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| Christian Lacroix- Artwork Dress |
| 11.30.06 (8:38 am) [edit] |
 Ok, so I'm running out of titles. lol I very much want to like this dress, but I'm afraid I don't. The lace along the top is too cutesy. The embroidery on the sleeves does not look expensive, but like it belongs on a child's shirt. The bow is too mismatched and large. The skirt is so voluminous that anybody is going to look like they have big hips (not a goal most women go for). I do like the artwork look of the skirt, and I think the skirt is so large because he wants to show off as much as possible. But it just doesn't work for me. |
| Christian Lacroix- Sheer Wine Gown |
| 11.30.06 (8:19 am) [edit] |
 There are some outfits that make you gasp when you see them. This one did it for me. Granted, the wigs are stupid. This is exactly why designers shouldn't do gimicky things on the runway. The dress is breathtaking, but the wig looks hideous and out of place. The gold beading hiding at the bottom gives it a beautiful sparkle. The sheer portions which gracefully drape around her hips add some body (it's almost painful how thin her hips and legs are otherwise). The bow is perfectly placed, and a great color choice. I'm glad that he kept the bow the same color on this piece. Finally, the sleeves are what really made me fall in love with the gown. They are perfectly ruffled, and not too puffy. I really want this dress. :D |
| Court ruling |
| 11.30.06 (8:17 am) [edit] |
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*This is a sponsored post. Simmons jannace stagg recently had a court ruling in their favor. The ruling was regarding bankruptcy and whether a debt which was listed as charged off prior to a bankruptcy can be listed as "charged off" or "bankruptcy" on a credit report. I am not in favor of this ruling. First of all, "charge off" is an accounting term. It means that they don't expect to collect the debt. However, bankruptcy law says that if you are a discharged debtor, they CANNOT make any attempt to collect the debt. And "bankruptcy" is a LEGAL term, unlike "charge off" which is merely an accounting term. I think this ruling is a bad idea for consumers looking for a fresh start, and I think it's an attempt to punish debtors, which is contrary to the very idea of bankruptcy. JMHO. |
| Christian Lacroix- Cream Dress |
| 11.30.06 (8:01 am) [edit] |
 I adore the small details of this dress. The scalloped hem, the rosettes, the ruffles, the wavy texture of the fabric on the bodice... it's beautiful. My biggest complaint is that everything on top makes the stomach and breasts bunch so that it looks like it is bubbling out in those areas. I would have preferred he addressed this area before sending it down the runway. I would like to see some designer copycats who use this skirt as inspiration. The skirt portion would work well in many women's closets. |
| Christian Lacroix- Black with Gold |
| 11.30.06 (7:56 am) [edit] |
 This piece by Christian Lacroix is a short black jacket style dress with gold embroidery. We've been seeing a lot of pockets on the runway recently, and I'm glad to see this dress has them. The red bow is a nice touch, and it adds a richness to the dress. The sleeves are a little too Star Trek for my taste, however. The reason I've included this is to show off the embroidery. Certainly this was all hand-sewn, and I think it's just beautiful. |
| Pets |
| 11.29.06 (1:20 pm) [edit] |
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*This is a sponsored blog. If you've been trying to find a pet supply store, give this place a try. They have vitamins, pet beds, toys, and other things to keep your pets happy and healthy. Unfortunately, they don't carry pet food, and the nearest store that carries the one type of food my cat will eat is about 45 minutes away. Bloody cat got finicky on me, and now she wants, as the label reads, "shredded yellowfin tuna in a savory broth, with garden greens". That pretentious kitty cat is going to be going for a "kitty cat ride" soon unless she starts eating Cat Chow. :) At least if she goes on a hunger strike again, I will be able to find some vitamins and medicine for her. |
| Valentino- Velvet Dress |
| 11.29.06 (1:05 pm) [edit] |
 Again, the tights are weird. I love the Victorian elements to this dress, but I'm not too pleased with the overall appearance. It's just too messy for couture. The styling is so street-ready compared to everything else. That isn't to say it isn't pretty. It certainly is. But there's absolutely no innovation here. Ultimately, it falls flat. And on a final note, maybe you've noticed this trend, not only in the Valentino collection but others as well. The pompadour is back. God save us all. :D |
| Valentino- Purple Dress |
| 11.29.06 (9:28 am) [edit] |
 Now this is more like it. Most of Valentino's couture garments are so moderated that it feels like ready to wear. This one is a little more experimental, although compared with other designers, it's still pretty staid. The ruffles, which appear to be made from deep purple tulle, are amazing. But you definitely see the downfall of working with tulle around the model's knees. It catches onto itself, and simple movement isn't enough to pry it loose. This is the kind of dress that is good in person, but better on a manequin. Nobody masters the asymetrical bodice quite like Valentino. With almost every other designer, it puckers along the model's side. While there is a slight amount of puckering, I would say that he has pulled it off like the master that he is. I love the deep green addition at the shoulder. The dress threatened to become overwhelmingly purple, and this was a nice diversion. If I had any nitpicky argument about the dress, it would be with the bit of tulle to the side of the green. That little bit of tulle that is sticking out straight is driving me nuts, and I think there is no need at that point to tie the purple back in. Finally, this dress was created for a model's walk, despite the fabric choice. The way her toe is poking out from direct center of this dress creates an interesting line. |
| Executive Recruiting |
| 11.29.06 (9:26 am) [edit] |
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*This is a sponsored post. I'm not sure how much good an internet executive recruting firm can be. I am under the impression that most executive level jobs are obtained through word of mouth. Certainly a recruiting firm is a step in the process for many companies, but I see this service as being little more than an executive level job board. Perhaps I'm wrong. I just can't see Pepsi or McDonalds hiring their CEO because someone posted their resume on the internet. Now, for smaller corporations, it is less true, but still the case. But, with everything else going on the internet, why not? I'll admit that the idea could have some potential. |
| Valentino- Jacket and Blue Skirt |
| 11.29.06 (9:02 am) [edit] |
 This dress really gives you a sense of the hard work that goes into sewing a couture piece. All of the lace work on the jacket was almost certainly done by hand. Every stitch on the skirt was hand-sewn certainly. I sew, and I would be blind before I finished this garment. So kudos to Valentino for a masterful gown. Now for a discussion on the gown itself. I love the heavy weight of the skirt. It is just a fantastic fabric choice. The jacket it beautiful, but I would have preferred a longer sleeve length. It's a great outfit for a Christmas party, but the sleeve length is not a good choice for winter. I love that everything matches, without matching too much. The gold on the skirt and jacket are different colors, and the blue in the ribbon and the skirt are different colors. But they work well together. I imagine it was a risky choice, but it was pulled off well. I do not care for the fur trim. I am not necessarily opposed to fur with this, but such a narrow, slim collar looks odd. If I were designing it, I would have left it off completely. I also do not care for the gloves. They are too thick, and a better choice would be some short gloves with a lacy band that stands out from the glove. But, this is my own personal vision for this outfit, and it's not really up to me to impose that vision on the designer. |
| Valentino- Blue Dress |
| 11.29.06 (8:49 am) [edit] |
 I have mixed feelings about this outfit. The jacket and bodice are beautiful, and the skirt has potential. But the fur additions are too donut-shaped, and there is no excuse for the skirt to be so wrinkled. The skirt has some great details once you get past the wrinkles. That kind of pleating is getting to be very hot, and the bodice is quite a work of art. Although I love the styling of the bodice, the material is a little thick for my taste. I would have preferred to see it with a more silhoutted look. |
| Orlando |
| 11.29.06 (8:15 am) [edit] |
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*This is a sponsored post. I received a web release today about Windermere Real Estate, describing the history of Orlando. It's an interesting place. It amuses me that the settled history is only about 150 years old. In 1880, the railroad came to town, and it greatly expanded Florida's growing citrus market. With the automobile, people began looking for a nice sunny place to vacation, and they found Orlando. So it's not too surprising that Walt Disney chose it for the site of his theme park. Today, there are over 43.4 million visitors each year, which makes it the number one tourist destination in the world. It has 7 major theme parks, and hundreds of smaller attractions. |
