Slight Delay

Note to Readers:
I am out of town this week, visiting a friend. I apologize in advance for the lack of posting this week. Please don't give up on my little blog.
Thank you. "See" you next week.
Lisa.

Dressing Age Appropriately

Note to Mariah:
You are basically the antithesis of dressing for your age. I don't expect you to dress matronly or frumpy in anyway. You have worked hard (and probably paid a lot) for your body, and you should dress to emphasize your hard work. I just think there may be a couple more subtle ways to highlight your assets. Unless you are at the beach, midriffs are not ok. Neither are bandanas as shirts or visible bras. Also, the butterfly trend ended circa 1999, time to find some new accessories. Thanks.

Note to Readers:
I think that it is possible to be fashionable and stylish at any age. Here are a few tips to make sure you don't look like you are stealing clothing from your pre-teen daughter's closets:
-If you have to ask yourself if something is too short, it probably is.
-Don't shy away from color. Colors look beautiful on women of all ages, and it is one of the best ways to make a wardrobe interesting. Just don't wear colors that are sprinkled with glitter, and after age six rainbow tie-dye is not acceptable-- on anyone.
-Don't hide your figures in clothes that are shapeless and too big, you may think you are hiding flaws, but it can actually make you look bigger. However, if your clothing is so tight that you can see your bra or underwear lines, or it is starting to pucker at the closures, it is definitely too tight.
-DO have fun with your clothing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, life is too short for boring clothes.

J Brand Jeans

Note to my new favorite jeans (J Brand Skinny Leg Jeans):
I bought you about a month and a half ago, but now I hardly remember what life was like before you. I kept hearing about J Brand Jeans, and your famous fans like Victoria Beckham, the Kates (Beckinsale, Moss and Hudson), the Jessicas (Alba and Simpson), even THE Angelina likes you. So I thought I would try on a pair and see if you are worth the hype. You are. I have been wearing skinny jeans for a while now, but until you came along I never found a pair that was comfortable. You have the right amount of stretch in you, 2% spandex, enough spandex so you are comfortable, but a small enough percentage to hold your shape. I can dress you up with a nice top and some heels, and wear you casually with a white t-shirt and flip flops. I usually have a problem with commitment, but I think you and I will be together for a long time.

Note to Readers:
Finding the perfect pair of jeans is a daunting task. It is hard because our bodies are all shaped differently, so while my favorite jeans may fit me like a glove, they could be too short/long/tight/loose/you fill in the blank here-- on someone else. A good way to select a pair of jeans is find the silhouette you are looking for, (wide leg, skinny leg, low rise, high waist, relaxed fit, etc.) and then try on a few different brands in that style. Also remember there is no such thing as universal sizing, so while you may wear a size 28 in Joe's Jeans, you may be a 29 in Diesel jeans, so bring a couple different sizes with you into the dressing room. When the right pair comes along, you will just know it. Happy hunting!

And the Winner is....

Note to Readers:
Gwyneth Paltrow is the winner of the first Fashion Noted poll. (IF YOU COULD HAVE THE WARDROBE OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE, WHO WOULD IT BE?) So in honor of Gwyneth and her enviable style, I thought I would post some pictures of her memorable outfits over the years. Thank you to everyone who voted!


At the Oscars in a Zac Posen gown. I love the unique color of the dress, along with the unique silhouette and the way the lines carry your eyes through the various parts of the dress.


At a red carpet event in a stunning silk sheath. I love how it is a black dress, but it is anything but simple.


At a Chopard event in a Grecian-inspired gown with Gladiator type sandals. The color of the ensemble is so pretty with her complexion and I think she made a wise choice with keeping the hair loose and simple.


At an awards show, while pregnant. While pregnant and showing, she still looks so pretty and polished in a beautiful Balenciaga gown.


Her casual style is still very well put together. From the scarf, to the blazer, to the riding pants, she is such a fashionable mom!

