the world according to sherimaven

Hey, pals. Who's ready for another round of snowmageddon tomorrow? Jesus. 

So this weekend the hubs and I took in the David Bowie exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum and wish I had better things to say about it. Although comprehensive, the space is not in any way conducive to such a canon of greatness. It felt cramped, cluttered, and completely disorienting. It was also about a thousand degrees in there, making it a challenge for anyone wearing a coat or not as skinny as the Thin White Duke himself. Awful. Just awful. 

But what was amazing about the show were the performances being shown on monitors throughout. That was worth the price of perspiration. 

It struck me that with someone as alien-like and bombastic as Bowie, a post mortem exhibit does not do him justice. Because you can look at all the amazing costumes, his Coke spoon, and some other artifacts, but without the man himself- it doesn't add up to much. At least for me, anyway. A friend said it best- the clothes did not make Bowie, Bowie made the clothes. It's hard to look at a museum show of his enormous contribution to creativity and bending the rules without realizing what a huge loss his death was to the world. I can't think of anyone more groundbreaking in terms of being so profoundly ahead of his time- from challenging us with notions of gender and sexuality to plugging into the zeitgeist before there even was one, Bowie was transcendent. I wish the show did not leave me so cold. The merch room is pretty good though. If you like expensive rock tees. I know I do. A weakness of mine for sure.

Anyway, wanted to fill you in on my take- the show's nothing without the showman, the star man.

Here's a few of those performances should you want to check them out. 

Here he is seeming very, um, out of this world on Soul Train. 

And this one on Dick Cavett

And the original Space Oddity with those teef and those hot chicks. 

Oh and Star Man from Top of the Pops. Love.

And this Life on Mars. Eyeshadow. Copper hair. Oui et oui.

I wish I had liked the exhibit more, but the stage is really nothing without the show and that's that. For me the show is a miss. Because without him, it's really not the same.

Cause that's what's up this Bowie all day kind of Tuesday in the 212, Yours, in aliens and icons. XO

Good morning, Monday. Happy Post Oscars. I gotta say- the show was pretty boring for the most part. I love Frances McDormand and do appreciate that diversity and inclusion and equal rights is taking center stage. This whole new "me too" model of doing business is truly fantastic- I'm not just talking about "time's up"- I'm using me to as a way to suggest we all have something to say and all have a right to say it. Well done on Hollywood for making that crystal clear. Now on to the fashion.

I'm gonna just say it- I'm so over awards season and am so happy it's over. The endless charade is tiresome isn't it? That said, i did see a couple of standout moments. Here are my top five:

For something modern: Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton

For a strong color game: Nicole Kidman in blue Armani Prive

For a powerful, carb free silhouette: Laura Dern in Calvin Klein

For all around perfection: Mary J. Blige in Versace

For nailing that nude moment: Gina Rodriguez in Zuhair Murad

Those are my favs- did also like Saorise Ronan and Jennifer Lawrence. Oh and of course, St. Vincent. Not sure what that was but it was fairly major.

Other than that, the usual suspects. I did find the set design to be far, far too opulent considering this rather stripped down epoch in which we live. I would have loved an Oscars unplugged show myself, but that would probably be unglamorous. Plus never sure why supposedly the most entertaining people in the world can't seem to entertain on Hollywood's biggest night. Snoozes galore for the most part.

Good morning, pals. Happy Thursday. Looking forward to a birthday party tomorrow night and then the Bowie show on Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum. Goodness all around.

So it's a throwback kind of Thursday and this am, I was reminded of one of my first style icons, Ms. Diana Ross. I was in my fav coffee shop this am and they were playing "It's My House" which is such a jam. There's my chair, I put it there. It's my house and I live here. Hells yes.

In this defining time for women, we have to celebrate this queen. Because before women were feeling super empowered, Diana paved the way. I will never forget how much my parents dug her, particularly my mom. We always listened to her growing up. I always loved her funky coolness and smooth voice and empowering female anthems, because sometimes, enough can really be enough. Throw in a little wackiness for good measure (all divas must be a little wacky otherwise it's no fun) and you have one fierce female. Still got mad love for you, boo.

Oh and if her empowering music is not enough, HER STYLE. That photo at the top of this post is one of my all time favorites. Who rocks wet hair and a white tee and jeans better? Um. Nobody. Not a single human.

