Today's Fashion Flashback -- ANNIE HALL

 

With seeing so many menswear influences for Fall 2012, I can't help but dedicate today's fashion flashback to the genius in film and in style of Annie Hall, as portrayed by Diane Keaton.  Diane Keaton, herself, embodies menswear chic until today, but what we know of her style goes back to the Woody Allen film "Annie Hall" from 1977.  

If you haven't seen this film, you must see it !  It is a classic, and one of Woody Allen's best films.  It won 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Diane Keaton.  "Annie Hall" is also considered one of the best comedies in academic circles. 

The character of Annie Hall broke through fashion in the late 70's, introducing to the world that wearing men's clothing can be sexy and quirkyly remain feminine.  Sure, other style icons in the past wore menswear inspired clothing like Marlene Dietrich and Katherine Hepburn, but none is more fun to emulate than Annie Hall's style.  Yes, the style is quirky.  Yes, the style is fun.  And yes, the style is definitely iconic.

I haven't seen the film in a while, maybe 9 or 10 years, but with Fall around the corner, I want to watch it again.  Not only for the fashion but also the rapid-fire, witty dialogue between the characters of Annie Hall and Alvy Singer, a comedian in love with Annie, played by Woody Allen.

If you want to emulate the look, there are two key looks that stand out from the film.  The one pictured above and this one.  Both are easy to copy and/or play with.  What you may need are:

1.)  Button-down shirt.

2.)  Black tailored vest.

3.)  Men's tie.

4.)  Wide-leg khakis (or any khakis really)

5.)  Tweed blazer.

Optional items:

1.)  Bowler's hat

2.)  Prairie dress or skirt

3.)  Cowboy boots

I recommend you shop your closet and see how many items you may already have.  You'll be surprised.  If you don't have a men's tie, shop your local thrift store or Marshalls, TJ Maxx or other discount retailers.  That way, you won't spend an arm and a leg for a silk tie.  Trust me, there are bargains to be had.  Stick with solid colors or more feminine prints like paisley, florals or large prints.  Not only are they more feminine, they are more edgy.  If you find a solid black, silk tie, YOU HAVE STRUCK GOLD !   Not only will it be versatile, it will be something to keep in your closet for a long time, for whenever you want to do the tie thing.  Don't bother buying one specifically made for a woman.  One, it will probably cost an arm and a leg.  Two, it might probably be made of cheap polyester or flimsy rayon.  Three, it's just not as cool as the real thing.

This is going to be fun to mix and play with.  Make the look your own by adding your own touches.  I'm going to add a broach strategically placed on the tie and give it my signature bling -- those that know me, know that I love sparkle and bling !!!  Maybe, instead of the bowler hat, wear a fedora.  Just make sure you look in the mirror before you leave your place, since an accessory like a hat can make or bReak an outfit.

I've done the first look so many times before (my favorite look in the late 90's to early 2000's) that I think this time around I am going to try the even more renegade second look.  I do love my cowboy boots, ahem...  I won't do the hat though, since I don't have a "hat face."

Whether you try this look or not, chances are you'll probably be wearing some menswear at some point this Fall.  I would even put money on that.  I've seen many menswear inspired looks for Pre-Fall and Fall, so expect to see more posts on menswear.

Rachel Zoe Expands Her Empire to a Jewelry Line

Rachel Zoe launches her jewelry line today, available at Neiman Marcus.  Hooray !!!  Rachel Zoe deserves all the success she has won due to her hard work, unique and superb aesthetic, and down-right talent.  Now she brings us her own jewelry  line !  Her styling tricks center on accessories, especially fabulous and bold jewelry.  How fitting it is that she brings us her own jewelry line.  It's about time Mrs. Zoe.

Here is her promotional video for the Rachel Zoe Collection Jewelry:

Full of Art Deco inspirations, tassels tassels and more tassels (so on trend for Fall 2012), and a lot of black and gold combinations, I see many pieces that are collectible, lifetime pieces.  The black and gold pieces are very versatile and will go with many outfits.  My favorites are the bangles and bracelets.  Well, I am totally a bracelet gal -- I even make my own, but even if I weren't I would still covet the Rachel Zoe Collection wrist candies.  I just want to gobble them up.

My blog specializes on "fashion on the cheap" and frugal shopping, but I approve of this splurge.  There comes a time when you just have to throw your budget out the window.  This is one of those times.  The prices for the Rachel Zoe Jewelry Collection (according to The Zoe Report, Mrs. Zoe's own blog/newsletter) range from $165 to $650.  Pretty typical of high-end costume jewelry, comparable to other designer costume jewelry lines.  I don't think it's too bad for the pocket.  As already mentioned, the collection is available at Neiman Marcus.

Check, check, check it out !!!

