Ye-Ye-Yeezy

 

It's Friday the 13th and I'm flashing back to spring break 2008, which is the last time I actually respected Kanye West. 

This was back when you would turn on the radio and hear Kanye on the radio with hits like "Heartless" and "Stronger." Although the number one song on this chilly trip to Amherst, MA was T.I. and Ri-Ri's "Live your Life,"  can you ever get this gem of a lyric out of your head?

Work it, make it, do it

Makes us (VOCORDER) harder, better, faster, stronger.

So, when I saw this headline today, I scratched my head... Kanye West Secret Wedding with Mystery Woman! 

We'll return to 2007's Stronger, I think that's where things began to go off course. In the song, Kanye says he's been on ya since "OJ had Isotoners," and we all know how poppa Robert Kardashian tried to defend OJ in the legendary 1994 case, The People vs. OJ Simpson If Kanye had never been Keeping Up with the Kardashians, where would be be now?

What would have happened to the Kanye timeline if he hadn't pursued Kim?

I honestly think the guy's mental health might have been better off.  I'm still not seeing how he and Kim were able to get along with each other so well in the first place. I think it has to be partly due to their egos; they did get married at the Palace of Versailles and name their first child after two cardinal directions. Maybe he wouldn't have run for president. Maybe someone in gen Z can also make sense of the Yeezy clothing line? I've never been so upset to look at a GAP ad. The $100+ price point for sweatshirts and ugly puffer coats just baffles me.

Maybe it's artistic genius.... or madness. Now the recently divorced rapper has married a woman (and Yeezy designer) who looks JUST like his ex-wife. Is it 2007 again? Are we ready for more weirdness? Only time will tell.

Fashion or Foe: The Great Shorts Debate

'Jorts' (c) PipPepPop

     I'm heading to a warm climate for a spring break trip, and I'm trying on my summer clothes in the middle of a blizzard. It's moved way past odd timing, since we just got an extra hour of daylight about 2 days ago. I'm officially in a summer shopping binge. As I mentioned last week, it's tough enough to shop for petite fashions, but even more so when they're made to be short. I've encountered shorts problems  most notoriously involving the length. The classic above-knee Bermuda short usually comes below my knee, making it more conservative than your standard 3" inseam 'Daisy Duke' short, but somewhere in-between a short and a capri.

     So where do I continue my shorts struggle? One of the bizarre trends I've noticed on fashion retail websites is the pairing of a pair of shorts and a sweatshirt or long sleeve top. This seems to be a trend per my Google search, possibly made popular by the breezy lake fashions of Dawson's Creek. You can spot Katie Holes in the season 1 credits here, sporting a tied dress shirt top and shorts. I have tried this, but never left the house intentionally in this outfit. The reason for this is that there is never a time when I'm going to be be outside where my legs and arms are not equally cold. I'm definitely not going to pair a sweater with my shorts, as suggested by Ann Taylor Loft and other retailers.  If I'm going to wear a sleeved and shorts, I'm just going to save myself the complaining and put on longer pants to stay warm.

     My other conundrum when it comes to shorts is the style. In an ideal world, you would have a few pairs in different colors, prints and possibly even shapes. I love the idea of classy black or white shorts that can be paired with a cute (short length) tank. I even fancy printed shorts that can be paire with a solid top. In reality, I usually end up searching for a pair of dark blue jean shorts (jorts). Then when washing, I pray the blue doesn't run if it's a particularly hot day. In New Orleans, a brand new pair of blue jean shorts bled all over my fabric bag from sheer sweat!

     In the quest for the perfect pair of denim shorts, there are two types, frayed and finished. While I own some frayed pairs, I'm not a fan. They end up looking too worn soon after the first wash. I'm all for something that I could wear to a picnic or amusement park and not worry about getting dirty, but I shouldn't have to pick off split threads  after each time I wear them. The frayed pair is usually marketed as a cutoff, like you took for favorite pair of jeans and shortened the length. More often than not, I find the shorts are made different from my favorite pair of jeans, either roomier in the leg or gaping around my tailbone. Is there a perfect pair out there? I'll keep looking until I find it.

