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Think of this as the Sienna Miller dress of the season. Chloe Chartreuse Silk Pleated Mini Dress, our new boyfriend.
-Rachel
Big Brass Buttons? A definite way to amp anything up. Chloe's Double Breasted Croppe Jacket is no exception.
-Rachel
Overpouring is for amateurs. With these, you'll pour like a pro...and don't forget to casually namedrop who they're by. Available at CrystalClassics.com
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes Home Decor Wedgwood Vera Wang Glasswear, Stemware, Wine Glasses, Champagne Flutes Parties & Entertaining Lifestyle Fashion Fashion Expert
BLUEBERRY BUTTERMILK CHEESECAKE ICE CREAM
After freezing, fold in the cheesecake and graham cracker pieces.
Then swirl in the blueberry sauce. Let harden thoroughly in the freezer
before serving, approximately 12 hours in a home freezer.
*Cook's Note: This recipe assumes you are using a pre-made ice
cream base. You may use softened vanilla ice cream, but then omit the
buttermilk, and fold all the remaining ingredients into the softened
ice cream at once and then freeze until hardened.
Put the ice cream base in a
1-gallon container. Add the vanilla, lemon concentrate, and buttermilk
and stir to combine. Freeze until the mixture forms a peak, about 10
minutes.
You can swirl the 2 ice cream flavors together (Blueberry
Buttermilk Cheesecake and Chocolate Cinnamon Caramel) if you keep 1
flavor semi-soft while the other is being prepared.
Oh yes, fashionistas, yet another day of the good old FT State of the Fashion Union. Todays topic? What your Editor Lesley and Blogette Rachel want from the upcoming New York Fashion Week. What we are looking forward to. Oh, and what we want to dissapear.
SOme of the highlights for ya:
LESLEY'S TOP SHOWS:
RACHEL'S TOP SHOWS:
-Rachel and Lesley
Crafted from the softest cotton with just a touch of Lycra, you'll find yourself reaching for it again and again and again and again and................... Available from ilux.com
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Files ilux Black Cotton Tee T-shirt Tank Fashion Fall Fashion Fashion Expert
Looking for some spirited Valentines Day accessories? Luella has your solution-A Luella Logo Heart Bracelet.
-Rachel
Kniow someone who cries when glass touches table? These hand-pressed animal coasters from Sprout home are not only cool-they do the trick beautifully. Any giftee will be impressed with you taste-and cleanly ways.
-Rachel
For foolproof hot chocolate fit for a king:
Available at GourmetSleuth.com (which also has a virtual chocolate pot museum of vintage chocolate pots from around the world).
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Files Gourmet Sleuth Hot Chocolate Pot Gift Home Decor Parties & Entertaining Fashion Food & Cuisine Fashion Expert
The State of the Fashion Union - the Fashion & Lifestyle Blogosphere weighs in for Tuesday, January 31, 2006:
Much of the state of the fashion union starts with the schools that train and pump out graduates. Verbal Croquis gives the system the once over with her gimlet eye, and the system doesn't come out lookin' too stylish. In order to stay relevant, schools need to de-glamorize the industry & help prepare students for a career they'll succeed at - rather than investing vast sums of time and cash in a business they think they'll dig. As an added bonus, she suggests fun curriculum changes such as classes in "How to Produce a Fashion Show aka How to Work with Skinny Models All Day and Not Develop an Eating Disorder" and "Cantonese for Garmentos 101 aka How to Tell Your Contractor That They Did Everything Wrong"
Fashion vs. style - make no mistake, there is a difference. The Fashionable Kiffen explains that while fashion is part of the culture and a huge industry - ie. a fashionable type would rock the new "formal" shorts, textured tights, frilly blouse, and Chloe'esque bag - style is a means of personal expression, and the stylish fashionista would rock these elements at different times...provided they actually fit with their personal vision of how they want to represent themselves visually.
Part of the difference between fashion and style is the way each is approached. Erin at Dress a Day explains that when a fashionable person sees a dress, bag or shoe, they tend to think in absolutes: "love it!" "hate it!" and eventually, after much overexposure, become indifferent - like Uggs, once fashionable but never stylish. A stylish person, however, will see a dress and think, "I like this and this, but would change this, that, and the other."
