Fashion Vice

Hair Raising
November 24, 2009 | Wear What?

Is it me or does this clutch have the handbag equivalent of the side ponytail?

This is an 80’s revival taken way too far. It’s off the shoulder. It’s animal print. It’s got a side ponytail for goodness sakes!

Blah dee blah
September 2, 2009 | Huh?

Is it me or do I have a right to be a little befuddled by this bag?

Chloé Polka Dots Bag

Chloé does “cool chick goes girly” better than most, but I’m not sure about this one. The bow is somehow distracting. Something about it and the flap of the bag just don’t mesh. The idea of putting the gold metal dots is a good one and a nice departure from all the studded looks for fall, but the color is what really does not work for me. The neutral color is a real no-no. If you’re going to do a bag like this, it should be exuberant and fresh and come in a color that says cute girl coming through. The bag is just kind of meh... not one of Chloé's best efforts.

Sock This Away
August 10, 2009 | Huh?

Every time fall collections come around, I see this look… socks with sandals.

A.P.C. Fall 2009 Crepe Jersey Dress & Sparta Sandals

To be honest, I don’t know what to make of it. Sure the model in the picture looks every bit as cool as a model should. But can the rest of us pull this off without looking like a fool? I get tights with sandals. It’s also not the easiest to pull off but under the right circumstances and the right shoes, it can extend the wear of your favorite footwear into the colder months. But socks with sandals can be a bit more difficult, I think. It kind of brings to mind Birkenstocks with white tube socks and that’s just plain wrong.

So I guess my answer to whether this works depends on the socks as well as the shoes. Any sort of thick sock isn’t going to cut it. The best combo is probably thin ribbed socks with a wedge heel (like the A.P.C. sandal) or a high heel sandal. Wearing narrow rolled pants or a dress or skirt with hem that hits at the knee or slightly above is a safer bet than a longer skirt or wide cropped pants (yuck, thank you very much). I’m going to try this look and see how if it works for me. I love a good fashion experiment.

In Her Shoes
June 2 | Huh?

I got the latest anthropologie catalogue today. Some of the looks are quite inspiring but here’s a look that really caught my eye.

June anthropoligie catalogue

I’d drop that pastel cardigan for a solid cropped version but I really like the jumper. But the bad news is the shoes are not for sale at anthropologie. I’ve been looking for the perfect pair of oxfords for ages so it’s a bit disappointing that I have no idea where to find these particular pair of shoes. Seems like I have some detective work to do.

Denim Mania
May 5 | Huh?

It pains me to admit this – since I have a million things I should be doing with my free time – but I’m addicted to ebay. Not really for buying, but lately it is my go-to place to look for designer vintage clothing or pictures of handbags that I’m interested in.

So I happened to check out the auctions Elle magazine and Barneys put together, called Project Blue. Several designers reconnoitered donated denim to create one-of-a-kind pieces to raise money for the charity Oceana. It reminds me of that Project Runway challenge from season four where the designers grabbed tons of Levi’s jeans and jackets from a warehouse and had to make something new. On the show, some of the outfits were fierce (channeling Christian Siriano here) and some were not so much.

Unfortunately, I’m going to have to say the same about the Barneys/Elle denim recreations. I’m not going to nitpick at the individual designs because everyone’s taste is different. And I don’t have an hour to talk about which outfits look “home sewn” (now channeling Heidi Klum). But I will mention my favorite.

Project Blue Barneys/Elle Bottega Veneta Dress

Okay, I lied. I will mention the one outfit that looks the most, um, home-sewn craft project gone completely off the deep end of Joanne’s fabric store… the Rodarte dress. It looked fine, if a bit unfinished, in Elle magazine’s May issue. But online it looks even worse. It's kind of a mess, and not a hot one.s

Rodarte denim dress for Project Blue

While I’m at it, I have to ask one thing. If you are auctioning clothes to raise money for a charity, shouldn't you have garments in more than one size? Everything is listed as size 2-4, except for that retro-in-a-bad-way Stella McCartney bomber jacket that’s listed as a S-M. It seems like they are leaving out plenty of women who could bid on these pieces. I know the money goes to a good cause but it’s still a much more enticing deal if at the end of the day, a gal can actually work it out in her brand new do-gooder designer outfit. No one could make a dress in a size 6 or 8?