My ideal pair would have to be:

• A minimum 5" inseam (even as a teenager I didn't want my butt hanging out)
• Evenly finished at the bottom
• Tight enough around my waist that I don't need a belt (#NoBelts) (#NoBoyfriendFit)
• Casual, but could  be dressed up

Fashion or Foe: It's Not Easy Being Petite

   In honor of International Women's day, I'm tackling an issue dear to my heart: petite fashion!

Sometimes getting dressed is like this Clueless scene. GIF from Tumblr. 

This is not how a maxi dress should fit!
Image from Pintrest

     I enjoy shopping for clothes as much as the next gal, but I sometimes find the task insurmountable because of my size. I am 5 feet tall, and I am a petite size. You must be thinking now, is this girl complaining about being small? How dare she? For the record, it's not all it's cracked up to be. I often feel like I'm a child playing dress-up in my dad's work shirts. Unlike in Rom-coms, it is not a cute look. I also had a maxi dress that made me look like Kirsten the American Girl (left) in her Christmas robe. As an investment in my sanity, I have found a delightful tailor that knows my shape and has saved countless garments from return or the Goodwill pile.



     I've taken to online shopping, sight unseen, to find the most petite options. In recent months, Express, Gap and Old Navy have all launched online petite collections. I enjoyed the petite fit of The Limited, but as mentioned in a previous post, that is no longer an option. Part of the frustration in petite shopping is that these stores have the audacity to carry the items only in their warehouses. They're doing you a "favor" by creating shorter length pants (still not short enough if you ask me), but you have to use a picture of a model to guess the fit. It says the pants are made for a 5'4" size and under, but those cropped jeans will still hit me at the ankle. The size chart is often not helpful enough in determining fit. Some petite sizes are just less long than the regular, or give a general size like 4-6, which is neither a 4 or a 6. These retailers need to size clothing accordingly and address common problems like the butt/waistband gap issue. (For this problem, I am now wearing petite curvy jeans). In a nutshell, you have no idea how they really fit, and they make you pay to ship the items to your house. You may order two sizes, and you end up spending a lot of time dealing with returns because a blousy petite small tank is still about 2 sizes too big for some reason.

     If you can brave out the petite section of a store, god bless! I took a stroll through my local Macy's petite section, which is about 20' x 15' total due to the Macy's Backstage taking up most of one floor. The cute sweaters in the women's sportswear were nowhere to be found in this postage stamp of a collection. At best, it looks like someone that cared little about fashion or fit could find some petite options here. It was pathetic. I stop in at Ann Taylor Loft every few weeks to check their petite section. If I'm looking for jeans, I may be in luck. If I'm looking for anything else, the options are 'lofty.' I bought a small striped top a few months ago, and it still appeared huge on my frame, as low as my mid-thigh and mid-sleeved. Who is the parson that thinks all small women want to wear tunics? I would love to see more dresses and tops that fit or follow my frame.  I don't need more over-sized sweaters and drapey tops!

Golden Globes 2017- Fashion or Foe

     I have reviewed countless photos of outfits from last Sunday's Golden Globe Awards. I'm ready to review my picks for my favorite and least favorite outfits. We'll also review some trends for the 2017 season. To make our lives easier, please refer to the Refinery29 Golden Globes Photo Galley.

The Best:

Image from Giphy

5. Brie Larson in Rodarte
Last year's gold-carpet queen (and Golden Globe winner) shined in a fitted chiffony strapless gown. Even better, it was a sweetheart neckline, which I adore. It was a deep crimson, reminding me of last year's raved-about color of red. The most amazing part is the crisscross panels of sequins in the front of the dress. If this was a bridesmaid dress, or even remotely affordable, I would wear it in a heartbeat.

Image from Giphy

4. Millie Bobby Brown in Jenny Packham
I wish I had dressed like this for my junior prom! This 123-year-old star of Stranger Things was all-class in a Silver A-line cocktail dress. It had attachments that were very sparkly and she had a clean bob. Did you see her shoes? I love those silver Sophia Webster sandals and would wear them to a wedding. In fact, I own wedding sandals that look just like that...

Image from Giphy

3. Kristen Bell, also in Jenny Packham
Wow, Ms. Bell brings it in this tuxedo-like black dress. It is all sequins from the long sleeves to the hems with that gorgeous silky collar. She brought the girls out in this deep "U" dress. She balances the open top with a simple hairstyle and beautiful earrings. This look is a far cry from her ordinary look on The Good Place.

