Think Spring. Desperately Think Spring!

The sun is shining and it's actually starting to feel like spring around here. This was a ROUGH winter and pretty much everyone I know is looking forward to warmer weather. I can't wait until my first beach day! It's amazing how 45 degrees feels so incredible right now. Yesterday was the gloomiest, rainiest day and it was chilly to boot. Today feels like an entirely different season and I can't tell you how excited that makes me!

Before I head out for my morning run, I thought I'd give everyone a little springtime outfit inspiration.

Since we all work for a living, I thought I'd start with a great look for the office. I am currently obsessed with the idea of a monochromatic white outfit paired with the super trendy rose gold:

Cream and Rose Gold by rtboo featuring Topshop

For a punch of color, I added the light coral bag that works perfectly with the rose gold. I would love to wear an outfit like this to a business meeting. It's powerful in its simplicity. And who wouldn't take you seriously if you were dressed like this, am I right?

Next, I felt inspired to put together a fun, light, springtime outfit perfect for a date night out. It's restaurant week in Portsmouth this week and I can totally see myself strutting down the cobblestones on my way to an amazing dinner. My date? Who cares when I look this fabulous and am about to eat something really delicious. It's a minor detail I'll figure out later.

Date Night by rtboo featuring a bracelet bangle

And last but certainly not least in my springtime inspiration post is the perfect weekend outfit. Whether you are running errands like grocery shopping or a trip to Home Depot or an afternoon shopping with the girls, or even a quick pedicure, this outfit is perfect. Colorful, comfortable, stylish- what more do you need? (I personally need my summer feet, actually. They are SO not ready for sandals!)

Errands by rtboo featuring flat shoes

So there you have it- some springtime outfit inspiration. I hope this helps you feel like spring is actually arriving. It helped me a little.

Now it's time for me to head out for a quick run. Maybe one of these days I'll post about workout fashion. Or not. I'm not a fan of being sweaty.

Thanks for reading!

Back to the Ladies

Ladies- I know I've been focusing on guys fashion for the last few days, but don't worry- today it's all about you. I'm back to womens wear for at last today.

Anyway, I was persuing ModCloth tonight, looking for a new pair of lace-up oxfords. After a brutal day in New York City yesterday, my cut-out oxfords from Urban Outfitters are pretty much trashed. I'm really sad about it, but I figured I could buy an exact replacement pair OR I could shop around and see if I find something I like better. Honestly, there aren't many out there in the same price range that are as fabulous as the originals, so I will likely stick with them. But that's not the point. The point is that after I visited ModCloth's shoe department looking for potential replacement oxfords, I hopped on over to the skirts section and found this beauty:

In a State of Suspense Skirt, ModCloth, $56.99

I'm in love. It would be adorable with a cute pair of heels and a simple black top. Since the skirt is so stunning, I'd keep the rest of the outfit simple and allow it to be the focal point of the outfit. Did I mention that I love it?

I'm on vacation as of tomorrow and I'm hoping not to break the bank by shopping too much while I'm away, but time will tell! At the very least I need to replace my oxfords, which really shouldn't count towards new clothing purchases since they're a replacement set, right? Aside from the shoes, there's nothing I can think of that I really "need." Of course that hasn't stopped the shopping in the past and I'm sure it will be the same in the future. And when I'm on vacation, there's no stopping the shopping! I see different friends and family each day, and everyone wants to do the same thing- shop! Of course, I have NO problem obliging, but I'm sure my checking account would appreciate it if I curbed my enthusiasm just a bit. The good news is that whatever I buy will eventually end up on the blog, so it's not only clothing, it's inspiration!

My posts may be a bit erratic while I'm on vacation, but I will probably be able to post at least a couple of times over the next week. Enjoy the rest of your week, everyone!

Tony Awards- Best Dressed

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a photograph of Catherine Zeta-Jones from last night's Tony Awards, but I am still selecting her as my pick for "Best Dressed." (Also for most interesting acceptance speech of the night- she was over the top!) Instead, here is a YouTube clip from last night's show. Unfortunately, in YouTube, she looks shorter and squatter than we all know she is in real life, so don't let that throw you.