| Valentino- Black Dress |
| 11.29.06 (7:52 am) [edit] |
 I will say that Valentino is one of the most reserved of the couture designers. His gowns would fit in well in pret-a-porter, but I am glad that they are presented as couture. Many people look at the fashion world as being ridiculous and full of itself. And that can be somewhat true. But when you look at a Valentino gown, it is lovely by most people's standards. It may not be something that they would personally wear, but it is lovely. This dress is a difficult one to review. On one hand, you get a hint that there is some amazing bead and lace work. On the other hand, it blends so well that we can't see most of it. The velvet is exquisite. It has a depth that can only be achieved by velvet. You get hints that the top may be partially beaded too, but it lays so flat against the gown that you cannot tell for sure. That is a brilliant design. It draws the person in and makes them want to get closer. They want to see it up close and personal. And is that not what fashion is about? |
| Valentino- White dress |
| 11.29.06 (7:41 am) [edit] |
 I would be insane if I didn't point out the hosiery. That is my biggest complaint with this dress. I will forgive the black because it's couture, so it's allowed. But the weird off-color panel just doesn't do it for me. This dress is a good starting point for examining couture styling. It's still a lot more reserved than most couture gowns, but the details are so interesting that I'll forgive that. The bodice is beautiful. The only thing that keeps it from being phenomenal is that it has a bit of a pucker on one side. I would expect a couture gown to lay PERFECTLY. And speaking of puckering, the hem has small puckers. That is absolutely unforgivable. The best part is the sleeves, which could be a shrug (difficult to tell from this photo). They are perfectly gathered, and the edge is exquisitely worked. It sounds as though I'm looking at this dress with a hyper-critical eye. With couture you must. At least 15 people picked over every thread and every stitch, and yet, they still have puckering. So there really are no excuses. For pret-a-porter, it's a fine example. For couture, it just doesn't stand up to my own personal quality level. |
| Buying for Christmas |
| 11.29.06 (7:19 am) [edit] |
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*This is a sponsored post, although it is fashion related. There's a place online called Ebates, and when you are doing your holiday shopping, you can save money by purchasing through them. They give a certain percentage of your purchase back to you. It's better than coupons. I've used Ebates for a while now, although there are a couple of other places that I use more frequently because of Christmas time and the merchants they feature. That's about to change. I logged onto Ebates last night after seeing this offer, and found that they have Lush on the list. And as any of my readers know, it's my favorite bath shop. Not only do I like fashion, but I love being able to get a bargain, and I wanted to pass along the tip. It's just silly to buy anything online if you aren't using one of these type of sites, because you usually get enough money back to pay for the shipping. |
| Valentino- Green Dress |
| 11.28.06 (8:50 pm) [edit] |
 The bottom of this dress is lovely. It shifts and undulates, as if it moves of its own accord. I am not so fond of the print on the top portion, but it is a minor complaint for such a lovely dress. I adore the satin edge between the sheer bottom and the solid upper portion. Also worth noting is the embroidered portion on the lower part of the print. I feel that it conflicts with the print, but it is beautiful on its own. |
| Couture |
| 11.28.06 (6:55 pm) [edit] |
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This post serves to introduce a subject that I will be focusing on for the next few entries. Couture is a special term that only a few labels can claim. The term is used loosely, but to qualify as real, honest-to-goodness haute couture, certain terms must be met to legally call it couture. These include having a minimum of fifteen people working for the fashion house, and presenting a collection to the press in Paris each season (two fashion seasons a year). The collection must contain at least 35 outfits, and extremely high attention is paid to the quality. The garments are almost never sold. Running a couture division is not a financially smart thing to do, but it enhances the name of the fashion house. Because of these difficult standards and because it costs a fortune, there are only ten official haute couture houses currently. I will eventually make my way back to pret-a-porter, or ready to wear, and also trends, but right now I want to focus on couture. The winter always feels like such a dead time for fashion, so this is a nice way to pass the time. Enjoy, but be forewarned that most of the pieces are highly conceptual, and should not be looked at in terms of wearability. |
| Flowers |
| 11.28.06 (11:07 am) [edit] |
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*This is a sponsored post. If you're trying to think of a gift for someone this holiday season, try flowers. A lot of the flower delivery places online can be made right up until Christmas Eve, with same or next day delivery. We usually get my mother in law some kind of plant or flowers for Christmas, although hers are usually living plants. We always seem to get ourselves into a bind every Christmas, because we don't order something in time. And every year, it seems like the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas flies by. Getting flowers makes it easier when you have people out of town that you need to shop for, and you've waited until the last minute. |
| Dress Coats |
| 11.28.06 (11:02 am) [edit] |
 It's time to start thinking about winter coats. I believe that every woman needs more than one coat, but if you have to settle for one, I'd say go classier than you need. This coat by Donna Karan is a good example. You can wear this with a nice suit or a dress and not look out of place. If you *had* to wear it with a tshirt and jeans, it would fit in too. But the reverse is not true. It's almost impossible to pair a jean jacket with an evening gown and have it look ok. This EXACT coat isn't for everyone, especially with the price tag. But look for a good quality long wool coat that has adequate room in the shoulders for thick sweaters or heavier clothing. And don't forget to do a brightly colored knitted scarf around the neck to give it a playful edge. |
| Not only are they ugly... |
| 11.28.06 (10:46 am) [edit] |
They are expensive too. From Elle, February 2006, we see a pair of watches by Lucien Pellat-Finet/Jacob & Co. These watches retail for an astounding $46,000 each. I do realize those are real diamonds there, but for $46,000, I think I want real pot in there too. For $46,000, it better have a real skull! Ok, all weird goth comments aside, these would be ok watches without the cheap looking decorations. I cannot even fathom who they are trying to design this for. I imagine they are trying to appeal to rap stars, but I have the feeling Snoop Dog would take a look at it and tell them how ugly it is. This is just bad all around. |
| Marketing |
| 11.28.06 (8:50 am) [edit] |
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*This is a sponsored post. USWeb is one of several companies that can help you with search engine marketing, if you need such services. A lot of people search all over the web and try and find the latest SEO methods. Or they may trust in a company that doesn't specialize in SEO to try and help them. Those are both bad ways of going about it. USWeb has been in business since 1995. In internet terms, that's a lifetime. They've had time to watch the internet grow up and mature, and they will probably be around for a while to come. 70-80% of web customers use search engines to find what they are looking for. So make sure you aren't losing customers through faulty SEO. |
| Mirror finish shoes |
| 11.28.06 (8:37 am) [edit] |
 First off, I hate wedges. They just seem like they are the easy way out for women who want to wear heels, but are too afraid to walk in them. But that's my own issue to deal with. ;D That being said, the mirror finish on these shoes is unreal. I would be terrified to wear these for fear of getting a scuff mark. I can't picture the outfit I would wear these shoes with, but I respect the concept. They are fascinating to look at. |
| This is a nice color. |
| 11.28.06 (7:39 am) [edit] |
 I love the color of this shoe, even though I hate the shoe itself. I had some knee length boots this color once, and I got so many compliments on them. I think this color has a lot of potential, but it's best left to a small area only, because it can really wash out a lot of people. Unfortunately, it seems this color is not in right now. People are going for the golds and coppers. I'm not too happy about it. There is finally getting to be an interesting selection of jewelry in this color, and now everyone is avoiding it. Too bad. I personally don't go for what's in style, but what I look good in and want to wear. You will never spot me wearing gold, because it's just too garish for me. |
| Meds |
| 11.28.06 (7:16 am) [edit] |
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*This is a sponsored post.
