the world according to sherimaven

Hey, Friday...looking forward to a lovely weekend...friend in town so should be fun.

Fashion Week has reared its glammy head, with the big shows from the mega designers coming in the following days. I looked at all the shows from the past two days and was, well, unimpressed. BCBG did some weird turtlenecks under everything, and Steven Allen took the urban farming look to new heights, a look I am a bit over to be honest. Most interesting to me was Vena Cava, whose show notes had them going back into their Vogue repository from the 90s to shout out Azzedine Alaia, Donna Karan, and other big stars from that era. Let's be honest- the 90s were not super fashionable- not in my mind anyway. The only real moment I remember from that time was Tom Ford's insanely amazing collection for Gucci, with silk shirts and velvet pants and worn by Madonna at the MTV Awards, when Courtney Love stumbled all over her (ad pictured here). My point is- I don't remember a ton of great fashion from that time, because everybody was so caught up in the admittedly mopey grunge era, which I despised from a fashion perspective (though I did not at all despise Chris Cornell- heart him. And Kurt of course). Yes I loved the Marc Jacobs cashmere thermal- that was a great way to bring some luxury into that very downtrodden time of flannel and work boots and stinky hair (not to mention all of those shoes with those thick heels. Yikes).

But the Vena Cava collection, pictured here, supposedly took cues from the "good" moments of that time- and I must say, there's some nice looks here, but in general, I'd say I'm not super excited by the smudgy makeup, though that little polka dot dress reminds me of so many frocks I rocked from that time, with high heeled suede platforms if I recall- it's cute for sure, but worthy of runway? Not so much...

I do like some of the languid, limby long dresses here- definitely nodding to Donna Karan, whose DKNY collection was a defining moment of my youth, with its ads full of images of a town I knew I would one day inhabit. So all in all, some nice looks, but nothing fantastic. I'm looking forward to seeing more from the week, though from what I've seen, there's a somber mood for Fall in terms of palette, but let's see what the big guns pull out...cause that's what's up this fashiony Friday in the MIA. Cheers to the weekend. XO

Mornin' Thursday- so Fashion week is off and running- since we are just at inception, I thought I'd share my thoughts on Rachel Zoe's collection, released to the press this week in time for the festivities. Sure it looks like expensive Zara, or a rival to just above bridge brands like Theory. But I gotta say, what I love about all of it is the wearability of the pieces, there was nothing in the collection that didn't feel user friendly, not full of gimmicks, and pieces that you could wear over and over again. I'm showing you three suiting options- I am in love with the black skinny suit, a sexy alternative to typical looks for dinner at the newest hot spot. I also think you could pack any of these suits for a trip and have limitless options- mixing and matching with dresses, blouses, shoes, and bags. I think it's great that Rachel understands the way most women like to dress, even though she has dressed celebrities for most of her career. I give it a thumbs up.  I have always been a fan of her 70s inspired looks and she's taken it to a safe place here, but one I'd be comfortable in. Are these clothes super imaginative and innovative? No, they're not, but who cares. I would so hit any of these looks..and there's other great stuff too- link below to style.com's coverage.

I hope to bring you thoughts on all things fash this week- very excited to see the shows for Fall 2011- sure there will be some home runs from the Americans this season...cause that's what's up this fashion filled Thursday in the MIA. XO

 

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2011RTW-RZOE

Hiya, Wednesday. Since it's Valentine's Day next week (insert collective groan here), I thought I would talk about a Huff Post piece I was perusing this morning, en route to a very early class at the gym. I'll post the link below, but the general gist is all about what makes a man attractive to women? Since some of you ladies out there are looking for Mr. Right and some of you dudes are looking for Mrs. Fantastic, I thought this to be such a captivating subject, as I've been doing a lot of writing lately about gender and the changing face of women (the new men?) and the sort of purgatory men find themselves in as they seek to redefine their roles in an age of single parenthood and workforce women rising. (Not all of you, I know. Some of you are just delicious as you are).

So I'm reading this article, by this PHD chick, and thinking of just how difficult a question this male attractiveness thing is. I've been "blessed" to sit in a room full of men the past couple of weeks, all day, and have a fairly good idea about what they want out of women, or at least what they pretend to want when they are in each other's company. But women are super complex when it comes to what they want, and it varies from woman to woman, to say the very least.

For instance, "hot" can mean many different things- I know I've mentioned that there is nothing sexier than a man with a stiletto sharp wit, and the ability to make me laugh. I can forgive a lot of things if a man is funny. And I need a man who has good taste in music- that is non-negotiable (ask the boys in my office how I feel about Billy Joel). Fortunately for me, I have a husband who is not only insanely funny, but also loves the same kind of music I do, for the most part. I've forgiven him for the Beatles over Stones thing. It's all about compromise...(though hats off to my husband, it's not many people on this here Earth that love the movie "Cabin Boy" as much as I do, a true selling point when we were early on in our dating life).

