Fall 2009 Trend Report: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

Lanvin Fall 2009 RTW courtesy of Style.com

Everyday Glamour Chicks, (E.G.C.'s), with all their panache and good sense, can easily separate great fashion from stinker fashion.  E.G.C.'s never waste a dime on bad clothes, but instead make savvy fashion choices that serve them well.   Fashion magazines won't admit to the stinker fashion, at least not until the season is over.  Lucky for you, this blog will put it all on the line now, in real time.

Forties Fashion:  Skirt suits with strong shoulders and nipped waists are de rigueur  this season.  Classic bags with structure, belts both wide and thin, pencil skirts, silk blouses, velvet for day, gloves, and menswear pants characterize the modernized 40s look this season.  Hello!  I'm giving Forties Fashion a big thumbs up!  With such beautiful clothes, how can you go wrong?

Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2009 RTW courtesy of Style.com

Eighties Fashion:  Are you 22 years old, 5' 10" with legs like Barbie and headed to a night club in Manhattan?   Then 80s fashion is for you!  You go girl!  Otherwise, 80s Fashion is Stinker Heaven.  I don't know about you, but I'd rather not look like I just stepped out of a Dallas rerun.   And for the record, shoulder pads do not balance big hips.  They just make you look like a chubby little linebacker playing pee-wee football.  (Want to balance wider hips with more narrow shoulders?  Then read my "Don't Fight Your Figure" post.)  And please pass on the 80s Fashion. 

Katie Holmes photo courtesy of Splashnewsonline.com

Red Fashion:  Red is a hot color for Fall 2009.  When is red not amazing.  Go for red! 

Pretty Woman Boots:  Like Woody Allen said in the movie, Annie Hall, I "luff" them, "with two 'f's".  However, I only love them on women who live in cities and are not occupying places like, oh, say, playgrounds, or court.  Wear them with skinny jeans or leggings.

Photo of Kate Moss courtesy of Shinylittlethings.com

Leather Jackets:  Yes, yes, yes, oh yes!  (Did I get your attention?)  Keep it fitted and short.  And if you have the money, Rick Owens does the best.

Photo of Emmanuelle Alt courtesy of TheSartorialist.com

Polka Dots:  Don't go there.  Would you like people to remember you, or your dress?  The polka-dot dress is going to upstage you. 

Gucci Fall 2009 RTW courtesy of Style.com

Androgyny:  Here's the deal.  The "boyfriend blazer" sold so well last year that designers are exaggerating the boyfriend blazer, updating it in all kinds of menswear fabrics, and dubbing it "The New Androgyny".  Yeah, yeah, the E.G.C.'s are on to you guys!  I say, stick with the true blue "boyfriend blazer".  Keep it fitted in the shoulders, and wear it with skinny pants, skinny jeans, short dresses, and short skirts.

Rachel Weisz photo courtesy of Fabsugar.com

Big, furry, chubby jackets in colors not found in nature:  Want to look like Fat Joe in January?  Then get one.  Otherwise, please pass.

Marios Schwab Fall 2009 RTW courtesy of Style.com

One shoulder dresses:  Another big thumbs up from Everyday Glamour!  This is a classic. 

Belts:  If you have a nice waistline, then this is the time to pick up a couple gorgeous belts.  Nothing is more powerfully sexy than a good dress and a stunning belt.

Calvin Klein Fall 2009 RTW courtesy of Style.com

Michele Obama photo courtesy of Ladynav.com

 All over pattern with undefined edges, in muted colors:   I say, try it on.  If the pattern suits your face and build, go for it.  Patterns can be tricky, you must try them on and be honest with yourself.  How does it read on you, (not Kate Moss)?

Isabel Marant Fall 2009 RTW courtesy of Style.com

Neon color:  This belongs in the 80s Fashion category.  UGH.  STINKER.  'Nuff said.

Please avoid the stinkers and stay E.G.C.!

Trend Report Fall 2009: Brown Story

Photo of Max Mara Fall 2009 RTW courtesy of Style.com

Brown isn't for everyone, but for some, brown is stellar.  Softer than black, it imbues the wearer with a rich aura.  Everyday Glamour Chicks, (E.G.C.'s), know that wearing brown makes everyone assume you're stylish in the extreme.  Why do so many women assume that black is so much more practical than brown?  With a little pre-planning, anyone can incorporate brown into their wardrobe, trust me!