Image from Giphy

2. Emma Stone in Valentino
This tan dress with silver embellished stars remind me of my high school senior prom dress. I loved that dress and I love Valentino so I am all in. Sometimes, I'm afraid to wear something too close to my fair skin tone, but Ms. Stone pulls off the looks flawlessly. She also compliments with a beautiful teardrop choker. It's the very essence of LalaLand.

Image from Giphy

1. Felicity Huffman in Georges Chakra
The legendary actress wowed in American Crime Story this season as a tough school headmistress. I was shocked when I saw Ms. Huffman looking beyond glamorous in a jumpsuit that looked like a dress. The dress could have fit in at any disco or fancy party with the Gold/Silver V-necked top and flowy, white bottom. With a chic blowout, I'm granting Huffman the fashion award of the night.

Honorable Mentions go out to:

• Viola Davis in Michael Kohrs
• Drew Barrymore in Monique Lhullier
• Amy Adams in Tom Ford (designer and director)

The Worst:

Image from Giphy

Tracee Ellis Ross in Zuhair Murad
     Ms. Ross left the show with a deserved best actress in a TV comedy trophy for Black-ish, but I kept thinking her dress looked like a birdcage. I love the top of the dress with the strapless neckline intricate beading. Also I'll give props, the dress was in this year's it color of White/Silver. But it's drawbacks included too sheer of a netting on the bottom of the dress. It was distracting. If the bottom flared out more, I could be on board.

Image from ReBloggy

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton
     I like lace just as the next gal, but not when it's done like this. The top of the dress had a lace corset AND off-the-shoulder pieces to give a "cold shoulder" look. The simple piece of ribbon tied around Williams' neck seems like it's missing a pendant. The lace has a black under layer that makes it look more like a coat than a dress. If it flared out and ended at a tea-length to cocktail-length, I might like it better, but I'm calling a miss.






Trends for 2016:

• White/Silver colors : An Ode to Winter 
• Bringing "the girls" out
• "V" There:  Jennifer Lopez once wore a dress that had a V of cleavage down to her bellybutton. Nothing was quite as deep, but actresses such as Jessica Biel and Gina Rodriquez brought their A-game to a deep V top. 
• Visible Legs in a long dress:  I have often heard, a woman can show cleavage or a little leg, but not both. Many actresses such as Kristen Wiig had cutouts or sheer columns in their dresses that showed a bit of leg in a classy way. 

Retail Tanks in 2017- The End of An Era

     America is in facing a huge emergency. It's a "Darth Vader is coming" type of fashion emergency. In the last week, I have learned that 2 major retail chains are closing stores (again), and one manjor women's retailer is going out of business. One store is on it's way back in the coming weeks, but the damage may already be done.

The Limited- Shock and Awe
     A week ago, I walked past my local The Limited store. It was Gone Girl. It wasn't just closed, it was dark and stripped of all signage. It was completely empty. In fact, I didn't even know that spot was The Limited until I reviewed the stores on each side. Here's the kicker. I didn't have any idea the store was closing. And it seems other people are in the same boat. According to an article I read today, the stores began filing notices after thanksgiving that large-scale layoffs were coming. What they didn't say was that their plan meant that everyone was getting laid off. All of the stores are closing as of tomorrow evening, but news sources report the online business will remain open. Right now, everything is 50% off on TheLimited.com and there is no information about the future of the company.

     It's basically like The Limited is pulling an Irish exit, disappearing from a party out the back door. My mom had been by out local store two days before me, and it was fully operational. There was no "everything must go" signage. Now everything is 90% off in store. It's almost like the stores begun closing in secret. I read several articles that had been posted by local newspapers around the country last week, all stores in Florida are closing, all stores in Ohio are closing.... but nobody mentioned it was across the country. Now I'll have to look for a new place to buy my favorite dress pants...