Note to Gwyneth:
Your style is very well thought out and put together, even though you seem to make fashion look effortless. Thank you for being an inspiration to me, and other budding fashionistas. I am beyond jealous of your closet... and your husband. Congrats on being the first Fashion Noted Poll winner, I bet this is as exciting as when you won your Oscar.

The Style of Coldplay

The men from Coldplay

Note to Coldplay:
I saw you in Vegas this weekend, and you were everything I always hoped you would be... and more! This is a fashion blog, not a music blog though, so lets talk about your style. You have been wearing a lot of military inspired jackets lately, which is a good look, especially for a rock star, but maybe you guys can try something a little bit more fashion forward? The military look has been sported by many, including you for a while now. I know you are famous for your music, and not your clothing, but maybe try to incorporate some fitted blazers or colored shirts at the very least. Thanks. Also, Chris Martin, the lead singer who is married to Gwyneth Paltrow usually gets all the glory, but please note Guy Perryman the bassist on the far left. Why are there not more photos of him floating around? Just a thought.

Note to Head-to-toe black ensembles:
While outfits like you may look good in photo shoots, in daily wear try to implement at least one item with color too keep you from looking too dreary. Notice how the drummer's white scarf breaks up the black clothing and makes a large difference in his outfit. In the summer, wearing all black is not practical but it also looks out of season. Women who want to wear all black outfits, try wearing a colored shoe, or a brightly colored necklace, to keep your look interesting. Men wearing all black, try wearing a colored belt or tie.

Note to Readers:
I hope that you are all enjoying the blog so far, and thanks to everyone who voted in the poll! I hope you all are having a good Monday! Also, if you get a chance to see Coldplay while they are on tour, I HIGHLY recommend going!

Seriously?

From the Chanel 2008 Fall Couture Collection

Note to Readers:
With my last post about bridal beauty, my interest in wedding dresses was peaked. I thought I would look at some of the runway stills and see if anyone had bridal looks, and a few designers closed their shows with wedding dresses. Usually the last look of a fashion show is the most memorable and most dramatic, but this one is a little over the top. I appreciate dramatic looks as much as the next girl, and love the avant garde, but this is just too much. I can't even tell if the dress is pretty, I am too overwhelmed by tulle!

Note to Karl Lagerfeld:
Karl, you have brought us some of the most recognizable and chic designs of the century. Usually, when your name is said by me it is with a certain reverence, almost like I am not worthy of uttering it. When I started researching Chanel bridal looks, the picture above is what I found. I actually loved most of your 2008 Fall Couture Collection, but this piece was the one I felt inspired to write about. Maybe I just don't get it, but I think you would be hard pressed to find a bride that would wear this on her big day.

Beautifully Bridal

Note to Future Brides:
One of my favorite things about weddings is seeing the dress the bride picks to wear on her big day. A wedding dress is one of the biggest fashion statements a woman makes in her adult life, and it is always interesting to see what type of dress each bride goes with. I love when a bride chooses a dress that is unique and creative, and so inherently "her". Bethany, the bride above, picked this dress for her wedding last Saturday and I loved it! From the black satin panel, to the paisley pattern on the lace, everything pulled together to look amazing on this beautiful bride! I love that her look was different than many wedding dresses, but she was still such a classically pretty bride. All you future brides, myself included, choose a dress that you are comfortable in, that expresses your individuality, and you will be anything but a cookie cutter bride.

Note to Readers:
Thanks for reading my blog! I want to post about anything that inspires me, whether it is a celebrity on the red carpet or someone I see when I walking down the street. I hope that this reassures you that you don't have to be famous or have a stylist to be fashionable. Let me know if you have any fashion related questions that you would like answered or if you have any suggestions for me.

Note to Beth:
Thanks for letting me post about you. You were such a beautiful bride and I thought is was a shame not to share your fabulous dress with my readers (both of them). kidding. I loved that your happiness radiated from your smile for the whole day, and it only added to your fabulous bridal look.

