It's Fashion Week! Jason Wu!

It's fashion week and I'm living on style.com looking through their slideshows!  I have to say I am not swooning this year - it's looking like a bad season of Project Runway so far. The garments look like they've just been thrown together at the last minute. So disappointing! I won't say what collections I've already browsed...

Finally, I found a couple of nice pieces presented by Mr. Jason Wu.  Just 3 great pieces out of 45, though!  That's not a good percentage.

I feel like continuing and looking some more now!  I will press forward believing I will find lots of pieces that will take my breath away and about which I can write good things!

What is Beauty?

Chanel has done a really nice and inspiring collection of videos addressing the idea of beauty on their facebook and twitter pages.  Below is my favorite of the quotes...

Stay fabulous!

New Nude Notions

I recently had a very enlightening conversation with my very good friend, Tes, about nude shoes.  We always discuss outfits and bounce ideas off of each other when we have events so one day I got a text from her asking about nude shoes.  What blew my mind is, that up until this conversation, it never occurred to me - a Brown girl - that "nude" shoes encompasses a much wider range of colors than I had ever considered.

In our discussion, Tes reminded me that the point of a nude shoe which is to make your legs look longer. Well, I knew this theoretically, but I'm 5'8" and all legs so I don't really need my legs to look longer! My dear friend, Tes, on the other hand, is about 5'4" so this discussion opened my eyes quite a bit!

Tes said that "nude" to her is what she sees when she is naked (a color with which she's very familiar!). After literally laughing out loug, all of the lights in Manhattan lit up in my head! Up until this discussion, "nude" to me in reference to a shoe was any color from creamy beige to chocolate brown (all of which I have in my closet).  I should also mention that when I look for "nude" shape wear, I always try to match my skin tones (all 25 of them - but that's another post, maybe about makeup...) and pout when a shade to match isn't available!  Ironic, right?

So now, when I am dressing someone for an event and a nude shoe is in order, I have more to consider! 

I have to ask myself how tall is my subject and how long are their legs?

If they are petite and we are considering nude footwear, I should try and match their skin tone!

Thank you, Tes! I am always happy to learn something new!  It's even more fun with you because we always giggle so much!

The Nude Spectrum:

Nude Burberry Peep Toe Pumps
Source:  My closet!

True "nude" for me (sometimes)
Saint Laurent - Neiman Marcus

Pretty chocolate nude!
Manolo Blahnik - Neiman Marcus

Valentino - Saks Fifth Avenue

Burberry - Saks Fifth Avenue

Christian Louboutin - Saks Fifth Avenue

Saint Laurent - Saks Fifth Avenue

Lace Dresses!

Lace is back! Not the '80's Prince Purple Rain kind (which I was all over back then, by the way), but there are a plethora of beautiful, simple lace dresses showing up in the stores.  The pretty frilly, girly look is still there but with the clean, neat lines of a great, well made dress.

I first saw one that caught my eye while out prom dress shopping with a good friend. I have been thinking about that beautiful dress ever since and I really regret not going back to at least try it on and see how I looked in it. After that, I noticed lots of teenagers wearing them at their graduations (I went to several this year!).  At one, I kept looking at a friend of mine and we'd both say, "There's another cute one!"  It almost turned into a game of "Slug Bug"! (Google that if you don't know what it is!)

So, needless to say, I have been on the search for the perfect lace dress for me.  I think I've found a casual one which is good because I plan to live in dresses this summer. I am still looking for a dressy one.  Below is what I've seen so far.  It looks like Lily Pulitzer is the current queen of the laces because that is where all of my favorites have turned up.  Of course, my favorite girl, Diane von Furstenberg has a cute one available as well- I always go to that sight first for a great dress and the DVF crew never disapoints! Now all I have to do is get out in this heat and try on some of them!

Hailey by Adrianna Papell (new designer for me)

Zarita by Diane von Furstenberg

Foley by Lily Pulitzer

Who Wears Short Shorts?

Anybody with great legs can rock a pair of short shorts! The rules are simple. Here is a short list of do's and don'ts...

Don't:  Let's get the negative stuff out of the way first!

Don't wear heels with shots shorts - ever! It crosses a very fine line.  Wedges are OK in some situations but I don't think I have ever seen  someone in a short short and heels and made it work. I'd love to see it working well on someone one day.  I doubt I'll be the one to make it work but I am still researching and trying to figure out how to do it.  I love heels and shorts, so we'll see!

Don't wear them if you don't have pretty legs!  You know who you are - no need to ask family or friends that uncomfortable question.  Just use some common sense and be honest with yourself!

Don't worry about age limits! Again, if you have great legs, SHOW THEM OFF!  If I ever get the chance to dress Tina Turner, please believe some variation of Daisy Dukes will be involved! Maybe even some heels which totally negates my first don't! What? Rules are sometimes made to be broken! 

Now for the "Do's"

• Rock shorts,  not panties.  There is a difference.  Keep it tasteful.  You want to still be a lady, after all.
• OWN IT!!! Don't you dare put on a pair of booty shorts (that's what we called them in Texas in the '90s!) and not rock them! You better strut down the street like it's a Mercedes Benz Fashion Week runway!!!
• Have fun!  There is a pair of sequins shorts (pic below) that I am seriously considering for a summer pool party.  If you have a small bottom (like me), you're able to play around with color and patterns so do it! Take some chances, have the fun and go back to rule 1 - OWN IT!

I am so ready to rock my shorts! below are some visual inspirations for you.  Happy summer, ya'll! :)

Short Shorts Wish Lyst:

Haute Hippy Ombre Sequin Shorts saks.com 

Alice + Olivia saks.com

Nanette Lepore saks.com

BCBGMAXAZRIA saks.com