Feast your eyes on all of this goodness.  She's undeniably major. And if you're feeling so inclined, hit up her playlist on Spotify. You'll hear all your favs and then some. I couldn't make it through "Endless Love" for some reason. ps- #hormones.

And that's what's up this do you know where you're going to, do you like the things that life is showing you kind of throwback Thursday in the 212. Yours, in transcendent divas.  It's my turn. XO

Good morning, pals. It's warm and sunny in New York today- I repeat- WARM AND SUNNY. 

So naturally I have Spring fever. And I wanted to share one of my favorite discoveries of late, this Rene Furterer 5 Sens Dry Oil that is giving me so much life right now. This is the type of product you'd find in one of those amazing pharmacies in Paris.  I am in love with it.  Put it on after you shower and it gives the loveliest sheen to your skin and the smell is so subtle and heavenly. But the real joy comes from spraying some on your hair when it's dry. If you're prone to flyaway/frizz you will rejoice.  Because it's a dry oil, it never makes your hair greasy. it literally just adds shine and mellows out those hairs that don't want to behave. I also like putting some on before bed for a little lovely smell while I sleep.

The good news? It's under $50 for a pretty substantial bottle. I can't recommend it enough for pretty limbs and gorgeous hair. J'adore. It's like sunshine in a bottle.

Cause that's what's up this product alert kind of Wednesday in the 212. Yours, in French pharmacies and sunny days. XO

Good morning, Wednesday. It's going to be 70 degrees today and I've got bare legs, kids. I am so happy to not be wearing a big coat I can't even tell you. Rumor has it the warm weather is not going to stick around, but loving it today even if it's not super sunny.

So let's talk about handbags. I was just watching the Gucci show live and almost had a breakdown over how much I was LOVING the new Gucci leather tote with the middle stripe and the gold chain. So fabulous. 

But beaming me back to Earth, I need more reasonable, affordable options that are still great looking. Enter & Other Stories, H&M's grown up and chic big sister to save the day. You know how much I love this store- such great looks, and fairly affordable. Mind you, these are not the big Schleprock bags we all carry around town- these are just nice little chic baes that will look lovely with floral flocks and just about everything else.

So here's three little black bags aka LBBs to take you into Spring with style. Take your pick.

LOVE this little clutch number. So chic for everything from quick walks with the pooch to impromptu nights out. Fab.

This little chain bag is so Parisian chic- wear it crossbody with an oversized plaid blazer and jeans and have a nice little moment.

This six pocket satchel is a fantastic bag for city girls. Very functional and very cool.

All three can be found on & Other Stories, again my hyperlink feature is not working so seek them out yourselves. Hope to figure out WTF shortly. Cause that's what's up this in the bag kind of Wednesday in the 212. Yours, in trifectas and chic older sisters. XO

Hey, team. It's been about forever since I've written here. I miss all of you so very much- truly. But I'm busy, you're busy, we're all so damn busy. How to find the team to do the things you truly love? Steal a minute here and there. That's what I do.

And since I haven't written in a while, thought I'd just share five of my fav beauty products I'm digging on right this very second as the temps feel promising. I've been trying a few new things of late and there's some oldies but goodies on this list too. So without further adieu, let's get ready for Spring with a few fun ones- they're not cheap, ps. At all. But they're worth it because you're worth it so there. And sorry I can't provide links to these goodies but my hyperlink just won't link today. Hopefully they'll fix it by tomorrow. 

Diptyque L'Ombre Dans L'Eau Body Wash- I have always been a huge fan of this very "currant" scent. I'm aware it's intense and not for everyone, but I'm a strong yes on it. And now it comes in a body wash that is so delicious and decadent at shower time you'll just love it. Makes the skin (and your bathroom) smell absolutely delicious.  Just rub onto wet skin and you're golden, pony girl.

Chanel Quad in Tisse Vendome- There are oh so many Chanel eyeshadow quads out there, but this one is a new favorite. It's super neutral for ladies who like to keep it light but can be made a bit more dramatic with a slick of dark liquid liner and lots of black mascara. Gorgeous. I love a more neutral face in the Spring with lovely glowy skin.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick in Blush No. 24- I love keeping this stick in my bag for afternoon touch ups when you need it most. It gives a lovely flush to the cheeks without being over the top and you can even use it on your lips and eyes. I love this shade because I'm a coppery redhead, but feel free to try some that match your skin tone.

