Fashion In Film Friday - 'The Seven Year Itch'

Who doesn't remember the classic 1955 film...'The Seven Year Itch' starring Marilyn Monroe & Tom Ewell about a married man who was becoming disinterested with his marriage and entertains the idea of straying outside of it?  'The Seven Year Itch' is a term that has been used by psychologists for decades to define the decline of monogamous relationships after seven years.  The movie was nearly prohibited from being released due to the sensitive nature of the story line that proposed the idea of adultery. Weren't those the good old days when 'less was more'?

This is the flick that made the white halter dress and Marilyn a sensation.  The infamous photograph of her standing on the air vent while her dress was being blown to reveal her undergarments is still one of the most recognizable even fifty years later.  The dress just like Marilyn, is a timeless icon.  The man behind the dress making was a much sought after designer of that time, William Travilla.  It was said that his best work was the white halter dress he put together for Monroe.  The flattering a-line skirt, the deep v-neckline bodice and the lightweight fabric he selected for the ease of movement was simply beautiful.  He chose the color white because it's associated with innocence.  After the filming was over Marilyn was quoted as stating ... "Billy Dear, please dress me forever.  I love you, Marilyn."

This vintage dress was popular fifty years ago and I'm sure it will be just as popular fifty years from now as to this day, women are still in search of the perfect 'Marilyn Monroe style dress' just like the one she wore in 'The Seven Year Itch'... 

: impawards.com , freenewfashiondesign.com , myfashioncollection.com   

Handsome Girl

Women have been trying to wear men's clothes for ages and seriously, how many of you have found it extra cozy to slip your man's tee shirt or hoodie on?  And what about the boyfriend jeans style for ladies?  Or how about when it was popular to wear the top to your guys pajamas?  James Brown sang "It's A Man's World" & I guess he was on to something, as women have been trying to incorporate the power status of their male counterpart's attire into their wardrobe since the 1920's when vintage silent film star Marlene Dietrich frequently wore tuxedo's & suits and thus began the birth of sexual ambiguity in regards to the usual 'boy/girl' social norms regarding clothing.  

Her idea, borrowed from the boys staples (i.e. fitted jacket, trouser slacks, neck tie & maybe even a fedora) has trailed into present day designs as women seek to continue the attempt to feminize men's styles.  The style is now called, the 'handsome girl'...

Designer's such as Yves St. Laurent & COCO Chanel have been tailoring suits for women with a dude appeal for decades...

Back in 2008, the eccentric designer John Galliano touted that if YSL can put women in men's suits, he was going to go out on a limb and fashion a man skirt and not just for the Scottish bros!  I don't think it took off as well as he'd expected.  There's just some instances when gender neutrality in fashion has a cut off point dont'cha think?

: sodahead.com , hijabi-girl.blogspot.com , dejourmagazine.com , nymag.com 

Showin' A Little Leg!...

Shorts suits have been trending once again as we are seeing more and more women revamping their office style workday staple with blazer accompanied shorts suits.  This offers a fresh and cool alternative to slacks in the Summer giving a feminine touch to an otherwise masculine power duo.

Of course the definition of work attire varies given the nature of your profession which in turn gives rise to the question..."Is there really a dress code anymore?"   I would think as long as micro miniskirts and baring cleavage are a 'NO', you're all good to go!  Keep in mind, that keeping it professional should be at the forefront of your clothing choices as a must.


When done tastefully, shorts in the workplace can be appropriate for a day at the office.  Just make sure that you are cautious of the length because you want to maintain a modest appeal to your career fashion choices.  Shorts as work attire is a fairly new concept because even up to around fifteen years ago, it was unheard of and considered unprofessional.  I particularly love the Bermuda shorts suit...

Designers such as Doo Ri, Erin Fetherston & Jason Wu, have put together some amazing shorts suits which are becoming an instant classic!

There is also a more party'ish style short suit that can be worn as dressy attire...

On an end note...I'm not sure that this style works for dudes!  What do you think?...

pis: refinery29com, runwaydaily.com, la-casa-couture.com, elle.com, fashionistagirl.blogspot.com, vstyleblog.com, denimology.com

Spotlight Saturday

Just got wind that soulful singer Amy Winehouse is back in rehab at the advice of her doctor, but the news said she was caught stopping off at a party store prior to re-admittance, to get herself a small bottle of Smirnoff!  Her last run at rehab was in 2008 which makes me think of that old joke about how...'rehab is for quitters'! ah ha!


The English born songwriter, who's voice does not match her petite frame has been popular since we first heard her hit song ironically titled 'Rehab', back in 2006.  This beehive toting mama was the first in a very long time to bring back the soulful sound of the old days.  

