Sunday, May 27, 2007

Dissecting White Leggings

You either love 'em or hate 'em. Live in them or cross yourself when you pass by their rack in Urban Outfitters.
I'm personally pro-legging, they're far more comfortable than pants and since I'm trying to cultivate a look of culture and class wearing something rather than nothing with short dresses helps the image.
So it started with the black legging. Simple enough, you threw them on under frocks that were more shirt than dress, hoping you could get away with it. Then you layered them with your Burberry (posers) rainboots and Frye boots.
But the rush of never having to wear pants made you crazy, so you bought leggings for fun, not just warmth and practicality. Lace on the bottoms of your leggings then patterns and now...color.

I have a serious problem with all of the white leggings I see on my daily walks to class. I may be wearing sunglasses so dark nobody knows if I am acknowledging their existence but trust me...I notice you.

My stunning friend HK is an example of how TO wear white leggings. She wears a brilliant turquoise tunic complemented by her rich coffee tone.
Since she:
a. has beautiful coloring
b. is wearing color
c. has a slender frame
d. is wearing shoes with a slight heel (result: toner calves) and
e. is wearing a long dress, not just a "long shirt," HK does not err.

I think the college girl is now searching for the "spring legging" and I want to let you know that unless you fulfill all of the criteria above, the only spring legging you should rock is the same pair you wore all winter: black. White leggings accentuate wobbly bits so why do that to yourself?
Just let your legs enjoy the sun and walk away from the white leggings. Please.

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SB

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Lohan in Léger

Even though my favorite movie of her was when she wasn't overly tanned and over exposed, oh the days of The Parent Trap, I still adore Lindsay Lohan. She's always willing to throw on something zesty and provide us with something to read on perezhilton.com during sleep inducing lectures (you know you do it too).
It doesn't matter if she's groping delicious British men on a beach or denying rumors of a coke addiction, Lohan was voted #1 on Maxim's hot 100.

I'm not sure if she's deserving of this number one spot, but the amount of publicity she garners for a trip to Jamba Juice proves there are enough Lohanophiles that agree with her placement.

I love her Hervé Léger bandage dress. The dress fits like it was sewn onto her body and the different colored strips are fun. It's a bit shocking with violent swaths of yellow on her hips but when you're young you should be able to wear something daring, skipping the lbd.


Lohan's worn vintage Léger before. This is the counterpart to the voluminous frocks drowning the PYT's. This look is more classic but as Maxim's #1 hottie, her previous flirty pick was definitely more appropriate.

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SB

Monday, May 14, 2007

What Not to Wear on a Magazine Cover: Beyonce

I was perusing CVS when this magazine cover shocked me out of my routine browse. Even Maxim's cover seemed tasteful in comparison to this Vibe. (A Nicole Scherzinger doppleganger, you should check it out)
Beyonce is undeniably a stunner but when she takes her mother's House of Dereon taste to heart, drama ensues.
Shes wearing the Chanel sequin panty-shorts that Sienna Miller debuted at her Factory Girl party. It didn't look good on a twig so I am confused why Beyonce would think teeny shorts would flatter her curvy figure.


The shorts awkwardly bunch which tends to happen when you wear sequined panties. (Don't ask me how I know.)
She's trying to work the whole "sexy when wet" look but it looks like she's rockin a jeri-curl 'do and consumptive eye makeup. Her shirt also looks uncomfortably tight, strapping in her breasts.
As a stylish male friend of mine, EM, said, "She looks like she got beat up." And when you're on the cover of Vibe, why would you rock a look that thugs put together instead of a fabulous designer.


It's not like Beyonce doesn't know how to work the sexy when wet act, she did it for Sports Illustrated. I think its all in the eyes. She bores into the reader with her steady sultry gaze. Her hair also looks naturally wet, as if she just rolled in the sand after a romp in the water. Unprocessed and natural suits Beyonce better.

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SB

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

The Party of the Year: Accessories

The Costume Institute's gala at the Met is always full of celebs, PYT's, designers and other people with last names like "Lauren" or "Missoni." This year I found a few dresses I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life with. However, the accessories were the delectable pieces of the night.

Cameron Diaz wore a voluminous Dior gown by John Galliano. It's one of those looks you either love or hate. I'm in Cameron's camp and Love the jewel toned fuchsia. The turquoise accessories are so smashing especially with her newly lightened 'do and bronzed skin.

Kate Bosworth looked incredible with her flapper'esque locks, red lips and satin Prada frock. I'm equally obsessed with her gold accessories: a jeweled clutch and mary-jane platform pumps. Everything she wears is within the same palette but she does not blend into a khaki haze, instead her pieces stand out and sparkle.
Lucy Liu's gold headband (tiara?), clutch and bracelet popped out against her purple Zac Posen gown. The perfect amount of garnish for a dress that looks like a a floating garden with flower straps and train.

I'm not committed to liking this dress. The rosettes look like they are hanging onto the dress languidly, too blasé to even look fresh for the camera. Of course Emily Mortimer is in Chanel because this reminds me of Rinko Kikuchi's Golden Globes dress. It looked like 20 light pink giant cotton balls trailed down Kikuchi's legs.
Anyways, the color is lovely and so is the bling belt and gold purse. Nice touches that didn't get lost in the mountains of chiffon obscuring her pretty gown.
Julia Restoin-Roitfeld (should I know who she is?) is super under dressed for this gala. It looks like she ran to the Met after a day lounging and chain smoking at the Park. She lost track of time then threw on her best padded bra, a thin slip and then her dressing gown.
I forgive this all because her shoes are amazing.
They look like men's shoes of a past time and we've seen this front lace style around for a while. But Julia is wearing them in gold! and they're ankle boots! The sooner urban outfitters comes out with a version of these shoes the better for all of us.
Jacquetta Wheeler is so glamorous in this fitted sheath by Roland Mouret (he's next to her). The shape is classic with a flared bottom and updated with puffed cap sleeves. Wheeler's shaggy forest green clutch and black headband take this look from timeless to 2007. She adds a touch of youth to an otherwise elegant (read older) gown.

Kirsten Dunst take notes. THIS is how you wear a flapper headband. Zani Gugelmann looks lovely and she's wearing feathers! And that's no easy feat. Zani (perfect name isn't it?) carries a a feathered clutch as well and even though her accessories shed (see bottom of picture, a hint of feather) Zani's pose suggests she is thinking "oh this old thing, isn't it fantastic?" prompting us to applaud her daring choice of headgear.
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SB