The Weighty Issue of Reassessing New Year’s Resolutions

‘Tis the season for resolutions. It seems you can’t walk into a gym without being bombarded by a flood of people or a restaurant without someone calculating calories to stay in line with their New Year’s goals. In reality, people really don’t even think twice about it, in fact our resolutions are often the topic of casual conversation over a salad with low-fat dressing, because this tradition is so engrained in our DNA.

Now I will admit that I have been just as guilty as the next person about obsessing about my New Year’s Resolutions so hardcore that inevitably, believe it or not, I eventually lose steam. Sound familiar? It should because this is the way that the bulk of Americans function almost systematically starting January 1.   In fact, gyms count on it;  most gyms make the bulk of their money on memberships in January. Traditionally a large number of these enthusiasts usually start tapering off around late February to early March, minus the core group of solid regulars, and gyms still have you within a year contract or at least have your start up fee.

Here’s another enlightening bit of information for you to chew on.  A recent article in NY Times called “The Fat Trap” featured some eye-opening new research that goes into the details of just why those crash diets never tend to work.  It even takes it one step further, stating that not only do they not work, you are actually establishing a platform to regain all the weight you have lost and then some.

According to the article here is why: While researchers have known for decades that the body undergoes various metabolic and hormonal changes while it’s losing weight, a full year after significant weight loss, the men and women included in the study remained in what could be described as a biologically altered state.  Their still-plump bodies were acting as if they were starving and were working overtime to regain the pounds they lost.  For instance, a gastric hormone called ghrelin, often dubbed the “hunger hormone, ” was about 20 percent higher than at the start of the study.  A cocktail of other hormones associated with hunger and metabolism all remained significantly changed compared to pre-dieting levels.  It was almost as if weight loss had put their bodies into a unique metabolic state, a sort of post-dieting syndrome that set them apart from people who hadn’t tried to lose weight in the first place.

According to Dr. Proietto, the physician who conducted this study, “What we see here is a coordinated defense mechanism with multiple components all directed toward making us put on weight.” “This, I think, explains the high failure rate in obesity treatment.”

Pretty scary stuff isn’t it? With all the blunt-force trauma that an individual is putting their body though at one time trying to frantically reach their short-term goals, most people aren’t considering how they are deterring their overall mission in the long run. So this basically gets me to the point of this blog. Upon considering my New Year’s Resolution for 2012, I actually decided to re-align my thoughts vs. taking considerable actions.

Now I am certainly not going to say that having a goal and working towards overall health is a bad thing. Au contraire. I, personally, am just going to try to keep in mind that “slow and steady usually wins the race.” Sure we all love to drop 6 sizes in a month and make a trip to the store to buy a whole new petite wardrobe. But try to remember the inverse, when you dropped all that weight in the past and it gradually started to creep back. All of a sudden, you can’t fit into all the nice clothes you just bought, and you slide back into this trend of trying to cover up your “perceived flaws”- further damaging your self esteem and sense of worth. This is not healthy.

Now consider the antithesis; think of how good you feel when you aren’t killing yourself and restraining your actions but instead make small tweaks here and there. Without even realizing it, you are gradually starting to fit your clothes better. Your sense of triumph far exceeds the feeling your “shock treatment” would provide, because you get to keep working towards your goals while being proud of the progress you’re making all along. You are far less tempted to just gorge on food or stop working out altogether from exhaustion, because you are not making drastic changes to your lifestyle. You are simply working out at your own pace, at your convenience and also simply being more conscience of what you are feeding your body.

A wise person once told me that we as people, spend far too much of our lives criticizing ourselves. Seriously, we are never going to look better than we look now, so do we really want to look back on the majority of our lives and realize how displeased we were with ourselves?

So I’ve decided that I am not technically going to set a New Year’s Resolution this year, but rather an “overall life goal”. My goal this year is to be happy with who I am at this point in time. Would I like to be healthier? Yes. Are there things I would like to change about myself? Of course. But I am not going to waste any more of my valuable time holding myself back due to societal notions and killing myself for something that is fleeting. So my goal will be a mental exercise, which I think will be no less difficult.

No New Year’s Resolution; try that one out for size!

16

01 2012

The Most Fashionable Ladies of 2011

Now that 2011 is almost over, it’s time to look back at some of the fashion highs from the last year.  Upon reviewing some of the greatest fashion moments, it became very clear that several of the best looks repeatedly came from the same group of well-dressed ladies.  Now we could just credit these fab girls for obviously knowing how to put an outfit together, although what would be the fun in that?  Instead each fashionable lady is going to go tête-à-tête with a “fictionalized” rival in a fight for the ultimate glory of winning grand supreme title of this  fashion showdown!

1. Elle vs. Dakota Fanning

Let’s kick it off with two natural-born rivals (nothing like brewing a little sibling rivalry).  These two ladies may be young, but they sure know how to put themselves together.   In fact, Vogue decided to do a story about just how fashionable and talented they think these pint-sized leading ladies are.  So who do you think is the top dog in the house of Fanning?

