Work it!

I'm only happy when it rains.

These people are stylish(well, except maybe for the plastic bag family...sorry) and appear happy in spite of a torrential downpour. Just imagine what they must look like on a sunny day!

"I've never followed anyone into a room yet ..."

(Order the same hat as seen in The Lover/L'Amant from www.baronhats.com/thelover.htm)

A pretty, young girl is heading back to Saigon. She is standing on the deck ... defiant, wearing a silk dress, a pair of 'cabaret' high heels, and a man's hat. She is approached by an elegant, Chinese man from Cholon who is also crossing the Mekong that day towards Saigon.

"I like your hat. It's original ... a man's hat on a young girl," he tells her, and continues:

"If you want, I can drive you to Saigon."

Be original this summer, no matter what you wear. Own it and make it yours. Be a bit defiant in silk, high heels, and maybe even a man's hat. And then press your lips up against the window of a stranger's Rolls Royce.

Bang Bang!

Enjoy this 2009 musical version of 1966.

Madame Paradox

Let me begin by excusing myself. And DO forgive me for being in such an evil mood. I am homesick for France. I am having a bad hair day. I lost my boyfriend in Paris. And here in New York, it's winter... again.

Noone looks sexy. Three people look barely human. And everyone looks real ...real cold and real busy. And then I see HER. She makes me feel even more evil and even more confused. What, I ask you, dear Reader, is the point of carrying a Trader Joe sustainable, recycled organic grocery bag when you are wearing a fur coat that requires the death of 60 female minks?

Real, sexy, and human and ... almost human.

You got to give what you take.

I am reading a juicy, new book ... House of Versace. There is a chapter about the Supermodels and their influence, not only on brand Versace, but on the beginnings of celebrity culture and fashion. And on a grey, gloomy day in New York, I could not resist posting this video as a a testament to the 90's when even topmodels were real, sexy, and human. ENJOY!

Who cares if my bag matches my boots!

Everything about this ensemble works, yet it defies all odds. Nothing matches, yet it all goes together. Right down to the black, leather fingerless gloves. What did it take to create the look? IMAGINATION AND CONFIDENCE!

Love is all you need.

She struts.

As the boys say in Harlem, this woman is fine. It is not because she is wearing a designer's head-to-toe look. It is not because she is carrying the latest it-bag. It is because she has street style, street sense, and a street strut. I do not know her, but from the way she carrys herself, she knows who she is and she likes it.

It took me 4 hours walking the streets of New York City today to finally spot a woman who conveyed that message!

Coquette

Obvious, you think. Of course, she looks blog-worthy. Great leather jeans. Probably Jitrois. Designer watch. Fur coat. Fab boots. Long, blond perfectly streaked hair. Tall and lean. She was not WALKING down the street. She OWNED the street. And OWNING Place Vendome is no easy accomplishment. But when I asked her if I could take her photo for my blog, she became coquettishly demure. She could have been full of herself, but in the end, she was just real, sexy and human. The lesson I took from her is NEVER to be too full of yourself, no matter WHAT you are wearing or WHERE you are wearing it.

Fierce!

What can I say? This woman is simply fierce. She is wearing confidence. She is wearing clothing she feels good in, and it shows. Check out the sweater. (Jumper for you,Becca.) Lived in and matches the texture of her hair. Acid washed jeans brought back to life with trendy, platform shoe boots. The only color we see is a shot of tourquoise on her hand. And a good haircut tops it off. You go, girl!

Fit and Silhouette

This is an example of a woman who is not a slave to fashion, but is a slave to well proportioned clothing. She is curvy and chose to enhance those curves, rather than cover them with loose and badly cut clothing. Her short, form-fitting jacket and matching, sexy skirt create a figure 8, the ideal, womanly silhouette. The wide, fur collar draws our eye up to one of her assets...her eyes and also serves to balance her figure. The color and texture are interesting and are in harmony with her features and coloring. This outfit could have been borderline "1950's social luncheon," but the shoe booties and her modern vibe take it right back to 2010.

Without effort/ Sans effort

Bright red pouty lips, mini-dress, and a cigarette..."bienvenue/welcome" to Paris

Van Hottie

If she isn't real, sexy, and human..well then, who is?

Magazines such as Vogue, Elle, GQ, and W contain beautiful images hand-crafted to perfection ... a delicious fashion orgy to which we are not invited as participants, but to which we are welcome to remain as spectators.

They serve a purpose ... to make us dream, to make us yearn, to stir up feelings of inadequacy, and ultimately to make us consume. If we could just be one of them ... because as ourselves, we are simply not enough.

Real, Sexy, and Human features confident, desirable men and women who, as themselves, are enough, allowing us to to be a part of a world which is inclusive, not exclusive.

I warmly welcome you.