Wisconsin Fashion Week: A Recap

"I just don't get Bottega Veneta this season." No, I didn't hear that line spoken at Wisconsin Fashion Week, and yes, I really did read that line recently in The New York Times Style section (a stylist said that in an article and it made me laugh. Haha!)

Yes folks, Wisconsin Fashion Week has come and gone and most of you might be wondering: How did it go? It might not have been the Bryant Park crowd in their Marc Jacobs garb (discussing Bottega Veneta this season) and Valentino handbags, but our own fashion week went very well, thank you. Here's my take on this fashionable fiesta of events ...



Menswear, Stylista Competition, Womenswear Trend and Womenswear Premium Shows
Saturday at Overture Center was a veritable buffet of fashion: men's and women's looks were showcased throughout an all-day "Style District."

Saturday's midday menswear show featured fashions by Jazzman--and I must say, the sight of beautiful men didn't hurt the eyes, either! The male models were polished and did a nice job of showcasing the clothing. I wish that more local stores were represented--but then again, there's not much selection for LOCAL menswear! Perhaps next year more stores will get involved.

The Stylista Competition was quite innovative and I wasn't sure what to expect. The show actually quite reminded me of the Hair Affair event held recently at Overture—models were styled with a full hair and makeup look, complete with a coordinating outfit.

The looks were more avant-garde/artsy than actual looks to wear out and about. After all, wearing white body paint with glitter on it might not be something one would wear out to the grocery store! Rosalee Eichstedt and Headlines Salon won the competition in the clothing and hair categories while Indulge Spa won for makeup. (See their creative looks in the slideshow!) By the way, I was a judge in the Fresh Faces Model Competition as well as for the Stylista Competition, and it was great fun to be a part of the events representing the magazine.

Nighttime brought my favorite part--womenswear! The night was split up into two parts: a trend portion, which showcased youthful, edgier and more affordable lines. The premium portion, held later, was a mix of evening/special-occasion wear, handmade frocks and pricier brands and stores.

Some notable collections:
Maverick Clothing by Kayla Garland was an edgier line—looks were layered, and black and red was the dominant color theme. Most of the looks were worn with ripped leggings and featured recycled elements in the clothing. Models sported faux-hawks and red lips.

Vintage S.E.X.Y. was cute, using recycled/vintage looks to make new looks—like a cowgirl outfit with a plaid shirt and denim skirt.

Fred Boutique from Milwaukee sells celebrity-inspired fashions for affordable prices and their collection was put together quite nicely: models had beautiful jewelry to go with each look and fun, colorful shoes.

Daria Karaseva and Premiere Couture showed special-occasion dresses. Karaseva's were constructed of silks and taffetas; Premiere Couture can't be beat in their selection of gorgeous wedding dresses in lace and silk.

Jessica Catherine's (whose things I always love) line was cocktail dresses constructed of dupioni silk, all perfectly ladylike with a touch of sex appeal. She favors a streamlined silhouette that shows off a woman's curves—but incorporates a fun detail in each dress. That might be a yellow chiffon ruffle down the front of a navy halter dress or a chiffon multicolored scarf stitched on to a navy strapless dress. Her last two looks (amazingly!) were wedding dresses—both for the fashion-forward bride. The first was a strapless column dress of white dupioni that transitioned into a fitted cascading chiffon ruffle skirt—a gorgeous silhouette. The second was a white dupioni halter dress with an A-line skirt that was gathered in beautiful folds randomly throughout the skirt. One could see the dresses in color on a celebrity at an awards ceremony. I'm just saying :)!

J LaMore and Twigs both put on impressive shows that were incredibly polished and cohesive—these were two of my favorites.
LaMore's show started with an amazing performance by Native American Art Shegonee and his daughter. The performance kicked off LaMore's themed collection of boho/tribal looks in everything from maxidresses to rompers. Models strutted down the runway with genuine Native American artifacts like bows and arrows, drums and more. All of the artifacts were borrowed from Katy's American Indian Arts.

Twigs' look was South Beach prep mixed with touches of tribal influences as well. That meant bright, vibrant prints, safari looks and metallic touches in shoes, jewelry and handbags.
I was especially impressed by Twigs' show because they did what big-name designers when they show their lines during Fashion Week: transition looks in a way that they flow seamlessly together. It's hard to explain here, but that usually means the designer shows looks in order from casual to eveningwear, all the while tying each outfit strategically together so it flows into the next look. For example, Prada might show an wool trenchcoat, followed by a wool skirt suit followed by a wool jumper—each look ties strategically into the next. And yet the looks are differentiated by a pop of color or something else that sets it apart. I thought Twigs did this nicely.

