May 17, 2010

When Sweatpants Become Stylish...

Everyone has them. The one pair of sweats you just can't live without. The ones that are perfect for lounging in on weekends, doing homework, watching TV, running errands, and after practice. But it has always been considered a fashion faux paux to wear sweats to out in public unless you're in college or high school. And even now most high school girls don't wear sweats to school unless they're Lululemons, which are yoga pants. While they may be some of the most comfortable things ever, they don't have the same comfort as a slightly baggy pair of sweats. Well guess what. The day has come that sweatpants have become fashionable. Who would have predicted the day I would open up my monthly Bazaar to see celebrities and models alike strutting red carpets and runways in harem cut sweats? Designers such as Alexander Wang (left) and Michael Kors alike have sent harem sweats down the runway and all I can say is "Would you wear them?". The harem pant in general is something usually saved for fashionistas, celebs, models, and girls that are at least in their 20s. Very few teenagers I know would wear them to school or even to something more formal, yet they look way more comfy than a pair of tight jeans. I admit I wouldn't be the first to don them, its a look than takes pure confidence to pull off, but if you have the confidence you can definitely have some serious fun styling them.

But if the runway style harem sweats aren't for you there are some alternatives to get the comfort of sweats with the style of jeans. There are some great sweats that are have some of the harem style without being as baggy or pleated. Some good ones are the Stem Jersey Crop Pants and the Hinge Roll Cuff Cotton Pants. My favorite is my pair of Jolt pants from Nordstrom (right). They look like a skinny black pants (or black leggings if you wear a long enough top) but are made of a really soft cotton, so you feel like you're wearing sweats.

May 13, 2010

Smiles and Sun


"Try to be the rainbow in someone's cloud."

-Anonymous

May 10, 2010

The 365 Day Dress




"What should I wear today? Oh my black dress. And tomorrow? My black dress again, and how about the next day too?" What if you wore the same dress every single day for an entire year? I don't know about you, but there are so few things in my closet I would wear everyday, I can count them on one hand. (But then again with Seattle weather can you blame me?) Well Sheena Matheiken of New York figured out how. She wore the same short black dress every day for an entire year to raise awareness for the Akanksha Foundation, which brings education to kids living in Indian slums.



That said, I find her ingenious. I can't remember how many times I've gone to wear something, just to remember I had just worn in a few days ago and not wanting to end up wearing the same outfit again. But Sheena has solved the puzzle I've been struggling with for years. By doing simple things such as layering with tights, pants, and other dresses and just plain accessorizing, she has created a book of look after different look, all while wearing the same dress. In many of the pictures you would never know it's the same dress each day. Not when it looks like a top in one picture and a jacket in another. That just shows what a little creative thinking and a great versatile piece (like Sheena's Eliza Starbuck dress) can do for your wardrobe, and in this economy it's just what we need. Need a little more inspiration? Check out Sheena's 365 looks at The Uniform Project.