Your doctor can subscribe to a service that tells him what medications play nicely with each other, and which ones don't. It also tells them the average retail cost of a med, the formulary coverage for Medicare Part D, and offers printouts about the drugs in English and Spanish. It is all web-based, so doctors can jump online, or use their PDA, to access information about the drugs. Frankly, I'd rather my doctor used this. I am one of those people that finds it comforting when a doctor pulls out a PDA. It's like they are getting the most up to date information possible. A book worries me because it could be dated info, and when they try to go off their memory alone, it really worries me. So the next time you go get a prescription for Fluoxetine, and the doc pulls out his PDA, he may be checking that service.
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| And another bad boot... |
| 11.28.06 (7:08 am) [edit] |
 This isn't the worst boot I've ever seen. At least it's trying to be cute. It's not exactly succeeding, but it's trying. It isn't the bad cheetah print that is causing its failure. It's the fact that it's made from horsehide. I consider myself animal friendly. I don't own any fur coats, and I wouldn't even if I could afford them. I do have a few leather shoes, but I try to keep them minimized in favor of more animal friendly choices. But let's put all the PETA aspects aside for a moment. It's just plain creepy to make one animal look like another. Say you are going to own a pair of crocodile print shoes. Either go pleather, or be a "magnificent bastard" as one of my friends calls it, and get an actual pair of crocodile leather. There's just something fundamentally strange about making a cow look like a crocodile. And there's something even stranger about making a horse look like a cheetah. |
| Chaps and boots. |
| 11.28.06 (6:57 am) [edit] |
Not good apart, worse together.
 I don't know who got the bright idea to combine chaps and boots. Or worse, that wasn't their intention at all. Maybe they were just as tired of the jeans tucked into boots look as I am. Either way, this isn't working. This boot is one of the worst I've ever seen. There is nothing but a flat, rigid looking cylinder of brown leather. |
| Insurance |
| 11.27.06 (4:04 pm) [edit] |
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Progressive car insurance has teamed up with movie makers to include special features on their DVD's. The DVD they sponsored is "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift". On the special features, you can toggle a button that allows you to watch the movie and see the cost of the damage to the cars in the movie. Now, I haven't seen the movie, but I'm willing to bet that the cars are not your average, run-of-the-mill Honda's and Kia's. Instead, they are probably sports cars and street racers. So I'm not sure it's really an accurate car insurance comparison of how much car parts cost.
Regardless, it's an interesting feature for a DVD.
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| Cleavage |
| 11.27.06 (3:54 pm) [edit] |
 An interesting trend is emerging. The 80's and 90's were all about the low cut dresses. That is how you displayed cleavage if you chose to do so. But now it seems that designers are going for a vertical slit down the middle. The dress above is a perfect example. I like the buttons at top and bottom. Most of the time, this style has been done with dresses, and the blouse is a nice, interesting step away from that. The trend is still too new to see whether consumers are going to fall in love with the idea, but I like it immensely. It is a nice way to show cleavage, but has a certain conservativeness that cannot be achieved with lowering the top of the dress. |
| Come visit me. |
| 11.27.06 (10:55 am) [edit] |
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I am doing some guest articles at Swanktrendz.com My first article there is about Ghost. Their clothing is amazing. Make sure you visit the Ghost site to view pics of the clothing I'm discussing. I'm quite surprised by how tuned into the trends Ghost is. As for Swanktrendz itself, it's a site of all things cool. Specifically, it started from a converstation that "tried to define what is uber-hip with discussions of style in fashion and music, and the inter-connectedness of the two." And it expanded from there. |
| Silver |
| 11.27.06 (10:45 am) [edit] |
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*This is a sponsored post. And again, no, the silver isn't the fashion-related kind. My husband has quite a coin collection. And right now, he is on the lookout for coins made from two kinds of metal. Certain pennies are worth twice as much as their face value because of copper, and he is on the hunt for anything with actual silver. Most silver, for investment purposes, is in the form of coins or ingots. And apparently, silver is getting harder to come by. Which makes those coins my husband has go up in value. Dear god, the way my husband talks, my retirement is hinging on pennies and half-dollars! |
| "Fine Jewelry" my butt! |
| 11.27.06 (8:55 am) [edit] |
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A few years ago, I got a ring. It has a large emerald cut aquamarine stone in a white gold setting, and is surrounded by two small diamonds. It was from a well-known jewelry chain that sells "fine jewelry" as opposed to costume jewelry. Well, about a month ago, the band snapped in half, and it pinched the back of my finger when I wore it. So I took it in for repairs. They wanted $15 to repair the band. Ok, that's acceptable. But then another clerk told her that it wasn't $15. They had to redip it in Rhodium, which is what gives it that shiny silvery finish. And they were charging about $30 for that. That meant that on a ring that cost around $100, they wanted almost half that to repair a break that is literally the width of a sheet of paper.
My husband immediately said, "No. We'll just buy you a new one." I think he was momentarily out of his mind. I mean, he was offering jewelry, without any begging or bribing on my part. LOL! So now, I'm trying to find not only a ring to replace it, but a setting for the aquamarine. The diamonds are nearly worthless, and I'm not even going to bother with them, but the aquamarine is really pretty. I think I'm going to go for a necklace.
I'm not going back to that store. One time I asked them to size my wedding ring down. I always like a thick band on the back, for this reason, and for comfort. And that's how I bought my ring. When it was returned to me, it was a SKINNY little band. I told them that I wanted it thicker, and they replied that there was less white gold because they had to stretch it out to make the band bigger. That caused me to rip into them with, "Not when you're making it smaller!!!" I think I startled an engaged couple into leaving, and the store VERY quickly fixed it so that I wouldn't scare away any more of their customers.
Borsheims, the store where Bill Gates bought his wife's ring, is somewhat nearby. I imagine if Bill Gates shops there, they can manage to repair a band properly. There's no reason to bother with the other store again. Ugh!