Macy's and Sears- More Disappointments
     Major retailers are struggling. We can get so many things online today, but we can't try on a sweater through our computer. We can't get lost in counters of perfume and makeup on the computer. How can so many large department stores be closing? Macy's plans to close almost 65 stores early this year, resulting in 4,000 to 6,000 employees (depending on which source you consult) that will lose their jobs or be re-assigned to other stores. One of my local stores added a "Macy's Backstage" department, which carries a lot of assorted items and clothes for the "fashion-forward bargain hunter." When I walked through the area, the associate explained that this was to compete with the trifecta of bargain hunting,  TJ Maxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls.  I have no ill will against these store,s but I've never gone to Macy's looking for the same things I look for HomeGoods. And I know for sure, that when shopping for a wedding registry, one goes to Macy's as opposed to Marshalls. I'm really shocked that a store that has a very classy reputation is going so (for lack of a better word) mainstream.

     On the other hand, I've always seen Sears as more of an every woman type of store. The sell electronics and tools as opposed to makeup and luggage. I also cannot remember the last time I've shopped in a Sears. TBH, once the Kardashian Kollection moved in (about 2010), I couldn't step foot into the store unless I was cutting through to get somewhere else. I take it back, as I did go there to pick up a pair of discount boots at the beginning of spring. I also had to return to the store because the box was sold to me with two right boots. Reports indicate Sears is in serious trouble. They are closing 150 stores (a mix of Sears and KMart stores). They are also selling off their legendary Craftsman Tools brand to pay off debts. It's pretty unfortunate.

Aeropostale- a New Hope?
     Trouble started with the closing of similiar brand American Eagle's lingerie/apparel store Aerie in 2014. They went online only and are still here online in 2017. Nothing for me if worse than ordering some underwear and bathing suits on a computer when you have no idea how they will fit.

     Throughout 2016, Aeropostale stores began closing (with signage). The filed for bankruptcy in May. In September, it was announced that the company may be restructured to keep stores open. My local store closed. This marks a new level of restructuring, where the chain of stores would be sold off to property management group, Simon Malls.  Simon is now the first property group to take over a chain of stores. We are eagerly curious about the new iteration of Aero coming to our local mall, which is not owned by the Simon group. Will more stores be bought out by mall owners in the future? I'm hoping this type of business model might keep any future stores from closing.

Fashion or Foe: Today I Became a Fashion Victim

(c) PipPepPop

     Yesterday was my worst hair day of the year. Today, I focused so much on trying to make my hair "on fleek" (as the kids call it), that my wardrobe took a hit. Suddenly the mornings are cold and as low as 40 degrees when I wake up. Naturally I decided a long sleeved gray shirt and boots were necessary for keeping warm at work. Upon quiet reflection,  I'm struggling to figure out why I was so against black pants this morning. They might have helped keep me in a more neutral palate. I could have made my legs appear like one long, sleek line. I wore black pants yesterday and I didn't think I could pull it off  two days in a row.  Daringly, I went for a bold burgundy cropped pair of pants. I thought the crops would be safely tucked into my boots, but they were not. The pants puffed over my suede below-knee boots and created a very unattractive weird knee bulge. My knees looked larger than when I had a strengthening brace under my jeans due to a  partial tear in my ACL. It didn't help that the crops were just a tad big on my hips so they kept slipping down. I'm seriously considering burning these pants because of today's bad associations. I vow to stick to skinny jeans, tights or leggings tucked into my boots from this day forward.

At least I had a great hair day...

Emmy Fashion- 5 Best

As usual, Emmy dresses are one of my favorite parts of Fall. Here are my 5 best!

Image from StyleBistro.com

5. Claire Danes (Homeland) in gold Schiaparelli

     I'm a sucker for a gold dress. so much, in fact, that I wore one to my high school prom. It was not as glitzy as Ms. Danes, but it had some sparkle. The gathered fabric in the center of the skirt can be a funny thing for some women, but it looks regal on Danes. Her legs look sensational under this fabric. I wish the necklace hung a tad higher, because it blends into the dress a bit. I really do like this dress, but Danes looks pretty awful. Her skin tone seems to clash with the dress for some reason. It's like a fake tan gone wrong. Her hair looks like it effortlessly fell into place around her shoulders. B-

Image from LaineyGossip.com

4. Shiri Appleby (UNREAL) in blue Diane Von Fustenberg

     They don't call DVF a classic for nothing. It's sleek and sexy without being too revealing.This dress is s beautiful shade of blue for the Fall, not too "ocean" and not so dark that the detailing gets lost. Ms. Appleby has only dressed up once in the series so far (for an award show), but it's nice to see her wearing a gown that could hold its' own against the contestants on the fake reality show "Everlasting." Ms. Appleby has had long hair since her Roswell days (I'm jealous) and it literally shines on the red carpet.  B+

