Trend: PVC and Leather

You have to be willing to take a big risk of looking like a hooker to head into PVC pleather territory. But that's the beauty of it all, wearing something potentially trashy and making it look sophisticated. And with a rainy season coming up, PVC is usually a more interesting raincoat than a regular trench:

TopShop Waterproof Button Coat £65.00
DKNY PVC Raincoat: $120.00


You have to be really daring to wear do the whole black leather/pleather skirt thing, like Julia Restoin. Here's a LAMB pencil skirt from Shopbop:

I recommend ladylike pointed kitten heels, and loose, billowy top. No sheer stockings, no hooker heels.

Of course, there's always the gothic fetish shops, for authentic seediness.

Hayden Panettiere's Closet

So Hayden Panettiere, aka The Cheerleader from Heroes, is selling her clothing to save the whales. She's a penchant for dressing really old lately, but she's got some good clothes in there. Here are my picks:

Scarlet Eva Franco Evelyn Pleated Puff Sleeve Jacket $335.00



Eva Franco Onyx Crystal Dress: $245.00



Black Juicy Couture Equestrian Princess Hand Bag: $495.00

^Ok you would really have to care about the damn whales for that somewhat tacky bag, but whatever, it's for the whales.

Link

Now if only Julia Restoin-Roitfeld would take up some inane cause and sell her clothes...

Celebrity Streetstyle: Penelope Cruz in J Brand

Penelope looks like she's wearing J Brand "Lovestory". They looked a little exagerated on the hanger. Who knew they could look so hot? I'm loving her color palate of black, white and navy blue. Her hair also has that styled, but unstyled look to it. She's the epitome of modern continental chic. This is the kind of look that Charlotte Casiraghi should be wearing, not that street urchin look that she's been sporting around London lately.

I Love Faux Fur

It's still freezing cold where I live, so a warm coat is usually essential until about mid-March, so I've been obsessed with faux fur lately. That's when I came across this little number. How Audrey Hepburn is this? With big sunglasses, thick tights, black mini, and slim boots, it could work. Link

"Actually, Christie, they've got nice lines, and a fun, frisky use of color.."

One of my favorite movies is Romy and Michelle's Michelle High School Reunion. The hilarity, soundtrack and of course, the clothes are perfect. Also, the movie is responsible for one of my favorite characters ever: Heather Mooney. Needless to say, it was always a dream of mine to create a closet full of clothes for myself like Romy and Michelle did. Unfortunately, I'm terrible at sewing, and it took a whole week (a whole week!) for me to make an apron in Home Ec.

So imagine my glee at discovering this real-life Romy/Michelle on the craftster.com forums. Aparently she makes most of her creations from her own pattern, and is inspired by movies like Sophia Coppola's Marie Attoinette, and Belle de jour. She also has a penchant to create dresses out of bed spreads and sheets. She truly makes sewing look fun.

Now I must go watch my like, 36th viewing of Pretty Woman....

This is SO What Stacy McGill Would Look Like in Real Life

Words could not describe how amused I was when I came across ^this pic. So hideously 80's and charming at the same time.

I seriously don't know Scott "The Sartorialist" Schuman does it, but I think he seems to be saving the most interesting pictures for Style.com these days. Style.com also seems to have added a comment section to this feature. Per usual, things get deliciously catty, thanks to one user named "Tanja":

"Oh poor Amanda indeed-800 calories a day,where's my chauffer and nanny and trainer and shrink? Poor Brooksie!Over size looks trash on you too,darling."

I think this type of person is their own breed of commenter. Always catty, almost to point of trollish-ness, and sort of a has bitchy, princessey vibe. I think I'll call them Troll Bitch Princesses . They're usually mean and ALWAYS entertaining. I imagine they have a closet packed full of Prada, Marc Jacobs, and fabulous.

Anway, I'm still trying to figure out who is who. While "poor Amanda" could be anyone of them, I'm still trying to decide who "Poor Brooksie" is. Is it any of these ladies in black?


Nah, it has to be this couger of a woman. She totally looks like the type that would inspire the ire of her catty, MILFy circle of Upper East side frenemy's, and Blair Wardorf-types:

^Now this is what I picture Serena van der Woodsen to look like at 40. I imagine she boozes and cougers it up on the weekends, and during "charity" events.

And how cute do these girls make the color yellow look?:


Yellow seems to be a hot color this spring. Not as princessy as pink, but just as bright and cheerful. I would not try the yellow tights/leggings look, but they look cute on the girl. However, I find myself wishing I had a yellow trench. I'm currently eyeing this one by the Gap:


Link: Style.com

Recycled Leather

I'm loving these colors of these recycled leather Ashley Watson bags. Look at that bright blue!

My Least Favorite and Favorite Trends of 2007: Part 1

There were lots of interesting trends this year, good and bad. So in the time honored tradition of the end of the year lists, here it goes.


Least Favorite

Ah...booties. They came in many variations this year, from simple ankle styles to lace-up heels. I tried on the latter earlier this year while doing some shopping for fall.

I picked out a pair of simple black suede lace-ups with a chic wooden heel. Cute, not bad, they'll go with everything. I then looked down at my feet. I had a small flashback from childhood. I felt a little old, and a little bit like...


Needlessly to say, I took them off and never looked back.

Favorite Trend of the Year


As a pear shaped girl, I've always felt a little left out of the skinny jean fun. My hips are quite something, it's the first place I gain weight, and it is where I tend to carry most of my weight. Like me, both of my Aunts are average of size, but have major hips. So straight out of the gate, I never had a chance. That never changed the fact that I so wanted to rock a pair of skinnies.

Audrey Hepburn is my ultimate style icon, and when I tried on the black "Audrey Pant" at the Gap last year, imagine my dismay that they looked like shit on me. I looked like friggin' ice cream cone. "You just need to find the right brand" I was told by encouraging friends. But alas, I said "screw this ice cream cone shit", gave up, and continued wearing bootcuts & flares (feeling a little rebellious, a little dated while doing so). Why pursue a style that made me look and feel like a frumpy 8th Grade Teacher from 1990? Isn't the epitome of chic to wear styles that are suited to you, that make you look, and feel better, prettier, and therefore confident?

That is why my favorite trend of the year is wide-legged jeans. I wasn't counting on them even making a comeback. First it was Balmain showing them in their A/W 07 collection, then the Shalom Harlow editorial in Vogue, Elle and Lucky followed and everyone jumped on the bandwagon. It sure shocked the hell out of me I'm reaping the benefits of this, more styles, and more variety over-all, a pear shape couldn't ask for anything more forgiving. Who knew? Skinny and wide jean co-existing.

Plaid and my favorite picture of Jane Fonda

I came across this photo of Jane Fonda the other day. Isn't she a dish? I personally think she was prettier in this era than her Barbarella days:
Then the plaid in her dress reminded of how I'm loving this new plaid trend. Usually I hate plaid, it brings up memories of grunge and sexy school girl outfits. However, it's so fresh this time around:

I Want to be a: Sweater Kitten

Scans from eyeno.livejournal.com




Worth a 1000 words...

For more, see old article from retrocrush

Oh, and here's the most bizare, orgasmic, sequence involving sweaters ever:

Recognize the laugh? It's Samantha's grandpa from 16 Candles!