Tie and Denim: Business on the Top, Casual on the Bottom.

I have always been a firm believer in the classics. They remain in style for long periods of time, they are a truly remarkable way of displaying class, exquisite taste and distinctive elegance. Fashion always works in that different and/or newer styles are introduced and incorporated with current and past trends. The shirt and tie, for example, displays traditional dress and gives a sense of composure to any occassion. Jeans, popularized by societies youth in the 20th Century, have quickly become a staple for both men and women. The two looks together have formed a unique combination which allows for a distinct 'Casual but well thought out' ensemble. People see it. Some people wear it. Everybody knows it. So what's the big deal?

I have closely examined a look that might have seemed controversial and/or innappropriate about half a century ago. Of course, times have changed and people have toyed with the mixture of shirts, sweaters, jackets, pants and the likes. Justifying denim with a shirt and tie would be just as silly as justifying black gloves with a trench coat: it just works. I have always been fond of the shirt and tie with denim look for a number of reasons.

First of all, I find that it is always appropriate to combine a suited look with a dressed down pair of pants, such as jeans or khaki's. It is a common solution to a dress appropriate problem: When we are expected to project an image of formality yet are always subjected to a casual environment. No matter what the situation; during the day, we often encounter situations where we look put-together and have a clean edge to our societies expectations for a more casual form of dress.

Secondly, the importance of formal attire should be reintroduced to younger generations. This element will produce a sense of propriety in regards to traditional forms of dress and will allow for most of us to be brought back to the basics. Because, honestly, what good is a polo paired with a great suit jacket if it is the only thing you see nowadays? Why must we think that being formally dressed up consists of a vintage cut 3-button polo shirt and sharp polished black leather accessories? We often chuckle at the very thought of the business-attire-obsessed image of the 1980's (movies such as American Psycho prove to be a perfect example). We must remind ourselves where we have come from. Toying with the suit can be seen in collections from every corner of the fashion world: Gaultier, Issey Miyake, Moschino, Gucci, etc. This proves to be a look that we are able to play with. By incorporating chic, well-pressed shirts with french cuffs with ripped and torn denim jeans, we are able to say filthy, but fantastic. Who is writing fashion rules, anyways?

Finally, just how sexy is a crisp, fitted shirt paired with a favorite pair of jeans? It has raw sex appeal delivered in such high voltage that we often forget to examine the look piece-by-piece. One look and we are convinced! "Wow, so put together!"

We should think of it as the common, fail-proof, good-for-most occassions ensemble that should be mixed with color and attitude. We must incorporate a sense of self in this look, however. We should feel the need to personalize any outfit we bring together. A leather cuff? Grandma's cameo or a pocket square that will keep most wondering, "What is it about that person that makes me feel like he knows what he's doing?"

What's in Your Bag?

Millions of men and women around the world are subject to the hustle and bustle of big cities. Subways fill up with people all rushing to get from point A to point B. A woman standing on a subway platform suddenly drops her purse to reveal the contents of her bag. The zipper remains open and multiple personal belongings never to be shown to the public suddenly becomes a main attraction to even the most unsuspecting viewer. Her Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous satin lip colour, Verizon LG Chocolate, Personal/Business Agenda Book, Tampax Pearl tampons, House keys and Gucci suede gloves all hit the floor to be displayed by every passersby in that given place. What a disaster! What would prove to be more of a disaster would be that she has some item in her bag that was truly not to be shown to anyone but herself. This is probably the case for most people in the world today. Whether it be a woman or a man, a lawyer or a housewife, many people lie victim to carrying something in their bag that shouldn't be in there to begin with. What this item is will remain a mystery to everyone, until an accident such a the drop of a bag occurs. So, why are many Americans usually embarrassed to drop their bags, especially when the contents of their bags are revealed? We are all human, afterall. A tampon is no less unusual than a set of keys. Birth control is as common as tylenol, but why are we ashamed when people see us carrying them? I have an attempt to persuade millions of Americans to carefully plan what we should carry, how to carry them and what we should keep at home. This way we are able to assess the importance of carrying certain items and leaving others out of the public eye, essentially to avoid public embarrassment.

Making this rule a frequent practice will help eliminate any feeling of carrying unnecessary items.

1. Every morning, go through your bag, messenger, ataché, briefcase, etc., and check for files, papers, receipts, gadgets, personal belongings and hygenic products that are not needed for that given day.