Also, why do they only have one picture of each piece? That’s really lame. Where are the detail shots and a view of the back? Who buys something based on one picture?

I’m sure there will be great interest in the clothes and plenty of bids, which is a good thing considering where the money is going. But in my opinion there might be an even greater interest if they included more photos and sizes.

Money for Something
March 31 | Huh?

Recession? What recession? You’d never know it if you are a Balmain devotee.

Balmain Spring 2009 RTW

The destroyed skinny jeans that go for two thousand bucks are selling out faster than funnel cakes at a county fair. And the sparkly military jacket with exaggerated shoulders? Going, going, gone. So even though the economy is so bad that even the rich are reluctant to part with their money, it seems they aren’t quite that reluctant when it comes to Balmain’s rock star chic.

I am not gonna lie, I think this look is best left to the pros – meaning bone-thin teenage eastern European models or just those who have attitude to spare. I just don’t think the average woman is going to look hot in this getup. But hey, that doesn’t mean it’s not interesting. This isn’t me but I like Balmain's total balls-out glamour. You can bet this look will be in heavy rotation in lower priced versions.

**Chickdowntown.com Rachel Leigh cuff Giveaway**

We have ourselves a winner! Congrats to Kacie in Pittsburgh. You are the proud new owner of a fun, flirty gold bow cuff. Thanks again to chickdowntown.com for this fabulous cuff by Rachel Leigh. And going back to the subject of denim, chickdowntown.com offers the latest, greatest denim lines like J Brand jean items. You can’t go wrong with dark J Brand jeans with a shiny gold cuff!

Thanks a bunch to those of you who entered the contest and as always, thanks a bunch for supporting Fashion Vice.

Take a Bow – Win This Pretty Little Cuff!
March 20 | Huh?

One thing I’ve noticed lately is that scarves have completely taken over. Everywhere I turn, someone, man or woman, is wearing a scarf around their neck. Seriously, I love scarves but how about another way to punch up an outfit?

I think jewelry is the way to go. Who can resist something pretty and shiny? Definitely not me. Of course it can’t be too pricey since my motto this year is: buy a little, make a little. And since I can’t make jewelry it’s a good thing there are plenty of options for inexpensive embellishments. Take this for example:

Rachel Leigh Bow Cuff

I love how it’s a little bit 80’s and totally girly. It could be a signature accessory, dressing up everything from a tank top and jeans to a basic black dress. Best of all, Fashion Vice is very, very excited to team up with chickdowntown.com to give away this Rachel Leigh cuff to one lucky reader. If you haven’t checked out the site, do because it is an amazing place for women’s clothing. I could literally spend hours browsing for all sorts of covetable items from dresses and jackets to shoes and handbags (my faves).

Entering is very simple. Just send an email to info@fashionvice.com with your pick for an inexpensive way to perk up your spring wardrobe. No purchase necessary. Winner will be chosen at random. Contest ends March 29, 2009. Good luck!!!

(If you like what you see on the chickdowntown website, you can show your love by becoming a friend on Facebook or checking them out on Twitter, YouTube and MySpace.)

Are We on a Roll Here?
August 8 | Huh?

For the love of 80’s… why do I keep seeing rolled up jeans? Celebrities seem to be embracing this blast from the past. Katie Holmes is a repeat offender and other stars have been seen about town that way. So should this look really make a comeback?

A look from that sartorial standby J. Crew

Other 80’s trends have made a second or even third go around. Neon, check. Blue eyeliner, check. Hammer pants - oh sweet Jesus - check. What’s next, the return of spiral perms?

There seems to be two schools of thought on the rolled leg look: pegging the legs tightly around the ankle or just folding them up. I’ll admit I roll my jeans… when I’m wearing wellies on a rainy day and want to avoid getting the bottoms soaking wet. My rolled jeans - strictly for practical purposes. But I have to admit, I don’t actually hate the rolled jeans look. Am I going soft? Who knows? Maybe at its worst rolled up jeans are not as bad as leggings. Now that I hate.

No Public Pajama Party
November 26 | Huh?