Image from StyleBistro.com

3.  Julie Bowen (Modern Family) in white Lela Rose

     As Claire Dunphy, Ms. Bowen doesn't dress up much in her day job. This white dress looked flawless against her skin and was elegant and simple, perfect for a black tie affair or a beach wedding. Some may call it safe, but I would pinpoint it as more "retro" in a classic 1930's meets Cleopatra style. Her T.V. daughters, Sarah Hyland and Ariel Winter went a much more bold route in their clothing choices.  The hair is nicely blown out in a fresh anti-bob, which I hope to achieve most mornings but end up failing to accomplish. A-

Image from Tom and Lorenzo Blog

2. Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) in red Alexander Wang

     First time Best Actress winner Maslany plays a series of clones on a daily basis. She is used to changing her appearance, but she looked beyond fierce at the Emmys.  She is rocking the color red, and she understands the "less is more" value. It's a simple halter-style top with a tasteful cutout into the cleavage area ( a rarity) and a barely-there midriff cutout. The bottom flows straight down, grazing the hip area. Best of all,  a simple up-do lets her diamond earrings show through and take the spotlight. A

Photo from Tom and Lorenzo Blog

1. Priyanka Chopra (Qunatico) in red Jason Wu

     The thing that drew me into the dress is that it's done in this year's popular color, Red-carpet Red. Aside from that, I love the flow and lines of the skirt, how it wisps down to the ground at a variety of angles and lengths. The top is fresh take on the one-shoulder dress with multiple straps, and a cutout wrapping around to the back. The crowning glory on this dress is how wonderful it flows when Ms. Chopra spun around. This photo from US Magazine shows her in a full twirl. If I have my vote, every bridesmaid dress should be this beautiful. Her hair also had to be up to show of the magic of this dress! A+

SPOTTED: Nicktoons Take Over Story NYC

My 90's Nicktoons T-shirt (c) PipPepPop

     I'm bringing the 90's back! A few weeks ago, we officially celebrated the 25th birthday of the Nicktoons. These cartoons^ were a 90's staple on a growing network dedicated solely to kids. In that spirit, NYC's coolest store/gallery/startup Story launched their "Remember When" collection in August. It runs through September 18th! Definitely take a chance and come see it! I had a great time there.

More About Nicktoons:
     These animated shows were an important part of my friends'  after school and weekend viewing. Plus, they were shown on a cable network dedicated solely to kids! The Nickelodeon network began in 1977  under the name Pinwheel to show programs to kids ages 8-17. The Nicktoon cartoons were sometime about regular kids trying to make sense of growing up. Some shows were about as my calls them "sweaty animals." But they all made us think in new ways and gave us lifelong memories such as Ren & Stimpy's "log" song and Tommy Pickles' quest to meet a King Kong-like Reptar. If you can't stop rehashing the days of Nicktoons, check out EW.com's 25th anniversary oral history of Nicktoons.

The Store- (c)PipPepPop

 More about Story

     If you want to "Remember When," story is the place for you. The store looped some of coolest tunes (the Cardigans, the Wallflowers and the Spice Girls).  Check out my snaps from the store to see more. The airy space is set up a bit like a school with post-it style noted printed on the walls with more information.  Fun zones include a school themed set of desks and lockers, a locker room area, and tables of some of the coolest 90's gear around. The collection is primarily curated with Nicktoon characters (everything from flip flops to jumpsuits to coasters). But, there some great 90's books and materials out there. Have you wanted a slap bracelet or a Seinfeld coin purse? They're all here. I left with a way-cool Sweet Valley High covered  notebook.  There's some great Saved by the Bell nostalgia there as well, and a Lance Bass sampler with a bass fish stitched in. Grab your Caboodes and Dr. Pepper LipSmackers and get ready to play in the Double Dare human hamster wheel (pictured below). To cap off the experience, there was a "slime yourself" photo booth that created an online GIF and printout of you getting digitally smiled. The best part is there's no mess. 

Snaps from the Store @ Story (c) PipPepPop

     If you're up for a "wow this is hard" guessing game, take this MTV.com Quiz to guess which musicians guest starred on Nick or Disney Channel shows. Please note this is a hard quiz. If you are close to 30, you will probably get more wrong answers than right answers.

