Phone Call on Line One Mr. Peterson

Great fashion is a collision of interpretation and inspiration. Two-parts intricate planning and examination - one part spirited idea with just a lemon wedge of 'why not'. It should be shocking, enjoyable, and above all - never never boring.

As style plays a greater role in daily life I've come to appreciate that true fashion is not what is dicacted in the editorial pages of a magazine or the television shows cleverly rolled out for the camera - but rather in the poignency of the flowers surrounding your building or the shocking citrine color of a neon popsicle.

Opening your eyes and truly looking at the world reveals so many previously ignored facets. Appreciation comes on swift wings and your imagination can no longer contain itself - you become fascinated.

This is inspiration. It consumes, it frees.

Interpretation is the birth of something unique and true to yourself, a touch here and there that allows you to own a little part of an incredible idea. The view may always be the same but the rose-colored glasses you see it with are your own.

Inspiration and interpretation laced together when I saw the photo shoot for the dynamic Ashley Tisdale's album Guilty Pleasure (the hair, tres magniqifue). I know I should have seen a young girl shedding her sweet image for something more befitting a rock star but my mind darted to a whole new take on an old visual standby: the sexy secretary.

I was utterly captivated, the details were incredible.

The elegant but completely inappropriate cashmere sweater (see through and punctuacted by heat of the moment tears), the too-too short black pencil skirt.

Antique silver lockets paired with chains and smoky eye.

Finally the cherry on the delish ice cream cone - mile long legs ending in kitten heeled boots perfectly demure till a peep toe pokes through.

Perfection. Each piece cleverly plays along the appropriate uniform for a girl working 9 to 5 but teases with hints of naughtiness, never quite fully going over the line but certainly walking it like a professional sex kitten.

Oh my! Would one ever have to worry about a promotion if they arrived at work looking like this?

Sexual harassment never looked so good Darlings.

How Diva-Rettes Cope With Summer

Summertime can pose an interesting dillema for me at times Darlings. 

While others are content to wear as little as legally allowed and tone down jewelry to the barest of the bare I crave my basic couture diet: bold, layered, decadence. 

Bold clothes, layered pieces, decadent jewelry. It's simply in my blood. 

Suffer for fashion I can do always, but denying 90+ degree temps? Non, that is beyond even me. So I am always searching for new ways to express my personal style under a whole new set of environment conditions. I shall be honest now. I have very little interest in the boho style of earthy prints and 100% cotton 100% of the time  - but -  a friend clued me onto a very interesting spread done in Teen Vogue with the young and oh so adorable actress Selena Gomez. 

As I pored over the photos thoughtfully a smile appeared on my face because Ah! I had found my inspiration. 

While staying safely away from all hints of Woodstock and peace man the style touches on so many adored facets without denying itself. Note the sweet and natural details: a floral-print dress layered over a t-shirt, a sand-colored belt tucking in a poofy dress, floral pin and a big floppy bow all prettying up lush locks.

   

Ah there is the layering I so crave, the piling on of pearls and spotting of lace, bold pieces mixed with unexpected twists. Feminine prep paired with combat boots and neon-colored accessories. Absolutely to die for. 

It seems I've found my uniform for these warm and sunny days. Darlings, what are you planning to live in during the sun-drenched summer months?

There's Something about The Lady

Since her emergence onto the scene it is without doubt Lady Gaga has dropped jaws, raised eyebrows, puzzled critics and amazed her fans. With catchy bubblegum lyrics, an adult repotoire, and fashion the likes of which haven't graced the music world since the 80's she has become a global enigma.

Love or hate her music you cannot deny her willingness to put all on the line for the sake of the character. Not simply when cameras are filming and the red carpet is rolled out, but always. 

From the moment she leaves her front door till she enters again she is Lady Gaga dubbed from a Freddy Mercury song making fantasy as real as you or me.

"Some say Lady Gaga is a lie, and they're right...but I kill everyday to make her true."

        

That's right. The Lady plays dress-up and pretend just like the rest of us.

Music was once the ultimate soundpiece for fashion, however with the creation of the beautiful cardboard cut-out artist (perfectly polite and charming) these days daring and different is as foreign as unplucked eyebrows.

Perhaps that is what I truly find so refreshing about Lady Gaga. That though it would be easier not to she commits to this entity she has created. That she gives answers no one else would dare to whisper: 

"Being a woman in the pop world, sexuality is half poison and half liberation. What's the line? I don't have a line. I am the most sexually free woman on the planet, and I genuinely am empowered from a very honest place by my sexuality. What's more primal than sex? I mean, it's so honest. If I didn't think I had the talent to back that up, I wouldn't have done it." 

And that above all else she will not bow to what others want from her. In the world of the manicured and perfectly groomed she is raw, bold and flawed. She is what she wants to be.

She is quoted as saying "Pop music will never be low-brow"

I don't know about pop music darling, but you are as couture-fantastic as it gets. 

Wicked

J'adore le Gaga de Dame

The Jaw-Dropping Will Now Commence

I'm not a big believer in expense. Mostly because I know how easy it is to look stunning on a budget.  

Every so often however, something makes my fashion sweet tooth ache in a 'break the bank' kind of way. Enter the Fiona Paxton necklace. 

A marriage between the simple and excessive it features a 'why has no one else thought of that?' design. The mix-up of the typical: the large band being the the portion that wraps around the neck while the thin delicate chains are put on display captures one's immediate attention. 

As a girl who loves bold accessories this is one of the few necklaces I think does look perfect with a simple white tank top. There is something to be said about effortless chic and this necklace is perfect for a just rolled out of bed effect. 

Of course it's completely out of an acceptable price range ($288), but that won't stop me from dreaming. 

Wishing and Hoping Wicked

In All Good Faith, I'm Unimpressed

By now it's no secret that Forever 21 has been working for months on a plus size line by the name of Faith21. The line meant to be the answer to women of a curvier build who have been longing to wear the chic clothing styles of the store debuted today.

I had high hopes for this line and had been crossing my fingers expecting the best, however after looking at the 30 or so outfits up for sale on the store's website I am underwhelmed.

...That's it? Where are the sequined vests? The bewejeled boho tops? The decadence, excess and too-muchery I've come to love from the F21 brand?

Flipping back and forth between the plus size line and the regular store I realized that while displaying some aspects of their fantastic style Faith21 played it safe and by relation: boring.  

  

                   

On the right are models wearing the Faith21 brand and on the left styles from the regular store

Furthermore there was nothing that made the line unique from other plus size lines such as Torrid, all in all it was adequate but not amazing.

Hopefully in time Faith21 and in turn Forever 21 will become a little more daring and try to push the boundaries on the common idea of women's plus size clothing. For now, they need a much needed injection of vibrancy into this dull line.

Wicked