I Heart Plaid

All images in this post are from the Fall 2008 Dolce and Gabbana Ready to Wear Collection

Note to Plaid:
I am on the brink of being ecstatic that you are one of the stand out trends for the upcoming Fall and Winter seasons. I have been trying to bring you back for a few seasons now, and I am so glad that now there are going to be so many chic and new ways to wear you. You made an appearance in many of the 2008 designer runway collections, and I was grinning from ear to ear each time you hit the runway. Welcome back my dear friend!

Note to Readers:
Some people are a little bit skeptical about wearing plaid, for fear of looking like a lumberjack or someone who never left the 90s grunge-flannel wearing stage. This Fall will be the perfect time to start reintroducing plaid into your wardrobe. Plaid prints can be busy and colorful, so make sure the rest of your outfit is solid colors and basic silhouettes. On the runways they paired different plaid prints and it looked amazing, but in real life it would be too much in one outfit. Also to avoid looking grungy or like a lumberjack, pick plaid garments with chic tailoring, more fitted and feminine silhouettes, and make sure the fit is not too loose. You don't want to get lost in a sea of plaid! Printed tights are going to be a big trend in the upcoming seasons, and I am obsessed with plaid tights. Again, with a plaid make sure you have one article of the plaid and the rest of your outfit is more subdued. Have fun with the plaid, and feel free to email me with any questions and concerns. fashionnoted@gmail.com


Please note the ultra-feminine silhouette complete with ruffles.



I love the tights, love the dress, and on the runway this outfit looks uber-cool. In real life it would have to be edited down a bit, but each of the pieces would combine with solids to make an amazing outfit. Except for the head scarf; I am not ready to hop on that train yet.

And the Winner is....

Note to Dara Torres:
You are the only person who has beat out Michael Phelps in a while, and that is in our Fashion Noted poll. This was a difficult poll to win, because in actuality the only thing most of us have seen you wearing is a swimsuit. You have accomplished many things though, all of which have led to your big victory in this poll. You were the first athlete to appear in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, which must have been intimidating being the lone non-model posing in a bathing suit. You are not a stranger to going against the grain. Your appearance at the Beijing Olympic games was your 5th Olympics, and you are the first and only American swimmer to accomplish that. Also at age 41, you raced against women half your age, and beat almost all of them. You always had a smile on your face too, which added to your appeal. Thanks for showing us that you are never too old to give up on your dreams, and following your dreams is always fashionable.

Note to Readers:
I hope you enjoyed the Olympics as much as I did. From a style standpoint, there were many victories from the Americans. I applauded the US Gymnasts for not getting sucked into the blue eyeshadow and glitter hair gel trends that so many in their sport have succumbed to. They kept their faces fresh and natural looking, and they were the best looking squad on the mats. Michael Phelps showed us that the best accessory anyone can have is a Gold Medal, so why not make it eight of them? Kerri Walsh with the long, lean body of a model and Misty May-Treanor with her athletic build showed us that athletic women are just as beautiful as uber-skinny ones. Finally, our poll winner Dara Torres showed us that with some hard work we can achieve our goals too. I was definitely inspired and I hope you all were as well.

Pet Peeve

Note to Tom and Katie:
I thought there were few things I hated more than when people where sunglasses indoors. Until now. Sunglasses at night? Really? I know that you are being followed by the paparazzi and that their flashbulbs get pretty bright. People are always trying to take my picture too, but you won't see me wearing dark shades in the dark. (Ok, maybe people just want to take my picture with others at social gatherings and such, but I am pretty sure the flashes don't justify this kind of fashion behavior) Sunglasses inside equate people trying to look cooler than they are, sunglasses at night look just ridiculous. On a side note, I think little Suri is absolutely darling and always so well dressed. I am sure she is frowning at your sunglasses right now too. Look, she doesn't want her face shown in the picture because she is embarrassed.

Note to Readers:
I apologize again for my absence. Last week I was camping, without cell signal, let alone wireless internet! Thank you for your continuous reading and comments.

Now, onto the reason for post du jour, sunglasses. I love sunglasses! They protect your eyes, prevent wrinkles around the eyes, can be a perfect accessory, and they can cover you up when you have to run outside and don't have time to put any makeup on. I have a few pairs that I can't live without. This summer I have been wearing a pair of Pucci aviators and they have been my loyal beach buddy. Also, you always feel glamorous when you have a pair of Chanel shades on. Just keep your sunglass wearing to the outdoors during the daylight hours. Thanks!

And the Winner is....

Note to Marc Jacobs:
You are the winner of the Favorite American Designer poll, by a significant margin. It is not hard to see why you won. Your collections are both innovative yet wearable which is not an easy task. I think that having three lines helps you please the Paris Fashion Week crowd and the rest of us "regular" fashionistas. When you design for Louis Vuitton you are able to create luxurious pieces and go as high end with your creations as you can. Your Marc Jacobs line allows you to have creative freedom and put your edgy and avant garde pieces into a collection. The Marc by Marc Jacobs line allows your to create more basic pieces that will sell for almost affordable prices, so the few of us without American Express Black Cards can still afford clothing by you. Any way, we at Fashion Noted, love love love you and are always waiting with baited breath to see what you have coming up next. Also, you are looking tanned, toned and fabulous lately, but I hope you realize that we loved you back before your new bod and tan. No matter what you look like, it is your creations that won us over.