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| I finally gave in... |
| 11.27.06 (8:42 am) [edit] |
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and got some big, bug-eyed sunglasses. You know the kind. Katie Holmes always wears them. Actually, all of Hollywood wears them. I swore I would never get any because they looked old and out of style back in the 70's. But I finally gave in when I found a nice, modern pair. I went on vacation this last week, and I didn't have any sunglasses for the 8 hours in the car. So we stopped at Walmart and got a $5 pair of glasses. I kinda like them. I'm the sort of person that breaks or loses their sunglasses often, so I don't dare spend anything more than $10. :D
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| School next year... |
| 11.27.06 (8:33 am) [edit] |
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*This is a sponsored post. I'm considering going back to school next year when both of my kids are in school. I've received a little bit of attention for my fashion writing, and it feels really nice. I have fun doing it, and I'm seriously thinking that this wouldn't be a bad career. :D Meanwhile, I'm getting actual jobs designing websites, so I don't know which one to pursue. I know my hubby is going back for his mba. I just don't know precisely which one I want to do. I have so many interests, and the thought of trying to choose one thing that I want to do for the rest of my life, give or take, is enough to get me bogged down with indecision. lol |
| Hotels |
| 11.25.06 (7:51 am) [edit] |
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This is a sponsored post. I've been to London twice now. Both times, they were cheap hotels in London, that just weren't fantastic. We weren't aiming for anything nice when we went. I think the point was just to get over there and enjoy ourselves. We walked by some nice hotels in London, and I told my hubby that we were staying there next time. We tended to stay over in Bayswater, and I like the ones over by the Marble Arch. There were some there that werediscount London hotels, but not the REALLY cheap ones. Honestly, my next time will probably be in one of the Thistle chain. Decent, safe rooms, but nothing fancy. After all, I didn't come to London to sleep. :D |
| John Galliano- Another black and white dress. |
| 11.15.06 (3:04 pm) [edit] |
 I can't ignore them any longer. The eyebrows on these models are stupid and derivitive. I saw a show YEARS ago where someone did this exact same thing, and it was stupid looking then, and it's stupid looking now. QUIT UGLIFYING YOUR MODELS!!!! Ok. I'm all better now. The best thing that I can say about this dress is that it's more inventive than the other black and white dress. The silhouette on the left is nice, and I wish it were symmetrical. Now for the bad news. While the left side drapes beautifully, the right side is an amorphous blob. The white and black fabric should curve gently and echo the curves of the draping. Instead, they are at war with each other, and create odd angles. I wish that he understood that there is no need to use the exact same fabric in order to have a cohesive collection. But this same fabric is used in piece after piece of this collection. Overall, it's a disaster, and sadly, it's one of the best pieces in the collection. |
| John Galliano and the horrible use of appliques |
| 11.15.06 (2:33 pm) [edit] |
 I'll admit, I have trouble even focusing on the dress itself. The big sequin flower appliques are taking over the dress, and they are ruining any chance of liking it. The worst part is, he isn't the only one using them. It looks like arts and crafts time at the senior center. Apart from that, the color is detestable. Mustard yellow is not, and should not be, the hot color of the season. The sweetheart neckline is outdated, and it is not helped by the piece of fabric that looks like it was hand-basted onto the front to create a draped effect. The ruffled edge that swings upwards and is gathered the whole length is interesting, but overall, not enough to save this dress. The shoes are awful, because the chains on them are just too overwhelming. |
| John Galliano- White and black dress |
| 11.15.06 (2:30 pm) [edit] |
 I picked Galliano for my next designer to discuss, because he's the type that you're certain to never be bored. Unfortunately, overall, I was bored. This dress is one example of why I wasn't intrigued. There isn't really anything here that is fantastic. Yes, it's a beautiful dress. Yes, I would have this in my closet. No, that's not enough. I want something that thrills me. This is the kind of dress that I'd be excited about if I found it on a sale rack for $40. But I can tell you right now, there's no way you're getting an outfit by Galliano for $40. It's just not enough. |
| Michael Kors- Two-tone Dress |
| 11.15.06 (2:26 pm) [edit] |
 I almost like this dress. It's about 95%. First, I love the colors. They work very well together, and they help intensify/mute each other. The reddish grey color could have been a disaster, but the white tones it down. And the white could have washed her skin tone out, but the reddish grey muted it. I also like the neck, simply because I look good in these kind of dresses. :D The part I hate is that without the belt, there wouldn't be a waist. And you should never have to rely on a belt to give you definition. It should already be there. That's why it's called an accessory, not an essential. |
| Michael Kors- Swimsuit |
| 11.15.06 (2:25 pm) [edit] |
 I appreciate that Michael Kors wanted to give us larger girls a swimsuit that covers and makes us look skinny at the same time. Really, I do. But this wasn't the right way to go about it. Flesh-tone fabric is gross on anyone, as evidenced by the fact that the model is itty-bitty and it makes her look pretty butch. Furthermore, I hate that the swimsuit is not quite black. It's really dark, but not dark enough, and so it just looks washed out. |
| Funny story- enjoy. |
| 11.13.06 (8:23 pm) [edit] |
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This is totally off-topic, and has nothing to do with fashion. But it's hilarious, so enjoy. I was reading about russian brides today. Don't even ask me how that came up. Anyway, it reminded me of a story my best friend told me, and I knew I had to share it because it's so sweet. Her parents are both immigrants, with her mom being from an eastern European country. I never can remember which one. Her dad is from the UK, but lived in Canada. Her dad was supposed to bring her mom over, marry her, she gets citizenship, and they divorce. Well, they never divorced. lol See, one night they were sitting at the table, and even though neither one of them spoke a single word of the other's language, he nodded his head towards the bedroom and said, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She must have been, because nine months later my friend was born. Poor girl got named after a shipwreck. ROFL! They stayed together until he died, something like 48 years if I remember correctly, despite knowing each other only a day or two before they met, and not speaking the same language. In fact, they didn't know a thing about each other. I love telling that story, because it's just so sweet. And her mom still slips back into her native language occasionally, especially when sending me emails. But that's a different story. :D |
| Michael Kors- Casual Outfit |
| 11.13.06 (8:06 pm) [edit] |
 I dig this outfit because it's just so wearable. It is one of the few outfits I've seen that looks completely comfortable, yet trendy at the same time. The white t-shirt is too thin to wear by itself, but under the camel colored tank, it's perfect. The scarf is nothing special, and yet, that's why I like it. I'm not big on brightly colored scarfs. It looks like it loops through itself, and I think it's an interesting concept, but I'd be scared to death that my scarf would get caught in the door of a cab and strangle me. The pants are a little slouchy, but the fabric is such that it is ok. It's pretty lightweight fabric, but sturdy enough that it looks like it can handle some tough city streets. And this is the ONLY outfit where I will make an exception to the "no flats on the runway" rule. |
| Michael Kors- Pink Dress |
| 11.13.06 (7:09 pm) [edit] |
 While I do like this dress, I can't help but think how much more I would like it if it were longer. The styling is good, but something we've definitely seen before. It sort of signifies my main complaint with Michael Kors. His work is bland. Yes, they are all well made and lovely, but they are also the most muted pieces on the runway. This is wonderful for wearability factors, but I just can't see people looking back on his work as being a defining point of fashion. One final note about the dress and then a snarky comment. I hate the shoes with it. Runways are made for heels, and I just hate the flats, especially since they are practically the same color as the model's feet. And what is up with the person wearing their grungy grey Keds to a major fashion show??? Have they no shame?? :D |
| A vacation? Yes please! |
| 11.12.06 (12:35 pm) [edit] |