I hope that Wisconsin Fashion Week can thrive next year and become an even better event with more attendance. Saturday's daytime menswear show was sparsely attended so perhaps grouping all of the shows (mens- and womenswear) together might work, or showing menswear on a different day of the week might up the attendance. Like I said, who can't resist looking at the beautiful men?! More people should get in on that!

But seriously, Kristi Moe did a good thing for the Wisconsin fashion community by bringing together people that care about fashion, like to have a good time—and more importantly, want to host an exciting celebration in a city that's typically known for the Farmers' Market and the state Capitol. We might not be evaluating the latest in Bottega Veneta's spring/summer 2010 collection like the editors of Vogue do at Bryant Park—but hey, we can still have a little fun with fashion, too.

Tis the Season for Dos and Don’ts…

This weekend kicks off fair and festival season with Brat Fest (technically, Fitchburg Days was last weekend, but you get what I mean). That means the Dane County Fair, Waunafest, the Mt. Horeb Summer Frolic, Summerfest, The Wisconsin State Fair, et cetera.

Why do I mention this? Because I love to people-watch. People wear … fascinating outfits. Here’s my mental dialogue:
Me: Why is that woman wearing jeans three sizes too small? Can that possibly be … comfortable? Not to mention the dreaded muffin top that can accompany such situations. I wish I could tell her that no one will know her size if she goes one or two sizes up. Oh well. On to the cheese curds!

My point? Clothing that’s comfy and fashionable is well within your reach!

Here are my dos and don’ts for festival season:

Don’t: Wear a head-to-toe look. I can understand your passion for Def Leppard, or the Brewers, or, I don’t know, the “boho” look. But understand that taking a trend OR a look and wearing it head-to-toe only makes the trend, well, not trendy.
Do: Mix it up—show your passion for Def Leppard with just a tee (not with the acid-washed jeans and head-banger hair) or wear your fave boho skirt and leave it at that. No need to go all matchy-matchy—it’s overkill.

Don’t: Wear uncomfortably tight clothing. Or, on the flip side, clothing that’s too big. Rocking the club look in a tight tube dress and stilettos (yes, I saw this look more than once last year at Summerfest, actually) when you’re at the Miller Oasis is quite frankly, out of place.
On the opposite side, men and women wearing an oversized T-shirt or jeans and women wearing empire-waist sundresses and tunic tops when their figure can't rock that look is also a tactic employed when somone wants to be comfy. But sometimes it can appear sloppy or even worse—make you appear larger than you are!
Do: Um, wear clothing that fits! Too-tight clothing is never easy on the eyes—or the body, for that matter. Remember that if you’re going for comfort, you can still look stylish.
Gals: Know what works for your figure. Wear a cool cotton maxidress or, if you’re petite (maxidresses can dwarf shorter women), wear a lovely knee-length empire waist or A-line sundress that skims your curves.
Just be sure to select the right size—it doesn't matter if it's a great ikat print—if it doesn't fit correctly, move on to a dress that does. If you’re wearing a looser tunic top, wear more fitted jeans, capris, shorts, or Bermuda shorts to balance out the look.
Guys: For cooler nights, try a nice pair of bootcut jeans (not too big though!) and throw on a lightweight sweater or cardigan over your T-shirt instead of the usual hoodie, which can add bulk.

Don’t: Wear uncomfortable shoes. I’m all for cute heels and whatnot, but not for a casual affair like Waunafest. You want to able to enjoy your time strolling the grounds, not rubbing your feet and drinking away your pain at the beer tent.
Do: Wear cute, comfortable shoes like fashionable flats, cushioned flip-flops or wedge sandals, which are very chic right now and more comfortable than heels.

Don’t: Dress too young (or too old) for your age. I’ve seen this time and time again at summer events—young girls wearing far-too-revealing clothing (yes, I realize I sound like one of THOSE people that says “kids these days …” Oh well …) or guys and gals wearing clothing that’s far too young-looking for their age.
Do: Dress age-appropriately! Guys, there’s a reason that Abercrombie is targeted toward teens and twenty-somethings with their scantily clad male models and T-shirts with funny sayings—because those looks typically look better on, well, scantily clad male models, high school and college guys. Try Ralph Lauren! Classic.
I probably don’t need to emphasize this, but if you’ve seen how the Real Housewives of Orange County dress, that’s all I need to say about dressing too young for your age … (i.e. embellished halter tops, too-tight dresses, tube tops, et cetera) on women that would look far better in classic styles, like a draped Grecian dress, shift or sheath dress or a pair of trouser jeans with a classy ruffled top.

