Funky Feather Weaves Trending HOT!

Have you heard about the new feather weave trend that's happening right now?   It's been going on since early Summer and hasn't let up yet!  Both women and girls alike are opting for adding feathers to their coif be it professionally done at their local salons, or by doing it themselves at home.

Back in the 70's feathers were BIG! You'd see them as jewelry & clothing accents as well as hair accessories.  This vintage style has been around and used in hair doos for years however weaving, which is actually the process of integrating the artificial piece into the hair (i.e. feathers or both fake & human hair), is pretty much a new twist on an old idea. In regards to choosing the right plumes, it seems as though the younger crowd goes for more colorful option whereas the more mature ladies vibe the neutrals.

There is a less invasive way to wear the feathers that only involves clipping them into your hair.  It's pretty easy as opposed to the more semi permanent weaving method and you can take them in and out and change them up according to your daily wardrobe.  Feather weaves are quite different in comparison to hair weaves because of the fragility of the feather they have to be placed more delicately.  Hair weaves are sewn into the hair on the scalp whereas feathers are kept in place with tight crimp beads at the base of the scalp.

Both past and present, celebrities have been on board with the hype of wearing feathers in their hair as seen here with the legend Janis Joplin and Aerosmith's front man Steven Tyler...

If we really want to go back to the origin of ornamental feathers, I mean waaaay back, we have to give a shout out to Sitting Bull born in 1831 who was chief of his Lakota Indian tribe during a time of resistance to U.S. governmental policies. Indians wore feathers in their hair as a symbol of trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, freedom and so much more and to be given the feather of the mighty bald eagle was the biggest form of flattery...

"Wouldn't it be awesome if we could incorporate into our own lives, the true meaning behind the symbolism of wearing feathers?"...

pics: vitaljuice.com, forums.meez.com, sambrocatosalon.com, venusvixen.com, onsugar.com    

Spotlight Saturday - Trendy Styles For Plus Size Ladies

Sometime last week, I did a blog on comedienne Melissa McCarthy who stepped outside of the box to design her own dress that she wore to this year's Emmy's. She's in the spotlight this week for being quoted as saying ... "Trying to find stuff that's still fashion forward in my size is damn near impossible".  The 41 year old actress who recently made herself a house hold name from her appearance in the now out on dvd movie Bridesmaids, makes no qualms about the fact that she embraces her size and hopes to design a clothing line for women with similar body types.  Although I agree with her that there shouldn't be any form of discrimination when a woman of any size ventures out shopping to find the right garment, I disagree with her comment that being a mother actually helps her to feel less insecure about her looks.  In my opinion, that statement projects the vibe of making an excuse for herself & actually makes her appear insecure.  In regards to our physical appearances and the way we perceive ourselves, I don't think there's any gray to contemplate. It's all black & white isn't it?  We're either on board with ourselves or we're not.  And does being a 'mother' allow a woman leeway when it comes to being on top of her game?  Sounds kind of like a cop out but either way, I'm looking forward to seeing her designs.  Especially after the purple mess she put together for the Emmy's. 

pics: hollywoodgossip.com

The Re-Birth Of 'Period Collars'

Vintage trends this Fall are going waaaay back, and I mean way!  All the way back to the days of innocence as there has been a dramatic rebirth of the Victorian style for this upcoming Fall 2011.  During the Edwardian period (1901-1910), high neck collars were popular among women and often adorned with elaborate lace applique and beading & often considered a form of jewelry.  Mind you this style is not to be confused with the gi-normous Elizabethan collars of the Medieval times...

In spite of the fact that the Edwardian collar couldn't be any more modest, covering up 'everything', women of that time actually considered the style to bring an ambiance of allure because of the allure of leaving much to the imagination in that they were giving the viewer 'nothing to see', but 'everything to wonder about'.  That really wasn't such a bad concept eh?  This past year during Paris fashion week 2011, the fashion house of the late designer Alexander McQueen brought new life to the vintage style of Edwardian collars with their Fall line up of suits that entail hints of Goth peppered with industrial chic.  

In regards to Goth, the new generation has definitely been instrumental in bringing back the popularity of the Edwardian collar while at the same time, maintaining true to the original design ...

  pics: photobucket.com, flickr.com, deliaohdelia.blogspot.com, capitolcharlotte.com

Fashion In Film Friday - Racing With The Moon

The 1984 film 'Racing With The Moon' starring Nicolas Cage & Sean Penn was a romantic drama set in California in 1942 & centered around the lives of two young men trying to get in their 'last flings' before heading off to war.  The characters played by Cage & Penn, 'Henry & Nicky', work together at their local bowling alley setting up pins.  After work one night, Henry heads off to see a movie and meets Caddie played by actress Elizabeth McGovern.  After following her home and seeing that she lives in a mansion, he immediately assumes that she is a "Gatsby girl" (meaning 'rich').  In reality, Caddie is living there with her mother who is a maid.

