Lizzi & Erika’s Look of the Day

Last night, I went to a movie with my dad and sister and decided to dress up a little for no particular movie. We saw “When in Rome” which was very good! I wore a cream ruffled DKNY top from Macy’s, a pair of black jeans from Nordstrom, a pair of brown Steve Madden boots that I recieved for Christmas, and a brown cardigan bought from Nordstrom.

While I was out seeing a movie, Mom went to a country western concert and dinner with some of her girlfriends. She wore a black cardigan with a faux-fur collar bought from Greene Street consignment, a deep pink silk top from Greene Street consignment, a pair of cool dark-wash jeans from H&M, and a pair of black Chinese Laundry fringed boots (which are rather hard to see because they’re black).

Last night was a real fun and fashionable night for both of us!

Rosana: Our new favorite store!

(Lizzi/Daughter) A couple of months ago, Mom and I went to a trunk show for our neighbor’s client’s new teen clothing store called Rosana. Since she was just beginning, there was only so much clothing and only a little bit of color. We still loved it though! The other day, I got an email from her and I told Mom that I wanted to go see her new store soon (which opened two months ago). So we headed down to Princeton and met up with Rosana again. She remembered us and was so excited to see us! Her store looked amazing. It was decorated with cute chairs and she had a much bigger variety of clothing! She also told us that she’s getting a lot more shoes in, so I knew that I would definitely be going back for more.

Mom and I grabbed different pieces right and left and I tried everything on. I was glad to find a store where I loved the clothes and most of the clothing fit me! (P.S. Sorry about the bright blue tank top… I happened to wear it and it didn’t exactly go with some of the pieces I tried on!)

First, I tried on a light blue ruffle mini dress and a pair of sequined pewter flats:

After that, I tried on an adorable black cut-out mini dress (cut outs are BIG this spring! Again, as I said before, so sorry about the tank!!!!)

Next was a beautiful orange chiffon dress which I was absolutely CRAZY about! It was a little big on the top (perfect on the bottom half).

Then I tried on a couple of things: a strapless top and a pair of really cute cropped pants! (the cardigan is my own)

Finally, I tried on a basic black cami and it looked pretty cute!

Oh, and by the way, if you happen to visit Rosana boutique in time, remember to sign her wall!

At the end, I bought the pewter flats, the black cami, and the cropped pants! I can’t wait to go back again… hopefully you’ll be able to visit the boutique sometime also!

Lizzi’s Look of the Day

Here is Lizzi, early on a Thursday morning, with a great outfit for winter. Although the pink skirt is gauzy, it is warmed up with a dark gray sweater that has a 1940s silhouette. Paired with black tights, ballet flats, and a fun floral necklace, Lizzi’s ensemble is feminine and sophisticated. (Shoes from Aldo; tights from Nordstrom; skirt from H&M; sweater from Forever 21; necklace from Macys).

Short-Waisted People

Remember the old Randy Newman song about short people? Yeah, I’m glad it isn’t played anymore, too. But I was reminded of it when contemplating my own fashion nemesis: a short waist, paired with a not-so-small torso.

When the distance between your breasts and your waist can be measured between thumb and index finger, you’ll understand. A perfectly ordinary blouse tucked into fitted pants or a belt minding its own business on your natural waistline can look ghastly. I asked Lizzi which items in my wardrobe weren’t the most flattering and she immediately named a favorite nubbly tank top that is too short for me. It hits right about my waistline and immediately turns my entire figure into a rectangle. I keep thinking of my grandpa Ted, whose trousers seemed to reach up to his armpits. Us kids used to snicker about that but the image comes back to me disturbingly sometimes when I look in the mirror.

