March Style Glory

I'm just managing to blog my style input for the month of March-cutting it so close on this 31st day.  There's something about deadlines.  The thrill and rush of it all. 

March not only marked the formal beginnings of springtime fashion, but made a specific fashion mark for us dehydrated fashion cravers in the midwest.  WHY? Because of StyleMax, Chicago.  One of Chicago's Fall Women's Apparel and Accessories Trade Show. 

As a born again Midwesterner, this was my first experience at StyleMax.  I was more than excited about the possibilities.  A common set-up for disappointment.  No, I joke--it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't MAGIC. Shame on me for even thinking it would come close. 

I went in with the vision to SPEND and scout out this talked about Chi-town 5-day event.  It is MASSIVE!   Located at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago, the 2-floor show was filled with moderate-better-bridge vendors.  Understanding the vendor market constraints, I was still in search of good fashion. However, the show lacked a great deal of meaty or strong styled moderate designers.  Of course you had your Laundry and Free People, but even their selections left something to be desired. 

My feelings are indifferent.  There was a lot to choose from, but interesting designers were hard to come by.  I found a couple gems. Made a few buys. Bought what I needed. But, the scary part was I managed to stay in budget. REDFLAG. I'm not sure if it was the money saver in me, subconsciously influenced by our not so stable economy, or the absence of wow from the offerings.

Will I return in August?  Yes, well, maybe.  Though I didn't leave fully hydrated, I did walk away with more than I came with---enough to sustain me until my next east coast visit.  It's the little things I push for that keep me going.  

Grammy Awards 2009 Fashion

And the 2009 Grammy Fashion Award goes to....Kate Perry.

Old Hollywood and loving it! This choice rocked my world. Why- because of the "big with small" ensembling. Perry's ultra-femi Basil Soda dress played on all my senses. She went larger than life with the oversized bow embellishment and flowy train, but went for small bits of glee in the detailed v-neck line with tasteful bling and waisted jewels. Playful and classic. It worked for her. SO-after her tasteful choice for the Grammy Red Carpet, I became a little intrigued by this mosaic fashionista. Blame it on the gossip celeb magazines who insist on finding the dirt that provided me with this little fun fact. Did you know, "Little Miss. I Kissed a Girl and I Liked It" was formerly a teen gospel singer. Big disconnect. Church/Lesbo. Oddness. I guess she was tired of waiting for her gospel tunes to bring home the bacon.


Speaking of former lives. Carrie Underwood looked great. I can't believe she's a former American Idol contestant. Good for American Idol. Fast forward to 20 lbs. lighter, this girl always looks amazing on the red carpet. She looks effortlessly fresh and fabulous. Her Zuhair Murad dress was a great example of wearing a dress and not having the dress wear you. I swear that dress moved when she told it to. It lay perfectly on her body and swayed when she gave it permission. Super jealous. From the clutch, to the glitz, diamond smile, and glamor-she rocked it.


Lastly, Gwyneth. She's such a rockstar. Her Versace mini-dress taunts, "don't you wish you had my rock star life". So cool and so classic. She has the best of both world's-the Grammy's and the Oscars.


Checking out the detailed extra silver frill at the bottom of her Versace dress. I'm always sweating the small stuff.

A Little Girls' Journey to Men's Suiting

As a little girl I can remember dreaming of my happily ever after adult life. My dreams consisted of never ending sunshine, two perfect kids (a boy and a girl of course), a large home in suburbia, an awesome job, a red Ferrari, and a brown Ken doll husband look a like that dressed in Italian imported suits. It's funny how dreams are formed. What 7-year old girl fantasizes about suits and wing-tips that doesn't go butch? Perhaps it was God preparing me for the fashion road ahead.

I can recall basking in the delight my father expressed as he prepared for his work day. I remember early mornings waiting outside his bedroom door smelling the shoe polish and hearing the sounds of the shoe brush as it steadily whisked across each shoe. The smell and sounds were both captivating and exciting. The strong leathery aroma signified whether it would be a suit day or something casual and the even-paced brush strokes confirmed a suit debut was mere seconds away. He would open the grand french doors, stop, and look down at me. As my eyes traveled up his 6'5 stature admiring the stitch and precision of his suit my widening eyes were met with his smile. I would shyly giggle. The routine, always the same. The suit, always different. And the cut and style, forever sleek and timeless. He looked confident, tall, and successful. The suit brought my father alive!

Forever and always men's suiting will evoke feelings of admiration, success, and confidence. Hello, WALL STREET.