Step one:  Dig out any pieces you may have lingering in the back of your closet or crumpled up in the dark recesses of your drawers and look for anything caramel, bronze, tan, chocolate, you got me? 

Step two:  Dig out any other pieces in warm colors like burgandy, burnt orange, saffron yellow, forest green, or plum.  Or cooler colors like teal or coral.

Step three:  Got any chunky gold jewelry?  Dig it out.  Belts in the above colors?  Bag?  Shoes? 

Givenchy shoes courtesy of Hejfina.com

Dannijo ring courtesy of Net-a-porter.com

Step four:  Shop where you are lacking.  Have nothing to work with?  Don't get overwhelmed!  The key to buying brown is to keep the clothes ultra simple and minimalist.  Put the focus on the accessories instead.

Trend Report Fall 2009: Belle Du Jour Style

Stella McCartney Fall 2009 RTW, photo courtesy of www.style.com

When I was 16 years old my mom rented the French movie Belle Du Jour starring Catherine Deneuve.  We watched it for the fashion.  Plot:  Chic married French chick takes up prostitution.  Who cares?  I could watch that movie with the sound off--yes the clothes are that good!  Catherine Deneuve's style was burned onto my brain. 

Lucky for me, French polish is a strong trend for Fall 2009.  From Banana Republic and Forever 21 to Lanvin and Chanel, you'll be able to stock your closet with some sexy, strong, & elegant clothes. 

Here are a few tips to accompany the pictures:

1.  Pencil skirts can be found everywhere now.  Find one that works for your shape. 

2.  The color palette is mainly black, white, cream, burgandy, and red.  Some touches of intense muted colors, like mustard and deep purple also work.

3.  Keep everything figure hugging and cinched.

Loewe Fall 2009 RTW, photo courtesy of www.style.com

4.  Add silk, lace, velvet.

5.  Grooming is key--hair, nails, and makeup are polished.

6.  Wear long leather gloves with your winter coat.

Lanvin Fall 2009 RTW, photo courtesy of www.style.com

7.  A mini chain shoulder bag is great for small Everyday Glamour Chicks, (E.G.C.'s), while a medium to large chain shoulder bag is perfect for average to tall E.G.C.'s.

Mini Chain Bag photo courtesy of www.BananaRepublic.com

8.  Platform pumps, or high heeled ankle booties complete the look.

Valentino Shoes, photo courtesy of www.NiemanMarcus.com

Fabric: The Final Frontier

Welcome to Part 3 in the Don't Fight Your Figure series.

You've learned about achieving figure balance.  You've learned about achieving beautiful proportions.  There's another secret weapon in the Everyday Glamour Chick, (E.G.C.), arsenal.  It's more subtle and nuanced than shape and proportion, but no less crucial to the budding E.G.C.  What is it?  Fabric.

Please, no yawning!  Fabric is crucial!  Fabric can mean the difference between looking great and looking like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, (you know, the giant one in Ghostbusters.)  Which do you choose?  E.G.C., or Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?  It's your choice.

The most flattering fabric depends on the shape and figure of the E.G.C. in question.  Once again, I'm going to have to ask you to spend some more time gazing into your full-length mirror.

Skinny E.G.C.:

Photo of Twiggy courtesy of www.Dailymail.co.uk.com

Overall, your figure is more angular and straight than curvy.  You can be tall or short, but your clothing size is on the small side.  You need fabrics that are pretty taut and crisp.  Crisp, taut fabrics can hold straight lines, which is good for you--because your figure is pretty straight too.  If you want to add the illusion of volume, say around your hips, you can opt for somewhat drapey fabric that gathers.  But please avoid loosey-goosey fabric.  It will make you look less sharp and more gaunt.