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This post has been sponsored. Orlando offers 52 theme parks nearby, in addition to the lovely golf courses, the fantastic hotels, and the great nearby beaches. Now I don't know about you, but there aren't 52 theme parks within my whole state! I still remember my trip to Orlando as a kid, and how much fun we had. Someday I plan on taking my kids. For now, I'm not too picky. Any vacation will do. Everything in Orlando changes so quickly that they recommend visiting again if you haven't been in the last three to five years. Anyway, if you are the kind of person who gets the luxury of visiting there several times a year, it may be a good idea to consider getting some information on Orlando vacation homes. That way, you can have a nice, quiet place to stay with all the benefits of home, but still have time for a vacation. |
| Michael Kors- Layered |
| 11.12.06 (12:20 pm) [edit] |
 My review of this is likely to make a few people question my judgement, I'm afraid. I think this is an interesting look, and extremely wearable. But I have the feeling many people will disagree with me. I like the different layers, because it's almost like a collection within his collection. You have the classic white longsleeve t-shirt. Pair that with some black skinny tights. So far, this is very casual, like a girl on her way to a yoga class. Then it gets interesting by putting a camel colored pleated dress over the top. The black band makes it an empire waist, which gives that single piece even more layers of complexity. And then there is a simple, long black jacket over the top. If this piece could lose anything, it's the jacket, but I kind of like it. It makes the leggings fit well with the rest of the piece, instead of just hopping on the leggings bandwagon. The shoes are a good choice for this, because they continue the complexity/simplicity look that the rest of the garment has. There is nothing particularly difficult about this outfit, but there isn't anything simple about it either. It truly is a cohesive statement, and especially with the hairstyle, it screams classic, understated, casual elegance. It's for a girl that knows where she is going, but isn't in a rush to get there. So good job, Michael Kors. |
| Michael Kors Coat Dress |
| 11.12.06 (12:19 pm) [edit] |
 While I am the first person to say that all fashion shouldn't have to be considered wearable by mainstream people to be considered worthwhile, I don't know what to do with this garment. It's gorgeous, no doubt about it. But where do you wear it. It so obviously looks like a coat that when you walk in someplace, after getting a few compliments, people are going to ask you if they can take your coat. And then you are left to explain that it's not really a coat, it's a dress. While I love it, I'm not sure there's really a market for it. Big kudos to Michael Kors for the innovation though. |
| Babies- oh no! |
| 11.12.06 (12:15 pm) [edit] |
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This is a sponsored post. It seems like everyone I know is pregnant. And while I'm really happy for them, I'm kinda wondering if I should avoid whatever fertility medication is in the water. I love kids, but I consider my family complete. Yet out of the blogs I visit, one just had a baby and two others are pregnant. A different message board has nursing moms. My niece is about to give birth to her second within a year. So, can you understand why I'm a little freaked out by all the fertility?? Anyway, if you need to get personalized baby gifts for someone you know that is pregnant, try Babynest.com. They can help you find great announcements and gifts for babies and moms. |
| Michael Kors- Black Dress |
| 11.12.06 (12:06 pm) [edit] |
 I really like this dress. It's obviously for a more mature client, and I don't necessarily mean older. What I mean is that you can't really see Paris Hilton partying in this dress, can you? And yet, despite the maturity, there's a lot of playfulness to it. The gold bow is a great touch, and the silhouette is fantastic. One thing I hate is that it's so see-through. If it weren't for that, I could wear it to a company Christmas party and have everyone in the room looking at me. But with the sheerness, I'm going to have everyone looking at me for all the wrong reasons. |
| Diane Von Furstenberg Dress |
| 11.12.06 (11:51 am) [edit] |
 This is as much an embodiment of the Chrysler Building if I've ever seen one. It's hard to even know where to begin discussing this, so let me say upfront that I think it is stunning. She used different materials that were the same color to create layers and texture. I especially love that near the center front neckline, it arches, in a mimic of the Chrysler Building. If I could be allowed to pick the most insignificant details, I would probably keep the neckline the same, but make it without triangles, in order to balance out the bottom of the dress. Also, the shoulders seem to be sitting strangely on the model. It's a gorgeous gown, and she should be very proud of herself. |
| Storm shelters- a sponsored post. |
| 11.12.06 (11:46 am) [edit] |
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My mother-in-law couldn't be with us when we had our first child. She was busy cleaning up after a tornado. You see, she lives in tornado alley, and this was one of the worst storms on record. Many of her neighbors didn't have storm shelters, which is about the stupidest thing I can think of for someone living in tornado alley. So they all came over to her house and piled in the shelter. I don't know how many of you are familar with storm shelters, but they aren't roomy. She had 17 people crammed into an area that would have comfortably fit 4-5. There were also 2 of her dogs, and some neighbor's dogs. One of her dogs was old, and too scared to come down, and she was worried sick about him, but ultimately, she wasn't going to risk her life trying to force him to come down. Making it worse, my brother-in-law likes to watch for tornados. He sat outside in the front yard as it took away the neighbor's houses, and right at the last second, he jumped down the steps into the storm shelter. He is lucky he didn't kill everyone in there. As it was, he didn't have time to shut the doors, and the worst damage she received was from the storm blowing mud into her house. But at least her house was standing. The next street over was completely levelled. Many of the neighbors had a chance to get their own above ground storm shelter with the insurance check after the storm. Many of them didn't. That is so selfish. They used the money to buy swimming pools, and make their home bigger, figuring that she would take them in. I can't believe that kind of thinking!! Certainly, she would never turn them away, but they should take a little more responsibility for their own safety. Many storms don't leave you with enough time to drive someplace safe, and many of them will die if there is a storm like this again. Stupid people. |
| Diane Von Furstenberg Skirt |
| 11.12.06 (11:32 am) [edit] |
 I honestly don't know whether to love this piece or hate it. The pattern on the skirt is just about the best thing that could be done with this fabric, however that doesn't make it a smashing success. I think it would be better if the wide black band wasn't at the bottom, because it would be less heavy. As it is, it just weighs the whole outfit down too heavily on the bottom. The skirt also has some sewing issues to the side, and it looks like it is sticking out and puckering oddly. This can happen with a side zipper, especially one that extends onto the bodice of the piece. Overall, I'd probably declare this outfit a failure. It's an interesting idea, but not particularly well-executed or designed. I would expect Diane Von Furstenberg to know better with the side seam. |
| Diane Von Furstenberg Pucci Style Dress |
| 11.12.06 (11:27 am) [edit] |
 If there is one thing that Diane Von Furstenberg does better than anyone else, it is wrap dresses. This is an exceptional example of her mastery of the wrap dress. This pattern of this dress is difficult to find an appropriate style for. A shirt or a blouse might look too 80's, and not modern enough. But when put with this wrap dress, it is truly phenomenal. This dress just hits on every note, and the shoes, purse, dress, belt, and even haircut combo make this the perfect runway outfit. |
| Christmas Flowers- a sponsored post. |
| 11.12.06 (9:39 am) [edit] |
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There are a lot of stories and fables involving poinsettias and Christmas Flowers. One involves a little girl in Mexico who didn't have anything to bring to the local nativity scene. She picked up some grass and leaves, and when she laid it down, it became a red, star-shaped plant. Another involves an Aztec king, Montezuma, who loved this plant most of all. He said that it had been the created from the blood of an Aztec goddess whose love was not returned. The French must have heard this story, because they call it “Etoile d’amour” or the “Star of Love”. |
| Diane Von Furstenberg Jacket |
| 11.12.06 (9:33 am) [edit] |
 This dress by Diane Von Furstenberg is excellent. The jacket gives an otherwise standard dress a playful, yet sophisticated edge. The length of the jacket is exactly the same as the dress, which typically doesn't work, but it regains some balance with the shorter sleeves. The black dress is ordinary, but a good pairing with the colorful, potentially loud jacket. |
| Diane Von Furstenberg Gown |
| 11.12.06 (9:29 am) [edit] |
 I have mixed feelings about this dress. The bottom and sleeves are beautiful. But the studded "holster" that appears to be made of leather is awful. It doesn't work with the rest of the style of the dress, and is out of place. I would have preferred to see a ruched panel that is the same material, but different color and different texture because of the ruching. However, as she's the designer and I'm not, instead I'm left evaluating what she presented. And I gotta say, I don't care for it. |
