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Observations in Fashion

Great Style Icons Can Easily Guide You To Finding Your Personal Style

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When you think of great style what style icons and eras come to mind? Is it Farrah Faucet in the 70s with her bell bottom jeans and flipped back bangs? Maybe it’s Madonna in the 80s with her tulle skirt, lace bra, and fingerless gloves? Or perhaps it’s simply anyone wearing  grundge from the 90s?

Trends are fun to experiment with but by their very nature they are fleeting which means we spend a lot of money buying clothing and accessorizes that do not have staying power.

Remember those Juicy Couture velour track suits you bought in1999 and were holding onto because you loved them so much? You convinced yourself they would come back in style and placed them somewhere deep inside the recesses of your closet. My guess is that they were recently Marie Kando’ed out of your closet as the trend now is to throw anything away that does not spark joy. And wearing head-to-toe velour is no longer the fashionable groove it once was.

It’s hard to navigate what styles will become truly timeless and even harder to know how long a trend will stay relevant. For some sticking with timeless style might seem boring but as a designer I can tell you it makes dressing a lot easier when you invest in pieces that are classic and well made—not to mention you will save yourself a bundle of money in the end.

But back to my question, what icons come to mind when you think of great style? I think of Audrey Hepburn, cigarette trousers, little black dresses, or  tailored white shirts with flats.  Jackie O in a simple strapless gown also comes to mind.

I once saw a vintage photo of her stepping out of a plane in a leopard print coat and thought how elegant she was. However, her style was neither boring nor complicated. She was able to move gracefully between a classic turtleneck and jeans to a loose fitting gown in a colorful print. 

There are an abundant number of styles launched every month that are reported as being essential to our wardrobe. Add to that the endless stream of inventory that we must choose from and what we end up with is the perfect recipe for nothing to wear.

If you are confused as to what looks best on you you’re not alone. Navigating your personal style might seem daunting but can easily be acquired if you channel a muse whose style speaks to you. However, if following fashion trends is your muse then stay true to that. For the rest of us it’s best to trend lightly!

Eat well, laugh a lot, and be chic!

Travel Chic Pittsburgh—Getting the Most Out of Our 36 Hours in The City of Bridges

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It was merely by happenstance that we ended up in Pittsburgh. Our original plan was to spend time with family in the city of Monaca just thirty minutes away. Unfortunately, getting home was complicated by the holiday rush of people trying to fly out of Pittsburgh International Airport.

Once we determined we weren’t going anywhere hatching out our plans for a less than 48-hour stay in Pittsburgh was simple enough. First we needed to find a place to stay. This was seamless with Hotels Tonight. Their App is essential for the last-minute traveler. Hotels Tonight has a vast network of hotels in all major cities in addition to many international destinations. I highly recommend you download it before your next trip because you just never know when you’re going to get stranded in unfamiliar territory. 

We decided on the Priory Hotel located in the Deutschtown section of Pittsburgh’s North Shore. It is a smaller hotel that was once a Benedictine Monastery but has many of the same amenities as a modern hotel. This gem has been restored into a historic and charming boutique hotel.

There is a quaint outdoor area where the humidity is interrupted by a cool breeze on the shaded patio. During the warmer months it would be easy to simply waste away an afternoon sipping negronis. But as much as lounging in the cool air of the patio sounded like a good idea it was impossible if we were to take in the sites.

Pittsburgh, also known as the city of bridges, with its proximity to three major rivers claims to have 446 bridges. The Priory Hotel was walking distance to the Three Sister Bridges. You can’t miss these bridges as they are all painted yellow and are accessible to pedestrian traffic. We noticed that there are not a lot of shaded areas in this part of town. Since it can get incredibly hot it is essential to wear a hat.

The Andy Warhol Museum was first on our list of things to do. In the event you find yourself in Pittsburgh you should put a visit to this museum high on your list as well. 

I must confess  I am not a big fan of pop art and Andy Warhol barely registered on my radar. After spending an afternoon in his namesake seven story museum I have a newfound admiration for his accomplishments as not only a prolific artist but as a visionary in celebrity culture.

The Andy Warhol Museum covers the depth of Andy’s life, from his interest in art as a young boy, to his work in commercial art, to his remarkable repertoire of modern art. He not only forged a path in photography and film but he set the stage for modern visual arts.

