An 'Oh Yes' or 'Ono' Moment?!

The media has not stopped buzzing about the widow of the late Beatles Star, John Lennon. Yoko Ono and their son, Sean Lennon were both seen rocking 3-piece menswear ensembles at the 56^th Annual Grammy Awards this past Sunday, January 26^th, 2014. Whether a positive or negative review, the Mother-Son duo has continued to be a hot topic within the media world in the past 24 hours since the Grammy’s were aired last night. The Grammy's Red Carpet, always known for the most ridiculous and outlandish outfits, did not cease to amaze me with this years looks!

Sean Ono Lennon (left) and Yoko Ono (right)

In my opinion, if an 80-year old woman of such historical magnitude like Yoko Ono can still walk a red carpet, I would let her wear her pajamas if she so desired. I did indeed appreciate her navy and black 3-piece suit, with a low profile topper hat to add. Her musician and composer Son, Sean Lennon, also topped his long locks with a similar looking hat and spectacles resembling ever so slightly of his late father.

Their presence and support in the front row of this year’s Grammy’s was only partial to the greatness that happened on the stage with the reunion of the remaining two members of The Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Seeing three of the most influential people of American pop culture, sitting, singing, and grooving to the entertainment of this years Grammy performers, was a beautiful moment. I could feel the impact these individuals had on the lives of every person in the Staples Center just from the screams and applause from the audience. That moment gets an 'Oh Yes' in my book!

Retail Therapy- Falsely therapeutic? Or truly worthwhile…?

Everyone has either said themselves, or heard someone say, “Ugh I’ve had such a long week, I need some major retail therapy.”  Or at least, we’ve all heard something closely along the lines of that.  Until now, this statement was always thought of as a silly, humorous phrase that had no factual evidence supporting the therapeutic affects shopping may, in fact produce. 

There are many famous movie scenes that come to mind when the words ‘retail therapy’ are mentioned.  Legally Blonde, Confession’s of a Shopaholic, Sex and the City, and Pretty Woman, are just a few titles.  One of the most legendary makeover movie scenes is from the ever so loved film: Clueless.  Cher is upgrading Tai’s wardrobe and describes shopping as an experience as something that could give “a sense of control in a world full of chaos.”  Is there any truth to Cher’s favorite, expensive habit?  Turns out that there is.

Researchers from the University of Michigan published a study in The Journal of Consumer Psychology, which concluded that retail therapy should no longer be overlooked.  Studies prior to this one, discovered that shoppers enjoy positive feelings when reflecting on a previous purchase, in which that particular shopping trip had been motivated by a desire to repair a mood.  Until now, it was still uncertain whether shopping provides any mental stimulus gain just by distraction, or the elapse of time.

The researchers from the University of Michigan conducted three experiments total.  For one of their experiments, men and women were split up into either ‘choosers’ or ‘browsers’ before looking at twelve different products.  These products were of a variety ranging from slippers to headphones.  They were asked to select four products.  Choosers were reportedly three times less sad than browsers, and 79% of choosers felt more in control while choosing the products, compared to only 2% of browsers.  The browsers were compared to the average ‘window shopper’; someone browsing products and store merchandise with no intention of purchasing anything.  The choosers reportedly felt happier than their previous mood, slightly more confident, and felt stress relief because they had freedom and control over the situation.  The browsers felt no improvement in their mood, had no self-esteem of confidence boost, and felt no sense of personal control.  “Our experiments provided support for the notion that making shopping choices helps to restore a sense of personal control over one’s environment, and thus helps to alleviate sadness,” the study said. 

The discoveries from the study published in The Journal of Consumer Psychology are news to us all.  Well, us shopaholics knew we weren’t lying when we swore retail therapy would solve all of our problems.  Well… maybe not all of our problems.

Fringe Redesigned

Fringe became famous in fashion during the 1920s flapper period. The dresses were getting shorter and the material needed to reflect the fun and outgoing personality of the woman wearing it. Fringe was the perfect solution because of the way it moved and the texture and personality it brought to any outfit. Moving into the 1970s fringe became associated with a free and easy style that hippies loved. Now moving into 2014 fringe is making a big comeback, but not in a way that we've seen it before.

As opposed to just laying flat against the body, fringe is now being used as an accent to accentuate the body. In this Altuzarra look, he has made the silhouette of the skirt very tight to the body, but added fringe to give the skirt some volume. This allows a woman to be sexy while still feeling powerful. The fringe has become less about being fun and flirtatious and more about being sleek, sexy and in control. Rather than just being used as an accent to the clothing design, it is not being used as a structural design element. The fringe is helping designers shape a woman to look beautiful while still giving her an edge. The fringe is being used mostly in black and other dark colors, which gives it a more powerful look.