Balenciaga-obsessed (we feel you here!), Kimair loves the spring collection, but has a beef with the lofty prices.
It's wedding season, and what's the first thing that comes to mind? The dress, of course, which Never teh Bride points out is usually an oversized & lacy princess gown - something that conforms to your friends' and family's expectations of what a "wedding dress" is. Which is why the giant white meringue shows no sign of yielding to the times, fashion, or just about anything else. While we love change, we also hold our traditions dear, so even the most fashion-forward woman will - when transformed into a bride-to-be - opt for a poofy confection over a sharp-edged runway creation.
Fight the Man! At Shangri Law, the fashion Fash'ists are in for a bitch-slapping for turning women into clothes hangers, rather than creating fashions that women actually will wear & look good. Citing the case of the recent Kate Moss cocaine-snorting scandal, who was simply living up to the image they created, H&M dropped her as their spokesperson for not being "healthy, wholesome and sound" - they wonder what's wrong with a business that feigns shock when one of its products actually prove effective.
And the State of the Men's Fashion Union is....the same ole' same ole reports The Bag Snob. Other than a groovy puffy shirt at McQueen and a bunch of "skinny and gay looking models", the song remains the same.
White is still NOT the new black reaffirm La Dolce Divas, even though Valentino - like Chanel - sent a gorge and, yes, white-filled collection down the spring couture runway, filled with curve-enhancing skirts and flattering frocks.
Has all the hoopla surrounding Fashionweek got ya scratching your head? You're not alone. Girl a Whirl gets to the heart of the fashionable frenzy.
Forget waiting months after Fashionweek to see how fashion is presented and "preached about in Vogue and Bazaar" says The Beauty Newsletter. She also suggests that designers forgo million dollar production shows - which keeps many a small designer out of the game - and posting small collection previews which could easily be blogged about, or even letting fashionistas comment on designs before they're committed to fabric.
Hellooooo...that's Asia calling says Making Things, and in Shanghai - yuppie central - you are what you buy. Where five years ago, wealthy Chinese had to visit Paris for their LV, today, every luxury brand is well represented in China. And just as every world capital tries to revamp their image through fashion, China is no different, so stay tuned.
Just like the love, the creativity is gone in fashion...but is it? The Fashiontribes editors podcast/discuss the demise of London, the rise & influence of alternative fashionweeks like Australia, and how streetfashion is the new muse. They also list their spring must-have fashion picks.
- Lesley Scott
(NOTE: For Summary #1 of what the bloggers are saying, click here. For summary #2, click here.)
Fashiontribes State of the Fashion Union Pop Culture Fashion Fashion Expert
-Moschino Heart Shaped Sunglasses-
-RAchel
How cute are these adorable flower jar toppers? Way too cute to stay home, if you ask me. Available from Chrisi.com
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Files Chrisi Peonies from Heaven Jar Topper Accessories Fashion Fashion Expert
Our favorite rock fanatic sent out a series of simple, flowing dresses. We love this Anna Sui Lace Mini Dress-wear it over a bikini or a slip. We don't care.
-Rachel
By mechanically rejuvenating one of the most fundamental components of the body - the connective tissue which transports, attaches, envelops, fills, insulates and protects every square inch of us - the Wellbox staves off deterioration (cellulite, localized fat, wrinkles, skin loosening...). And judging by the speed at which they're flying off the shelves at Saks Fifth Avenue, the fashionistas have spoken & there's something to this mad science. Available at WellBox.com
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes Beauty Wellbox Anti-Aging & Cellulite Treatment Fashion Fashion Expert
SEABASS BAKED IN A BAG
Ask your
fishmonger to gut and scale your fish. Lay out a piece of tin foil and
fold in half. Place the sea bass on top of the foil and score the flesh
about 2 inches apart on both sides. Rub plenty of salt and pepper into
the scores. Lay out the fennel on the foil and place fish on top of the
fennel and push to one side of the foil. Cover liberally with the
basil, red onion and bay leaves, making sure you tuck some into the
belly. Drizzle over plenty of olive oil, lemon juice and knobs of
butter. Fold over the left hand half of the foil and seal the 3 sides
to gently hug the fish. Place on tray and bake in a preheated 375
degree oven for approximately 16 minutes (8 minutes per pound). Remove
from the oven and allow to stand for 3 to 4 minutes without opening the
bag.
