothing in the presence of a man.

CARMEL, NEW YORK- A man cannot be seen in public while wearing a jacket and pants that do not match.

FLORIDA- Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown.

NORTH DAKOTA- It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.

OHIO- Women are forbidden from wearing patent leather shoes, lest men see reflections of their underwear.

OKLAHOMA- If you wear New York Jets’ clothing, you may be put in jail.