We just got back from an 18 day vacation in Europe. I will be blogging about all of our stops and experiences but first I had to share a fashion observation.

The summer months are not the time to see what is happening in fashion in Europe.  Everyone is on vacation too and in most places it is very warm. But I have to share the summer of 2017 phenomenon…BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES.

On the cruise ship we were on the top four countries represented were USA, Australia, Germany, and Great Britain. Every time I turned around someone was wearing black and white stripes. I shared my observation with my friend Rose and once I said it out loud it was as if people were only wearing black and white stripes!  You would see them around the same table dining in their black and white stripes. You would see a couple at another table where the man and the woman were wearing black and white stripes. There were tops, shirts, dresses and pants in stripes. Vertical and horizontal and diagonal versions were all on display.  We wished we had kept a list on how many people we saw because it was phenomenal.

At least it was a statement that looks good on everyone and is classic and fresh no matter what the year.

By the way, this writer traveled from JFK to Lisbon in a black and white stripe dress.

 

We just got back from an 18 day vacation in Europe. I will be blogging about all of our stops and experiences but first I had to share a fashion observation.

The summer months are not the time to see what is happening in fashion in Europe.  Everyone is on vacation too and in most places it is very warm. But I have to share the summer of 2017 phenomenon…BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES.

On the cruise ship we were on the top four countries represented were USA, Australia, Germany, and Great Britain. Every time I turned around someone was wearing black and white stripes. I shared my observation with my friend Rose and once I said it out loud it was as if people were only wearing black and white stripes!  You would see them around the same table dining in their black and white stripes. You would see a couple at another table where the man and the woman were wearing black and white stripes. There were tops, shirts, dresses and pants in stripes. Vertical and horizontal and diagonal versions were all on display.  We wished we had kept a list on how many people we saw because it was phenomenal.

At least it was a statement that looks good on everyone and is classic and fresh no matter what the year.

By the way, this writer traveled from JFK to Lisbon in a black and white stripe dress.

 

Last year I saw an article ranking various restaurants in Bergen County for “best” this and that and I made a list of places I wanted to go to. At the top of the list was Ivy Inn at 288 Terrace Ave in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. This restaurant was a former stagecoach inn with a fireplace, brick walls and, the selling point for us, live piano.

Our first visit there was for Happy Hour on a Thursday. We went and sat at this cozy bar and met our bartender Amelia. She was welcoming and we immediately felt that we had found a great new spot! Ivy Inn had been voted Most Romantic bar and restaurant, best bar for happy hour and maybe more “bests”.  We ordered wine and some items from the bar menu which is fantastic, extensive and incredibly well priced. But, the best was yet to come! Live piano music from 4:30 until closing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Meeting Jerry Mendelson was the equivalent of meeting the Ambassador for the Ivy Inn. Jerry has been Ivy Inn’s piano man for the last 17 years.  Jerry is 95 years young.  He started playing the piano when he was 8. College was interrupted when Pearl Harbor was attacked and he joined the Navy. He served on an aircraft carrier. He was shot down but was picked up and saved by the Philippine underground who took care of them and got them back to the ship. Jerry has been interviewed for a Library of Congress article. When his civilian life resumed, he went to Columbia and was accepted at Julliard. He has played for or with Les Paul, Ray Charles, and Tony Bennett and many more.  His was the music that filled Radio City Music Hall and he filled in for the organ player at Yankee Stadium.

Jerry can play any and every song you could possibly want to hear. Asked why at 95 he is still working? I love what I do, he says. He loves playing songs that his guests want to hear. And he adds, “it has been a career with no regrets”.

Such passion! I feel so blessed to have met this man. We have enjoyed many “happy hours” listening to him play.

Although Wonder Woman was born in 1941, she is now on the BIG screen letting you know that even at her age she can still kick butt!

CBS  Sunday morning recently did a segment on Wonder Woman to coincide with the movie opening.  In 1941 DC Comics publisher Max Gaines was concerned that comics were too violent and he turned to William Marston for his input.  Marston was a psychologist and author.  Marston suggested they needed a female superhero. “She’ll be essentially a pacifist. She’ll fight for democracy, but she will be fighting for equal rights for women. And her super powers will be love and truth and beauty.”