We love Southern Music-the richness and depth that it inspires in today's musicians is undeniable. Music Maker is devoted to saving a dying form of music.
OUR MISSION
Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern musical traditions gain recognition and meet their day to day needs. Today, many such musicians are living in extreme poverty and need food, shelter, medical care, and other assistance. Music Maker's aid and service programs improve the quality of recipients' lives. Our work affirms to these artists that we value the gifts of music and inspiration they have delivered to the world.
Our mission is to give back to the roots of American music.
Our criterion for recipients is they be rooted in a Southern musical tradition, be 55 years or older and have an annual income less than $18,000.
Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. is a tax exempt, public charity under IRS
code 501(c)3.
Make a donation today PROGRAMS
- Musician Sustenance - grants to meet basic life needs and emergency relief.
- Musical Development - grants and services for recipient artist professional development and career advancement.
- Cultural Access - supports the preservation and proliferation of American musical traditions.
-RAchel
Through scholarships for American Indian college students and support of America's tribally controlled colleges and universities, the American Indian College Fund - CollegeFund.org - is giving hope to, and creating better lives for, generations of Native American students and their families and communities.
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes American Indian College Fund Fashion Fashion Expert
While many people are familier with Sam Shepard, some of his earlier works are lesser known. The Unseen Hand and Other Plays gives a little view into his past life.
From Library Journal
This duo offers a full-length play and a collection of 14 shorter dramatic works from various points in Shepard's career. As one of the best of the modern crop of American playwrights, Shepard belongs in all collections. With the current Broadway outing of his 1979 play Buried Child receiving multiple Tony Award nominations, interest in the playwright and actor should increase.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.Book Description
The complete scripts to six Sam Shepard plays: The Unseen Hand * Forensic and the Navigators * The Holy Ghostly * Back Bog Beast Bait * Shaved Splits * 4-H Club
SAM'S EARLY PLAYS ARE AMAZING, January 19, 2000
Reviewer: "joshr22" (Boston, MAUSA) WOW! This book is absolutely electrifying. I was first turned on to Sam Shepard from reading "True West", one of his later amazing plays. As I read more and more I thought I had a good understanding of his writing: until I read this book. This book contains many of Shepard's earlier plays from the time he first landed in New York and, as his roommate Charles Mingus Jr. has said "Would go into a room with a ream of paper and come out two hours later with a finished play". If you have really enjoyed some of Shepard's later stuff, I definetly recommend this book to give you a fresh perspective on someone who literally turns "conventional theatre" upside down. If you are new to Shepard, you might want to tryhis later works first, only because they are easier to follow. These earlier works are very much like the "Beat generation"- throwing out speeches and sentences without punctuation, with tons of craziness happening on every inch of the stage. Sometimes the plays may be hard to follow, or confusing, but if you really "get" what Shepard is doing, you will love this book. Just be warned that all the plays are far from conventional theatre. If you are an "Our Town" type of person this isn't for you. If you enjoy Albee and Beckett, if you enjoy equal parts peace and chaos on stage, then check this book out.
-Rachel
Once again Dolce does it. These Dolce & Gabbana Baggy White Suspender Shorts are the perfect example of how they can take anything and make it sweet and sexy. THought suspenders were only for nerds? Think again.
-Rachel
Tara Subkoff ventured into denim for IOC, which had what we like to refer to as mixed-bag results. The pieces we love, however, we really love. Take this Imitation of Christ Denim mini-short overall Jumpsuit. Worn with or without a t-shirt, it is stunningly fabulous.
-Rachel
Looking to improve your summer shoe 'drobe? We love these Nine West Bettina flats from Glam. Available in light pink, light blue and black, there is a choice for every mood. With pointy toes and buckles, we can't get enough of there sugar-coated rocker chic.
