Recessionista

Recessionista, according to WordSpy.com, is a person who dresses stylishly on a tight budget. In an economy that continues to plummet, I guess we must cut out certain things. But does it really have to be the dream of my Louis Vuitton? Maybe I can start making lunch and bringing it to work. Or maybe I don't need to buy as much makeup as I do. But shoes and bags and my stylish clothes? I think that's a terrible idea.

I guess I've always been somewhat of a recessionista, even though they claim this is a new term. They just highlighted this very mentality this weekend in the Times' A Label For a Pleather Economy. The very title of the article makes me cringe because of its use of the word "pleather". Now, I understand needing to downsize and cut out excessive purchases, but there's no need to go crazy here.

The thing is, I've always been a bargain hunter - on the prowl for a good deal and a stylish outfit. I rarely pay full price for anything in my wardrobe just on principle. I mean, it's going to go on sale somewhere, right? We need to be smart about this. Plus with the right accessories you can make almost anything look great!

Don't get me wrong - I'm not afraid to walk into H&M or Forever21, but I don't do it that often. It's not because I'm a snob or because I'm a label whore. Sometimes, I find Forever21 to be quite overwhelming. I'd really just rather pay for the quality of something, rather than having my lovely new shirt fall apart right after I wash it once. Or that time I bought a pair of cute flip flops in H&M and had to walk around the streets of Madrid with a shoe that talked to me.

But I don't like to go overboard in my spending at all. I like to think about my purchases carefully, rather than impulse buy (although that can be lots of fun too!). I'm sorry, but I really don't think that spending thousands of dollars is necessary ala Sarah Palin. Plain and simple. It can be done for less - you just need the time to find what you're looking for. But I guess if you've got the resources, why not? Ha.

Recessionista: an interesting term. Anything with -ista or chic is usually the norm in fashion. I like to think of myself as a fashionista. Maybe I'm not. But I will continue to search for the things I like at a price that a writer can afford.

Stylista

You probably won't be surprised to learn that I watched Stylista last night. It combines some of my great loves: fashion, journalism, and reality TV. Here, you'll find my observations on this America's Next Top Model meets The Apprentice reality game show.

Anne Slowey. She's kind of a Devil-Wears-Prada wannabe. I have nothing but the utmost respect for her at the top of Elle Magazine and I know that she needs to do this for the show, but is she really cold like that in real life? And how dare you talk to someone by saying "I only take iced lattes." We all know there's only one Anna Wint-, I mean Miranda Priestly…

The cast of characters is slightly mundane. You can so tell why they picked the people they picked. You have the bitchy girls (and boys), the different looks, and let's not forget Boobs McGee.

Can I just say that if Kate was so worried about not being comfortable in the more conservative clothes she picked, wouldn't she, as a stylish maven hopeful, be able to pick out something fashionable and more conservative, without losing herself? Isn't that the real job of a "stylista"?

I really loved that Ashlie won the ridiculous breakfast challenge, even though she was running late. I'm not sure as to why she got so lost (though the streets downtown are sometimes hard to figure out). If you're running late and unsure of where you are, then hop in a cab lady! Your job depends on it! However, she pulled off a simplistic look, probably by accident with time not on her side. But that just goes to show you that sometimes the best stuff comes out when you're under pressure!

I loathe Megan. She should've gone home. She was the one who said they didn't each need a 30-word blurb. Instead Arnaldo went. He should've opened his mouth and been more forceful during the task and in Anne's office. Such is life, though. Those kinds of people don't get ahead. It's the Megans of this world that sneak their way to the top. It sucks. And big deal, you're a 22-year-old boutique owner. So what? Prove yourself better.

I'm intrigued to continue watching Stylista, probably because I'm jealous and had contemplated trying out for the show. Additionally, it's a different take on ANTM, which, let's face it, is getting kind of old.

Will we have another Andrea Sachs/Miranda Priestly situation on our hands? We'll have to keep watching to find out!

Boy, Meet Girl.

It's the age-old story. Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. Girl doesn't notice boy for a while. Boy gets girl. Boy dates girl. Boy and girl have conflict. Boy and girl break up. Will boy and girl ever get back together?

This is the theme of some of my favorite shows. We have Ross and Rachel, Ryan and Marissa, Seth and Summer, and now Dan and Serena. And sure, it gets old sometimes - the back and forth ranting and raving; the dramatic almost-kisses. But if that's the case, why am I always hooked? I suppose I'm just a hopeless romantic.

