Dancing With the Stars

Fall television has started up again and I have to admit, I'm a little overwhelmed. You know, if I didn't have to work for a living, it would be a LOT easier keeping up with all my shows. And I admit, there are quite a lot of them:


NCIS
CSI
Dancing with the Stars
So You Think You Can Dance
Grey's Anatomy
Glee


not to mention the others already in progress:


Top Chef
Project Runway
Say Yes to the Dress


and the most exciting one yet to come:


LOST


Needless to say, it takes a serious DVR schedule to stay on top of it all. Most difficult for me is Dancing With the Stars, simply because it is such a HUGE time commitment. We're talking 2 hours for the competition show, followed by another hour for the results show. You can pretty much bet on the fact that I will not be blogging about it nearly as regularly as Project Runway. Due simply to the time commitment required, I rarely watch DWTS in real time. I DVR it and then watch it at my leisure, often both the competition show and the results show in one sitting!


In addition to the dancing, what I love about DWTS (and So You Think You Can Dance), are the costumes! Saw that one coming, didn't you? One of my absolute favorite things to do is to design and make dance costumes. Movement in a garment is to me one of the most important qualities and while I always encourage people to wear fitted clothing, I think it's just as important for your clothes to have movement to them. On DWTS, the movement can be a long, flowy skirt for a Vienniese Waltz, or the shake and shimmy of dangling sequins and beads. No matter what it is, I almost always LOVE it. In my dreams, I'm often working in the DWTS wardrobe room! I'm forever impressed by how perfectly every costume not only fits but flatters both the pros and the celebrities. Each costume is custom made week by week and that alone is really impressive to me. I've made a few dance costumes in my day, but they pale in comparison to what I see each week on DWTS.

These were pretty simple to make and they looked fabulous on stage. The picture really doesn't do the green velvet justice- it looks almost black in the photo, but trust me, they're a gorgeous, lush green with rhinestones applied in a snowflake pattern. It's also difficult to see the rhinestone snowflake on the hat, but trust me it's there. Another favorite, for a swing/tap number was this little number:

I loved how each girl got to have her own color, but my favorite detail of the costume were the spectacular spectator tap shoes!

Unfortunately, they've been discontinued and trust me, it was no small task finding the sizes I needed for this one number. If you ever come across a pair for sale, please let me know! These particular ones are the Capezio brand. Savion Glover has a pair that is almost identical, but they run about $200/pair and that's generally a little too rich for my show budget. They are really nice shoes, though!

Ok, enough about the shoes, back to the dance costumes. Last Christmas, we had a ton of dance costumes and I had a blast working on them, but I can't seem to find a photo of my favorite one! It was a red glitter dress with super long fringe down the front & feathers at the shoulder- very latin, very fun. And of course, no Christmas show would be complete without a Rockette-style outfit:

The amazing thing about these outfits is that the dancers went from this outfit...

...directly into the red Rockette outfit in literally about 4 counts of 8. No joke. That was a serious quick change nightmare! (BTW, the military costumes are from Curtain Call Costumes based in York, PA. They make some really cute stuff over there!)

While Christmas shows are always fun for building dancer costumes, perhaps my favorites that I've done while working at AMT are these "Bushel and a Peck" costumes from the 2007 production "Broadway's Best" a revue of 100 years of Broadway song, dance and comedy.

 

Project Runway- Episode 6

Wow. That was a crazy episode! I have to admit, I was a little confused by the guidelines. It's hard to know exactly how far to go. Sometimes the judges are a bit hard to predict. I think that with this challenge, they were really comparing apples with oranges. Designing a western costume versus a sci-fi/fantasy versus an action adventure, etc. It sort of explains how wacky the judging seemed this week. So, on to the details:

WIN: Nicholas
AUF: Ra'mon

I am surprised by both of these. My winner would have been Epperson for sure. His character was extremely well fleshed out and the outfit was not only ambitious and dramatic, but totally perfect for the story he created. I understand why the judges liked Nicholas's outfit, but in my opinion there was no contest! I can only hope that it looked better in person than it did on TV. To me, Epperson's was not only an interesting costume, but it was also very fashionable. Same for Christopher's, but I'd like to point out that YET AGAIN Christopher is using his "play on volume" gimmick. I need to see something else from him and soon!

As for Ra'mon, I understand his garment was hideous, but no more hideous than Nicholas's white "ice queen" craziness! And Ra'mon has pulled off some really stunning looks in the last few episodes! If I were to kick someone off, it would have been Louise for sure. I'm very disappointed in the judges this week and I can only hope that they make a better decision next week.