Suiting has stayed consistent over the years, aside from the recent American adaptation to the sleeker slimmer European cut. Not every man can get into a suit these days. It's a slim men's only club, no fat kids allowed. It's not fair, but such is life. The ageless Euro suiting ensemble never fails in providing a sophisticated and classic look. What wife could ask for more in a man's wardrobe?

With my settle back to Middle America, I'm constantly in search of the next best thing. The next best boutique, fashion affair, or designer. My recent search afforded me an enchanted find - a luxury men's apparel shop. Situated on the eclectic Mass Avenue in Indianapolis, IN, this gem whispers metropolitan city with a suiting twist. J.Benzal is oh so sexy, and I mean sexy. The vibrant colors, artwork, and quality of merchandise is …hmmm, how do you say heavenly in Italian?




And a fashion bonus, everything in the store is a J.Benzal creation. Can you say downtown New York/SOHO transplant? The owner, Mamadou Diallo, designs everything from the suits, neckwear, to the shirts, cuff-links, and outerwear. Diallo is originally from West Africa and came to the states in pursuit of happiness, success, and wealth. He's definitely on his way. The great thing about J.Benzal is how he serves up suiting. Classic, but with an edge. J.Benzal plays with color, fiddles with embellishments, and runs away with fabulous textures and fabrics. The store dares men to have a little fun with suiting. It's a professional man's outlet into another world of classic men's furnishings. Move over New York and L.A., Middle America may just be putting a little piece of style on the map.

This shop satisfies my yearning for delicious men's tailored suits. It takes me back to the days of admiring my father and his fancy clothing. Now I'm all grown up living my version of happily ever after minus the everlasting sunshine, kids, suburbia, or red Ferrari. But, I do however have a husband that puts my adolescent Ken doll fantasy to shame. His real life body wears custom blend Italian suits daily. Or shall I say he will--once he finishes law school, get's a job and pays off his debt. There's another 15 years. Damn childhood fantasies.

SAG Awards....I want more Glitz!!

The SAG awards aired last night. I caught up with the fashion from the evening and of course did my weighing in. I’ll start by stating the obvious. Where the hell was the glitz and glam? From a fashion stand point, I found myself wanting more -- more detailed necklines and silhouettes, more extreme embellishments or maybe extravagance, more jaw-dropping jewels and/or delicious shoes, just a little tiny bit MORE!

This year lacked a great deal of the much anticipated "wow" factor. I watch the Oscars, SAG Awards, Golden Globes, and Emmy’s, for one simple reason - THE FASHION! The red carpet entices my thirst to endure the painfully three-hour long award shows. Not last night! I yawned through the red carpet and with much disappointment, decided to end my sadness. I can’t tell you who won best picture, best actor, television comedy, or who had the weirdest drunken speech because I didn’t watch.

But hey, you don’t read this blog for my commentary on who deserved or didn’t deserve a SAG award. You read for the fashion! So, I’ll try not to disappoint and highlight a few fashionistas from the evening. The exciting aspect was seeing a couple unusual fashion standouts. From that standpoint-fashion always keeps me guessing, which always makes it worth it!

For starters, the shrinking Ann Hathaway was a fashion standout. She did First Lady Obama's white hot gown look - and did it well. She mirrored a Grecian goddess with the free-flowing dress and hair. I heart waisted embellishments.



Is anyone else talking about the new, “Skinny Ann”? If she keeps dropping lbs. like this she’s well on her way to a US Weekly cover. This summer cover story: "Skinny Ann at the beach in a kid’s size bathing suit showing nothing but rib bones." It’s Nicole Riche all over again. On the flip side, the weight loss has brought out a confident, sweet, and elegant Ann. Who would have thought? Apparently all Ann needed was a scam artist beau that she thought loved her to go a little anorexic on us! Good for her! Skinny Ann is landing movie after movie and stealing the show in all of them. She's gaining a reputation for having her name called in the same category as some of the best leading actresses. Quite a ways from The Princess Diaries.



Next up, Amy Adams gets a "Smile and Nod." She rocked a deep purple Giambattista Valli gown. It was simple. But the small things excite me, like the decorative bow and warm plum that played well against her skin.

Looks like Michelle Obama started something by opening 2009 with the one-shoulder gown. It’s a trend that was on the SAG Awards red carpet.






Kate Winslet always looking magical gets a thumbs up for sporting electric blue. Purple and blue are 2009's basic black. I didn't fall in love with the fitted aspect, but the blue made me enjoy the choice. Subtle and sexy.