Some chicks care nothing about the above. Some just want a guy who will make them feel small, while some want one that will be a financial wizard. I can't pretend to know what all women want, nor can I tell you what we all like. I think as a whole we are more forgiving of men when it comes to dating them. I do know we can be picky as hell- I for one made a pact (avec moi), to never, ever go out on more than one date with a guy who says "and what not" too frequently. I hate that expression. I know it's crazy, but we are particular, though I think in different ways than men, and the things that make us hot are not as simple as digging a guy who has a six pack stomach or drives a Bentley, as much of the media would have us believe. For instance, take my favorite comment from the Huff Po piece, pasted in below by one chick, looking ironic in her profile pic, with glasses and a smirk, called "Pragmaticus":

"Hmm, don't normally respond to these but here goes ...
THE ESSENTIALS :
Someone who can tell that when I'm teasing him I'm really flirting with him and teases back.
A guy who in conversation can convince me to see the topic in a way I never have before. Who never goes along with what I said just because I said it.
Smart but playful about it. Insightful ... not necessarily highly educated.
Open minded.
Decisive.
Knows me well enough to see when I'm bluffing emotionally.
NOT CLINGY, aka not threatened by by me being independent.
The ability to create - seriously, guys who can make things are sexy beasts. Especially when they are generous with these talents.
NON-ESSENTIAL:
not overly muscly, big hands, non-blue eyes that crinkle with a smile frequently but flash on occasion, usually dark hair, oh and facial hair, love me some facial hair..."\

I like her comments because I agree with almost all of them. And look how specific she is- she knows herself enough to know what she likes- she even digs guys that call her on her shit. As women feel more empowered by what's happening on the gender front, I think it's truly stellar that we're no longer looking for men to take care of us, protect us, or provide for our shoe habits. So basically, what I'm saying is this- guys- the pressure is off- now you are free to be your wonderful sexy selves- because we want something else from you- we want a partner, but with a seismic shift in what that means, way different than the way our parents defined partnership anyway. As for what men want, that's for another time. I know I am super lucky to have met my perfect match, and I can only hope, Hallmark holiday or not, that all of you out there will do the same.  Regardless of what's happening to men and women, the most primitive of rules still applies- attraction is a tricky thing, and is very often unpredictable and not what you'd expect. So I guess I'm asking all of you singletons out there to expand your check lists this year- the results may surprise you.  Just make sure you find someone who appreciates you, just the way you are, you sexy thing. That much is gender neutral.

And that's what's up this attractive Wednesday in the MIA. XO

Here is a link to the Huff Po piece, in case you're interested:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vivian-diller-phd/male-attractiveness_b_809643.html

I mean come on now.  Love this photo (avec Peggy Moffitt no less...) XO

Hi, Tuesday. I'm trying you on for size, and so is Mr. McQueen, courtesy of Continuous Lean.

Dig on his hotness. Cause that's what's up this effortlessly cool Tuesday in the MIA.  XO

Good morning, Monday. I'm greeting the day with eyes half shut- tired this am but still thinking about last night's super bowl.

With all the talk of women rising, marketers missed a major opportunity last night to speak to women. Not sure if you knew this, but recent studies have shown that more women watch the big game for commercials than men. ( A Marist poll reveals 84% of men are more into the game itself rather than the ads.  This compares with 63% of women). For me, this says "wake up Madison Avenue and beyond". You're spending all of this money for your 30 second spot and you're only talking the boys? La-ame. Yes I know the super bowl is the end all be all of male bonding, but wake up already. We're right there with the boys on the sofa. Oh, and we buy stuff too, in case you didn't know. We actually really, really like buying stuff.


Where were super shop sites like Gilt? With all of their success, you would think they would pony up for a little air time. And Groupon's spots, though quirky and fun (oh and offensive too), would have been better served by also speaking to the estrogen contingent, as everyone knows we love to go on said Groupon and purchase facials, massages, and keratin treatments. Now I know I'm sort of contradicting myself, and talking about things that are stereotypically female. That's true- so why not incorporate more gender neutral commercials if so many ladies are watching? Do marketers think we're all too busy juggling careers, babies, and triathlons to be watching the game at all? One or two spots for the broads or ads that were not so macho would have been smart. Unless I was in a banana pudding coma, I can't recall seeing any, even though our buying muscle is pumped and ready for a workout.

