Bits and Pieces

Trying to understand how a leather J. Crew bomber jacket could possibly cost twelve hundred dollars (and mourning the fact that, even if it goes on sale, it will still be too damn expensive). [J. Crew]

Lipstick that's perfect for sitting in the dark and listening to the Cure. [Apocalypstick Now]

I've always been iffy on the topic of textured tights, until this post. Now I love them. [Between Laundry Days]

How could you possibly frown when there's a bunch o' butterflies on your head? [Daddy Likey] (P.S. I am frowning. The butterflies are sold out. Poo.)

Bostonians! Head to the deCordova and check out some awesome Jules Aarons street style photography ... for sartorial inspiration, perhaps? [Beyond Boston Chic]

I must confess I am dying to try these on. [That's Hideous]

Boston Fashion Week is in full swing, but I've been a bit of a deadbeat as of yet. I'm not jaded, just busy! [BFW09]

Suri Cruise photographed wearing high heels along Newbury Street this week. It looks ... weird. [Just Jared]

Image: J. Crew

Hump-Day Hunk

The admission I'm about to make probably won't raise too many eyebrows: I dig athletes. Swimmers, runners, basketball players, bicyclists; anyone that's at the top of their game and at the pinnacle of their own personal fitness I find completely enchanting. Throw in a dash of some unselfconscious passion in the heat of a game, and well, it's hotter than Michael Phelps' abs.

With that in mind, I present this week's Hunk, Gaël Monfils, French tennis player ranked #13 in the world. Two reasons to love him: 1) He has an umlaut in his name and 2) Do you know anyone else with arms like that? I didn't think so.
Image: Prince Tennis

My Name is Veronica, and I'm About to be a Swapaholic

My typical morning routine: I stand before my tightly packed closet with glazed eyes, staring at it until I am good and late to wherever I need to be. I suffer a small anxiety attack and mutter a couple of four-letter words. Finally, I just grab a pair of jeans and some kind of fitted black top and call it an outfit.

Little did I know, three guys in Cambridge were experiencing the same dilemma - a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear - and decided to do something about it. Combining entreprenurial spirit with some serious tech and business school chops, they founded ThredUP, a peer-to-peer clothing exchange service.

I recently got the chance to chat with one of the co-founders, James Reinhart, about the ThredUP concept, the pitfalls of "disposable" fashion, and his thoughts on Boston's sense of personal style.

"[Fast-fashion retailer] Zara designs their clothing to be worn about ten times," James tells me. I find this disappointing, yet unsurprising. He adds, "ThredUp is about consuming differently." But how? In a nutshell, you swap your clothing for someone else's. It's a virtual clothing swap with a dash of consignment and a hint of Netflix. ThredUP acts as the middle-man, allowing users to purchase mailing envelopes and review and rate their swaps. Each user is given "stylie points" based on the stylishness of their offerings, meaning you'll never have to experience the horror of tapered-leg mom jeans arriving in your mailbox, as long as you offer high quality clothing that's current and cool (and sure, "cool" can be subjective, but I think we can all agree that some things are universally uncool). "It's meant to be fun," James says, noting that ThredUp is a different take on "shopping your closet," because, well, you're shopping someone else's closet.

Having been interested in personal style from an early age, James admits that he's the guy his friends go to for fashion advice (and giving me even more confidence that ThredUP won't be chock full of guys trying to cast off their old Abercrombie slogan tees). I ask James what he thinks is the biggest fashion crime in our fair city, and he replies, "Too much skin. Classy and modest are so much more attractive." To the Boston college students in your teeny-tiny skirts and Uggs, please take note. I think he's talking to you.

Top image: ThredUP.com Bottom image: James Reinhart

Hump-Day Hunk

Once upon a time, Dina recommended I read a humble little book called The Time Traveler's Wife. I mentally added the novel to the ever-growing list of Books to Read in the back of my brain, which is to say I completely forgot about it for months. Shortly after that my mother spotted a used copy of the book at a local book fair and, knowing my predilection for time-travel themed entertainment, snapped it up and gave it to me. It sat unread on my bookshelf for at least two years.

Then one day in late July, I happened to see a movie trailer for - you guessed it - The Time Traveler's Wife, based on the novel of the same name. I was speechless. It took the moviemakers less time to adapt a novel to a screenplay, film and produce a feature-length movie than it's taken me to get around to reading a single book? That evening, I marched straight to the bookshelf, dusted the book off, and resolved to actually read it.

