TFD 16 08/17/2010
The Fashion Diaries: Musical Interruption Monday night at Bar Lubitsch in West Hollywood was the best time I’ve had in quite a while. Walk through the dimly lit bar, down a narrow hallway, turn left and let the music guide you to your seat. Emily Smith is singing tonight. I know Emily as a Peptide-knowledgeable, easy-going, always helpful Kinara Spa gal who rarely sweats the small stuff. But she didn’t come to Bar Lubitsch to sell Purifying Cleansing Gel tonight. She steps out of her shoes, sits in a small chair behind a double-headed mic stand, grabs a 6-string acoustic guitar and a small voice says, “how’r you guys doing tonight?” She introduces herself and gets right to it. “This is a song I wrote. Hope you like it.” And we did. Feet tapping. Heads bopping. Fingers snapping. Good music. Music, by the way, that did not come from the Bill Board Top 40. At least not yet. Miss Smith makes it clear that she writes all her own material and she performs it with clarity and brutal honesty. To the “regulars” in the crowd, Emily delivered what she always delivered: impassioned, ardent renditions of her life. To “newbies” like myself, our eyes were opened to split seconds and life changing moments of relationships-gone-wrong, turmoil and blissful tid-bits of love that molded this young songstress to musical psychology. Her lyrics were raw and punctured the soul, but she never apologized. In fact, one melody she strummed on her guitar rhythmically told the story of how she told off some poor guy who obviously rubbed her the wrong way. She passionately chimed about how she was “worth it.” And no one doubted that she was. Emily relates to stories we all have experienced dealing with love, loss and lies. And when you listen to her, it seems natural to want to compare her vocals to the poetry of other sweet-sounding singers. But be warned. Just as soon as you think you’ve pin-pointed that soulful voice, she proves you wrong. There is no comparison. She is undeniably talented and unmistakably Emily Smith. www.EmilySmithMusic.com 2 Comments TFD15 08/02/2010
The Fashion Diaries: How the West Was Won First, Cowboys. Then, country singers. Now, practically every fashion forward luminary prancing the Promenade is “walking the line”. Johnny Cash would be so proud. Western wear seems to have permeated into LA’s fashion scene. And the most popular items? Cowboy boots. They’re in high demand, and for the life of me I can’t understand why or how it happened. They certainly make a statement. But not one you might expect. Walking the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica this weekend, I people and style-watched. It’s amazing to see how creative some style-setters can be. A fashionable, young contemporary would easily piece together an oversized, off-the-shoulder top with a short, relaxed-fit skirt and top it all off with a pair of brown, slightly worn-out cowboy boots. And the women wearing the outfits are chic, modern and confident. Maybe it’s because they’ve scoured all the fashion magazines, style-watching as Hollywood’s biggest stars feed the cowboy fad. Maybe it’s because “these boots were made for walking” – comfortably (how comfy are they I wonder?). Or maybe it’s much simpler. Maybe it’s just the next big thing. Maybe it’ll pass and next week become a distant memory. Or, maybe not. One thing’s for sure: not everything is bigger in Texas. No. As far as Cowboy boots are concerned, the West seems to have won this one. TFD14 07/30/2010
The Fashion Diaries: Wash or Dry Clean? For a few weeks, I had been eye-balling a gold, rayon, sleeveless knit tunic. I couldn’t wait for it to go on sale and once it did, I scooped in and made my purchase. It was like my new toy. I wore it with jeans, leggings and as a sexy little number on girls night out. When it was time to be cleaned, I checked out the tag for care directions and to my surprise, it said “Dry Clean Only.” Three little words I’ve come to find a nuisance. So, I decided to take my chances and wash “with caution” (in cold water). Big mistake. My new, favorite frock was now a teensy tunic. So unfair. If only I had followed the care directions and spent the money to dry clean! Come to find out, rayon is one of many fabrics that you just don’t want to gamble with. It can look like cotton, silk, wool or linen but it’s a manufactured fiber – which basically means it could shrink if it’s not dry cleaned. For years, I’ve washed “Dry Clean Only” items and they lived to tell the story for many more wears. So, what’s the difference this time? This time, I did not do my homework. Next time, I’ll pay closer attention to the tag. If it says, “Dry Clean Only” I’ll follow the directions. Lesson learned. TFD13 07/26/2010
The Fashion Diaries: Stick Your Booties Out Thigh-high, Just-under-the-knee, Over-the-knee. What’s your boot style? With fall just around the corner, it’s a question you may want to ask yourself. My challenge to you? Come out of the style closet. Whatever your fashion frets were last year, let them go. This year, I want to add “Booties” to my list of must-have items. They can be a tragic part of any ensemble but if worn right, they will leave a great, lasting impression. Pair a pair of ankle booties with a short, ruffle dress and instantly, you have longer legs and an uncanny fashion sense. Before they became the “it” style staple, booties were often by-passed – sitting on store shelves with no hope of being noticed. But not this year. This year, those familiar fashion flutters have made way for Bootie breezes to blow (forgive the alliteration.) These booties were made for walking, so stick one in front of the other and define your fashion sense. TFD12 07/24/2010
The Fashion Diaries: Fresh Fabric Finds 74 degrees. Sunshine. Light breeze. Los Angeles weather can be near perfect most days. Why not couple that perfection with fetching fabrics that feel luscious against your skin. At one time, mostly high-end boutiques carried silk charmeuse tunics, silk jersey dresses… let’s face it, silk anything. Oh, but how times change! Don’t be surprised if you find silk and other fabrics fit for a queen in less-then-regal, big box shopping stores. TJ Maxx, Marshalls and the like may carry 99 cent cookbooks and strange, chocolate covered pretzel-like, off-brand candies but on any given day you can also find boutique-quality items – fine, well-made pieces who’s prices will make you want to scream “take THAT Beverly Hills!” So, if shuffling through hundreds of not-for-me pieces on over-stuffed racks doesn’t bother you, check out some of these stores (I’m sure many of you already have!) But if you know beyond any doubt that this ambiance just isn’t your cup of tea and you don’t mind spending a pretty penny on fancy fabrics, go for it! Either way, be on the lookout for new, delectable and tempting textiles that will leave you feeling fresh this summer. TFD11 07/22/2010