Fringe has primarily been used in the past to signify femininity and the carefree attitude most women had about life and fashion. However, this new generation of fringe is being used to play up almost a tomboy look. By pairing this element with leather moto jackets, dark colors, tribal prints and several other design elements, it's saying that a woman who wears fringe isn't feeling carefree but rather dominant and in control. A woman can still look sleek and sexy without showing off too much skin or wearing very tight clothing. Fringe is one fashion element this Spring/Summer season that will help a woman feel confident and powerful.

Chanel sneakers

As the models are walking down from the stairs of the Chanel Spring 2014 Couture show, there was immediately huge astonishment from the sitting crowds. And soon it spread all over the Internet that Chanel is doing sneakers for their couture show.

My immediate reaction to this is that Chanel is taking the street style fashion concept and transforming it into the luxury-level of attire it is notoriously known for, which is called trickle up. The embroidered, chiffon-wrapped sports shoes are in the same dawn pink, blue and cloud white colors that the Chanel clothing line is associated with. They go very well together, which gives a light, charming feel.

I personally love this revolutionary action of bringing sneakers onto the couture runway. Don’t get me wrong, high heels are fantastic – they make me appear taller and my legs longer. But, they are also the least comfortable shoes to wear! There is a saying: high heels are what men build to torture women. But, now that Karl Lagerfeld introduced sneakers to high fashion, that saying may be challenged as sneakers may change women’s perception that sneakers are classy and luxurious. As Mr. Lagerfeld put it, “You can be in fashion without being a victim.”

For sneakers themselves, it’s just so interesting to see it reaching a new level in its journey of “sneakerization”. Sneakers used to be limited to only the athletic wear genre, though overtime, has increased its value again and again and made itself a best-seller internationally and across all age groups. Now, by entering the couture fashion it has, once again, refreshed its image in a new page.

Drunk In Love

Last night, during the 56^th Annual Grammy Awards, there was nothing short of groundbreaking performances. The musical night was filled with fashion, superstars, and unforgettable performances.  Jay-Z and Beyonce opened the show with their song “Drunk In Love” from Beyonce’s self-titled album.  After the Carter’s steamy performance, I could not bring myself to write about anything but their opening number.

They say opposites attract and this couldn’t have been truer for the Carter Empire.  A sexy, bold woman paired with a cool, coy man never looked so good together.  On stage Beyonce wore a black sheer leotard by Nichole de Carle, revealing skin in all the right places.  With sexy, wet hair, Beyonce took us back to the 80s with a hot Flashdance scene.  To accompany her, Mr. Carter, dressed in black and white, sported a three-piece suit with a bow tie; I can only assume the designer was Tom Ford.

Post-performance Beyonce wore another sheer ensemble.  Sultry turned into elegance when she put on Michael Costello’s white lace gown, while Jay continued to rock Tom Ford.  The Carter’s were nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for their song, Part II (On the Run), even though the power couple took everyone’s breathe away, the Grammy went to Jay Z and Justin Timberlake for Holy Grail.  Jay-Z finally had the spotlight and he still couldn’t keep Beyonce out of his mind.  During his acceptance speech, Jay made a nod to his wife of almost 6 years stating, “I want to thank God, I mean, a little bit for this award, but also all the universe for conspiring and for putting that beautiful light of a young lady in my life." And then lifting his new Grammy into the air Jay-Z finished with, "I want to tell Blue, 'Look, Daddy got a gold sippy cup for you!”

To be honest, I don’t know who is more in love with Beyonce, Jay-Z, the world, or me.  The fact of the matter is we are all drunk in love with this flawless couple and new parents.  The Carters can do no wrong in their music careers or their fashion endeavors, the love is real, we are drunk.

2014 Grammy Mani Explosion

As always, the Grammy Awards night featured the luxurious and glamorous looks from the A-list celebrities. Think the Red Carpet is only for the remarkable outfits? Think again. The 2014 Grammy Awards featured the fabulous Mani Cam hosted by E! News, giving us an inside look at all the celebs fresh manis. With the Mani Cam in full effect, I’m sure nail lovers were thrilled to see the looks that came through as the night went on. Nail art is for sure a stand out Grammy accessory. From the most outrageous to subtle manis, I'll show you whose on top!

Rita Ora Mani Courtesy of E! Online

The favorite nail glam of the night goes to Rita Ora. Rocking the most colorful manicure on the carpet, she stole the Mani Cam with her bold nail look that featured five different nail art designs. Ora flaunted her fancy mani painted in various vibrant colors accented with playful motifs. She went big on nail art including a Batman symbol, smiley faces, mustache, and a Comme des Garcons heart. Her mani 100% completed her holographic toned Lanvin dress.