Marston was very much influenced by the suffragist movement from his days at Harvard in the early 1900’s.  In the early comics Wonder Woman was frequently breaking out of chains.  Marston said “She’s gotta be chained up so that she can break herself free”. Harvard professor Jill Lepore (author of The Secret History of Wonder Woman) said “No one ever rescues her; she rescues herself.”

As a fashion aficionado, I was interested in how they would costume our superhero Diana in the new movie. Since it is an origin story she was clad in Amazonian fashions from the times of the island of Themyscira. Over the last 76 years Wonder Woman has been in various forms of dress that reflected the times. There was a big debate about whether or not the original Wonder Woman was wearing a skirt. Actually it was culottes (I TOLD you styles recycle).  How could they risk a skirt flying up over her head when she was doing battle?

And then there is the Lasso of Truth. Wouldn’t it be something to have one of these lariats?  Anyone it captures is compelled to tell the truth. WOW.

All in all, the movie is a fun action packed story and I look forward to sequels.

What I would really love to see is someone, female or male, show up with wrist cuffs that can deflect all of the negativity flying around today.  And as Diana Princess of Themyscira says, Only Love Can Save The World. What a concept.

This April we were invited to a wedding in St Louis. Since we are retired and feel the spirit of adventure, we decided to turn it into a road trip.

One place that has always been on my bucket list of places to see is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Tom and I agreed that this would make a great first stop. We could get on Route 80 and just about fall into Cleveland in 7-8 hours. When I mentioned on Facebook that I was taking a road trip to include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame one of my high school classmates commented that she lived in that vicinity. Want to meet us for dinner? I got an enthusiastic Yes as a response! So the first night of our trip was having dinner with Melanie and Merle who drove about an hour to meet us in downtown Cleveland. What a great time we had talking as if no time had passed between us.  In fact, it had been 50 years. It was so great! So many people said to me wow, you made a dinner date after so many years? Here is where the beauty of Facebook comes in.  It did not feel like that long at all. Many of our classmates have been catching up for years. We have shared many life events.  Some very sad and we have all been there for each other. So it seemed perfectly natural to me to “catch up” with  Mel while passing through Cleveland. We enjoyed drinks at the bar and then dinner. Very enjoyable evening. I was so glad we planned it.

We stayed at the Doubletree By Hilton Cleveland Downtown Lakeside.  I chose this hotel because it was so well situated for where we wanted to go. The hotel was great with a terrific bar and dining room. There was a new beer for us on tap that Tom loved- Great Lakes Irish Ale. The best part of staying here was that they offered a free shuttle ride to anything in the immediate area. We could leave the car in the garage for our stay. That was a bonus. The day after we arrived we went to the R&R Hall of Fame and wound up spending the entire day there. Each level offered fabulous exhibits and films to view.  From a fashion standpoint the exhibits of all the attire from each of the decades was so great. There was a film on Elvis that was very good. Our favorite film was about Dick Clark and the American Bandstand and how he introduced and launched so many careers. It is amazing to think back to all of the different kinds of music he introduced. American Bandstand was not just “it’s got a good beat, I can dance to it”. It was so much more. It brought all different kinds of  music into homes all over America. We also got to see a U2 3D concert in their Foster Theater. Outrageous! All in all it was a great day and once again reinforces for me that music is the universal language and the cure for whatever ales you.

That night we went downtown for dinner at Lola’s on 4th street. This restaurant is owned by Michael Symon (Iron Chef on the Food Network and The Crew). It is one of the best restaurants I have EVER been in. The restaurant “serves rustic fare in a sleek, bustling setting.”  The atmosphere is beautiful and the food is insanely creative and delicious. I would recommend this as a must-do for anyone going to Cleveland. The downtown area is very lively. Lots of restaurants. Strings of lights cross the streets creating a festive atmosphere. There is also the world’s largest outdoor chandelier that hangs 44 feet above the street in the historic Playhouse Square Theater district. When this is illuminated at night it is quite a sight to see.

We would have been happy to stay longer in Cleveland but we had to get on our way. Would love to come back some day.

Day 3 of our road trip was driving to Chicago. This leg of the trip was about 7 hours in the car. We had bought several CDs at the Hall of Fame so we had lots to listen to and sing along with.  I have been to Chicago several times but I was always there for business and never had much spare time.  As we neared Chicago it was rush hour and there was much more traffic than we had seen for many miles. I had made a reservation at Crowne Plaza Chicago West Loop because it would be less driving through the city to get to the hotel. It was a good choice and got us out of the highway traffic quickly.  That night we went to Bar Siena.  It is a fun “gathering” place in the West Loop. It is a 2 story restaurant  serving regional Italian food.  The bar on the first floor was hopping!

