Stylish Stereotyping

A few weeks ago, when I was in Florida, a funny thing happened. I was approached by an older, British woman in a mall bathroom. I noticed her staring at me, as I washed my hands, and was slightly disturbed. As time went on, I realized she was about to approach me and all I could think was that she was probably going to scold me for the burn I had gotten the day before at the beach. Here's what happened:

Lady: Excuse me?
Me: (I say nothing, but just stare at her, waiting for her to speak.)
L: Do you speak English?
M: (disbelievingly and chuckling) Umm, yes.
L: Oh OK, well one never knows down here...
M: ha
L: Do you know where the nearest Coach outlet is? You look like you would know.
M: Why, yes I do. I was just there. Go out of the bathroom, make a left and then another left, and a right at Borders. Go outside and you'll see it.
L: OH, thank you so much!! And I meant that as a complement - ya know, that you LOOKED like you knew.
M: OK, hahaha (I say, uncomfortably and immediately turn to get outta there)

I was wearing a sundress from J.Crew, flip-flops, and my HOBO clutch. I was carrying a Michael Kors shopping bag. I guess I fit the Coach stereotype...

Think Plink

Alright, I may have a Facebook and a MySpace, but I’m certainly not as obsessed as I used to be. I signed up for Facebook way back in freshman year (eek!). At that time only students of certain colleges could join and you could see anyone's profile on the whole site. So it's funny to think of Facebook as the crazy giant it is today. And when did all these applications come up?

Think Plink is the latest fashion application. Not only can you tag yourselves in photos for the entire world (or just your friends and networks) to see, but you can also tag your clothing. What? I think that's kind of weird and pretentious because you're more apt to "tag" your Juicy sweats over the knockoffs you scored in Target. And if you tag something in Think Plink as being from a certain store, then other similar stores will start to send you information and advertisements. I get enough sale and new merchandise emails as it is. Why would I want another five million? Plus who has the time to sit there and not only tag their friends, but also tag their clothing items?

Apparently this is supposed to help people recreate a look they've seen on someone else. What ever happened to being original and creating your own style? And if someone wants to know where I got my shoes so badly, they can talk to me - ya know, like the olden days of communication.

SI Advance

Lash-tastic!

For my birthday a month-and-a-half ago I became addicted to something. It's not the worst addiction, but I really and truly love this because it exaggerates my features and is totally fun to wear.

I first decided to get fake eyelashes when I was picking up a few necessities in Sephora the week before my birthday. I thought, "Why not do something out of the ordinary for myself on my birthday?" Plus, I'd been trying so hard to find a good mascara that would accentuate my eyes. (I've since found a pretty good one with Clinique's High Definition Lashes.)

As I readied myself for the big night out, I couldn't stop talking about the lashes. How long would it take me to put them on? How would they look on me? Was I going to look like a fool? Matt thought I was ridiculous and kept making fun of me, but he's a boy so it's understandable.

I absolutely loved them! And everyone kept commenting on how awesome my lashes looked. I was so excited. Ang thinks I should wear them every time I go out and let me tell you, I've worn them quite a few times.

Serena recently sent me this article from a beauty blog about how far a gal might go to get those long lashes. There apparently is some type of glaucoma medicine that thickens and lengthens your lashes. However, this doesn't come without some side effects. Apparently this medicine, bimatoprost, is in the form of eye drops and can darken your pupil (I would never want this as I love my blue eyes). It also has been known to cause permanent damage to the optic eye nerve and even cause blindness. Yikes!! Who knew the price for beauty was so high?

This doesn't mean that you need to stay away from all types of lengthening measures. It just means to stay away from strange remedies. I love my eyes and my lashes, but use the fake ones to accentuate from time to time. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

A Million Dollars

OK. I dislike Drew Carey. And I think he honestly does the worst job ever on Price is Right simply because he doesn't show any emotion whatsoever. Oh how I miss BB! However, here is a clip from the Price is Right Million Dollar Spectacular that is possibly the FUNNIEST thing ever. Enjoy! :)

Fashion and the City

I (along with Serena) was one of the crazies who went to the midnight showing of Sex and the City: The Movie on Thursday night/Friday morning. And I had to go to work the next day. Yes, I didn't go to bed until 3am, but I know that it was worth it, even though I'm giving the movie an overall B+/A- for how good it was. But sometimes, I'm a harsh critic.

I'm not going to sit here and recount the movie for everyone because really there are some that have yet to see it and I don't want to spoil anything. I'm just going to talk about the fifth character, my favorite and most exciting part of the movie: the fashion, of course!

I'm not one to usually be obsessed with all of Patricia Field's choices throughout the series. In fact, I usually thought that they were completely outrageous combinations that I would most likely never even attempt (unless it had to do with Charlotte's more classic look). However, I was very impressed with the job Field did (though there was a strange argyle thigh high here and there), especially with the shoe and handbag choices. I seriously wanted to cry.

