French Connection L’amour
Since I recently re-discovered Urban Outfitters, I thought that I would also give love to other stores that I loved in college and forgot about until now. French Connection gets my vote since it offers interesting pieces that are all-ages. I have at least two LBD from the store that I have pulled out of the closet in a pinch when I didn’t have the time to put together an outfit one morning on my way to work. I wandered into the store today and found this fabulous Ava dress that looks as if it could be part of Victoria Beckham’s collection at a fraction of the price. I would pair the dress with a few items that I already have in my closet along with some accessories that I can easily add to my collection to spice up a few outfits. Let me know what you think.
French connection office by starrlexxdiva featuring cream jewelry
Inspiration in boot form
Since I got my custom-made dream closet and I finally can see all of the clothing that I own, I can finally accessorize my outfits and see what clothing that I actually own. Shockingly, my need for buying new items has diminished because I have lots of interesting pieces that I don’t get to wear and I have rediscovered. I’m actually placing some of these items in rotation and feeling like I have new purchases. One item that I knew that I didn’t have that I felt that I needed to purchase in order to update my fall/winter wardrobe is lace-up boots. I wanted something low-heeled and practical that were military-inspired yet still feminine. The shoes that I found that fit this bill are high-end–in the $900 range. I wasn’t ready to give Prada or Stella McCartney that kind of money so I was thrilled when I ran into this Deena & Ozzy Tread Boot at Urban Outfitters, which I recently profiled my new respect for early this month. This boot is actually comfortable with a walkable heel and is a perfect mixture of ruggedness and girlyness.
Ever since I purchased the boot, I have been inspired to put together innovative new outfits and I attribute this new-found creativity to my fab new boots. So far I have paired the boots with a short, ruffled layered skirt with burgundy tights and a sheer, beige pullover. I wore a more casual look with dark J. Brand skinny jeans with layered olive-green socks worn like leg warmers with a blue plaid shirt and a gray scoop neck sweater. This look was perfect for going to lunch with a good friend. My most recent look involved the boots with a brown plaid shirt dress and my olive-green socks over Wolford opaque wool tights. To me, somehow these looks channel a grownup Angela Chase but are still very Fall 2010. I can’t wait to see what I else these boots might inspire.
The case for Lululemon
By the end of the summer of 2009, I was sick of being out of shape and constantly lethargic. I decided it was time to balance work, life and health and put myself on a get in shape girl mission. I started eating right and began the long journey into shedding all of the extra weight. After about two or three months at the gym, my body started to respond to exercise and I finally stopped avoiding looking at myself in the mirror. When I finally gathered the courage to claim a front row spot in my dance class and glanced up a my reflection, I was in horror. I was a little sweaty as was expected but I looked awful. I was wearing worn, misshapen cut off sweat pants and long, shapeless weathered wife beaters with a pretty sizeable hole on the side. I couldn’t believe that I was in public in such state; it was embarrassing. I never bothered to pay much attention to workout wear and figured that whenever something got bleach on it or stretched out a bit, I would avoid trashing the item instead choosing to add said item into my workout wear rotation. Additionally, I always found workout wear to be over-priced and I figured that I was just going to get sweaty and smelly in it, so why bother wear something nice?
Just about when I figured that I had to make a change , I came across a New York Magazine article about the cult of Lululemon Athletica and how women wearers were serious about the gear and the philosophy behind it. Determined to shape up my workout wear, my workout buddy and I, while on a short trip to Massachusetts, ventured into the Back Bay Boston Lululemon store. We were greeted by a warm saleswoman and given a tutorial on the brand. We learned about Luon and Luxtreme, hoodies with thumb holes and fingered soft, stretchy colorful clothing. Once we actually tried on the body skimming clothing, we were smitten. We were able to see the fruits of our labor: new waistlines and trimmer legs were framed by flattering stirup pants, crop pants and booty shorts. We even purchased matching halter unitards. I loved the posters of the local Lulu ambassadors and I loved how each store endorses local popular yoga, pilates, dance and other fitness professionals and pushed positive self-affirming attitudes toward fitness. Between the stellar customer services, the smart branding, the body conscious workout gear and the positive attitudes, we were sold.