^ The main Nicktoons include (but are not limited to):
Rugrats (1991-2004)
Doug (1991-2004) *Technically sold to Disney in later seasons)
The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1996)
Rocko's Modern Life (1993-1996)
AHH! Real Monsters (1994-1997)
Hey Arnold (1996-2004)
The Angry Beavers (1997-2001)
Cat Dog (1998 - 2005)
The Wild Thornberrys (1998 - 2004)
Rocket Power (199-2004)
Spongebob Squarepants (1999- present)

Fashion or Foe: Do Not Buy...

     Do not buy clothes that are advertised on social networking sites. I came close to doing this recently and I am glad I didn't. As I mentioned in a recent blog post, I has to part with a beloved pair of Black, just under the knee, suede, non-heeled boots. They were in a word- perfect. I wore them to work, out with friends, and even a few times unexpectedly into a surprise snow flurry. I became crazed over the last 6 weeks looking for a replacement pair for next Fall, hoping to score a deal as Winter boots made their way out of stores for summer stock. But, I struggled. I found "The perfect" boots a few times only to have my hopes dashed. One pair seemed great except for a 2 1/2" platform built inside the boot while another seemed promising but it only came in a Tan suede fabric. A third pair were ideal but the boot shaft height came way over my knees, making it impossible to wear unless I went full Barbie and stopped bending my legs.

One pair of my new boots
(c) SeeHearReadPop

     To make this long story short, I ended up with two different sets of boots one from Sears and another via 6pm.com, Both of which do not fully meet my needs but due to their discounted pieces will work until I find "The Boots." In my brief desperation, I considered ordering boots from an advertisement I saw on Facebook. It seemed too good to be true. A recent Buzzfeed investigative article confirmed my fears, it was clearly some kind of scam when boots are available for $9.99 from a company you've never heard of in China. At first you might think it's just cheap because it's straight from the manufacturer. But the article goes in-depth about customers ordering boots, dresses, tops etc.. from a variety of these sites advertised on social media sites and nearly all of the cheap clothing arrived in a much different condition (color was off, fabric was different, items smelled horrible) than the seller claimed. Of course, trying to reach their customer service is near impossible and many clients have not been successful in trying to get their money back. I recommend reading their in-depth piece before your next online shopping trip.

Fashion: Get Thee to a Seamstress

     I love clothes. I am guilty of lunchtime online daydreaming,  an occasional impulse online order, and of course the well timed "stalk it until it goes on sale" victory shop. This method recently led to a kick-ass deal, an EXPRESS hi-lo hem maxi dress for an upcoming wedding, originally $99.00 and on sale for the low cost of $35.00. I was able to get the dress tailored for a tighter halter neck and raised the hi-lo hem off the floor for the low price of $10.00 for a customized fit! I cannot stress the importance of a good tailoring to a piece of clothing. Two of my most frustrating shopping issues are finding the right fit, and knowing when to hold on to something I love to make it fit better.

A dress with perfectly tailored shoulders.

Double Dips  - Do You Need Two?
     Have you bought two identical pairs of jeans because the first pair was so good and you wanted to keep the "I've got it going on" feeling going? Then you find out they don't fit the same way as that magical first pair and you're devastated? I really hate that! I thought I had finally gotten hip to the idea that if I like something, I should buy two of it.  This has led to double pairs of jeans, polyester dresses, sweaters, teardrop earrings, Pashminas, boat shoes, satin evening shoes (in black, tan and silver), and flip flops. I have not regretted any of these 2nd pairs yet! Back to the jeans issue, I'm not sure why the fit is different for the same size and dye color of items, except they might have been manufactured by a different plant, which is so unfortunate. When in doubt, return the second pair and keep trying then until you get that magic back again, or ask a tailor's opinion if it can be fixed. I still recommend getting something you like in multiple colors (summer shorts can be nice in peach and green or grey khaki).