There is good news, though. I never thought I’d say this, but today’s lower-waisted pants are actually flattering for short waists. Look at the pants in the opening photo. This clever woman used a Vogue pattern to make these pants and simply moved the waistline down on the pattern by an inch or so. I think they look really good on her short-waisted figure. Here is a pair of jeans, from Boston Proper, that would also work well on short waists:

The other piece of good news is that while your waist is off limits, you’ve got two other prime areas to highlight: the hips and the breastbone. Empire-waisted tops and dresses look really pretty and tend to elongate the torso. Here is a sweater dress from Boston Proper, paired with tights and boots, that I really like:

I see lots of petite, short-waisted women wearing short- or waist-length jackets–likely because they think they would be overwhelmed by longer lengths. In my opinion, it’s not the best choice. You don’t want to look like a little girl wearing her mom’s clothes…but if you have any excess middle weight, longer hemlines almost always look better. This jacket, for example, would look good on a petite, short-waisted woman. The 3/4-length sleeves are a stylish touch:

Lizzi and I both think the shirt I’m wearing below is a winner. I think I got it at Macys:

Empire waist, nice cleavage, little ruffles (my new obsession)…this comfortable top is great for summer (as seen here in Verona, Italy) as well as peeking out under a cardigan or jacket. And yes, that is an empty beer mug in front of me. I’m aware that beer does not a small waist make. But it was Italy in July–I didn’t care!

No Rips and Fewer Uggs for the New Year

(Erika/Mom) Last week, my daughter Lizzi and I came up with 10 terrific fashion trends we would like to see continue in 2010. We thought it only appropriate to follow up with New Year’s wishes of what we DON’T want to see anymore. Let’s start with a clean slate, people. January 1 is the day to wake up in those cute new PJs you got, eat a healthy breakfast, play Monopoly with your kids…and throw out your Uggs!!!

Before you start chucking your old worn-out boots at me, you should know that I have my own version of Uggs. They are Lands End clogs, red with sheepskin lining. They are supremely comfortable, easy to throw on, and I wear them far too much between November and April. Lizzi averts her eyes when she sees my red feet coming. But I’m not talking about banning Uggs for shoveling snow off the driveway or thick clogs for walking the dog. They are wonderful cold-weather boots. Here’s what I hate:

It's alright to wear them inside but not out!

Uggs aren’t much of a fashion statement. I don’t think we should default to Uggs just because they’re easy. Don’t even get me started on wearing Ugg SLIPPERS as real shoes. Geez. It’s totally fine if you’re inside and lounging around the house. There are a lot of shoes and boots on the market that are warm, convenient, and don’t make you look like you stepped in some kind of suede cement. If you must wear Uggs, consider the styles that aren’t “classic Ugg”–like this one, for example:

Don’t hate me. I’m just tired of Uggs worn in all the wrong places. Now Lizzi will tell you her wish.

(Lizzi/Daughter) One trend I would not like to see in 2010 would be the whole destroyed/ripped trend. I don’t know the exact name for it, but I think it looks totally trashy and weird. I’m constantly seeing ripped leggings and shirts and dresses being sold everywhere from Forever21 to even Neiman Marcus! I don’t mind destroyed jeans to an extent. But if they’re destroyed to a point where your whole leg shows then it makes me want to gag.

Instead of wearing rips and detroyed jeans, try cut-outs. They are a lot cleaner and more sophisticated than tons of rips and holes.

Have a Happy New Year, everyone!

Our 10 Favorite Fashion Trends for 2009

Me and Mom in Venice....shopping of course!

(Lizzi/Daughter) Since it is almost the end of the year and 2010 is right around the corner, Mom and I decided to recap our favorite trends from 2009. We each chose five trends that we would love to see continue and flourish in the upcoming year.

Lizzi’s Five Favorite Trends of 2009:

My Favorite Fashion Trends of 2009 by ChicLizzi featuring Matthew Williamson

Items in this set:
Discount Balmain Military-style denim jacket | theOutnet.com, 3,394 GBP
Matthew Williamson | Fitted twill blazer | NET-A-PORTER.COM, 745 EUR
See by Chloe Crepe boyfriend-fit blazer, $735
ABS Black Bandleader Jacket with Gold Trim
Jimmy Choo York leather motorcycle boots, $1,195

1. Blazers. This is my favorite trend of 2009. I liked the whole menswear trend and thought blazers were a very chic way of dressing up anything whether it was a button-down and jeans or a frilly floral dress.

2. Motorcycle boots. I love motorcycle boots. They are tough and edgy but feminine and fun. They are especially great for the cold winter weather!

3. Bib necklaces. Any statement necklace is great but bib necklaces always seem to catch my eye more than other necklaces.