My beloved stirup Lulu pants. Nothing makes me look more fit and trim in my dance class
Soon, I was wearing Lulu clothing in and out of the gym. Almost immediately, I started to see and feel the backlash. A very fashion-forward friend of mine, when noticed my signature Lulu hoodie while I was lounging around after the gym, asked me if I was an aspiring housewife. Shocked, I tried to explain to her how the clothing really shouldn’t be counted as a thing that Julie Cooper would wear on the O.C. This gear was for truly active women who wanted to look their best at the gym. But the more that I spoke to women who actually were familiar with Lulu gear regarded it as the official uniforms for housewives. I shudder at the image of an out of shape spoiled housewife wearing my beloved criss-cross hot pink Luon tank paired with a fake Louis Vuitton bag, full make-up and screaming kids in tow. Suddenly, I was in a love hate relationship with the workout gear that made me feel so good about my figure. Now that I am older and don’t want to be lumped in with desperate housewives but I knew that I couldn’t give up my purple power dance tank or my striped scoop neck tank that is perfect for spinning. I was in a pickle.
A $98 Lulu yoga mat. Is this necessary for a your yoga practice?
Since I am an attorney by trade, I needed to argue both the arguments for and against the use of Lululemon before I can make my final decision about how I feel about this brand.
I can argue that Lululemon is one that should be supported by consumers based on their stellar customer service. Each store is outfitted with knowledgable representatives ready to talk about the pros and cons of each article. Lululemon also pushes positive affirmations “you can do it” type affirmations meant to motivate customers into taking chances and becoming more positive and actualized people. Further, each store seems invested in customers health by opening up the stores on select days for local, innovative and inspiring teachers teaching Lulu customers for free. Arguably, Lulu stores can serve as a gathering place for like-minded health conscience individuals where women can meet and find motivating workout partners that will help each other through personal goals.
On the other hand I can argue that Lululemon sells the idea of fitness to its customers making fitness less of a goal and more like a commodity that can be bought and sold. It’s philosophy of motivation through pretty colors and flattering cuts is not unlike the ridiculous of an infomercial. True devotion to fitness and a healthier lifestyle should not be marketed and its easy to see how some may purchase clothing to convince themselves that they will hit the gym or run that 5k as they promised. I think that coveting the expensive fancy gear is the antithesis of establishing good yoga practice and less about personal growth and centering and more about material things. Finally, fancy gym gear is not much more than what it is, well-made, mass manufactured sweat pants. Casual clothing like flip-flops and sweat suits have moved from their rightful places (like the beach or the gym) and has sadly infiltrated offices, churches and even formal events. Brands like Lululelmon have added to the proliferation of sloppy inappropriate dressing and has created a new generation of inattentive dressers.
What I’ve learned from this experience is that bleach-stained clothing and worn out sweat pants are not the most flattering choices to be worn at the gym. If one makes the decision to actually wear those kinds of clothing, avoid mirrors at all costs. I also learned that expensive tailored clothing can’t really help me become more fit or make me a more experience yogi. Only I can do that with patience and focus. And I understand that capitalism and benevolent personal growth don’t always mix. But I can’t help but be grateful for a store that prides itself on customer service and offers free fitness classes for those who are interested. From those free classes I have found at least two local yoga studio and started following a teacher or two that I found particularly motivating.
So I will continue to wear my workout gear unselfconsciencely but not unaware. I fully acknowledge that wearing my Lulu gear to the supermarket is just as bad as pairing flip-flops with a cute summer outfit. So, even if (God help me) I get lumped in together with desperate out of shape housewives who are wearing the same Run Dash Pullover in persimmon as I am on the way to the gym, I’ll know that I have bought into the true philosophy whether genuine or money driven of Lululemon and will continue on with my quest for fitness.
No no Nanette Lepore and stale Malandrino sample sales
Yesterday I checked out the Nanette Lepore and Catherine Malandrino sample sales. And I was very disappointed.
