Fashion throughout the ages: Our First Ladies

There are many who submit that Michelle Obama is (or rather, will be) the best dressed First Lady of the US. She’s made the cover of Vanity Fair a couple of times, and was listed in their international best dressed.

I tend to disagree. Yes, Michelle Obama dresses decently, but so does every other woman in the position of First Lady. It’s part of the job description.

Now Jackie Kennedy was a woman with style and class. Not only did she dress “nicely” as all other First Ladies must to present themselves to the public, but she was a trend-setter. She had an exquisite sense of style, wearing trousers at a time when most women wore only skirts and dresses, but wearing them in such a way that it was quite clear that the pants were meant for a woman. Everything that she did, the way she moved, was infused with her special brand of grace.

I’m just not entirely sure that Michelle Obama measures up to that. Sorry, Vanity Fair.

More Fashion for Less: Looking Great on a Budget

All of us have a little fashion guru inside screaming to get out the moment we see an advertisement in Vogue or walk into Bloomingdales. I, for one, would be absolutely thrilled to buy BCBG out. But truth be told, we can’t all afford to buy pieces that simply won’t work in the mix-and-match system. And in today’s economy, no one wants to get any more in debt than they already are.

So how do you look like a million dollars while spending substantially less?

For starters, there are those miraculous stores that carry name brands for less like Marshall’s and Syms. I used to hate those stores when my mother would make me shop there, little snot that I was. I wanted her to spend the big bucks on me. But now that I no longer have daddy’s credit card available, those stores have become my home away from home. You have to sift, but it’s definitely worth it for the incredible savings.

Then of course there are department store sales. I generally shop at the end of a season. Honestly, the fall season in fashion ends when the actual fall season begins, so it’s not exactly the biggest deal.

Lastly, I try to buy solids, and generally solids that are easy to match to other solids. Patterns don’t make the clothing look more expensive. Actually, they often cheapen the outfit. I’m not saying purchase only solids in reds, grays, blacks and whites. Buy a couple of nice patterned tops. But you should be able to create twenty-five combinations out of ten pieces.

Ok, seriously?

It would appear that Justin Timberlake is the latest celebrity to try and cash in on his name by beginning his own line of clothing with childhood friend Trace Ayala.

I honestly do not know why that should annoy me so much. I have not had a problem with P. Diddy’s clothing line, J. Lo’s clothing line, or even Jessica Simpson’s clothing line. Britney Spear’s fragrance line is fine with me.

But for some reason, Justin Timberlake is the breaking point with me.  That guy annoys the CRAP out of me.  And truth be told, I cannot for the life of me figure out why.  Maybe it was his once-curly hair.  Maybe it’s his ridiculous falsetto when he sings.  Maybe it’s the fact that I don’t like the way he dresses.  Although that’s not to say I’m a fan of J. Lo’s style either.

So what IS it?

The Grecian Goddess

One look that I particularly admire is the “Grecian Goddess”. Those one-armed, beautifully draped, flowing gowns make any woman’s figure regal.

Now Marchesa, for example.

Now, aside from the fact that this gown is practically falling off of Anna Kuchkina’s chest, it is absolutely beautiful. Marchesa in general is unusual while at the same time elegant. It’s a difficult combination, but Marchesa carries it off beautifully.

There is one Marchesa that I saw once that I have yet to see again.  It was a deep burgundy, one-armed creation with a large rosette on the chest.  I believe that Natalie Portman wore it in red to some event.

If anyone knows what I am talking about, PLEASE let me know.

Let’s talk makeup

Hey all.  Sorry I haven’t been on in a while.  Things have been ridiculously soap-operatic (not sure that makes sense) between love live and work and more work and yet more work and parents and…

Well, you get the picture.

Today’s item of interest is (ahem) makeup.

The thing is, there isn’t one specific type of makeup that I like. It very much depends on the occasion. Light makeup-maybe a bit of blush, naturally-shaded lipstick, and mascara would be fine for a work day. But for a special occasion, I go all out. Serious cream foundation, blush, eye shadow, heavy eyeliner, mascara, lip pencil, lipstick…

I am a huge advocate of heavy eyeliner, by the way. I know that makeup experts tell you to focus on one part of your face, it doesn’t matter what, but have you ever held your hand over your eyes and looked in a mirror? There’s not much to your face without your eyes. They make your face more unique then, say, a mouth or cheekbones.

In high school I used to wear Estee Lauder.  Mostly because my mom took me for a makeover at the mall and we ended up at the Estee Lauder counter in Bloomingdale’s where a woman who not only looked like but sounded exactly like Fran Drescher did a beautiful job on my already rather attractive face.

Since then I have broadened my horizons.  Nowadays I’m more of a Bobbi Brown fan.  So what’s your poison?