4. Lace tights. Lace is one of my favorite fabrics and tights are my favorite bottoms to wear, so when both of them are combined they make something wonderful!

5. Military jackets. I love military jackets because of the structure and the buttons. It always reminds me of the toy soldiers in the Nutcracker, my favorite ballet!

(Erika/Mom)
I have to say, thank God romance is back in fashion! I mean the soft, feminine, flowing kind, not the French maid, bodice-ripper kind. We moms have more to choose from than we have for a decade. Today’s stores are filled with clothing, jewelry and accessories that show a great deal of imagination and an attention to the fabulous techniques and silhouettes of the past. I actually had a hard time narrowing my trends down to five, but they are all generous categories and easily adopted by every taste, budget, and (best of all) figure type. Take a look and get ready to hit the sales after Christmas!

Mom’s Five Favorite Trends

My Favorite Fashion Trends for 2009 by EKotite featuring Miss Selfridge

Items in this set:
Milly Ruffle-sleeved merino wool dress, $295
Prep School Dress, $65
Ruffle Tie Blouse, $19
Stella McCartney Wide quilted waist belt, $263
Full Wool Mini Skirt, $245

6. Romantic (styles and fabrics). From sheerest organza to heavyweight velvets, garments of every type are getting a gorgeous lift. Lizzi and I have discovered marvelous tiered skirts in Forever 21; dresses embellished with fabric flowers in gorgeous colors; jackets with lightly puffed sleeves; and of course, shoes with ankle straps and sparkling buckles.

7. Ruffles. Lizzi laughs at my slavish devotion to ruffles. A simple white blouse I bought at White House/Black Market with a ruffled front has been my wardrobe stretcher of the year. A hybrid mom cannot have too many ruffles.

8. Faux Fur. I must admit I have not yet indulged in the fabulous fakes out in the stores this year. But these faux fur makers are really doing something right in their labs. Today’s vests, jackets, coats, and accessories are soft, warm, and oh so stylish.

9. Preppy. When I finally tossed my mid-calf pinwale corduroy pink skirt from college, I never thought I’d see the like of it again. Today’s preppy trend is a bit sexier but super feminine and flexible. You can look like Muffy instead of Skip with these soft fabrics and understated silhouettes.

10. Watches. The amazing, eye-catching array of watches out there drives home an important point: utility definitely shouldn’t look useful. (If you aren’t convinced, take a look at the wonderful tricked-out Steampunk computer we had in a recent post). Insist on pretty whenever possible. That rule, at least for me, has never been easier than now.

Lizzi’s Look of the Day

This week has been a cold one in New Jersey. We’ve had to tack on a few extra minutes in our morning rush to find gloves, scarves, and to keep the fire going. Lizzi wore this outfit on Tuesday, actually. She is wearing a soft floral dress from Urban Outfitters that we both love. It is cinched with a leather wraparound belt she bought in Paris. Tights are from Old Navy and boots are from Target. Even though the fabric looks springlike, the dress itself is a thick knit and very soft. Cozy, you might say.

The Joy of Velvet

(Erika/Mom) Most of us are feeling poor these days; or at least I am. Splurges are out, making do is in. Still, I don’t think it’s healthy to embrace austerity completely. There isn’t much that a little touch of velvet can’t fix.

I’ve always loved velvet. Its texture and rich colors remind me of Christmas, of dressy parties and European splendor. In the 50s and 60s, my grandmother made jeweled ornaments on a fabric base, like the one above. Usually she chose velvet. Today, my siblings and I have painstakingly divided the remaining fragile treasures between us and my favorites have always been the velvet ones. Fifty years later and those scraps of velvet still gleam.

Unfortunately, velvet has taken many hits over the decade especially when velour made its debut. Despite its widespread use in casual wear, upholstery, and children’s clothing, velour brings to mind cheesy producers in track suits and gold chains. At my part-time job during high school, I sold countless men’s velour shirts when Gap still had a “The” in front of it.

The only thing velvet and velour have in common is their first two letters. Velvet is the fabric of royalty, created hundreds of years ago from fine silk and jewel-color dyes. It’s a wonderful (and affordable) element to introduce, or re-introduce, back into your wardrobe.

