Fashion Truth

The fashion industry is a little crazy (make that more than a little). I don't think anyone would disagree with that assessment. I appreciate all the creativity, competition, energy, innovation and artistry that exist within the fashion industry. I definitely have a list of favorite designers and enjoy seeing how trends shift (or don't) year to year, season to season. But there are many things that happen within the fashion industry that I don't like, such as poor working conditions, clothing made unethically, commercialization, greed and excess, false marketing, standardization, and a tendency to favor unhealthy lifestyles in order to meet a certain aesthetic look. All of these are reasons why I appreciate Modcloth so much. Modcloth offers clothing from a variety of designers and at all price points.  Modcloth understands and advocates that there is no one ideal body type, that we are all unique. As a company, Modcloth enables its consumer base to cultivate their own style rather than fitting into the latest trend. Modcloth does not photoshop its models and the models they use do not all wear the same size clothing. Basically, Modcloth just seems to respect people for all of our differences and preferences. I think Modcloth gets that fashion should be fun and that what we wear should make us feel good.

When I heard that Modcloth was having a pop-up event to help all of us come together to be the change we want to see in the fashion industry , I knew I'd have to go. What a fun event and what a great initiative. Everyone at the pop-up was incredibly warm and welcoming. Posing for photos was a lot of fun and it was wonderful to see everyone's unique styles.  My favorite part was definitely sharing my fashion truth and reading what other people had wrote. My fashion truth was to "wear what makes you smile. Have fun with your style. Play with color, pattern and texture. Forget about what's "on trend" and instead be your own trend; dress for you." Style inspiration can come from many sources and the fashion industry is just one source. We are all consumers. We all buy clothes. I am not saying we should ever stifle anyone's creativity by saying what to make, but we can be our own advocates in the purchases we make or don't make, by the companies we choose to support and those we don't, by the ways we spend our money and by the choices we make in terms of how we dress. 

So, what's your fashion truth?

Outfit Details:
Dress: vintage, Salterio of Milan via Beacon's Closet
Purse: Kate Spade via surprise sale
Shoes: Fluevog
Socks: Hot Sox
Belt: Pinkyotto
Necklace: Modcloth 

An Evening with Shakespeare in the Park...But Not THAT Park

Vintage wear in Bryant Park

Ready to watch Boomerang Theater Company perform Shakespeare's Loves' Labour's Lost

  

Photo credit: Bryant Park Blog

Photo credit: Broadway World

I don't know why but my summer doesn't feel complete unless I've seen some Shakespeare performed in the great outdoors.  Don't get me wrong, attending Shakespeare productions (or reading Shakespeare) is definitely not a love confined to one season nor do either of those things need to happen outdoors (I'm thinking of you Sir Kenneth Branagh and your transformative production of Macbeth I saw earlier in the summer at the Park Avenue Armory). That all being said, Shakespeare outside and under the stars (or lights of Manhattan...) is really magical.  And it doesn't hurt that most Shakespeare in the park productions are free! 

The thing I love about the Shakespeare productions in Bryant Park is how casual they are. No lines, no worrying that you might not have a seat, no need to feel that you need to stay for the 2+ hours if at some point you feel like leaving, no need to put on makeup (just maybe some sunscreen and/or mosquito repellent!) and there's free wifi so you can go crazy with the social media if that's your thing. Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park productions in Central Park are wonderful and are totally a NYC thing to do but obtaining a ticket is a bit of a production so there's something extra nice about being able to pull up a chair one minute before showtime and watch/listen to Shakespeare performed in the heart of midtown. Amazing how quickly all the street sounds fade away as the Bard's words carry you away. 

Outfit Details:
Dress: GreenFlea Market, Upper West Side
Eyelet blouse: Suzy Shier (old blouse...never get tired of it)
Purse: Beacon's Closet, Greenwich
Head scarf: can't remember where it's from as I've had it for years
Shoes: Suprega sneakers
Picnic basket necklace: Kate Spade 

A Pink Swan Barrette Makes the World Go Round

On the High Line

Checking out some art in Chelsea

If you are going to wear some bright bold patterns you might as well go all out. 

