the world according to sherimaven

Good afternoon, Friday. I intended to write about my favorite new beauty product today, but I’m saving that because really, shit is going DOWN and I need to talk about it.

I’m not one to be the harbinger of doom, but today is the first day of Spring and not only is it snowing but it’s also a major solar eclipse,  the Supermoon and Spring Equinox, and damn if I don’t feel like things are super funked out today.

 We woke up today with a cable outage (not so big in the scheme of things) an found ourselves huddled under the covers, fur baby Khan between us, somehow knowing that getting out of bed was not the best idea.

 When I finally did and took Khan out, the air felt super charged and cuckoo. Sure I know a storm was on the way, but the energy in the air was mighty strange. And no, I did not wake and bake. It was just the way it was, and it continues to be an odd afternoon.

 This morning, my barre teacher told me she was having crazy feedback on her mic all morning, and that everything just felt “off” to her and she was praying her afternoon clients would cancel. I couldn’t agree more.

I guess what I’m trying to say I listen to what the universe is staying and stay under that duvet a little longer when necessary, and channel that safety the rest of the day on big “energy” days like today.  You surely can’t fight it, so going with it is really the only way, and that may just require a sick day, a snow day, or a big giant bowl of pasta. At press time, K and I are home, he's got a kong stuffed with treats he is currently playing soccer with, and I'm on the sofa watching the snow and enjoying the end of a much needed week off. I'm also thinking about pasta. Lots and lots of pasta. The snow is underway and I'm happy to not participate in much of anything right now.

 Whatever works y’all. Cause that’s what’s up this freaky Friday in the 212.  Stay safe out there. Yours, in going with it. XO

Good afternoon, Wednesday. I've got some sort of bronchitis situation but looking forward to these meds doing their thing and getting back to normal.  But for today, I remain a sloth. Thank goodness for the binge watch.

So sometimes I deviate from my fashion/femmed up formula and get on my soapbox to stump for things that bug me. I was reading about Starbucks' new ploy to get people to talk about race. This week the super chain asked its employees to mark each cup sold with "#racetogether" in a bid to get people to talk about race. I suppose this is a nod to the tradition of coffee shops being a gathering place where people go to exchange ideas and engage in topical conversations between sips. 

Sure it's a lovely idea in theory, but lately I've been wondering if I'm the only one missing brands just being brands, and not needing to be so "in service" to us when it comes to what we want to talk about, support, or do. I'm not sure why Dolce and Gabbana needs to censor their views (they are hardly the authority on parenting so who really cares) or why we need every brand to "stand for something" other than what they sell.  I also wonder- is the reason I have "do good" fatigue may be because I'm a cynical Generation Xer who grew up with brands that lost their cred by "selling out"? To me, this is the worst form of selling out- why do we need brands to have halos over their trademarks anyway?  Is it because they heard that that oh so important millennial base only responds to brands that aim to change the world, one coffee cup or iWhathaveyou at a time? I'm crying foul on all of it. I'm tired of the brand angel. Bring on the brand as brand.

Now there's a big difference to me with brands like Toms and Warby Parker who stand for doing good things for the world while we consume their products, and that's a wonderful platform to have. But does every brand have to feel responsible for our collective social responsibility? Can I just buy a pair of jeans that doesn't have a conscience or a latte without a point of view?  

I understand that the collapse of our trust for government has much to do with our supposed desire to have big business save us all. 

But to me, it's a sad day in America and the world when I need Starbucks, a multibillion dollar corporation to instigate a conversation about race. That is just pandering and transparent and way too hyper marketed for my tastes. . Sure I happen to work in marketing, but since we've been talking about authenticity for a good bit, shouldn't Starbucks put their money where their frapucccino is and hire a more diverse C Suite? I was just listening to a story on NPR that noted that most of the top execs there were- surprise- white men. Is it rich white guilt that makes Howard Schultz want to change the game but not really change it?I am not doubting Mr. Schultz had the best of intentions, but he's too far removed from his customers to understand how icky it all feels.  I don't condemn his views, I happen to agree with them. But I'm not sure I need them to accompany my morning sugar free vanilla, and that's that.