Of course my favorite shoe designer, Christian Louboutin, made his appearance throughout the movie - displaying the beautiful red bottomed shoes I can only dream of at night. And those blue Manolos from the closet had to be the most darling and dainty shoes I've ever seen. Of course I'm jealous of Carrie (the WRITER who cannot afford to ever have all the things she does - trust me). But I take everything from this movie as being in fashion heaven.

I even grew to like those crazy gladiator heels Carrie wore (they're Dior, by the way). When I first saw them in sneak peek movie pictures on PerezHilton, I didn't know what to think. And I still don't think I'm completely sold on the whole gladiator look. However, it totally worked and I think about my fun sundresses and long for a cute pair. It can't be just any old thing, but I'm certainly going to shop around for both heeled and flat ones. We'll see what I can come up with…

Now for the bags. How darling was Carrie's Louis Vuitton Limelight clutch?! I love clutches in general, even though certain people like my friend Ess, thinks they are silly. Although they may not always be functional, they complete an outfit and I always choose looks (with some comfort) over convenience. And it's Louis Vuitton so you know it's timeless.

So I've talked about my fave accessories. Now for my favorite outfit (and no, it didn't go with the bird headpiece): it would have to be the above green dress with the floral jacket. It's all about green this summer (Ang and I wore unplanned green outfits yesterday to a birthday party) and I love it! The belt, the shoes, the dainty dress! It was simply fabulous! However, I could have done without the Eiffel Tower bag (what was that about?!).

All in all, Sex certainly did not disappoint. If anything, it left me salivating over the fabulous fashion and fantastic looks. And it gives me hope: maybe a writer can have the closet of her dreams…

Typos

I'm not a total grammar snob. Really, I'm not. I may cringe at the sight of a typo, but I'm also aware of the fact that we're all human and no one is perfect. People make mistakes and I accept that. But sometimes it's quite ridiculous where typos will show up.

Case and point: a well-known fashion magazine. I won't specifically mention the name, but I will say that their recent cover had a very poorly Photoshopped cover of Gwyneth Paltrow. As I sat getting my pedicure last Friday I picked up this magazine and started reading. Just because I'm a journalism junkie, I tend to read the masthead and the Letter from the Editor. Well, this letter from a well-known editor-in-chief had a typo! The word sculptural was written as scupltural. I do not understand how, in a day of spell check and copyeditors, this typo made it all the way to print.

Such is also the case with road signs, storefronts, and other highly visible catchphrases. GB sent me this article from the Chicago Tribune about these two guys who have been going around the country with Sharpies, Wite-Out®, red pens, and more trying to fix typos. Their mission, says the article, is "to raise typo awareness." How great is that! And they're known as grammarphiles.

A comma really can make all the difference in the world. That's like the book Eats Shoots and Leaves. The wrong comma placement can make it like this panda bear eats, then he shoots (at something presumably), and then he leaves. But without commas, it is implied that he merely consumes shoots and leaves.

While these two guys (known as TEAL - the Typo Eradication Advancement League) go around the nation trying to better the grammar of the world, they aren't always met with happy, compliant storeowners. In fact, many just scoff at TEAL and make it out like the error is no big deal. (But it is!!!)

I don't believe that TEAL is trying to be snobby at all. One of the founders, Jeff Deck, says that he wanted to use his talent for the good of others. That's amazing. That's always the way I feel and I've often spoken about the problem I have expressing through a cover letter or resume that I actually have this typo-spotting ability. It's crazy but I love it! It certainly makes sense why I'm part of the Comma Crew!

Grammar of Love

"Y-O-U-apostrophe-R-E means 'you are.' Y-O-U-R means 'your!'" - Ross, Friends

So Flavor Flav picked the right gal last night on the "final season finale" of Flavor of Love 3. We can only hope that after seven children and three reality TV dating shows, that it will be the final one (although I love the drama). Thing 2 totally loved him (even though I still can't grasp the concept of kissing him…). I was all prepared to discuss Flay-vore Flayyyvvv, however, I'd really like to talk about the "romantical" evening Black said she was having.

I first heard the word "romantical" when Lo Bosworth told Lauren Conrad that she thought that the dinner they were having at a posh L.A. restaurant was romantical. That's not a word (unless you consult Urban Dictionary, which is hardly an authority)! And it's driving me crazy. Say romantic or magical - but not romantical. From time to time, I'll say it mockingly (mainly because I can't stand Lo). But I know it's not a word!

I've heard the word so much lately and as I watched Flav last night, I heard Black talking about her evening. Where did this word come from? I realize that mainly uneducated people have been saying this on "reality" TV, but being as grammar-obsessed as I am (and I know I'm not perfect - although I'm pretty close haha) I cannot stand it.

Perhaps we need to educate our young ones a little better so they don't make up words or use poor grammar. Or maybe I just need to stop watching reality TV…

Photo: VH1.com