2. Ashley Greene vs. Kristen Stewart

Of course 2011 was another year that “Twilight” reigned supreme and well, those Twilight kids were seen everywhere. Everyone and their grandmas already know everything there is to know about K Stew and R Patz, but this year, several of the other cast members branched out and gained a lot of attention for separate projects.  With such a ridiculously attractive cast, it is hard pretty hard to make these girls look “bad”, but who would you say was the most sparkly vampire of them all?

3. Emma Stone vs. Evan Rachel Wood

Alright, now these two ladies are probably the luckiest leading ladies of the year or century for that matter!  Not just because they are young, rich, talented, and beautiful *psh BIG DEAL!  No, these starlets are likely still trying to catch their breath from their very fortunate smooch fests with no other than the Greek God himself, Ryan Gosling.  Emma Stone got to lock lips with Ryan during “Crazy, Stupid Love”, while Evan Rachel Wood christened her lips while filming “Ides of March”.  So what do you think?  Which of these glam gals was more worthy of Ryan Goslings saliva in 2011?

4. Blake Lively vs Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

2011 once again saw the rise of the bombshell blonde, much in parts thanks to the ample *cough* personality of two very gorgeous and charismatic young actresses, Blake Lively and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.  Not that bombshell blondes every truly go away, but this year they came back in style when Rosie Huntington-Whiteley not only was seen everywhere with her beau Jason Statham (you know the guy that all of your sig others have a total man crush over) but also replaced one very brunette and buxom Megan Fox, while Blake Lively won over not only Leonardo Dicaprio but also Ryan Reynolds in the SAME YEAR!  Now take a moment to soak all of that in, seriously??  Not only does this lead me to question which of them dressed better this past year, but I also want to know who is putting together the better action films during their free time?

5. Amanda Seyfried vs Oliva Wilde

Last year these girls were seen all over various red carpeta, but they just so happened to share the same one when they starred alongside one another along with Justin Timberlake in the movie “In Time”.  Now Olivia Wilde may play a woman a generation older than Amanda Seyfried in this movie (although that would be a completely ridiculous notion had their characters not been frozen in their 20s), but I dare you to say that she looked any more “haggard” than the much younger character played by Amanda Seyfried.  Or will you?

 

6. Zoe Saldana vs. Rooney Mara

These leading ladies kicked some major A$$ last year on the big screen, and they did so with some serious stealthy style.  Now both Rooney Mara and Zoe Saldana may have looked a little more on-the-rough-side in their respective films, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and “Columbiana”, but who would really want to wear a full ball gown and heels when you are single-handedly ridding the world of evil doers?  Luckily, their grittier stripped-down looks didn’t transition to the red carpet.  In fact, I dare to say that these two ladies may have possibly looked the most glamorous, svelte, yet still edgey of red carpet dwellers in 2011.  What do you think?

7.Kate Bosworth vs. Miranda Kerr

Alright, I couldn’t write this entire blog without getting the least bit catty.  These two beautiful ladies are of course uber famous in their own rights, but they are related in that Kate Bosworth was a long-standing past flame of Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr is of course his current arm candy and mother of their adorable baby, Flynn.  Both of these ladies looked incredibly stylish this year, and Kate Bosworth even had the audacity to date Alexander Skarsgard (Eric from True Blood).  I guess she didn’t get the memo that he was saving himself for me….whatever.  Anyway, which of these glam girls do you think looked more petitely perfect all glammed up in 2011?

8. Florence Welch vs. Gwen Stefani

So this is a battle that has many parallels.  First of all, both Gwen Stefani and Florence Welch are female superstars in the music industry, and they both have very extroverted and unique senses of style, the only difference is that one has been making fashion waves for several years now while the other fashion genius is just beginning to scratch the surface.  So which fabulous chanteuse made more of an impactful fashion statement in 2011?

9. Amber Heard vs. Christina Hendricks

Now of course neither of the fresh-faced beauties were around during the 1950s, but other than their perfect complexion, you would never know it!  Both of these women have had big years with their acting careers, but they have also been swooned over for their fantasic curves that they like to show off with their Old Hollywood glam stylings.  Which girl did you think was the better pin-up in 2011?

10. Diane Kruger vs. Rose Byrne

Let’s take it way back to 2004, when two very beautiful model-esque ladies vied for the heart of Josh Hartnett in a little film called “Wicker Park”.  Of course, both Diane Kruger and Rose Byrne have made huge careers for themselves since then, especially including the last couple of years.  So what do you think, which of these incredibly stylish, high-fashion gals should have made off like a bandit with Josh Hartnett’s incredibly sensitive heart?

With so much glam, edginess, and style it can be pretty hard to choose, but too bad!  How can any of these ladies be considered the TOP FASHIONISTA unless they go against the stiffest of competition out there?  Which 10 of these 20 glam gals do you think ultimately deserves a spot on the coveted list of The Most Fashionable Ladies of 2011?

 

30

12 2011

Welcome 2012 in Style!

It’s almost impossible to believe that we are about to be celebrating a new year! It seems like just last week we were watching the ball drop for 2011 and now we’ll be welcoming 2012! Aside from Halloween of course, New Year’s Eve is one holiday that grants the opportunity to be a little playful with your ensemble or even dress downright MEOW for if you so please. How else are you supposed to kiss your prince at midnight right? Since according to the Mayans, this might be our last chance to celebrate a new year, you have to make sure that this year you pull out all the stops!

