Stylish with Substance

No, this "rockin'" fashionista is not Ashlee Simpson getting another MTV reality show and a fashion line (does she have one already? Oh she will - of t-shirts or of whatnots). She just happens to be a lookalike but yes, she is filling the fashionable shoes of sorts of Lauren Conrad on the network.

This is Jazmin Whitley, emerging (obviously about to become famous) fashion designer, not rockstar. And she has a new show coming to MTV; "House of Jazmin". I supposed the former music station at least likes rockstar style? That skirt is nearly identical to a Forever 21 item I thought looked so "on stage". But anyway... Jazmin Whitley's line is actually called, Li Carli. Inexplicably non-eponymous - I mean her (real??!!) name is Jazmin (what ze-flaire) and she went with something that sound's like another chica's name?

I mean for me, I even go by "Ella" partly because too many heard "Lauren-Noelle" and asked me if there was no "L" in "Lauren". LE SIGH. Ha ha.

But the thing is, the show is named after her name. Guh.

Apparently "Li Carli" is her grandparents' last name. (By the way, mine have the name Hominsky, sounds so ... professional.)

Do I sound jealous that this 20-year-old girl was picked for this major show on design? ... First in what will likely be a series of rotating stars, like those "love" disasters the channel puts out. Nah, how could I be chosen at this point, after all? No really.

Maybe I'm just annoyed because she seems really unintelligent (ok, moronic) in her interview to W. What'd she say? Oh "like ..." x21.

The show will likely be painful. And unlikeable. And that could bring the jealousy. Although I think that's what reality shows are supposed to be. No I mean the painful part.

Igh. I would so love to check it out just for the style factor. I watched The Hills just to try to catch glimpses of LVs, Chanels and Balenciagas. Sometimes. (No I only watched it sometimes.) So maybe it's just a good thing that I don't have cable - not until the big Fall season starts. I'm saving money.

Because I don't have such a big, well-paying job.

Yet. ;-)

Can't you tell I'm in a great mood? I'm so happy.

OK I'm a dork. :-)

Newsflash, being First Lady is not a Hollywood job, and the events one attends are not like the Oscars. Recently There's been some fuss over Michelle Obama wearing a dress she wore earlier this year, but is anyone suprised? If she "mixes low end" then why wouldn't she keep her wardrobe to re-use pieces?

Re-wearing clothing articles is not akin to recycling, but some snobs give it the same novelty without the praise.

The Obamas have always been real, beautiful but real, and real people, and probably all of my readers re-wear wardrobe items. The rest of you, get over yourselves.

Photo from The Cut

Besides, this dress is a work of art! Would you toss it in the passé pile?

Read the news updates here (Indiana paper) and here (pink news).

This leads me to ponder a possible great discussion on gender preferences in formal or even cocktail attire and sometimes switching roles all or in part - whatever the sexual preference. Can this be cool for straight chicks, too?

I found a tuxedo-inspired light blue number when looking for a wedding-guest cocktail dress, and fell in love with the concept, and went on to plan and start making even further-tux-inspred accessories. They're really fun and cute, I'm loving it.

But of course, my look includes a dress, a purse, jewelry, and this comfortable-shoe gal is even wearing heels - I'm altering heels with very girly bows (and to hopefully be a lot more comfy!).

Would you be into more masculine looks for chicks or even yourself? Is it just cool for lesbians, or does anything go today?

Back to the story, my thoughts on when tuxedos (or any non-gowns) were banned in this school for the female students:

1. This was entirely an anti-gay decision. It was not a dress code matter only. Not only are the people who were involved in the code homophobic but they aren't comfortable with any gender crossing or neutrality because it reminds them of their phobia object.

2. The fear is ridiculous and this perfectly pleasant attire, or most clothing, doesn't hurt anyone. Even Christians who try to deny homosexuality in people or themselves, should they deny their alternative personal/individual style?!

Ella's all about individual style! These educators (the ones who decided on the original ban) are totally unfabulista/os!

Following conventions, Mercedes-Benz (or their marketing team, or they being a namesake [for IMG Fashion if you're counting], the real fashion team's marketing team) is campaigning this (New York Fashion) week to be election-themed. But will it be unconventional? Does the business of fashion want change and democracy? Are we to see indie designers given big shots, or fan submissions down the catwalks?

What the industry wants is not exactly inspired by Obama's hope for change. Their idea of changing is putting on decade old trends anew, buying enough purses to swap daily, etc. Recycling and upgrading isn't change, it's all more of the same.

[caption id="attachment_1031" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="© 2008 IMG Fashion"][/caption]

The only thing I can say is this is a cute marketing play with colorful graphics.