The Lepore sale was well-organized and filled with merchandise. There were several long racks and a few tables with clothing. The first thing that I noticed was that although there was a lot of clothes on the rack, the same items were repeated ad nauseum. There were several wool pants, jumpers, skirts and short jackets repeated over and over again in the room. This is not the kind of sample sale where a shopper will dig and find one unique item that will become a go to piece for the season. This sample sale seemed like I had accidentally wandered into Macy’s. To make matters worse, the prices were not sample sale prices. The price list showed nothing below $80 or $90 dollars and many pieces were upwards of $225. Too dear for the lackluster unimaginative inventory. Needless to say, I left empty-handed and will think twice before I rush off to this sample sale in the future.
Next, I hopped on the subway to check out the much sought after Catherine Malandrino sample sale. It’s held in Chelsea in a large space. There is a lot of merchandise and somehow, the pieces all looked familiar as if I’d seen them in prior sales. After combing through rack after rack, the pieces displayed seem to lack taste; many pieces seemed to be over-designed. For instance, I saw many bold prints that were cut in strange ways and accessorized with sequins and beading making a busy, complicated mess. I even found a black woven oversized vest hanging on a rack in the back that looked like a looped wool bathmat. While combing through the racks, I came across a blue, patterned, peasant blouse with beading at the neck. It was an interesting piece although not really motivating. A sale associate approached and informed me that “Vanessa” from Gossip Girl wore that blouse. I can see how this boho chic blouse could have been chosen and I have to admit that it was one of the better options at the sale. It was patterned and boisterous but somehow not over-designed as some of the pieces that were on the rack. Despite being seriously underwhelmed by this sale, I did pick up a basic, floral tunic that fit well. I thought it could be worn with leggings and boots for the rest of the fall. Overall, I will not recommend this sale in the future as this is not the first year I was disappointed–not by the selection but by the general lack of taste.
Stay tuned for a summary of the upcoming Steve Alan sample sale next week.
Araks for everyone!
I just came home from the Araks sample sale and I am admiring my booty… both literally and figuratively. I can never seem to justify spending a lot for underwear. I find myself admiring the likes of Kiki de Montparnesse or Agent Provacteur but rarely do I ever shell out the benjamins to have my very own.
So I treked to SoHo and up five flight of stairs as the elevator in the building is broken. The sale is surprisingly organized and filled with really upbeat helpful sales associates. There is a rack of undies, camis, chemise and bralets tastefully displayed and several bins with bathing suits, bottoms and tanks ranging from $10 to $20. After some peaceful rummaging, here is a sampling of what I came home with: 
Urban Renewal
When I first moved to NYC I lived in Greenwich Village where I discovered my love for fashion. I never felt that I needed another fashion magazine because I was surrounded by the fashionistas–the trendsetters who start the trends that trickle down to the suburbs and other cities across the country. I wanted to be one of those unapologetic women who wore the ridiculous before it became norm. The only barrier to my quest was access. I had no money to shop at Barney’s or Saks or the little boutiques that used to line 8th street. But I found my escape in Urban Outfitters. The store was so cool. And cheap. And edgy. I knew that I could take my meager food allowance from my parents and I buy jeans, funky tights and skirts. I thought that I had found my mecca and that I would never stop shopping there. Until I did. I got older and I suddenly didn’t find bean bags and lava lamps so interesting. I grew out of the store, started frequenting small boutiques all over NYC and bid a fond farewell to my old haunt.
Now I’m in my 30’s and sometimes I find myself stealing into Urban and checking out the merchandise. Although I don’t think that a psychedelic tapestry would coordinate that well with my beige Bo-concept-outfitted grown-up apartment, I rediscovered the store and found some room in my wardrobe for some choice pieces this fall.
I think where the store appeals to teens as well as those of us who look upon those faraway days fondly is in their dresses. The dresses this season emphasize fall florals and edgy simple basics that are easily worn alone or layered for colder winter months. The best part of these dresses is that they are perfect vehicles to show off funky tights and leggings and all sorts of boots. Finally, the pricing is right to grab a couple of dresses that will no doubt be versatile and handy. Although I may not be able to totally revisit my youth, I will look good while reminiscing. Here are a few looks that I plan on rocking out this season:
Denise Huxatable — Style Icon
I was overtired and uncomfortable during my red-eye flight from LAX to JFK. I couldn’t sleep no matter how hard I tried so I decided to find something to watch on satellite TV. I stumbled on re-runs of the Cosby show, watched about 4 episodes and the rest of my flight flew by. Every time I watch the show I find something new to focus on and this time, my focus was on style maven Denise Huxtable.
