Gene London Costume Collection

The Reading Public Museum currently has an exhibit on display featuring over 100 pieces from Gene London's Costume Collection. The exhibit is entitled The Magic of Hollywood and I promise you, if you attend, it will be magical. Upon entering the lobby, you'll see a gorgeous turquoise and black gown at the top of the stairs. Upon closer inspection, you'll see that it was one of the recreated pieces for the Gone With the Wind Golden Anniversary. It's absolutely spectacular and it's not even the most striking piece in the exhibit:

I found this exhibit so completely inpiring that I will most likely go back very soon to see it again. The detail and craftsmanship is truly amazing. It's also really fun to see a costume on a dress form next to a photograph of that same costume taken from the movie in which it appeared. I don't want to give away too much about this exhibit, but instead hopefully intrigue you enough to look into seeing it yourself. It really is inspiring, whether you are in the business or not. My personal favorite was a grey Chanel reproduction that literally took my breath away. It was simply stunning.

Annoyed

That was me this morning- annoyed. I was watching the news on Better Philly this morning as I got ready for work and there was a segment all about quick fashion tips for busy women. The fashion "expert" giving advice was ok at first, but then something she said bothered me. She said that her advice to busy women is to remove one accessory before leaving the house in the morning. (This is advice I often give to my clients because women tend to over-accessorize, but I always tell them, "Coco Chanel once said...") In the Better Philly segment, it felt at first as if she was claiming this advice as her own, which is a horrible offense to being with! You should have seen my face! I was horrified! Then, the host asked for clarification and when she explained her logic behind giving that advice, she finished with, "one of the Hepburns said that- to always remove one item." I was happy she admitted it wasn't her idea, but again horrified that she got the credit wrong! This person is a presumed fashion "expert" who is not even aware of whom she is quoting! How embarrassing for her! If I was going on television for any reason, I would do my homework and be thoroughly prepared with all my tips. Maybe I'm being hard on her- do you think so? In any case, I hope you'll remember in the future that it was Coco Chanel who said that before she leaves the house, a woman should look in the mirror and then pick one item to remove to prevent over-accessorizing. Good advice for a lot of women if you ask me!

Fancy label or Knock-off?

I recently read the hysterical book Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello and it got me thinking about fancy labels and knock-offs. I admit, my salary doesn't allow for many expensive purchases, but even if it did, I really don't understand the concept of spending thousands of dollars on a single pair of jeans or hundreds on a pair of boxer shorts. And yes, there ARE boxers that expensive. In Tonello's memoir, the boxers in the Hermes store were $295. If you check Hermes' website today, they're $340. No joke. In the book, Tonello recalls his experience buying and re-selling all things Hermes on ebay, starting with scarves and eventually working his way to the mystical Birkin bag.

In my closet I have one real Coach handbag bought significantly reduced at a Coach outlet store and one real Michael Kors bag that was a very generous Christmas gift from a good friend. In addition to those, I own several knock-offs: a Prada, several Chanel, a Dolce & Gabbana and a Louis Vuitton. Buying those bags was actually a lot more fun than buying my Coach despite their "made in China" inside tags. A couple were picked out of a cardboard box down a side street in New York City, others were from the not-so-fabled "back rooms" of Canal Street, also in New York. If you've never bought a knock-off under questionable circumstances, you should try it- it's a lot of fun. There is NO knock-off Birkin back room in existence as far as I know- only the real thing, and I have to wonder why. Because I'll be honest, if I saw one in a cardboard box or in a sketchy backroom, I'd buy one. It would have to be a pretty color, though. In fact, I own a bag that is almost identical in shape and size to a Birkin. If the knock-off wasn't in good shape, and a color and size I liked, I'd pass on it without a second thought. And if money were no object, I'd probably still go for the fake over the real thing simply because I can't fathom the idea of spending thousands (and I'm not talking 3 or 4, more like 30 or 40) on a handbag. I can barely fathom spending $40,000 on a car at this point in my life. Even that seems excessive.