| Stock Options- a sponsored post. |
| 11.11.06 (8:04 pm) [edit] |
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For stock options advice try this software. They make it easy to pick some good buys and do your research on stock options. It allows you to sort, filter, and analyze all 2900+ optionable stocks. They offer a free 14 day free trial, toll-free support, and a Guarantee. My husband checked it out, and he sounds pretty impressed by the technology. He gave me a quick explanation of stock options and how you can make money from them. So according to him, this sounded pretty cool. Just what I need. He already wants money to spend on property. Now he wants to trade stock options too?? lol That won't leave any money for shoes! |
| Diane Von Furstenberg |
| 11.11.06 (7:56 pm) [edit] |
 This is the most attractive application of a bubble skirt I've ever seen. Bubble skirts tend to look so thick on bottom, but this one has a nice balance, and the material makes it appear light and airy instead of thick. The architecture of it is phenomenal, and it's a very structured piece. It's just a perfect balance. |
| Another Alexander McQueen Mistake. |
| 11.11.06 (7:42 pm) [edit] |
 This dress is just an obvious mistake. What possessed him to think that women want saddlebags? Did he think that women wish their thighs were bigger? Did he look at the model and think that she needed more to eat? Ok, well maybe that one. Apart from that horrible area, it's still a completely forgettable dress. |
| Car Insurance- a sponsored post. |
| 11.11.06 (6:31 pm) [edit] |
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There is a new feature on the recent release of "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift". Progressive Direct paired with the filmmakers, and on the extra features of the disk, you can see just how expensive the damage to the cars is. It shows a running tally of the damage as the movie plays. I think they created this just for me. From the first time I saw Blues Brothers where the police cars (and others) piled on top of each other, I wondered how much money that must have cost. On my own car, I know exactly how expensive it is. I drive a crappy little foreign car, and we had full coverage while we were paying it off. There was a hail storm, the last decent one in years, and the hail hit our car. I was a lot more worried about my husband who was trapped in the car after trying to shield it. Anyway, the automobile insurance paid off the car a few months after we got it with the check from the storm. We decided that it wasn't worth fixing the car because it was such a cheap one anyway, and we used it to pay it off in full. That was the smartest thing we ever did, because I don't mind the dings too much. |
| And now for the dark side of Alexander McQueen. |
| 11.11.06 (6:23 pm) [edit] |
What the hell?? Do you notice it? Do you see what is so horribly wrong with this dress? No, it isn't the hem, although that's a mess. No, it isn't the saddlebags. He had a different dress that I will discuss later that makes you forget how bad these are. Look at the stomach. Now, ten bucks says that model isn't ripped with the most amazing six pack known to man. Why did he decide the molded stomach muscle Halloween costume look was a good idea for a sweet white dress? Ugh. |
| Alexander McQueen Dress with Shoes |
| 11.11.06 (6:20 pm) [edit] |
The shoes, or one of their sisters, are shown in this photo.  This dress is lovely, and I would definitely consider this for a wedding dress, despite the lavender color. I'm not so fond of the shoes with it, and all along, that has been my concern about them. The ruffles on the dress are beautiful, but the length of the bodice is a little long for my tastes. You have to have the right sort of butt to pull off that length, and it looks good on this model, but won't on most women. The detailing on the bodice is lovely, and the asymetrical length makes a nice train. A+ |
| Fashion for nurses. |
| 11.11.06 (5:33 pm) [edit] |
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*This post has been sponsored. If you are a nurse and you're looking for nursing scrubs, try this store for a good selection. You can sort by color, style, type, and fabric. I looked at them because my sister is a physical therapist's assistant, and she's having to wear scrubs to her current assignment. They have some really cute styles, and I think she would like these a lot better than the typical scrubs available. They have some with a flare leg that look like yoga pants. And there are some cardigan jacket type scrubs. Pair that jacket with the pants- hot! :) Anyway, I'm mentioning these to her the next time I speak to her. They are a lot better than ruining her professional clothes, but they get her out of the "ugly" scrubs she hates wearing. |
| Alexander McQueen Jacket |
| 11.11.06 (5:21 pm) [edit] |
Don't think that Alexander McQueen is my favorite designer. I'm just on a hunt for those shoes, so I'm really fixated on him right now. I meant to say this last time, but I will put it here because it's no less true. I HATE the makeup. Yes, great, you want the warmed-over death look. Fantastic. Then why didn't you bother warming it over?!?! It's just not pretty, and I wish designers would get it that it doesn't help the clothing to make pretty, thin girls ugly. The jacket above is interesting. As a mother, I can't help but think that this jacket would not even make it inside my house before it was destroyed, but it is certainly lovely. I don't think I've seen an entire jacket encased within another fabric like this. The sleeves are not a style I would typically wear, but they really work with this style dress. It's a way to take a boring jacket and skirt, and make them interesting, which is really a skillful thing to do. Look at the Mona Lisa. It's not particularly stunning, until you get to the details. Then it's completely fascinating. This jacket is the same. The way it ruffles at the elbows, the way the netting creates ruffles on the lapel that don't exist otherwise, the netting gathered at the waist- this is a masterful jacket. I do not care for the skirt with the netting creating a line up the front. Other than that, the silhouette is interesting. |
| I adore this dress. |
| 11.11.06 (5:10 pm) [edit] |
In my never ending quest for those flowered Alexander McQueen shoes, I found this dress he did. This was in his Spring 2007 Ready-to-Wear Collection. Don't get confused about the label "Ready-to-Wear". That doesn't mean that he expects you to throw this on and walk down the street. It is a type of clothing that is not haute couture. I spoke a little about it before, and I will go into it again in the future, but haute couture requires so much extra work, and it's the artwork of the fashion world.  The dress is a black with white embroidery skirt sewn to a black with white embroidery accents bodice. The top has see-through sleeves (I cannot tell you EXACTLY which fabric was used, although I have some guesses). I'm not so crazy about the see-through part, although I get what he was going for and I respect it. I think that he realized that it looked better without that part, but that there were already a million dresses with that style. So he added that to distinguish it, made the sleeves long enough so that it is supposed to be gathered along the arm, and called it his vision. Instead he should have left it off and made it an exquisite example of a dress that has many copy-cats. My favorite part is that the hems of each layer are covered with satin ribbon. This gives it an especially finished edge. I would have adored this, minus the see-through portion on top, for my prom, and despite the color, I would have considered it for my wedding (although eventually the color would have made me decide not to go with it). |
| Backlinks: a sponsored post |
| 11.11.06 (2:39 pm) [edit] |
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The key to search engine optimization used to be getting your page rank as high as you could. But now, there are other things that have to be taken into account. Backlinks are much more important now. See, the more sites that link to yours tells Google and other seach engines that your site is considered very important on the world wide web. So if you can get a decent page rank and several thousand links to your site, Google thinks it is very important, and they put you higher in the search results than a site that just has a good page rank. Also, Google is experimenting with contextual ads. This examines how links from other sites are related to your site. For example, this post talks about ads, Google, and search engine optimization. So Google will consider it more valuable that my site links to it, rather than just an ad thrown into the bottom of the page with no discussion about it.If you want to increase link popularity, click the link to visit Blogitive. |
| Feather Trims- Part 2 |
| 11.11.06 (2:31 pm) [edit] |
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Schlappen- These are feathers from the base of the tail of roosters. In their natural color, they are often white towards the base and brown with stripes at the ends. These are best used on items where you are trying for a western look. Natural Guinea Trim- these are small feathers, and are typically black with white spots. They would be best on something playful looking. Marabou- These are very thin and light. They should be about 4-5 inches in length, and I have never seen any in their natural color. These are hard to use in clothing other than costumes, without crossing the line into tacky. Ostrich feathers- The Ostrich feathers have a lot of similarities to the Marabou feathers, but the main difference is that they have more monofibers. In other words, they have small feathers coming off the side of each long feather. |