The Cosby Show broke through traditional ideas of how African-Americans were portrayed on prime time TV. But Denise especially was a real trailblazer. She was the first female character on the show to abandon the wash and curl hairdo in order to transition into a less processed look and eventually wore long dreadlocks. In fact, I can’t think of any other character on a prime time sitcom since that wore dreads. She wore what she wanted and in ways most have never tried. She mixed a bit of Madonna style post-Lucky Star with some Prince circa Under the Cherry Moon. Face it, she was the original hipster.
Mostly what I love about Denise is that she skirted what was expected of a good Huxtable girl. She dressed in nothing that we could find off the rack and wore it in creative ways that pushed the envelope but was never overly sexy or trashy unlike many of the teenage or 20-something style icons of today. What’s most striking about her look is how transferable her signature pieces are to 2010. Her use of vests, long boyfriend blazers, harem pants and unique accessories always are put together in non-traditional ways with a flair for the quirky.
For me, Denise’s presence and sense of self on the Cosby Show was a refreshing reminder that a black woman can inhabit middle class America without trying too hard to conform with the dominant culture’s ideals about beauty. Her look was funky, feminine and unapologetic. She never acted as if she had to over compensate and modify her look just to make others feel comfortable. While the Cosby Show unobtrusively introduced information about African-American history and incorporated learning into episodes, Denise’s quirky presence was constant and nagging, introducing middle America to an image they were not familiar. Even as the series and her character matured, she kept her sense of style as a married woman and a mother. Denise’s sense of individualism is and was a welcome change to the image of women at large and added yet another dimension to the depiction of black women on television.
Here are some ideas on how I plan to appropriate the Denise look in 2010:
Check out this posting on the etsy blog that puts together their own incarnation of Denise Huxtable look from small retailers and vintage shops. http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/get-the-look-denise-huxtable-8280/
Yuzu! Yuzu! Yuzu!
I knew that my visit to Japan would be an overall exciting culinary experience and I embarked on my journey without prejudice and an insatiable hunger. I tried as much as I could without breaking the bank and stretching my tummy too far and I don’t think there is much that I didn’t like.
One of my favorite discoveries is yuzu fruit. Yuzu (pronounced yoo-zoo) is a Japanese citrus fruit about the size of a tangerine and tastes something like a cross between a mandarin orange and a lemon. The bittersweetness of this fruit is used for many things, from salad dressings to soups and vinegar.
I first experienced the fruit when I first arrived at my Kyoto lodgings and was offered a cold, yuzu tea in a glass with a spring of herbs. It was refreshing, sweet and tart and tasted not unlike lemonade. I would say that it was the best lemonade that I ever had.
For the rest of my stay in Japan, I spent my days searching for yuzu fruit to no avail and when I returned home I discovered that yuzu fruit, even in Japan, are quite rare and take a long time to grow. Since I have been back, I have researched and purchased different items containing yuzu in order to re-create my first magical meeting with the fruit.
I searched Japanese supermarkets and wasn’t surprised when I couldn’t find fresh yuzu, but I did stumble across bottled yuzu extract in a bottle at a specialty shop. In the States, getting yuzu in extract form is the next best thing to the fresh fruit.
After a brief search on the internet and I found that there are many gourmet restaurants, such as Nobu, that incorporate yuzu on their menus and it seems that yuzu can be used in recipes that call for lemon or lime juice. It should be noted though that yuzu juice is a bit more tart and strong than lemon and lime so experiment and use sparingly until you get the right balance. I put a spin on my usual salad dressing using the extract. Check out the recipe below:
Balsamic Yuzu dressing
Ingredients:
3/4 c. good quality olive oil
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
3 tsp. yuzu extract
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. fresh crushed garlic
Directions:
Mix the ingredients and combine until emulsified. Adjust the vinegar to taste. Store in covered container in the refrigerator.
