Look of the Week POLL (that means you vote)

In a desperate attempt to encourage any readers I may have to comment, here's a quick poll. Comment your favorite look and I'll post a blog in a week with the results... unless nobody responds then I will just be sad.

Designers fused the sartorial elegance of menswear with flirty, fun elements of womenswear to create impeccable looks for day and night. Who do you think did it best?

1) Long black coats command authority in any setting (Dolce & Gabbana)

2) A slouchy blazer creates a relaxed but professional persona (Bottega Veneta)

3) Oxford+herringbone slacks+khaki blazer+Aviators= a girl who plays with the big boys (Michael Kors)

4) The comfort of sport in jersey with an authoritative coat (Chloé)

5) Ash gray pantsuit for weekdays, plus DVF's flowery bolero for daytime weekend fun (Diane von Furstenberg)

Don't forget to vote!! =)

"The suit is the greatest triumph of western civilization"

I had the opportunity to meet one of my favorite writers, Robin Givhan, this week. She covers Michelle Obama and writes about fashion for the Washington Post, and was the first person to win a Pulitzer for fashion criticism. I encourage any of my readers (yes, all 3 of you) to check out some of her articles at the washingtonpost.com, or to take a look at her Pulitzer package.

She told me one of her favorite ideas was that the suit is the greatest triumph of western civilization. I unfortunately forget the name of the woman who originally said this to her, but her argument was very interesting.

What man doesn't look good in a well-tailored suit? The jacket disguises what a man doesn't want to show, like some extra gut or muffin tops, and amplifies his best features, like broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

Beyond that, the suit commands respect in every corner of the world. A modern executive man in a suit could go to a meeting in New York, Rome, Tokyo, Cairo, Sydney, or Moscow and command the same respect. The most flamboyant, effeminate hair stylist would appear polished and put together to his clients in a Dolce & Gabbana suit, while the most conservative of Southern Baptist preachers' sermons would hold extra authority when partnered with a three-piece Brooks Brothers.

Fashion is about communication. And like all forms of communication, some fashion statements get lost in translation. The suit, however, is universal.

Thanks for the inspiration, Robin!

Labels are For Jars

DON'T LABEL YOURSELF

Fabulous Shoes

Because walking is about more than getting from point A to point B.

Anna Karenina, revisited

"And her black dress, with its sumptuous lace, was not noticeable on her; it was only the frame, and all that was seen was she- simple, natural, elegant, and at the same time gay and eager."

-Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Do clothes make the woman?

In Tolstoy's novel, Anna Karenina, he paints a luxurious scene at a ball in which the novel's namesake appears in a simple black velvet gown trimmed with white lace. He describes the ballroom as "a sea of lace, tulle, and ribbon," in which Anna seems to be the only living, breathing person.

Simplicity, not extravagance, and monochromatic palettes, not loud colors, amplify and draw attention to the woman, not to her clothing.

Like so:

(Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein, Celine)

A Wheatfield, and a Turkish Designer

"A Wheatfield, with Two Cypresses"

Vincent Van Gogh

Color opens the door to fantasy worlds, perfect for escaping the doldrums of routine. Bright reds take me to grand ballrooms, where string concertos entertain ladies in lavish gowns, sipping champagne with lush red lips. Light, clean blues take me to white sand beaches with crystalline shallow surfs and clear azure skies.

When I visited the National Gallery in London, I had the opportunity to see A Wheatfield, with Cypresses by Vincent Van Gogh. The copy above, while lovely, cannot capture the comforting embrace of the original. The sweeping skyline, the elegant pair of cypresses, and the simplicity of the field offers serenity and reassurance that everything will turn out alright. The moutainscape in the background defies realism, appearing more childish that artisanal, giving the painting a less fearsome character. Van Gogh seems to say to us that even the most looming mountains in the distance are harmless; one can only love and appreciate them as children do.

Below is the opening look of Erdem Moralioglu’s Spring/Summer 2009 collection. While I love the fashion industry’s recent conversion to simpler palletes, cleaner lines, and more timeless construction, I can’t help but appreciate the sweet escape Erdem’s floral collection provides. The two-piece ensemble seems to laugh at the oh-so-serious streamline ashgray and camel skirts and black day dresses so popular nowadays.

Color, especially bright color, can often muddy the waters of our hectic daily lives. Fashion designers collectively picked up on society’s agony of overstimulation; all the color seems to make so much noise we can’t hear ourselves think. Therefore, fleets of fancy like Erdem’s rarely occur anymore.

Simple lines and basic colors provide clarity and silence in a tempest of too-muchness. Neutral skirt suits and simple, monotone artwork make offices and schools quiet, focused, and driven. There is little distraction, but also little room for imagination or escape to fantasy.

However, a lovely floral dress or painting of a field with two trees under a blue sky help us to filter out the noise of daily life, so we can hear the sweet, soft music playing in the background.

Hoshie printed silk satin dress

Erdem

The Holy Trinity of Pop Queens