Toned E.G.C.:

Photo of Jessica Biel courtesy of www.Fabsugar.com

Overall, your figure has tight curves.  Your curves can be subtle or dramatic, you can be short, tall, and/or plus size.  The key is that your appearance is more firm.  The test is this:  Is any kind of shapewear like Spanx or control top pantyhose just an unnesessary nuisance?  If yes, then you're a Toned E.G.C.  You need fabric with some body.  Also, stretch fabric is your friend--embrace it.  You'll want to show those taut curves of yours.  Watch out:  Heavy and stiff fabrics will bring you into the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man territory.  These fabrics will not show off your curves, but instead hang stiffly away from the widest point of your curve.  You'll look huge.  For skirts and dresses, silk in a bias cut will look stunning on you.  Cut on the bias means, cut on the diagonal of the grain of the weave of fabric.  So it gives the fabric a little stretch without the use of lycra, and it drapes beautifully.  Since cutting a dress pattern on the diagonal, from rolls of fabric, results in more fabric waste, a dress or skirt cut on the bias is always on the expensive side.  But worth it for the Toned E.G.C.

 

Voluptuous E.G.C.:

Photo of Scarlett Johansson courtesy of www.JustJared.com

Voluptuous E.G.C.'s, like Toned E.G.C.'s, come in all sizes and their curves can be smaller or more dramatic.  The difference between the two is that Voluptuous E.G.C.'s have a little more "bounce to the ounce" than their toned sisters.  Here's the test again:  Do you look better when wearing shapewear like Spanx or control pantyhose?  (Even if you're a size 4?)  If yes, then you're a Voluptuous E.G.C.  The fabric needs to drape gracefully around your curves, but also must have a little body to them.  In other words, thin fabric is bad.  Medium drapey fabric is best.  Stretch fabrics are also good for you, to show curves, but the fabric needs to have some body to it.  If you want to wear thinner fabrics with less body, then you'll have to wear shapewear.  Stiff, heavy fabrics are the death knell to your figure.  Fuggetaboutit!

Combination E.G.C.:

You can be any combination of the top 3 types.  You could be Voluptuous E.G.C. in your upper body and Skinny E.G.C. in your lower body.  Or you can be Toned E.G.C. in your upper body and Voluptuous E.G.C. in your lower body.  And on and on with the combinations.  The key is to be consious of what the right fabric is for the different areas of your figure.

Thanks, and stay tuned, E.G.C.!!

Pythagoras, Fibonacci, & YOU!!

Welcome to Part 2 of Don't Fight Your Figure.  Now that you know the basics of how to create a more balanced figure, it's time to get technical.  I'm about to give you a little math and science lesson.  If you actually read this and take a moment to digest this one, you'll be thanking me later.  Right now maybe you're thinking, "I hate math.  This is boring, I don't need this crap."  Trust me, this math is far more helpful to you than Advanced Calculus ever will be.  (Unless you're a Mathematician.)  With this math, you will no longer feel the need to torture your man with the age old question, "Do these jeans make me look fat?"  This math will help you look even more beautiful than you already are.  You'll be floating up there in the wow-she's-stunning-and-stylish stratosphere.

Photo by Phil Oh of Streetpeeper.com, courtesy of Refinery29.com

So please take a moment to concentrate.  Forget the phone.  Forget your email.  Forget your Crackberry.  Forget damn Facebook for just a few minutes, I'm begging you!  Concentrate!

Once upon a time, there was a groovy cat named Pythagoras.  He saw all the beauty around him in nature and said, "Wow, this is a TRIP, man!"  Pythagoras couldn't let it go--all his friends said, "Pythagoras, man, shut up!"  They mocked him, "Yeah, yeah, look at all the beauty in nature, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Let's go have a beer."  But Pythagoras decided not to waste his time drinking beer and eating black olives and instead ponder the key to all the beauty in nature.  And this is what he came up with:  1.619.  He called it the Golden Ratio.  A ratio of 1.619 between any two things--that is beautiful!  AHHHHH. 1.619  Isn't it beautiful?

Later, oh, about one thousand, five hundred years later, (give or take a hundred years), there was another guy, an Italiano named Fibonacci.  He was also tripped out by all the beauty in nature.  Fibonacci really liked counting.  So much so that he started counting his rapidly expanding collection of pet rabbits.  His friends said, "Aww, Fibonacci, man, we can't pick up chicks when you're around.  Give up counting rabbit populations for a minute!  It's just not cool!"  But Fibonacci decided not to waste his time picking up chicks, and instead concentrate on the matter at hand--counting rabbits. 