Dior Rouge Dior Lipstick  No. 169- OMG this lipstick. I love it so much- I have searched high and low for the perfect neutral lip of late and this one is a bit  brownish/beige and just perfect. Super creamy texture and very hydrating too. Soft and pretty just like you.

Kerastase Fluidissime- Have not used this brand for a minute (so bloody expensive). But this frizz spray is magical in fighting the fuzz. Spray it on damp hair and marvel at the lack of frizz, even on foggy, misty days like today which are generally hair's worst nightmare. 

Cause that's what's up this fiver of a Tuesday in the product obsessed 212. Yours, in Spring fever, the retail edition. XO

Hey now, Wednesday. Not so pretty outside. Snowy, rainy, yucky. Ughs.

Well we're one week away from Valentine's Day and since I shopped around Soho last weekend, I thought I'd share a bit of trendspotting.

Seems designers have some love for heart sunglasses this Spring. From Chloe to Saint Laurent and back again, the Lolita inspired frames are kind of everywhere (in the #metoo world we live in, Lolita references are a bit off brand). If you are under the age of 30, you should have at these. I know there are no rules when it comes to age appropriate anymore, but very few mature women can wear these and not look silly.  Some eccentric types are excluded from this rule, but for most of us, hard no on these. Cute for the young ones. Not so much for anyone who is on the high end of millenial +. Unless you are Giovanna Battaglia. She can do anything. Truly.  That's her above. Ridiculously chic. Always.

These are from Saint Laurent. Cute non? 

I do love these rose gold (another big sunglass trend) aviators from American Eagle. And at just under $16, you can try the trend without breaking the bank. 

These from Marc Jacobs are fun. Full stop. I would almost consider these if I was slightly less stick in the muddy of late.

 Totally crushing on these from Miu Miu- something about red and hearts going well together, right? 

These Target rimless are a little weird, but cool. More modern. And of course, completely affordable.

And these from Chloe were the ones I saw at the Chloe store this past weekend. Cute. Love. Rose gold lenses for the win.

Now that I'm looking at all of these cuties, maybe my stick in the mud is moving to a sunnier place. I like these. I'm not likely to purchase them, but very cute. Worth falling in love over? You tell me.

Cause that's what's up this love is in the air kind of Wednesday in the 212. Yours, in hearts and frames. XO

Good morning, Monday.

Welp, we got it done Philly. As many of you know, I was born and raised in Philly and left there after college. Truth be told, Philly was not somewhere I wanted to spend my adult years, but as I get older, I get more Philly pride. And last night, the 215 had my heart.

Also I know I'm hardly someone you'd expect to watch the SB for anything other than the commercials, but last night's game was truly exciting. Funny thing- each year David tries to explain football to me and each year I lose interest before the very first down. But this year I watched a video on all things football and rules of play, and it finally sunk in. Only took 40something years. NBD.

As for the commercials, there were a few that were worthy of the price of admission. My favorite was absolutely Amazon's Alexa spot where Alexa loses her voice and celebrities like Cardi B. stand in for her. Excellent and funny and celeb filled, which is always a big game day draw. Other good ones were Tide's domination of the entire night and spoofing the genre itself- great use of air time and a fun play on all the spots we've come to love. Oh and let's not forget the "Dirty Dancing" spot with Eli Manning and Odell Bechkam having the time of their lives. Hysterical. What's clear to me is the country needs humor right now- anything that smacked of rah rah 'merica fell flat on its starry striped face. Dodge's use of a MLK speech/voiceover felt excruciatingly pandering and tone deaf, while Weathertech's (not) building a wall spot felt just awful. Lots of misses during the commercials. Only thing that worked was humor. Check out a good roundup of all the spots here.

And Justin Timberlake's half time delivered for me, although many thought it was a bit of a snore. I love him. So talented and positive and fun. Great job and I liked the Prince tribute too, since it felt in step with the SB being in Minneapolis.

I've taken some things with me as a card carrying Philly born girl- I love the scrappiness of the city. I love the heart and soul of a real working class town. And I love the passion, even if it's for sports which is not typically my wheelhouse. I know everyone in my family was thrilled with the outcome, and to beat the Pats and Tom Brady's baby bangs is no small feat. 