The easiest and most fun way to enjoy yuzu is in alcoholic form. Ume no Yado is a yuzu- infused sake that is perfect chilled as a summer drink or as an appertif. This sake ends up tasting like a sweet and tart lemonade with a kick. I found this sake at a cute sake specialty store called Sakaya in the East Village in Manhattan. It’s described as “refreshingly light, bright citrus flavors combined with soft texture and a hint of sweetness.” This sake shop also has an online presence and you can order it online at http://www.sakayanyc.com. The sake can be drunk alone or as a mixed drink.
Yuzu Sake Cocktail:
1 part gin
2 parts yuzu sake
1 splash of champagne
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a low ball glass and serve on ice with a small twist of lemon.
(In a whisper) All Aboard
I took the Shinkansen to Kyoto and the bullet train did not disappoint. It was fast, clean and peaceful, much like my general experience visiting Japan. Before I left for Japan, I told a few people that taking the bullet train, locally known as the Shinkansen was on my bucket list and there oftentimes was a comparison between the ACELA Amtrak train and Japan’s bullet train. Since I am intimately familiar with ACELA given that I went to law school in Boston and often visited friends and family in NYC, I can say from first hand experience that there is no comparison. The Shinkansen is fast in a way that the ACELA is not, the interior of the train is bright, spacious and most of all, quiet. Passengers on the Shinkansen understand that while traveling in confined spaces, refraining from cell phone conversations or loud conversations of any kind can be disturbing to your fellow passengers and do not dream of being that one disruptive person. The peace and quiet that the Shinkansen creates is an environment of utmost peace that cannot be replicated in the US. During my journey, I was able to write, meditate and most of all take in the passing scenery–including a breathtaking cloudy covered Mount Fuji.
I found the train to be almost post-modern in its general grace, silence and modernity and wondered what part of it I would most like to take home to the States. To start, the cleanliness. The train was so clean that if you purchased food from the cart and a morsel fell on the ground of the train, it would take great restraint not to pick that morsel up and eat it. The train cars are litter free and fresh-smelling. I cannot say the same for the over-priced ACELA trains. Even though these trains are heavily marketed to the East coast (D.C., NYC and Boston business travelers to be precise), there is a general grimy-ness that is curiously present. Further, the lighting in the ACELA varies and is oftentimes poor. In comparison, the Shinkansen is brightly and evenly lit. That effect creates a sense of openness. I watched many business travelers working on their laptops. The overall environment seemed conducive to both rest and work. Lastly, the overall courtesy, peacefulness, and tranquility of the Shinkansen gave me the opportunity to customize my experience in just the way that I needed. I didn’t need to deal with screaming babies or overzealous cellphone talkers. I was able to take in the scenery, read my book, or catch some sleep undisturbed.
I think that bringing such trains to the States would be transform our experience of travel. Train travel although it may seem dated, is quite efficient, simple and if done right, can be a positive experience.
Adventures in Bathing
The best part of being in a traditional Japanese hotel, a ryokan, is being able to indulge after a long day of sight-seeing in a traditional Japanese communal baths. Most ryokan have a bathing area that the guests may use that is separated by gender. Since I was in Kyoto in the shoulder season after the spring and before the summer rush, I was able to take a bath alone and enjoy a spa like experience in solitude.
I went to the bathing area and changed in a changing room complete with all necessary amenities. The communal bath is filled once an evening and it is imperative that you enter the bath fully clean after a shower. The communal bath isn’t for washing, it is for soaking. So I grabbed a towel and headed into the shower area and got squeaky clean for the bath using the house yuzu soap.
Shower stool and shower head prep for the bath
After a full shower, I sat in a large wooden tub with floating yuzu fruit and a small, waterfall like spout that kept the water circulating. The water was hot and the floating yuzu fruit perfumed the steamy air with a hint of lemon and orange. The placement of the yuzu in the bath softened the water and helped relax my muscles after a full day of sight-seeing on foot. This experience was like none other. Oftentimes at spa, patrons are forced to exchange pleasantries with their attendants. Here, I was able to relax and replenish in solitude and was kept company by the warm water and thoughts of the beautiful temples I experienced earlier that day.
A wooden soaking bath complete with floating yuzu fruit
Starrlexxdiva 