Setting the Mood: Runway Runaround

By admin|September 8th, 2014|Setting the Mood|

Last Thursday officially marked the beginning of New York Fashion Week although I think brands and PR firms have sneakily stretched one grueling week into two seeing as my Fashion Week began last Tuesday with a party for Fohr Card on the rooftop of the James Hotel and an amazing panel discussion with Zac Posen. From that point forward, it’s been game on. Friends who are not involved in the industry and even those who are have vowed to reunite after the madness has died down next week. As much excitement, beauty, and straight up style Fashion Week brings with it, there’s an equal and opposite amount of stress, snarkiness, and showboating involved. I’ve come to a place in my life and career where I both love and loathe these two times a year (February and September) nearly as much as my annual trip to those shiny silver stirrups, which I think I adequately verbalized last season.

It can be downright infuriating, dealing with the crowds, the egos, and the newbies who haven’t been alive long enough to understand the underlying purpose of the week, but it is a necessary evil and actually being a part of it is truly humbling. Much like all things that are American these days, Fashion Week has become commercialized and almost a social media safari as to who can capture what picture from what show first and from the best angle. It’s a virtual pissing contest that can leave some victorious and others vexed. However, just when I’m about to roll my eyes and begin to grumble as I traipse through Lincoln Center cursing myself for wearing those shoes, I am reminded that at one point in time I was just a little girl from West Virginia playing dress up in her mom’s clothes. Loeffler Randall Work Tote with Haircalf, Italia Independent Velvet Flat Top Sunglasses, Smythson Inspirations and Ideas Notebook, Olloclip iPhone Camera Lens System

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did or Why Don’t: Take a Bow…

By Kirsten|June 3rd, 2014|Why Did or Why Don't?|

In case you don’t follow anyone on Instagram and haven’t yet seen the sparkly get up that bad gal, RiRi wore to accept the CFDA award for “Fashion Icon of the Year” last night, here she blows. At first look I was thoroughly impressed with the beautiful old Hollywood glamour she opted for, but her shiny… and see through custom Adam Selman dress was met with mixed reviews. Some applauded her while others were appalled. Rihanna is no newbie to controversy and raising a few well groomed eyebrows. I mean, this isn’t her first appearance on WhyDid either… she was here, here, and here for starters. And while I am not always a fan of her muppetesque hair and her choices in men (ha! who am I to talk?), I do love that she seems to have absolutely no problem doing, saying, and wearing whatever she damn well pleases, which are probably all factors as to why she was even presented with the award. Her hair, makeup, and accessories were perfection and if anyone is going to go nearly nude to an awards show, thank heavens it was someone with her body as opposed to say, Steve Carell’s. The more I think about it, Rihanna is one smart cookie. She went ahead and took out all the possibility of an accidental nip slip and just came in with all guns blazing. And honestly, if you do follow her on Instagram, you’ve already all but seen her naked, so why are we all so shcocked? But enough about me… Rihanna’s look: too much or never enough?

xx,

WhyDid

Setting the Mood: Working Girl

By Kirsten|September 3rd, 2013|Setting the Mood|

Yesterday was Labor Day, which everyone seems to think means summer is over, but I have some news that may make your return to the cubicle slightly less depressing. The last day of summer actually isn’t until September 21st, so everyone, chill. You still have about three more weeks of summer to revel in even if your summer rental has expired. For some reason, September has a way of feeling like going back to school. Even though you’ve probably not had much more than a few Fridays off, returning to work today probably feels reminiscent of the first day of school. In that sense, it’s a good time to update your workday essentials with a tailored tote, classic pumps, chic spectacles, and the ultimate outfit topping blazer. Who’s the boss?

Mansur Gavriel Large Leather Tote, Elizabeth and James Chrystie Glasses, Jimmy Choo Anouk Patent Leather Pumps, Theory Lanai Leather Trimmed Blazer

xx,

WhyDid

Red Carpet Recap: Requirements Were Met.

