Pucker Up Dudes

Even Bobbi Brown agrees with me. Sometimes men need to moisten their lips. Chapstick makes an unscented lip balm that works for most. There is always Burt's Bees for the organic fellow. It is simple, you can moisturize without looking too shiny. The Frenchman is a great photographic journey of Philippe Halsman capturing Fernandel, a French movie star from the vaudeville tradition. The interview is completed with Fernandel responding with facial expressions only. When I thumb through this read, I am reminded of my crazy funny father who kept us girls in stitches with his silly grins and perplexed faces.

Beyond Cotton

I am all about supporting the local businesses. Beyond Cotton is a fantastic boutique my sister Deb shops at in Little Rock, Arkansas. Donna, Jamie, and Nan, the owner assist and help to individualize her clothing requests. She recently purchased a great purple swing coat that she is enjoying for spring. It made me miss the movie Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. In Pillow Talk Doris models various versions of swing coats. Thumbs up for Beyond Cotton where one gets excellent sales assistance.

Larry Changed

My brother-in-law Larry changed his style. How dare he. Just when we got comfortable with his

California Hawaiian shirt style he went to the dressy fitted shirt style.

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Oh Well Bro you can change your style. Laid back to sophisticated. Works for me. See Patagonia and llbean for ideas.

Core Rhythms

Our friend Rachel performed in the show CORE Rhythms A New Beginning presented by The CORE Dance Co. at the Spanos Theatre at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Ca.  I am always reminded how hard dancers work to keep their art alive. The show featured jazz, tap, ballet, modern and contemporary. The costumes  and music were amazing.  It was a lovely day at the Spanos. I appreciate dancers. It brought back fond memories of my mother taking me as a young girl to NY to see Suzanne Farrell perform at the NYCB. Rachel we are so proud of you. Your performance was fantastic and the CORE Dance Co. made us proud to be part of the San Luis Obispo Dance scene.

Fashion is Flowers

Mulberry is by far one of the most creative companies I have come across in my fashion blogging world. The photography sets are staged so that I want to crawl onto one of those puff chairs and read a book or take a nap. Have a daydream. Go to Mulberry.

Inspirational Blues

I love what Cheryl does. She is clever and creative with her blues. She paired a Chicos Soma Intimates Camisole with a beautiful vintage bronze wire wrap with blue agate glass beaded necklace made by Alita Bunkowski. Alita's proceeds go to World Vision. A Grammy to Cheryl for inspirational blues.

The Regulators

Patagonia makes a men's and women's Regulator jacket called the R1 that my husband and I have worn for years. I love it on photo shoot days. It is lightweight and highly breathable. It also has a moisture -wicking quality that is helpful in damp weather. You do not have to climb Everest to enjoy the regulator.

Motown Coming Round

Motown. Idol last night.  I was born in 61. I am all over that 1960's scene. Judges fashion circle. Jennifer was sporting the whole take. Her pink sequined top was sexy and stylish. What impressed me was her over the top blue eye shadow with the light pink nude gloss. Very sixties. Randy with his black and white geometric shapes on cardigan. Very eighties. Very Michael. Steven what else? Very seventies. Judges circle. Thumbs up for motown coming round.

Tribute to a Beauty

Elizabeth Taylor passed away today. She was a beautiful lady and will be missed by many. Yousuf Karsh took one of the most elegant black and white photos of her in 1946. He was able to capture the innocence of a lovely childhood star. Our tribute today is for Dame Elizabeth. May she rest in peace.

Be Creative

I met this woman at Arroyo Grande Care Center. She was visiting a resident and Jo Ann  noticed this fantastic outfit. Let's talk fashion ladies. This women came up with this idea of cutting her jeans to look this way. Take notice to her pairing of jeans with hand tooled sandals. Very chic. Love her style. Jo Ann you are now part of the fashion scout team.

Nigella Styles

Nigella Lawson is one of the most stylish women I have observed. She wears beautiful fitted danskin shirts in colors that are flattering to her skin color. She is fair skinned and gravitates to black, burgundy, and blue. Her makeup is flawless and she tends to accent her large brown eyes and pops a nude shade of color on her lips. Tune in for Brit love. My favorite part of her stylish cooking show is seeing her, late at night, raid the refrigerator at the end of the show.