Day 4 was a weather disaster. Thank goodness I did not have to limit the amount of clothes we brought. I had packed some of everything since I had heard that April weather in Chicago could be quite dicey. So we bundled up with rain gear to go on a River Cruise! The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise was what we had planned for this day.  There were only 2 other people crazy enough to take this tour today. They must have been on a tight schedule too. The winds were blustering and rain and sleet were coming down, but the tour was so worth it. The guide we had really knew his stuff and we got to hear all about the buildings and the architectural styles along the Chicago River and the history of each. All of this magnificence but there were sights to pull you back to reality. There were homeless “tent cities” along one section of  the riverbank. When our tour was over the weather was so nasty that they suspended tours for the rest of the day. So glad we had scheduled our tour early so that we did not miss it. From the dock we hustled over to Navy Pier where we could have lunch at Giordano’s for deep dish pizza. This was something Tom wanted to try- traditional deep dish pizza  which Chicago is known for. It was very tasty, but we decided we are thin crust aficionados.  By the time we got back to the hotel is was snowing and blowing and we decided to cozy up to the hotel bar for dinner that night instead of trying to hail cabs. Many people decided to do exactly that and we had some lively conversation with some men in town for a convention.

Day 5 back on the road heading now south and west to St Louis. The weather was totally improved this morning and exiting the city went smoothly. This stretch of the drive was wide open space. Lots of farm land and wind farms. Our drive was about 5 hours. Loved approaching St Louis and seeing the Gateway Arch from the highway. Here we stayed at the Marriott St Louis Grand Hotel which is downtown. The next few days in St Louis were jam packed with celebrations. The youngest daughter of a couple I have been friends with for 46 years was getting married. And it was celebration after celebration. The first night was a dinner at Gloria and Doug’s home with family who had arrived early for the wedding. The next day more friends arrived at the hotel and we all had invitations to the rehearsal dinner.  Saturday was the wedding and it was a beautiful, sunny and 80 degree day. The bride was stunning. The wedding ceremony was in a breathtaking Cathedral.  The reception was a small gathering for 285 guests. It was quite the party.  The next day some of our group had flights home. For those of us staying another night we went to the National Blues Museum which was right down the street from our hotel.  This was another fabulous musical journey. “The national Blues Museum is dedicated to preserving and honoring the history and legacy of Blues music and its impact on world culture”. This was a stop worth taking. One of my favorite quotes that I picked up here is  “the blues had a baby and they named it Rock and Roll” (Muddy Waters). And as Keith Richards said “If you don’t know the blues…there is no point in picking up a guitar and playing rock and roll or any other form of popular music”. That night we went back to Gloria and Doug’s for our last evening. What a great visit with forever friends.

Day 9 back on the road home. No fooling around on the trip home. Just one stop in the middle to relax for dinner and the night. We stopped at another Doubletree in Newark Ohio.

All in all it was a wonderful trip. It was filled with friends, new adventures and wonderful conversations on the open road with my husband (yes, we are still talking after all that driving). States we ventured through were New jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and on the return our toes hit West Virginia for a minute. On the way home we cut through Blue Mountain, Kittatinny Mountain and Tuscarora Mountain.

Now I can put all of these memories in my pocket and keep them in our hearts and start planning the next adventure.

 

Does it kill you when a trend resurfaces and you KNOW that you owned it when it was trendy years ago? I can’t tell you how many times this has happened to me.  And of course, that piece would be perfect again.  Right now the 80’s are “back”.  We were all there for the first go round, right?

I read an article that interviewed Marissa Benedetto the lead stylist at the lux resale site The RealReal. In the interview Ms Benedetto listed a number of items that you should not give away. I am going to share them with you.

I dedicate this post to my friend Rosy who, along with me, has trouble clearing out a closet and yet somehow we manage to let one of two things slip away from us that we wished we had saved.

Off the Shoulder.  This trend dates back as far as the Victorian era…resurfaces every so often and is having a resurgence again this year. You may have had a dress or surely a top that would fit right in again this year.

Slip Dresses. This trend goes back to the 90’s (wow, I hate to think of the 90’s as vintage). Right now the trend is slip dresses worn over other articles of clothing.