Note to Readers:
Thank you for voting on this poll. I thought it would be fun to spotlight American Designers while we are cheering on America in the Olympics. As per Fashion Noted tradition, I am going to post some of my favorite designs from all three collections Marc is involved in from the Fall 2008 Ready to Wear runway shows. Enjoy!

This houndstooth Mini-dress from the Marc by Marc Jacobs collection is on my "want" list from the show.


I like the way this look breaks up the body and plays with a new silhouette. It is from the Marc Jacobs collection.


I love the big collar on this sweater dress from the Louis Vuitton collection that Marc is the head designer for. I wouldn't necessarily wear the hat, but it looks dramatic in a fashion show.

We Need to Have a Talk...

Note to Man Jewelry:
I don't know why you exist, because I can't think of a reason any man should wear a white wristband with silver studs on it. Even if Brad Pitt threw on of you on, it would still be a crime against fashion. Putting you on does not make someone look cool, or tough, or "punk rock", it makes me judge them and not in a good way. I can't help it. Please return back to Hot Topic and only reappear around Halloween for someone's Tommy Lee costume. Thanks.

Note to Readers:
There are so many times when I see either great style, or more frequently terrible style when I am out and about and I want to take a picture and share it with you. I am having a hard time figuring out the right thing to say to my potential models. Is there really a good way to say, "Excuse me ma'am, I think that your outfit is wrong in so many ways and I would love to share it with the readers on my fashion blog". I am working on it. In this case I saw someone near and dear to me with this wristband on his dresser. He assures me he has it as a joke, but I am not going to lie, it scared me for a little bit. Anyway he tried it on for me to photograph and allowed me to post about it. He's a good sport. Anyway, please do not allow yourself or your significant others to wear anything made out of fake leather with studs on it, this includes wristbands, belts and jackets.

Here's a closer look.

And the Winner is....

Note to Brad Pitt:
Congratulations on your big win as the Fashion Noted Best Dressed Male Celebrity poll! Now I know what you are thinking, with Angelina by your side, a few adorable kids, some Oscar nominations, and pretty much being the winner of a genetic lottery with your painfully good looks, you thought that life couldn't get better. Until now. You beat out some formidable foes, your pal George Clooney, David Beckham, the eccentric Johnny Depp, and Justin Timberlake. I don't have an actual trophy for you, but you can print out this post and frame it somewhere in one of your homes. Or if you want to contact me, I could probably be persuaded to send you some kind of a certificate, and maybe I'd personally deliver it. My email is fashionnoted@gmail.com. Keep up the fashionable ensembles, this title comes with the responsibility to continue dressing well.

Note to Readers:
If there is one thing we can learn from Brad Pitt, it is that the fit of your clothes makes all the difference. What is the point of having the body of a Greek God if you hide it underneath baggy clothing? Now we may not all be blessed with rock hard abs, but you will be surprised what a difference having properly fitting clothing will do for you. The key is not to go too tight or too loose, you need to find that perfect medium. For example, just because you can button up a shirt that is a size 6, does not necessarily mean it is the right size. Make sure your the fabric isn't puckering anywhere or pulling at the closures. Also make sure your figure isn't getting lost in a sea of fabric, that will only make you look shapeless. Try on different sizes and ask opinions to see what fit is best for you.

In honor of our winner, here are a few pictures of Brad Pitt's style.

Brad dressed up in a classic gray suit with a skinny tie, and in his functional yet fashionable biker gear. Usually I am not a fan of men in leather, but when you are Brad Pitt, you can break a few rules.


In a casual, monochromatic look. The hat makes the look more interesting, and takes it from a regular jeans and t-shirt outfit. A perfect example of picking just the right accessory, without looking like you are trying too hard.

Thanks everyone for voting, and I hope you are pleased with the results!

Off the Runway

From the Michael Kors Fall 2008 Ready-to-Wear Runway

Note to Michael Kors:
Nicely done. As I was looking through some of the photos of the fall fashion shows, this picture really stood out. The lady-like floral print, is infused with a vibrant violent to keep it from looking too stuffy. I also love the way you crossed the fabric on the bodice and the length of the sleeve is perfect. I am going to a wedding on Saturday and this is exactly the kind of dress I would love to wear! The colors, the silhouette, the belt, they all pull together to look very demure and sophisticated. Does the dress remind me a lot of the floral print dresses Oscar de la Renta made a few seasons ago? Yes. Did you change it up enough to make the design your own? Definitely. This is a good case of a designer using another designer for inspiration, but not copying them. I applaud you Mr. Kors, and if you would like to thank me for this complimentary post, you could overnight me one of these in my size to wear to the wedding on Saturday. Thanks!

