Ska Style

I'm a long-time fan of ska music--not to mention a singer in a ska band. So...what's the history behind ska fashion? Check out my video.

In the jailhouse now

Look what I found on flipgloss.com, Prison Hotels! I love 5-star, boutique hotel, Malmaison in Oxford England. The former cells have been converted into chic rooms that still have steel doors.

Oh to be wealthy! And to stay at former palaces of the poor!

Green is Sexy

In honor of earth day, I thought I would highlight the growing trend of eco fashion--clothing made out of recycled materials, or from organic cotton grown in a sustainable way.

Ecofashion World is a great place to start if you got a green streak. This website and print magazine is chock full of designer duds that are easy on mother earth. It even has a guide to all the eco-concious clothing outlets online.

How about these fantastic heels made from vintage fabrics by Kitty Cooper in London. You can choose the fabric you want from Kitty Cooper's selection of old fabrics collected from thrift stores.

The Constant Gardener

So, everyone's abuzz about the new Jessica Lange/Drew Barrymore bio-pic, Grey Gardens, airing on HBO this Saturday, April 18. Drew plays Jackie O's eccentric cousin, Edith Bouvier Beale who lived in ramshackle, falling-down mansion in the Hamptons with her mother. Both mother and daughter had a very eccentric fashion sense: thriftstore boho chic, complete with Greta Garbo turbans and headwraps (to hide bald patches due to illness).

The movie is based in part on a documentary made by Mayseles Brothers in 1975. Here's a classic scene from the original documentary where Edie describes her unique sense of style.

Mother Russia is calling? Do you dare answer?

So, I was cruising one of my favorite fashion blogs, Trend de la Creme, when I came accross a couple posts about matryoshka-influenced clothes and accessories. As you may or may not know, matryoshkas are Russian stacking dolls (one doll inside another, inside another, inside another...you get the point). Sales of wooden matryoshkas to European tourists makes up at least 40% of Russia's GDP. They come in all sorts of varieties.

Stevie Nicks: Rock Goddess and Fashion Icon

There's an interesting story today in The New York Time's Fashion section about the dark, mystical princess, progenitor of goth, Stevie Nicks of '70s supergroup, Fleetwood Mac. Stevie, now 60, inspires devotion in her fans--mostly women--who often come to shows dressed like her: in flowing peasant skirts, fringed shawls, and ubiquitous top hats. Stevie has a look and it really hasn't evolved. We love her for it.

The article cites some interesting online clothing shops that cater to the Nicks' style. Check out gypsy moon, a company that unveils a new quirky, goth line every season. Check out this ballet-inspired French mime look. It's kinda appealing in a old-timey way.

Utica Sucks

Sorry, Utica, but you suck royally. My man-friend and I were driving back to Syracuse from Holy Trinity Russian Monastery in Jordanville (usual Sunday activity). Since we were starving after being fed a lent-friendly meal in the rectory consisting of boiled macaroni, canned fruit salad, and cabbage soup, we decided to stop in Utica, "The Rennaissance City," for lunch.

Big mistake. Man, this place is horrible--a decaying hell-hole off of I-90. We drove around for 40 minutes looking for anything that wasn't a Dunkin' Donuts or rundown convenience store to no avail. Everything was boarded up or closed. The streets were empty. There seemed to be a large number of law offices--so we suspected that most city residents are in jail or awaiting trial.

Finally, we stumbled upon a block near the Saranac Brewery that looked like it might have been kickin' about 20 years ago, but it's not even on life-support at this point--looks like the city just pulled the plug. Tell me, people of Utica, is there a single restaurant in your fair city?

We ended up eating at a "Macaroni Grill" called Babe's (I kid you not)--a sorta homegrown rip-off of T.G.I Fridays. The patrons looked sad in their tight jeans and cowboy boots. Our waitress had recently moved back to Utica from Arizona (for reasons unknown). We sipped on a rootbeer float, listening to hits from the 80s' (back when Utica was a happier place). Syracuse feels like Paris compared to Utica. I was happy to return.

The First Lady of Fashion

Michelle Obama has been getting lots of good press for her fashion choices lately. It is refreshing to see somebody so young, vibrant, and stylish (not to mention accomplished, articulate, and intelligent) at the president's side. She obviously feels comfortable in the spotlight--even if she made a faux pas touching the queen last week in London. The horror!

Michelle mixes up designers like Jason Wu and Thakoon with shopping mall staples from Talbots and J. Crew. She's on the cover of Essence magazine this week with her mother wearing a $169 (recently marked down to $126) dress from Talbots, proving that even middle class girls can dress like true ladies.

The internet was abuzz with the fashion showdown in Paris between former supermodel, singer and wife of French president Nikolas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni, and Michelle Obama. Michelle held her ground and rocked her sophisticated look in the capital of fashion.