The trend towards a more socially responsible corporate world is hard to be mad at, but to me, it's not much different than our favorite celebs of the 80s selling out to shill for Pepsi or otherwise. Why is the norm for brands to have values now that are empathic and compassionate? It feels so ridiculous to me. Boycotting Dolce and Gabbana is not going to change the world, nor is an overpriced latte, now with topical conversation starters.  How about Starbucks just donate a proceed from every latte to civl rights organizations that can actually make a difference? Somehow that feels better than corporate vigilantism to sell more coffee, doesn't it? 

Maybe you're like me and missing products that are just good not because they're "good", but because, well, they're good. , Leave the good and great deeds to the companies whose currency and culture are imbedded in these values, because I have to believe that millennials and the rest of us are smart enough to not want or need brands to get all Kumbaya on us.  And really, I think the brand extension thing has gone too far- take  last year's Cottonelle Refresh Lounge at South by Southwest- yes Cottonelle. The toilet paper. "Stopping by the lounge on your way to your next party? Join in the conversation with Cottonelle by “talking bums” to earn refreshing services, such as chair massages and hair and makeup touch-ups to keep you feeling clean and fresh throughout your day! " That's a direct quote, people. Can't we just wipe anymore? These branded "in service" ideas are feeling anything but clean, and particularly not fresh. It feels so desperate, and because of that, it feels insanely inauthentic.

At the core of it all for me is that perhaps I'm looking for government to take a bigger stand on what matters- at the local and federal level. If they are able to talk about these things in Washington and in our local communities, maybe then I can just get a really good latte again. To me, most brands make very bad (socially minded) bedfellows. Unless of course, they start from within.

Cause that's what's up this just give me the damn latte kind of Wednesday in the 718. Yours, in cynical soapboxes. XO

Good morning, Monday.

I have the worst cold/flu type thing right now and I'm happy to just lay in bed and watch TV.  I tend to always get sick as the seasons change, and for once, I'm taking being sick as a good sign that we are out of the woods weatherwise. I'm willing to be down for the count for a few days to usher in a new season.

I found this great pic from Fashion Week and thought it was a great example of how to dress when it's not super warm outside but also not super cold. I've been wearing my motorcycle jacket as a layering piece underneath a wool coat all winter, but I'm loving the thought of wearing it on its own, with a pretty bag, some jeans, heels, a good basic tee, and a scarf. Such a chic look- I'm desperate for a motorcycle jacket in navy- to me that's a great take on the classic and a way to soften the toughness of the piece. But for now, enjoy this look as thoughts of Spring swirl around in that head of yours, because these in between days can be so very lovely...

And that's what's up this seasonal Monday in the 212. Yours, in laying low to bring it in. XO

 

Written earlier today but posted now as I fly home back to NYC...

Good morning from sunny California. It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood and I’m on a smooth production out here so all is well. I love a well-oiled machine, don’t you?

 So LA. I’m so conflicted by my feelings for thee.

 On the one hand, I’m madly in love with your sunshine, coconut infusions, and watermelon radish salads. I like your style, your custom laced Vans, your sun kissed visage. I dig hard on your healthful ways, your natural good looks, and your casual coolness.

I love your celebrities on every corner, your windy canyon roads at dusk, and the way your lights unfold like blankets on clear evenings.

I love your Malibu life, your Los Feliz life, and your Topanga life. And those palm trees don't suck nor do those badass ranch houses or your subversive weirdness bred in hazy counterculture.

 But here’s what I don’t like- your fake empathy and passive/aggressive attempts at compassion. 

 Because when you repeatedly ask, as you grab my arm with your toned, tawny limbs, how on Earth did you survive the great winter of 2015, it makes me not like you.  And as your best squint eyed composure tries to relate to my East Coast pallor as the sun beats down on your tan and healthy face and dapples your burnout tee , I begin to hate on you. Truly, madly,  deeply.

 It must be so hard, you say. I can’t imagine how bad it is, you say. You must love being in California, you say, as you sip your vanilla almond milk chai and rock a perfect, gender neutral top knot.

