I am not a fashion blogger nor am I a beauty blogger. If I am passionate about an item of clothing or a beauty product that tickles my fancy, I will write about it. I write blog posts because it is fun and I love to connect with the small group of friends who follow and enjoy my blog. And I want to welcome others into my little blogging neighborhood. And I want to show the world that older adults are just like everybody else.
I write about random thoughts that may enter into my mind and elaborate upon that thought.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about fashion. I’ve also been thinking that we need to bring real fashion back.
From Stylecaster.com Spring Trend report. Part of the “best” trends. Excuse me. But these fashion trends are not refined nor are they elegant nor do they even look beautiful. I gather that the models aren’t too thrilled either because they look absolutely miserable in these ensembles.
From New York Fashion Week. It SHOULD be New York Fashion WEAK! J. Crew. Proof that Jenna Lyons needs to get the heave-ho. I’ve seen bag ladies who look more fashionable than this. The styling is horrific. There is nothing good about this look. It is not refined. It is not elegant. It isn’t cutting edge either. it is not fashion. It is a hot mess!
It seems as though fashion—especially writing about fashion has lost its way. Gone are the days of paragraphs and pages about designers and their craft. Instead we are left with blogs containing photographs of collages of clothing and links to the brands of clothing. Allowing the consumer to know where to make the purchase. No detailed descriptions. No fun or interesting stories.
This is my own Polyvore ensemble. I do NOT use these collages as blog posts. I use them as a fun way to put an outfit together. This mix isn’t fashion. It is merely a pragmatic and logical ensemble that I would wear while out and about on a very cold, rainy, damp day. I place these collages on Pinterest.
As a young girl, I looked forward to the Sunday edition of the New York Times because I would get to read about fashion in both the Style section and the Magazine. I loved looking at and studying the photographs. I loved the clothing. I loved the detailed description of each item of clothing. I enjoyed reading about every nuance of the clothes. I loved the story behind the clothes.
I loved this magazine and looked forward to afternoons reading about the latest fashions and the stories behind them!
Back then, I loved what fashion stood for. It represented chic elegance and refinement.
Four women. All dressed in Chanel circa early-1960’s. The suits are fashionable. But yet each woman has her own style of wearing her suit. Nothing over-the-top. Just simple elegance. Oh look. They’re smiling. I would be too if I could afford a Chanel suit! It’s also funny that they are posed in front of Alexander’s –what used to be a great clothing store with discounted pricing on the clothes!
Fashion was a statement and over the decades hemlines went up and down. Shoes went from ladylike to clunky. Fashionable attire went from structured to relaxed. Fashion has even been influenced by military uniforms.
This is one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s military uniforms. I snapped this at Invalides in Paris. MY Bonaparte loved the military history of the museum. I loved the uniforms. I would wear this today. THIS look has inspired many fashion designers over the years. BTW, I would also wear the hat!
Yves St. Laurent made an incredible statement with the pantsuit for women. He may not have created the pantsuit but he brought it into the public eye with a bang. This simple suit also changed forever the way women dressed for the office.
The pantsuit may have been around for quite some time before he made it a staple for women, but Yves St. Laurent popularized this look!
I love the nubby texture of a Chanel Jacket.
…and I want to read all about the fabrics and textures that go into these iconic jackets!
I love the smooth and simple lines of Andre Courrèges. And to think he made polyester fabric look great!
Who knew that polyester could be used as a fabric for beautiful clothing? Andre Courrèges remains my all time favorite designer (R.I.P.). His clothing is just the perfect example of simple and timeless fashion. I am lucky to own one of his ensembles!
Fashion is every step that goes into making an article of clothing. It isn’t only about the design. Fashion is about the draping of a fabric. It is about the texture of the fabric. It is the way the article of clothing, whether a dress, jacket or trousers lies against the body—how it fits. It is the cut and the construction and the quality. Fashion is about every. single. detail. of the clothes.
This incredible photo of a Dior ensemble tells it all without words. Look at the way the skirt swings. The hours of work that went into that must have been incredibly long. Look at the lines. It is such a simple suit even with the intricate trim on the collar and bottom hem of the jacket. THIS is fashion photography at it’s best! You can see the way the skirt drapes. You can see the texture of the fabric. You can see that perfect fit!
My favorite childhood fashion memory was the Mondrian dress by YSL. I wanted so badly to be grown up just so I could buy one of these dresses and wear it every day. (Even as a child I was delusional–as if I could afford a YSL designer dress!)
YSL’s Mondrian dresses were the part of my obsession with fashion at a young age. I also love the length of these dresses. How ironic that I’m not a fan of abstract art but am a fan of the dress!
Style is the way in which you put that fashion together. Many people today confuse fashion with style and vice versa.
Audrey Hepburn was not a fashion icon but was a style icon.
Scarf tied around her chin. Look at the neckline of the sweater she is wearing under the coat. See how simple it is? A beautiful attention to detail. The coat loosely tied. The gloves-oohhh those gloves. This is a timeless and classic way of styling and so simple!