2. Keep a mental list of everyday necessities, perhaps a specific book, your portfolio, an agenda, etc. These will be your everyday-carry basics.

3. Always allow extra room for other belongings that might not be needed for everyday and/or weekly usage. That way if you have to carry more things, you will always have room for these items.

4. Keep (at all times) a mechanical pencil, a pen, a notepad(scratchpad) of some sort, an Agenda (if necessary), your cell phone, house keys, a snack bar if it helps, a pack of kleenex, in some cases Purell hand sanitizer, Business cards (if applicable), mint gum,

For women: Wallet, (if separate, a coin purse for necessary change), A little case for quick fix make-up (foundation, blush, eyeliner,lipstick and gloss).

For men: Deodorant seems to be a common item, chapstick.

These are not necessarily musts, but they help for maintenance reasons and can help keep you fresh for the day. For all other items, think carefully as to what you might need for the rest of the day. Any unneeded items are best kept at home. Keep a light load for the day, as your daily routine of carrying heavy things might draw stress on your body.

Don't get too comfortable with Fashion!

When it comes to dressing up or being seen in public, what often crosses our minds is the innate sense to dress for comfort. We rarely pick out the painful and wrechedly uncomfortable shoes or perhaps a pair of jeans that are 2 sizes too small. On the contrary, we sway towards a more wearable style. What we think might be fun and stylish suddenly becomes impractical and too much of a burden on our already-stressed and hurting bodies. Suddenly, waves of stylish and comfortable trends hit the streets. Celebs, trendsetters and everyone else suddenly realizes the acceptability of wearing items of clothing that strike an opportunity for the body and mind to be at ease. In other words, we are given the chance to put on comfortable clothes. We can always find ways to turn the uncomfortable into fashionable clothing choices, but are we able to, with the same magnitude and perserverance, allowed to take soft, comfy clothing and transform it into couture classics? I have gathered a list of items that I believe have taken on a ubiquitous presence when, perhaps, there was no rational purpose for its preposterously high level of popularity to begin with.

This look to the right examines the efforts of dressing for the whole body in comfort. The shoes, the dress, even down to the bag, has a comforting look to it. Nothing about this look says "painful" (except the look in itself!). I question many women who attempt to dress like this. It is as if you were attending a Psychic's Convention in Taos, New Mexico. The look says comfortable but not trying. Not even a bit. In our society, where much emphasis is put upon our efforts towards a specific outcome, we are rarely given the chance to look this bad to gain a positive and reputable impression towards others. What we think we can get away with, suddenly becomes all that we are known for.

The most excrutiating pain doesn't come from a stab of a knife or even a really bad burn from a blazing fire. It is the shoking cultural phenomenon that has swept the nation, one disaster outfit after another. I am referring to the fashion mistake commonly known as, The UGG boots. Originally from Australia, these boots are full of purpose and practicality. They protect our feet from snow and harsh weather conditions, they are made exclusively for comfort and they are a signature boot for making life a little bit easier. The only problem? The influence of many celebs have opened the flood gates for such a catastrophic trend that millions of girls patiently await their paychecks, daddy's credit card or Christmas/Hannukah/Birthday presents to receive such a thoughtful gift. Now, I cannot imagine a street corner without a girl who can tuck her Seven jeans into her UGG's for a trendy style choice. Trendy? yes. Stylish? Perhaps not. What we must evaluate when it comes to comfortable fashion is its ability to maintain both comfort and style. These colors range from bright pink to a caramel beige for a wider range of potential customers. They look great to shovel snow and they can be very practical for Northern Minnesota weather. When we start seeing these boots in Beverly Hills, however, should we probably start to ask why?

The equally-as-loud, twice as cliché uniform that has me shrugging my shoulders everytime I witness such a faux pas is the undeniably popular Juicy Velour Suit. I have to admit, its remarkably comfortable, great for lounging at home or good for errands. This look has vastly taken on women's wardrobes and has become almost a staple item in every woman's closet. The problem? When 10 million women are wearing a suit that reads 'Juicy' on it, what sort of message does that send out? At the same time, when everyone's wearing it, should this mean you should too? And, if this trend spins out of control, as it has been so far, does it just appear as though women bare a striking resemblance to pajama-clad bandits of tasteless fashion? What next, Fleece Onesies for a night out on the town? You get the point. Velour suits make the grade for practicality, receiving an A for Attainment in comfort, but a big F for Fashion potential.

