There is always a trend every season that most people are baffled by while at the same time intrigued. Former looks that have made it into this category include gaucho pants, rompers, parachute pants, gladiator sandals, etc., With all of these trends there have been times where I have absolutely hated all of them. Like hate them so much I wrote Facebook status messages about my annoyances (summer of 2011 and the romper created a lot of good fodder. I mean toddlers wear those!) But then usually I end up at least trying the trend and occasionally becoming obsessed with it.
Rompers
gladiator sandals
parachute pants
So this year's fashion conundrum is the peplum look. This style explode in the 19th century along with bustles, full skirts, lace and fabric. The purpose of the look was to accentuate a woman's curves in a less painful way than the corset. Of course, in the 1800s curves were appreciated a bit more than they are today. So if you have a tiny waist and small hips than this look will be awesome for you!
When I see this look I think of Little Women and Alexa Harrington on Dynasty. It's like the designer of this look was like how can we make a skirt dressier? Let's add another mini skirt! I haven't rocked it quite yet but I'm looking for the best way to do it. Here are some of my favorite looks:
In case you aren't familiar with filmmaker Whit Stillman, I'll catch you up. Though I still am not fully educated in the works of J. Whitney "Whit" Stillman, the best way to describe him is 40% Woody Allen 31% Wes Anderson and 16.2% Gossip Girl.
Whit Stillman
Basically he likes to write about preppy, upper class white kids. He makes fun of them while at the same time compliments their language, style and basic way of living by showing it in this fascinating way. And who better to do this then a Harvard grad and native New Yorker.
Gossip Girl
Metropolitan
Seriously, before "Hey Upper East Siders" there was the "urban haute bourgeoise" or UHB, a term coined by one of the characters in his 1990 film Metropolitan. He financed the film himself (and with some help from his mom and a few friends. It is about Princetonian Tom Townsend's introduction to the "Sally Fowler Rat Pack," a group of preppy Upper East Siders making the cotillion rounds on their winter break. So pretty much Gossip Girl but with actual clever dialogue. The film earned him an Academy Award nomination but it was his 1994 film Barcelona that solidified his career. Then came The Last Days of Disco which was also a highly regarded hit. It makes multiple references to his first two films. I can't do them justice in description so watch the trailers and you will get an idea. As Town & Country writer Hudson Morgan wrote, "All his movies go deep on love, life and breeding but each them does it in what you might call perfect iambic preptameter."
And now after a 14 year break he is finally back with Damsels in Distress. This one is a bit more whimsical than the others but the "preptameter" looks to be in full force. The cast is excellent (they are on the cover of Town & Country this month) and includes Greta Gurwig (the Queen of Mumblecore), Aubrey Plaza, Analeigh Tipton (America's Next Top Model, Crazy, Stupid, Love), Megalyn Echikunwoke (90210) and Aubrey Plaza (Parks & Rec.) But don't worry there are a few boys in there too like Adam Brody and The Office's Zach Woods. It looks like quite a romp (with dance numbers and all.) I can't wait to see it. It comes out in April.
She went LaLohan. I remember going to see The Parent Trap and just thinking that I wanted to live in a Nancy Meyers movie (it is porn for women) and what a charming little girl this Lindsay Lohan was. Who could have guessed then she would become a sweaty, puffy coke whore. But unfortunately the worst of Hollywood along with the worst parents led to the downfall of Lindsay Lohan. If she had stayed on the straight and narrow (and I mean just not being a drug addict and breaking the law every other month) I'd imagine she'd have a career like Emma Stone, who has already reached the A level in just a few short years. We all know the story and though she hosted SNL this week I do not know if this will be the beginning of the great comeback for Lindsay but I hope it is. That Real Housewives of Disney was pretty amazing.
OMG they are all 12.
After all, Mean Girls is a masterpiece so if she can find another one of those, she'll be fine. Here are some of my favorite Lindsay Lohan looks over the years before she got those hideous cheek fillers. She can't even move her mouth anymore.
So young and gorgeous in pink.
So put together.
Gorgeous rich green.
Beautiful.
Oh the photo that was the beginning of the downfall. The skinny minny race was officially on.
So skinny.
Too skinny but I adore this Chanel dress.
She's always had the cutest bikinis
Rockin' it.
With her partner in crime Nicole Richie
It may be Halloween but wharves.
Love it
Rockin' the 80's look
Oh the Samantha years. I do love a green sparkly dress.
I mean sometimes I love wearing all black or black and gray as every New Yorker does but sometimes it's like let's wear some color! I've always been a stickler for a bright pink or green or a crazy neon yellow but that often means I end up looking like a country bumpkin compared to the everyone else who is dressed like a beat poet. But now color is in! And not just color, neon color! If you walk into Ann Taylor you will literally be blinded and I LOVE IT! I bought this necklace the other day from there and I have gotten so many compliments on it.
Plus I love love this pink blouse. It will definitely be bought soon. My friend Clarissa had the blue one on last night and I got really jealous and it got awkward for everyone.
J.Crew usually dominates in the bright spring colors department and they do have some stunning things but I think Ann Taylor may be beating them in the color shock value department. Plus, they have Kate Hudson in their campaign right now. Not too shabby. Ann Taylor gets the most high profile people but then stops using them after like a week (they also had Katie Holmes and pre-rehab Demi Moore in the past year.)
But anyway, color is all around us. For those of you that are more daring I say go for a bright pair of colored skinny jeans. I bought the bright blue pair from the Gap and I had immediate buyers remorse. I thought "Who do I think I am? A cast member of Glee? But I forced myself to wear them with a very simple top and it all worked out. Plus, I totally want to do that West Side Story/Gap ad dance of yesteryear whenever I put them on (Gap really used to have the best ads didn't they?) If you are a little less daring than buy a bright neon bag. I love these bright satchels. They are a tad juvenile but who cares? If you are really daring you can try bright colored pants and a bright colored top and a crazy bag but I think it helps if you look like Blake Lively. Here is a look I put together.
In my opinion here are some of the best uses of this neon trend:
Okay. Usually I don't like to give any of the Kardashian's compliments or recognition but Kourtney does know how to rock the neon. And I love her bag.
This is actually an older look but it would definitely work now. I love the pants and the sparkly jacket.
Like with The Kardashians, I don't care very much for Fergie either (though My Humps is one of the best written songs ever) but I cannot get over these green, leather pants! Fab!
And I kinda hate but love this bright orange see-through dress she wore to The Grammy's. What is happening to me?
And here are those great green pants.
And pink
Again, hate them but love the bags.
Okay yes she is in high school but you can totally wear them too!
Kate in classic red. I can live without the fringe boots though.