Jane Birkin had an innocent and fun sense of style. Before the infamous Birkin Bag came to be, she carried around a basket as a purse and as much as it may have been a bit eccentric, it was every bit as charming. BTW, The Birkin Bag has a great story.
This outfit is proof that Jane Birkin was (and still remains) a master of style. This is an outfit that can be worn today. This ensemble is epic! Two thin gold chains and that basket. I love this so much!
Diana Vreeland was a true fashion visionary. She was exciting. She was not bland. She was not boring and she had a great joi d’vivre. She was also one terrific fashion writer.
Vreeland was a total fashion and style visionary. Her creativity is surely missed.
..and if you get the chance, try to catch “The Eye Has To Travel” it’s an entertaining documentary about Ms. Vreeland.
Anna Wintour is a visionary too. She has managed to turn the vision of Vogue from a true fashion magazine into a glossy celebrity rag. Over the years, I was becoming more dismayed with her use of celebrities on the magazine’s cover. My days of reading Vogue ended when she put Kardashian and West on the cover.
Vogue magazine–when it was worth reading. No celebrities on the cover. Great articles. Not a rag–just a great fashion magazine…
This was the issue that caused my final divorce from Vogue magazine. Putting Pee-Pee Kardashian and her trashy no-talented husband on the cover was the absolute end for me. This magazine has been reduced to The National Inquirer of the fashion trade!
Which brings me to fashion bloggers. I enjoy reading blogs about fashion. Fashion history, fashion designers, and new trends in fashion, classic fashion and reinventing fashion. However, blogs about REAL fashion are few and far between. Where are they to be found??? Please lead the way for me.
I’m tired of looking at the thousands upon thousands of fashion experts’ blogs (and I use the term “expert” lightly) who do nothing more than post photos of themselves in various overpriced ensembles that come directly off a store’s mannequin. I’m bored with looking at self-proclaimed experts whose idea of fashion means putting every imaginable pattern and stripe and color mixed together and think they are cutting edge.
Two different blogs. The same mismatched look…. although I will admit the bottom look is slightly better due to the fit of the clothing. The gold bag in the top photo looks like it came from a cheap street vendor.
This look still is not cohesive. If you are mixing patterns and stripes and animal prints you need something that ties it all together….
Understand the clothing you are advertising wearing. You may not realize this, but some readers are interested in the clothing. They are not interested in your cute poses such as bending down to sniff roses or hailing a cab on the wrong side of the street!
..and if I see one more pair of pink Hunter boots–or ANY Hunter boots worn as every day footwear, I shall scream. These boots are NOT a fashion statement. They are rain boots and should only be worn in the rain. In addition, I’ve seen at least a dozen different blogs with this same outfit. The bag is another issue onto itself. Leave the structured bags for the office. A softer less constructed leather bag or a canvas tote would be more appropriate for this photograph of clothing.
I have nothing against fashion blogs or fashion bloggers. But, I want to read about the details of the clothing you are wearing. I am nosey. Give me the scoop on the construction. Are the seams in the dress French seams? Is the knit bonded? If the fabric is a print how does it match up at the seams? Are the buttons secured? Is the collar reinforced? How’s the quality of the workmanship? Is the clothing well-constructed? Where is the clothing made? Where does the waist fall? Is the zipper of good quality? Is it lined? If it is a particular brand you shill write about—is the sizing consistent?
Can you tell me if the seams are French seams? Do you know what a French seam is?
Is this too much to ask?
If you want another very educational and informative documentary on fashion and what goes into it, by all means, watch “Dior and I’. It chronicles the steps in making a collection.
Hands down–THE best fashion documentary ever. It follows the entire process of clothing for the runway. I have to hand it to Raf Simons and his absolute love for haute couture. I wish he was still at Dior. He wanted to bring that elegance back! I’m going to watch it again after I finish writing this post!
Simons brought this Dior look back. That’s Marion Cotillard on the right! THAT’s fashion!
I am now making a promise to anyone who reads my blog. Moving forward, whenever I write about clothing, I vow to give you as much detail as I possibly can. I will turn those clothes inside out and upside down and learn about every aspect. It’s the least I can do for you. I tried to describe this trench the best that I could in “Drenched and Entrenched” but will continue to improve.
That’s my rant for today. Bonaparte has been vocalizing his big wish that I organize my closet. Why is it that closets are so hard to keep in order? I’m off see if there are any hidden treasures in those dark deep corners!
While I realize this post is about fashion, I have to play some music close to my roots. Here’s a set dance that Oona used to dance to played by the great feis musician Billy Furlong from his CD Strings for the Sets. Presenting, “King of the Fairies”. And I still listen to this CD every now and then!
Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to You! XOXOXO!
Oona from her Irish Dance days. I love the fashion of the Irish Dance Costume. This one is my favorite!