Skip to about one minute in to get right to her. I love this dress for so many reasons:

1.) The color is simply ethereal. Is it silver? Is it blue? Who cares- it's gorgeous. It's beautiful against her skin tone, where an actress with a pale complection would have been washed out. Beautiful.
2.) The detail on the bodice- I adore the asymetrical detail across the bodice as well as the intricate ruching of the chiffon fabric.
3.) The silhouette- This is an interesting spin on a mermaid style. I love the asymmetry- the way it is higher on one side. On her body, the flare works from the high point to the low on her hips- it's amazing.
4.) The flowing skirt- Her remark about "How does Cinderella do it in this dress?" is hilarious, but other than climbing the stairs, I think she does it just fine. Not exactly her most graceful moment, but I believe she was in shock over winning and truly beside herself with excitement, so I forgive all. Back to the dress: I adore how the layers and layers of chiffon just flow and move around her. It's stunning.

There were a lot of beautiful gowns last night, but CZ-J's was by far my favorite. Did you watch the Tony's last night? If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw that I was flipping back and forth between the Tony Awards and Game 5 of the NBA Finals. I'm completely a fair-weather fan when it comes to sports, but let's be honest, the finals are when the games are the most exciting because there is so much more at stake. Anyway, my Celtics won, so it's on to Game 6 in L.A. where they will hopefully crush Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. But enough about sports- this is a fashion blog, after all. (However, you may recall my Celtics-inspired post from a few weeks ago.)

Have a great Monday!

Go Celtics!

I'm not the type of person who has to watch "the game." I'm one of those annoying fair-weather fans who gets on board once the team has made it far enough for me to talk trash. I support the Red Sox, the Patriots, the Celtics and the Bruins, but if you asked me to name a player from each of those teams, I'd definitely struggle. A lot of my friends have really been into the basketball finals this week and our team- the Celtics- are the new Eastern Conference champions after beating the Orlando Magic last night. In honor of all my friends who are Celtics fans, these green-and-white-inspired outfits are for you! (It's a stretch, I know. Blame it on my injury.)

Celtics Set 1 by Rtboo featuring Charlotte Russe dresses

Charlotte Russe - Dresses, $18
Nine West Rotnei NWROTNEI MEDIUM RED REPTILE 075 M, $50
SEFTON BROWN TASSLE BAG BROWN LEATHER -, 225 GBP
Round Green Onyx Ring, $230
kate spade 'idiom' medium enamel bangle, $78
Straw Womens Fedora, $13

Celtics Set 2 by Rtboo featuring J Brand jeans

Bert White Top, 75 GBP
Mid-rise bootcut jeans, $165
Wedge leather espadrilles, $585
Hurley Arena Oversized Tote at Zappos.com, $60
Belt, $165

Celtics Set 3 by Rtboo featuring Irregular Choice shoes

Old Navy Womens Crochet-Hem V-Neck Tees, $15
RVCA - Narcissa Cut Off Cords (Green Fade) - Apparel, $59
Irregular Choice

Womens
Trainer
Night Drive, 89 GBP
Amazon.com: Moroccan Straw Summer Beach / Shopper / Tote Bag 21"x13":..., $38
Wooden Wavy Bangle, $46
Brown wood effect hoop earrings, 3 GBP
Gorgeous Vintage 1970s Oliver Goldsmith Iris Rhinestone Sunglasses, 98 GBP

 
I know these outfits are a tad cheesy, but I would probably say they are only appropriate for attending an actual Celtics game if you didn't already have a jersey and a foam finger. Because true fans have a foam finger.

SATC2

I recently read a review of the new SATC2 movie that basically said all fans should "pivot on their Manolo Blahniks" AWAY from the movie theatre. It was a review full of criticisms of the writing and plot lines. Guess what- I don't care! I fully expect this movie to be utterly ridiculous in terms of the plot and I'll be honest- some of my favorite lines from the show and movies are the ridiculous ones (which Samantha is usually charged with). So I'll say it again- I don't care! I'm not seeing this film because it's going to change my life emotionally or convince me to take on some humanitarian cause. I'm going to see it for the FASHIONS. Call me shallow if you must, but it's how I see it. Plus, why do we need Carrie and company to teach us more life and relationship lessons? They finished their work in those areas with the final episode of the series (I still stand by my opinion that no matter what your current relationship situation, there is an episode of SATC that covers it). The movies? They're just bonus material if you ask me. They are escapist fantasies for those of us who want to be a little self-indulgent on movie night. If they do any more than that, they have over-achieved (in my opinion). Of course I love films that move me emotionally or challenge me intellectually, but let's be honest- if I was dealing with all of that AND trying to take in all the accessories, my head would explode. I will likely see the movie tomorrow night, so no spoilers in the comments, please.