One person who did a great job and didn't get mentioned was Carol Hannah. Her Action/Adventure look was straight out of a Matrix-esque comic book movie and I thought it was fabulous.

What about you? How do you feel about the judges decision this week? Were they spot on or off the mark?

Shoesday... Wednesday?

Sorry guys, but I've got the blues and I've got them bad. I've got them so bad that I had to dedicate this blog post to them. By "got them," you should know that I mean "I wish I got them." And by "blues," you should know that I mean these amazing shoes from Aldo:

These aren't Elvis's blue suede shoes, baby!

Shoesday Tuesday

A lot of people have been asking lately about clothing and shoes that are better for the environment- organic fabrics, vegan shoes, fair trade manufacturers and distributors, etc. It's obviously an important aspect of shopping for quite a lot of people. It can be difficult to find clothing and shoes that are both affordable and green. Until the practices used on these items become more commonplace, you can expect to pay a little bit more, but as green clothing becomes more mainstream, you will see the prices come down a bit.

Today's Shoesday Tuesday focus is on Madden Girl the vegan shoe line by Steve Madden. It's a positive sign that established designers are jumping on the green bandwagon, even if it is in small doses. You can find Madden Girl just about anywhere, but today I'm bringing you four Madden Girls shoes that are not only perfect for fall, but they are all available at Zappos for around $50. In addition, Zappos offers free shipping both ways nearly all the time, so there is no risk involved when placing an order. First up are a pair of fabulous black heels with the trendy cut-outs I mentioned a few weeks ago ($49.90):

What I love about these is that they're simple, but edge-y at the same time. Also, the criss-cross detail on the front can be eye catching or subtle depending on how it contrasts against your skin or colored tights, or if you wear the shoes with a pair of opaque black tights.

Next up, a super cute pair of peep-toe ankle boots ($49.90):

Once again, these could be paired with either bare legs, opaque black tights or trendy brightly colored tights. It all depends on your personal preference and the occassion. I also love the buckle detail and the interesting "pleating" on the front. The heel is substantial enough that you could even wear these to work provided the rest of the outfit is toned down a bit.

Next, are the most expensive of the day at $54.90, but I think they're worth it.

What trend ISN'T covered with these fabulous shoes?

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  Metallic? Check!
  
  
  
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  Ankle boot style? Check!
  
  
  
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  Cut-outs? Check!
  
  
  
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  80's throwback? Check!
  
  
  

You'll really cover the gamut of trends with these shoes. Personally, I'm a huge fan of the pewter metallic finish- it's so sophisticated, but not flashy, like so many metallics tend to be. I think I just talked myself into ordering these.

Wrapping up this post is another fabulous combination of sweetness and edge ($49.90):

I just love the deep, saturated color of these, but just like the pewter booties above, they are also available in black. What's interesting about these is the 40's style rounded toe, mixed with the oversize buckle and the almost Escher-like swirling detail in the front. It also kind of reminds me of a Celtic knot. Either way, I love them and I hope you do, too.

And the best part for all you vegans out there is that none of these shoes use leather of any kind- they are all man-made materials. Talk about guilt-free! And for those of you who are hesitant to shop for shoes online, you're in luck. Not only are there plenty of Steve Madden stores all over the country, but most major department stores carry the line as well including Bon-Ton, and Boscov's. You can also check Marshalls & TJ Maxx as well- the styles might be a little older, but the prices will be fabulous.

Red Carpet at the Emmy's- The best and the worst dressed according to Renee

So, the Emmy's were last night. I'm afraid I didn't watch them, but I did check out the red carpet a bit. There were some really fabulous looks and some really hideous ones, too. I guess that's par for the course. Anyway, here are my best and worst looks of the night:

BEST: Chandra Wilson. She looked stunning! Go, Dr. Bailey! Also, I'm really happy that the writers of "Grey's Anatomy" have given her character such a good story. The first couple of seasons I felt like she was sort of left by the wayside, but not anymore. But I digress....

1st Runner up: Olivia Wilde. This gown is so romantic! I love it!

2nd Runner up: Rose Byrne. Simple, but totally gorgeous.

Honorable Mention: This one's a tie: Aaron Paul and  Hayden Panettiere. For her an elegant gown in a stunning color. For him a great use of the 3-piece suit. I appreciate the deviation from the standard tux look.

