I have a feeling that the makeup colors are exactly right for her natural coloring.
But in the real world, this shade of blonde is far too warm (golden/reddish)
for someone with her coloring.
I think she can get away with it for two reasons -
first, she has the best professionals doing her color (this would NOT be a
home coloring project!!) and second, her personality is whimsical and fun and she doesn't
adhere to convention. Ash blonde would be far less fun on her
and she wouldn't 'pop' on the red carpet.
I would have *literally* killed for this dress when I was 8.
(I think Katy is always adorable. She can't do much wrong in my book.)
I was up for the Royal Wedding, but wasn't really "up" for it, if ya know what I mean. The media's over-reporting and telling us every last bit of minutiae and all the speculation of the so-called experts just ruin things like this for me - way ahead of the actual event.
I expected to tweet and post many more observations on Twitter and Facebook today.
What ended up coming from my stream of consciousness was quite amusing. To me, at least.
I wanted to save my tweets and Facebook updates for posterity. (Wonder what my tweets would have said during Charles & Diana's wedding...and yes, I very much remember it. Even though I wasn't born yet. Bwahahahahahahaha.)
Once you see how much my life revolves around British comedy, you might not be too surprised to find out that this blog was originally called "Keeping Up Appearances." No, the BBC did not threaten me with a lawsuit. The title just evolved. Because I shop. A lot.
So without further rambling, here's what came out of my brain during the wedding and its aftermath...
I know this royal wedding hymn because it was in a Monty Python sketch.
When someone responded that Mr. Bean should definitely be there, I suggested it would be more fun if Blackadder traveled through time to overthrow the queen. Live on TV.
Chelsy Davy
Prince Harry's on-again/off-again/whatev Chelsy Davy = British Tara Reid (ok, I know she's not British but she looks a little, uh, rough)
And one thing I didn't post because one of my FB & Twitter friends used to work for Sarah, Duchess of York:
Princess Eugenie's and Beatrice's fashion tastes reflect their mother's. Zing!
Yes, I know that was mean. But I can't help but think of all of Fergie's terrible outfits before and after she married into the royal family. I don't think she ever could have imagined that Medusa bow hat on Prince Andrew in drag - oh wait, that's Beatrice? I don't care if their outfits are couture - Eugenie (lt) in Vivienne Westwood and Beatrice in Valentino - I bet there are vastly more flattering choices out there for them. Very few women can rock a square neckline! I want Bea's shoes though. Gimme.
I especially liked Tori Spelling's remark on E!'s Fashion Police: "They look like the wicked step-sisters."
I could not be happier to hear the good news today. Phil Collins is retiring!!! This gives me a great reason to dance a jig a couple of weeks before St. Patty's Day. Maybe not just a regular jig - I will need to invent a
!!! SUPER JIG !!!
for this momentous occasion.
A lot of people have seen my Twitter profile (yo, follow me if you're not already) and wondered exactly what my problem is with a certain Mr. Phil Collins. No, my "unresolved issues" are not just a quirky little made up factoid to give prospective followers a glimpse of what my quirky little tweets will be like.
My problems with the defendant, Mr. Collins, run much deeper than that.
Without a doubt, the guy is the purveyor of some of the worst music of my generation - even though he's old enough to be my great-great grandfather. (And that was what you call a hyperbole, kids. In reality, he's only old enough to be my grandpa - and yet with less hair than my gramp had in his 90's.)
I really didn't like the reincarnated Genesis and was too young to understand the original with Peter Gabriel (I still sorta don't see how that evolved into conventional bullcrap music with the addition of a balding drummer, but maybe that is the source - aka "genesis" ha ha - of the problem.)
I truly hated the song Illegal Alien, even though at the time I didn't realize how extremely discriminatory it was. The video was racist and filled with stereotypes to the extreme.
NOT* RACIST
(*And by not, I mean TOTALLY, of course.)
And then there's the mid-80's video where he's a bum and wears fingerless gloves, which are a staple of my winter gear nowadays. Not only did he ruin an accessory which is mandatory for a writer who frequently suffers from cold hands and lives in a cold weather state, but he made me think of a bum every time I've seen him since then.
The worst "P.C." (Get it? And I don't mean "politically correct"!) infraction came when I was in 10th grade and had knee surgery, which was followed by a long stint in physical therapy. When my mom picked me up from school and took me to therapy twice a week, the only songs we seemed to hear in a six-week period were "Another Day in Paradise" (the irony of that song was completely lost on my teen mind) and "I Wish it Would Rain Down" or whatever it's called. It's not really worth the three seconds to Google it. (Which is actually ironic - I understand this concept now - because I'm taking precious time to write a post about the dude. Sorry, but it's not every day you receive life-altering news like this. And if you guessed that was another hyperbole, you are wrong. My existence will never be the same knowing there will be no more Phil Collins lite rock to fear for the rest of my life.)
