Rawr!

One of the quickest ways to add a pinch of personality to any outfit is to mix in a pair of leopard print shoes.  But darlings, as popular and fun as they are, leopard prints don't really work with everything.  In fact, I have seen more fashion train wrecks that begin with a simple pair of leopard print shoes.  This most recent example I found at a coffee shop and is definitely one of those fashion don’t you dares! 

Grey tights as these are should NEVER be paired with anything other than a simple neutral shoe.  I love these shoes, but NOT the hosiery.  Grey and leopard should never go together unless I've found myself reincarnated as a leopard myself and then and only then is it acceptable for a leopard to go grey; and by grey, I don’t mean 50 Shades, unless it refers to the fact I’ve stopped dying my hair!  (GASP!)  Basically the reason this doesn't work is I found myself staring at the yellow leopard shoes that were paired with an overall quietly neutral gray and blue business casual outfit.  If these shoes had been blue suede or black with a bit of bling, I would have left her and her shoes alone.  But alas, I cannot dear reader and remain true to you.

The fabulous news is, when paired in the right combination, it certainly makes a statement for drama, glamour and sex appeal.  (GASP! Sister Mary said sex.)

After black, the easiest shades to pair with leopard print shoes are white and light neutral colors like sand, blush, and cream.  But ladies, this does NOT apply to hosiery.   Hosiery should be kept to nude or black and certainly NOT grey!

Ladies, whether it's flats, pumps, or booties (EW!!  EW!!  Booties are another fashion no no that I will save for later) you're talking about; one of the absolute easiest ways to wear leopard print shoes is to pair them with good old denim.  Familiarize yourself with Mr. Levi Strauss and company. 

Until next time, stay fashionable!

SM

Alas, Poor Yorick...

Poor Yorick, I will not admit I know you Horatio!  That being said, poor us!!  Everything old is new again apparently. 

Today's topic is bubble skirts.  Once popular in the mid-80's as part of the pop culture fashion.  But what we don't realize is that this fashion trend stems from the Renaissance, only then it was for well to do men in Venice, Italy.

This once fashion forward garment stems mostly out of necessity.  Venice was known to flood, so men in that time would wear the shorter pants and taller boots.  Not because it was wickedly fashionable or popular with the ladies, but because they wanted to keep dry.   Nothing says party foul like showing up to court to woo the women in a wet tunic.  Venetians today merely sport their Wellies and foul weather gear when the streets begin to take on water and use the modern convenience of a washer and dryer when their clothes get wet and/or dirty.

Bubble skirts today have taken on a new life in women's fashion. Ladies today can wear them with wildly loud tights and a pair of simple flats.  This once testosterone oriented garment is now taken over by the ladies.  However this is a simple garment that can go wrong quickly.  Too many accessories and you begin to look like you belong in the 80's; too few and you're considered boring.  To be honest, I have never seen anyone successfully pull of looking fabulous in one of these.  I tend to see people looking very bottom heavy or their body type is not one that could support a bubble skirt as acceptable fashion.  I'm not saying one must be waif thin and twelve to wear one, but I do think that anyone past the age of 18 should not be found wearing one, unless of course you find yourself in the streets of a flooded Venice and you are wearing tall boots and a cape. 

So find that happy medium and don't let anyone burst your bubble! Remember this is a fashion maybe, but must be age and accessory appropriate!

Stay fashionable!

SM

Dashiki? Dash-icky!!!

Dashiki's were popular back in the 1970's when roller disco, car washes and sky high platform heels were simply groovy!

However it is now the 21st century, and perhaps the dashiki should take a back seat to other fashions.  Perhaps not?  You can be the judge.

Traditionally, the dashiki is a colorful men's garment widely worn in West Africa that covers the top half of the body.  It has formal and informal versions and varies from simple draped clothing to fully tailored suits. A common form is a loose-fitting pullover garment, with an ornate V-shaped collar, and tailored and embroidered neck and sleeve lines. The colors represent different stages in one's life.

What I'm saying here, dear reader, is nothing more than maybe the wearer of this traditional garment should have thought twice before stepping out in the world wearing this colorful ensemble.  I mean just because it matches your sneakers, does not mean that it is socially acceptable.  I don't know if this young man has been to Africa or if it was a gift.  Either way, I'm not terribly sure that this garment sends the correct message to his audience.

Given the traditional meaning of the dashiki, I'm not even sure what stage of his life this young man is at and trying to represent other than a major fashion don't.  However, that being said, perhaps the stage of life this young man is choosing to represent is the "I'm not quite ripe yet" stage.  Here he is a mind ready to mold into fashion forwardness and he chooses to wear a dashiki; there may be no hope for the fashionable future if this continues.

Until next time, stay classy my lovelies!
SM