And now for the worst dressed. Unfortunately, there were FAR too many of these to choose from.

WORST: Phoebe Price. Let's just let this look speak for itself:

1st Runner up: Nancy O'Dell. It's frumpy and boring. I just really hate this dress! Sorry, Nancy!

2nd Runner up: Angela Kinsey. This dress is AWFUL! The weird beading on the bust is bad enough, but the skirt is just a mess, too! Ugh! 

Honorable mention: This is another tie- this time a three-way between Elisabeth Moss, Jane Krakowski and Padma Lakshmi. Elisabeth has a gorgeous gown, but what's up with all those wrinkles? That's really the only offense of her look, and it reminds me of a story of a wrinkled gown in my career that is still haunting me. But that's a story for another day. Jane's is just so unflattering. But Padma's is too bizarre with the weirdo red flowers on her hip. It's like a red-hat lady outfit gone wrong. I know that sounds a little mean-spirited, but come on, Padma! You can do better. In fact, you frequently do on Top Chef! 

 

Well, there you have it- my best and worst of the red carpet at the 2009 Emmy's. What's your take on these? Agree? Disagree? Was there someone fabulous or horrifying that I missed? I wonder if we'll see any of these dresses being chosen on the Rachel Zoe Project next season....

Give the gift that keeps on giving (how cheesy!)

Hey everyone! This is just a quick plug for my style consulting business. I just wanted to let all of you know that I am now offering gift certificates. You can choose a dollar amount to give or a specific service. For example, an initial closet consultation starts at $50, so you could get a gift certificate for that amount OR one that simply offers a free closet consultation to the bearer. I have a list of services on my website along with contact information so that you can email me to order your gift certificate. Feel free to take a moment to browse my site and take a look at the services I offer. With the holidays fast approaching, I'm sure you'll be looking for stocking stuffers, and what better stocking stuffer than a gift card?

I really love what I do because I think when people feel good in the clothes they are wearing, they carry themselves differently, with more confidence and a more upbeat demeanor. When you wear clothes that fit, that look stylish and polished, you send a message of confidence that will carry through both your personal and professional life. All too often people take their appearance for granted, forgetting that it can propel them forward if it's good or halt them in their tracks if it misses the mark. Don't wait another minute to make this investment in your future! And while you're getting help for yourself, consider a gift certificate for a friend or loved one. It costs less than you think, too. 

I'm sure many people think that getting personal style advice from a professional is a costly service only available to the wealthy elite of big cities like New York or Los Angeles. Your Recession Fashionista is here to dispel that myth right now. Contact me today and find out how affordable it is!   

Sock it to me

Ok, guys, I haven't devoted a post to you in a while, and I'm sorry for being neglectful. So, this one's for you. I've been thinking a lot about socks. Men wear boring socks, don't you think? And that needs to change. Even if you just start with neutral colors in stripes and argyle prints, and then work your way to fun solid colors- trust me, it's a good thing. Bloomingdales has these Ralph Lauren argyle socks available for $13.50:The great thing about these is that they're available in neutrals AND a bold red! How fun is that? Just don't wear them with a pair of knickers out on the golf course. In case you're not brave enough to go for such bold contrast in the argyle, these socks are available at Macy's for a little more. At $21.00, it's a little more than I'd like to spend on socks:

Even more pricey are these Paul Smith striped socks from Saks at $30:

They're available in 2 more fabulous color combinations. They're subtle, but bold at the same time. I like them! If you want something a little more bold, visit American Apparel- they have the most fabulous socks ever at great prices. Like these striped socks:

They're available in all sorts of great color combinations and at $8.00 are the best price I've seen for such a trendy item. Also available at American Apparel are these for $18 for a package of 3.
Once again, there are all sorts of color combinations. I think they're fun! Now, for the bravest among you, I offer the brightly colored solid sock. Once again, American Apparel comes through for us at $8.oo per pair:

I know you're wondering how on earth to pull of a bright color sock. It's really simple, but you have to make it a clear choice. Start with a suit- 2 or 3 piece is fine- in a navy or charcoal grey. Add a colorful shirt & tie- for example, yellow or robins egg blue. Finish the look with a matching pocket silk and the socks. Done! Or, wear a suit with white shirt & dark tie and just add the socks for a splash of color. It's all about what you feel best in. Menswear tends to be kind of limiting and I think that a fun pair of socks is a great way to spice things up. Have fun, guys!