If you do visit don’t miss the opportunity to sit for a Warhol-esque screen test.

Pittsburgh is no stranger to exceptional restaurants. However, with so many great choices and too few days in Pittsburgh we had a difficult time deciding which restaurants to visit. Making that choice was easier after reviewing Eater and Trilllist. Eater and Thrilllist are our favorite online guides for great places to eat while on the road.

On our first night we opted for a farm-to-table restaurant which is located in the Oakland neighborhood. There is no shortage of coffee shops, restaurants, and museums in this cool area. We didn’t have time to take in the botanical gardens and Carnegie Museum of Art and History but we had time to eat.

We grabbed a ride to Legume in the Oakland neighborhood. The reviews promised us a fantastic dining experience and their local seasonal menu did not disappoint! Legume might strike some as the name of a vegetarian restaurant but it is not. For most restaurants the vegetables are an afterthought but here they actually are the inspired dish.

We began our meal with the warm cauliflower with einkorn salad which was truly phenomenal! We followed up with the grass fed steak tartare, eggplant puree, and mixed greens. We finished with halibut, shishito peppers and lima beans cooked to perfection!

We had our last meal at the newly reopened restaurant Dish Osteria Bar located in Pittsburgh’s south side. Unlike the serene atmosphere of Legume this restaurant was casual and loud.  Not surprisingly it was packed so reservations are a must unless you don’t mind waiting for a seat at the bar. The Sicilian inspired menu was excellent!

We started with grilled octopus and calamari served with spinach and lemon and then finished with the fettuccine ai Funghi Selvaggi—morels, chanterelles and brussel sprouts served with reggiano and basil. They are known for their gnocchi but we were too full to eat another thing after our pasta course. We will have to come back and order the gnocchi next time!

Eat well, laugh a lot, and be travel chic!

The Best Formula For Packing Light Is As Easy As Counting To 5

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There are recommended formulas for diet, exercise, dating, cleaning, and even packing light for a trip. The best formulas for packing light are usually the easiest to follow. I cannot speak with authority on diet and exercise, and as far as dating I am no expert. However, when it comes to packing and organizing I’ve got some skills.

The method I use is more focused on the versatility of each item making packing a breeze without the use of cubes. Wether you use cubes or not it is important to first lay out the clothing you plan to pack.  This method takes a little more planning but once you’ve arrived at your destination you are never at a loss as to what to wear because all of your tops will match with all of your bottoms. The other detail to my method is I always have more tops than bottoms, less shoes and jewelry, and no more than one dress.

The key to packing light is all in the editing. However, if you struggle with actually editing your wardrobe for trips try the 5-4-3-2-1 method of packing.

5 Tops—Remember to choose wisely. All of your tops should pair easily with all of your bottoms.

4 Bottoms—Stick with neutral colors like black, white and camel. In addition think in terms of the versatility of an item. For example pack a skirt that can also be worn as a dress. And as much as we all might have too much black in our wardrobes the color black is king when it comes to minimizing your packing.

3 Pairs of Shoes—Depending on the season you are packing for will depend on wether you pack 3 pairs of shoes or 2. Remember you also have the pair you will be wearing on your flight so you may not need to pack that third pair in which case you can add another item of your choice. For travel during the summer months you may only need a pair of walking shoes (sneakers), a pair of sandals, and a slightly dressier pair of shoes.

2 Coverups—Even in the warmer months a light cardigan can be essential as planes, restaurants, and evenings can be cool. The other benefits of packing cardigans is they are easy to layer and can also be worn as a top giving you more outfit options.

1 Dress—I always find packing a dress in summer essential. However, not so much in the fall. If you are not a dress person then choose a tunic which can be more versatile.

As far as undergarments, socks, jewelry, and scarves can be packed into empty spaces like shoes. Keep in mind this is merely a guideline and you may find that you need to pack something not on the list in which case you can substitute. For example during the summer you may want to pack a bathing suit. You can either trade it out for an item or if you have extra room you can roll it and add it to your bag. In addition to everything you pack take a wrap with you on the plane. You will need it when the cabin crew turns up the AC but you will find it may come in handy when you need a wrap during the evening.

Eat well, laugh a lot, and travel chic!