There's rarely even innovation among the favored fashion, when even most glorified designers put out nothing much that's unique, freshly-flattering, or jaw-droppingly intricate. The IT bags today are mostly 2, 3, 4.0s of yesteryear.

Some of this is fine, and a lot of fashion is fun, but I do wonder, with slogans such as, "Hope. Change. Shoes." which party, aside from coke-floating after-parties, no which political party is the fashion industry a part of? Hint: it's a big business.

I suppose that's why it's all likely to be the same, because conservatism is that, and they do "proclaim" experience matters. New styles from fresh faces - why - those designers have no "foreign policy experience" (outsourcing to China for the cheaps), "no executive experience" (owning companies or just plain having wealth) - and in the economy we've been in -- fair-trade, handmade, eco-grade, or any other trademarks of the (aspiring) leaders of our (fashion) future -- can't be done.

Does this mean Obama would help aspiring designers and even those wanting to dress with individuality? Well, it should help us afford our groceries, at least, which can't hurt our business or shopping pursuits - except our chances at modeling - but supermodels are "huge" (tiny) members of the conservative big business of apparel, anyway - we don't want to be that.

So as the fashion new media, what should bloggers cover in the coming weeks of elegance-on-parade? Would you review in the same old voice as the others of past, or reach for significant inspiration? Perhaps since the powers-that-be decided to - almost naively - dress the event in flags vs. cashmere, in message buttons vs. billboards or leaderboards - in this time of progressive change --- should we show the same scrutiny as to presidential candidates? Even less strictly would be harsher than usual. I say so, because this is our business, our livelihoods, our class standing, our passion, and what we hope to be art - it's important to us and it impacts us, but also the rest of the economy - and is therefore important to our nation, world, and this actual historic election.

It's so painfully sugary, yet brilliantly marketably clever ... the new term "recessionista". It's fine to call oneself a recessionista if a girl goes on a total "bag ban", but promoting "less expensive" products to us is cruelly manipulative. True recessonistas will not continue buying clothing unless it become necessity (like my weight loss means I have no wedges or sandals that fit [ALL I don for outdoor footwear]) - yes shoes no longer fit - and what is still only minimally loose are suede sandals; obviously not appropriate for "hurricane"/rainy season in FL. But I will still make due for a time.

Flitting away money at the moment is mostly tasteless and self-indulgent IMHO, even if it's "just" a new outfit from Forever 21 to ring in Autumn. It's akin to buying "pleather" to "help" the environment and ignoring the food industry. Do the vegan lifestylers want us to toss the skin from the flesh the rest of us eat or do they truly think the entirety of mankind should go veggie? Sorry, but I'm not; specific diets will never be 100% healthy for all people, especially removing dairy and even meat, due to allergies, or any other reason that are frankly no one's business.

The PETA-brainwashed like to stick to ignorance of pollution caused in the manufacturing of plastics, and they're far worse and a part of a different problem from the blog's topic, but it's still related.

If a girl can pay her rent, tuck some away into savings, eat 3 square meals a day or more, and pay off debt---more than minimums, then she absolutely deserves to indulge within her means. No, my problem is with the corporations and marketers attempting to take advantage of those us girls with a weakness for treating ourselves to pretty things.

Also I want to send huge kudos to all of us who are resisting these campaigns, at least somewhat - or at the very least, shopping elsewhere or not inspired by pressure of media. This especially goes to the women in the fashion blogosphere to any extent, I know it's difficult to keep up with IT bags when I'm equally trying to remove myself, and it must be something to continue reading purely for fun, as well! Thanks--xx.

(A public service announcement.)

There are times, days, and longer stretches when a woman doesn't feel her best. When this happens to you, whatever you do, don't lay around depressed. Get out there, do errands, meet friends or just take a walk. And no matter how you feel, exhausted, hot, sweaty, whatever---push through the "pain" and walk like you're on the catwalk. Yes, find your supermodel strut every woman has. May I suggest, unless you prefer not, wedges or heels as well. Put one foot in front of the other, quite literally, hold your head up high, and this is a time when it's okay (and will help you concentrate on keeping up the pace) to pout, also like on the runway. There might be a reason even models pout, they have woman problems, too, and it's a chore to walk so perfectly - yet while it's a chore it makes you feel as good as accomplishing such work. Despite that pout it will cheer you up, you'll feel your womanly power and you might even get to your destination more quickly. I also bet it's better than a leisurely stroll for burning calories and building muscle.

Find your inner supermodel strut and confidence will shine from you, and it will even seep into your mood!

It's so important to do. It could help this "career" and improve chances (at least from 0.001%) of attending shows. It's expected, prudent, required(???) and I'm crazy not to.

Blog about the shows during the fashion weeks. And why the heck have I mostly not blogged 't all?! (With just one post on a show, and nothing about my Marc Jacobs!!!)