Anyway, one of the things I've always loved is how Patricia Field puts together looks for the foursome. Whether its the cover art for a DVD set, a movie poster, or even a scene with the four lovely ladies, I just love how she finds pieces that create a snapshot of the moment. When there is a specific color scheme in mind, she always chooses dresses that suit the various personalities of the characters. For example:

(I DIE for SJP's dress in this one!)

And when the outfits are required to function as part of a scene in either a movie or an episode of the show, they all work together without matching. A few examples:

What Patricia Fields manages to accomplish every time is amazing to me. Perhaps this is because I face similar challenges in my work at AMT when dressing the performers on stage, but I think her task is much more daunting. In every one of these photos, she has managed to:

1.) Stay true to each characters personal style

2.) Select garments appropriate to the event/scene/goings-on of the moment

3.) Balance the four looks so that they all stand out equally

4.) Create outfits that if pulled from the group shot would still be able to stand alone as great looks

Color me impressed. Enjoy the movie! 

A years worth of posts in 10 months...

This is my 365th post, but I started this blog on July 16th last year, which means I'm almost exactly two months ahead of schedule for my goal of 1 post per day. I have tried to make sure that if someone checks my blog every day or every couple of days, they'll almost always have something new to read. If you are a regular reader, I hope you have felt that way. When I started this blog, I really had no idea what type of structure it would have- it really has developed in a fairly organic manner. Most of the comments I've received have been positive, but not necessarily too specific, so I can only assume my readers are happy. Every now and then I'll get an interesting comment telling me to get a nose ring or chop my hair off. Those crack me up, but I'm never offended if someone doesn't like my personal style. I have no delusions of thinking everyone is going to love every outfit I wear or every fashion idea I have. I mostly hope to help women out there of all shapes, sizes and ages to dress their best. As a professional costume designer and personal wardrobe stylist, I have a lot of experience dressing many different types of bodies, and I love to pass my knowledge along to other women and men. I strongly believe in using appearance, particularly personal style, to stand out in a crowd and exude confidence and if I can help others succeed through their attire, then I'm happy.

Looking back at my posts, I've definitely found a few "themes" that seem to work for me, and they've almost turned into different series on the blog: Rate My Look, Bouchard Originals, Shoesday Tuesday, etc. I've tried to maintain a variety of posts- sometimes keeping it as simple as a photo of my outfit with a brief explanation, other times offering a detailed how-to with all sorts of examples for the reader to purchase. Personally, I like the variety, but I'm always curious as to what YOU would like to read about or see here. That's why I welcome comments- feedback is important to me, but please don't be offended if I don't take every suggestion to heart. After all, even though I want my readership to be happy, ultimately I need to keep the blog true to myself. I figure, as long as I'm inspired by my content, I'll enjoy writing the blog. So let's raise our glasses to the next 365 posts- I hope you'll stick with me for them!

SATC- Focus on the Fashion

The media (and fashion bloggers, too) are having a field day over the new SATC2 movie poster, and I can't blame them. It is a photoshop disaster for sure. But let's be honest- we are all counting down the days to this movie regardless of the horrible advertising. And why? Because we all DIE for the fashions. Sex and the City has long been the reason Manolo Blahnik" is a household name, and Carrie Bradshaw should be credited with making it ok for women to dress outside the box. Well, really Patricia Field should be credited, as she is the genius behind all the outfits on the show and the movies. I could spend an entire week posting pictures of my favorite Carrie Bradshaw outfits throughout the years, but I'm going to exercise self restraint and try to keep it to just this one post. We'll see if my resolve weakens in the future.

Carrie has always been a master of accessories. I wanted to find some photos from the early seasons because her style at that point was really funky in a thrift-shop, vintage kind of way, whereas late seasons and especially the movies are quirky in a haute couture, designer kind of way. I love it all, so I'm not complaining. This photo reminded me a bit more of the early Carrie (although it's actually more mid-series as you can see she is wearing Aiden's ring around her neck).

I did find one really fun early Carrie photo that I have to share with all of you:

This outfit is so great- the LBD paired with gold lame boots and an enormous flower brooch. For those of you who don't remember, this is the episode where she plays spin-the-bottle at a party and ends up kissing Alanis Morissette. Hilarious.

Perhaps one of the most striking single pieces she ever wore, the Dior "newspaper" dress was a real stunner. Equally stunning was the moment when Natasha let her have it about everything that happened between her and Big. That's what I love about the show- as great as the fashions are, the stories are equally fabulous.

Carrie's outfits were nothing if not controversial, although I think the above hibiscus flower dress is one of the more tame. Others disagree. Others also think this pink chiffon Hamptons wedding dress is hideous. I rather like it and I think it was a perfectly elegant masking of SJP's pregnancy.

