Modern Etiquette

I just finished reading an article by Andrew Bevan in the May edition of Teen Vogue. The article talks about Derek Blasberg's new book entitled "Classy: Exceptional Advice For The Extremely Modern Lady". I was actually really excited to hear about this because I fee like this book ties in well with my "Does it bug you when?..." posts.

When we think of etiquette books, we assume that they date back to the days of the "debs" (think Dior's New Look and pearls), which is unfortunate because a lot of important things can get lost in the lack of translation, and therefore result in a "Does is bug you when?.." : ) So, I am happy to report that the etiquette book of old seems to have been thrown out and replaced by a fresh, modern, and funny edition.

The article cites our "pseudo-celebrity" culture as partly to blame for this etiquetteless epidemic and I could not agree more. The book offers advice ranging from etiquette to clothes when dealing with situations that encounter the young women of today.

Does it bug you when?... (Part 2)

Ok, for my second installment of "Does it bug you when?..." I wanted to touch on another pet peeve of mine, being late. I hate being late, and if I am, I always call to apologize, and I am never late more than ten minutes. I just feel like its rude, unless something unespected comes up, that is out of yuor control and it somewhow delays you, there is no excuse. I am discussing this subject today because today was the last day of PIM and I helped handle "Will Call" this evening. In my opinion, if you are thirty minutes late, for a show that lasts an hour, just don't come. There is no point, and you obviously didn't care enough to be on time, so why bother wasting gas? And it is not as if this scenerio occurred once or twice tonight, that could be explained by those random exceptions I mentioned earlier. On the contrary, I actually gave will call tickets to about 20 people who were more than 20 minutes late for the show. I could not believe it!

I just felt bad for the designers, and everyone else including me, who worked on the show. Fashion shows, are just like any other event that takes planning, whether it be a gala or a small dinner party. A person wouldn't go to a play 30 minutes late, so why go to a fashion show 30 minutes late? A show is a show and I believe more respect should have been shown by some guests because I am proud to say Portfolio in Motion 2010 was absolutely fantastic! Great job to everyone, as the great Tim Gunn says, "We made it work!" ; )

PIM 2010 & Meeting The Toledos!!!

I am happy to report that on Thursday night Portfolio in Motion 2010 unfolded with a bang : ) The silent auction and dinner at the Main House both went very well. The silent auction had a very special edition, Mr. and Mrs. Toledo were kind enough to donate the original sketch of Michelle Obama's lemongrass dress along with its fabric swatch. The sketch ended up going for $1,000... considering the piece of history it is, I believe its priceless! After the initial festivities ended the show went on, and to everyone's relief, it went on without a hitch!

I was lucky enough to meet Isabel and Ruben Toledo and they could not have been nicer to me, or the other students and parents who introduced themselves. They took pictures with everyone who asked and when I told Mrs. Toledo how honored I was to meet her she humbly replied "Likewise!"... I mean... seriously????!!!!! : ) It was so incredible I couldn't believe how sweet she was. I have to say that that instant, shaking her hand and sharing those few words with her, as well as with Mr. Toledo, is one of my most precious memories. Isabel Toledo kindly commended every aspect of the show during her speech, she noticed everything from the designs, to the models, and even the stage. It was an absolutely wonderful evening and an incredible joy to help put on a show honoring such a wonderful designer, as well as her husband and his artwork. The Toledos have an amazing dynamic, they radiate joy around each other. The love they share is infectious and such a pleasure to see and feel. I'm sure my fellow MU fashionistas will join me in thanking the Toledos for their time and kind words, it was a night we will always remember.

Isabel Toledo is PIM's Designer of the Year!

All of the fashion students at Marymount University are a flutter today in preparation for Isabel and Ruben Toledo's visit! The couple will be guests for our annual student fashion show, Portfolio in Motion. Isabel Toledo is being honored as Marymount's Designer of the Year. I am no exception to the butterflies. I think she is an inspiration to women in the fashion industry by showing that you can be successful in your professional and personal life. Her husband, Ruben Toledo, is her collaborator but his work is not limited to his wife's collections, his work can be seen in many different projects, such as Nordstrom advertisements and even in books. Nina Garcia's Little Black Book of Style was illustrated by Mr. Toledo. He will be giving a talk at Marymount on Friday at noon, which I wish I could go to! Even though I have work, at least everyone else can benefit from his brilliance...