Dresses and Whole Body Fit
   Also another fashion disaster is the dress that fits perfect on top, but balloons out to make you look ten pounds heavier in the hips. Do not buy this dress! As a petite woman, the bane of my existence and the reason I found an expert seamstress is because tops and dresses that don't fit my shoulders. Who are these frocks being made for, lumberjack women? I have pretty slender shoulders and what I think to be average arms, but I have had multiple jacket arms taken up so I don't look like a three year old playing dress up in my mom's clothes. In another interesting turn, a recent SELF article profiled a woman that tried on the same dress in multiple sizes and she found that some timing going up one size from your "normal" size in a store can solve a host of issues, from tummy area puckering (not classy) to baggy butt areas, which some of my older pairs of work pants seem to fall guilty of this faux pas since I lost weight last year.

Does it Fit?
    My best advice when it comes to fit is that if you really like something in a store and you think a tuck in the spaghetti straps will make it stop falling off you shoulders, go for it. I bought a final sale dress from Loft recently for under $15.00 and took it to my seamstress for tightening in the shoulders and raising the mid-calf hemline, and I couldn't be happier.  The same thing goes for existing pieces. I have saves several dresses and skirts by getting the wait nipped in for a better fit and it feels great to be able to have full use of my hands when I wear a blazer!

Thoughts on the 2016 Oscars

   

OSCAR- The Grouch

     The Host/The Scene:
I don't need to say too much about last night's Oscars ceremony because host Chris Rock really left it all up on the stage.  He said a lot about race, politics, and many other controversial issues. We get it, there was a lack of diversity (read: too much "whiteness") in the nominee section this year. It's been said. Let's move on. Did we need a special black history month presentation from Angela Bassett (ironically at the very end of that month) about the work of comedian Jack Black (you thought it was going to be a tribute to the noticeably absent Will Smith, right?) Probably not. Was it amusing? Sure. Also what was Stacy Dash doing there celebrating black history month, after publicly denouncing the event weeks earlier? All in jest, I guess. Also amusing were the appearances of the movies' real life heroes Joy Mangano and Michael Rezendes, and the fake appearance of real-life Straight Outta Compton star,  Suge Knight,  who is currently serving prison time.

Wins and Losses:
     Leonardo DiCaprio finally got an award for best actor for his role in The Revenant (Like Castaway with a bear instead of a volleyball). Congrats to Leo for carrying the story and finally being King of the World, but this movie leaves me very uninterested. I think it's still going to be a pass.  Also a justly deserved win to the one woman show, Room and Best Actress Brie Larsen. She also carried her film as a mother of a young boy trapped in captivity with her son, who has a child by her captor.  For supporting roles, Alicia Vikander was Best Supporting actress for The Dutch Girl, and a total surprise was Best Supporting actor  Mark Ryland for Bridge of Spies. Miss Vikander also exposed a surprise. She was seen kissing, and is apparently is apparently dating Michael Fassbender, who received a smooch from Vikander before she accepted her award.  The most upset-wotrhy event of the night (in my opinion) were all of the technical wins for Mad Max: Fury Road.  Another shocker only three of the songs for best original song were performed. I was told that the other songs were from lesser known movies and short films, so I guess they went with the big numbers and acts (Lady Gaga, The Weekend, and Winner Sam Smith). Also a winner on Sunday was Oprah, who wasn't even there but got a though out on twitter after someone mistakenly tagged a picture of Whoppi Goldberg as the legendary miss o.

     The biggest win of the night was Matt Damon, who lost at the Oscars, but snuck onto the stage of Jimmy Kimmel's after Oscars Special, riding shotgun in Ben Affleck's sweater. Damon is famously bumped for time at the end of each Kimmel episode, and has notable appearances including a show a takeover where he tied Jimmy to a chair and hosted the show.

Fashion: My Loves
Priyanka Chopra - white dress from Zuhair Murad
Margot Robbie - gold dress from Tom Ford 
Jennifer Garner - black dress from Atelier Versace
Alicia Vikander - yellow dress from Louis Vuitton
Brie Larsen - blue dress from Gucci 
Rachel McAdams - green dress from August Getty Atelier
Charlize Theron - red dress from Dior
Tina Fey              -purple dress from ????
I also liked Reese Witherspoon's similar purple dress from Oscar de La Renta, but Tina was just working hers a little better. I think it had a bit more of a form-fitting shape.