Anyway, back to my knee...added to the fact that I was on crutches, in a brace and wearing ugly shoes all the time, it was also the yucky end of winter in Cleveland, which is exactly as wonderful as it sounds. The rain was frequently fallin' (in fact every day was kind of like today) and if anyone reading this has joint problems, you know I was hurting more because of the dampness.
And Phil just rubbed it in. "Let it rai-ai-ai-ai-ai-n down, let it rai-ai-ai-ai-ai-n down on Kristen and her crappy kneeeee...."
Can someone say D-E-P-R-E-S-S-I-O-N ?
I can. "DEPRESSION."
More insipid Genesis music came along in the 90's. More craptastic solo music too. The list of music related to that guy that I can't tolerate is a mile long. Perhaps the only songs I can stand are "Groovy Kind of Love" - first, it's a cover and second, pretty good memories are attached to it. And second, "Easy Lover" because Phillip Bailey, the signature voice from one of my very favorite bands, Earth, Wind & Fire, dominates it.
Phil Collins won an Academy Award for perhaps the most trite and awful song from a Disney movie ever (and this includes the Siamese cats song from The AristoCats). Does anyone remember how South Park skewered him and his Oscar? I know there were sour grapes involved, but Trey's Blame Canada SHOULD have won.
Anyway, I've grown very weary of the subject matter. I'm surprised I've actually lasted this long.
Allow me to conclude with a few lyrics he once sang (and I was forced to listen to in countless convenience stores, car washes, and bus depots). Ok, I don't think I've ever actually been in a bus depot, but it's the sort of music I would imagine they might play in one.
Jesus he knows me
and he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
oh yes he knows me
and he knows I'm right
and he's been telling me
everything is alright
And yes, Jesus, everything IS alright.
Phil Collins is no longer making music. All is right with the world :-) :-) :-)
Okay, it’s the Monday afternoon after the Oscars and I have already been asked a dozen times what I thought of the last night's Oscar fashions.
It’s not as fun as it used to be to bash the stars on the red carpet thanks to Joan Rivers. But we can all still have our faves and least faves. There were a lot of beautiful dresses out there and very few horrible ones (thankfully!)
Onto the Oscar Night Fashions!
The Awful Dress Awards:
1) Penelope Cruz – just too much going on here. I also had a feeling, true or not, that this Versace dress would shed like a hairy dog.
2) Beyonce looked like she was attending a cotillion. I have never seen her use the “less is more” adage. Maybe she should.
3) Best Supporting Actress winner Jennifer Hudson in Oscar de la Renta. I think she was nervous and putting her hands in the pockets wasn’t the best way to show off the lines of the dress. The color didn’t pop on her and what was up with that wacky jacket? It looked like an afterthought because she didn’t want to show her shoulders.
4) I hated this Chanel dress Kirsten Dunst wore. I hated the bangs and the dark red vampy lipstick. A loser all around.
5) Anne Hathaway’s giant bow distracted from how beautiful she is, and the antique lace of the gown was really dated. Felt to me like an Oscar dress from the 70’s. Not something a bright young star should be wearing.
6) While the dress Jennifer Lopez wore was gorgeous, I’m not sure it was the best choice for her. Graciously curvy, the draping and flowing fabric made her seem larger than she is, and threatens to start more pregnancy rumors. It would have better flattered one of those stick-thin actresses.
7) Jada Pinkett-Smith – usually one of my red carpet favorites, this dress reminded me of an Oscar itself, and also of that golden torso shield choreographer Debbie Allen wore many years ago. Jada knows her body, knows what makes her look great, and this was a rare misstep. But, her son was super cute, so that (slightly) redeems her.
The Best of the Best:
1) Perennial favorite Nicole Kidman – Helen Mirren may be The Queen, but Nicole is the undisputed queen of the red carpet. Never a misstep, and this gown didn’t disappoint. Wow! (It also doesn’t hurt that she has the perfect body to show off her clothes to the maximum advantage.
2) Cate Blanchett is one of my favorite actresses and is coming into her own as a style icon. She seems to have an innate sense of what looks good and more importantly, what looks good on her. She favors understated looks with a little bit of bling. This pewter dress was a bit of a risk, but looked spectacular.
3) The midnight blue of this gown beautifully balanced Maggie Gyllenhaal’s alabaster skin and dark hair. The lines were perfect. Can you believe she just had a baby?
