I am always on the look out for the Holy of Holies in underthings; smooth, comfortable and undetectable fit under clothes but pretty and sexy too. But until mesh lace arrived on the scene, most lingerie drawers were divided firmly into two distinct camps. In one corner- utility. Flesh colored and unadorned bras and pants for smooth lines under clothes. And in the other corner, the lacey intrigue of 'date night' bras and panties trimmed with little bows and rosettes ( not so smooth under clothes, but who cared?)
Thanks to lines like Eberjay, who claim the invention of the stretch mesh lace boyshort and who produce stretchy but shaping bras, suddenly we could have it all. So imagine my delight when I happened upon Bluebird by Eberjay- a new capsule collection sold only at anntaylor.com. Bralets, boyshorts and briefs in black or a pale ballerina pink that are well priced, fit well, and are altogether sexy.
A style note: Still wearing a thong? Upgrade and improve the view. There isn't a girl going who does not look better with the molding, shaping support of a boyshort or brief to boost her backside. Wide lace banding at the leg (as seen on the styles above) helps avoid the look of a Sunday roast packed into your J. Brands. And if you have never tried a seamed bralet, perhaps it's time. Wide lace banding below the hooks smooths out any bra roll.
On Prada's Resort runway nearly every model carried the same style handbag- the mid-sized satchel. Aside from the designer's emphatic visual cue about the bag shape and size to come- it's clear that a new order has emerged in Accessoryland.
Smaller bags look right - a good thing for anyone hefting an overstuffed tote bag. I am a repeat offender. The other day I weighed my trusty everday tote-stuffed to its gussetts- on my bathroom scale. My old Goyard weighed in at ten whole pounds of electronics, notebooks (wait-don't I have that notebook thingy in my phone?), Nalgenes, snack bags, emergency flats and a makeup bag. You get the picture. In the age of the I-Phone how much do we really need to drag around in our handbags? Spring is the ideal time to pare down what you carry. Something more compact will improve your style profile and your posture.
The satchel never really goes out of style and is distinctive for its great lines, its lack of tat like buckles, straps, grommets and studs, and a proportion that is easy to carry and to carry off. Choosing tan or saddle leather offers a chic-looking balance for spring's whites, neutrals, and pastels and hot-colored brights alike. And a neutral color is a smart choice when you amortize a pricey but practical bag that will also look great next Fall.
Images from Prada's Resort collection from style.com.
A reader recently sent in this question: "One well-known fashion editor has stated that shoulder-length hair looks good on any woman. Do you agree? What hair do you think looks fresh and appealing these days?" Great question.
Here is what I have learned on fashion shoots from some of the best hairdressers in the business: each and every face and head of hair should be treated as unique. Sure there are generalities about what cuts and layering best flatter certain facial structures. But do you want to craft your look using generic beauty tips? Never. Consulting with the best hair dresser you can possibly afford is always money well spent. Let them get their hands in your hair and feel it's weight and volume. They need to look carefully at your facial structure and symmetry. A good haircut goes a long way to balancing ones features. You need an expert pair of scissors to create an ideal 'architecture' for your face and neck and for your silhoutte head to toe. A bad haircut is like wearing the wrong hat- every single day.
In general, I am not a fan of shoulder length tresses. To my eye the length looks neither here nor there. Should I cut it or grow it? Hmm. As for what looks fresh and modern, I prefer a good line cut at the collarbone. Gwyneth Paltrow has been photographed sporting this length for several months (not that I care a wit about copying celebrities). When she lopped off her Earth Mommy mid-back length hair to her collarbone she instantly transformed her look to blade-sharp sophistication.
What does not look 'fresh and appealing?' Long, long tresses (especially on women over 35).
Barbie hair is identified with Real Housewives ( fill in the city here), Tiger Wood's mistresses, strippers, and women who in a misguided attempt to look younger make themselves look older. Very long hair is as fresh-looking as a velour track suit and a visible thong. The dictum that once a woman hits a certain age she must cut her hair signifcantly shorter is old fashioned but is the long, long hair thing the antidote? If a woman wants to look sexy and vibrant -at any age- she needs to look modern. That means wearing her hair at a length that is ideally flattering for her and not by following the pack. For most of us, any hairdresser worth their $500 scissors will explain that very long hair makes most faces looked dragged out. And that is aging. Here a few examples: Maria Shriver, an accomplished journalist and documentarian, wears her hair well past her shoulders, layered and big. Maybe this a post-feminist statement because she is far too smart to want to look like a Barbie doll. She would look younger and groovier if she cut off about 7 inches. Kathy Lee Gifford has multi-layered, too-long hair that is very Barbie (or bimbo?- I'm just saying). I watched her the other morning and imagined how with a trim of 5 inches or more she would look a good 5 years younger, chicer and all around more plugged-in to anything resembling current style. Notice her co-host Hoda Kotb's simple and modern-looking ( and more youthful) hair style.
So ladies, is it time for a haircut? The number one way to spruce up for spring - before you buy any piece of clothing or even a new lipstick - is to re-think your hair.
Fashion has proclaimed the return of the kitten heel. The mid-height heel has also been ordained as looking new. I'd like to think that so many women have cried out in misery walking in 4" daggers that designers listened to our plaintive wails and responded with lower heel options. Nah. We are simply in a trends cycle that looks good with lower heels.
This is very good news for women who find high heels too excruciating to wear.Here's more good news.The very comortable wedge-in varying heel heights-is everywhere and offers sweet salvation for those who have given up on heels. The low wedge sandal looks au courant and comfortable. The trick with low heels of any style is to find an interesting and flattering heel shape and enough detail or surface interest that your shoe doesn't recede and kill your outfit. And even a one inch heel will lengthen your legs and flatter them more than something pancake flat.
1.Givenchy's military-inspired back zip mid-heel is one of THE sandals of the season.
2. An eighties-inspired kittten heel in bronze is great with spring's pale clothing palette as well as with jeans. Boutique 9 -$120 ninewest.com
3. The eightes pyramid heel is a new spin on the neutral patent leather work pump. Elie Tahari-$282 couturezappos.com.
4. Tribal influences. The caged look. Works either way. Boutique 9 -$79 ninewest.com.
5. A mid-heel spectator with a sturdy and comfortable walking heel, groovy perforated piping. A good buy now wear now (and later) shoe - $285 couturezappos.com.
6. Burberry's patent leather Court shoe with kitten heel $395 couturezappos.com.
1. Sigerson Morrison's sandal looks like a classic 60's style with a tough, tassled edge -$429 couturezappos.com.
2. Strappy and nude. A mono-match of leather and wedge heel make the foot look smaller and legs look longer. Franco Sarto-$99.95 exclusive to nordstrom.com.
3. Perfectly neutral snakeskin printed leather (goes with anything) and a walkable wedge. Jimmy Choo- $ 665 netaporter.com. OUCH huge $ tag but use this as a guide and interpret at your price.
5. Stuart Weitzman's Pop sandal is a little tribal, a little gladiator in faux python. A goes-anywhere look -$225 nordstrom.com.
6. Faux python and nude suede has an expensive look but costs only $79 ninewest.com.
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