Spring 2011: Elastic-Waist Pants...For Work?!

Stretchy, elastic, room to grow, comfortable, easy, casual but cute, what women want...with so many positives it's a wonder why the whole female working world isn't in "yoga pants" all the time.

Whenever I'm with a client I always profess my love and lifestyle as a creature of comfort. I think it's important for them to know that I understand their anxiety of having to "suffer for fashion" for the sake of looking good. NOT TRUE. That's not how I do business. I tell them if I could, I would live in my pajama pants and baggy sweatshirts. After a hard days work of being glued into my skinny jeans there's no feeling better than ripping them off, tossing them back in the closet, and putting on my PJ pants, one gloriously soft leg at a time. The freedom my skin feels and knowing I can eat as much as I want with no one seeing my 'food baby' later is awesome. Sure I love the slimming effect dark-wash jeans have on my legs but an elastic-waist yields something no other pants can: comfort. So what is the solution to the ancient battle of style vs. comfort? Or, can there be a happy union of both?

Jocelyn Greenky Herz, VP of Colin Cowie Lifestyle, a NY event-planning company, in yoga pants

The NY Times recently published an excellent article debating the pros and cons of wearing stretchy pants to work, with opinions coming straight from the real ladies in high places who do it or deny it. Stacie Spychalski Buckley, an Atlanta-based director of operations for a professional sports website, has a more auditory opinion about the women in her office: "There are people in yoga pants and track suits; you hear them shush-shush-shushing down the hallways. I’m like, ‘What are you doing? This is a professional place. Wear a sweater set and a pair of pants.'". Stacie isn't alone in her sentiments either. Kat Griffins, editor of Corporette, a fashion and lifestyle blog for professional women, states: "If it’s a casual day and you’re just working in your office and you’re pregnant and you can’t find anything else to fit, maybe yoga pants are acceptable...But for everyone else, really, get a pair of pants". The funny thing is the empirical data doesn't back up their backlash. According to WGSN, a trend forecasting company, "4 percent of women in the United States now say they wear strict business attire, with 31 percent claiming to dress completely casually". With that many women preferring to be comfortable it's no wonder sales for athletic-wear retailers like Lululemon, who carry fashionable workout wear, have increased. And like the lovely lady in the image above said: "If your entire outfit looks very chic, there’s no reason not to [wear them]".

weardrobe.com

I have to agree. We all know that the accessories and even your hair and makeup can make or break an outfit so why not be comfortable and fabulous at the same time? Think it can't be done, wrong again! Just take note of the cute gal pictured above. She looks chic and put together; key words when searching for the best ways to style your yoga pants. However, I must issue a warning. There appears to be rules surrounding the acceptability of stretchy-waist pants in the work place: "Among [the] women interviewed for this article, there exists a caste system of elastic-waist pants, governing their permissibility for certain occasions. Many said they would never wear jeggings...". Apparently, some offices will forever require a uniform and a certain degree of thoughtful clothing choices. I can understand that. However, I agree with Sally Lohan, director for United States content on WGSN, when it comes to her thoughts on loosening up on the idea of elastic: "I think it’s more about a crossover of lifestyles and a blurring of activities than a general addiction to dressing down. Jeggings and leggings have been perfectly acceptable attire in many workplaces for a while. It really depends on the style and the styling". As a stylist, I hands down agree. The way you put something together matters more for appearance sake than each individual piece on their own. However, even I have my style standards...

brass rivets, contrast stitching is nice and all but let's talk about WHY this is BAD.

 Oh PajamaJeans, how do I dislike thee. They lure you in with promises of being both comfortable and stylish but the truth is the construction looks cheap, the fabric is clearly not denim, and there's no guarantee they'll fit you well enough to look good, just like in the image above. Nothing about this ad is visually appealing. Why? All the lines and proportions are out of balance for the shape of this girls bum! Not every butt was made equal and is therefore not going to fit into these "jeans" well enough to ever make them appropriate for work. You know the slogan, "Just Say No"....that's how I feel about Pajama jeans. I know my philosophy is 'try everything once' but these...just say no.

nytimes.com

I think it's safe to say this battle might be a personal judgement call. If you're into the relaxed but put together look, and can wear it in the office, by all means do it. But if you must abide by a stricter code of clothing conduct, a little extra effort or an entire new game plan might be best for you. All in all, the plan should be to show your office you wear the pants, even if they're yoga, sweat, or stretchy.

Image(s) courtesy of nytimes.com, pajamajeans.com, weardrobe.com

A Fashionable Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor- RIP

From the NY Times:  Elizabeth Taylor, Lifelong Star, Dies at 79

The actress Elizabeth Taylor died Wednesday in Los Angeles at age 79, the Associated Press reported. Ms. Taylor started in movies at age 9, and it was a quick leap from "National Velvet" to "A Place in the Sun" and from there to "Cleopatra" as she transformed into a film queen. In a career of more than 70 years and more than 50 films, she won two Academy Awards as best actress.