Ladies, look for some of these items—all fashionable, and all appropriate from day to night to wear at your fave fest!

Day-to-night dresses in jersey knits—Grecian and draped styles are hot. Pick a brightly colored one or a cool gray or blush color—than add interest with vibrant accessories.
Find it: A Stone’s Throw or Target.

Gladiator sandals and heels—pick up a neutral black or gray pair or glam it up with a gold or silver pair with beaded or gemstone accents.
Find it: Available at most department stores and shoe stores.

Jeans in unconventional styles—the current favorite is the “boyfriend jean”—a style that’s a bit looser and relaxed, with a few tears here and there for a tough, cool look (sold at Atticus and Bop). Or try a crisp white pair of jeans, or a more rugged pair with a few tears (again, check out Bop). Colored skinny jeans also continue to dominate—and can be found anywhere from Target to Bop.
Find it: Atticus, Bop and Target.

Embellished tanks—appropriate from day to night, these tanks add polish and flash to an otherwise simple racerback style or loose A-line tank. Pair with skinny or bootcut jeans and you’re good to go. Urban Outfitters has the widest selection I've seen.
Find it: Urban Outfitters

Maxidresses (or any dress, for that matter)—as noted above, maxidresses are best for taller women as they can dwarf shorter women. No need to worry, there are lots and lots of cute empire-waist and A-line styles totally appropriate for petite women too.
Find it: The Purple Goose, Patricia Shoppe and Twigs.

Major jewelry—you don’t need to be an heiress to sport sparkly costume jewelry. It can be found anywhere from the local vintage or thrift store to yes, real jewelry stores. My favorite tip? Gather several necklaces that look similar or have similar elements and wear 'em all at once. I just read a great tip from J. Crew’s fashion director in Glamour: wear a few necklaces and pin on a pretty costume brooch and—insta-style! My point is that adding fun, chunky jewelry can instantly dress up a plain white tank and skirt or jeans—perfect for your favorite fest while still looking chic.
Try any of the shops named above for fab jewelry—they all have great picks.

Fall Fashion: The Six Items You Need

Sorry for my hiatus last week, things were busy with magazine deadlines! I’m back and ready to talk to you about what to pick up for fall. Now don’t get me wrong: these are simply suggestions for what I’ve been seeing as smart buys locally at shops and nationally in fashion mags and through my own research. These items for the most part are ones I will (probably) be picking up (or already have!). As always, I suggest adapting these items and looks for what suits you—and no one else. Style is all about what you make it to be, and no one can tell you what you like and don’t like!
One of my recent posts addressed recessionistas; namely, a woman who is able to look fashionable in tough economic times by budgeting smart and saving on trendier items. Take note: all of the pieces I outline below can be bought for big bucks or little bucks. Prioritize what you like the most, spend the majority of your money on that one (or few) item and pick up trendier things that are less expensive, like a piece of jewelry or a jewel-tone item.
If you saw our fashion spread in the September 2008 issue many of the items I outline below we used in that shoot.

Dressy Denim
My research has concluded that there’s not only one must-have, to-die-for style of jeans. Which is good, as some looks aren’t great on everyone (skinny jeans, anyone?). What I am seeing is classic and refined looks in dark washes. (Side note: yes, I know Katie Holmes and every other celebrity in the world is wearing those darn slouchy, baggy, pegged boyfriend jeans and we’re not going there. Just don’t. Unless you’re painting the house, or something.)
Anyway, where was I? Ah, yes. The trouser jean is the ticket. More refined than the high-waisted, wide-leg look of the summer I say trouser jeans are the way to go. I’m planning on picking up J. Crew’s High Heel Jean (with a remarkable 36” inseam! Yay! The “regular” inseam length is 33” so these are definitely high heel jeans).
I also want to pick up a skinnier-leg jean that I can tuck into boots. I haven’t decided where I will buy those yet but I’m excited to see what’s out there.
Pick up your jeans at: Atticus (shown in picture), Bop, J. Crew, J LaMore, Twigs.