I'm proud of my hometown today and wanted to share. I wish last night did not turn ugly  (why turn cars over and set fires and create mayhem why why why?) but I'm a happy girl from the city of Brotherly Love today and that, my friends, is that. But Philly fans be cray.

Cause that's what's up this Fly Eagles Fly kind of Monday in the 212. Yours, in Philadelphia freedom, and big wins. XO

Good afternoon by the time you read this post. I'm late to the soiree today.

Funny thing- someone asked today on Facebook what your go to outfit was when you were 20. I love this question. Some of you are closer to that age than others so you may not have yet deviated from that look. And even though I'm not close to 20, I remember very clearly what I was wearing then. I came of age in the 90s (I am a child of the 80s and a young woman of the 90s) and it was a fun hang when it came to fashion. So what was I wearing at 20?

For me, it was a long sleeved bodysuit (Bodysuits are yesterday's jumpsuits ps. Getting out of one to pee was always a fun time), a pair of 501 Levis' and some Frye engineer boots or motorcycle boots- the engineer boots were black and the moto boots were the brown ones with the harness. With this look I used to do a western vintage belt- found a few good ones at a flea market back in Philly and loved rocking them- one was brown and braided with a big silver buckle and the other one was black with a plain round disc buckle if I remember correctly. So happy to see Gigi and Kendall rocking this of late. Everything old is...well, you know.

It's funny to even imagine wearing that now- I mean the separate components are still very much in my lexicon- but perhaps not all together. I'd wear the boots with my beloved dresses, the bodysuit under a blazer, and the jeans with everything. I'm all grown up I suppose. But I take little pieces of my past with me wherever I go when it comes to style. It's all part of the big picture.

Though truly a fashion pinnacle for me came in my late 20s, when I wore nothing but lingerie (slip dresses but actual nighties), ribbed tanks, and kitten heels with a cardigan, or a slip skirt with my Hole tee shirt (Courtney was kind of my jam). I think that was one of my fav looks of all time. The winter version of that was either done with black tights or I lost the slip and went with cords with a bit of a flare and a baby tee. For real. A BABY TEE. I wore something called a baby tee. Jesus, we all did. Drew definitely did. Look how cute she looks in it, too. Oh, and there was an awful lot of Betsy Johnson. A ton of panne velvet slip dresses, girly LBDs,  and lace trimmed denim skirts and the like. 

Oh and if you're old enough, you no doubt remember the black pants phenomenon. If you lived in New York or were of age anywhere in the 90s (the earlier part), you no doubt had several pairs of black pants that were for "going out" when paired with a cute "top". My favorites were by a brand called Parallel and were flat front and straight and slightly cropped. On top I'd rock a silky button down and a faux fur. I'd keep the pants and the faux fur now- not so sure about said silky top, or at least the Gucci Fall '95 version that I was endlessly trying to emulate. Let's not even talk about the hairdos. That's for another time.

Was just a fun little exercise to think about what I wore back in the day. I'm wondering what your look was when you were 20 or what you loved to wear in your more youthful years? Looking forward to responses so please write on the comments below or email me at sherimaven@gmail.com if you feel like sharing, or hit me up on Facebook. There were many other looks, ps. But these were top of mind.

Cause that's what's up this looking back to move forward kind of Thursday in the 212. Yours, in fashion icons and the way we wore. XO

Good morning, Wednesday. It's bloody cold outside. I'm a little bit over it.

So as I'm thinking of Springtime my mind usually goes to dresses, but it also goes to shoes. And I just spotted these white loafer mules on Everlane and they appear to be a must have. I love a white shoe of late (bit of a craze for them this winter) and think these would look great with everything from cropped black pants or jeans to midi dresses to minis. Gotta have 'em. White shoes used to scare the bejeezus out of me (nurse fears), but now I love, love, love them. And love that this is a mule too as I like to be as close to bare feet as possible when it gets warm outside. They feel so fresh to me.

What are you thinking about for your Springtime look? Keep me posted. Would love to know.

Cause that's what's up this dreaming of a white shoe kind of Wednesday in the very unSpringlike 212. Yours, in wishing and hoping. XO