Soon enough all his counting paid off.  The rabbit's mating followed a sequence of numbers.  Each number in the sequence was the sum of the previous two numbers.  The sequence started with 0 and 1.  So the Fibonacci Sequence looks like this:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ......and on and on.  What's the next number?  Add 34 and 21.  You get 55.  55 is the next number.

But that's not all!  Soon after coming up with the sequence, Fibonacci had what Oprah would lovingly call an "Aha Moment".  Divide any number in this series of numbers by the previous number in the series, for example 34 divided by 21.  And what do you get?  1.619.  Which is Pythagoras' Golden Ratio.  Aha!!

Photo courtesy of TheSartorialist.com

"So what the HELL does this have to do with me?", I hear you wail.  Wait!  Wait!  Stay with me now.  Here's what it means for you:

The ideal figure is 8 head lengths.  Three heads to the waist, 5 heads from the waist to the floor.  (Remember the numbers in the Fibonacci series, ...3, 5, 8....and also remember that Pythagorus said the most beautiful ratio between any two parts is 1.619.)  So, take a deep breath and measure the length of your head from top to bottom.  Ok, maybe this is a little akward.  You can measure your head on a picture of you if that's easier.  Now.  Measure the length from the top of your head to your waist.  By the way, your waist is the point where you can bend at the sides. 

If the measurement from the top of your head to your waist is 3 head lengths, then congrats--you have a well proportioned upper body.

If the measurement to your waist is shorter than 3 head lengths, then you are short waisted.  The goal is to optically lengthen your torso.  You'll want to either wear high-waisted pants and skirts, (to hide where your waist really is), or wear your tops untucked, thus visually extending the length from the top of your head to your waist.  Blouson tops, where the waistband sits on the high hip will work for you.  Pants and skirts that sit "low waist" are also more flattering than pants and skirts that hit right at the waistline.

If the measurement to your waist is longer than 3 head lengths, then you are long waisted.  The goal is to optically shorten your torso.  You'll also look good in a pant or skirt with a high waistline.  Or you can wear pants or skirts that have a wide waistband, about 2 1/2 inches or so.  Keep any wide waistband or belt the same color as you bottom, not your top!  You can also wear tops with diagonal or horizontal design lines.  This will help your torso look shorter. 

Moving on....Measure from your waist, (remember, this is the point where you bend from side to side), to the floor.  If you are 5 head lengths, then congrats--you are a rarity!  You've got some spectacular gams!

If the length from your waist to the floor is shorter than 5 head lengths, then join the club.  Awww, don't worry.  Wear heels.  Or, if wearing heels won't work--come on they're not always practical, right?  Then....

Remember the Fibonacci sequence....2, 3, 5, 8.....And that the ratio between 2 and 3 or 3 and 5 are beautiful because the ratio is Pythagoras' Golden Ratio of 1.619.

So....

Combine the length of your tops and bottoms in 2 to 3, or 3 to 5 ratios on your body.  What?  I'll explain.  One trick is to eyeball your outfit, (not body) in a ratio of 1 to 2.  Yes, I know smarty pants, 2 divided by 1 is not 1.619, the Golden Ratio, but this is an easy shortcut, okay?  Otherwise, you'll have to struggle with a tape measure all the time. 

Ok, so how to eyeball your outfit in a ratio of 1 to 2?  Read this slowly now, don't get overwhelmed.  Let's say a shorter jacket is part 1 and your skirt or pants is longer, equal to 2 parts, (or 2 jacket lengths).  Or a long blazer, (2 parts), over a shorter skirt, equal to 1 part, (or half the length of the blazer.)

Photo of Gwen Stefani courtesy of Elleuk.com

We can go further......

A great skirt length when wearing flats is in a 3 to 5 ratio from your waist to the floor.  What, again?  Ok, measure from your waist to the floor again.  Whatever that length is, divide it up into 8 equal parts.  Your skirt can be either 5 parts or 3 parts long.  That's a beautiful skirt length on you.

Now you are officially an advanced Everyday Glamour-ologist!  Congrats!