Katy Perry Mani Courtesy of E! Online

Coming in close second, Katy Perry decided to tone it down for the nail art this year. Known for her usually in-your-face nails, she opted for more of an understated elegance. She kept her nails plain and simple to compliment her music note gown. Her pale pink mani with two dark, sleek rings kept her manicure classy while staying true to her sense of style in her Valentino dress.   

Paris Hilton Mani Courtesy of Getty Images

Paris Hilton decided to show her fans a sparkle side with her fabulous mani. There is no denying she looked amazing with her cut out Haus of Milani dress, but adding her blinge out nails fit for an Ice Queen, she jumped to the best dressed list. Her mani is definitely a DIY inspiration for the rest of the world. Simplistic, but making a bold statement.

Kelly Osbourne Mani Courtesy of Getty Images

Kelly Osborne took on the Grammys in her Badgley Mischka black gown and gold designed nails. Her over the top rings and mani perfectly coordinated with her look. With inspiration from the dark side, and no doubt her heavy metal icon father, she dazzled her nails in simplistic black decorated with gold crosses and symbols. Complimenting her ring accessories and encrusted shoulder look, this mani was for sure a jaw dropping statement.

With the Red Carpet in full force, these stars owned the top manis of the night!

If The Shoe Fits

The beloved Carrie Bradshaw, or as she is properly know Sarah Jessica Parker, is breaking into the footwear industry with her debut shoe collection. As one of the faces to the Garnier Nutrisse hair products campaigns, Sarah Jessica Parker also has two fragrance lines as well as a clothing line called “Bitten”, and is now expanding her brand to footwear.

The Ohio native, actress, and style icon walked Gayle King through her new shoe collection during an interview for the February issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker will be debuted exclusively at Nordstrom.  The collection includes both heels and flats offered in feminine and sophisticated styles. 

Parker recalls growing up, her family was always on a tight budget; she says, “We didn’t even have two nickels to rub together." However, her mother always made sure she and her sister appeared put-together by wearing ironed ribbons in their hair everyday.  This budget consciousness played a role in the development of Parker’s shoe collection with simple names and styles such as “Maud” and “Tanny.
        During her interview with King, Parker says her collection was “insipid by the single soul and love of color." She wants women to utilize colored shoes as neutrals in their wardrobe, which isn’t very typical.  Parker says, “That was one of the many reasons I loved playing Carrie Bradshaw, because style rules didn’t seem to apply to her." Parker explains that she simply likes to wear what she likes rather than what she feels is expected of her. Therefore, the SJP collection contains shoes in bold shiny colors, such as the “Annie” shoe in a green color Parker calls asparagus.

The SJP collection by Sarah Jessica Parker hits Nordstrom stores February 28, 2014. Sarah Jessica Parker will be presenting her line in person at the following Nordstrom stores and locations;

·      February 28-March 2 – Pop-Up Shop, New York City

·      March 5 – Nordstrom Flagship, Seattle

·      March 6 – The Grove, Los Angeles

·      March 7 – Michigan Avenue, Chicago

·      March 8 – Aventura, Miami

·      March 9 – NorthPark Center, Dallas

Thrifted Wares

The old adage of the broke college student while cliche, is undoubtedly true. With a full term of courses and loads of extracurriculars, I know I'm not the only one with little time left in my schedule to earn a paycheck that covers anything more than my groceries for the week. It's more than my limited budget that has drawn me to thrift stores, however. Though not every trip yields spectacular treasures, I know I'll enjoy hunting through dusty shelves and cluttered racks of discarded wares. Thrifting takes patience and a keen eye, but when it came time to decorate my new apartment, I knew I would be able to unearth some forgotten treasures to personalize my space. This scrolled mirror was one of the first things I picked up before I moved into my freshman dorm, and with a fresh coat of paint it looked like new, without losing its vintage charm. The vintage doilies on my shelves, while not spoiled of a thrifting excursion, were hand-me-downs from my grandmom. If you couldn't already guess, I've dubbed by interior design aesthetic "chic grandma."

I found this embellished cross necklace at Rice's flea market several summers ago, and this bronze tassel necklace was hiding in the housewares section of one of my favorite secondhand stores back home, Deja Vu. I spent an entire weekend procuring a series of different frames to house photos I took while I was abroad this summer. I painted them all white and am working on filling up an entire wall.

