WhyDid or Why Don’t: The Rest Is a Little Scrunchie

By Kirsten|October 16th, 2013|Why Did or Why Don't?|

Alright, when I said the 90’s revival was something I could get behind, I seem to have forgotten about one trend that probably should stay tucked safely inside that decades’ time capsule. The scrunchie. Ah yes, that fabric covered hair tie of school days past. Be it in your hair or on your wrist, you were nobody without a color coordinated scrunchie. Despite the upside of the scrunchie (less stress on your tresses), I’m not sure it’s one hair trend that I want to see resurrected. And isn’t that why they invented these?

As Carrie Bradshaw so adeptly stated in an episode of Sex and the City:

“Okay, but here’s the thing. Here’s my crucial point. No women who works at W Magazine and lives on Perry Street would be caught dead at a hip downtown restaurant wearing a scrunchie!”

But alas, designers like Vivienne Westwood, Ashish, Missoni, and Marc Jacobs sent looks down the catwalk accessorized with this beauty throwback (you can buy a $95 Missoni one here). Even “it” girls Fearne Cotton and Cressida Bonas have been seen keeping stray strands at bay with the aid of a scrunchie. Former “it” girls all over the trend? Lisa Turtle, all three Tanner girls, and, gasp, even Sarah Jessica Parker herself.

xx,

WhyDid

image via

Smart Is the New Pretty: Shut. It. Down.

By Kirsten|October 2nd, 2013|Smart Is the New Pretty|

On the second day of October, we also find ourselves on the second day of the government shutdown. I can’t take full credit, but I do hold myself slightly accountable as I haven’t been keeping up with keeping you up to date. Therefore, I’m reinstating “Smart Is the New Pretty” effective immediately. Heaven knows it doesn’t matter how great you look if you can’t keep up an intelligent conversation and it would appear that our country is all kinds of out of whack.

The National Zoo may have turned off their panda cam, but The San Diego Zoo didn’t. (Phew!) [CBS News]
Sadly, the government isn’t the only place shutting down. The New York City Opera has filed for bankruptcy. [NPR]
And the Jacksonville Airport was shut down after reports of suspicious packages. [NBC News]
Mark Jacobs shut down Paris Fashion Week with his collection for Louis Vuitton before confirming he will be leaving the fashion house to focus on his own brand. [NY Times]
Hedi Slimane would like to shut down your Saint Laurent parody T’s. [The Cut]
New York should probably go ahead and shut down the ‘pop up’ biker gang. [NY Post]
I’m about to shut down anyone who doesn’t love dogs and think they’re Earth angels. [Huffington Post]
Perhaps little girls would be able to shut down low self esteem if they had pups. Don’t worry- Bloomberg is here to help. [The Cut]
Banksy’s latest piece in New York gets shut down overnight. [Gawker]

Do me a favor and don’t shut down your brain just because our politicians have decided to shut it down.

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

Setting the Mood: Opposite Day

By Kirsten|February 20th, 2013|Setting the Mood|

The best way to get through the next two months of below freezing temperatures is to plan ahead. Plan vacations, plan summer shares, plan spring wardrobes… One of Spring 2013’s trends was the minimalistic and graphic use of black and white shown by everyone from Marc Jacobs to Balmain to Michael Kors. A long time fan of bold black and white, I am happy to report that this really is one of those trends that would be hard to get wrong… (though I’m sure someone is capable of screwing it up). You can opt for an actual black and white print or simply pair black and white separates to achieve the look that is clean, crisp, and classic. Throw em for a loop by accessorizing the look with a red lip or bright bag.

Sophia Webster Yayoi Patent and Leather Sandals, $635, Sass & Bide The Big Go Sequin Tank, $180, 7 for All Mankind Cropped Slim Cigarette in Black & White Gloss Stripe, $198, Cambridge Satchel Two Tone Satchel, $172

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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