Outfit Details:

Dress: Hello by Karen Walker, Anthropologie
Belt: Bettie Page Clothing
Necklace: The Art Institute of Chicago
T-shirt: Airism from Uniqlo
Tote: Frieze Art Fair
Socks: Hue
Hat: Lord and Taylor
Sneakers: Kate Spade for Keds
Barrette: Vintage (purchased at Jazz Age Lawn Party
 2014)
Nail Polish: Urban Outfitters

Going Medieval

(close up of skirt)

I've always been drawn to Medieval and/or Renaissance Festivals; in fact any chance to "travel back in time" or become lost in another time/place is alright with me.  When I found out about the Medieval Festival in Fort Tryon Park last year I was pretty excited to check it out. Fort Tryon Park, setting for The Cloisters, feels pretty timeless to begin with but pepper it was tents full of fanciful items, costumed characters, and the sounds and smells of another time, and it takes on a life of its own. The Medieval Festival only takes place for one day so I'm happy that I was able to make it back for a second year. The weather was perfect, unlike last year when I ended up getting completely drenched.  Rain or shine, it's always fun to leave the modern world behind for a little while and get swept up in an idealized version of the age of chivalry. I have to say that one of the highlights for me is the train ride to The Cloisters....hilarious seeing the cars packed with knights, princesses, magicians, and all sorts of nobility, mythical creatures and medieval townsfolk. 

The "one minute it's warm and the next it's cool" weather this time of year always makes getting dressed a little complicated in my opinion as I mentioned yesterday's post so again I found myself wearing a bunch of light layers. I may not have wore a medieval costume but I felt like my outfit fit the setting, and I was probably a lot more comfortable than anyone who was in full costume.  Speaking of costumes, I was very tempted by some of the lovely costumes, headdresses and jewelry at the festival; Medieval and Renaissance Festivals always have the best artisans but from past experiences a Merlin necklace, flower chain hairpiece or a long flowing cloak doesn't seem so practical the next day.

Outfit Details:

Pants (old): Dex

Blouse (old): thrifted/vintage

Grey T-shirt: Perfect Fit Tee, J Crew

Skirt (old):  thrifted/vintage

Jacket: Nanette Lepore via Ebay

Bag (old): Betsy Johnson

Days Like This

Gorgeous summer day! Even though I wish summer could go on and on, I do enjoy the weather as we move away from summer’s peak and towards the early days of fall.  Central Park is beautiful in all seasons and each one is my favorite in that moment. In the summer, carnivals appear, picnic blankets populate the lawns, people drift in row boats, and ice cream vendors are never far away.  The wisps of clouds in the sky today looked as though they had been painted in the air. Fountains seemed to glisten under the bright summer sky and tree branches barely stirred in the warm air. On days like this, people meander down paths and over bridges, still too warm to move very fast but not too hot that people are in a hurry to get home. These are days to be enjoyed.

Outfit Details:

Dropped-waist beaded tank dress - thrifted/vintage (similar here)

Floral denim - Steps at South Street Seaport (similar here)

Purse necklace - my mom’s (similar here)

Bag- The Stone Flower at South Street Seaport

Fete Paradiso...Parisian Carousel Heaven

You’re never too old for a carousel ride especially when the carousels are part of the world’s first festival of vintage French carnival rides. I should also add that carousel rides have an amazing ability to transport one to a dreamy- pillowy-clouds-flowers-everywhere-enchanted-kind-of-place. There's always one second where I kind of forget where I am and can almost imagine the horses and other fantastical creatures leaving the mechanics of the carousel behind them, taking their riders for a whirl in the grasses.....a Mary Poppins kind of moment. 

If I had any doubts about the power of the carousel, I don't anymore. My day started off on the wrong foot.  After waiting to go to Fete Paradiso since July 14, I woke up on the day the visit was planned for with allergies all flared up - sneezing, itchy face, runny eyes....the whole thing. Ended up missing the 10am ferry by 1 minute and then had to wait in line until 11am.  Caught my dress in one of those curved pipes as everyone was jostling to get off the ferry. The pipe literally sucked my dress up as I walked past and it took two of us to yank it back....now it's ripped in two spots. Got stung on the leg as I was crossing the field to where all the rides are. And on the first ride (dragon coaster), I was completely unprepared for how rough and windy it would be...these are children's rides after all.  I definitely flashed a few people as I attempted to hang on with my arms and legs, keep my hat and sunglasses on while attempting to hold my dress down. At the first opportunity to get off that ride, I'm not ashamed to say I was one of those who hurriedly made their way to the exit. And then a carousel ride....and all is suddenly right with the world. Amazing what a little time travelling, nostalgic romp can do.

Fete Paradiso on Governors Island from July 13 - September 29, 2013

Outfit Details:

Dress (old): Chromatic Canvas Shirtdress by Floreat, Anthropologie (purchased on Ebay)

Bag: Kate Spade Wild Flowers Harmony