I will often come across the painfully displayed, bare-it-all tactics of many risk-taking fashion goers. By this, I am referring to the hundreds of thousands of women who bare their nipples, showing a more comfortable side of their everyday dress. It is argued that it might, in fact, not be too tacky when some attempt to pull off a stunt such as this for a given occassion. With evening gowns or an artistic photo op, it could be considered acceptable. These days, however, it is almost everywhere you turn that you see a powerful pair of breasts that bare everything but support. I have seen commercials for more comfortable bras, bras that remain hidden to the public eye, as well as bras that, when shown, don't necessarily look like a bra at all. Why aren't these an option for the women who opt for a natural look? I may be cynical or old-fashioned, but underwear always seems like a good idea, not matter what the fashion trends are throughout the times. Are we becoming shallow and focusing on the outside when, more or less, it's what's on the inside that matters?

The "homely" moccasins are best kept at home. They provide warmth, durability, and of course, comfort. What I didn't understand was when I started to see many girls and women wearing house slippers or comfort moccasins out to WHole Foods or a shopping trip. Don't be mistaken! Moccasins can adapt great styles by many designers to add a touch of class as well as comfort for those who prefer casual flats over day heels. Moreso, I am referring to the traditional moccasins that grace the shelves of comfort shoe stores worldwide. Turquoise beadwork in a shape of an eagle or thick suede string that is weaved around the trim for a home-made appearance. For costumes, house-lounging, or a visit to Arizona, these make an excellent choice. Otherwise, it might be best to keep this choice of footwear in storage and/or away from your friends to avoid public mockery.

Certain choices can prove tough and time-consuming desicions. What we once thought could be deemed acceptable might be your worst mistake yet. We should take time to evaluate such decisions and realize that comfort can only take us so far before we are crossing boundaries into inpropriety. It is best that we consider our everyday attire to differ greatly from our sleep or lounge wear. Robes, slippers, sweatpants and the lack of underwear all have their time and place. If many of us follow certain standards of dress, then why should we suffer from the comfort of others?

Chanel: A Timeless Name in Classic Fashion

One of fashion's most prominent and world-acclaimed fashion designers, signifying style, elegance, class and sex appeal lies in the name Chanel. The brand itself has outlived any other name in the industry and has taken form to accomodate new trends, transforming styles and the reinvention of classic looks. The name is something we often hear in magazines, sometimes history books, and see flooding the streets of many big cities worldwide. There is something to a big name that must be remembered: their presence in pop culture has more importance than fine leathers and classic tweed suits. Their exquisitely-crafted apparel, rare jems and jewels on their finely-made jewelry collections and their focus on durability and unrivaled quality has been their most outstanding features in any given collection. Above all this, Chanel's ability to transform drab into a fury of eye-magnetism, head-turning, and fresh pieces was truly a remarkable milestone in the history of fashion. With this in mind, it is of the utmost importance to understand the label's historical journey through the ages in order to understand the changes between collections, the chameleonic persona that Chanel has adopted throughout the 20th century and why Chanel has become preeminent in the eyes of societies most elite, a name known to fashion connoisseurs around the globe and the ultimate for Women's Couture. In the early 20th Century, Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel opened up her first shop in Paris on Rue Cambon. Chanel had initially started as a designer of hats for actresses in France. This gained her much recognition as she moved into designing women's clothing. Due to the popularity of her hats, Chanel was able to find a place in the French fashion market, creating lines for women that were comfortable, stylish and practical. Many women chose to wear her designs, as they helped provide a favorable relationship between women and their bodies. This change also brought about a new lifestyle, played on by France's rich and famous. In 1921, Chanel No. 5 was introduced and, due to its overwhelming popularity, the following years brought many new fragrances to the name Chanel.
In 1928, Chanel introduced "the little black dress", which brought even more change to the modern woman, proclaiming a unique look to the era of the charleston and the Stock Market Crash of 1929. This was an ideal time to play with different looks, as the culture's dress of the time became flatline and bland. In the same year, Chanel introduced her tweed suit. Each suit was composed of a pencil-lined skirt, a boxy jacket, accented with black trim and costume jewelry (pearls were usually accompanied with this look). Throughout the ages, she was able to change the views of fashion for women around the world. She retired in 1939, and closed her couture house. She came back and stronger than ever, re-opened the house and finally introduced her quilted bag in 1955. This bag had gained her the most recognition, as it was demanded by hundreds of thousands of women all over the world. Interestingly enough, the quilted bag remains the ideal bag for any young woman who wishes to maintain a sense of class and style. Anyone who owns this bag will justify this hefty purchase solely due to it's ageless stylistic presence. After Chanel's death in 1971, the name continued, with no stop, to create fashionable clothes for women around the world. Later in 1983, Karl Lagerfeld took on the design team as Creative Director for Chanel. He has, ever since, maintained Chanel's image and perspecitve. Even with his ability to modify specific looks to incorporate current trends, Lagerfeld maintained Chanel's reputable image of "back-to-basics", incorporating his own looks into the brand.
Some say that the reason Chanel gained popularity was due to her presence in 20th century politics, her relations with political powers around the world and her strong sense of feminism. Whatever the case, Chanel's stance in fashion lied in many of her famous quotes. One of them reads, "Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future." In looking at her collections now, we are able to better understand the history behind the name and the years and years in the making of a unique image and a woman who put it all together to give society one of the leading fashion brands that will indefinitely outlive us all.

