Going the Distance in Major Platform Pumps

Go Fug Yourself has been having a field day on Drew Barrymore's tour attire. She's out promoting "Going the Distance" her new movie with Justin Long. And while I find their commentary on her clothing very amusing, I found myself distracted by a certain pair of Drew's shoes. Distracted in a GOOD way, that is.

Perhaps they are these lovelies by YSL:

But Drew isn't the only one sporting the grey suede pump:

Beyonce

Malin Ackerman

One of the Olsen twins

Posh Spice (although, she seems to have OD'd on the grey overall)

While beige patent was the "it" platform shoe of spring and summer, it seems the grey suede will be the star for fall. After all, look at all the different looks seen in the pictures above. The grey shoes work for each and every one of them! Want a pair of your own? In a perfect world, I'd like the YSL pair, but my bank account does not allow for such extravagance. Instead I shop for the "look for less." And I share it with you! Here you go:

Go Jane, $30.40

Urban Original, $21.80

Steve Madden, $89

I think my faves are the ones from Urban Original. Definitely the best price and also the most similar to the YSL. I think I can get on board with this trend!

Rate My Look- I'm Back to Blogging!

Once again I'd like to apologize for my lack of posting this past week. The show took a lot out of all of us- as most shows do. Sometimes when I'm heading into tech week, I'll write a bunch of posts ahead of time and publish them throughout the week, but my schedule leading up to this show was pretty hectic and I just didn't have time to get several posts ready.

Anyway, during the week I ended up at the Burlington Coat Factory near where I live (I can literally walk there) and saw it had not only been recently renovated, but there were about a million new sundresses for me to check out. I tried a few on- they were all in the $20-$30 range- but in the end, I decided on this lovely lace and crochet dress for $19.99 (plus tax):

I barely got this photo done in time. I'm sure you can see it's a little grainy, and I look really shiny in it, not to mention the dark background. It was twilight when I started taking pictures, racing the sun as it set. As you can see, I lost that race! Also, there were hundreds of fire flies all over the place while I was taking pictures, but I guess they are all camera shy because none of them showed up in any of the photos I took. My flash could have washed them out, too. Side note: did you know that fire flies (lightning bugs) light up to attract a mate? I wonder if that would make dating harder or easier- having a light-up booty that tells the world you're single and looking...

Anyway, I absolutely adore this dress- it's pretty, feminine, flattering, comfortable and stylish. The lace is so light and delicate and it literally just floats around my body. The crochet detail at the neckline helps keep it a little more modest without it feeling uptight. Also, crochet is very trendy right now and a lot of pieces have crochet incorporated in a youthful, fresh way, not at all like antique table cloths. I kept the accessories simple in an effort to let the dress be the star of the outfit, or rather, me in the dress. I love wearing striking clothing, and I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who do as well. It's important for us outlandish dressers to always be sure the fit and proportion are right in order to keep the clothes from wearng us. As YSL said, what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it. Anyway, I paired the lace dress with turquoise chandelier earrings and a pair of floral wedges I bought at Target for $5 last year. Gotta love a bargain! Here's a close-up of these beauties:

How fun are they? They actually remind me of the new diffusion line at Target- Liberty of London. They have bright floral patterns just like Liberty. I mostly love that they only cost $5. That's my favorite kind of shoe- the cheap kind. Sometimes my feet suffer but I like to say I have feet of steel that can handle even the worst torture-device-shoes. Beauty hurts sometimes. It's a fact.

I'll try to write some bonus posts this weekend to make up for last week. Is there anything in particular you'd like to read about? As always, the best way to tell me is to leave a comment!

Gimme some print love!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE to wear prints. I think solids are boring! (But I understand they are necessary.) In case you need evidence of my print love, check it out:




Yes, I took those out of my closet just to take the picture for you- don't you feel special? You can see from the picture on the left that I favor polka dots and florals, but there are a couple of stripes in there as well. Prints can be tough to pull off, depending on your stature. If you are petite, it's important to choose prints that won't overwhelm your frame. You wear the dress, the dress shouldn't wear you! Large prints on a small frame can be tough, but not impossible. Be objective when you look in the mirror- just because you love a print, doesn't mean you should wear it. A nice, tall pair of heels can help you by adding inches to your height, but they are only shoes- not a magic wand. Fall and winter are going to be all about statement prints, so get a few pieces to work into your wardrobe.

If you're average to tall in height, you could easily pull off this dress from Banana Republic:

I love the exaggerated houndstooth in teal and black- so very unique. It's a bit too much if you're petite, but don't worry- there are still plenty of statement prints out there that petite gals can rock including this top from Venus:

"But I want to wear a dress!" I hear you! I hear you! Try this one, tiny ladies. It's also from Venus:

The asymmetry of the print brings a lot of visual interest and because of its specific placement versus being an all-over print, it works on a smaller frame. Also, the length is key for a shorter gal- it keeps the dress from overwhelming a petite frame. Now, I know there are some tall, fearless ladies out there who want to go all-out and really make a statement. For you, I recommend stripes. Wearing bold stripes says to the world, "I am as confident as a person can get." Try this adorable frock from BCBG Max Azria:
Another bold option not for the faint of heart, also from BCBG:
Finally, I'd like to wrap up this post with a tribute to Yves Saint Laurent, who made the iconic statement print with his Mondrian dress:

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!