The Fashion Diaries: Treats for your Trousers They used to be used to hold up trousers. But that was… how long ago? Today, belts are just as much a staple in your wardrobe as shoes or jewelry. Whatever your heart’s desire – whether its leather, skinny, wide, braided or gold plated – you can and will ultimately find something you can’t live without. I like pairing studded, leather belts with jeans or wide, shirt dresses. And I have at least a dozen skinny belts in cool colors and prints. They polish any outfit I can conjure up. Belts have become so popular, they’ve been given their own wing in some department stores. And depending on where you go, you can find the coolest, most eclectic designs for reasonable prices. There’s a huge Goodwill store on Hollywood Boulevard that I love to visit. You never know what you’ll find. I was looking for accessories one day and came across an amazing wide leather, cream colored obi belt for less than 20 bucks! Talk about a steal. Its the newest, favorite item in my closet. For now… TFD10 07/20/2010
The Fashion Diaries: The New & Improved “Conservative” We’ve all done it. Log on to the web and Google search: WHAT TO WEAR TO A JOB INTERVIEW. Without fail, the search always returns the same results: “suits are the better choice for job interviews.” I disagree. Why? Well, let’s be honest. Not all jobs are created equally and a conservatively dressed candidate may earn a few extra brownie points with a potential employer, but conservative today has a whole new meaning than it had in years past. Gone are the days of the traditional skirt or pant suit. Pinstripes are no longer a prerequisite. In a word, conservative is no longer: boring. Today, a fashion evolution has transformed our typical work wardrobe from the drab and expectedly exhausting to distinctive, swank and polished. Cultivate your cardigan with a floral or flutter blouse and bold colored, skinny belt. Pair these pieces with a solid colored slack and comfy, stylish pump. Now, you’re not only professional, but classically memorable to employers. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against traditional suits. As long as they’re spiced up with bright colors, tasteful accoutrements and delicious textures. Remember to think outside of the style box and employers will not only notice you, they’ll never forget you! TFD9 07/19/2010
The Fashion Diaries: Hats are the Tops Newsboy, Fedora, Beanie, Bowler and Cowboy. Hats are the best! And I am a hat girl. I love the way they compliment any outfit. Some of my hats are more rugged and hard-edged. Like my camouflage Newsboy. I throw it on every morning before walking the dog. It says, “Yup, my hair’s a mess, but I still managed to be stylishly good-looking.” (This opinion is entirely subjective, but the point is the hat makes me feel good.) Most other hats in my closet send a different message: “I’m chic, fashionable and totally confident in who I am!” I throw them on to spice up an outfit, or simply to cover my bed head. Either way, they’re a necessary part of my wardrobe and until I moved to L.A. I had always been unique in this practice. But things have changed… This city is loaded with folks whose style standards would make a conservative, understated crowd go into toxic shock. But put all those “fashionables” together in one place and what do you get? L.A. baby! Countless white, black, colorful, ribbon-adorned, or straw hats being sold everywhere. Vendors, boutiques, consignment shops, big name stores. From the Goorin Bros. to Hollywood Hatters.. you want it, you can find it. And the best part, there are no boundaries. I love Los Angeles! TFD8 07/18/2010
The Fashion Diaries: The Denim Doctor Having relocated at least half a dozen times, I know first hand just how imperative (and damned near impossible) it is to track down basic services as quickly as possible. However, finding a good hair stylist, spa, dry cleaner or seamstress/tailor isn’t as simple as pointing and clicking on a Google search result. You never know what you’re going to get! Nope. I’ve found that the best businesses are usually discovered by word of mouth. I was walking through the Beverly Center this week and overheard a group of women complaining about their frustrations finding a good tailor. How right they were! I’ve had some horrifying experiences that I don’t care to relive. So, of course, their conversation caught my attention. “They call him Doctor Blue Jeans,” one woman said. That was all I needed to hear. My super, investigative reporter skills were in motion. I tracked down this Doctor Blue Jeans (located at Ventura and Van Nuys behind In-N-Out Burger .. yummy!) to have a pair of older, much-too-long jeans hemmed. He looks a bit like ZZ Top, but don’t let that distract you! He was pleasant and very knowledgeable on all things denim. And a few days later, I picked up my perfectly-hemmed pants and told Dr. Blue Jeans he has a new and very happy patient. TFD7 07/17/2010
The Fashion Diaries: “Does this make me look fat?” I absolutely hate this question. Everyone at some point asks it but how many of us are really ready to hear the honest truth – IF we’re told the honest truth? Whether its those last 15 pounds of baby weight or 5 pounds from winter hibernation, women tend to want to hide their weight gain, rather than embrace it. And many choose the fashion faux paux that stands out the most -- wearing bigger, baggier shirts and pants. The idea is that the bagginess hides the bulge. The truth? It just makes for a really unattractive wardrobe selection that makes you look frumpy. Frump may be comfy, but stylish it is not. So here are a couple of secrets to help you fake out the fat in public while you battle the bulge in private:
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