The Importance of Prep

I close my eyes just for one minute to coordinate a prefect setting for the upcoming advertisments of Fall 2007 Ralph Lauren and/or Brooks Brothers. A quiet winter morning, the sky is overcast and lightly floating snow fills the air. The air is crisp and cold and sets the perfect occasion for a hot cup of coffee in hand on the way to your 10 am Economics tutorial. In my mind, I envision a classic east coast campus or an old campus such as Notre Dame in which the architecture is as old as the faculty. A prep school with colorful striped ties and the hustle and bustle of the early morning crew team dry land work out starts your day.

These images may stand out bold and may also provoke some distant memory of primary uniform school, boarding school, or just sunday at Grandma's house when you were younger. I have always been fond of being able to dress sharply. No matter what the occassion, I feel that a certain presence resonates over me and fills the room when I consciously pick my most distinguished looking ensemble. I am aware the levels of uncomfort oxfords can be on a daily basis, and wearing a blazer got tiresome and hot in the blazing heat of mid-june. Yet, I fondly reminisce over a time that the simple elegance and dignified manner in which I presented myself changed my overall outlook on the way I should go through the day. For instance, days in which I wore khakis, a weave leather brown belt, matching loafers and a polo, I felt more presentable and more orderly. This change of image also changed the way I interacted with others. I would sit up straight, answer questions in full and in somewhat formal English and I would avoid bad posture at all costs.
I could go on forever, breaking down points as to why I feel strongly about the importance of prep. Some of it's major drawbacks in today's society lies in that the look seems somewhat outdated and old english. Everything in the US has incorporated the word 'casual' to describe a better, laid back environment to which our stiff necks and our anxiety-filled personas can relax to a more worry-free state. Casual Friday's are brought to offices nationwide to reiterate the importance of feeling comfortable and less stressed, leaving more room for productivity. You always hear, "chill out", "relax", or how people "casually" change the subject. We are witnessing one of America's strongest weaknesses: How we have avoided the principal of order, presentation and seriousness. Our clothes have shifted as well. It has come to my attention that prep style has formed a specific stereotype that leaves individuals to think that preppy means jockish, Frat boy, pretentious or ahem... republican. While images of prep are synonymous to those of said stereotypes, I often find that to be a misconception of the highest level.

Prep offers a more composed sense of self and adheres to our traditional standard dress code. It shows cleanliness, composure, interest in higher learning and great levels of civilized behavior. We don't all have to be sticklers and walk about chin up to show a sense of dignified behavior, however, in our every day lives, it would be a great and extremely visible shift (and a beneficial one for that matter) to witness a change in behavior in many men solely from the way they present themselves through dress.

What You Should Know: Proenza Schouler

It is only so often that we come across a good idea that can stir up a frenzy of fashion followers to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for a name that isn't, in fact, known all that well. Once in a while, we find that fresh ideas come best from fresh minds. Meet Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough, two recent-graduates of Parsons School of Design. The duo has been popularized by big names within the industry and has made an immense impact on the way people will view fashion for the years to come. Thanks to certain people such as Julie Gilhart, fashion director for Barney's, as well as Anna Wintour, the Editor-in-Chief for American Vogue, Hernandez and McCollough have become a quick staple name in elite department stores, magazine pages are painted with articles and photographs of the duo and their collections, and most of their designs are often worn by numerous celebrities for red capret occassions.