Fashion or Foe? Leggings and Boots Problems

Image from GURL.com

     Some people have their own sense of fashion, and some immediately go with the crowd. I am not one of those people.  I recently gave in and got some classy leggings to wear under a long sweater dress to make it through the winter months. Keep this is mind I'm only about 5 feet, so finding leggings that were not ridiculously long was quite a challenge. Needless to say, I landed them at GAP. My biggest complaint is that they have no pockets. I have resorted to sticking my phone in my boot leg when wearing leggings. GURL.com shows in this image how to wear leggings:
- scarf
- long cardigan
- denim shirt
- leggings
- boot socks
- boots

Refinery29 Leggings Guide

     I'm gathering from this that to balance out my barely covered legs, I have to add a bunch of accessories and sweaters. Why? Are my legs are too exposed? I just discovered Refinery 29's  Girl's Guide to Wearing Leggings confirms this idea.  I am puzzled why a sweater hat is needed with leggings. Also, I have to mix all of my materials and wear denim, wool, cotton, and leather in one outfit? That seems like a lot. Why do all of the tops have to be so big and boxy? I really like the idea of looking slimmer and not heavy and boxy when I'm wearing leggings. I would try to make sure my sweater top is fitted. Maybe these trends look good on a supermodel who has nothing to show or hide... we may never know.

     I also am taking a moment to lament the problems that some with looking for a mid-calf length boot to tuck my skinny jeans and leggings into. I have looked online and in stores for a pair of boots to replace an older pair of slightly slouchy, suede boots that come below my kneecap and if possible, pull right on. They also must be little to no heel, 1" or less. I swear boots like this just don't exist anymore. I came close to a beautiful pair at ALDO (with zips), but I couldn't bend my knees in them. #FashionProblems

Gimme a Beat

Barbie and The Beat Pkg.
 Image from Pintrest

     Tonight while cleaning I found some old cassette tapes that re-awakened my girlhood love of Barbie. The typical things were there,  radio mixes, the Grease movie soundtrack, the New Kids on the Block first album, but tragically missing was my "Macarena" cassingle tape.
* The Macarena tape was recovered two weeks later!*

     The other hidden gem in this collection was a hot 
pink cassette of singles from the fictional band Barbie and the Beat. I often called her Rocker Barbie (known as Disco Jeans Barbie publicly), but discovered is another Barbie known as Rocker Barbie). Nonetheless, she is one of the best and favorite dolls I have owned. Although Totally Hair Barbie makes it a close competition because you could cut her foot-length hair and style with DEP gel. Not only did my "Rocker Barbie" or "TB" for The Beat come in an awesome 80's outfit with denim jacket and skirt (a true denim suit), tons of pink skirts, a tube top and matching legwarmers, but she also had a tiny clip-in hat and big earrings!

My cassette
(c) PipPepPop

     The greatest part was her lime green plastic guitar! This instrument was tricked out in green and pink with a shiny strap that puts my ordinary acoustic to shame!  I found some images across the web to show barbie in all her glory. I tragically lost the denim suit on a plane ride in about '91 and was forced to dress Barbie in her pink cami top, mini skirt, and swirly crinoline, with matching leg warmers and pumps. Once her ponytail came out, she quit the music biz. My Barbie looks pretty beat these days.

     Best of all, there was an accompanying music cassette for her performances! There are 4 hit singles on this cassette full of girl power and attitude, and they sound very much like early Paula Abdul and a mid 80's Madonna (think Straight Up meets Get into the Groove meets Lucky Star. The cassette includes "Shine", "Jammin'", "The Beat" and one other that I can't read because the label is ripped.

'Robin Sparkles' Gif from
The Odyssey Online

Image from Ebay

     I could see an immediate visual comparison between "The Beat" Barbie and How I Met Your Mother's Robin Sparkles, as observed in this photo. But singing was just one of Barbie's many talents in the 80's Sheo also moonlighted as a Bangles-era Rocker Barbie. A list of her other careers can be found here, and another glorious rock star outfit. There were other videos, comics and movies that depicted Barbie's life as a rock star, and she even toured space in one animated movie, titled Barbie and The Rockers: Out of This World.

     My Barbie had the privilege of performing with  NKOTB's Joey McIntyre, who is apparently a rare 1990 collector doll selling for about $50.00 on Ebay. Unfortunately my Joe lost his ring, microphone, and cassette and was punished by my brother for cursing, resulting in a mouthful of soap.  Alas, the doll looks adorable and so does Joey, who just appeared in last week's Angel From Hell.