Very appropriately, the new movie New Year’s Eve starring an all-star cast will be out in theaters soon, and there are some pretty amazing new year’s clothing to be seen. In honor of this movie and this impending holiday, we’re going to take a look at some of the casts New Year’s themed outfits.  In your opinion who had the best interpretation of New Years inspired clothing?

Jessica Biel in Versace

Lea Michele in Emilio Pucci

Sofia Vergara in Zac Posen

Katherine Heigl in Dolce & Gabbana

Now that we’ve taken a look at some successful New Years-esque attire,  I thought it only fair that we try to put together our own interpretation of some New Years looks.  These outfits are also slightly more purse-friendly and accessible than the outfits shown above, considering most of the pieces can be found at local department stores.  Here are a few looks ranging from fun and funky to downright MEOW:

So what are your thoughts?  This New Years are you planning on being more of the hip funky dresser who will be piecing your outfit together or are you planning on looking downright classic and sultry to bring in the New Year?  Either way, IdealHeel would like to say get it girl and have a very Happy Holiday!

24

12 2011

5 To-Die-For Fashion Accessories for the New Year

Whether it be something you gift during the holidays or something you decide that you have to get for yourself with all that holiday cash and gift cards, here are some amazing accessories that can elevate any outfit from good to WATCH OUT!

1. Tortoise & Blonde Glasses:

Thanks to Where Wear in the City for not only for their involvement with a cause we feel very strongly about, The Stiletto Stampede for the Cure, but also for motivating this first must have accessory.  These amazing glasses were showcased in the Finders Keepers Losers Weepers portion of their amazing beauty, fashion, nightlife and lifestyle blog.  These glasses are ultra modern and their website even includes a Virtual Try On feature.  How cool is that?   If the cutting edge style of these glasses doesn’t sell you (which honestly I don’t how that’s possible) then it might behoove you to know that Johnny Depp has been known to sport a snazzy pair of Tortoise & Blonde glasses .

2. Albertus Swanepoel hats:

Albertus Swanepoel is basically the beez neez milliner in the fashion industry.  His hats are consistently featured on the runway during New York Fashion with the list of designers utlizing his hats including: Marc Jacobs, Proenza Shoulder, Thakoon, Carolina Herrera, Peter Som, Erin Fetherston, Diane Von Furtstenberg,  Alexander Wang, Betsy Johnson, Nathan Jenden, Costello Tagliapietra, Jason Wu and Araks.  As if that wasn’t enough, Albertus Swanepoel has been nominated for several prestigious fashion awards as well as had museum exhibits based on his creations.  Given all of his accolades and beautiful work, you will be very happy to hear that Target will be featuring a Albertus Swanepoel line so that everyone will have access to his amazing work.

Albertus Swanepoel for Target

Ell Fanning in an Albertus Swanepoel hat

3. Revlon Expressionists Collection:

This new collection of cosmetics definitely has the ability to stop a room with the sheer brilliance and drama it can bring to a woman’s face.  In the words of Revlon, “Influenced by classic works of art from the Abstract Expressionism movement and exclusively designed by Revlon Global Artistic Director Gucci Westman, the collection features Fall’s most sought-after shades: eyes of silver and plum, lips bursting with Bordeaux, violets and pinks, and nails colored with eye-catching blues, purples and khakis.”

“I was inspired by the period of Abstract Expressionism where the artists, particularly the New York artists, evolved from black and white pieces and began experimenting with and implementing color into their art,” says Gucci Westman of the Expressionists collection’s origins. “I loved their use of colors, textures and composition and the freeness it implied. I integrated this into my collection by mixing textures for lips, eyes and nails and playing with shades – ranging from neutral beiges to bold violets, blues and Bordeaux. I wanted this collection to reflect a piece of art.”

4. Boots with Socks:

Yeah I said it, this season is all about pairing your funkiest socks/tights with a great pair of boots.  Thanks to the StyleMeBad blog for featuring this funky trend.  If this seems just too hard for you to imagine, let these pics serve as proof that this look can be oh so funky cute!

5. clutch clutches:

It is crazy that something as small as a clutch can make such a big statement, but that is exactly what it does.  There have been some very interesting and surprisingly utilitarian clutches showcased as of late.  Here are some of the highlights in my opinion:

Emi Jorge's Dancing Fireflies Clutch

Piero Guidi "Magic Circus" clutch

 

Alexander McQueen ring clutch

 

Alexander McQueen ring clutch

 

Stella mcCartney's Wooden Accordian Clutch

It’s the small things in life that really can take you by surprise and in the case of these fab 5 accessories, it is in a VERY good way.  Hopefully these sides-o-fashion have inspired you to bring a large dosage of attitude and style into the new year.

 

 

19

12 2011

Trend Alert: Men are rockin’ some pretty High Heels and Making it Look Easy!