High Waist Jeans. This trend surfaces every decade and is “in” right now.

Platform Shoes. This style shoe started in the 40’s and then really became popular in the 70’s.  Here it is again in full swing. I can still remember all of the colors of Candies platform shoes I had.

Sheers.  The sheer trend goes back to the 90’s to Kate Moss dressing in a sheer slip dress.  Sheer is now in every form of dressing and has been quite strong for the last couple of years.

Statement Earrings. Statement earrings are an ongoing trend. In the 60’s Twiggy revived the trend with her over sized dangling ball earrings.  Today there are lots of statement size earrings. Many are asymmetric and some are even completely mismatched. Get creative with the single earrings you have kept over the years thinking that you would eventually find the missing one.

Wide Leg Trousers.  Introduced in the 40’s. Think Katherine Hepburn. Wide leg trousers go in and out. Right now they are In.

So, if you have the space to save (I said save not hoard) it is fun to be able to shop in your closet and intermittently resurrect a favorite loved article of clothing or an accessory. In fact, part of the fun is telling a story about the piece from back in the day.

How do you get into the swing of a new season if you don’t want to drop a lot of cash on a few new outfits? Accessorize! This is the fastest way to update your look.

HANDBAGS. Handbags are my personal addiction. I absolutely cannot forego new bags each season. I have so any handbags that it is crazy. Name the color, size or style and the chances are good that I have it.  I have vintage bags that my mother owned and some of my own bags are old enough to be considered vintage.  I use my favorite bags a lot and sometimes they are not always what is considered “in fashion” right then but, I make it my own statement and I enjoy them. This season the “look” is a smaller hand held bag. Top handle bags have some structure and may also have an extra strap so that the bag can do double duty as a cross body or over the shoulder style. The colors are saturated. Prints and patterns are happening for 2017. This really adds impact to your outfit. Flashy hardware adds to the bag’s personality. Leather tassels are in as well as bag charms. Colorful shopper totes are in this season. Many are showing a bag within the bag. The bag can be a clutch or some sort of pouch. Colors complement the tote or often the extra piece is in a print. This is a seriously good idea if you generally carry a lot of stuff. You can put all the important items in the clutch- wallet, keys, phone- and lift the clutch out of the tote when you are leaving the car to run errands  or when you leave  the office for lunch. Don’t be afraid to mix colors and prints. Shapes, as well as  colors and prints add so much to your outfit. You will see a variety of shapes this season. I have seen several bags that have a  circular shape.  Another popular as well as useful item is a phone cross body bag. This makes it so much easier to keep track of where your phone is at all times.

SHOES. Who doesn’t like shoes? But, at this point in my life I have to have fashion with comfort. What a lucky break we are getting this season. Low heels and flats are”in” as well as block heels and wedges. Comfort for sure. Talk about comfort, sneakers are also seen on many of the street style set. Sneakers are being worn with skirts of all lengths as well as dresses, and of course, shorts, pants and jeans. Lace up cut out styles are being shown with block heels and flats. Stilettos are shrinking down and the look is still good. You can also get a pop of color with your shoes and sandals this season too. To pair up with the feminine and glamorous  trends you can pick up a pair of kitten heels.

JEWELRY.  Big and Bold for 2017. Earrings are the statement makers. Not only are the earrings bold, but there are many unmatched asymmetric pairs. Collar necklaces are everywhere. These are not just chokers that we have been seeing. They are collars that show off the collarbone. Rings can be anything from micro diamonds on small bands stacked on the hand to chunky 80’s inspired signet rings. The Anklet is returning.

TASSELS. There are tassels everywhere. They adorn hats, sandals and handbags. Tassels are combined with beads to make choker style necklaces and bold dangling earrings.The colors are bright and festive.

The last Must Have Accessory is SUNGLASSES. If for nothing other than eye health, you should always have sunglasses on. And the bonus is that sunglasses give you instant style. Circular lenses have always been around and this year is no exception. There are some fabulous bold looks out this season. Find a shape to suit your face and in a color to complement your outfit.

And remember, your most important accessory is your smile.

 

Spring is on the way. It is, right? You would not know it looking out my window today. We are having a wild nor’easter! So, what better kind of day to think about Spring clothes and what is in your closet that can make a comeback. There are many trends for Spring 2017 that got their start in 2016.