Four-hundred pages later, I am almost there. I'm looking forward to finishing it, partly because it's so engrossing that I keep nearly missing my bus stop on my daily commute, but also so I can treat myself to seeing the movie version. I fully expect the book to be better than the movie, except for one thing: main character, reluctant time-traveler - and this week's Hunk - Henry, as played by Australian hottie Eric Bana.

Image: JustJared

The Best and the Worst of New York Fashion Week

Alas, the three-ring style circus otherwise known as New York Fashion Week has come to an end. Sadly, I was not in attendance, but I did follow the collections closely online in order to weed out the good (chic cocktail dresses!) from the absolutely baffling (high-waisted ruched white underwear!), so you wouldn't have to. So without further ado, the good:

Marchesa: Note the painstakingly detailed craftsmanship on the bodice and skirt of this particular dress. The asymmetrical hemline is interesting and very modern. I would sell one of my kidneys to have it.

Carolina Herrera: This dress is a one-shoulder style in a rich purple with a cinched waist. Stunning!

... and, the not-so-good:

Rodarte: This dress would be fine had it not been attacked by an angry jellyfish moments before appearing on the runway.

Duckie Brown: For Spring 2010, real men wear baggy shorts with gigantic bows on them.

... and finally, the undecided:

Isaac Mizrahi: Once again, I'm faced with a jumpsuit dilemma, only this time, sequins have somehow gotten involved.

Readers, please shop wisely. How many pairs of high-waisted under-roos do you really need anyway?

Image: Duckie Brown Spring 2010, via Style.com

Bad Fashion Song Lyrics

Last night I was driving along Route 93 in Boston, listening to what used to be my beloved WBCN, when one of those terrible tween-y neo-angst pop songs came on. I didn't change it right away, because driving on Route 93 can be pretty hairy and I was afraid to let go of the steering wheel. So, I was held hostage for several minutes as someone who sounded a lot like Avril Lavigne lamented her nonexistent love life. I memorized some of the nauseating lyrics so I could Google the song later, fully prepared to turn Avril upside down and inside out.

To my dismay, the song was "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift. Crap. Girl's had kind of a rough week, and I felt a little bad for wanting to criticize her song, until it occured to me that she probably didn't even write it, and besides, the songwriting is colossally bad. With this in mind, I decided to proceed.

But she wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts / She's cheer captain, and I'm on the bleachers / Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find / That what you're looking for has been here the whole time

I have a couple issues with this, one being the absolutely trite and clichéd subject matter. But I won't dwell on that one, because it's all the latent sexism in the lyrics that's really getting my panties in a twist.

First of all, I resent the notion that women fall into one of two categories: women that like to do stuff and women that like to look pretty. Of course, the underlying implication is that women who are "tomboys" (gah, I hate that word) have substance and are more "like the guys" and therefore inherently better, while stereotypically "feminine" women are shallow, materialistic prisses who only care about hair and shoes and clothes. So it's no wonder that Taylor's hero in the song is the one that wears the t-shirts and sneakers and is thus more deserving of the boy in question.

She also doesn't miss the opportunity to take a swipe at the other girl, a la Carrie "she can't shoot whiskey" Underwood:

You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset / She's going off about something that you said / 'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do

Because she's too busy worrying about her split ends! Duh.

Ultimately, this song makes it all about the guy. Are you that mousy girl with an unremarkable wardrobe but a killer sense of humor? Hang in there! Your crush will eventually realize his arm candy has inhaled too many fumes from the nail salon, and soon he'll come around to validate your existence! Sigh.

P.S. Sorry, Avril. My bad.

Image: CMT.com

Hump-Day Hunk

This year, 2009, marks ten years since I've graduated from high school. In actual chronological time, ten years is not that long. I'm still in my twenties, I still rent my residence, and I still eat ramen on a semi-regular basis; in other words, I don't feel like I've even ventured into Sophisticated Adult territory, that wonderful foreign land where people drive cars with heated leather seats and know how to cook artichokes. In pop culture terms, however, I am an ancient fossil. I make jokes with Saved by the Bell references in them and whenever I see Zac Efron described as a heartthrob I want to lock myself in a dark closet for, like, the rest of my life. So naturally when I heard about the new FOX series Glee, which is set in high school, I had visions of shaggy-haired hipster wannabes and waifish fashion victims; essentially the characters from the new 90210 regurgitated and repackaged for a comedy show.

I was wrong! Sure, Glee has many of the usual expected television archetypes (the dumb-as-dirt jock, the mean-girl cheerleader) but their own special brand of jock has a mohawk, is named Puck, and is played by 26-year old Dallas native Mark Salling, who is old enough to remember his namesake from Real World San Francisco. Wherever his high school is, I want to go.