The term 'Gatsby girl' originated in the roaring twenties and defined the era that saw women becoming more rebellious (i.e. drinking & smoking) and it trailed into the mid forties gearing more towards defining women who were the 'haves' in comparison to the 'have nots'.  To be a Gatsby girl in the vintage 40's meant they you afford panty hose and perfume in spite of the fact that you were in the midst of the 'great depression' & in the throws of World War II. 

The 1940's Gatsby girls were modest yet still had the ability to produce a valid amount of sex appeal. Skirts/dresses were knee length or longer and necklines were modest & button down sweaters were 'in'. Maybe it came more from their attitude than from their clothing style? Either way, they made it work!  Maybe it was the allure of 'innocence' that was at an all time high from that point thru to the 50's?... 

pics: freecodesource.com, au-cinema.com, forgottenflux.com, mooninthegutter.blogspot.com, thisislondon.co.uk.com, cultureandthrills.com

Bathing Suits Perfect For EveryBODY

It's so beyond hot today here in the 'D' that I think I'll probably spend the remainder of my day lounging by my pool, so with that being said... Since it's bikini/bathing suit weather, the pressure is usually on 'us women' to find the perfect style to compliment the shape and size of our bodies.  Long gone are the days of the vintage 'modesty suits' as I like to call them, when women didn't have to be concerned so much as to what was 'showing' because the suits didn't allow for much more than arms and mid thigh skin baring!

Suits nowadays leave little to the imagination of course for the most part and finding the 'right suit' can seem like nothing more than a dreaded chore!  


Here are some tips that might be helpful...


If you have a boy'ish body, meaning minus the curves, to create the illusion of an hourglass figure, try to find suits that are shirred or crossed over at the midsection because that will give an appearance of an accentuated waist.  Also, deep 'V' necklines will visually widen your shoulders making your waist look smaller.  

If you're looking to hide your mid section, tankini tops are the way to go as they perfectly conceal the tummy area!

Trying to look proportioned? Look for suits with horizontal details that visually 'break up' the midsection or suits with extra fabric to accommodate should you have a longer torso.

Whatever your shape or size may be, finding the right suit for yourself doesn't have to be painstaking come every Summer and the good thing is, designers are always at the helm of trying to create the 'perfect' suit, to suit every woman....

: vintagegal.tumblr.com  doesthislookstupid.com , pregnancyfashion.sheknows.com , mcazeem.com , swimwearforme.com

Fashion In Film Friday

When you think of movies that inspire fashion, how can you not think of Carrie, Miranda, Sam & Charlotte, the wonderful witty women of Sex And The City? Oh, and let's not forget the 'fashions' which have been said to have a character spot status of their own!  The first episode of the popular HBO hit series was aired on June 6th 1998 and was based partly on Candace Bushnells' novels of the same name.  Her books were compiled from articles she had written for the New York Observer and she admits that her main character, Carrie Bradshaw a.k.a. Sarah Jessica Parker, is in fact her alter ego.

  
Besides the obvious that the story line primarily dealt with scenarios relating to 'women's issues' in regards to men and sex, 'Sex And The City' was all about fashion!  In both the series and the two mainstream movies, these girls always remained in rare style form.  Who they've worn and what they've worn is too vast to mention in it's entirety given that there have been over a decade of episodes, but Oscar de' la Renta and Monolo Blahnik pieces were always in the mix for sure.      

Each character had her own unique flair.  Carrie was uptown chic and fearless with her fashion choices pairing thrift store vinrage with haute' couture.  Charlotte was reserved, cutesy and feminine and was all about matching her bag with her shoes.  Miranda gave rise to corporate chic and women's tailored suits and last but certainly not least the bold and bawdy Samantha exuded sex appeal and confidence to the max with her dare to bare flair!

This show gave a quirky yet realistic insight into the way women perceive men, relationships, fashion and everything in between however, as much as I enjoyed the entertainment, I could never get past the far fetched concept of how Carrie Bradshaw was able to live in New York City on a newspaper columnist's budget while all at the same time being able to party at A-list clubs every night and have money left over to buy haute' couture?  


The most intriguing part of the series is that each week, the ladies of 'Sex And The City' gave us a glimpse of the diversity that each of us has inside ourselves...  The prude, the free spirit, the goal oriented career woman and the bodacious bad girl!


Which one are you?...as for me, I'll never tell ;)   




pics: wallpapergate.com, filmcritic.com, blogs.tr.com