Even though we want to do our Christmas shopping online, my husband and I bundled up our baby and headed out to do some in person shopping yesterday. It was a spur of the moment decision and we agreed to hit specific stores, find exactly what we want and get out quickly. The crowd was light and what I expected to be a big headache wasn’t so bad.

What did make my head spin was the sight of not one but two women walking around in bedroom attire - one woman in fuzzy slippers and the other in pajama bottoms. I know comfort is important when shopping, but come on! Unless you are grabbing your morning paper, there’s no reason to step out like that.


Frolicking in pj’s works for a Victoria’s Secret catalogue… but not for public outings.

With the proliferation velour track suits, lounge pants and Crocs, the ranks of the slovenly keep growing. That attire is for when you are hanging out at home and… oh forget it, Crocs shouldn’t be seen on anyone over six years old!

For the love Karl Lagerfeld, wearing pajamas and fuzzy slippers in public is serious a crime of fashion. Possibly a crime against humanity. At the very least it’s a crime against my sensitive eyes.

Strutting Toward Broke
April 3 | Huh?

I’m not going to lie. As much as I’d like to believe I am a practical fashionista, sometimes sensibility goes out the window when there’s something I really, really want. My power to resist has gotten better over the years, because let’s face it, no one wants to be well dressed but broke. Well, no one in their 30’s wants that. Might as well fess up that my carefree 20’s are behind me. I was once well dressed and broke but that gets old quickly.

Don't get me wrong. I’m a big believer in getting what you pay for and paying good money for things that last. Bags, shoes, the perfect black pants: these are things I don’t feel guilty about forking over a hefty chunk of change if I find a winner. With proper care they can last for years. Then again, there are times when a girl can't help but indulge. It happens to the best of us. If it turns out to be an unwise buy, hopefully you’ll chalk it up to a valuable learning experience. Every time I start a give-away pile for Goodwill, I come across a few of these items and vow never to fall victim to the impulse buy again.

So what is this musing about really about? Take a look at this:

DSquared2 platform sandals $724

Wow. Is there ever a time when nautical themed footwear for this much money is a smart choice? These have to be a pure impulse buy because who in their right mind would pay that much for costume jewelry for the feet?

So are there any takers?... Good.

Gilt-y Pleasure?
August 1 | Huh?

Wow. This looks like something Dolly Parton would wear.

Giuseppe Zanotti boots available at Bergdorf Goodman

I love me some Dolly Parton but her look isn’t easily translatable for the rest of us mortals. Any takers for the boots?

Update: I checked out the new Paul & Joe collection at Target and it’s a mixed bag. The black & white poppy print shirt is well constructed and very cute. Sadly, there were only two shirts left and neither was my size. These are going like hotcakes.

I didn’t see the kimono sleeve dress but there were a couple of slip dresses that looked like good buys for summer. As I suspected, the silk floral prints and the black silk wrap skirt looked cheap. For prices between $24.99 and $34.99 my expectations shouldn’t be too high.

Knit Wit?
July 13 | Huh?

Three years ago, I rediscovered the joys of knitting. My mom and my grandmother taught me at different points in my early life, but I just didn’t have the patience to make anything other than swatch samples. I was too busy coloring Barbie’s hair with magic markers or cutting up my Dad’s shorts to make doll clothes.

As an adult, I would beg my mom to knit me sweaters, scarves and hats. Then I decided to take matters into my own hands. Now I’m fully addicted. I do have to have to post a disclaimer: my knitting projects have proven to be expensive at times. But satisfaction of creating something unique and enjoying the process is well worth it. It’s easy to see why I have a fetish for knitwear.

Now I bring your attention to this little combo:

Vivienne Westwood Fall 2006 - I love that the mask has a jaunty little peak on the side as if to say, “Yes, it’s 90 degrees under this glorified ski mask but I look gooooood.”

I believe the talented Ms. Westwood was trying to say something clever with this look. If you’ve figured out what that is, please pass it along.

Madonna for H & M
June 8 | Huh?

I for one am completely over Madonna but I have to mention this deal with H & M anyway. According to Fashion Wire Daily, Madonna is designing a track suit for the European discount clothing chain. Trackies? For real??? Track suits are about as fashionable as sporting a camel toe. I can hardly contain my disgust. I’m going to walk away now.