And back to sites like Gilt and Rue La La- as I sat with my computer in my lap posting updates on how much the Black Eyed Peas butchered halftime, I was wondering why the premier discount sites did not hold some sort of "style bowl" in honor of the game- sure they had their typical Sunday night sales, but seems to me they could have promoted the heck out of some special sales in honor of watchful husbands being distracted by end zones and such. Yet another missed opportunity.

 My take overall was  the car companies came out ahead- Chevy was clever, VW killed it with the Darth Vader Jetta spot, and Chrysler with Eminem was fantastic, loved the voice over and the writing in particular on that one. Other than that, I was less than thrilled.  I truly think mad men missed the mark this year by not speaking to us at all. Valentine's Day is coming up and I would have loved to see a spot, with a woman as the principle talent, talking to men about women want this year, at the very least .Not some stupid FTD ad with Faith Hill, where she awkwardly sits with a horny young guy, who has nothing to say on his card to his girl other than "nice rack", or something like that (I'm lost on semantics. Still half asleep over here...) Faith, gorgeous, beautiful, sexy Faith, was there for the taking, to talk to guys about what women want out of a bouquet. Instead the spot was tepid, and once again made men look stupid. If men are truly falling behind after losing their jobs in what many have called a "mancession", we need to empower them yet again to not seem so pathetic. I am all for lad jokes and love hanging with the guys, but I can't help but notice that as women ascend, men are falling down the ladder a bit in how they're portrayed by the media, Hollywood, and Mad Ave. (I wonder how many creatives who came up with all of these spots were women. Probably not many...)

Next year, maybe shopping sites will get smart and brands who lease air time will get hip to the fact that women are watching too, and not just because the football players have cute butts. And as someone who has worked in advertising for eons, I too want to be spoken to and not ignored. The gender playing field is getting level folks, time to start acknowledging the ladies when concepting these mega ads. I did notice Old Navy and Chevy went for ads during Glee, which I assume marketers feel women are more apt to watch, after bellies full of food and beer, there is nothing like a good, reworked show tune. I've said my peace. Now let's get on with this day, shall we?

Cause that's what's up this post bowl Monday in the MIA. XO

Hi, Friday...you make me so very happy. I am looking forward to a lovely weekend, catching up on life.  I trust you will be doing the same, whoever and wherever you are and may be this weekend. The possibilities are endless, really.

Now let's talk about dancing. (Yes, dancing). When's the last time you cut a rug? It's been a while for me, way too long actually. Let's be honest-  I'm not about to go to South Beach and deal with a bunch of drunk people in ill fitting clothes, waiting in long lines,and dancing to music I am not sure I can get down to (unless I have a Patron drip in my arm, that is). But thinking of ideal nights out, I must reference those magic, sweaty days back in the NY, when you went out to places like Body and Soul and Sapphire and the 205 Club and just did your thing. No questions asked.  I really need a night like that soon- the world would be a much better place if everyone got down a little more often.

Think about it- if more people did a Soul Train line once in a while, I think most of the world's problems could be solved, if not for at least a blissful few moments. All arguments are forgotten if you sashay down a line, I'm sure of it.  I have posted vids of vintage Soul Train before on this blog, and for those of you following along, you know how that show had me riveted as a small little girl in Philly and inspired me for years to come. The style, the moves, the whole thing. I come from a family that enjoys dancing- particularly in the 70s growing up when my sister and I would put on our red Danskins, me rocking a side pony natch, and put on shows for our family to the entire "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack.  I think my jam was Jive Talkin', if I recall. Still funky as hell, that one. And I'm not sure I can ever forget my grandfather jamming out to Michael Jackson and classic Atlantic soul (Ray Charles), or my parents blasting Ike and Tina (Nutbush City Limits) on the outdoor speakers during family bbqs. To this day, whenever we all get together, we manage to get in a dance or two. It's just how we roll.

But today I'm listening to some vintage Aretha and feeling like I want to rock steady. Her brand of soul restores my faith in the world. And if I feel that way, many others must feel that way too. So my point is, we should all forget our inhibitions, our grudges, our judgements, the whole lot of negativity and dance more often. Even if you're not a good dancer, just do it. I can't imagine my early days in the city without evenings spent dancing, and pinching myself about how much fun I was having. I didn't even need a partner most of the time. I just found so much joy in the sexy, sweaty vibe of Manhattan, the great music, and the acknowledgment that we were all just there to get down.

So this weekend, have yourself a little dance party. It's good for what ails you. Because sometimes you just need to let it all out, and you know this. And that's what's up this freaky Friday in the MIA, party people. Git some. XO

(Love this shot by Elaine Constantine...she is awesome at capturing the joy of body movin').