Last March I was talking about the fresh looks in the cold shoulder styles as well as the sheer fabrications and ruffles. If you were like me, some of these looks were added to your wardrobe. Luckily they are continuing. What a relief! I would hate to retire the tops and sweaters I purchased last spring/summer.

For my first of the season trend blogs I will talk about what to look for and add to your wardrobe. My next blog will be about the accessories to pull it all together. In some cases just the addition of new shoes or a bag or jewelry can transform a look from 2016 to 2017.

The most wearable trends for spring  are:

Denim on Denim. Everyone wears denim so it is always good to see it on the high side of the trends for a season. What is fresh for spring 2017 is Two-Toned Denim. Denim shades are mixed in jackets, jeans,  denim skirts and shirts. There are also patchwork denim jackets and shirts. Some of them are also embroidered which is another big hit for spring.

Logo and Statement Tees. What I have seen so far in magazines and on the internet is so terrific. These tees are not just brand logos but affirmation statements and messages that are personalized and many speak of activism. The range here is quite broad going from feelings of love and harmony to in-your-face statements to make everyone think. My thoughts here are be aware of what you wear and be ready for any comments that may come in your direction.

Statement making sleeves.  I will throw in this category the cold shoulder styles that continue. Off the shoulder and one shoulder in tops and dresses are everywhere. Flash that clavicle and collarbone!   The sleeve itself is also making a statement.  You will see bell sleeves and ruffled sleeves. Just make sure that they done overwhelm you.

Layering your outfit. Tanks showing from under other tops has been in fashion for several seasons now. This can be extended to some dress styles being worn over pants. Actually this can be a terrific trend for when you are traveling. Layer up and your carry on will  hold more clothes for your trip!

Femininity . Dresses are all over. Lace is big as are ruffles in tops and skirts and dresses. Floral prints are in for spring in a big way. Sometimes it is just one bloom. In this category I can throw in embroidery again. Many of the embroideries being done are florals. In this category are all of the sheer styles that are out in tops and dresses. There are also floral printed skirts and pants.

Stripes continue to be strong and you will be seeing many bold shots of color. Stripes are out there in shirts, skirts, pants, shorts.

I think these are your best shots at updating your closet for spring.

Next I will talk about accessories and how they update anything you already own.

GREEN, the color of grass, leaves, margaritas, olives in martinis. Sorry, started to digress!

The color report for Spring 2017 has been released. THE color for 2017 is Greenery. It is a beautiful shade of green with a hint of yellow. Brings to mind all things blooming. Take a deep breathe and get yourself energized.Seriously, is there any color that does not sit well with green? Green is everywhere in  nature along side all the beautiful flowers, the sky and the earth. What better color to jump start your wardrobe for spring?

All of the colors selected for this spring are “a mixture of Vitality, Relaxation and the Great Outdoors” says Laurie Pressman, of Pantone.  Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute says “…our Spring 2017 Fashion Color Report evokes a spectrum of emotion and feeling. From the warmth of sunny days with Pantone 13-0755 Primrose Yellow to the invigorating feeling of breathing fresh mountain air with Pantone 18-0107 Kale and the desire to escape to pristine waters with Pantone 14-4620 Island Paradise, designers applied color in playful, yet thoughtful and precise combinations to fully capture the promises, hope and transformation that we yearn for each Spring.”

The top colors for Spring 2017 fashion are:

Niagara (17-4123) a blue that is very denim. Think ease and relaxation.

Primrose Yellow (13-0755) instant warmth, good cheer, sunny days. Made me think of Italy and the colors in Sorrento and Portofino.

Lapis Blue (19-4045) a strong blue like the gemstone.

Flame (17-1462) is a red based orange. It is very theatrical and adds heat to the palette.

Island Paradise (14-4620) is a cool blue green. Didn’t that color name make you think about being on the beach looking at the water?

Pale Dogwood (13-1404) back to tranquility and peace it is a subtle pink.  Makes you think of inhaling the Spring air.

Greenery (15-0343) is refreshing, a yellow green with zip. All things in nature. Tells you to breathe deep and energize.

Pink Yarrow (17-2034) is a snappy, lively pink. A real spirit lifter.

Kale (18-0107) is a lush and fertile green.  Think of your kale salad.

Hazelnut (14-1315) always need a neutral to round out the palette. This one is a nice, clean, warm shade that can connect to all colors.

I look forward to seeing how these shades will be presented to us in apparel for Spring. I will keep you posted on key items as the season unfolds.