Why Did or Why Don’t: Skort Stop

By Kirsten|February 27th, 2014|Why Did You Wear That?|

In the process of rounding up spring’s shoppable trends, I spotted yet another one making an encore performance from the 90’s… get out your Lisa Frank covered Trapper Keeper, kids, ’cause this one is a doozy. In line with Birkenstocks, but better than scrunchies (definitely better than skeggings), please give a warm welcome back to the clothing equivalent of the spork, the skort. Yes, that’s right. No need to choose between a skirt or shorts this spring because you can wear both! At the same time! Now, I get it because I do love a flirty little skirt. And there’s really nothing better than showing off those hard earned gams in short shorts. I’m also quite indecisive at times, so the appeal should be obvious. Not to mention, a skort would make having a Marilyn moment atop a subway grate far less likely. However, since I’ve done this whole “skort” thing once before, I recall them never being quite so flattering as one might hope. It’s awfully difficult to get the fit of both articles of clothing right in one single garment. Skorts tend to have the effect of “long ass” or “elephant butt” on most women who dare to wear them. So, like I said, I’m undecided.

1. Opening Ceremony Celia Crepe Skort, 2. Rag & Bone Knife Skort, 3. Bec & Bridge Gourami Shorts, 4. Vanessa Bruno Aimy Pleated Crepe Shorts, 5. Sachin + Babi Carmen Silk Short,6. Jonathan Simkhai Leather Shorts, 7. Rachel Comey Textured Stripe Asymmetrical Paneled Denim Shorts, 8. Nanette Lepore Striped Flirty Skort,9. Robert Rodriguez Textured Silk Wrap Shorts, 10. Michael Kors Silk Floral Skort

Will you be wearing this fashion mullet come spring?

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Trapped in the Closet, or At Least I Wish I Was…

By Kirsten|November 25th, 2013|Celebrity Style, Red Carpet Recap, Why Did You Wear That?|

Mayra Veronica, Marc Anthony, Keltie McKnight, R. Kelly

Award shows always manage to leave me scratching my head and trying to figure out just how much wine I ingested in the last two hours. It’s as if celebrities save up all their crazy for these star studded events and then unleash it on their adoring fans. Fortunately for us, it’s all caught on film to be watched time and again for days to follow. These evenings provide news sources plenty of ammunition and the platform to play things out and beat a dead horse.

Speaking of which… The only thing weirder than Lady Gaga’s arrival on a wind up horse, was her awkward performance with president R. Kelly who probably should have stayed trapped in the closet. I didn’t have too long to wonder what the real purpose of this horse was or whether Ke$ha and Gaga are actually morphing into the same person, because moments later I thought I spotted a red carpet crasher, but it was just Marc Anthony who looked as though he’d been halfway through his Sunday stack at The Griddle when he realized, “Shit, that award show is tonight.” His former better half, Jennifer Lopez, more than made up for his failworthy flannel with a high energy tribute to Celia Cruz. It wasn’t all cringeworthy though. Watching Rihanna accept the Icon Award from her mother even made me tear up and Christina Aguilera’s soft vocals during her performance with A Great Big World had me fall in love with her all over again. Just when I started to think that maybe this award show was bringing back a little bit of class to the music world, Miley showed up in a cat covered two piece leotard and I had a hard time deciding which cat to look at because the one lip synching behind her kind of stole the show.

But alas, what we (at least I) bother watching award shows for… the fashion. If you weren’t wearing white, you were wearing black- or a combo of the two. This, of course, makes me happy because my second favorite “color” behind black is white. If you weren’t wearing one of my two favorite shades, you were wearing metallics or heating things up in fiery reds and oranges. To be clear, just because I post it below doesn’t mean I like it. It just means it happened and I firmly believe in being informed. Rihanna, Nicole Richie, Ciara, and a very Kardashian-esque Naya Rivera were a few of my favorites, while most of the others left plenty of room for improvement.

Great White:

Nicole Richie in Emilio Pucci, Christina Aguilera in Maria Lucia Hohan, Miley Cyrus in Versus Versace, Zendaya in Donna Karan

Bad Bitches are the New Black:

Naya Rivera in Michael Kors, Rihanna in Jean Paul Gaultier, Jamie Alexander, Ke$ha in Michael Costello

Heidi Klum in Marchesa, Ciara in J. Mendel, Jordin Sparks in Jovani Couture, Katy Perry in Oscar de la Renta

Black and White and Chic All Over:

Daisy Fuentes, Zoe Saldana in Roland Mouret, Kendall Jenner & Kylie Jenner

Bright Like Diamonds:

Emma Roberts in Lanvin, Taylor Swift in Julien Macdonald, Kelly Osbourne Rami Al Ali, Giuliana Rancic

Girls on Fire:

Ariana Grande in Dolce & Gabbana, Aubrey O’Day, Rocsi Diaz, Jennifer Hudson in Dior

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Hip (Hop) to the Game

By Kirsten|November 21st, 2013|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

I’ve always felt a connection to street style, but I’ve certainly come a long way from khaki pants and Tommy Hilfiger polo shirts. Though the style of 90’s hip hop and R&B stars has made a comeback, this time around it’s a bit more modern and just as luxurious as its original incarnation. The pants are more fitted (for both men and women) and there’s a bit more polish than there is posh. Rap stars are taking styling cues from Vogue more than Vibe and many have become covergirls and trendsetters for all genres of music and social scenes. Not only are they making hits on the airwaves, many have taken to the runways. Never has fashion and music been so intertwined.

hat: custom, top: Truly Madly Deeply, coat: vintage, jeans: 7 for All Mankind, shoes: Nike, bag: Alexander Wang, rings: Erica Anenberg, watch: Michael Kors

xx,

WhyDid

photos by Catherine Sampietro

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

Why Did You Wear That: On Target Trend

By Kirsten|March 18th, 2013|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

The best way to freshen up any spring wardrobe is with a fresh pop of color. These Mossimo® Striped Pants from Target are the perfect way to transition from chilly winter into brisk spring by incorporating a striking pink with deep navy pin stripes. Paired with a cozy navy cashmere sweater for the early portion of spring then a crisp white tank when the heat kicks in, these polished yet relaxed pants are the answer to weekend errands, brunch, and summer Fridays.

sweater: Henri Bendel (similar here), striped pants: c/o Target, shoes: Jimmy Choo (similar here), bag: Malini Murjani, watch: Michael Kors, dog: Smitty