| Feather Trims- Part 1 |
| 11.11.06 (2:21 pm) [edit] |
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I have spent the last few years looking for just the right feather trim for some crafts, and also for a purse idea I'm working on. I thought I would talk a little about several kinds of trims, and give some uses for each. Stripped Coque- these have a thin, wispy bit, with a small, well-formed, leaf shaped feather at the end. Although you can get them dyed, the most beautiful ones, in my opinion, are the iridescent black natural ones. These would fit in well on a the bottom edge of an evening bag, so that they extend past the bottom edge of the bag. Peacock Hurl- These feathers are the thin, wispy feathers from the side of the peacock's eye tail feathers. The natural colored one have the same coloring as peacock feathers, although you can find them dyed. You can also find some that are burnt to remove the microfibers, which make them even thinner and lighter. These are especially beautiful along the edge of an evening gown. Hackle Trim- These are similar to the stripped coque, except that the hackes do not have the portions of the feathers stuck to each other, so they are pointier and less well-formed. Some trims are beaded along the thin stipped part. These are best used sparingly. |
| Make some money! |
| 11.11.06 (9:01 am) [edit] |
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Now, I'm sure you guys have noticed all the ads recently. They aren't hard to notice when you have stuff about vacations and buying gold bars among all the fashion blogs. Well, the reason for it is Blogitive. They can help you make money online. First, you get your blog entered into FeedBurner. Then submit your blog to Blogitive. After it's approved, they will post offers. Just log-in and check whether they have any new offers posted. Obviously, there's been a lot of offers recently. Then you get $5 per offer that you post. Now, this adds up really quickly. There are some people who supposedly earn over $1000 a week, because they have so many blogs. I don't get anywhere near that, but I am earning enough with this to go get a digital camcorder, after just a couple of days. After that, I am paying down some debt. Make sure you tell them I sent you. Just put my blog address in the referral line. They are coming up with other stuff, so make sure you keep checking back with them. |
| Here's the dress from Goodwill |
| 11.11.06 (8:50 am) [edit] |
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And a photo of my daughter. Well, it's one of the dresses anyway. It's one of the few clothing choices we agreed on, but sadly, it's winter time and that's a sundress. It buttons in front at the top, has a gathered waist, elastic in the back, a bow at the top of the back, and pockets (she really loves the pockets). The material itself is pretty loud, but it suits the style of the dress, even if the dress was for adults. *Edited to remove photo because trolls have decided that they want to play. Sorry, I have my troll repellent on. |
| I don't know how it happened. |
| 11.10.06 (9:39 pm) [edit] |
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My daughter has no fashion sense. None. Left to her own devices, she will put on 14 layers and try and dance like she's a ballerina. With 14 layers on, it's completely impossible to be graceful. Nothing is ever sparkly enough. I bought her a shirt and pants combo that has little pink flowers embroidered on the jeans. The legs flare at the bottom. The shirt is pleated on the neck and sleeves, and it looks like a pale pink button up shirt is layered below a dark pink shirt. This is the most adorable outfit that a four year old can own. And what was her reaction?? She was mad that I didn't buy her the plastic sequins glued every quarter inch onto an electric blue skirt. Which she would have paired with marabou sandals. She is into the streetwalker chic look, which doesn't work for any four year old ANYWHERE!!! I repeat, I don't know what happened. |
| Vacation... I wish: a sponsored post. |
| 11.10.06 (5:49 pm) [edit] |
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I am just about ready for a vacation. Work has really been killing me recently, and I cannot wait until Thanksgiving so that I can just go sleep at my mom-in-law's house. Unfortunately, it's never a long enough trip over Thanksgiving, and the trip there is awful (10 hours in a small car with kids). Fairfield Resorts allows you to not only own a timeshare, but they do it based on a point system. That means that you can change around your vacation instead of being locked into the same weekend every single year. Furthermore, you can use your points to buy airfare, cruises, resort stays, and other travel related things. So if you're in need of a timeshare, or just a vacation like I am, check out fairfield resorts. |
| Check out this hat. |
| 11.10.06 (5:41 pm) [edit] |
I found this hat at ab online vintage store and I think it's fantastic. I can totally imagine myself wearing it. I think I would pair it with a cashmere sweater dress that is the same color, and a nice wide silver belt to put a modern twist to a vintage piece. Or I might go crazy with a Pucci style wrap dress. The color makes it easy to wear with a lot of stuff. I love the feathers on this, and I think it's just a really fun hat. 
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| Allow me to introduce... |
| 11.10.06 (3:01 pm) [edit] |
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I can speak about jewelry for hours on end. Shoes- it's more like weeks. I have met real life fashion designers and because I sew, I could even speak their language. lol I understand the marketing and business aspects of fashion, although from an outsider's point of view. I can pick trends before they ever come along. But there is one thing I don't know anything about. Modelling. And I know, you might be thinking that they just stand there and look pretty while someone takes a picture. Or maybe they walk in a straight line (except Kate Moss on past occasions) and get paid gobs of money. Well, not so much. And certainly they have the best wardrobes because they get to keep all the clothes. Right?? No. Now, I'm not going to be down on myself. There are parts of my body that I hate (like everything below my cheekbones) and there are parts I love (like my eyes and hair). But just being realistic, modelling was never going to happen for me. Genetics wouldn't allow it. That's fine, but it means that I can't tell you a thing about modelling. And on a fashion blog, that's a glaring omission. So I'm doing one better than that. Click here to visit the blog of a woman I know, who just happens to be a model. A middle model, to be precise. To find out what that is, you're just going to have to visit, now aren't you? :) |
| Gold investing: a sponsored post. |
| 11.10.06 (11:44 am) [edit] |
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While I might discuss gold here, this is more about gold investing. Now I'll admit. I don't know much about gold myself. I always preferred white gold, which is regular gold mixed with other metals to create an alloy that gives it the silver color. See how brilliant I get when there's bling involved? lol A lot of ancient civilizations valued gold for the same reasons as I do. But my husband is the opposite. He's the investment guru that would be very interested in buying gold. Although he collects coins, there isn't too much gold in coins, especially his collection, other than a couple of foreign coins here and there. But that doesn't mean he isn't interested in buying some for investment purposes. Precious metals make a good investment because they keep their value so well. With some of my husband's silver coins, they have increased their face value about 1000 times, and the amount he purchased them for by over 12.5 times. |
| My ridiculous items. |
| 11.10.06 (11:28 am) [edit] |
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This is a reprint from a Myspace blog I did a while back, but it really fits in nicely here. Enjoy! Every girl needs that thing or set of things that makes no sense for her to own. Rules: 1) It must be outrageously priced, considering the item. 2) It must not make sense to any guys, except your gay male friends, and then they threaten to steal it from you. 3) It must not be practical in any way. 4) It must be used or worn very rarely, if ever. 5) It must be freakin' fabulous! I already own a velvet bustier with iridescent rooster feathers along the top. I already have too many shoes that can't be worn with anything. I already have 24 inch hair extensions in case I get a tragic haircut. And I already have a million bath bombs from my favorite bath store, but I only take showers. This one tops them all. Fake lashes I really like the feather ones at the bottom. |
| Ok, I got it to work. |
| 11.10.06 (11:22 am) [edit] |