-Rachel
What should be on your must-acquire list for spring? In this podcast discussion of The State of the Fashion Union, Fashiontribes.com editors Lesley & Rachel sort matters out for you.
LESLEY'S SPRING MUST HAVES:
RACHEL'S I-GOTTA-GET IT PICKS:
Fashiontribes State of the Fashion Union Spring Fashion Must Haves Podcast Fall Fashion Fashion Expert
Each 4" x 5" heart garden comes complete with creeping thyme seeds, soil, and granite drainage medium. All you have to do is add water....and love (awwwwwww). Available at Wishingfish.com
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes Home Decor Wishingfish Thyme Heart Garden Gift Fashion Fashion Expert
In this podcast discussion of the State of the Fashion Union, FT's Lesley & Rachel discuss the growth of less traditional fashion locations such as Australian Fashionweek; why creativity in fashion is on the wane; and how streetfashion is the industry's new muse.
Podcast highlights:
LONDON: London may (arguably) have the best fashion schools, but the industry does nothing to entice young designers to stay & work there. The Stella McCartneys & Alexander McQueens have been enticed to head to Paris. While London has rockin' young designers like Giles, a single designer can't an entire industry sustain. Also, too many young designers came out of places like Central St. Martins & sent way too much abstraction down the runways - wearable tables & chairs, anyone? Fashion is not fine art; ultimately, it is about craft & has an inescapable practical side that can't be ignored - someone, somewhere has to wear the stuff.
AUSTRALIA: With fresh young design talent like Sass & Bid, Lover, Willow & Karen Walker, Australia now occupies the spot on the fashion landscape that London used to. To generate interest & prestige, the intrepid Aussies have been flying premier fashion editors in for their Fashionweek...a practice which will soon be no longer necessary. Their geographical isolation, as well as the fact that their seasons are reversed, means that they not only "lead" (in a sense) the fashion cities from the Northern hemisphere into spring, but that they can develop according to their own fashion drummer, without the almost incestuous copying that occurs between design houses based in New York-London-Paris-Milan.
NEW YORK & PARIS: All about the money, true, but New York has the added element of many design houses with a thriving private client business, while Paris is known for the creativity of the shows.
MILAN: The intersection of sex and money, such as Versace & Dolce, but also a mix of wearability thrown in - Prada & the new Gucci - which often show hemlines, colors, silhouettes & accessories that seem downright unwearable or ugly at first, but then transform into something entirely covetable...ie. Milan is often directional & a harbinger of change in the fashion winds.
THE BUSINESS OF IMAGE: Cindy Crawford has often said that even she works for Cindy Crawford, Inc. Celebs are big business, and their image is a crucial part of the package. Wear something "creative" or questionable, and expect to be slaughtered & ridiculed by the press & tabloids the following week. Not having a perfectly slick image 24/7 can hurt the bottom line from the roles you are cast in, to the products you are paid to endorse. To avoid costly fashion mistakes, celebs hire professional stylists & handlers, and the result: incredibly slick & completely boring.
THE BUSINESS OF FASHION: As creative as fashion can be, it's also a business & exists to make money. Fashion designers have to bow to the bottom line. Since celebs are no longer free to be the creative & inspiring Jackie O-style icons they once were, fashion designers now look elsewhere for inspiration. And these days, true fashion creativity comes from the streets.
STREETFASHION: THE NEW MUSE In a post-9/11 world, people are reaching for more luxurious, higher priced fashion staples...after all, who knows what will happen tomorrow, so why not enjoy now? In addition, there are more choices that ever in stores & on the internet, and at any pricepoint from H&M and Target, to four-figure designer. And the fashionista who can mix a little of this designer with a dash of that designer, with a fun H&M piece thrown in, rules the fashion roost. A chic girl who edits what's out there and boils it down to an essential look - without worries about what it will cost her & her career - is the new fashion muse for the likes of influential & talented designers like Marc Jacobs. The chic French fille tends to do this naturally, as do musicians - so it's not surprising that the White Stripes's Meg White is currently starring in Marc Jacobs ad campaign.