Unruly Brows

I have not forgotten about the guys. We don't like our men in eyebrows that run all the way across the forehead. Shawn, my husband's hairdresser, trims my husband's brows. At home you can use small scissors to snip off the unruly hairs that are longer than the rest. Happy snipping.


                                                                    

Matt's Hat

Matt Damon. Film. Adjustment Bureau.  Great film and great hat Matt. This is a creative sci fi romantic  thriller that displays  interesting style. Fedora hats for the men that do not fall off with fast running scenes.  Emily Blunt is sporting two compelling  crossbody bags. Chemistry between Damon and Blunt.....scalding hot.

Bobbi

Bobbi Brown Eye Brow Shaper is a fantastic makeup product. I first learned about this at a makeup counter in Nordstroms in Santa Barbara. The product is perfect for going over the eyebrow powder used to fill in your natural eyebrow shape. It is not sticky and it blends in with your natural eyebrow color. In a pinch I have used this to color my grey hairs in between hair hightlighing sessions. Watch out hairdressers I have become clever in my older years. I bought the color rich brown and I have medium brown hair color. Thumbs up for Bobbi.

Johnny Was

My sister Anita is a  Johnny Was fan.  She has a way of dressing that is boho chic.  She owns a few of these and wears them for dressy and or casual occasions. Neiman Marcus,  Zappos,  and Bloomingdales, all carry Johnny Was. These tops have a hippy feminine vibe. Pair them with your favorite jeans and boots or clogs.

Dans Tes Bras

Dans Tes Bras by Maurice Roucel is a gorgeous editions de parfums of Frederic Malle that Jonathan at Barneys of San Francisco turned me onto. I purchased it for my husband Dan for his non leap year birthday. If you want to learn about parfums Jonathan is the man to help you. My Polish/Italian nose is not as precise as Jonathans so I did a little of my own research of  this special scent. If you want a parfum that sticks with you this is one to consider. It is described as an "exalted skin scent", aka sandalwood, musk, patchouli,  and violet. I know you are overwhelmed. Just think of a good scent of a man's skin.

Fashion Dawgs

American Idol judges. Fahionistas to the max. Lets start with our dawg Randy. Great dark denim jean jacket with leather trim worn with great silver and gemstone accessories. Steven Tyler. He can wear that haute hippy flowing 70s look and he actually gives it a modern touch.  Steven's earrings are so long but they jive when he walks this way. Jennifer Lopez. Stunning leopard print dress. Her hair is the purrrfect match for that leopard dress.  Judges circle flawless for fashion tonight. My vote, dawgs are still in the competition.

Going Green

Chantecaille is offering a sea turtle palette limited edition with spring neutral colors complimented by a deep sea green shadow. The palette is refillable and with the purchase you are helping chantecaille continue their mission to support marine wildlife. You can find chantecaille at Saks, Neiman Marcus, and or Chantecaille. Go green.

Pearls

Sugimoto's Portraits displays Hiroshi Sugimoto's elegant portraits of historical figures in wax museums, including  Henry VIII and each of his wives. Portraits also include photographs of wax figures of Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin, Oscar Wilde, and Emperor Hirohito. The images have a rembrandtesque quality. The pearls I saw on these portraits are museum quality and it only got me in the mood for the Macy's 50% off pearl sale beginning on Wednesday march 16. I will make a visit to Deanna in the Santa Maria store.

Street View

Nylon Street View is The New Nylon Book of Global Style. It is a fun book for your library that shows the street fashion of Los Angeles, Tokyo, Stockholm, Montreal, London, and New York. Fashion is universal. A fun pick.

Tim Walker Fashion Photos

Tim Walker's stunning fashion shots have been shown in British Vogue and Italian Vogue magazines. The size of this monster of a book is intimidating but well worth the purchase. I can only imagine the efforts involved in the actual staging of these photographs. A book well worth checking out.

Men Look Great in Pink

My mother used to tell my husband Dan he looked nice in pink. And he does. My friend Bert also looks great in a pink tee shirt paired with dark jeans with a stark white belt. Bert is from Thailand and he is what I would call a fashionista man. He is ahead of his time. He pairs creative tee shirts with dark jeans, a contrasting belt, and cool tennis shoes. Occasionally he adds a nifty modern watch.  I believe men aspire to dress like him. He puts fun back into fashion.

Spring into Cargos

My coworker Stacy loves cargos. She loves the ones I wear from Chicos. The colors this season are just beautiful....wisteria, olive, khaki, white, yellow, and black. Live in these year round. Girls and Guys go out and get a pair of Cargos. I carry film, sunglasses, and pens in my cargos. You can decide what you want to carry in yours.