Geek Chic Inspiration from Two Door Cinema Club's New Video: SLEEP ALONE

Now why is such an adorable boy like Alex Trimble singing about sleeping alone???  He shouldn't know about such things.  I don't know about his personal life or his love life (if I was a teenager, I would know every fun fact about him and Two Door Cinema Club), but just by listening to the lyrics, sounds like loneliness is haunting him on the road.  Nobody said being a successful musician was easy.  Shoot, nothing is easy.  Nursing school is killing me right now, but I knew it would be hard and competative.  I'm sure being rich and beautiful isn't easy either.  Well I feel for poor little hottie potottie Alex Trimble.

I feel even more for his outfit.  I love the entire band's wholesome approach to fashion.  Check out the new video for "Sleep Alone."

They look like studious boys that would have sat next to me at the library when I was doing my undergrad in the 90's during the fall.  Well, they're a bit more dressed up and preppy, as my college days were all about grunge.  Anyway, I still picture them in a library somewhere either reading quietly or quizzing each other.

Their studious, collegiate look is perfect inspiration for Pre-Fall.  Those light crewneck sweaters and cardigans atop button-downs, worn with slim-fit jeans and old-school tennis shoes are perfect outfits for late August and early September.  Not just for boys, but for girls too that don't mind underplaying their femininity.  I love androgynous style like Tilda Swinton's.  It's so edgy and so, so hip.  Unfortunately, only skinny girls can pull off this look.  Pudgy girls/women like me would just end up looking like Pat (old skits from Saturday Night Live via the 90's).

If you are young and thin, feel free to try this look.  Other's perception of your I.Q. might go up.  One thing is for sure, your hipster status will go up.

I Just Subscribed to LIVE FROM THE RUNWAY on YouTube

Ooooooohhhhhhh, I love new fashion finds.  I was looking at my blog, and lo and behold, there was an ad for Live From the Runway -- YouTube.  Of course, I clicked on it !  And me likeeeeee what I see.

I normally view runway shows on Style.com, the VOGUE run/owned Website.  I'm happy with it, but it doesn't hurt to have another source of runway shows.  

If you are cray cray about fashion like I am, you might also like Live From the Runway -- YouTube.  I am not a big YouTuber (I go on it occasionally to view music videos or whatever is going super viral and I want to be in on it), but this will drastically increase my YouTube use.

The feature that had me at hello is the LIVE streaming of the upcoming Spring 2013 Fashion Week starting September 8th through the 15th.  OMG, it's gonna be like being there, except NOT having to pass through hard-to-get-through security check-ins !!!  And you don't need an invite.  I LOVE IT !!!  Great for a fashion outsider like me who is just cuckoo for fashion.

If you click on the following YouTube link there is a "subscribe" tab on the upper, left corner of the video.  Enjoy if you partake of this fashion event.

Time to Transition Your Closet From Summer to Fall

Ah alas, it is August and is the last month of Summer 2012.  What a Summer it was !  There was lots of fun to be had via fashion.  I hope the urge to wear pastels, an exuberance of florals, color blocking and the Spring/Summer staples of nautical and head-to-toe whites are out of your system.  Or almost anyway.

With September (my favorite month) around the corner and Fall/Winter Season creeping into the picture, it is time to prepare your wardrobe for the colder months.  I just did so two days ago.  Maybe hold on to putting out all your bulky sweaters just yet,  Just start to bring out your darker colored garments in the Fall/Winter palette.  Hello forest green, mulberry, and wine.  And of course my Fall/Winter best friend, black.

I am looking forward to layering and looking slimmer in those darker palettes.  I don't know, i think it's easier to look chic in the Fall.  Blazers just make it so easy to look chic.  It is just the perfect finishing touch.  Great for when you are in a rush -- just throw on a blazer.  No time for piling on the accessories, the blazer will fix that.  So this is the item to bring to the front of your closet or in a prominent area.

Summer to Fall Transition by pinkcowboyboots-mariacaquino featuring a zipper jacket

Keep those light layering scarves around, even the florals.  It is a great transition piece.  As much as I love scarves, I can't wear them too much in the Summer -- It just makes me sweat TOO MUCH !  Ughhhh, sweating is so not fashionable.  But with the temperature starting to cool in September, what a perfect time to wear those light scarves.  Plus it is the perfect bridge between Summer and Fall.

There might be an item in your closet that didn't get much play in the Summer -- that white oxford button-down shirt.  Well, bring it on out.  You'll get plenty of use out of it in the coming months.  While you're at it, bring forward those other colored tailored button-down shirts.  Perfect now for wearing alone or with a blazer or that scarf.  The button-down will start to tailor your look.  As the Fall/Winter months require more clothes, the look is more tailored.  By starting to wear your tailored button-downs late in the Summer, it is the perfect transition to the Fall/Winter months.

Keep these three items in mind when transitioning your closet from Summer to Fall/Winter.  When you prepare your closet, have the items you will use the most, the most handy.  This will help getting ready in the morning, or for whatever occasion, faster and easier in the next couple of months.

Enjoy the remainder of the Summer.  This song is my end-of-Summer song for 2012.