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Why Did or Why Don’t: Giving ‘Em the Slip

By |March 17th, 2014|Why Did or Why Don't?, Why Did You Wear That?|

slip on sneakersNow that we’ve basically kicked that whole wedge sneaker trend, celebrities, who have always been big fans of comfortable footwear, are gravitating towards a shoe that seems to be a hybrid between the classic flat and a comfortable sneaker.  The slip on is essentially what it would look like if a ballet flat had one too many martinis and woke up next to a tennis shoe… nine months later.  A style of shoe made most popular by skateboarders sporting Vans all over Southern California in the 1970’s, the casual shoe has been reinvented by designer brands like Saint LaurentGivenchy and Prada.  While the feel is definitely a bit more downtown, I get the feeling even uptown girls will be heading to Barney’s to shop the look.

slip ons

1. Sam Edelman Becker Slip On, 2. Steve Madden Ecentric Pony Hair Flat, 3. Rachel Zoe Barney Slip On Sneakers, 4. United Nude Elastic Slip On Sneaker, 5. Dolce Vita Zoren Haircalf Slip On Sneakers, 6. Via Spiga Galant Sneaker, 7. Rivieras Lord Acid Woven Faux Leather Slip Ons, 8. Joie Kidmore Slip On Sneakers, 9. Vince Preston Slip On Sneaker, 10. Vans He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not Slip On Sneaker, 11. Rag & Bone Kent Suede Slip On Sneakers

So, while they are definitely an upgrade to the normal commuter sneaker, will you be buying into this trend?

 

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did or Why Don’t: Back(pack) for More

By |December 26th, 2013|Why Did or Why Don't?|

backpack style fashionEvery girl needs a bag within which she can lug around all kinds of things that a man would never fathom being necessary on a day to day basis.  We stow little items that may very well come in handy when handling an unaccounted for crisis.  You call them frivolous, we say functional.  It is the Girl Scout motto afterall, “Always be prepared.”

And with this 90’s resurgence it’s no wonder we are revisiting the backpack bonanza from last year.  This time, however, it seems just about every designer that’s ever played in the handbag arena has thrown his/her pack in the ring.  From Mr. Wang to MK and Ashley, there are backpacks crafted from studded leather to luxe leopard.  Take your pack—er, pick.  But will you be partaking in this trend?  Or is it something we should leave back in social studies class?

On the upside: they do look pretty cute and who doesn’t want yet another chance to channel Cher Horowitz?  It’s also great to just fling that baby on your shoulders and continue making overly dramatic hand gestures in conversation without that pesky handbag getting in the way.  However, have you ever tried retrieving something from your stylish sack while it’s still in place on your back?  Awkward.  Trust me, you won’t be going for your iPhone nearly as often(which, could be another one to add to the upside).  And along with looking like the teenage freak that you once were while trying to fetch a stick of Big Red from your satchel, backpacks pose as open invitations to pickpocketers, especially in a city like New York.

backpack1. Elizabeth and James Abstract Animal Print Calf Hair Sling Backpack, 2. Alexander McQueen Studded Leather Backpack, 3.Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Mariska Backpack, 4. Stella McCartney Shaggy Deer Falbella Backpack, 5. 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Stamped Leather Backpack, 6. Proenza Schouler PS1 Large Backpack, 7. Rebecca Minkoff Selena Backpack, 8. MCM Stark Allover Stud Med Backpack, 9. Christopher Kane Crackle Leather and Macramé Backpack, 10. Alexander Wang Prisma Cracked Skeletal Backpack

 

So, you be the judge… are backpacks back?

xx,

WhyDid

Red Carpet Recap: Requirements Were Met.

By |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:

met gala 2013 red carpet best dressedDonatella 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

 

Setting the Mood: Such a Beach.

By |July 9th, 2012|Setting the Mood|

beachy hairWith temperatures upwards of ninety, It’s been nearly impossible to keep hair frizz free, let alone poker straight.  The mere thought of standing in a tiny bathroom with a blowdryer fighting against my natural curl pattern is enough to have me contemplating pulling a Demi a la GI Jane.  Seeing as I do not have the bone structure to pull off a buzz cut, I have to deal with my tempestuous tresses in another fashion.  I’d like to go ahead and thank the Olsens for making crazy, messy, hair en vogue.  I’d then like to give myself a little pat on the back for keeping the messy hair momentum going.  Summer is the perfect time to let your hair go wild, much like your weekends.  Should you not be freshly emerging from the sea like a golden goddess, there are luckily a few tools that will give you the look of sea salted, windblown mermaid hair.

beach wave toolsAlterna Summer Hair Ocean Waves Texturizing Spray, $20Sultra Bombshell Curling Iron, $130, Josie Maran Bohemian Waves Argan Hair Mist, $22, Helen of Troy 3 in 1 Styling Iron, $69.99

Surf’s up.

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: High and Dry

By |December 9th, 2009|Why Did You Wear That?|

Since it’s a miserable rainy day in New York today, I thought I’d dedicate this one to celebs and their rain boots.  Perhaps you don’t feel your chicest when strapping on your wellies, but after seeing some seriously stylish ladies parading around in theirs maybe you’ll change your mind. Hey, better than destroying your new suede OTK boots.

kate

I believe Kate Moss was the first to make rain boots chic. Because that’s what Kate Moss does.

gwyn

Gwyneth Paltrow in some serious lace up rain boots.

EXCLUSIVE: Hilary Duff Loves Vancouver! (And her mom!)

Hilary Duff with mom in Burberry rain boots.

smg

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Hunter boots.

nicole8

Nicole Richie in Hunter boots.

ashley_olsen-jimmy-choo-hunter-rain-boots

Ashley Olsen in Jimmy Choo for Hunter rain boots. (Does she know it’s kind of an oxymoron to be wearing sunglasses at the same time as rainboots?)

Last spring I wrote a little ditty on the Do’s and Don’ts of rainboots. Please review and stay dry!

xx,

WhyDid