4) Kate Winset’s mint green Grecian dress was a winner. After 5 nominations, she better know how to dress for the Oscars! One of the finest actresses today, I’m sure her award is coming!
The Better Bad than Boring Awards go to….
1) Reese! The dress is pretty enough, but YAWN!
2) Rachel Weisz – Yes, pretty, but completely expected on the red carpet.
3) Naomi Watts – a version of what we’ve seen her in a number of times. We get it, Naomi, you like feminine and flowy! Give us something a little different next time.
And now, the Just Yucky Awards!
1) What was Meryl wearing around her neck? Didn’t she learn anything by playing the editor of a fashion magazine?
2) Elisabeth Shue’s big hair was too much for that high, cluttered neckline.
3) Please be blonde again,Cameron!!!
And finally,
The two dresses I absolutely loved. They were contemporary and still appropriate for the Academy Awards. They weren’t in the traditional Oscar mold, but they were equally fabulous.
1. Sometimes one strong statement is all you need.
Simply. Gorgeous.
2. Don’t look for the wrong kind of attention.
Did Charlize and her stylists really think this kind of weird risk would work for the Oscars? Check out its, er, "inspiration."
3. Throw them a curve.
We are used to edgy red carpet fashion from Cameron Diaz. Last night, it was elegant classic Hollywood style, from head to toe.
4. You can look beautiful at any size.
So stop hiding.
5. Color can make all the difference.
(I never did care for that pale pink dress)
6. You can look sexy and age-appropriate at the same time.
Meryl finally hit the fashion bulls eye!
7. Horizontal lines are not our friend.
Especially if they look like they are strangling us, SJP.
8. If it works for you, stick with it
Maggie Gyllenhaal (lt) in the color palette (black & blue) of a past Oscar gown (rt).
9. Darker skin looks gorgeous in pastel shades.
I swear the Queen has never looked better.
10. When in doubt, go all out.
Vera Farmiga in a bright and wildly ruffled gown. She has the coloring and the stature to carry off such a dramatic dress. Plus she's a nominee! This may be the only chance she has to make a splash!
Stay tuned for my official Oscar gown recap! Muppets will be involved. That's a promise!
We still love The Office. Let's take a close up look at why Dwight K. Schrute
is such a fashion nightmare.
However, he can improve in the following ways(but would he still be as funny??)
1. Don’t forget that your hair matters and it says a lot about you! This may require a change in stylist (if you’ve been going to the same barber for the last 20 years). Be sure to learn the right products to use to care for it (Dwight was voted “worst hair on TV” in one of the online mags recently!)
2. Lose the outdated sideburns – pronto!
3. Long-sleeve shirts belong with a tie – short sleeves are just too casual. Yet some guys dress this way for work every day.
4.Try flat-front pants – they are so much more flattering on most people’s bodies – even a single pleat is better than the double-pleated pants he’s wearing! They make his body look pear-shaped.
5. Grow up and buy an analog watch with a metal band! Gold and silver together give the most options
6.Upgrade your eyeglasses at least every 2-3 years or you’ll look like you’re stuck in a time warp (or like you live in Scranton, PA!).
(Dwight IS doing one thing right – he usually wears the right colors for his skin tone – warm colors - he's an Autumn and that is very intentional on the NBC wardrobe department’s part!)
Your wife or girlfriend tells you that you need some new clothes. You go shopping to appease her. You walk out of the dressing room wearing what you think is a perfectly good outfit, but when she sees you, her face contorts into a look of disgust the likes of which you have never seen before.
Hey wait a minute! You are there because SHE insists you buy new clothes. What’s the deal?
Well, guys, there is a secret to this clothes thing that most men don’t know. And most women instinctively know, whether they realize it or not.
The colors and patterns you wear can either wear YOU or YOU can overpower them if you aren’t careful in your selection. The ideal is to create a balance between your personal coloring – your hair, skin and eye color – and the colors you are wearing.
This is a technique used masterfully by the wardrobe stylists at ESPN. They dress such a variety of skin tones – for the camera, which is extremely difficult - and they make everyone look marvelous. (My heart goes out to John Kruk – I don’t know a wardrobe expert alive who could make that poor guy look better!)
Here’s how it works:
We are all born with a God-given set of traits. One of these is our coloring. We’re not going to focus on whether you are brown-haired, salt-and-pepper, black-haired or a redhead. Or what your eye color is. Instead we are going to focus on working with the contrast level you were born with – this means how your eye color, hair color, and skin tone work together and how they relate to the clothing you choose.
In the example below, the colors the model is wearing on the left are too washed out for his medium coloring and dark hair. In this case, the anemic outfit looks blah and fades into the background because it has no visual interest (i.e., color contrast) to strike a balance with his coloring.