Juicy Jewels
Summer was all about brights: red, yellow and green. Fall’s refined looks are giving way to more sophisticated shades of fuchsia, emerald, sapphire, teal and rust. These shades are showing up in everything from handbags to sweaters. See page 29 in our September issue for a beautiful example of a fun, pumpkin orange cashmere sweater that would be a perfect complement to any outfit. Or check out the Botkier for Target fuchsia handbag I will be sporting this fall (above). The hobo shape and metallic studs are trend-right for any look this season.
Look at page 26 (shown) or page 27 of our fall fashion spread: a rich teal cocktail dress or silk blouse with a geometric, funky honeycomb pattern in jewel tones (teal, fuchsia, eggplant, et cetera) shows how the look can be evening-ready or work-appropriate.
Buy it: Whether it’s H&M or Bop, the look can be found anywhere.

Rock It
So it might be a bit much to show up for work in a pair of strappy, high heeled gladiator sandals or patent leather ankle booties. That’s why you save those for your nights out ☺! Seriously though I’m loving the “refined rocker” look, as I like to call it: pyramid studs, leather, bomber jackets and more. Eighties rock rears its (hair band) head in bits of animal print, but in a quieter way: perhaps you’ll wear a zebra belt or leopard kitten heels. Nothing overboard—sexy, yet classy. Or you could be ridiculous like me and wear your favorite leopard-print high heels to work anytime you feel like it. I’m just saying.
Check out the photo (below) of the belts I’ll be working into my wardrobe this fall. The yellow number has a luxe snakeskin look (what’s more rocker than snakeskin?!), and the leopard and black stretch belt with pyramid studs will all add bits of stylish rocker chic in my life. In case you’re wondering, the hot yellow and leopard belts are from the HospiceCare Thrift Store! Go there, already!
I also love the tough bomber jackets I’ve seen. Most recently a stop into Express yielded several very cute bomber jackets in solids and prints, in leather and other fabrications. J. LaMore is also boasting quite a collection of leather jackets and vests, the epitome of classic.
Buy it: Dazzle (accessories), Express, HospiceCare Thrift Store, J. LaMore.

Make a Statement
Have I talked about how much I like the HospiceCare Thrift Store yet? I’m kidding, I mention them all of the time. In fact I was just there the other week and picked up a piece of statement jewelry myself: a long chain necklace for pennies. Ninety-nine pennies to be exact, pre-tax. That’s right! Statement jewelry is found everywhere from a consignment store to well, a “real” jewelry store.
Look for bejeweled pendants, layers of pearl necklaces, ribbon accents and chains.
Buy it: Any consignment store, Atticus, Dazzle, Patricia Shoppe, Twigs.

Nail It
So let’s say you don’t want to wear leopard print heels. Instead, kick up your look with an edgy nail color (right). If you hate it, you can always take it off!
Trendy colors this season include navy, burgundy, eggplant, black and metallics: gold, silver and gunmetal. A cheap and chic way to take your look up a notch. Sally Hansen offers an array of trendy colors for only $2.49 a pop at Target.
Buy it: Target.

Ladylike Luxe
Whether it’s a feminine frock, ruffled blouse, satin trench coat or pencil skirt, options are endless in what you can find. If you hate dresses, wear a tie-neck blouse with wide-leg trousers. Want to class up your outerwear? Get thee to Target where they sell a fuchsia satin trench coat for—gasp!—$39.99. I’d buy it myself if I didn’t already own a black satin trench coat that I adore. Want a pencil skirt with edge? J LaMore’s wool leopard print combines both.
Locally, Patricia Shoppe always does a wonderful job of incorporating classic feminine looks in updated fabrications.
Or pick up something at a consignment shop. Lady Moxie has new designers as well as affordable and higher-end consignment pieces. Pink Poodle has twelve thousand square feet chock-full of clothing just waiting for you to get your hands on.
If you want real vintage check out Epoch (below) on State Street for hats, gloves, clutches and prim dresses.
Buy it: Bop, Epoch, J LaMore, Lady Moxie, Patricia Shoppe, Pink Poodle, Target, Twigs.

Bop, 222 W. Gorham St. 255-2570. shopbop.com
Dazzle, 8426 Old Sauk Rd. 826-4455.
Epoch, 214 State St. 255-2385.
HospiceCare Thrift Store, 122 Junction Rd. 833-4556. hospicecareinc.com
J LaMore, 2701 Monroe St. 238-2119. jlamore.com
Lady Moxie, 6706 Odana Rd. 826-4268. ladymoxie.com
Pink Poodle, 5918 Odana Rd. 276-7467. thepinkpoodleonline.net
Twigs, 1925 Monroe St. 255-4363. shoptwigs.com