 Let’s be honest- you care not that we were cold and buried in the Northeast.  You don't give a real shit because there's gnarly waves and skinny jeans and perfectly crunched hair to distract you from our pain. You give not a single fuck that as we ruin every pair of shoes we have in the snow and our dogs flee from us when we pull out those rubber balloon booties, because you get to look pretty and be perfect and lack the cynicism necessary to survive in the Northeast. You’re not going to get any sympathy from me for your weather, so I don’t need any from you. And that’s that.

 It’s not like we survived a war, an outbreak of plague, or anything nearly that catastrophic. We were simply too cold, too tired, and too stressed to wonder if you out here were thinking of all of us back East, and that, my friends is that.  And though I will always partake in your goodness and admire your hot surfery looks, I will not admire your fakery, your attempt to really care about our frozen tundra of a winter.  Because you don’t really care, so why pretend? At least in New York, we don’t engage in pretend, particularly because it’s harder to masquerade when you’re super pale and pasty and worn out. We just can’t right now. LA I do enjoy you but your vacant compassion is a freak show. 

 And that’s what’s up this #blessed #anotherperfectday #livingthedream kind of Thursday in Hellay. I’m going to grab some buffalo cauliflower for lunch and call it a day. Yours, in pit stops to Fred Segal on the way to the airport. That’s the thing about LA- so much good stuff on the surface, but what really lies beneath, and further, does it matter? Yours, in real deals. XO

 

 

 

Good afternoon, Monday. It's freaking 50 big degrees in New York and it feels like the dawn of a new era. I am happy to breathe the new air, feel the sun on my face, and enjoy an extra hour of sunlight. Bliss.

So with Spring well on the way (buh bye Winter), I can't help but think about all of the fun things I'd love to wear this season. I'm not looking to buy a ton of new clothes, but shoes? Yes, please. And there's always a Summer it shoe, and for me, it's all about the lace up ballet coming at you and your favorite street style stalwarts this Spring.

I spotted these Aquazurra numbers in Barneys and immediately fell in love. I'm a huge fan of a ballet flat but love how these give something a bit more femmed up to the silhouette, plus it's a way to get in on the gladiator without feeling like Russell Crowe (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Spring and Summer are a time where I embrace something a bit softer, prettier, and decidedly more feminine, so going for a pair of lace up ballets feels just right. And though the Belgravia model above is too steep for my blood, I love the versions by Jeffrey Campbell and Madewell 's Nora below- think they would be so adorable with shorts, dresses, and boyfriend jeans. Also lovely with both full and slimmer skirts, and with a classic blazer, tee, and skinnies like that lovely lady above.  Pretty much will go with everything you have, though I probably would not choose these for the airport (unless you're prescreened of course), but I would certainly pack them to pop on the moment I land. If you're bored with Birks and uncertain about gladiators, these will be your jam. 

And that's what's up this tied up Monday in the 212. Yours, in best feet forward for Spring. XO

Good afternoon, it's a beautiful snowy day in New York. This weather event happens to be a real beauty- fluffy snow covering trees and sidewalks and a real sense of peace in the air. I'm enjoying watching it out my window, because I am praying in my heart that this is the last big white dump we get, so might as well enjoy it, right?

So the runways in Paris do not disappoint this week, and really, they haven't in a long time. If I had to choose the best shows season after season, the most dynamic and fabulous looks take place in the city of Light, and that's the truth. So many wonderful things happening there, and if the runways at Rochas and Lanvin are a barometer for next Fall/Winter, we're all going to get waisted.

Not on booze, but on showing our waistlines. It's no secret that society and fashion often choose a body part du season (butts and more butts), and the focus on the waist is becoming a bit of a theme at Fashion Week. This is a tough one for me- I am neither wasp waisted or flat chested, and both scenarios are trouble for belting at the waist. I may have to leave that trend on the backburner, or else I need one of those Kardashian corset/waist cinchers. If I start now, maybe by next winter I can rock the look, or be extremely uncomfortable trying.

I think it's a beautiful part of a woman's body- very sexy and feminine. Not mad at this trend at all, and really, do yourself a big favor and check out the full Lanvin show. Alber Elbaz's slam dunk of a show speaks to the fashion world's continuing obsession with wanderlust and Eastern promises, with more than a nod to Saint Laurent's now infamous "Ballet Russes" collection back in 1976. GORGEOUS.
(Pics above).