By far, my absolute favorite Carrie outfits were the ones she wore while dating the artist Aleksandr Petrovsky. The relationship may not have been the best, but I literally gasped and swooned for all of these:

This dress is pure fantasy. I love it.

 Even though this day in Paris was less than ideal for Carrie, full of rain and unfriendly locals, how could it be all bad when she got to wear this fabulous outfit?

My favorite of the favorites is this Oscar de la Renta- Petrovsky gives it to her to wear to the Met and she faints on the way, so they end up at McDonald's instead. Great episode. Great dress. Some people hate the jacket, and say she ruined the dress by wearing them together. I disagree, although I do prefer the dress on its own.

Do you have a favorite Carrie outfit? I find it too hard to narrow it down to just one, but if I were forced to choose, it would be the pink Oscar dress above. The way I feel about clothing is similar to how Carrie summed up relationships at the end of the Hampton's wedding episode (when she wore the light pink chiffon dress above): "Some people are settling down, some people are settling. And some people won't settle for anything less than butterflies." Let your clothes give you butterflies.

Worst Dressed EPIC win

I've never really gotten into the side of fashion blogging that involves making fun of people's outfits. Sometimes a trend will confuse me, but ultimately I've never been okay with the whole pointing and laughing at pictures of bad fashion choices on my own blog (although I have made "worst dressed" red carpet choices in the past). That's not to say I don't enjoy the occasional fashion disaster, especially when accompanied by snarky commentary. I even like to look at the "Fashion Police" and "Worst Dressed" sections of trashy magazines as well as Go Fug Yourself and Poorly Dressed of the Fail Network. Today I happened across the most incredible of fashion choices and absolutely HAD to share it with all of you:

If ever there was an EPIC WIN, this is it.

Inspiration: Marc Jacobs

If I was told tomorrow, "You may only wear Marc Jacobs for the rest of your life," I'd be okay with that. And if the additional criterion was "You may only wear blue for the rest of your life," I'd be okay with that, too. Because everything would all be as beautiful as these pieces:

Marc Jacobs- Blue by Rtboo featuring Marc by Marc Jacobs

Items in this set:
Lela boned silk dress, $500
blazing star print dress, 475 GBP
MARC BY MARC JACOBS M193305 BLUE/VIOLET SILK/COTTON -, 365 GBP
MARC BY MARC JACOBS M101309 DEEP INDIGO SILK -, 340 GBP
MARC JACOBS Pullover, 710 EUR

Sometimes a designer just works for a person. People have their favorites for different reasons, but Marc Jacobs is one of those designers whose work is always appealing to me. I know it seems silly to pick one color and one designer, and obviously I wouldn't actually wear only blue items by Marc Jacobs for the rest of my life, but you can't deny these are all gorgeous pieces.

A note on gentlemanly style... and being a gentleman

I hate to generalize, but.... I'm starting to think that men who drive fancy sports cars are not only "compensating" but maybe they're trying to use the car as a reason not to behave like decent human beings. Like, "Oh, I can be a jerk, because I drive THAT."

Today while out running errands, there were TWO separate occassions when I felt slighted by a man near me. The first was as I was heading back to my car with my arms full of grocery bags. A man in a fancy silver sports car pulled into the spot next to mine. As I was about to open the door to my car, he opened his and as he was about to step out, noticed he was blocking my way. For the record, the gentlemanly thing to do would have been to shut his door, and allow me to pass. I'm sure you've surmised he didn't do that. I stood with my arms full of heavy bags (I bought a lot of yogurt) while he went first. Then he skipped away while I mumbled something under my breath about letting a lady go first.

Next was later in the evening when I stopped at the gas station near my home. I filled my car with gas and then went inside for a fountain drink (to quench my thirst in this stifling heat). TWICE in the store- once by the soda fountain and again by the cashier as I was paying, another man LITERALLY brushed against me as he passed. Um, hello? It's called personal space. Ever heard of it? The thing is, in BOTH brush-ups, there was ample room for him to give me a WIDE berth and yet he felt the need to literally invade my space to the point of making physical contact! For real? It was as if he didn't even see me, or as if it wasn't worth the effort to step aside. And in both cases, I had nowhere to go. I was up against the soda fountain and up against the cashier's counter. As I walked back to my car, I saw him step into the same kind of car as the rude guy at the grocery store earlier.