BE YOUR OWN MUSE & SAVE FASHION IN THE PROCESS: Thanks to venues like H&M or Luella Bartley for Target, or even the relatively affordable Marc by Marc Jacobs, everyone now has a way into fashion. And the way to really enjoy fashion & stand out from the pack? Put to rest any lingering loyalties to a single designer. What will save fashion? Ignore what the press is determining are "the trends" of the season & focus on what looks good on you & what you love. Then splurge on something fabulous & use it all the time. Take that designer bag with you everywhere from school to the gym, and don't treat it like it's precious (those clever French fashionistas understand this intuitively). It's empowering to think that it's we, the people, and our own personal sense of style that are going to bring back what we love best about fashion.
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes State of the Fashion Union Blog Report Fashion Podcast Fashion Expert
BANANA PUDDING NAPOLEON
Banana Pudding:
Napoleon Layers:
For
the Pudding: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup milk, 1/3 cup
sugar, eggs, egg yolk and cornstarch. In a medium saucepan, bring 2
cups milk and 3 tablespoons sugar almost to a boil. Whisk in other
ingredients. Bring to a low boil. Whisk constantly until thickened and
smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Strain custard and whisk
in vanilla. Place 2 bananas in food processor and pulse until cut into
small pieces. Fold this into custard and refrigerate.
For the Napoleon Layers: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk egg
whites with sugar. Stir in melted butter and vanilla extract. Fold in
flour. On a parchment lined sheet pan, spread 1 tablespoon of mixture
thinly into a 4-inch diameter circle (like a thin cookie). Repeat until
there is no more batter. Bake in the oven until light brown, about 5
minutes. For each serving, use 3 "cookies". Slice thin remaining
bananas on bias. On each plate, place 1 cookie, followed by 2 slices of
bananas, 1 1/2 tablespoons of banana custard. Repeat and then top with
remaining cookie. Garnish with powdered sugar and mint leaves.
Sexy & sultry, this lil' number would look as hot with jeans as with a mini. Available at AvitaStyle.com
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Files Avita Cashmere Halter Fall Fashion Fashion Expert
Apparently, Jun Takahashi does more than just clothing right. This Undercover Claw and Crystal Pendant Necklace is sort of tawdry rock and roll, sort of goth and definitely plain cool. Pair it with sweet lace and be the ultimate badass.
-Rachel
-Rachel
What to give the girl in your life who has everything? Why, try a heart motif. These Triple Heart Dangle Earrings are a multicoloured way to show your love. The translucent heart charms hang from quite sweet chains-we LOVE to love them.
-Rachel
While LeSportsac has really upped their design & sex quotient of late, I still really dig how practical their stuff is - ie. it's virtually indestructable, and when it gets dirty, you just throw it in the washing machine. Available at LeSportsac.com
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Files LeSportsac Kitty Cosmetic Bag Accessories Fashion Gift Beauty Fashion Expert
-Chanel Dripping Chain Logo Belt-
-Rachel
The State of the Fashion Union - the Fashion & Lifestyle Blogosphere weighs in for Monday, January 30th, 2006:
Is death chic the new black of makeup? Kim at I Am Pretty NYC fears so. While the garments are gorge, makeup maven Pat McGrath's makeup has been less so. Out of control dead at Dior, hospital green corpse bride eyes at Chanel, and a cocaine-overdosed Eurotrash Powerbitch from the 80s at, of all places, Valentino. Yikes.
La Dolce Divas - who fess up to being Coco Chanel-obsessed (aren't we all?!) - pick their diva-worthy faves from the recent Chanel couture spring 2006 show. Lots & lots & LOTS of white, but, they stress, white is NOT going to be the new black.
Are runway shows an over-hyped promotional tool - money-losing endeavors which solely benefit established designers with tons of dough, and cringe-worthy if done on a budget? Final Fashion takes on the ins and outs of the circus that is the fashion show. Also, the traditional fashion "seasons" are out of kilter with how people actually live & buy clothes...and the fashion cycles need to reflect that new reality.
The transformative power of a new haircut, the perfect shade of lipstick or a just-right little black dress is not to be underestimated. But, The Fashionable Kiffen warns, take a makeover for what it's worth because whether you're in Kmart or Chanel, it's still you. She also makes the point that the growing power of the Asian market - both as designers & consumers - will only increase the influence of Asian-inspired trends in the West.