In the picture to the right, there is a much better balance between the model’s features and what he’s wearing (a combination of light and dark). This is the visual harmony to look for when you are getting dressed.
Below, I have used three models: Daniel Craig is the example of Low Contrast Light – he has blonde hair, light skin and blue eyes. Taye Diggs is Low Contrast Deep – because of his deeper skin tone, hair, and eye color. Despite the fact that they are both low contrast, you can see there is quite a difference between the clothing the two would select to flatter them.
Our last example is Danny Ocean, George Clooney. He is a phenomenal example of a High Contrast male. He has dark hair and eyes and considerably lighter skin. There is a reason he looks so good in a tux. His coloring naturally favors high contrast ensembles like black and white.
It is important to note that if chosen unwisely, the colors, contrast and patterns you wear can be at worst visually distracting – hurting the viewer’s eye - or they can even make you look pale and unhealthy!
By keeping color combinations and contrast levels that flatter you close to your face, you will be able to create a sense of balance between you and your clothes. The human eye is attracted to this kind ovisual harmony and it will make you more attractive to current and potential clients and to the opposite sex as well!
Keep in mind that as we age, we lose pigmentation not only in our hair (going gray), but our skin and eyes fade too. As you start to become more “distinguished”, the colors you wear should get a little lighter as well – as if you’re gently and slowly moving closer to the lighter colors that Daniel Craig wears so well.
Can you see yourself in one of these examples? Or are you a combination of two? You may very well be.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Signature (n.) A distinctive characteristic that identifies a person.
The fedora. The leather jacket. The whip (ooh!). Even if you hadn’t read the title of this article, I bet you would have easily figured out who I was talking about.
If you think back through all the movies you’ve seen over your lifetime, I bet you will notice that the great characters stand out in our minds for many reasons – witty dialogue or a great actor playing them, for example – but they may also leave an indelible mark on us because of something that stands apart in the way a character looks. It could be as unique as Princess Leia’s hair in Star Wars, or an accessory that is consistently worn and becomes synonymous with the character, such as Harry Potter’s glasses.
When I was first finding my way around the local style scene, I kept being asked if I knew a certain image consultant - “a striking woman with silver hair and unique glasses”, to paraphrase most of the descriptions I received. Indeed, I did know that woman, who is known for being strikingly attractive, having silver hair and always wearing very distinctive glasses.
Could someone describe you in such flattering terms by the elements of your appearance?
Do you have an eye-catching hairstyle, an interesting accessory you love to wear, a favorite color, or even an intriguing article of clothing that is your signature?
And better yet, why should you have a style of your very own?
Consistency
We need to look consistent and stable. If you have seen my ‘Fashion Victim’ program, I discuss a client who was not consistent and was floundering in both her work and her professional life. I show my audience her Monday outfit, which consisted of a leather vest, boots, gold chain belt, and wild hair. Then on Tuesday, she looked like a librarian, complete with heavy black glasses, hair in a bun, and Laura Ashley floral print dress. On Wednesday, she was a cowgirl – wearing a denim skirt and cowboy boots! This professional young mom was wearing costumes instead of being herself.
Never underestimate the visual clues we are constantly sending out into the world. People want to know that they are getting the same “you” every time they interact with you. Just like Indy was away from us for nineteen years - once we saw that jacket and fedora, we knew right away that he was the same old Indy and was going to take us on a harrowing adventure.
To Stand Apart – in a good way
Every business has a brand. Part of that brand is the logo. We all have a personal brand as well. Our image – our visual presence and how we communicate - create our brand, and our logo may be our chosen Signature Style or accessory. Make yourself stand apart from the crowd by having a unique piece of clothing or an accessory that you always wear. It will raise your profile and make you immediately recognizable.
If you’re a mom, has the wrong kid ever come up and tugged on your shirttail, only to realize “You’re not my mom!” You can make yourself more distinguishable to your own children (and less so to other kids) if you don’t resemble all the other moms out there. Set your own appearance off with an accessory (like always carrying a red handbag) or a color they can associate with “mom.”
Feeling Authentic
We all have something we love to wear, and when we wear it, it lifts our spirits or gives us confidence. For those of you who know me, you know I have a deep affection for bright shades of orange. And while it isn’t a really acceptable business color, I usually stand out in a sea of dark suits. At first, it wasn’t intentional. I started wearing it because it fit my personality and because I was attracted to it. I don’t wear a lot of orange all at one time, but you may see me carrying an orange bag, or wearing orange stilettos, or even an orange top. I cannot explain it, but there is some magnetism that attracts me to orange.