My tribute to another jewelry aficionado-

Image(s) courtesy of Google image search

The Marriage of Chic and Geek- Connected Clothing for the Fashion Saavy Gadget Lovers

I am a self-confessed tech geek.  A "techie" if you will- (tech·ie also tek·kie  (tk) n. Informal: One who studies or is highly interested or proficient in a technical field, especially electronics.) But that doesn't sound very fashionable for a wardrobe stylist now does it? The real questions is, do fashion and tech ever meet in the middle of chic and geek?

My first exposure to high tech- "connected" if you will- clothing was when I was shopping for a new snowboarding jacket five years back.  Back then, iPod integrated clothing was just starting to show up once retailers understood the power Apple's brand of technology had over consumers and jumped on the successful brand's bandwagon.  This peaked my interest.  Where else were we seamlessly integrating our digital lifestyle with our outdoorsy one?  Being a surfer, I did some research.  There were, and still are, waterproof accessories like headphones and iPod cases.  While unsafe because listening to your music full blast hinders your ability to hear warning shouts in these shark infested San Francisco waters, it still amazes me that we have the ability to take our music with us anywhere.

Aside from the fact that I think one of the best things about being outdoors is being one with mother nature and her own soundtrack, I like having the option to have my gadgets within reach and easy to use.  That seems to make a lot of sense when you're wearing gloves and stuffed into a parka that makes you look like the Michelin man.  But what about our day-to-day lives?  Mashable's article Wired Fashion addressed this very issue.  It seems the fashion world is turning its ear towards the needs of geeks like myself.  While they don't always hit the mark...

... some are close...

and some are genius!

While we may not being seeing a high tech clothing runway show at New York Fashion Week any time soon, it does beg the question, does fashion need to will fashion be able to keep up with the speed of technology?

Image(s) courtesy of Mashable.com

Spring 2011: That 70's Trend

Though some of you may be remiss to admit it, the 70s are back! And in a big way. Of course we all know fashion is cyclical and nothing is new anymore but you should always expect to see the return of a trend, style, or look about every 20 to 30 years. That said, the return of flared jeans, platforms, jumpsuits, soft hair, floppy hats, maxi dresses, and round sunglasses are right on track.

athoughtistheblossom.blogspot.com

I was a little hesitant to get on board with this trend for fear of it leaving as quickly as it has arrived but then I watched The Towering Inferno...and fell in love with the 70s. What a wonderland of inspiration! Taking place in San Francisco and centering on the world's tallest building going up in a blaze (hence, the title), the movie cemented my new-found love for long, low-cut evening gowns, head-to-toe color, draped shirting, and soft curls. It also put a new fashion icon at the forefront of my mind, Faye Dunaway. I've never wanted to wear a matching, monochromatic suit more!

Faye Dunaway

Though the film revolved around more "society types" living in the San Francisco, there was definitely a moment for those on the street who were rocking long, printed jackets, wide-leg pants, and high shoes. In fact, that's more in line with what we're seeing on the runway and the streets today. People seem eager to move away from their skinnies to get a little breathing room.

stylecaster.com

The easiest way to embrace this new trend and avoid looking dated is by wearing the bits and pieces that you like. Making them your own allows your personal style to shine and topping it all off with a large brim hat is never a bad idea.

carolinesmode.com/stockholmstreetstyle

carolinesmode.com/stockholmstreetstyle

 Of course, if you can do it right, there is something to be said for trying everything all in one outfit. Floppy hats off to you, my dear.

carolinesmode.com/stockholmstreetstyle

Image(s) courtesy of stylecaster.com, carolinesmode.com, and google image search.

Japan, Far From Over

As much as I try, I cannot stop thinking about the disaster in Japan. It's on every news channel at every hour of the day and I for one am like a moth to the flame; I tune in at every chance I can. Even though I'm informed and have donated to relief effort, I still feel so helpless. I only wish I could do more. If you're feeling like me here's a GREAT website to check out and send in a donation. Not everything has to be about money but in times like these, everything is about community.

Second Harvest is an established non-profit in Japan that helps people in need. Even before the earthquake and subsequent tsunami of March 11, Second Harvest was busy donating food and items to the over 650,000 Japanese people without any type of "food security". They made it there mission to help those who couldn't help themselves and have now dedicated their energies to the relief effort. With so many thousands of people newly in need, any donation is happily accepted and greatly appreciated. 

Please take a little time out of your day and post this some place where others can be informed and start spreading the word. So far, only $25 million has been raised for Japan, a fraction of that contributed to Haiti and Hurricane Katrina. I know we can all do so much better than that. As George Takei tweeted on that fateful day: TodayWeAreAllJapanese

Image(s) courtesy of 2hj.org

Japan, No Limits on Innovation

In light of the recent events and tragedy unfolding over in Japan, I wanted to put my energy into a positive outlet and to pay homage to the brilliance of their fashion designers. These 3 particular artists pushed the boundaries of the industry and weren't afraid to express their creativity through otherwise "unmarketable" designs. It was fashion for arts-sake and for that, we should be grateful. There is beauty in even the most nontraditional and unexpected shapes and styles.

Issey Miyake, "Foiled Again"

Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons, "Surreal Touch"

Yohji Yamamoto, "I Do"

Know for their ability to adapt and evolve, Japan will certainly rebuild and return once again as the land of the rising sun.

Image(s) courtesy of blog.metmuseum.org