By Kirsten|May 7th, 2013|Celebrity Style, Red Carpet Recap|

Julie Macklowe in Zang Toi, Zandra Rhodes, Madonna in Givenchy, Sarah Jessica Parker in Giles Deacon

Since 1948 the Metropolitan Museum of Art has hosted the Met Ball (also known as the Costume Institute Ball) to fete the opening of the fashion exhibit at the Costume Institute. Every year, the event has a theme that attendees are encouraged to channel with their chosen attire. This year’s theme was deemed Punk: Chaos to Couture and that got the fashion world in a bit of a tizzy. A stripped down rock starting between 1974 and 1976 characterized by DIY principles and sub-culture rooted in anti-establishment and rebellious youth, would fashion’s elite really relate to the theme seeing as some of them hadn’t even been conceived when punk was present? The red carpet proved to be a bit of a crap shoot, which was made especially apparent when Hailee Steinfeld referenced Avril Lavigne as “punk.”

Some ladies played it subtle by simply accessorizing with studded jewelery or faux-hawk coifs. Dramatic dark smokey eyes and deep berry lips were also favored on the red carpet. But the real stars of the red carpet were the women who really went for it. Anne Hathaway went full blown blonde, SJP sported an exquisite mohawk headpiece by Philip Treacy, and Madonna said, “to hell with pants!” in Givenchy. Rooney Mara, Nina Dobrev, and Minka Kelly were the perfect mesh of modern and punk embracing the look in sexy lace and smoldering makeup. While Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, and Amanda Seyfried were stunning, they veered to the side of safe. Which can’t be said for some like Coco in Emanuel Ungaro, a tie dyed Elle Fanning, and a seemingly confused Olsen twin. And I’m left wondering if some of these ladies didn’t get the memo or are just party poopers who simply ignored the theme altogether.

So, who got punk and who got punk’d?

Perfectly Punk:

Donatella Versace, Anne Hathaway in Valentino, Rooney Mara in Givenchy, Lauren Santo Domingo in Dolce & Gabbana, Minka Kelly in Carolina Herrera

Miranda Kerr in Michael Kors, Emma Watson in Prabal Gurung, Dakota Fanning in Rodarte, Carolyn Murphy in Nina Ricci, Allison Williams in Altuzarra

Punky Pants:

Kristen Stewart in Stella McCartney, Nina Dobrev in Monique Lhuillier, Jaime King in TopShop, Jessica Biel in Giambattista Valli

How Supermodels Do Punk:

Karolina Kurkova in Mary Katrantzou, Gisele Bundchen in Anthony Vaccarello, Anja Rubik in Anthony Vaccarello, Cara Delevigne in Burberry, Brooklyn Decker in Peter Pilotto

Punk Princesses:

Julianne Hough in TopShop, Taylor Swift in J. Mendel, Blake Lively in Gucci, Gwen Stefani in Maison Martin Margiela, Amanda Seyfried in vintage Givenchy

Pretty, but not Punk:

Gwyneth Paltrow in Valentino, Anna Wintour in Chanel, Kate Upton in Diane von Furstenberg, Kate Beckinsdale in Alberta Ferretti, Heidi Klum in Marchesa

Pieces of Punk:

Jaime King, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Lawrence

Emmy Rossum, Sienna Miller, Jessica Alba

You’ve Been Punk’d:

Ashley Olsen in Dior, Elle Fanning in Rodarte, Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs, Nicole Richie in TopShop, Nora Zehetner in Marchesa

Coco Rocha in Emanuel Ungaro, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Gucci, Christina Ricci in Vivienne Westwood, Beyonce in Givenchy

Who were your favorites?

xx,

WhyDid

Would You Wednesday: I See Through You

By Kirsten|May 9th, 2012|Why Did or Why Don't?|

This past Monday, the Super Bowl of fashion, the Met Gala happened in New York City. As any good fashionista knows, you better arrive dressed to impress or risk being on every news media outlet’s worst dressed list. And deck themselves out is precisely what this year’s A-list did. While there are always a few stand out trends (like Wintour in white and a smattering of sunshine-y yellow), the one trend that seemed to catch everyone’s eye… and breath… was the see through gowns showing off some skin and some seriously gorgeous gams.

To some, this excess of skin may be offensive, but I personally have no problem with it… so long as it’s done with taste rather than haste. I grew up in a kind of “naked house” (it was mostly me and mom… so there was no need for modesty). I’d wear a tissue if I could get away with it and as a matter of fact, I have a dress that I reference as the “tissue dress.” I get it though, one can take a little bit of chic cheekiness and turn it into just a lot of cheek. And while I’m not put off by the female body, some people just don’t appreciate some good side boob and are abhorred by the mere trace of a nipple.

So would you don one of these daring dresses?

xx,

WhyDid

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