I hope all of you have something that makes you feel that way. Think for a second. What have you worn lately that made you feel special?
Well, now that we know the reasons for creating a signature style that sets us apart, let’s look at the four types of signature styles.
THE GIMMICK
Need attention?
This is best left to the famous (or infamous). Someone who wears a costume is deliberately cultivating a certain image, whether positive or negative. Some examples are:
Hugh Hefner – His silk PJ’s and robe are the hallmark of the “Playboy” lifestyle he created.
Donald Trump – He knows his hair is unique. He knows people make fun of it. He can afford to buy the world’s best toupee. But the hair brings him attention - and that’s what he likes.
Cher – The wacky Bob Mackie costumes. The wigs. Cher clearly loves attention, and what she has worn over the years has brought every bit as much attention as her singing and acting talents.
Dolly Parton – Who doesn’t love Dolly? She is so savvy about her look – “You'd be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap!”
THE SIGNATURE
Standout style
A true Signature Style is typically created for all of the reasons above: To be seen as consistent, to stand apart and to feel more authentic. It is usually intentional andstrategic. It’s a way of visually communicating one’s message very quickly and making them difficult to forget.
We don’t all need to have a Signature Style, but those of us who have one leave an indelible mark on the people we meet. Determine for yourself if a Signature Style is something you need to do for yourself or your business.
THE INCIDENTAL
Wear what you love
This is more accessible to everyone out there. Simply buy and wear items that you like wearing. It’s more about personal satisfaction than style as an outside symbol. For me, it’s my orange. (As I sit here, I’m wearing an orange T-shirt. See, I’m consistent!) For a lot of women, they love fun and flirty shoes. Other women are purse divas. My mom always matches her watch to her outfit. I never understood it, but that’s what she likes doing. She doesn’t have an ulterior motive for it, besides making herself feel stylish.
Do you have a color or accessory YOU wear all the time and don’t feel like yourself without?
And finally, we have…
THE UNIFORM
Functionality rules
When you wear the same thing all the time, it is not a signature. It can be comfortable and you may like wearing it, but if it isn't deliberate and doesn't set you apart, it isn’t a Signature Style.
Martha Stewart – Her button-up oxfords show that she is earthy and no-nonsense. She has more important things to worry about. Like her garden, her kitchen, her dogs and her empire!
Simon Cowell – He’s teased about the tight black t-shirt and jeans. He seems to appreciate minimalism – I recall seeing his L.A. home on TV and it was exactly what you would have expected looking at his wardrobe. Simon doesn’t seem to need fancy clothing and fashion to accomplish his goals.
Michael Kors – Michael Kors was asked about his affection for black tees, black jackets and jeans. He responded that he did the whole fashionista thing years ago, but he prefers to put his creative energy into making others look good.
Here are some ways to create your own Signature Style!
COLOR
Gloria Allred – She wears red much of the time. It ties into her last name, but red also exudes power and confidence, and (lucky for her), it also looks great on TV.
Lance Armstrong – How ingenious to build his brand around the color yellow, which is the color the leader wears in the Tour de France. I don’t think anyone can think of Lance without thinking of yellow.
HAIR
Whoopi Goldberg – The dreads are as synonymous with Whoopi as is the sharp tongue.
Betsey Johnson – Her hair makes her unforgettable and it sets the attitude for her brand.
Tina Turner – Tina is known for many things – her voice, legs, energy, and courage – but her signature is her hair. It was really wild back in the 80’s when she reemerged on the music scene (hey, she needed to get noticed!), but it has been a more sedate version for many years now.
Pink – When she first arrived on the music scene, Pink’s hair was, well, PINK. It etched her name in the mind of the public. Since she has built her fame, the hair color changes regularly, but she is still associated with her signature color – and namesake.
ACCESSORIES
Carrie Bradshaw has had severalsignature pieces over the years, but the flower brooch really took off and became a mainstreamtrend for a few years.
Drew Carey – He has been known for those black-framed glasses since his standup days. They reinforce the nerdy aspects of his persona.
And of course, Indy – it can be about associating accessories with an experience. (For instance, the Fonz was cool because he wore a leather jacket!)
Color - L-R Gloria Allred, Lance Armstrong
Hair – Whoopi Goldberg, Betsey Johnson, Tina Turner, Pink
Accessories – Carrie Bradshaw, Drew Carey, Indiana Jones
Props to Elton John for turning what was his 1970’s and 1980’s gimmick into a true Signature.
He went from wearing crazy glasses that were part of his onstage and offstage costume to wearing ones that are more toned down, but still flamboyant and attention-getting.