Here are my favorite looks from Rochas where it's all about that waist.

And these from Lanvin are equally divine.

How will you get in on this waistful trend? Shall we prepare our corsets now? Cause that's what's up this cinch of a Thursday in the 718. Yours, in gypsy ladies and waist not, want nots. XO

Good morning, Wednesday. It's above freezing today and raining and tomorrow there's more snow on the way which I am just not featuring. Enough, already. ENOUGH. But there's lots of fun stuff happening in New York right now and I'm looking forward to seeing the Kehinde Wiley show at the BK Museum this weekend, and there's no question the Bjork show at the MOMA is a must see. I'm listening to the Sugarcubes right now in homage. So good. I highly recommend a trip down memory lane with them to get you over the hump today.

So I'm watching the Paris shows on style.com, and really, I'm seeing some amazing things. I literally gasped at my desk looking at the fabulous Dries Van Noten show (scroll through above) - my devotion to Dries knows very little bounds- he is my favorite and that's the truth. If I ever started a commune, we would all wear Dries. Full stop. Look after look was breathtaking- the layering, the use of pattern, the beautiful palette that goes from light to dark to that insanely gorgeous scarlet lush.  I can't. I wish I could. But I can't.

But I also very much loved the Lemaire show (scroll through above),  and needless to say, his recently announced Uniqlo collab for next Fall has me scheming on how to get my mitts on the former Hermes creative director's affordable looks. But the show on the runway in Paris under his own name was simply sublime. Beautiful, wearable, luxe clothing that felt so spot on for the busy lives we lead- simple yet beautifully made clothes that are far from tricky or overly trend focused. I could post every look as a favorite, because every look was perfection, and in the dark color pattern that has become the norm for many of us with hectic, urban existences.

So looking at both of these collections, there's not really a common thread, again speaking to the yin and yang of my style personality- one that is prone to ethnic, bohemian ideology, the other a more sedate and stable approach to strong basic pieces anchored in luxe, and in my dreams.

I can say that a trend I see on the best runways may have nothing to do with each other on the surface, but if you look deeper, both of these collections owe a debt and celebrate what I'll call the new global citizen of style- these are clothes you want to pack and treasure and act as talismans for all of your adventures. One of the joys of dress is a sense of wanderlust- thinking about where an outfit or look could take you, what journeys you'll enjoy when wearing them, or where you can go in your mind. Both of these wonderful designers make me think of travel, of clothes that could take me from here to there to everywhere. And when you look at a lot of the collections on the runways of late (The Row, Marni, Doru Olowu to name but few), there's more than a few nods to a more global POV- through our constant connectivity we have all become one, and it's hard to imagine a world uninfluenced from what's happening within it. I'm very much in love with this newfound fashion diplomacy, and really when you think about it, you need not go very far at all if you are one of the lucky ladies who get to wear these pieces, because they can take you just about wherever you want or need to go, at least in your mind.

And that's what's up this around the world in style kind of Wednesday in the US of A. Yours, in a fashionable world. Where to? XO

Good morning, Monday. I am up to here with this wacky New York weather. Wondering what we East Coasters did to endure the wrath this winter, but hopefully we'll get some redemption in the form of a lovely summer. Here's hoping.

So I was catching up with my fashion this weekend and came across the gorgeous Dolce and Gabbana show. The show had an intentional maternal air to it- its theme was all about motherhood and it did not disappoint in delivering the best of the womb- there were pregnant  model Bianca Balti on the runway, mommy and me looks, and a general feminine energy that had my ovaries feeling confused (as a childless woman, I felt so much love for this collection) and my style senses anything but.

This was a collection that celebrated womanhood, and though I have struggled with what it means to dress in a feminine way of late, I feel like the boys over at D&G absolutely and deliciously nailed the whole notion of modern feminine style. With motherhood so front and center in the whole having it all debate, I think their choice of subject matter was an apt one. Many of my Facebook friends agreed, because when I posted the link to the show a huge round of "likes" ensued, regardless of your status as with child or without. Few cultures celebrate their mothers like the Italians, and this collection is an ode to "mamma"hood in the most beautiful of ways.

