Fashion Gets Schooled

Remember when kids wore uniforms?  The days when a miniskirt was unacceptable for school?  The boys wore their button-down shirts, dockers, loafers, and ties without putting up a fight.  The girls were so cute, with their riding boots, pleated skirts, and polo shirts. Look around now.  Kids don’t dress that way anymore.  But this year, adults do.  One of this years many trends in ready to wear fall/ winter shows, was the classic schoolgirl look.
Every designer had heir own take on this iconic style.  Prada used cable-knits, plaid, and lace, yet keeping the essential element of Prada: the hand-painted skirt.  Dior brought this look to the next level when he combined it with the equestrian and polo style.  Chanel’s tweeds (and Karl Lagerfeld’s brilliant ties) brought the look to a new level; also Coco Cocoon made the classic Chanel quilting into a backpack.  And for Ralph Lauren, the enviable prep school look is always a part of his collections.
Why do we love the schoolgirl look?  
Maybe it is for the irony.  The idea of not being at school but dressing like it.  Or perhaps not even that.  No school would ever issue those outfits as a uniform.  They are something you might actually wear, as opposed to any private or public school’s uniform, which students strongly dislike.
Conceivably it is because it gives the wearer an “intellectual feel”.  They look strong, sophisticated and smart.  When people think of uniforms, they think of the elite prep schools, where uniforms are worn.  It is a stereotype, but for many people, uniform means “better”.
But there’s no denying that this trend is fabulous and once again fashionable.  It combines the classics with modern style, making an irresistible look.

From Wife-Beater to Tank Top

How did this symbol of abuse become one of America's most beloved garments?  And is it really a garment or is it just lingerie?

The sleeveless shirt gets the name the wife-beater from Marlo Brando's character Stan Kowalski in the play and movie A Street Car Called Desire.  He abuses his wife while wearing a stained and ripped tank top.

But the name "tank top" is from the men's tank suit, a bathing suit that resembles the tank top.

A tank top would not be worn out beofre the 90s.  You could be thrown out for wearing what was considered "underwear".

But is it really something that can be worn out?  If you are at the gym, women are always wearing racerbacks.  If you are at the mall, teenagers are wearing graphic tanks.  In New York, posh women wear them with Prada painted skirts.

But wear are they really appropriate.  In my opinion, a tank top is not for the workplace.  Nor a fancy event.  But when I work out, I think that a tank top is a good choice.  If I am at the beach or on vacation, I wear tank tops  If I was having a lazy Sunday I would wear a tank top.

But your choice is up to you. 

I don't think that there is a more controversial article of clothing.  But fashion, as displayed by this dispute, is very important in many respects.

Flash Sales

http://fashionvault.ebay.com/What exactly is a flash sale?  Most of you probably haven't heard the term but are using one.

A flash is a website such as Rue La La, the outnet, Gilt Groupe, salemail, HauteLook, Ebay's Fashion Vault, My Perfect Sale, and many others.  What they do is bring the sales and samples to you.

One of my favorites is Rue La La.  Rue La La brings you exclusive deals on select items from different boutiques everyday, such as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Vera Wang, Juicy Couture, and many others.  Each day, they feature around eight boutiques.  Everyday, they send you an email telling you what boutiques they have in stock today.  Usually, four of them are clothing stores, one of them is a vacation hot-spot, two are home decor or home utility stores, and one is an accessory or shoe store.  They give you discounts on all of these boutiques.  For example, a Stuart Weitzman Lucky Patent Shoulder Bag is ordinarily $480.  Rue La La has it for $199.  Can you believe it?  That's more that 50% off.  There is no monthly charge or fee.  You just pay if you buy the items.  This is basically Gilt HauteLook, and Fashion Vault do.

But salemail works differently.  It has a system called "Shop It To Me", where you select retailers and designers that you like.  If an item by this designer goes on sale at any of your selected retailers, it will tell you in an email with the web links to buy it.  You choose how often you would like to be notified.  And that way, you are notified as soon as the Micheal Kors blouse you've been dying for is on sale.  My Perfect Sale does the same except you have a personal page and from there it directs you to the sales.

If you are looking for more discounted shopping, try online outlets, such as outnet, Outlet's Online, and many others.  But beware- many of them aren't real and are either trying to get your credit identity or sell you knockoffs so be careful when you google "online outlets".  But these aren't technically Flash sales.

Flash sales are lots of fun, whether it's just for looking or for realing buying.  Just remember that the clothing sells fast!

The Sailor Shirt: A Brief History

Pablo Picasso wears this classic shirt which he is famous for wearing.  A Petite Bateau girls mariniere dress. $81 at http://www.petit-bateau.us/Girls_organic_cotton_marinire_dress/pd/c/511/np/511/p/1969.html or any Petite Bateau retailers

As the tide changes, so does fashion, but this sea style will never be out of fashion.  It's true.  It may go out, but it will come back in soon. 

In the most recent issue of Vogue, there was a page dedicated to sailor shirts.  (In fact the day after the issue came out, a 7 year old I know wore her sailor shirt.)  But sailor shirts are much older then that.

The shirt came from the 1820s in Brittany, France, where French seamen wore the shirt.  Back in the day, it was knit cotton.  The sailors wore the shirt, which had a three quarter sleeve, was worn by the sailors because its strong fabric protected them well.  It is said the the navy and off white stripes were so men overboard could be found more easily. In 1858, the French made the shirt part of the naval uniform.  In fact, most French sea men still wear them. 

It has been worn, by many, but most famously by Pablo Picasso, the Spanish cubist.  Brigitte Bardot wore it as a cover up.  Also known to have worn the shirt is Coco Chanel, who is accredited with bringing the style to women's fashion.

The shirt has been modified, but mostly stayed the same.  It is also called a Mariniere  It usually consists of a jersey-like fabric.  The horizontal navy stripes, which contradict the fashion rule that horizontal stripes make you look wider, has been place on dresses, tunics, sweaters, T-shirt, suit jackets, umbrellas, coffee mugs, tank tops, even some tacky pants and more.  It has been featured in many fashion shows, and has become a favorite of Jean Paul Gaultier.  It is a classic of Petite Bateau, for which they are famous  The basic design also appeared recently in the Givenchy show on a blazer.

The shirt's design is simple, which keeps attracting people to tweak it.  It has appeared in many styles and in many fashions.  Everyone can find a sailor shirt for themselves because the shirt's simple design leaves much room to be modified an modernized.