We all know what a sexy pair of high heels can do for a great pair of legs.  Knowing this, shouldn’t this stiletto magic hold true with the same pair of heels just on a different set of legs?  We sure think so!  A new trend is emerging throughout parts of the Europe and the United States where men are embracing wearing pumps in the name of fashion!  At first, me (the girl who is well aware that I look uber awkward when I try being sassy and struttin my stuff in a pair of heels) couldn’t imagine that men who had not heretofore been conditioned to this level of foot torture, would ever be able to walk in high heels.  Let me tell you, I was VERY WRONG….

Case in point, take for example the high heel mastery that could put any woman to shame, from the avant-garde music and dance crew known as Kazaky.  They often perform at runway shows such as DSquared and Anouki Bicholla , and it’s clear to see why.

Now some may be quick to argue that men have been successfully wearing high heels for years within circles of the drag-wearing community, which is absolutely true, but I am not speaking of men who are otherwise dressing as women.  These men are fully adorned in typical “male clothing” and capping off their outfits with sky high heels.  In my opinion this movement can be described as ”polished male stylings with a androgynous undertones.”  In laymen’s terms, these gentlemen are looking pretty darn dapper,  sharp and well put together.

Interestingly enough, if you look back throughout history high heels on men was a sign of prestige in times past.  According to a recent article in The New York Times, “Until Napoleon banned them, high heels were considered a sign of nobility in France during the 18th century and were favored by men as well as women; long before Louboutin, Louis XVI donned five-inch red-accented heels depicting wartime battle scenes.”

This article went on to note that, “In 2009 the Atlanta hairstylist Derek J became famous after appearing on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” wearing women’s pumps with jeans and a sweater, the same year that the designer Rad Hourani sent male models down the runway in boot heels reminiscent of Prince and ’70s glam rockers like David Bowie and David Johansen of the New York Dolls.”

Designer Rad Hourani puts male models in heels during runway show

 

David Bowie in heels

Several men were seen out and about in New York donning this trend, and of all the men interviewed, there was a unanimous concensus that none of them considered this a form of drag, and none of them cared to portray women.  It was also agreed that women simply have so many more options when it comes to expressing themselves through fashion.  These men, who can certainly be classified as shoe fanatics, would like the same freedom of expression.

Two best friends, Coy Barton, 24, and Mark Cramer, 25 – pictured below, were both dressed in buttoned-up white shirts, dark gray dress slacks, and black leather ankle boots with peep toes that showed off their black painted toenails.  Coy Barton went on to say “I’m in Steve Madden, he’s in Chinese Laundry,”  of their shoes, “These were $115. Mine were, like, $170.”  Other men spoke of prized Balenciaga six-inch heels at a hefty price tag of $2,000 and several other designer pumps that cost a pretty penny.  One man even estimated that he likely had over 30 pairs of women’s designer high heels.

Given this growing trend, and the number of fashionable men who are spending a significant amount on these designer shoes, I would think that the fashion industry would really start keeping men in mind more so when they are designing their future lines of footwear.  Purely from a business standpoint, this presents a whole new market of eager high heel wearers, and just by merely tweaking some shoe sizes and widths, this idea could really have some legs (pun somewhat intended).  Not to mention, the first big name designer who specifically designs a line of high heels for men could possibly go down in history for making high heels common male footwear once again.  They should at least get an award for pushing some not-so-put-together men to step their fashion sense up, in order to even stand close to their much better dressed counterparts who are of course towering a good six inches over them.

 

12

12 2011

Tis The Season: Unique Holiday Gift Ideas Sure to Impress

Please someone tell me who did it?  Tell me, who is the crazy holiday fanatic, who blinked their eye and caused Christmas to be here already???

Not to sound like a complete Scrooge but as great as Christmas is, there really is a whole lot of work involved in preparation for one single day.  In order to get everything done, people don’t even get to wait until December to get started anymore.  If your family does things anything like mine, Thanksgiving isn’t actually a day of sloth and rest (as it should be). NO, Thanksgiving is actually code for “Official Elf Work Day” as my mom likes to put it.  After eating 10 helpings of stuffing, 3 slices of pumpkin pie, not to mention 4 helpings of the tryptophan-injected turkey, I am expected to then put up a Christmas tree complete with lights, ornaments, and all the bells and whistles. Does it stop there? Of course not!  Depending on how dead-set you are on keeping up with the Jones’s, your decorating could include outside lights, cut out Santa Claus’s or if you are lucky enough to be at my parent’s house, putting together a complete, life-size manger (hay included).

This of course brings us to the gifts.  I hope you’ve been saving up all year and listening to all the hints that your significant other has been not-so-casually dropping.  The goal is to find something that each individual will like (even if you hardly know their favorite color), something they don’t already have, while being unique at the same time, all without copping out and just going with a VISA Gift Card.  I would say that this is a painstaking operation (and normally it is), but luckily you have a fairy Godmother this Christmas who has already done the research for you.  You’re Welcome. :)

Gift Ideas Sure to Impress:

#1 Erzulie’s Voodoo Goddess Perfumes & Gemstone Oils: (Yeah, I said it)

It may be the not-so-inner True Blood fanatic in me, but when I saw these little bottles of excellence, I had to resist the temptation to order their entire stock.  Each perfume is handcrafted by a Voodoo pracitioner with all organic ingredients and precious essential oils, then poured into hand-blown, roll-on glass bottles hand-painted by the boutique’s owner herself. Precious gemstones are then added to “really enhance the spiritual vibration of the Vodou Goddesses” each one represents.  Now to find out what type of Godess I am….