But as a non mama (do fur babies count?),  the genius of Dolce and Gabbana is not just about celebrating motherhood, it's  their ability to make the sexiest black dresses-  I am in love with all of the beautiful lace looks and embellished skirting and rosy details. So gorgeous.

The use of childlike scribbles on dresses is genius, and it's hard not to get caught up in the sheer beauty that is this collection. It was my favorite of the Milan shows by far, and probably my favorite I've seen in a long time for its creativity and grace. 

I've been having many conversations of late about whether fashion is relevant anymore, and to me the boys showed that it very well can be. Make clothes that women can fall in love with- capture the romance and female beauty and that's how you can be relevant in fashion today- strike a chord- admittedly I'm most drawn to clothes that are useful and practical, but this collection is too swoon worthy to ignore, and I'd be honored to wear any of it. Well done. Motherhood matters. Fashion matters. Beautiful clothes matter. Done and done.

Cause that's what's up this madonna and child of a Monday in the 212. Yours, in mama knows best. XO

Good morning, Friday. Khan and I are sleeping in today and happy to do so. Well, not really sleeping but lazing about until our conference call at 10.

I had a chance to catch up on some of the shows in Milan, and was delighted to see that Prada had a strong show that felt very old school Miuccia, the one who is that cool, nerdy girl with an edge and a respect for a more retro aesthetic. What felt fresh were the shape of the pants- cropped and a bit flared, a look I think many of us will be wearing.

I adore the pastel suits, the flight attendant dresses, the cute, quirkiness of the collection. There's been talk of late that sales of Prada are off, but to me, this collection felt almost heritage in its spot on presentation of the brand. I loved it. And those little tweed coats felt like a wearable option for those who are more prone to black turtlenecks and trousers than minidresses. Lovely. Will we see a return to the nylon backpack of yesteryear? Who knows, but happy to see some energy on the runway that felt spot on.

In general, the Milan shows fell a little flat to me so far, and I found little in London to float my boat. I'm holding hope that Paris delivers, as it always done. But well, done Miuccia. Lovely show. And that's what's up this ciao Italia of a Friday in the US of A. Yours, in staying true to your brand. XO

Good afternoon, Wednesday. It went above 30 degrees today and suddenly the world felt like a new place. In a few days, it will be March and we will hopefully usher in a new season. And boy, am I ready.

For those of you who have had it with Winter, I'm right there with you. But today gave me hope as the sun warmed me slightly more lovingly than it has in the past few weeks. It's days like today that make me realize why I continue to live in such a crazy cold climate, and then in the Summer, such a crazy hot one.

For me, when the sun begins to shine a little hotter in the sky and one can feel a collective lifting of spirits (even though tomorrow is supposed to be frigid again), I feel hopeful in a way I almost never felt in Florida. Sure I yearned for the end of those hot Summers there, with the promise of lovely and mild winters to follow those scorching months. But there's something about the promise of Spring, or even for me, Fall, that can't be substituted in any other place. That feeling of hope for a new season, a new style, a new vibe, a new whatever you want. Sure you can be hopeful in all kinds of places but something about the seasons really makes me feel better about life, and the thought of not having something to look forward to in terms of a big shift would bum me out. Perhaps I'm not evolved enough to realize that that feeling could take hold wherever one happens to be, but for me, I need nature's help sometimes to get me out of whatever funk or rut I may find myself in. Without that cycle, I'm kind of lost. 

And as I watched the ice melting a bit more today and as Khan and I took a longer walk than we've taken in some weeks, I felt better about things. Just like that. Maybe I'm a simpleton. Maybe tomorrow's temperatures will take me back to my own personal requiem of a dream stupor. Or maybe I'll embrace the fact that in a few short weeks, it will be Springtime in New York- and they'll be flowers blooming and people enjoying the sunshine and lots of time to sit on park benches and go for long walks in the evening with my favorite dude and favorite canine. I can feel it coming, and it feels good. And no, I'm not on drugs or anything. I just feel happy that soon the seasons will change and we can leave behind our bunkers and shed all the layers. Or at least a girl can hope. And without hope, where would I be?

Cause that's what's up this change is good kind of Wednesday in the 718. Yours, in fresh pedicures, peonies, and hopeful, happy thoughts. XO