"Plain" White T's

Mary Kate Olsen in a White T-Shirt at a Red Carpet Event



Nicole Richie wearing White Shirts casually

Note to White T-Shirts:
What would I do without you? Your versatility never seems to amaze me. I love to wear you with jeans, shorts, skirts, to the gym (the few times I actually go to the gym that is), to sleep in-- really your possibilities are endless. I can wear you to the beach over a swimsuit and then seamlessly transition to wearing you under a fabulous leather jacket with some skinny jeans on a date that night. You look good in the winter with a scarf and a cardigan and you look good in the summer with some shorts and flip flops. I love that I can buy you in a pack of three (Hane's Undershirts for Men) at Target for $9.99. I'm usually am not a fan of frequent wardrobe repeats, but with you I find it hard not to wear you a few times a week. Thank you for always being there for me when I need you.

Note to Readers:
First and foremost, I apologize for my lack of blogging this past week. I was enjoying an extended holiday weekend. Hopefully there are still a few of you coming back to check for new posts and you haven't given up on me yet!

Now for a few tips about wearing White T's, the key here is to keep your look from being too plain. While your shirt may be simple, your outfit does not need to be. Adding a little extra to your outfit can be as simple as wearing a bright colored flat shoe with your jeans and white t-shirt. You can also think outside of the box and pair your t-shirt with more formal wear, for instance a friend of mine wore one with a high waisted skirt, a wide belt, and fabulous platform heels for her birthday party and she looked amazing! When your shirt is white, you can use a lot of color in your accessories without looking too overdone. Once you start thinking of new ways to wear these ubiquitous garments, you won't be able to stop! Have fun and remember, life is too short for boring clothes.

Wearing Colors: Do's and DON'Ts

Note to Bright Colors:
Now that summer is in full swing, it is tempting to wear you to match the bright weather. I love to wear vibrant colors, they accent a tan, and somehow put me in a better mood. It is just important to remember to not wear every color of the rainbow at once, whilst matching purses, shoes, and even hair to this color scheme. I promise to wear you often this summer, but I will be careful to not look like the girls above.

Note to Readers:
Now is the time to break out the bold hues that you have stuffed in back of your closet. Summer is the time to get courageous when integrating color into your wardrobe. Here are a few helpful hints to keep you from looking like a reject from the Rainbow Brite fan club. Don't be afraid of bright colors, some of my favorite shades of this season are "highlighter" inspired hues of yellow, green, pink and blue. (They are neon versions of these colors that look like highlighter ink) Just try to use the brightest color of your outfit as an accent color. Also, if you have a really bright top on, balance it out with white, black or denim on the bottom, and vice versa. When wearing a colorful dress, throw caution to the wind, wear it confidently and you will look fabulous. (just don't over-accessorize like Lily Allen and her friend in the above picture) Most importantly, have fun with your outfit choices, life is too short for boring clothes!

Fancy Flats

Note to Readers:
I love wearing heels, they dress up an outfit, make legs look leaner, and they can be the epitome of being feminine and sophisticated. That being said, they also are not the most comfortable option in footwear. Now, I am one of the first people to admit that sometimes personal comfort needs to be sacrificed for fashion. I am also quick to admit that part of looking good and confident is being comfortable in what you are wearing. Flats have saved my feet and my outfit more times than I can count. I am always on the look out for unique looking flats that can be worn with a cute outfit, without looking matronly or frumpy.

Note to Gold Flats (on the right):
You were a surprise find at the Kenneth Cole store. I was in the store shopping for my mom, and I found you- it has been love ever since. Every time I wear you, people compliment me, and ask me where you came from. I politely oblige and tell them, but so far I have not seen anyone else with you. I think we were meant to be.

Note to Cream Flats (on the left):
I am so glad that my friend Amie bought you. You were bought at the Gaspard Yurkievich showroom in Paris, so you have come a long way. She was on the fence about buying you, but now every time she wears you out she says she can't imagine the remorse she would have if she let you get away.