Erzulie's Voodoo Goddess Perfumes

#2 Personalized Olive Oil:

Anyone who has been fortunate to have owned a very high quality bottle of olive oil within their lifetime will understand the appeal of this gift right off the bat.  Not everyone is a wineo, but everyone does eat (well mostly everyone), and most people enjoy high quality food at that.  Olive oil has an incredibly rich history and very interesting process of creation that makes for a practical yet refined gift.  By adding a personalized touch of a customized label, these bottles become the perfect gift for friends, family and colleagues.

Personalized Olive Oil

#3 Glass Garden Globe + Plant:

Sure you can always give another ivy or poinsettia to go along with the other ten that your giftee will likely receive this year OR you could get them and ultra trendy plant that makes for a great decoration that lasts year round.  These planted garden globes are all the rave right now, and you can even design your very own plant + globe combination for that little added personal touch.

Glass Garden Globe + Plant

#4 Mr. Beer Brewing Kit:

A Personal beer brewing kit can be the perfect gift for foodies or for men that you have no idea what to buy, although this gift is not exclusively for men by any means.  Beer brewing and microbreweries are quickly becoming a very popular trend in the United States and many people are jumping on the bandwagon.  This makes for an unexpected and engaging gift that also yields benefits for yourself – that is because they are now entitled to share their brews with you of course.  Also look at it this way, drinks at parties and seasonal brews are now taken care of, score and score.

Mr. Beer Brewing Kit

#5 BOGO IdealHeels:

Last but not least, give the gift of balance and refinement to your friends and protection to their high heels. IdealHeel is running a holiday special through December 2011 when you buy one pair of any size/color IdealHeels, you get one pair of tall black idealheels FREE-perfect for stocking stuffers.  IdealHeels provide more stability when walking, especially while on uneven surfaces, and also prevent your heels from becoming gauged, scratched or scuffed in damaging environments.  Your best girlfriends will be sure to thank you, and you never even have to tell them that you kept a pair for yourself!

IdealHeels

All Grinch-ness aside, Christmas is truly a wonderful time full of excitement and joy.  Just make sure to not get wrapped up in all the details and actually enjoy the moment.  From all of us in the IdealHeel blogosphere, we say Happy Holidays to all and Happy Gift Hunting!

03

12 2011

Fashion Alert:Pantyhose Just Might Be Making A Comeback

Brace yourself, because what I’m about to say might come as a bit of a shock to you. Believe it or not, pantyhose just might be coming back in style thanks to the support (no pun intended) of one well-polished lady you may have heard of, that would be none other than Kate Middleton. Hopefully this shocking revelation didn’t instantly plague you with a stream of nightmares from yesteryear grounded in the thought of hiding foot long tears and scraping sticky nylon off of your legs in the dead heat of the summer. Yes, it was all but decided that this trend was long gone and to that many say good riddance.  Instead of just brushing this supposed “new trend” off, I tried to look into it as open-mindedly as possible, and I am going to challenge you to do the same.

Let’s start with some incidents in pop culture in which pantyhose are currently being utilized. At this point it is still most oft-demonstrated in England, but there have been recent occurrences that have surfaced in the states as well. There is obviously a lot of attention placed on Kate Middleton’s outfits as well as her overall demeanor. I’m sure the pressure is substantial, but she seems to manage with effortless charm and grace. At many of her recent outings she has been noted for wearing pantyhose. In fact, she wears pantyhose so often, you would be hard pressed to ever find this lady out and a out bare-legged.  Her choice of pantyhose is a sheer almost iridescent color. Surprisingly enough, I will admit that she looks very elegant with this added embellishment; although I am not wholly convinced that the lack of pantyhose would make her look any less elegant. Other royals within the family also rock pantyhose as well as her “adopted royal” sister, Pippa Middleton, who has definitely created a splash of her own ever since the royal wedding. This trend has definitely moved past just the royal family, and regular citizens are fully embracing this resurgence as well.

In fact after 15 ad-free years, the pantyhose company, L’eggs, has finally aired a new advertising campaign. A change in fashion plus the addition of many open-toed shoes paired with shorter dresses throughout the years along with the obvious challenges related to wearing pantyhose has led to a steady decline in sales over the past decade and a half, with exception to this past year. Interestingly, patterned and eclectic tights have remained an occasional addition to an outfit throughout the years, but women really haven’t taken the often perceived “antiquated” hosiery seriously for quite some time…until now.

What looks do appear to work well are pairing black pantyhose with a sleek black ensemble, either keeping it all black or adding a pop of color somewhere in the overall look.

Nude, iridescent pantyhose are can also work wonders for your legs, especially if you have any uneven coloring or any other leg imperfections.