The hype? One of Hernandez and McCollough's key concepts behind design was to incorporate the lost idea of quality and shape. In the attempt to recreate and repopularize well-tailored, excellently-crafted design, the brand Proenza Schouler has been able to modify shapes and intensify dull colors to magnify other aspects of each of their collections. Each collection doesn't use predictable colors in order to receive short-term wows and ooohs. On top of it all, they are able to play with proportion in order to diversify options for dress. Cropped, tapered, taken-in, shaped and modified are some terms used to describe pieces within their collections. What you would typically see lengthened would be altered in a jacket in one of their more recent collections. They play with many different fabrics, yet manage to stick with a concept that should be familiar to any fashionista: Made to fit, fit to accentuate, and accentuate to please. The only difference is when Proenza Schouler creates a collection, much of the emphasis is placed on the actual craft of the collection. What is it to place multiple hem-lines, what sort of curve will allow for a woman to feel comfortable, yet is able to provoke a waist line that is to die for, or how the trim of a blouse can drastically increase and intensify a woman's natural shape.

While most will agree that a name so new can be a risk for the amount of money spent, others will agree that challenging those around while maximizing personal efforts to dress better will, in the long run, benefit you. The exaggerated idealsitic views of many designers leave clothes to be appreciated on the runway. Proenza Schouler offers looks that help bring an idealistic view of fashion into reality. What better way to look good than to wear clothes that are made to fit and not just made to appear fantastic?

They Will See Us Waving From Such Great Heights

Working in the retail industry, I have often heard mothers and older women come into my shop, talking about some distant memory of days filled with polyester, shag rug carpeting, and bellbottoms. These women will pick up a pair of cork-wedged platform heels and say out loud, "Oh wow. I used to own shoes like this. I wouldn't have thrown them out had I known they would come back". For those of us who are not familiar with how fashion works, much of what we see will recycle itself within several seasons, if not, then in the next generation or so. We fall victim to cleaning out our closets just to find out that we have to come right back to filling them with similar items.

Well, for those who are pack-rats and file away clothes in trunks hidden in dusty attics, Congratulations! What you once thought was fashionable left and came back. In particular, Platform shoes. A mere 5-inches can really boost up a look from dull to exciting. In Spring 2007 trendspotting, Platform shoes are in full effect from lines including Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Lanvin, Prada, and Yves Saint Laurent. This can be all to reminiscent of earlier days, however, with new styles and designs for an innovative Platform shoe, many women are able to make an old concept look brand new.

Thanks to smart ways of accessorizing, people are able to refurbish old duds to polished ensembles. I have to admit, in the attempt to achieve any look besides a new and trendy one, has been to scour my dad's closet for older styles to incorporate in my own personal dress code. Platform shoes weren't on the list, obviously, however, it is always beneficial to try vintage shopping in your own house for styles before hitting the stores. My own mother has admitted to throwing away shoes from her days in the 1970's, and is often reminded by certain styles upon entering a Nordstrom's filled with vintage-styled shoes.

Even with Platform shoes soaring into popularity... once again, how can women benefit from the look of Platform shoes? One given way is to realize that high heels generate a feeling of sex appeal but are often coupled with a feeling of excruciating pain and uncomfort. Platform shoes give leeway to less heel, more height. By giving your toes some leverage, the angle in which your foot points down lessens, giving your entire foot more support. This is ideal for women who actually walk in stylish shoes from a long distance of point A to point B. Another reason for wearing Platform shoes is that these shoes give boring flat-soled shoes a rest. Platform shoes in all shapes and sizes always turn heads. These shoes are not overwhelmingly common, therefore an occassional Platform shoe can drastically change a look you currently have. They are simply just more fun than regular shoes and can come as plain as flip flops. On the contrary, high heels or flats have to be dressed with fabrics and irregular straps in order to stand out in the way that Platform shoes do.

This coming Winter and Spring, opt for Platform high heel shoes, even if the Platform estimates a little under an inch. This change will leave any individual feeling a heightened sense of style and self-confidence. New shoes will change the way you walk, they way you hold your posture and will even create a positive environment for interacting with others!