(Lizzi Hayes/Daughter)This Fall, designers like BCBG and Marc Jacobs have added A LOT of velvet into their collections and therefore stores like H&M and Forever 21 have started to make affordable versions of their velvet masterpieces. Everyone is dying for a little bit of the luxurious fabric… in fact, I’m in the process of sewing a coral-colored velvet handbag.

Velvet dresses, leggings, purses, jackets, and so much more.

Try getting the look by wearing this bold-shouldered velvet dress from H&M:

These velvet headbands from Forever 21:

A pair of tights and lace-up ankle boots and you’ll be the most stylish girl in town!

10 Ways to Know You (and perhaps your daughter) Are a Shopaholic

1. You scavenge the recycle bin for catalogs your husband threw away but you haven’t “read” yet.

2. You know all of your 16-digit credit card numbers, as well as the 3- and 4-digit authorization codes, by heart

3. Your grocery cart ratio of impulse buys to necessary staples is 5:1.

4. Confessions of a Shopaholic was not funny. At all.

5. Visiting college campuses means finding the student store for T-shirts.

6. When you tell your daughter that “we are only window-shopping” and she looks at you like “what’s the point?”

7. You save all your shopping bags and stuff them in the corner of your closet or bedroom because you can’t bear to throw them away.

8. When you are just about to leave Macy’s, you pass by the shoe section and spend another two hours there trying on shoes.

9. It doesn’t matter who you’re shopping for, as long as you’re at the mall, you are completely and 100% satisfied.

10. You and your mom plan 2 back-to-school shopping trips. The first is in New York City and the second, one of the biggest malls in America.

Steampunk Fashion and Jewelry

steampunk n. a genre of science fiction set in Victorian times when steam was the main source of machine power.

(Lizzi Hayes) Mom was the first to introduce me to steampunk about a year ago. I remember she was really excited about it and showed me different pictures of the different things that are involved in the steampunk trend (you gotta see this modified PC):

I was very interested, but mostly in the jewelry, which is made out of different metals, watch and clock pieces, jewels, wires, stones, and so much more. This one is from The Steampunk Trunk on etsy:

But Mom was more interested in the fashion; tight corsets, full skirts, embroidered jackets, top hats, and long coats. Since Mom and I are so fascinated and interested in steampunk, we decided to show off the pieces of steampunk jewelry and the steampunk fashion we love!

As I was surfing the net, I found a great website full of steampunk clothing and accessories that every fashionista would love. It’s called Clockwork Couture.

This website provides lots of cool Victorian-esque clothing. Some of my favorite items were these:

Feel free to explore this wonderful site!!!

Now onto jewelry. Steampunk jewelry isn’t as simple as it looks. It seems as though you could just smash an old watch and glue the pieces onto a simple bangle. It’s actually a lot more beautiful than that…

edmdesigns on Etsey has wonderful jewelry. Some of it is extreme, others are very classy and simple.

An example of extreme would be this gorgeous steampunk cuff.

It also comes in many other styles.

There are many rings that I find actually very beautiful and fascinating:

This ring I’m putting on my Christmas List!!!!

Overall, I think the steampunk style and philosophy is great and very stylish because I love the intricate mix of mechanical and romantic.

(Erika/Mom) Maybe I’ve read too many Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian fantasy novels but for me steampunk is as seductive as Johnny Depp. And I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty tired of the same old, same old jeans and sweaters. Steampunk is escapism you can wear. Evoking the adventurous feminism of Amelia Earhardt, the tailored romance of Nicole Kidman in Australia and the everyday wackiness of Helena Bonham Carter, steampunk is a trip to the past when England’s love of mechanical innovation met its last days as an uncontested world power.

I discovered this new-old world of steampunk while working on a book proposal last year and am fascinated with the people who live it.

Jewelry is probably the easiest way to express your steampunkism. Etsy has many sellers who specialize in exquisite piecees as Lizzy pointed out. Dressing steampunk is a little trickier–the components are highly theatrical and you might easily be mistaken for an extra in Moulin Rouge. An example of toned-down steampunk is this little mineral wash jacket Lizzi and I spotted at Delia’s over the weekend:

Pair this with a ruffled white shirt, black jodhpur-style pants, a pair of black boots, and by jove, you’ve got it!