I found this copy of Shakespeare's Othello at Jules Goldman Books & Antiques on 2nd St in Old City, and I make a point to stop in each time I'm down there for First Friday festivities. I found a slew of National Geographic issues from the 1960s at the end of the summer, all in pristine condition and for 50 cents each. I picked up one with a map of Europe circa 1962, featuring the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. That, along with a map of France from 1960, now hang on my wall.

This silk Bill Blass scarf was picked up at an antique mall in the suburbs, and I found this beaded purse at American Thrift in South Philadelphia. 

My dream thrift find is probably a working record player, or maybe a designer piece or two to complement the Dior skirt I found for $3.50, but until then I'll have to keep hunting.

Words and photos by Courtney Denton

Ralph Lauren Debuts Team USA Opening Ceremony Uniforms

     A few days ago, the USA Olympic team revealed their opening ceremony uniforms on TODAY. My initial reaction was that the cardigans resembled high-end ugly Christmas sweaters, and after reading a bit more about the uniforms, it turns out most of America agreed.

     The sweaters are definitely attention catching, but do pair nicely with the understated white athletic pants.  The look also includes a cream turtleneck, black and red leather boots, a belt, and a reindeer hat. For a mere $1,500 anyone can sport the same attire as the Team USA athletes on opening night… excuse me? Yes, the prices are quite hefty, but all of the pieces are produced domestically, and proceeds of the cardigan benefit the U.S. Olympic Committee. Still a steep price for a garish sweater if you ask me, but it does look warm and comfy. Its patchwork design features patriotism, the Olympic rings, and plenty of stars and stripes.

     After creating a huge controversy in 2012 for outsourcing the manufacturing, Ralph Lauren, the designer and outfitter of this year’s U.S. Olympic team, prioritized domestic production of all of the merchandise. This is the fourth time that the company has been an official outfitter of Team USA.

     This year’s uniform’s began with wool from Oregon, was then spun in state of Pennsylvania, dyed and yarned in North Carolina, and finally sent to California to be sewn by a small mom & pop shop.

     Ralph Lauren has also produced a collection of apparel and accessories, also available for purchase through their website. Anyone can support Team USA by getting all decked out in the Ralph Lauren apparel and looking quite festive for this year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Ashley Smith x RVCA

RVCA, the California based lifestyle and clothing company, is now teaming up with model Ashely Smith to create her first fashion line. Known for its clothes that are closely associated with skateboard and surf culture, RVCA founder PM Tenore has said "We like to work with different people of varying subcultures- whether it's artists, designers, surfers or skaters- RVCA is really a platform for talented people...to showcase their passions and hardwork."

The collaboration came about when a mutual friend introduced Smith to Tenore over drinks at the Mercer Hotel in New York. Tenore just asked her to be herself with the collection,

Items from Smith's debut collection with RVCA

and be natural. What came out was a debut collection all about crop tops, bomber jackets and an overall nineties nostalgia. “It plays on the idea of opposites—being this tomboy in Texas and the girl I am today in New York.”

A celebratory dinner was held on the 23rd with all the workers involved in bringing Smith's collection to life. At the event, Smith told reporters she always wanted to create something, and after her first collection, she's gained a lot of respect for designers. "I had no idea how time-consuming and research-oriented designing a collection would be," she said. "Luckily I had this amazing team behind me.”

Smith at her celebratory dinner on Saturday

Smith modeling a jacket from her debut line with RVCA

Downs Designs

While reading through Elite Daily, I came across an article “Grandma with no fashion background makes a fashion label.” Intrigued by Karen Bowersox, founder of Downs Designs I looked further into the company.  Having a grand daughter with Down syndrome the family struggled to find clothing that fit her body properly, pants that fit in the waist were always too long. After much research Karen found that there has not been a company that specializes in clothing for this body type.

            After connecting with designer Jillian Jankovsky in 2010, the team developed Downs Designs. With a goal to have clothing that is comfortable, stylish and easy to get on/ fit the body type of a person with Down syndrome, the team focused on the all round fit of the pant in addition to the shorter leg length. Because many people with Downs syndrome also have dexterity issues with items such as buttons and zippers on pants, Downs Designs changed their jeans to only have elastic bands so their customers can feel independent. Upon ordering Down Designs offers a “Try-On Service” which sends two similar sizes to first time users so they can find the perfect fit- Even developing a custom inseam hem for each customer!

            Today Down Designs continues to expand from a jean line, to carrying shorts, capris, and many different styles of shirts, ranging in sizes from children to both men and women. Bowersox age 65, stated in an interview with the Huffington Post,  “While her friends look to retire, she plans to keep working, I don't go to work, I go to love. Every second is pure joy.”

To find more about the brand you can visit them at their website http://downsdesigns.com