Madison's Hottest Shopping Websites

We all know the virtues of shopping online—it’s easy, you can do it in your pajamas, et cetera. Shopping locally, here are what I think are the best designed and most navigable sites right now. (Above: Lauren Merkin "Eve" clutch from JC Madison)

Context
Co-owners and denim connoisseurs Sam and Ben Parker and Ryan Huber have gained quite a reputation for the most coveted and exclusive denim selection around—and in the world, in some cases. Huber pointed out a pair to me the last time I was in the shop that is exclusive to Context (the only other store carrying the brand was its flagship store). Also check out the website’s “Eco-Denim” tab featuring Nudie Denim and Apolis Activism tees. contextclothing.com

Fair Indigo
Four former Lands’ End execs are the founders of Fair Indigo: Bill Bass, Elizabeth Ragone, Don Hughes and Rob Behnke. This site is particularly exciting because shoppers can get to know the people behind their purchases, like Gladys from Montevideo, Uruguay who makes the brand’s seasonless sweaters. Or check out the new eco-friendly baby line which features recycled fleece and organic cotton. I also like the close-up feature that lets web browsers hold their clicker over a garment and it shows a close-up of the fabric weave and detail of the item. fairindigo.com

The Guild
The crème de la crème of a beautifully designed art website. Originally started by Toni Sikes as a website to market artists’ work to designers and architects, Sikes decided to open up the business to regular old art lovers via The Artful Home catalog. The artfulhome.com website followed. More than ten thousand items like glasswork, paintings, jewelry and furniture are available from 1,200 different artists. The Guild is the leading retailer of original art and craft in the country. guild.com, theartfulhome.com


JC Madison
Owner Jenny Condon moved her storefront in Greenway Station to a smaller storefront in the Greenway Industrial Park in September. The reason? To focus on the website end of her business. Condon's new space has a smaller showroom, but offers more storage space for packing up web orders and storing inventory. Condon says the web aspect of the company has been doing incredibly well. Some of that could be chalked up to mentions in Lucky, People, Marie Claire and, well, Madison Magazine. jcmadison.com

J LaMore
First of all, I’ve got to commend Jennifer LaMore, owner of J LaMore, for the website’s denim selection. Many pairs retail for—gasp!—under one hundred dollars. With a tight economy and more importantly, tight wallets, that’s good for shoppers. LaMore’s site goes one step further and incorporates a “friends blog” into the website where shoppers can connect and discuss their favorite styles and designers. Women can also “pick a friend” from the friends blog and friends are from all over—Birmingham, Ala., Hartford, Conn., Milwaukee, London, Paris and yes, even Madison. jlamore.com

Lands’ End
I would think the site’s most popular feature is the swim finder. Find mix and match separates, slenderizing suits, plus-size suits … the list goes on. It’s all there. Men will also find expanded swim options this summer with inseam length choices and more patterns and styles of shorts. Plus did you know that most of the swim stuff has UPF 50 sun protection? That’s right, kid’s, women’s and men’s swimwear all have built-in protection to block the sun’s harmful rays. Of course the site’s ever-popular casual and workwear clothing continues to be a hit. landsend.com

Sconnie.com
Admit it: you loved your college years. Now relive them with Sconnie Nation’s printed T-shirts, mugs, knit hats, hoodies and much more. Plus you can custom design your own gear whether it’s for that upcoming college reunion, family reunion or work party. sconnie.com

shopbop.com
This one’s a no-brainer. It’s gotten kudos from national pubs (Lucky, InStyle, etc. etc), plus, a few retailers here and there have mentioned it to me as a site they look to for stellar web design. It doesn’t hurt that this site features the uber-trendiest, of-the-moment looks by Marc Jacobs, McQ–Alexander McQueen, Theory, Loeffler Randall—even Lauren Conrad. Seriously, they’ve got so many brands it’s overwhelming. Check out the lookbook that literally builds outfits for you and lets shoppers buy the entire look (how easy is that??), bolster your wardrobe with “Bop Basics” and view the “Top Sellers” tab to keep up with what’s flying off the site. shopbop.com

shoptwigs.com
Another shop that’s got a stronghold on high fashion and the latest cool brands (Tory Burch, rag & bone, Gryson) in the city. Twigs has refocused a lot of their energies on their website, and it shows. Shoppers can pick an item (I chose Rock & Republic jeans) and check out up-close views of the item as well as a top or another item that’s paired with it. The website’s clean, uncluttered look is another bonus for me. shoptwigs.com

Other intriguing, locally owned stores’ websites:
indocara.com—This modern global furnishings store was started by Lands’ End alum Natasha Vora. Her web savvy is evident with an attractive, easy to navigate website.
freemarketorganics.com—Based out of Evansville, founder Amelia Royko Maurer sends out e-newsletters with “Green Tips of the Week.” Her eco-friendly website’s got kitchen goods, apparel, baby stuff and more.
centuryhouseinc.com—Your Scandinavian furnishings headquarters. Perfect for those who love the iconic and sinuous “Le Klint” hanging pendant lamp or the utilitarian, clean look of Nordic furnishings.