Gossip Girl has been added to my list of obsessions. I had heard such great things about the show and I thought their Season 2 campaigns were brilliant - to really hook their audience:

"Every parent's nightmare."
"Mindblowingly inappropriate."

The show really is just so great. It's just like what I miss from The OC. Drama, drama, drama. Not to mention some real cute Upper East Siders (and Brooklynites!). I love that there are still secrets to be discovered. It's fun, exciting, and leaves me wanting more. I finally got the first season on DVD last week and got through it in just four days. I just couldn't get enough!! I'm all caught up to this season now and can't wait to see what the next ep will bring. It's great and I hope the fantastic Gossip Girl writing stays smart throughout the season.

Watch for some upcoming posts about GG. I'm especially into the fashionista storyline of Little J.

XOXO,
Amanda Vera

Marry Me!... In About Five Years

I would just like to start off by saying that everyone is entitled to their own opinion - that includes you, me, and every other person in the world. What I'm about to discuss is not a reflection on anyone I know at all and I am not trying to judge anyone. I'm just attempting to ask a question because I am curious. Please excuse any sarcastic undertones - I cannot help it.

I would like to know what the purpose of a long engagement is. I was talking to Steph yesterday and she told me a story of someone who got engaged after dating for less than a year. The wedding date? Nearly five years after he proposed marriage and she accepted.

What's the point, I wonder? Is it pressure from the potential bride-to-be? Is it a fear from the potential groom-to-be that he will lose his partner if he does not put his claim into her immediately? Is it financial? Emotional?

I believe that if it is any of the reasons I stated above, then these two kids are just not ready to take the plunge. And if they still need time to get to know each other, then why bother spending so much money on a ring that, after time, might be given up?

Now, maybe I'm missing something. I'm not engaged or married just yet, but when I think about it, I think that a year is probably the perfect amount of time. Of course it does depend on the month you get engaged and when you want to have it - that's just timing. But more than a year-and-a-half is slightly torture isn't it? If I had so much time to plan an event, I think I might go crazy.

I know that it is different for each person and each couple. I know that no two people are the same, but long engagements bother me. Is it a need for attention?

The longer you put something off and procrastinate, the less likely you are to complete the task, right? Why procrastinate unless you don't want to do something? And are we ever really 100 percent ready?

Photo: MichaelBJewelry.com

You're Doing What to Your Wedding Dress?!?!

Could you ever imagine trashing your wedding dress? Probably not, right? I didn't think I could either, but when I checked out this site that I found mentioned on Beauty and the Blog I thought it was so awesome!!

Check out TrashTheDress.com for a closer look at some brides who weren't afraid to declare their commitment to their new hubbies and weren't afraid to throw their gorgeous dresses into something other than a box.

I actually don't know if I could ever do it, but it is a nice idea when you consider the great pics you can get out of them (with just the right photographer of course!). Remember, this would have to be on a beautiful beach and not, say, in the middle of New York Harbor or at the Jersey Shore. See a pic below, from Trash the Dress' website.

Fashionable Style

“Fashions fade, style is eternal.” - Yves Saint Laurent

I came across this quote today and thought it was such a great one. It's so very true. In this time just after the conclusion of Fashion Weeks in New York, London, Milan, and Paris, we've seen all the latest collections, designs, and fashions. But what's fashionable right now will likely not stick around til next year. I think a girl needs style or fashion. Fashion is what they use within their style.

Fashions fall within trends. Trends have the potential to repeat themselves and the stylish ones will be able to pull of these fashions once again. People may at first resist the return of such trends they swore they'd never be caught in again. In fact, the girls in the office were talking the other day about a few items that have come back into style.

These co-workers questioned these comebacks and started reminiscing about their yearbooks and some trends, courtesy of the 80s. As they laughed at themselves, I found it funny, too, the way history repeats itself. It seems that some trends do come back in different forms. However, the stylish ones will come around and accept them and be able to adapt them to work in the present day.

Some fashions may never come back into style, but then again who knows? But let's save scrunchies for the bathroom and leg warmers for dancers who are parading around in cold weather. Agreed?



Photo: Fun stuff from DKNY RTW Spring 2009 Collection, Style.com

My Heaven

Gina shared this article with me on Digg today about some YMCA locker rooms that were converted into a crazy apartment. My favorite pic involves shoes of course:


Happy Friday!