Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The Fall Trend Trap, we all fall into it





The fabulously wise Coco Chanel once said, "fashion fades, only style stays the same."  But more to the point of the blog, she also was quoted saying, "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different."  

Having style means dressing for YOUR body and using the current trends only for inspiration until you evolve into your own fashion persona with your own iconic look.  Think Carolyn Bassette-Kennedy and her effortlessly chic minimalist wardrobe and menswear inspired outfits.  Think Sienna Miller and Chloe Sevigny, who always think out of the box and are always true to their personal style.  

However, now we look to Lindsey and Rihanna, who just use and abuse the newest trends even though they look absolutely repulsive on their figures.  I think Coco Chanel was advising ladies to break out of the mainstream in an effort to define a "different" style that is uniquely yours- true style.

OK, enough of an interlude, but it was necessary as you'll see. 

OTKB (Over the Knee Boots) are everywhere this fall.  Possibly the scariest trend for any body type besides the "stick figure" since skinny jeans first came out.  They've since perfected the skinny jean so they have now trickled down to stores like "Chicos" and my mom even owns and looks great in her pair.  However, not so with the OTKB.  For the past 3 months I forgot this important Coco lesson and searched/lusted for a pair even though I knew they just weren't me, mainly because I have legs like tree trunks.  First it was the BCBG pair in July that made me look like a hooker, then the Stuart Weitzman that made my entire leg look as thick as my thigh.  I've tried them all (flat, heel, suede, leather, grey, black) and the magic answer is: this is a trend that looks good on very few people (think Kate Moss).  I hope poor Mischa Barton doesn't go get a pair because lord knows she'll wear them with shorts.  

Here's the lesson.  Every season there are new "it" items.  Some are genius and some are not.  Ladies, i've done the leg work (literally).  I've lost 5 lbs since my search and they still make my legs look like choppy blocks, super hot.  So don't feel bad and don't waste money on these $500 flash in the pan shoes.   

As an alternative, ankle booties actually look great.  The new Chloe biker boots are worth the splurge.  Also, the new Elizabeth and James menswear inspired suede nude oxford booties are amazingly chic.  They're under $300 and nude shoes always elongate the leg (bonus!).  Also, they're classy enough to wear to work and would look dynamite with cuffed jeans and a t-shirt on the weekends.

Here's to personal style and telling those hard to wear trends where to stick it, oh and Vogue for thinking OTKBs make their spreads look anything but cheap.    



 

The Road Less Traveled.....

Two roads dverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet, knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference


Robert Frost