Note to Readers:
If you are like me, you have been loving all of the fabulous floral prints used in clothing lately. I think that when done right, florals can be really pretty, and who wouldn't want to look pretty? While I would love to have a Michael Kors or Oscar de la Renta couture floral printed dress, there is no way I could afford one. A good way to bring this look from the runway to everyday is by looking in the right places. Banana Republic has a beautiful floral print dress right now. Another way to wear floral prints on a budget is look for separates. Anthropologie has some floral printed skirts that are to die for, and I know of one that is in the sale section, so act fast! Also, one of the trends off the runway for fall and winter are "Winter Florals", with colors that are more saturated and more suited for the upcoming seasons. It looks like floral prints will be here for a while, and I am completely fine with that.

Shoe Shopping in Louisville

Note to Readers:
On my recent jaunt to Kentucky, I went to a local shoe store and I had no idea what Louisville had in store for me. I will say, I saw some beautiful shoes, including an amazing pair of Christian Lacroix heels that I was lusting after, but their price tag exceeded my budget. Instead of dwelling on the shoes I would not be able to take home with me, I decided to focus on the shoes that you couldn't pay me to take home. I love visiting new places and new shops and this trip was no different! So ladies and gentlemen, I give you my favorite shoes in Louisville!

Note to Glittery Cowboy Boots:
I have never seen anything like you. I don't know how well you are constructed, or if the wearer would leave traces of glitter with each step. I do know that you are definitely head turners, and you would probably be the most sparkly pair of boots at any local line dancing bar. I also know I would not wear you, unless it was for some kind of costume.


Note to Artsy Clogs:
While I do give you credit for having a Vermeer masterpiece painted on you, I still would not wear you. If I am going to do any kind of homage to Vermeer, I would probably just wear pearl earrings, not wear clogs with The Girl With the Pearl Earring painted on them.


Note to Silver Wedges:
You just crack me up. The athletic sole looks like it could belong on a pair of Chuck Taylor's, but it is on the bottom of these peep-toed wedges. I guess the wearer can take comfort in knowing they are getting both athletic shoes and dancing shoes all in one.


Note to Polka Dot Uber-Platforms:
Words can't describe the wonder of you. Actually wonder is a good word for you, because you look like you could be found in some psychedelic Alice in Wonderland collection. I don't know who can actually wear you, because when I put you on I was taller than the shoe racks. Yes, I am 5'9", but these make me look like I could see eye-to-eye with Shaq.



Note to Louisville:
This post is not to represent everything you have going on in your fashion scene. It is just a small part of what I saw on my visit, that I felt was worth sharing. Thanks for showing me a good time.

Mariah Strikes Again

Note to Mariah:
So apparently reading Fashion Noted is not a part of your daily routine. I guess you missed the entire post about dressing appropriately for one's age. This is what you wore to the Teen Choice Awards last night, and it is not ok. Please, please, please, for the sake of all of us, cover up your midriff and buy longer shorts. Just because your husband is in his twenties, doesn't mean you are. In fact, I am in my twenties and I wouldn't wear this ensemble, and I would frown upon teenagers who dared to wear it too.

Note to Readers:
One thing we can learn from Mariah is that you can wear bright colors at any age. The vibrant blue color of her "top" would look pretty as a dress, or on a longer, less fitted top with some white jeans. I also love yellow. In fact one of my boyfriends thought it was the only color I wore because I wore yellow on our first few dates. (Note to self: diversify wardrobe) The color of the shorts is great, it is just the length of them that I have a problem with, along with the weird belt, and the way she paired it with that "top". I encourage you all to wear bright colors while it is still summer, just wear them in more appropriate ways. If you have any questions, you know where to comment or you can email me at fashionnoted@gmail.com.

And the Winner is....

Note to Chloe Dao:
You were overwhelmingly the winner of the second Fashion Noted Poll, as our favorite winner of Project Runway. Your designs showed that you understand women and how they like to dress. Each seam and silhouette of your designs accentuated the beauty of a woman's body and each design looked like they could be worn by real women. I am not going to lie to you-- I had a hard time choosing between you and Daniel Vosovic, especially after the final collections were shown. However, I was pleased when you won, and out of all the Project Runway winners, you are my favorite. After Runway you continued selling your designs at your Houston Boutique, Lot 8, and debuted a collection on QVC. I am not a regular patron of either of these retail outlets, maybe you can consider selling some of your garments at Bloomingdales? I know I would love a Chloe Dao dress, and I am sure many of the Fashion Noted readers would as well. Congrats on winning the poll, you are in the elite company of Gwyneth Paltrow as a Fashion Noted Poll winner, and who can complain about that?

Note to Readers:
Thank you for voting on the poll, and in honor of our winner, I am going to post a few pics of some of Chloe's designs. Also, my next post will be about the Footwear Fashion I found on my recent trip to Kentucky, and I'm just going to say you should be excited. Also, I created an email account fashionnoted@gmail.com for your questions, comments, concerns, or anything else you would like to share with me! Have a good day, and wear something today that brings a smile to your face. Fashion is supposed to be fun.


This dress and coat combo, reminded me of a Balenciaga design with its volume. It is very high fashion and very well tailored.


This gold baby doll dress was the last minute addition to the collection, but it fit in seamlessly. I love the pockets.


One of Chloe's strengths was adding interesting details to her designs. The back of this dress from her Runway collection was definitely noteworthy.