Last year, she tried her hand at fashion designing, but I never heard of anything coming into fruition.   There could have been many reasons, one being that the collection was designed after her own clothing style which isn't considered by many to be fashionable...or it could have been simply because people had fallen out of love with her because of the fact she's wasted pretty much all of her talents on her addiction that she so freely puts out there without regard for how her audience perceives her?  

It's kind of like...she doesn't care, so why should we?

pics: img.listal.com
modamob.com

A Farewell To Oprah....

For the past twenty five years, we have been graced with her presence for one hour each and every day.  Some of us even went the lengths of making sure to DVR or TIVO her show in an effort not to miss an episode!   Sadly for those of us avid followers, yesterday was the end of an era as talk show queen Opray Winfrey bid us a sweet farewell...

When I reflect on the years I've watched Oprah, I can't help but think of the ridicule she's endured for her ever fluctuating weight being under the constant scrutiny of the watchful public eye & at the same time, I look to her with complete admiration for the fact that she never lost her sense of style amidst the backlash of the hounding paparazzi.

It's true she has had her ups and downs in regards to weight, but she has never wavered in keeping up with fashion trends.  Oprah showed us that how we perceive ourselves, is more than likely going to reflect on how people perceive us & in spite of her struggles, she continued to maintain an air of class and kept her 'swagga' on at high levels & at all times! 

Random Fact: One of Oprah's most favorite fashion designers is Ralph Lauren. 

pics: howmuchdotheyweigh.com , tvlistings.zapzit.com , cm1.theinsider.com , luxurlaunches.com

Spotlight Saturday - Cher is 65!

Academy award winning actress & pop songstress Cher turned 65 yesterday & just in case you didn't know, she was 'all of that' way before there was ever a Madonna or Lady Gaga.  At almost 18, she paired up with then soon to be husband Sonny Bono to record the hit 'I've Got You Babe' & that hit set her career ablaze.

From the very beginning of her early stardom, Cher became a style icon and the fashion muse of designer Bob Mackie who created many of the outrageous gowns & costumes we've seen her in throughout the years.

From 2000 to 2005 she was on her 'Farewell Tour' but make no mistake, Cher's not going anywhere soon as then timeless talent has proved she has the ability to keep reinventing herself!

 pics: spinner.com, blogue.us.com, inyourface.com, finalclothesout.blogspot.com, shoppingblog.com, mabjewelrycom

Vivacious Vuitton!

Who doesn't love Vuitton bags?  This years new collection is absolutely vivacious as designer Louis Vuitton has lavished the avid followers with fresh new styles & bold palettes for their 2011 collection!

Louis Vuitton, is 'vintage' in it's own right being that the French fashion house has been around since 1854 & has been the world's leading designer ever since, currently topping a net worth of over 19 billion!  Although they originated with clothing, jewelry & accessories, they became uber famous for their signature monogrammed bags.

In spite of the controversy surrounding the creation of 'LV's' pieces being machined, the company still stands firm stating that there are over 100 stages additionally involved in the making of each bag to bring it to completion.  So in case you hand any questions regarding the validity of your bags construction, make no mistake...There are hands involved!

Vuitton is always surprising us with bold new concepts and I am especially excited about the new monogrammed, mono hued colorful clutches that are out now as well as the Avante-Garde chain strap Pochette...

   
I'm sure these gorgeous bags are worth every single one of the over 3,300 dollars they cost & so with that being said...maybe when gas prices come down a bit I'll got out and get me one!






pics: bagjournal.com  i-fashionblog.com , handbagfirst.com  bagbliss.com , albertoberasconi.photoshelter.com , 4.bp.blogspot.com , ilvoelv.com

Has Lady GaGa Gone GOO GOO?!

There's no denying that Lady GaGa is beyond no holds barred wild and crazy as far as her fashions and performances go, but get this...she's currently claiming that she didn't write her latest song 'Born This Way', because it was actually channeled through to her by one of her very good friends, the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen.  She even went as far to comment in the interview with Harper's Bazaar that McQueen who took his own life a year ago last February planned the whole thing right after he died.  GaGa also stated that she thinks it to be more than a coincidence that her label released the hit on the one year anniversary of his passing and that it truly confirms her belief that he was working through her.


In the same interview with Harper's Bazaar when asked about her new look (i.e. facial horns and shoulder bumps) since she debuted the song 'Born This Way', she went on to say..."They are not prosthetics, they are my bones...I have been waiting for the right time to reveal to the universe who I truly am."

Seriously people...isn't this stunt even a bit much for the extrovert extremist GaGa or has she finally gone goo goo with her antics?  Either way, this totally trumps the time when Detroit born pop icon Madonna suddenly woke up one morning with foreign accent syndrome!   


 glamourmagazine.co.uk