Image: Yahoo! TV

Crocs vs. FiveFingers: The Final Shoedown

Yesterday's post on primate-friendly footwear and subsequent reader commentary has raised an important question I've been tossing around in my brain all day: could the new FiveFingers brand possibly trump Crocs in the ugly department? Or are Crocs still the undisputed reigning champion? Let's battle it out!

Style
They're both ugly, plain and simple. But while Crocs are just sloppy and floppy and awkward-looking, FiveFingers are downright creepy. It's the difference between having to stare at someone with a giant zit growing on their forehead versus having to stare at someone with, say, a hand growing out of their forehead.

Crocs, 0 FiveFingers 1

Fit
Despite all the hype, I have previously found that Crocs are not particularly comfortable. The classic clog style offers very little support and feels a lot like wearing a shoe that's five sizes too large. I've never worn FiveFingers, but I imagine the fit is much more snug and secure.

Crocs 1, FiveFingers 0

Initial Reaction
As you'll quickly learn from my last post, my initial encounter with FiveFingers was Horror at First Sight, which affected not only myself, but my unsuspecting husband. The first time I laid eyes on Crocs, I made the assumption that they were orthopedic or corrective in nature, and didn't think much of it until I started spotting the stupid shoes on pretty much everyone on the planet besides myself. I ascertained that these people couldn't all need corrective footwear. Corrective sense of style perhaps, but not footwear.

Crocs 0, FiveFingers 1

FiveFingers is in the lead 2-1, to be continued ... does anyone want to weigh in on this?

A Shoe Only a (Gorilla) Mother Could Love

A few weeks ago at a local Apple Store, Derek and I were chatting with a salesperson about the various features of the iPod Touch (or rather, Derek was chatting and I was resisting the temptation to whip out my credit card right then and there), when I happened to glance down at the weirdest shoes I think I've ever seen (and I've seen some weird shoes in my day). This particular salesperson's shoes had toes - yes, individual toes - that gave his feet a wacky, cartoonish, exaggerated appearance. It was the first time in my life that someone's shoes gave me the heebie-jeebies.

I briefly glanced over at Derek who, judging by his horrified expression, had clearly noticed the creepy feet-shoes as well. I spent the remainder of our time in the store desperately fighting the urge to laugh and avoiding eye contact with the salesperson. Later on, I casually asked Derek, "Hey, did you notice the Apple guy's shoes?"

"YES," he replied emphatically, wearing the same horrified expression as earlier that day. We didn't discuss it further. In all honesty, I had forgotten all about the incident until I read this article on "gorilla shoes" in the New York Times this morning.

On paper (or, rather, on Interwebs), the shoes actually seem kind of cool, with their technology rooted in sound scientific theory:

The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised.

That’s why we recommend wearing FiveFingers for exercise, play, and for fun. Stimulating the muscles in your feet and lower legs will not only make you stronger and healthier, it improves your balance, agility and proprioception.

In reality, though, they're just ... weird. But why? I haven't quite put my finger on it - no pun intended!

Vibram FiveFingers KSO, $85.00

V's Super-Duper Full-Out Fantasy Fall Wardrobe Wish List

I can't help but feel resentful for the poor excuse for a summer we New Englanders received this year. First, it was unseasonably cold and rainy, then it was unbearably humid, and then ... it was September. But! The current economic mood seems to have brought out the edginess in designers' creations this season, with so many covetable items just waiting to drain our checking accounts. Here, my top five picks for Fall '09, budget notwithstanding, of course:

1. Over-the-knee boots. In my 28 years of life, I have never been more infatuated with an article of footwear more than I am with a tall lace-up boot. Good quality ones are somewhat difficult to find, and most are difficult to afford, but in my experience with lace-up boots, the quality tends to remain consistent with the price. With that said, I MUST HAVE THESE. I don't even care that they're from Juicy Couture, a brand I have accused of being tacky and overpriced. All I can think about is how cool they'd look peeking out from a knee-length military-style winter-white wool coat. Juicy Couture Honey Over-the-Knee Boots, $500

2. Jumpsuit. We've been over this debate before, but I think I've decided a chic jumpsuit is in my future. Especially if it's one that's as versatile as the one pictured - it does double duty as a jumpsuit and a pair of harem pants. Wouldn't it look fantastic with lots of funky gold costume jewelry? T-Bags Jumpsuit/Pants, $207.00