Hi, Thursday...I woke up early and got a lot done today and feeling like the lull of creativity is reaching more of a din...it's still faint but it's there. Thanks to whatever power put it back. I so needed it. Needless to say, I am watching said mojo cautiously in the days to come.

And since I made analogies to my closet, I'm thinking a red dress could be the perfect way to remove some of the clutter and start fresh. I have always had an odd relationship with the color red- I can't say it's my favorite but I'm drawn to it. It may just be that real red does not look so super fabulous against my skin, though I have often done red lipstick, nails, and shoes to supplement the rather staid color palette of my wardrobe. I am also not opposed to red accents in the home and do dig that bordello look that red lends to a bedroom. Moving on. There's a point here somewhere, so bear with me.

I was wishing my old intern a happy birthday this week and asked what she wore to her celebration. )A note about this intern: this girl is a fashionista beyond belief- she loves clothes more than me which is truly a revelation. Clearly they had us in mind when they matched us up...) She told me she wore a red dress, which I thought was fantastic- red is a color of confidence, of warmth, of sexiness. In my current state of creative/career/fashion flux, I think I could learn a thing or two from my intern. I want to buy a red dress, as counter as it is to my usual choices.

And cruising around DKNY's site the other day (as is my wont), I saw this little number, which I thought was lovely. The picture is not so fabulous, but I have vision, you see. I could live without the red shoes featured here too, but the dress is damn cute. I would probably rock mine with flat skimpy sandals, or a high heel is fine but definitely not of the red variety, mine would probably run more in the neutral family. Maybe I need some red in my life to spice things up a bit- a lady in a red dress is a force to be reckoned with, this I know. So I may summon my inner siren and go for this...why not, right?

Cause that's what's up this crimson Thursday in the MIA. XO

http://dkny.donnakaran.com/products/p117722ka/rouched-sleeve-dress

Good morning, Wednesday. Punxsutawney see no shadow. Dig it, Northeast. Dig it. Let's get to it, shall we?

I am in a rut. A pretty big one. I feel stuck and I'm not sure why. For months I was feeling all kinds of inspired, interested, piqued, and then some. Lately I don't have it. Whatever that "it" was it came and went like a mid season pilot on ABC.

So here I sit, feeling weepy, trying to figure out how to get my groove back from whence it came. I told a friend of mine about this on IM this morning and she said to equate this feeling of loss with that panic us girls have when we don't know what to wear. I myself have two enormous closets at home, stuffed to the gills, and with not a lot of light. Sometimes I'll start with a pair of shoes and work my way up, sometimes a skirt will enter my brain and the rest will follow. But sometimes, I have nothing. I don't know what to wear and I can't get it together, so the parade of discarded outfits begins its choatic descent on my closet floor. And my husband simply looks on and goes back to what he's doing, knowing full well that this is something I must do. Lord bless his soul and unswerving patience.

Why am I bringing up this nothing to wear analogy? I bring it up because it's simply not true, either in life or in my closet. Truth is, I have tons to wear. Sometimes I just can't see any options, and I get stuck. Clearly I am feeling stuck because I'm not seeing something- that perfect little spark to jumpstart my creative wardrobe, that little zoooooooom that I need to outfit myself with all I need to move forward. I think I need to go back to the basics, just like I do when I'm feeling meh in the morning and can't find a thing that appeals to me in terms of what I will put on my body- I always reach for the black. The black dress. The slouchy black tee. The perfect black tank. Black is my foundation- my safe zone, my always look "right" no matter what go to. Maybe I need to channel my inner creative basics (which are decidedly not black) and look for those things that make me tick inside. I am sure they are still there, they are just hiding under a bevy of useless things that I regret buying- those pants I bought on sale that collect too much lint, that dress that is too tight in the hips, those shoes I bought while under the influence of PMS that are painful and not cute. Much like my closet, my creativity is in need of some cleaning and deciphering just what it is I need to feel perfect today, and most of all, inspired. Clearly this is just a case of brain/closet clutter- I need to go back to the basics and find my click again.

So today I am going to focus on cleaning, deciphering, uncluttering, and decoding. Because tomorrow, I need a good outfit, for both my body and my soul. Cause that's what's up this deep dive of a Tuesday in the MIA. I'm going to get to the bottom of this empty pool one way or another and coming out with some inspiration (needless to say, i am stressed about the bathing suit I am wearing to get there).  Much love. XO

It's a legitimate question, non?

Cause that's what's up this deprived Tuesday in the MIA. I am so in the mood for a little Freddy Seegs right about now. XO

(Somebody should do something about this, PS. It's epically tragic).