Designer Details and More

I was reading M (Macy’s magazine) spring 2008 issue and came across an interview with Michael Kors. Kors, who’s been on the fashion scene for twenty-five-plus years (his first ready-to-wear line was launched at various department stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Sak’s in 1981) is arguably one of the most famous American designers, along with the likes of Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein.
Kors’ interview was enlightening as he talked about his design process, his signature style and his inspirations. I really respect and admire his clothing lines (MICHAEL, the lower-priced clothing line is about the only one I can afford ☺). There’s something about Kors that says all-American with a twist of European chic-ness that you just don’t see (in my opinion) in Ralph Lauren’s more preppy lines.
What I love even more about Kors is his no-holds-barred frankness on Bravo’s Project Runway. He’s the amusing foil to Nina Garcia’s Devil Wears Prada attitude (seriously: he once told a contestant that the outfit looked like something Friar Tuck would wear; to another, he said a pair of pants looked like the "model’s a*s was in front").
Which brings me to my point: much of the interview was about Kors’ signature style. You see, when you see pictures of fashion designers, did you ever notice that they’re always wearing the same outfit? Examples: Tom Ford in an unbuttoned white shirt/black suit combo; Donna Karan’s long, flowy dresses; Vera Wang’s tunic tops/cardigans with leggings, Zac Posen’s military-inspired jackets, Karl Lagerfeld’s all black ensemble, black boots and high collars, and, we can’t forget, Kors’ jean/blazer/T-shirt combo. Kors even acknowledges as much in his interview by commenting about his personal style, “Formulaic. I spend my life thinking about clothes and dressing men and women—but I do not want to think about how I get dressed.” Interesting.

Weaving into this discussion about personal style is a mention of Karl Lagerfeld, long known as the force behind fashion house Chanel. I saw the documentary Lagerfeld Confidentiel during the Wisconsin Film Festival (held here in Madison, April 3–6). What an interesting documentary! Lagerfeld, long known as someone who doesn’t reveal much about himself, does the same in this documentary. While it’s somewhat revealing about his day-to-day life (photo shoots, fashion shows, traveling constantly), he’s still quite enigmatic and mysterious. He even comments in the film how he wants to remain a mystery to those very close to him, including family and friends.
My favorite part of the film was the beginning when they show his French abode. He has at least five large, silver bowls on two dressers filled to the brim with big, chunky silver rings—part of his signature style. It appears as though he wears at least one, if not two, rings on each finger.
Also in his dresser drawers? Stiff, white collars that he (presumably) buttons into the collars of his trademark black jackets. It reminded me of a stay that goes in a priest’s collar—only five times as wide and up to his chin. Designers, that crazy bunch. But hey, Lagerfeld’s probably thinking the same thing as Michael Kors—if I think about clothes all day, I just want what’s dependable and looks good on me! I compare it to a chef; the last thing a chef wants to do when he or she get home from work is cook a five-course meal—they just want a grilled cheese sandwich.

So what’s your personal style? Everyone from the highest echelon of the fashion ranks like John Galliano’s crazy pirate-style (seriously; he’s the head designer of Christian Dior) to people like you and I, have one.
I say, embrace your style! Buy what you love but don’t be a slave to trends. And for goodness sake (Kors would agree) wear what fits—that’s always in style. Whether it’s from the new Goodwill store on State Street (opened April 8) or Twigs, we can all find something that works for us.

Goodwill 658 State St. goodwillscwi.org
Twigs 1925 Monroe St. 255-4363. shoptwigs.com

Pendant Pleasure

I was perusing one of my favorite guilty pleasures, Life & Style Weekly, over the weekend and spotted a trend page on pendant necklaces. It’s funny; these come in and out like clockwork. I recall in the ’80s these were popular, and they’ve come around again. They really add a punch to summer’s cute tops like tunics and tanks, and polish off an outfit. Anyway, one of my favorites on the page happened to be a pendant from our very own Twigs: a cute electroplated-gold four-leaf clover by Kenneth Jay Lane, $40.