Dig fashion? You'll need a hefty bankroll. Those clever fashionistas at I Am Fashion point out that dad knows best, passing along this bit of fatherly wisdom: if you want to sport Prada and Gucci, you'll need a good job & a fancy company & employment in "a serious business district."
Predictions are the order of the day at The Bag Snob. With Nicole Richie shilling for Jimmy Choo, Mischa Barton at the Dior couture show and Balenciaga doing maternity for Gwyneth Paltrow, la Snob wonders what we have come to: will Lil' Kim will be the new spokesmodel for Prada, Star Jones Reynolds pose for Armani's new campaign and Vera Wang do an entire maternity bridal line?
Christian Lacroix's Spring 2006 collection inspired Designer Ella at Kiss Me Stace to sing his praises. She also discusses the way in which the media tends to portray fashionistas poorly.
This time, the revolution will be televised, IM'ed, cellphon'ed, internet'ed, blogged, vlogged, and podcasted. It's the Revolt of the Super Chicks, points out Counterfeit Chic. In this third wave feminism - the first being the right to vote & ditch your corset a la Coco Chanel, and the second being the right to pursue a professional career - there is no a commitment to individuality and playful paradox whereby you can have a boyfriend one week & a girlfriend the next, enjoy peircings with your piety, and rock flip flops with an evening gown. As sports bonding gives way to shoe bonding, and burka-clad chicks are heading back to the beauty salon en masse, today's supa-sistah no longer dresses for men or anyone else...she goes forth, creates, contradicts & doesn't feel compelled to copy.
Yes, Japan is known for its food, sushi, kooky fashions, and the bullet trains, but did you know they have amazing craft stores and a craft industry? Andrea Tung of Making Things points out that Japanese craft books are widely available and beautiful with gorgeously prop-styled pix, easy to follow visual instructions, and a European aesthetic that out Frenches the French. From how to make clothes to accessories, supercute dolls to of course knitting and crocheting, it hard to limit yourself to one of these style-driven craft how tos. Can't make it to Tokyo anytime soon? Pick one up on ebay.
And thanks to Bunnyshop for a refreshing F**k Fashionweek take on the whole affair. In our brainless, Uggs-and-power suits moment - where Tara Reid is considered a cultural arbiter and Jenny McCarthy is a best-selling author - Bunnyshop longs for a return to the good ole days when Fashionweek was about, well, fashion, and attended by buyers and editors in the business rather than this year's goodie-bag obsessed celebutantes.
- Lesley Scott
(NOTE: For Summary #1 on what the bloggers are saying, click here.)
Fashiontribes State of the Fashion Union Fashion Pop Culture Fashion Expert
Amongst my favorite artists with crazy ideas, Yayoi Kazuma ranks high. Her Obsessive Compulsive (no, really) art is based off perfectly placed, perfectly perfect polka dots. These Yayoi Kazuma Soft Sculpture Pillows are ideal for anyone who wants real art, but can't afford it. Their symmetry and bulbous shapes are ideal to spice up any home.
-Rachel
If you're bored waiting to ascend to the tax bracket where you can afford the ice you so deserve, these clever imposters might be just the thing. Next Ten's DiamondAura synthetic diamonds undergo some mad science whereby naturally-occurring minerals are heated to an incredibly high heat (5000 degrees F) in fancy lab equipment, and a number of other steps...until voila, insta-diamond. When placed next to the real thing - unless you're a diamond appraiser with instruments - it's virtually impossible to tell the difference.
And yes, these ice wannabe's have the 4 Cs - color, clarity, cut, & carat weight - and they purportedly have more flash & even cut glass. Available at NextTen.com
- Lesley Scott
Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Files DiamondAura Synthetic Diamonds Next Ten Jewelry, Rings, Accessories Fashion Fashion Expert
It's fascinating to see what fascinates others. A look at the coolest Fashiontribes pop culture posts for the last month or so revealed some interesting themes: permanent childhood, the death of cool, and fear of the environment.
I DON'T WANNA GROW UP: Further evidence that the plague of man-children, daddy-babies, & overgrown prin