Ok, this blog is not supposed to be a rant about the lack of social skills in today's society, but it got me thinking about accessories for men as well as women. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the most important accessory a woman can wear- confidence. Well, for men and women I'd like to say that one of the most important accessories we need to put on in the morning is politeness. The next time you have an opportunity to let someone else through a doorway first, let them. Someone needs to change lanes on the highway? Slow down & wave them in. Gentlemen, let the woman go first and everyone yield to the older person- remember that whole "respect your elders" thing? It's still cool to do that.

Ok, I'm stepping off the soapbox now. I'm sorry to rant like that, but both situations just really irked me. And then of course I started thinking about men and style and in the background my TV was playing a commercial for "Burn Notice" and I realized that I see the commercials for that show all the time and Jeffrey Donovan always looks amazing. Evidence:

Here's what I like about his style: the simplicity. In all these looks, he's in a simple, light-weight suit, crisp button front shirt and his signature shades. It's proof that menswear can be done simply, but still with style. When it comes to the suit and shirt, it's all about the fit. Invest in higher quality with these pieces- they will last longer and the quality is always clear to the observer. Want Mr. Donovan's look for yourself? I've done the work for you:

Modern khaki chino 2-button suit, Banana Republic, $380 (Jacket- $250, pants- $130)

Slim Fit Stretch-poplin dress shirt, Banana Republic, $59.50

Fossil Watch, Macy's $95

Lauenroth Loafer, Aldo, $90

And of course, the signature sunglasses:

Burn Notice Sunglasses, Sunglass Shack, $39.99

When emulating the style of a celebrity or fictional character, it's always important to spin the outfit in the direction YOUR personality dictates. If something about the look doesn't work for you, then switch it up. And of course, I recommend finding the perfect sunglasses for YOU rather than copying the ones worn by celebrities. It doesn't matter who made them famous, it only matters how they flatter YOUR face. The same goes for any aspect of the outfit.

So what do you gentlemen think of my Burn Notice-inspired outfit? Would you wear it? Ladies, would you like to see your man in an outfit like this? Leave a comment- I always want to hear what you are thinking!

Derby Day Designs

It's Derby Day! The 136th Kentucky Derby, a.k.a "The most exciting two minutes in sports," a.k.a. "The Run for the Roses" will run tonight. Will you be watching it? Better yet, will you be there? Someday I would like to attend the Kentucky Derby - it's definitely on my bucket list. Who wouldn't want to experiece an event steeped in such rich history and tradition? And who wouldn't want to put together a fabulous Derby Day outfit complete with an ostentatious hat to finish the look?

I'll be honest, I would probably wear a wide-brim hat, but I would not in a million years try to compete for the most ostentatious, over-the-top hat of the day. There are far too many fierce competitors in that arena. A couple of my favorites:

As fun as these are, I think a hat that big and crazy would just drive me nuts all day long, so something a little (lot) smaller and a little (lot) more subtle and understated would be my approach. Something classic, like Audrey's:

To me, this hat is perfect- it's simple and elegant, but it still makes statement. I'd wear it in life, not just for an event like the Kentucky Derby! How do you feel about hats as fashion? I tend to wear a lot of newsboy caps and straw fedora hats when it comes to fashion, but usually a hat is about function for me. My skin is so fair and incredibly sensitive to sun exposure, so wide brim hats are the most effective in protecting me from getting sunburned.

Now for your enjoyment, a few more Derby hat photos:

Now go get yourself a Mint Julep and watch the race! Happy Derby Day!

Inspiration: Maggie the Cat

Last night I saw the opening night performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Fulton Opera House here in Lancaster. It was a great production- thoroughly enjoyable. I was familiar with the play and wasn't all that surprised by the costume choices they made- everyone looked great and every costume was perfectly appropriate. If you aren't familiar with the show, you may not know that a couple of the characters in the play actually spend the majority of the show in their undergarments. But that is not my focus today. Instead, I want to talk about Maggie the Cat. She's a character with sex appeal, but also with vulnerability. She's complex. Anyway, my goal isn't to ramble on about the costumes or the character! Instead, I want to show you some fabulous dresses I found that each seem to be a modern-day version of an appropriate Maggie the Cat dress. Enjoy!

Orange Sheath Dress, eDressMe, $230

Purple floral dress, Bluefly, $119

Satin Shirt Dress, Ann Taylor, $148

And of course, this post wouldn't be complete without a selection of Maggie-inspired lingerie:

Silk Chemise, Amazon, $90

Sometimes it's fun to select a character as your style icon, as long as you don't take it to the point where you look like you are wearing a costume. Who are some of your favorite characters that inspire you in your personal style?