The couple's relationship is so inspiring because, as I said before, we do not see very many relationships like it in the industry. Who says that a woman cannot have it all?! I think it is a shame when women feel like they have to choose between a career and a family, or even marriage. I'm sure it isn't easy working with your spouse, but it is so great that some people, like the Toledo's do!

Death by Licensing

Yesterday in class I learned something that sparked my interest. One of my classmates discussed an article announcing Vera Wang's move to design a line for David's Bridal....yes, David's Bridal. Not that there is anything wrong with David's Bridal as a company, on the contrary, they offer exactly what their target customer wants. However, the client that brought Vera Wang to the top is not that same client, and I believe that Wang will loose credibity through this move. When you think of the quality, design, and fabrics that define a Vera Wang gown, you do not think of David's Bridal. I thought her high fashion torch had burned out after her move to mattresses anyway, so this just adds to her deflatedness.

It is unfortunate that a designer can sometimes suffer this fate of "death by licensing" but it has happened for years, one of the most famous examples being Pierre Cardin. In Vera Wang's case, many fashion insiders wrote her off after her line for Kohls, I actually think that that move was not a bad idea, considering how "in vogue" it is now to design lines for budget conscious stores. The licensing of fine china made sense too, since wedding gowns and wedding china are for the same occassion, but mattresses are a killer. She might have been able to pull off David's Bridal if it weren't for those mattresses. So, regrettably, I have to predict the immanent "death by licensing" of Vera Wang as a high fashion brand.

2010 Bridal Fashion Week

So, I wanted to talk about 2010 Bridal Fashion Week. Bridal is never as popular to discuss as ready-to-wear or haute couture, but there are definite trends to be analyzed in the annual shows. The theme for this year's bridal collections was garden inspired and romantic. The designers seem to want to emphasize the elegance and romance of getting married. All of the looks were very soft and textured. Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta ran with the garden concept. Every gown was so feminine, and granted, some were more "avant garde" than others, but there was definitely a gown for every type of bride in each collection.

I love the thought of picking out my wedding dress but I cringe when I think of those tv shows that show the bride freaking out or the family/friends being too opinionated. Its so unfortunate, the fun gets taken out of planning your wedding. My philosophy about wedding dresses is the same as when it comes to clothes, I only want other people's opinions when I ask for them, and at the end of the day, what you decide to wear is YOUR choice and it has to be what you love, even its a little more high fashion than what your friend would wear, or even more conservative. Whatever the case, its all about you, but... its also no fun when a bride is a diva... So, the newly engaged brides should not fear, when choosing your dress there are many options this season!

Does it bug you when?...

Does it bug you when people don't know how to dress? I ask this because I see it all the time, especially in places where a certain amount of decorum should be displayed. Whether it be a restaurant, work, or somewhere religious. Let's use church as an example, I absolutely cannot stand it when people wear jeans to church. Not to offend anyone who does, but seriously, get your self together and try a little bit harder. I do not understand wearing flip-flops to places like that either! Its amazing but somewhere along the fashion line it became socially acceptable to drop the ball and its ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong I love jeans, and I'm all about comfort but people need to figure out how to be comfortable and polished at the same time! For ladies, stockings are not a necessity anymore- nice but not a necessity, so why don't you wear a skirt or even nice slacks and jacket. For gentlemen, when your girlfriend suggests to wear something... LISTEN. In the summer, polos or nice button ups and slacks are great, in the winter, a blazer and shirt are just as sophisticated, so why don't you go for it?! Show you care about what you're doing.

Children are another thing too, so many parents have gotten lazy when it comes to dressing their kids, they let them wear whatever they want! (the bad habit starts here) I know that when I was little, I was told what to wear, and if I didn't listen I stayed in the house- simple, effective, and I learned how to match colors together : )

I just feel like when you put effort into what you wear it shows that you have respect for where you are going, so if its someone's house for a dinner party, a restaurant, work, or even school (shock), you show respect to your host/hostess, others dining with you, your boss, and even your teacher. This might sound old fashioned but I think its true, a little effort never hurt anyone and it goes a long way.

Back to Basics?