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I finally got the Photobucket to work, so here are some pics, as promised. This first picture is a shot of the Alexander McQueen shoes I liked on Style.com.  This next one is a photo of the Roberto Cavalli shoes that I got from Zappos.  The Alexander McQueen ones are flamboyant. They both are, but the size of these makes them especially likely to stand out. Then again, it's Alexander McQueen, who isn't known for doing things half-way. It's bold or it doesn't exist with him. The Cavalli ones are beautiful to look at, but for wearing them- not so much. |
| Online Degrees |
| 11.10.06 (9:41 am) [edit] |
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Capella University offers you the opportunity to get your degree online. If you live in the middle of nowhere like I do, this can be really helpful. They offer 76 graduate and undergraduate programs in a bunch of different specializations, such as business, management, psychology, education, an human services. Sorry, nothing in fashion. ;) If you need an online degree, and you think it will help your career, check out Capella as a distance learning college. My husband got his degree online, although not from here, and he is really pleased with the opportunities it provided for him. It allowed him to work full-time and also go to school full-time. Now he's trying to get his Master's degree, and he's finding that trying to fit it into his schedule is difficult. An online degree would let him get one. |
| A confession about purses. |
| 11.10.06 (9:40 am) [edit] |
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Although I have a few purses that I really love, I am not that into them. They are simply a way to carry around my stuff. That being said, I am one of the few women that can carry a clutch bag. It seems that everyone I know wants to take their entire life around with them, but I'm fine as long as I've got a pen, checkbook, wallet, cellphone, and lipgloss. And even then, the pen, checkbook, and cellphone are optional. :D My favorite purse is one I've talked about before. It's a cigar box purse, and it literally measures about 5" X 6" and tapers towards the top. lol I have had cellphones that don't fit. On the other end of the spectrum, I love big purses. There is one I have that comes to mind that is so big that I can't really justify carrying it around town, so I use it as carryon luggage. lol. I think every woman is this way. Despite all of womankind being categorized as loving purses, shoes, clothing, and perfume, every woman has something fashion-related that she doesn't care too much about. |
| Zappos |
| 11.10.06 (9:33 am) [edit] |
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I don't want this blog to turn into a spot where I do nothing but review stores or labels. But the challenge is that fashion is an industry where it's all about the stores and labels. "Fashion" has a certain business aspect to it, in addition to the artistic elements. But I would be very remiss if I didn't talk about Zappos. I only have one experience with them so far. I ordered my gold Roberto Cavalli shoes with the red rose in the heel, got them, decided they weren't right for me, and sent them back. And that's the most beautiful thing about Zappos. See, I can go to a store and try on a hundred pairs of shoes, and I will like some and hate others. But I won't have nearly the selection that Zappos has. I *probably* have over 400 pairs of shoes. They were all really great deals, because I'm not rich by any means. But I can't help but think that I have so many because I like certain details of the shoe, but not others. For example, I have a pair of deep black cherry patent leather heels. These are probably my highest heels at 6". And for the curious, yes, I can walk in them. I love the color. I think it is the most exquisite color ever created by man. I also hate the height of them. Although I can walk in them, six inch heels almost always have a platform. If they don't, they should. But if they do have a platform, they look like hooker shoes. lol I can't wear these to a wedding because they look too sleazy. So despite the color being perfect, they don't get worn often. This is true even with black shoes. I currently have some black Bass shoes that I wear with a lot of stuff. They are slip on loafers, and they are both comfortable and nice looking. Meanwhile I have some black Doc Martens that are made of the same material. The only difference is that the Docs have a keyhole opening in the top and the Bass shoes buckle across the top. I can wear the Bass ones with more, but I like the Docs better. Zappos allows you to buy them, and if they don't fit or you don't like them for any reason, you have 365 days to return them. Plus, they have a 110% price guarantee, and I've found that they take it seriously. The Roberto Cavalli shoes were the most expensive pair I ever owned. They originally sold for over $1000. I found them on sale for $400 something. By the next week when I was ready to buy them, the price had gone up to 700 or 800 something. I called them and they immediately reduced the price for me. That brings to mind another good part about Zappos. You are probably thinking that their shoes are expensive. They aren't. The Roberto Cavalli shoes are in their couture collection. I've found so many shoes there for less than $30 that I love. Some have been less than $5 if you catch them at the right time. They offer women's sizes from 3-18, men's sizes from 3-20, and a full range of kid's shoe sizes. Enjoy! |
| Medicine- a sponsored post |
| 11.10.06 (7:51 am) [edit] |
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Epocrates provides a service that doctors can use on their computers and PDAs to find lots of information about drugs they are prescribing. Their service can tell doctors about pricing, doseage, possible drug interactions, and Medicare Part D formulary coverage. Obviously, this can help doctors prescribe exactly the right medication when you visit, which can help them save lives. Let's say you see your doctor for a prescription for Advair. Now he can check it online on Epocrates service, and see whether it is going to react badly with another medication you are taking. He can even tell you how much the medicine is likely to cost. So the next time you see your doctor, suggest that he give Epocrates a try. |
| Sweaters |
| 11.10.06 (7:41 am) [edit] |
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I always have the worst time finding sweaters to wear. See, growing up, my mom bought me those sweaters that were made from yarn that looks like the kind you buy at Walmart. It was cheap, and they sewed it, rather than knitted it. And they look like hell the first time you wash them. So ever since then, I've been playing catchup, trying to figure out what makes a good sweater. First, start with the fabric. Natural fibers are always going to look better than synthetic. Cashmere is one of the most luxurious things you can wear, and trust me, you will notice the difference between a cashmere and an acrylic sweater. Next, weight. Either go for something so fine that you could wear it in summer in Texas, or go for something that is so thick that it will keep you warm when the next ice age hits. There are getting to be a lot more medium weight sweaters that are nice looking, but there's still so much inconsistency. Get an appropriate color. It's fall/winter. So don't get a bright pastel green. It just looks weird. Blacks (including greys), whites, browns, and some really deep winter reds just about do it. You'll be able to wear it with a lot more of your winter clothes. |
| Wow! I just saw Britney Spears new haircut. |
| 11.10.06 (7:16 am) [edit] |
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Good for her. The shorter cut is really flattering to her face, making it look less puffy and bubbled. I can't personally pull off the length she did, but she really looks good with it like that. I also dig the new color. Although I liked the dark brunette on her, I think this new, softer blonde is a great color. It was too harsh when it was blonde before, but now there's actually some color and life to it. Good for you Brit! |
| Gift baskets: a sponsored post |
| 11.09.06 (8:06 pm) [edit] |
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When is the last time you gave a gift to someone? I tried to give one of my friends a gift basket for some advice she gave me, but unfortunately, the company I was trying to order from didn't ship to Canada. Sometimes it's nice to give a gift to someone, even if you don't have a good reason. It lets them know you care about them and are thinking of them. That's what I decided to do with my friend. I sent her a card for her birthday, but I'm going to just surprise her one day with a present, without telling her to expect one. I love getting packages in the mail, and getting something from a friend makes it even better. So if you have birthday, get well, or Christmas Gift Baskets you need to buy, check out Gourmet Gift Baskets. They can help you find something wonderful for anyone on your list. |
| What styles don't work for you? |
| 11.09.06 (7:52 pm) [edit] |
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In the last entry, I talked about the styles that look great on me. But everyone has those garments they can't wear. Here are mine. Typically, pantsuits don't work on me. I am slightly over 5'7", so not short by any means, but they cut me in half and I look like I'm pushing 5'. I also can't do tapered leg pants. They just look weird on me. Another one that comes to mind are straight knee length skirts. My knees just aren't pretty. lol What are the ones you avoid? |
| What looks good on you? |
| 11.09.06 (7:48 pm) [ |