Mickey Rourke! I hate to say I love this -- but I do! I think it's because he took his personal identity and wore it proudly. Confidence always goes a long way. He screams I don't care and in case you don't believe him, he poses with his hand down his pants to prove it. Maroon belt and textured sport coat, it's a wonderful dirty dark ensemble.
Not all the glitz and glam I was expecting, but we still have the Oscars to look forward to.

Could they have been more fabulous?

The day, the looks, the dress, the labels. All four of the Obama's had their fashion moments and I was loving every minute of it. Malia and Sasha were cuter than cute with their smiles, scarves, tied ribbon belts and fancy shoes. Did anyone else check out little Sasha's red shoes and matching red ribbon tied in a perfect bow around the ankle? Loving the detail, Miss. Sasha. Is it too much for me to want the Obama girls to consider being the face of some Ralph Lauren or J.Crew ad campaign? They are beyond adorable.



President Obama and wifey screamed royalty at the Presidential Ball. I heard some stylitsa's say they wish she would have worn color, but I really liked this Jason Wu choice. From the color, to the cut, silhouette, and fabric-I thoroughly approved her monumental 1st, first lady fashion choice. No fashion veto on my end. Check out Jason Wu's Spring Line. His collection screams ultra femi timeless classics. Something you don't always see on the runway-ageless and practical. Wu's dress emphasized Michelle's slim stature and extraordinarily toned bod. It's not every four years we see some skin on a first lady like we did last night. Michelle was proud of her chiseled back. Can you fault her? I loved nothing more than seeing them both in white. It was a fresh tribute to their new abode-The White House. (wink wink)

Below are more first family fashion shout outs from inauguration weekend.....

We can't have an Obama inauguration without a little Narciso in the mix. And as always it's a coat to die for. Also pictured is a yummy Obama looking GQ even as a painter. Guys, you can never go wrong with a pair of nicely fitted straight leg blue jeans and a crisp collared shirt.

























Can you say winter fashion done right? With scarves, boots, coats, and purple like this I wouldn't mind cold temps year round.

















The Obama girls just enjoying an ordinary day watching the Jonas Brothers in concert and preparing for their dad to become the 44th President of the United States. Please take note, empire waisted coats with button detail are a must-have for girls of all ages.






Layering and oversized accessories done right. Below is just a little something extra-my presidential seal of approval.

My Sixth Sense

I've tried my hand at blogging in the past and always lost the words, time, or stories to properly engage readers on the topic. Writing is therapeutic, as is shopping. I know, so cliche. But, so damn true. It's only necessary to blog about a love, or perhaps obsession and try my hand once more on the keyboard to write about an enjoyable topic-fashion. Everyone blogs or knows someone who blogs. Blogging is like the waisted belt. Overused and so last year. Yet for some reason you always find use for it. You either have the stomach for it or you don't. And if you have the stomach for it, you can rock it and know you're rocking it. Whether you wear a dress, shirt, or any other number, write about a trip to Korea, your kids, or politics, you always find a way to bring a belt or blog out of the closet.


What is fashion to me and why do my two cents matter? Valid questions. I hope to answer them soon. Everyone has a skill or talent. Some legal, some illegal, some creepy, some entertaining, some good, and some evil. I believe God just happened to bless me with a decent eye for men's and women's clothing. It happens.

I was living in New York living and breathing fashion daily and religiously. Since my recent move back to Middle America for my great husband following his legal career, I've found myself itching to walk outside my Harlem stoop and begin my journey: analyzing every shoe, handbag, accessory, and more. From the subway, to my walk to work, on a coffee run, to a Saturday stroll through SOHO, from meeting a friend in Chelsea, or riding in a cab up Madison Avenue at three in the morning seeing all the designer store windows lit with mannequins telling their own little story.


The avenue looks so different in the day, but so much more powerful at night. The yellow fiery store lights lining the streets truly ignite the fashion fire inside you. From 52nd street all the way to 77th street. Nothing but lights, fashion, and moonlight. I remember thinking, "Don't get to 77th street, slow down cabbie, slow down." And it never changed. From the 1st time to the 100th time. It was my own little adventure, my fashion safari. Unfortunately, the middle america fashion jungle is not as intense or as satisfying as I would want. Don't get me wrong, I do see a couple wild animals once in a while that give me hope. But, nothing as stimulating as walking down New York City streets.

This blog is my outlet. My reach back to the fashion capital, in which I formerly held residency. Now, I'm not saying you'll agree with every fashion say so, advice, or tip I have, but I will promise you'll close this blogspot with a new fashion idea you may not consciously accept, but will subconsciously follow. Beware of what you are about to embark on. Your fashion sense is about to be heightened.