Fashionista Files

BACK INTO BLACK FOR SPRING

The endearing color of cool is poised to maintain right into spring. Granted, black is as True Fashionista a color as ever. However, in the face of our ongoing pandemic situation, emphasis on black makes that statement of commitment toward the fight that continues in the US and worldwide.

REMEMBERING PIERRE CARDIN

French designer and household name Pierre Cardin passed away December 29, 2020 at age 98. We pause to give reverence to a True Fashionista visionary in men’s and women’s fashion whose decades-long career had many notable successes. He pioneered the now common practice of designer licensing by putting his name not just on his ready-to-wear clothes but also on luggage, carpets, kitchen appliances, watches, sunglasses and much more. He was also the first French designer to create a ready-to-wear line of clothing rather than custom-order clothing in 1954. A decade later he became the first women’s designer to launch a collection for men with his famous necktie, eventually expanding to a full line. Cardin was also the first French couturier to break into the Asian and Soviet fashion markets, staging the first French couture fashion show in Beijing in 1979.

WHAT TO FLUSH FROM YOUR FASHION RADAR IN 2021

Yes, we know you’re hardly going out and there’s not really anything going on at the moment STILL. However, we choose to look on the positive side knowing there’s better to come, so you might as well be ready to emerge from your proverbial curfew cocoon bedecked in the latest styles. In other words, it’s time to ditch what’s SO 2020 in order to present your best True Fashionista looks for the New Year. Don’t forget your matching face mask (cue eyeroll).

THE EVOLUTION OF THE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER

You know you own one. You’ve Konmari’d your closet, probably more than once over the last few months, retrieving the spark-inducing items from the floor. As you held this particular item to decide, warm memories of gingerbread-filled holiday get-togethers at Grandma’s house enticed you to once again store it away for next season. Yes, we’re talking about the infamous Ugly Christmas Sweater. But is there a way to rock it in proper True Fashionista style?

HISTORY OF MANOLO BLAHNIK

Oh no here it comes…another Sex in the City reference in this here blogsphere. Blame Carrie Bradshaw and her obsession with True Fashionista Manolo Blahnik shoes, as she so famously quoted:

“You can take my Fendi baguette. You can take my ring and watch but you can’t take my Manolo Blahniks.”

HEELS FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T WEAR HEELS

This topic must be addressed. The world is not always fair, as we have especially seen in recent days. Months. While most take easily to heels and the rest grin and bear it, there are some, sadly, that are unable to squeeze their pedes into a sexy pair of Manolo Blahnik stilettos. Thankfully however, there are many True Fashionista options that get you pretty close to that sexy, confident-yet-careful style exuded by those who defy gravity on a regular basis.

GOTTA GET ME A BROWN LEATHER JACKET!

If you’re reading this from your cozy abode situated nearby a stunning array of tree color, chances are that the weather situation is screaming for a True Fashionista leather jacket. In brown, of course, by the trends we’re seeing lately. If you happen to live in tropical environs like we do, we can only look forward to a couple months from now or perhaps a purposeful lowering of the house AC for a little pretend action. Hey these are crazy times…

MODERN TIE-DYE STYLE

The sixties were umpteen million years ago, and one of the major results of that unique moment in American history is: no, not political and social upheaval and war; no, not the musical revolution, but the stuff of legend: True Fashionista tie-dye. As 2021 rapidly approaches, we ask, is tie dye still a thing? It’s still very much an activity, probably more so these days in quarantine situations. However, do they still carry cred on the street?

HOME ORGANIZATION REDUX- KONMARI MEETS FLYLADY

Back in 2018 the world went crazy for Marie Kondo. Her “Tidying Up” book and companion Netflix show were monolithic gargantuan megahits, with delighted, committed hordes following her directive to dump the contents of one’s closets on the floor in order to pick up each item, decide whether or not it “sparks joy”. It does? Back into the closet. No? Out you go! We were rolling socks into neat rows in shoeboxes and everything. The concept was magical and has hopefully lasted through all the extra time we’ve been spending cooped up (safely) in our homes.

HISTORY OF COCO CHANEL

Yes of course Coco Chanel is synonymous with all that is True Fashionista, and label namesake Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel led quite the adventurous and exciting life, breaking ground and introducing now legendary items and looks that we just could not do without in our style pursuits. Even now, in the pandemic and most cautiously, post-pandemic era, we continue to use Chanel as a standard against which many fashion entities are measured.