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Observations in Fashion

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Reflections In Fashion

08.25.2011 by Catherine Jane //

“Does This Make Me Look Short?” was the question posed to me by my client Mary, who is 5’ 1” tall, does not wear heels higher than two inches and is one of the most intelligent and charming people I know. She is not tall; she is short. For what ever reason she felt it was the dress she was trying on that made her look short not the fact that she is indeed short. My response to her question was quick, “Mary, you are short.” Thankfully, in addition to her charm she has a sense of humor and we both laughed. This story brings up a much broader point—what is it we see when we look at ourselves in the mirror? Tall and fit or short or fat? Why don’t we see that proportions can make us look taller or shorter, wider or slimmer? Instead we see what we don’t like and walk away frustrated that nothing looked right. We are our own worst critic. We imagine what we should look like instead of what we do look like. What I want to hear, from you, when you stand in front of the mirror is, “Wow, I look gorgeous!” Because when you wear clothing in the right proportions and colors, you do look gorgeous.

Fashion is architecture. It is a matter of proportions.
-Coco Chanel

How Green Is Your Fashion?

08.18.2011 by Catherine Jane //

We eat organic, we use less petroleum and we look for household products that claim not to burn a bigger hole in the ozone. But what about our clothing? Some don’t eat meat because of the treatment of animals. But what about the treatment of the people who make our clothing? When we shop for Zac Posen’s limited edition collection at Target, do we think about the people who made it possible for us to purchase a lined jacket for $75? Probably not. We want what we want and we want it cheap. When we purchase a cashmere sweater for $50, do we ever wonder why it itches? With stores like Zara and H&M, it is more difficult to turn-up your nose to a Burberry knock-off for $125. More and more manufacturing is happening overseas where labor is cheaper. That price tag has its roots in a demand for cheaper goods from us–the consumer. The same consumer who demands more jobs be brought back to the United States.
I ponder this conundrum; do we feel better when we have more as opposed to less regardless of the quality? In this world of disposable clothing does it matter if it lasts? I think about this because that is my business. And most likely I would not if it wasn’t. So forgive my pomposity. Next week I promise to give you a look at the lighter side of fashion with a story about what we see when we look at ourselves in the dressing room mirror with, Does This Make Me Look Short? Reflections In Fashion.

Better Off Naked

08.11.2011 by Catherine Jane //

We all know the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes—an Emperor strolls around town butt naked. His subjects carry on about his remarkable suit of clothes until a child cries out, “he’s naked!” This story is played out again and again on the pages of fashion magazines the only difference is I am not hearing the cries of, “she’s better off naked!” The picture (from unnamed magazine and no, it’s not Teen Vogue) is about oversized denim shirts being a big trend. I don’t know what is worse, the skin tight lambskin leggings, the suede and leather fringe boots or the over-sized denim shirt. I do need to mention that there are some stunning lay-outs as well but how can the reader take an editorial seriously when they have a model wearing an oversized denim shirt, fringe boots and lambskin vest? Where are the cries, “she’s better off naked!?”
Ralph Rucci, designer for Chado, said in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, “One season shouldn’t be Field & Stream chic and the next season you’re in Mainland China. That’s fashion! Style is a continuum. Style never changes. It is a straight line. It’s a refinement of the same vocabulary. Style takes you from day to evening, season to season.” Thank-you Mr. Rucci, well said!

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