Now, here is where the other side of the argument comes into play; you knew it was coming. It has been proposed that Kate doesn’t necessarily wear pantyhose by choice but rather is ”required” to or it is at least expected of her now that she is a part of the royal family. Further pushing this point, Rita Wilson has publically relayed that she was not happy about learning that she was to wear pantyhose upon her invitation to the Queen’s State Banquet in honor of President Obama. Certainly the “requirement” to wear these garments might be viewed by some as the physical manifestation of the suppression that these leg socks are thought to embody.  Michelle Obama obviously is not a big fan of pantyhose herself because she somewhat *gasp* ”overlooked” the formality upon her visit to Buckingham palace.

Secondly yes, pantyhose can look strategically paired with certain outfits, but do you really think that someone can rock wearing tan or white pantyhose anymore? And seriously how many of us wear cashmere, lace or any other super delicate fabric every day and are scrutinized to the same degree that Kate is to where the lack of pantyhose would even be noticed?  Really it just brings us back to the days (and you know it would be just a matter of time for this to happen again if this trend really does take off) of seeing women wearing oddly colored hose stuffed into open toed and strappy shoes *shudder*.

Lastly, think of all the physical complications that come along with wearing pantyhose. They certainly aren’t the most comfortable things in the world. They can completely stick to you during the heat of summer and leave that something-is-definitely-clung-to-my-leg feeling like that of saran wrap at all times. Pantyhose have been known to easily tear and they don’t necessarily flatter the stomach region, where a tight pair of pantyhose can squeeze at your mid-section, leaving you looking like an overly stuffed sausage.

So, given both points of view, do you think that American’s can embrace pantyhose for the long haul in the same way the English have recently done? Are these nylon body bags really worth all the work or is it something that will just sort of fall by the wayside?

15

11 2011

Interesting Wedding Venue Ideas for the Unique Bride

Weddings are the most unanimously common event celebrated worldwide today.  On average in the U.S. alone, 2.3 million couples wed every year, which breaks down to nearly 6,200 weddings a day!  Even given these astronomical statistics, every bride wants her wedding to be unique and stand out from the other 2.299 million brides out there having a wedding in the same year.  So, how exactly does a singular bride differentiate her perfect day and make it stick out in the minds of her guests who will likely go to 5 other weddings in the same year???

There are several different approaches to achieving this goal, but one surefire way to leave your guests in awe is to choose a venue that is reflective of you but not necessarily your typical wedding spot.  Currently, 80% of all weddings are performed in a church or synagogue.  With that said, by merely having your wedding in an alternative space, you will have differentiated yourself from 1.84 million brides within the same year!

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of fun & festive wedding venue ideas:

1. Have a warehouse wedding: Seriously can you think of anything more interesting than having a wedding ceremony inside an old abandoned warehouse?  For those offbeat brides out there, this background creates the perfect juxtaposition between the elegance and formality of the wedding details alongside the gritty, industrial and historical feel that a warehouse creates.  Your guests will be in complete awe at how these seemingly completely different aspects can meld together so harmoniously while trying to absorb every single detail in these rich surroundings.  Conveniently, warehouses are usually large enough to be able to contain both the ceremony and the reception in separated spaces.  Don’t just take it from me though, bride Donielle,  shared her story on offbeatbride.com, an incredible website that specializes in keeping all of those “offbeat” brides out there informed.  Donielle hosted this very theme and was absolutely floored with how amazing every little detail turned out.  In her own words, “We tried to eliminate any preconceived notions of what a wedding ceremony and reception should look and feel like. Everything, from the music, to the aesthetics, to the food was considered in creating this almost fantasy-like world. It was an evening of indulging the senses integrated with the intense romanticism and beauty of the environment.”

The Happy Couple

Warehouse Tranformation - Bar Area

Warehouse Transformation - Dining Area

Beautiful Birdcage Adornments

If you are an outdoorsy type girl love natural landscapes then why not do an outside wedding with a twist?  Sure several brides go for the standard back yard wedding but you’re obviously looking for a little more pizzazz, so why not take it to the next level?  There are several alternatives that still provide that natural setting that you crave plus a whole lot more.

2. Lighthouse Wedding – Depending on where you are located, a lighthouse wedding is always a beautiful setting.  Nothing is as whimsical and dreamy as sharing your big day with your closest guests with a fantastic view and the sound of the ocean all around you.  Talk about easy,the colors and theme are practically decided for you.  In this case, I would take a cue from nature and try not to over-do it.  Take advantage of the opulence of nature and let the day naturally happen.

3. Botanical Garden Wedding- If you have access to a botanical garden, there is nothing more serene and naturally beautiful than such a venue for your big day.  Just think of how much you will save in flowers and other decorative elements!  Botanical gardens provide a perfect venue for the bride who prefers to let the beauty of her venue do all the work for her.

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Smith College Botanical Garden

4. Boat/yacht wedding - If you are lucky enough to gain access to a boat that has a large enough deck to accomodate the number of guests you would like near you, then this is the way to go.  This is also a perfect setting for those couples who prefer to have a very intimate ceremony with only a few of their nearest and dearest.  Having a boat wedding sets the tone for a relaxing day and almost removes any stress that an elaborate wedding often brings.  The couple and the guest are allowed to enjoy one anothers company in a serene setting and after the wedding is over, the newly married couple can always drop their guests off at on the shore and whisk away on their own private and romantic honeymoon.

