Backstage Pass (Virtually)

It is Fashion Week in New York. Which means beautiful people and beautiful clothes all over the place. Don't you wish we were there?

(Are you there?)

Luckily for us peons, there is more than one way to get a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion wonderland.

Wanna hear one?

Very well.

Might I suggest picking up "The September Issue" on DVD?

You may remember reading, right here on this very blog, a brief recap of the film, a documentary that follows Anna Wintour and the staff of Vogue as they put together and publish the massive September issue of the magazine.

The DVD hits stores on February 23rd, complete with plenty of special extras, including outtakes, extended scenes and a backstage look at some of the biggest, fiercest fashion shows out there.

Like New York Fashion Week.

(Don't you wish we were there?)

I just listened in on an ever-so-interesting phone interview with the film's director, R.J. Cutler. He said lots of fascinating things about filmmaking and Anna Wintour and the rest of the Vogue gang, but the thing that stuck out most to me was his opinion that, even when we dismiss fashion as something frivolous and silly, we are what we wear. In R.J.'s words, "What you put on says a great deal about who you are."

In short, everything we wear makes a statement. Even when we're not trying to say anything at all. Or even when we are trying to say that we couldn't care less. Not caring is a statement of its own.

Deep, right?

If you are lucky enough to live in New York (don't the rest of us wish we were there?), you can get more wisdom straight from the horse's mouth. R.J. and a few of the characters portrayed in the film will be signing copies of the DVD and answering your burning questions at an event at a Manhattan Barnes and Noble on February 25th.

(Sadly I can't tell you which one, though I am sure you can find it somewhere else on the Internet.)

And I am happy to sign DVDs for those of you who can't make it.

What a deal, right?

How can you repay the favor, you ask? Well, hop into the comments section and tell us: If we are what we wear, what are you?

Uniform, Uni-fun

I am going to New York this weekend (I know, it's a hard-knock life), a trip that just happens to coincide with the six-month celebration of the Uniform Project.

What's the Uniform Project? you ask.

You're going to love this.

One creative New Yorker (is there any other kind?) has decided to wear the same dress every day for a year (seven identical dresses, one for each day of the week, to be perfectly exact, and hygenic), only switching things up with accesories, layers and the like.

It's one-part exercise in sustainable fashion, and also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots educational movement in India.

Think you would go crazy wearing the same dress every single day? (Even if it is specially designed to be wearable frontwards and backwards?) Well, if we all had this much style and creativity, I think we could pull it off.












Or, if this kind of committment is a little out of your reach, you can donate accessories or cash as well.

What do you think of the Uniform Project?
And if you had to (got to?) wear one item of clothing every single day, what would it be?

Runway Your Way

It has been Fashion Week madness on the East Coast lately, with all sorts of stars showing up for all sorts of shows from all sorts of designers. (I know because People Magazine tells me.)

Personally, I never pay much attention to runway fashions for two reasons.

1. They are usually so avant garde and, frankly, ridiculous, that I would never, ever wear them. Ever.

2. And even if I wanted to wear them, I could never, ever afford them. Ever.

Which is why I was so pleased to come across this little piece about recreating reasonable runway fashions on a reasonable budget. I am especially intrigued by the idea of mixing plaids. Give it a read and let me know what you think. Will any hot new fashions make it from the catwalk to your closet?

Teal-ing Blue

This just in! Teal dresses are totally hot right now!

Did you know?

Everyone is wearing them.

Like Jennie Garth.

And Amy Adams. And Mary-Louise Parker. And Kate Hudson.

And you could be wearing one, too! As it happens, Shabby Apple has a couple great teal dresses to choose from. You lucky (blue) devils!

Try the 90 Words Per Minute secretary dress for an upscale day at the office.

Spice it up with a pair of wild animal print pumps, or cinch it with a wide black patent belt. If jewelry is more your accessory style, off-set it with a stylishly subtle cuff and a pair of simple silver earrings. A sequined cardigan or a chic, well-fitting blazer can easily transition you from a day at the office to a night on the town.

Or how about the Mediterranean V-collar dress?

I think I have already expressed how much I love this one. Slip on some brightly colored stilettos and wear it to a spring wedding, or pair it with some sparkly flats for a classy garden party. Top it off with a bold headpiece in flowers, or feathers.

And, voila! You'll be ready for a red carpet of your very own.

First Lady Fashion

All politics aside (and the side is so often where politics belong, don't you think?) , our new First Lady, Michelle Obama, has been rocking styles fit for a president's wife since her husband hit the campaign trail, and yesterday's inauguration was no exception. 

Want to relive the fashion highlights? Check out this slideshow from People.com to see Michelle's winning wardrobe in the days leading up to Jan. 20. One thing I really love is how Mrs. Obama mixes high-end designers and quirky up-and-comers with affordable basics, like gloves from J. Crew! (Those gloves held the Lincoln Bible. Holla!)

And, though it drew both criticism and praise, I think Michelle's white, one-shouldered ballgown fits in perfectly with other famous inauguration dresses.

Even the Obama girls are stepping up to the fashion plate, sporting stylish, age-appropriate and affordable frocks and ensembles of their own. (More J. Crew!)

Are you also a fan of the First Family's fashion?

What is your favorite political ensemble so far?

Fashion-omics

Looking for an economic crystal ball? Well, look no further than hemlines.

According to this interactive piece from the New York Times, (and I am pretty sure they always tell the truth), fashion trends can be an indicator of economic trends. Money might be short, for example, but skirts are getting longer. A shift in fashion can even occur before the reality of an economic change has sunk in.

Check it out! And tell us, are your hemlines coming down?