3. Ankle boots. Not content to let this trend pass me by, I have found a solution that suits both my tastes and the flexibility of my ankles. I'm also petitoning to make a national holiday of the day they invented metallic leather shoes. There will be no turkey or forced family togetherness, but footwear is non-negotiable. Nine West Jezebelle Ankle Bootie, $86.90

4. Leather hobo bag. Okay, so this is cheating a little, because I just bought this exact bag last night in a fit of eBay frenzy (it was an offer I couldn't refuse, essentially). It's supposed to develop its own patina after some time passes, giving it a vintage appearance. Isn't life too short to carry a boring bag? Well, that's how I'm justifying my purchase, anyway. Lucky Brand Leather Stash Bag, $122.40

5. Retro hat. This is officially the coolest hat I've ever laid eyes on. I've actually been fortunate enough to try it on; it's the creation of Boston-based milliner Marie Galvin, whose studio is located on Harrison Avenue in SoWa. Galvin-ized Headwear Style #220, $(probably more than I can afford)

Now, here's the deal, if the fashion gods are listening: if I can have each one of these five items for Fall, then I promise to stop belly-aching about the weather for the remainder of 2009. Okay?

Bits and Pieces

Victoria Beckham may be a lot of things (hungry, tacky, orange, etc.) but she's not an apparel designer [The Emperor's Old Clothes]

Speaking of tacky, flared leggings look as hideous as they sound [Style Frizz]

Katie does her best Jerry Seinfeld impression, with hilarious results [Breaking Curfew]

Not going anywhere for a while? Forget the Snickers bar - check out the ultimate liveblog dedicated to Vogue's September 2009 issue. On second thought, might want to grab that Snickers bar anyway [Glossed Over]

Get your ice skates, because hell has frozen over: Dina is teaching me how to knit [From the Sublime to the Ridiculous]

Image: SofaKingDrunk.com

Hump-Day Hunk

Right up until very late last night, I was all set to nominate horror movie director and Boston-area native Eli Roth as this week's Hump-Day Hunk. The nomination would have been timely; Eli stars in Tarantino's latest bloodfest Inglourious Basterds and is also interviewed in the most recent edition of the Improper Bostonian. But a quick Google search yielded a disheartening realization: Eli Roth has a serious case of Douchebag Hair. So I demoted him. Sorry Eli. But it's for your own good.

But what to do about the lack of Hunk at such short notice? I scoured my archives. I brainstormed. I flipped through the channels on the TV, hoping for ideas. Nothing. I finally stopped on a network replaying She's All That when it hit me. Paul Walker! Why? Because he's hot and he has normal hair. Which is all I ask for, really.

Image: The Best Boys

Test-Driving the Previously-Dreaded Running Skirt

It's been said that true personal growth only really happens when one steps out of their comfort zone. I wonder if this applies to matters of fashion, because I recently broke from tradition, threw out the rule book, and embraced the unholy union of fashion and fitness: the running skirt.

The following admission may seem a little unusual for a fashion enthusiast such as myself, but: I don't enjoy wearing skirts. This is partly because I can't keep my legs bruise/scrape/sunburn-free for long enough to want to expose them to the public; partly because Vogue has now made me self-conscious about my knees; and partly because most skirts make me feel either a) old and frumpy (too long) or b) like a prostitute (too short).

With this in mind, it's no wonder my initial reaction to the running skirt was one of skepticism. Sure, I thought, that's all well and good if your idea of working out is looking cute and sashay-ing around the gym on your cell phone. But soon enough, I started to warm to the idea. I discovered that many styles came with built-in shorts (whew), came in many different colors, and could be had for the same price as a decent pair of running shorts (Bostonians: a couple different styles and colors are available at the New Balance Factory Store for only $20 each!).

I finally broke down and bought one similar to the style pictured, complete with built-in shorts and slits up each side. It was super-comfortable and had a surprisingly flattering A-line shape that was just the right length. One downside: to someone like me who is accustomed to wearing shorts or sweats to work out, the skirt just felt so formal; like I was headed to a royal palace for a proper jog rather than to dodge bratty little kids and goose poop on the local high school's outdoor track. I shrugged to myself and wore it anyway.

Since the sole purpose of an article of workout clothing is to facilitate intense exercise without making its presence known to the wearer, I hoped that I would soon forget I was even wearing the running skirt. I did. It was light and comfortable and allowed for lots of movement. Now if I can only get over that totally overdressed feeling, I will be a complete convert.

New Balance Bonita Skirt 2.0, $32.95