5. Natural Cave/Cavern Wedding – Now you may have skipped over that whole period where you found geology and fancy rocks to be especially interesting, but if you are (like me) one who preferred playing with rocks over barbie dolls and find yourself held perpetually steadfast in this phase, the prospect of having your wedding near natural stalgmites and stalactites with candle light bouncing off of seemingly endless cave walls and refractive crystals, is almost too much to handle.  Talk about wonderment!  This isn’t your typical wedding for sure, in fact, I’m not even sure if it has ever been done before.  All of those dreamers out there and those who long for the unknown, should definitely keep this in their memory banks.

Architecture inspired venue:

6. Shipping Container Wedding - I’m not 100% sure if there are any venues made out of storage crates to date but if there aren’t, there definitely should be!  If you are someone who is into modern architecture and likes innovative spaces, a shipping crate wedding is the way to go.  I know this sounds kind of crazy, but have you seen the insane structures architects have been able to make out of shipping crates?? This is a true spectacle that speaks perfectly to a clean, simple and modern look.  Just imagine the wonderment in the eyes of your dear old aunt gertrude who just traveled from podunk nowhere to see a spectacle like this that she could never have imagined apart from floating on a barge somewhere in the Mississippi River!  This is definitely a way to stick out in the minds of your guests but be warned, this is probably for the dilligent brides who won’t take no for an answer.  It may be a few years before you see a venue like this, but somebody needs to get on it stat if it isn’t in the works already!

Yes, this was made from shipping containers

Shipping Container House

Now I’ll admit, a few of these venues may seem a bit more outlandish than others and may require a bit more leg work ( I never said these ideas were for the faint of heart), but how amazing would it be if you were able to secure one of these venues and pull off the wedding of your dreams?  I’m just letting you know right now, if you read this and you pull off one of these amazing weddings, you are OBLIGATED to send us photos!  I mean it!

Just one last tip, some of these settings might prove difficult when wearing some sleek and stylish wedding stilettos.  If that is the case, don’t feel as if all is lost and you are going to have to bedazzle a pair of cheap flip flops for the big day.  Just make sure to have a pair of IdealHeels in your purse to slip on to the heel of your shoe and away you go.  No worry of sinking into grass, or getting wedged into an uneven surface and scuffing your precious pumps.  In fact, these make for perfect gifts for bridesmaids and wedding guests.  Rather than giving them m&m’s with your faces on them that are just going to melt on their car ride home, why not give them something that will actually be of use to your guests that they will surely thank you for down the road?  IdealHeels come in a range of colors including frost and bridal clear, perfect for your bridal shoes.  The new bridal portion of IdealHeel.com will be up and running soon, so make sure to check back for more bridal tips and exciting updates!

Picture of a clear IdealHeel protecting the heel of a bridal shoe

Last but not least, Happy Wedding Planning!

 

 

08

11 2011

The Results are Black and White: A Timeless Fashion Trend for the Fall and Seasons to Come

You have to agree that there is just something extra special about buying a great black and white ensemble. Other than the fact that you are going to look effortlessly chic pretty much no matter what, there is also the matter of that little post-purchase moment when you analyze and try to justify the money you just spent with credit card shaking in hand (you shopaholics know what I’m talking about). Basically by buying a black and white clothing item, you are either completely spared of this post-purchase guilt altogether or that feeling has a lot less overall impact because you realize that you have bought something that will get you through a lot more than just one season. In all honesty, I have plenty of black and white pieces that I pull out from easily over a decade ago that can still stand alone and/or work great in unison with other newer pieces. So how in a world of ever-chaning trends does this black and white trend remain trendy?
A Look Through the Decades of the Role that Black and White has Played in Fashion:
Now I am not going to say that Coco Chanel was the first person to ever make use of these colors, but she certainly coined this overall look and gave it widespread appeal. In fact, Coco’s visionary style completely changed the face of fashion from the 1920s to present day and her modern interpretation of female fashion brought about the end of an era and a new standard for women’s clothing. The Chanel craze started by replacing tight-fitting corsets and petticoats covered by long dresses, with sexier and more comfortable clothing inspired by menswear including actual pants (mon dieu!). This revolution in fashion was a lot larger than just the fashion world, it became the face of the women’s independence movement!

Portrait of Coco Chanel

Her next breakthrough, which has left a lasting impact even up to modern day, was her creation of the LBD or “little black dress“. This shorter, strapless and backless dress was at first considered to be risquee, but quickly became a fashion staple for decades to come.
The Coco Chanel “signature look” quickly became synonomous with the usage of black and white; Coco’s favorite colors and also the visualization to her top fashion guideline that, “simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” This is why pieces from that time period were often in black and white, and the house of Coco Chanel has wisely stuck to that timeless equation throughout the years.