This ebay store currently has three Birkins listed at $80,000! What is it about the Birkin that stirs women up into such a frenzy? I've never seen one in person, only pictures- do they have some mystical quality that inexplicably draws women to them, sort of like a handbag pheromone? I admit they are nice-looking bags, even when they're not made of some brightly tinted crocodile skin, and I'm sure the Hermes "waiting list" only adds to their allure. I suppose to some collectors, they are just another form of artwork and I get that, I really do, but if I was going to drop that kind of cash on artwork, I'm not sure it would be something that doesn't hang on a wall or sit on a pedestal. I agree that great fashion designers ARE artists and their designs SHOULD be compared to famous paintings and sculptures. I don't think that Birkin bags are so spectacularly beautiful that the people who purchase them would place them in the same league as the Mona Lisa or the David. I really do believe they are a coveted status symbol and not a whole lot more.

Hermes silk scarves, on the other hand, are very artistic and unlike the Birkin, there are hundreds of designs to choose from, making them very collectible. However, if I ever stumbled across a genuine Hermes scarf at a bargain price, it's unlikely I would buy it. While I can acknowledge the designs are beautiful, they just aren't my style. Something about the symmetry, or maybe it's the actual designs themselves, but they just don't speak to me. Even with my knock-off handbags that are currently tucked away in my closet, there is one thing I can say about all of them- I like how they look. Not a single one was bought purely because of it's label, but rather because I liked the shape, the "leather," the color, the hardware, the way it functioned. One or more of these qualities was what really led me to the purchase. And yes, it's fun to get the admiring looks as I walk down the street with one of them. My point is that as long as the style of the bag suits you, it doesn't matter whether its label is real or not. You should never buy anything simply for the label, but if you find a designer whose work really works for you and your bank account can handle the purchase, then it's up to you whether or not you think the price is worth it. If it is, buy it and make no apologies. After all, it's art, right?

Who's your style icon?

I'm starting to get a little bit sick of EVERY vaguely fashionable celebrity being labeled a "style icon" or a "fashion icon." I'm sorry, but the Olsen twins are NOT style icons. Suri Holmes is NOT a style icon. (Although, she is pretty adorable.) It used to be that style and fashion icons were the people who created the new fashions and style ideas. These days, it seems like every reasonably well-dressed actress or pop musician is being slapped with that label, when the reality is that they all have stylists who choose 99% of their attire for them. When I think of a style icon, I think of Coco Chanel, Elsa Shiaparelli, Givenchy, YSL, Jackie O., even Audrey Hepburn before I think of present day celebutantes. Granted, many actresses, musicians, heiresses, etc. are venturing into the fashion industry, creating their own lines of clothing and accessories, but I guess in my opinion, the terms "style icon" and "fashion icon" are being tossed around quite a bit lately. It seems every recognizable name who tries their hand at fashion design is suddenly an "icon." I think that for the everyday woman trying to decide who to emulate in her own day-to-day attire decisions it can be a little daunting. I suppose the flip-side of that is that we all have SO many choices that no matter what your preference, you're bound to find someone who speaks to your sensibilities.

Let me break it down for you.

Are you the type who is willing to take risks with fashion? Are you edgy and unafraid of the avante-garde? Do you think of your clothing as a form of wearable art? Your style icon is Victoria Beckham. She is a serious risk-taker when it comes to fashion, but she pulls it off flawlessly.

But maybe you're not a real risk-taker. Do you prefer clean, crisp outfits in classic silhouettes to match your girl-next-door perfectly coiffed hair and flawless make-up? Is your look polished without being stuffy? Maybe you like a little bit of a vintage feel to your clothes. Your style icon is Reese Witherspoon. On the red carpet, she channels old Hollywood glamour with a modern take, and out on the street, she keeps it basic, but chic.

For some, classic is too passe. Are you the type who loves to stand out in the crowd? Not in the edgy sense, but in the over-the-top-glamazon kind of way. Are you obsessed with luxury? Can't live without your bling? Beyonce is your girl. Maybe it's the diva in her, but Beyonce knows how to make a statement and that statement is, "I look like I dropped a million bucks on my hair & make-up alone. Don't even ask about the dress."

Let's be honest, not everyone wants to dress like it's red-carpet coverage. Maybe you prefer an effortless, relaxed style, even for a big evening event. You refuse to be a slave to fashion, yet somehow you always look put-together in your own unique way. You've got boho-chic down just like Kate Hudson. Whether it's simple flats with your jeans, or flowy tops and a pair of sunglasses, you're stylish, but comfortable.

Of course, these are just a few options, but hopefully they'll point you in the right direction. And if there isn't a single person out there who feels like they can live up to your idea of a style icon, then just be your own! More on that at a later date!