Fashion week came and went like a whirl wind, and I have to say, some shows definitely stood out more than others. Dolce & Gabbana's Fall 2010 RTW was one of them. For Dolce & Gabbana's show the duo went back to basics, or at least their basics. The famous pair revamped the pieces, and trends, that made them famous. After much talk of lacking quality among high fashion brands, the show emphasized the craftsmanship that goes into Dolce & Gabbana garments. Simple is the best word to describe the show, no muss, no fuss, it was all about the clothes and their quality. The color palette emulated this word. It consisted of black, cream, ruby, and emerald with gold embellishments to add a touch of shine. The shoes were classic mary-janes and pumps. The make-up was simple as well, by centering around a berry lip, accented by soft cheeks, lightly lined eyes, and upswept hair.

The tone was set by the calming and romantic music, one song was chosen for the entire duration of the show, "Come What May" from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. The slow beat started before the models walked out, to draw attention to the silent film at the back of the runway. The screen showed scissors and sewing machines at work with the help of patient and skillful hands (the footage continued throughout the show). Then, the first model walked out wearing a classic black suit jacket, and lingerie inspired bodysuit underneath it, this trend continued. The brand expanded on what it has become known for, such as tailoring, with its suits and corset dresses, as well as its delicate draping, and use of lace, leopard print and sheer fabrics. The Dolce & Gabbana "classics" were revamped by bringing in knits. The show featured knit suits, dresses, and sweaters paired with lingerie inspired pieces. Embellishments were used on tailored cocktail dresses, body suits, and suits. The show and footage ended with an emotional close-up of the seamstresses that work for the brand as the models flooded the stage wearing different variations of the classic black blazer.

After seasons of over-the-top, and unrealistic fashions the top designers seem to finally have stopped to think, with Dolce & Gabbana leading the way. Women today, especially in this economy, want to wear what works, tried and true pieces, which serve as investments without being boring. Not that a woman wants to walk into a board room with an excellently crafted blazer and sheer skirt. However, a slip could easily be fitted beneath such a piece, and as we all know, many runway looks are altered before they hit the sales floor- what would a runway show be without a little risk? Ultimately, a woman can look sexy and smart by using quality to her advantage, a well made corset looks instantly sophisticated when paired with an equally well tailored blazer. The Dolce & Gabbana woman spoke and Dolce & Gabbana listened, somehow the designers were able to pull off sophisticated sex appeal once again.

This just in!

Breaking news- at least for me and my closet! I just bought a Valentino suit at the Nordstrom Rack originally priced at $4,450 but I paid only... $250!!! I was so excited, it was the only one there and it fit me perfectly! All I have to do is change the buttons. The suit is black tweed, with a knee length skirt, its one of those classic pieces that I can wear forever, hoping I can still fit into it in forever : )

Isn't it the best feeling when you get a deal like that?! Its like a shopping high! After the high wore off though I started to think about the whole situation. Here are the facts, the suit's price was originally $4,450 at the store but then it got marked down to $1000 at the Rack, where it was eventually marked down again, to 75% off, and after all of that Nordstrom and Valentino still managed to make a profit. So imagine how much designer clothing is marked up originally? Is that bad? Which begs other questions; should we never pay full price for clothes again? Should there be restrictions on how much things are marked-up?

After plenty of deep shopping related thought, I've decided that I'm fine with all the mark-ups, companies can charge whatever they want for their garments its their perrogative, just like its ours to decide whether or not to buy retail. If you have the money to buy something totally fabulous at full price go for it! Finding steals like my suit are a chance in a million. However, I personally will think twice before buying retail ever agian.

Blogging?

Ok first off let me say, welcome to my blog! But I honestly have no idea what I'm doing so I have to apologize in advance, you see, one of my professors made me start a blog as a class assignment and she basically said write whatever so here we go...

I have to say I've never read a blog before, I know, its amazing right? I feel like everyone is reading blogs today except me. Maybe I never read one because I didn't know how to look them up? On the other hand, I guess I never tried... oh well!

So I was reading an article in TOBE report about their top blog picks and I have to say that so many of them seemed like fashion magazine websites instead of actual people's blogs! They were interesting and everything but if I wanted to know the latest trends I would go to style.com or flip through my latest copy of Vogue. I want to know how people are wearing the trends, where they are finding great picks, and their opinions on random things in the fashion world. So, I've decided that that is what my blog is going to cover.

Out of the entire list in the TOBE article I have to say I really enjoyed www.seaofshoes.com. It was nice to see a real person in her own clothes, writing about her fashion experiences. The blog was very easy to get around and all of the pictures were fabulous!

I hope to be an interesting read, even if the only people that read this are my professor or incredibly supportive friends, and maybe I'll be daring enough to add pictures... we'll see : )