Yin and Yang of Fashion

Men and Women of various ages in and around the high fashion centers are subjects of the Sartorialist  a fabulous portrait photography fashion site that travels across countries and exemplifies how age does not interfere with who can look fashionable. Go..... you will not regret your travels in the journey of high fashion.

Fashionably Late

I was never a believer in this. However I do appreciate the 1974 Timex watch I own that belonged to my father. It is gold plated and has regular numbers with a white face. The bottom line is the thing is still ticking and I love it because I am wearing a piece of my Dad's jewelry that he used for his work day. He was one to say Louise "Time is Money" and with my mother's push was not  fashionably late.

Signature Audrey

To kick off the San Luis Film Festival I am reminded of the great Audrey Hepburn and her fabulous classic style. I cannot help but pair my friend Lorie with Audrey. Lorie is not the typical Annie Hall style dresser. She is definitely the Audrey Hepburn style dresser. Lorie can pair a sweater with darling capris and flats and pull off a clean, striking day look. If she takes her look to evening she can will add a little black jacket or sweater and voila she is Audrey at nighttime. This is the spirit of the audrey we loved to watch on screen. Effortless, yet classic.

"I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles"    
                                  Audrey Hepburn

Mulberry Fever

Once again  Mulberry  has an unbelievable ad. Mulberry makes me happy, luscious leather handbags and a very creative staff. Thank-you Mulberry.

Portrait fashion photos by Shoichi Aoki

Fruits a portrait book by Shoichi Aoki is a fun book I picked up at the SFMOMA. This is where fashion has no stops. It displays portraits of individuals from the streets of Harajuku in Tokyo. It will make you smile when you are trying to decide if you should have your hair highlighted with a few highlights or lowlights. It is kitsch. It is cool.

The Art of the Line

Pinstriping goes back prior to the Roman Empire. Pinstripes go back to the NY Yankees, the Military, and the Mob. In modern times it is refreshing to see a man with a white shirt with pinstripes. The look is one of luxury. A tailored look. Clean and tailored is slightly intimidating, but nice to look at.

Fluevog Flies

My sister Deb turned me on to many things and one of them is her Fluevog shoes. They are to die for. Remember Luigi the NYC Jazz phenomenon from West 68th St NYC?  When I see Deb in her Fluevogs I am taken back to the Luigi dance days where you never stop moving and you look terrific in the process. The new Fluevog store is in SF at Union Square. I could not stop looking at the black maryjanes trimmed in what else, nude.

Wear White

Today, my co worker Aly came into the office with a white scoop neck tee paired with a beautiful  african beaded necklace made by our friend Alita.  The pairing of the beads with the crisp white shirt made me think of the old Barneys of NY slogan..........wear white it can always make you feel better. It made me feel better just looking at it. Wear white. Feel better.

Hip and Cool

My friend Jo Ann brought her two kids to lunch in Grover Beach. The kids were dressed in black canvas keds, and denim shorts with cuffs and embellishments. Bottom line kids are hip and cool. Great for fashion ideas. Follow the kids. Our future in fashion.

Mulberry Fever

This is not the yearly influenza I am talking about. This is not the common cold that kicks your bottom. This is not the temperature rising one sees with the seasonal viruses. This my fashion friend is Mulberry Fever and it is captivating. I happen to own a brown Somerset Clutch that can be worn on the shoulder or in the hand as a ladies clutch. If you call Mulberry in NYC Abel will assist you and he knows all about the products. Happy fever.

heart of gold

Kate Spade does a small gold bangle that says heart of gold on the inside of the bangle. It is well worth the price you will pay for this. Recently I was in Macys in SF and browsing the Louis Vuitton handbags and the lovely clerk commented on my gold bangle and I told her it was from the Kate Spade store and cost 20 dollars. Fashion does not have to break your bank.

fabric xpressions

Go to fabricexpressions.com to see some creative tee shirts designed by some clever san luis obispo ladies. my favorite is are you kitten me a darling kitten logo. i ordered mine in puple and orange. Fabric Xpressions wear your expressions on your clothes not just your face.

Italian leather handbags at banana republic

Right now there are gorgeous italian leather handbags at banana republic. They are made of italian leather and i have my eye on a yellow one. Who does not like anything Italian?