I'm sick of it. What's expected, what's done by everyone ... and like our current subtitle reads, a basic issue with the "style-us quo." It's no good excuse, really, I know. But I couldn't bring myself, somehow, to do it.

And why not just blog about other things? Possibly the guilt of not doing what I should be doing ... and probably the fact that runway shows are unavoidable.

I don't even really support my decision ... I'm just burnt out - yes, burnt out from past years. Back when I covered as much as possible while attending college. With that issue behind me, what the fab is my un-fabbing problem??!

I'm working on thinking of creative alternatives to mass-produced, media-marketed, model-splayed, over-saturation of the mundane and force-fed. Posts in the near future (not long term 100%) will feature the anti all-that. See what's caused my ill-feelings toward prêt-a-porter is my resurrection of crafting and designing bags after being moved into my apartment enough to justify the extra time spent. Recently, I've taken up my destiny-craft; weaving, and it's allowing me to work faster and I feel confident I can produce purses on a regular basis from now on. Even though I make negative money from it so far, it's what I really-really-really wish I could be doing full time.

And that interest in indie flows into almost every part of my life, which causes a desire to blog differently. Yet I know that's not what my long-time --- and new-discoverers through old-style posts --- want. I need to maintain a balance, and most importantly, just publish. It is my hope I can do it regularly again.

As for the past few weeks, I'm sure many of you understand my woes. Anyone feel similarly?

Well, back in October, when I was mid-move down the other end of the country, Kiss Me Stace was quoted, in the first paragraph of a Harper's Bazaar fashion blog review article.

 

Everyone's a Fashion Critic

 

When it comes to style these days, everybody's a know-it-all. But do their opinions really matter?

By Robin Ghivan

 

 

If you Google "fashion blog," you will get approximately 1.6 million hits. Click around for a couple minutes on kissmestace.com and you will uncover a plaintive shout-out to all red-carpet obsessives for help identifying a certain pair of shoes worn by Paris Hilton: "They're blush-tone, sturdy-heel pumps with a bow cutout on the vamp. Readers, do you recognize this shoe?"

• Shock, wonder, confusion, desire, wonderment... etc.


• They didn't make my name seem like two different ones like the NYT did! I wasn't split between two pages like the old NYT article! This time, the feature LINKED to me (AND named me as a domain)!!!


• I'm the FIRST one mentioned! FIRST paragraph!


• Is this negative???


• Wow, they picked the one blog entry that is 100% unique from ALL others on this domain. Ha ha - hmm.


• I get how this publicity thing makes people not 100% happy now. I mean I understand perfectly now (and after watching tonight's episode of House) how the media spins things incorrectly.


• Excitement!

Do our opinions matter? YES! Why wouldn't they? Does one need training - or a boss to give a reference listed in a resume - in order to matter in our area of interest? Old media (isn't that what you are, Harper's?) is kind of old. Amateurs can be RIGHT and know things, and ya know, sometimes being right isn't even the correct or good thing, anyway.

Well, this news is old news already, so I'll end here.

What happens when we're a week away from Halloween and/or costume parties and our costume's arrived, but when we try it on, it's a trainwreck?

This happened to me. I wanted to be a ball of yarn. I got a red yarn wig. Check. Beautiful. And I had the "genius" idea of (somehow, still not sure how - eep lol) wrapping an inflatable pumpkin costume with red yarn to make me the skein.

Well, I'm petite, which might have caused a problem. For some reason, this adult's costume didn't inflate as desired. I was droopy ... AND fat. It wasn't taught enough to hold the yarn ball correctly. Going as the fat-bum pumpkin? Not an option, you hear me?

So I came up with another idea quick. But I had about 6 days to receive every little piece of it (AND embroider something on part of the outfit - eek) before the big party. (With prizes for creativity and such, natch.) Now all these different parts help give the full picture - but they may not all arrive in time. As long as one crucial piece - the bling (natch, he he) arrives, I can manage the rest with a drug store run. (I can surely know I'm saying good-bye to that years-long coveted prize, however.)

Has this happened to you? What do you do?

If anyone else is in a costume pickle ... write in the comments, let's help each other out.

My new costume, you ask? In honour of newly running my own household: A housewife. (A rich one, too.) The purchased item I need is my faux engagement ring and wedding band. (Alas alas, I'm plum out of my own.) And I ordered a plain pink sweatsuit that actually is in true danger of arriving (coming from one of those plain apparel wholesalers) - that's the item on which to be embroidered (on the tush: "wife") so it actually needs to come in plenty of time --- especially since I'll also need to hem the pants (petite, remember). Sigh.

Wish me luck! And I hope all your costumes rock. (Do share!)