Late 1920's Fashion

1940's Fashion

1950's Fashion

1960's Fashion

1970's Fashion - Helmut Newton's Iconic Photo of "Le Smoking" dressed in Yves Saint Laurent

1980's Fashion

With Halloween right around the corner, another benefit of having some black and white staples in your wardrobe with a great LBD or two, is the ability to create a homemade, inexpensive costume that is incredibly chic.  Take a cue from Audrey Hepburn or pick a great Mad Men character for inspiration.

Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Christina Hendricks in "Mad Men"

Here is a modern take on the black and white fashion trend and further proof that you basically can’t go wrong when prescribing to it. In fact, there are clothing stores in existence solely based off of this concept; case in point: White House Black Market.  To that we say, “pure genius.”

Amber Heard adds a creative spin on black and white by adding a hint of yellow to her white sheath Cynthia Rowley dress at the premier of "Rum Diary"

Carla Gugino and Lucy Liu are both sportin' the black and white look

Elizabeth Olsen looks effortlessly chic in a black and white outfit

Emma Stone wore a white Luca Luca gown with black polka dots to the premiere of "The Help"

Evan Rachel Wood at the premiere of the Ides of March in a white suit

Evangeline Lilly dons a plunging neckline in her sophisticated white Reem Acra gown

Gwen Stefani is out and about in a black and white ensemble

Miranda Kerr looks edgy and chic in a black and white ensemble

Rachel Zoe looks fabulous as always in a black and white pantsuit

Taylor Swift looked sophisticated in a tracy reese dress at the launch of her Wonderstruck perfume

28

10 2011

Paris Fashion Week Review: What Was Missing on the Runway?

Earlier in October we saw the wrapping up of Fashion month, with the last leg being in Paris for Paris Fashion Week.  Of course this is the time that people are taking a deeper look at the collections, not just based on their intitial reactions, and the collections are also becoming viewable to the general public.  There were some amazing looks at Paris Fashion Week, but surprisingly I was left with a general “meh” feeling about the spring 2012 Parisian showing overall.  Don’t get me wrong, there were some BEAUTIFUL clothes, but it felt like a lot of designers were playing it a little safe this year.  After applying deeper thought, I realized that it wasn’t necessarily about what collections I saw but more about the everpresent realization of what I didn’t see.

February of 2010 and then again of 2011 were incredibly rough times for the fashion industry.  The death of brilliant designer Alexander McQueen and the dismissal of visionary designer John Galliano from Christin Dior and the John Galliano line the following February certainly shook the face of fashion to the core.  These two designers have influenced fashion for years with their darker, larger than life genius, and I feel like the impact of their absence was all too present during Paris Fashion Week.

Alexander McQueen portrait

John Galliano Portrait

Case in point:

In this Alexander McQueen runway show from Fall/Winter 2009-2010 It’s almost as if you’re being sucked into an intriguing and somehow beautiful nightmarish interpretation of the repitition of every day life.  It was never simply just about the clothes to Alexander McQueen, and that is inherently obvious here.

And we all know about the insane shoes that McQueen always delivered including, the 10 inch armadillo shoes for starters!  (talk about needing some IdealHeels!)

Alexander McQueen Armadillo Shoes

 

Alexander McQueen Spring 2010 high heels

Don’t get me wrong, I love Sarah Burton as the  successor to Alexander McQueen (she designed Kate Middleton’s wedding dress for God’s sake), and I felt she had a really strong showing of her vision for the Alexander McQueen line during Paris Fashion Week.  Afterall, she was at the house of McQueen as the right hand wo-man of Alexander for years before his unfortunate passing.   I feel that she brought some definite edginess and flair with the veiled facial adornments the models were sporting, but it wasn’t the over-the-top, neve- know- what- to- expect, kind of fashion that Alexander McQueen had running through his veins.  I feel like her take on fashion will still overall reflect the aesthetics of what McQueen embodied, and she is the right person to step in the shoes of McQueen in my opinion.

On the other hand, after witnessing the Christian Dior and John Galliano collections (which John Galliano took no part in I must add), I was admittedly left a bit bewildered.  Actually, it was more like, ”what the what”?!  Overall these looks weren’t exactly bad, but they seemed to seriously lack any semblance that John Galliano ever had anything to do with these brands.  They were just kind of all over the place, with no clear direction or straightforward inspiration.  This is very sad to me for several reasons.  Not that I am going to ignore the comments that John Galliano made that got him in trouble in the first place, but the man has an eye for greatness.  Christian Dior and anything he touched really, have always been fantastic.  The thought of his presence being absent in the fashion world is just a complete travesty.  Also the thought of seeing uninspired Christian Dior lines on the runway is very disappointing as well.  I know they are just beginning to get their bearings straight and are still looking for Galliano’s official replacement, but I hope they can get it together stat!  Otherwise, I fear it is going to be another mediocre showing for Dior.

Here is a notable show from John Galliano in the past (Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2009)

Here is the alternative, Christian Dior and John Galliano lines from Paris Fashion Week Spring 2012 collections:

(Christian Dior Spring 2012 Paris Fashion Week….snooze)

(John Galliano (minus Galliano) Spring 2012 Collection Paris Fashion Week)

So, is it just me here?  We really need some more of the show-stopping dark drama back on the runway right?  Feel free to chime in with your thoughts regarding this matter.

21

10 2011