From The Sophian

I promised clips from the Sophian. This is one of the clips from my days at writing my column for my college paper. Photos from the articles when I resuscitate my other PC.

Enjoy <3!
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It's that time of year again: what well-seasoned New Englanders refer to as "mud season." Overcast mornings give way to afternoon showers, letting brown grass peek from under the melting snow and making sludge of the soft earth. Mud season relegates spring sandals and open toed shoes to the back of the closet, except on those rare warm and sunny days.

So what are your shoe options when Mother Nature says nay to spring footwear? Wellingtons, gumboots, rain shoes, there are as many names for this functional boot as there are opinions of them. The debate continues on whether rain boots are a functional fashion or a faux pas. But the flat rubber sole with plenty of grooves and ridges, the bulbous round toe and the necessary tall shaft are definitely the most practical spring weather shoes for spring in the Northeast. You'll stay dry and the walk to class will be much faster when you're not dodging puddles.

Classic Wellingtons come in all colors, prints, and lacquers. Target offers an affordable option for under $20. The ever-practical New England staple, LL Bean offers its classic "duck boot" in a variety of colors and shaft heights. These boots usually run from $60 to $160.

There are, however, options if you don't want to sacrifice style for substance. Rubber flats or galoshes, like those from Marc Jacobs' diffusion line Marc by Marc Jacobs, offer protection from the elements and a little panache. Gucci's spring/summer line 2008 offers a heavily branded pair of rubber flats in red, blush-pink and navy. J. Crew's relatively affordable jelly ballet flats are available in glossy yellow, red, green and black.

A white wedge from Tretorn, a Swedish company that specializes in well-designed rubber shoes, will also keep you dry. Reminiscent of Christian Lacroix spring 2008 tights, Chooka's red ombre gumboots are both on trend and very functional.

If rubber or vinyl is not your thing, consider weather-proofing your favorite leather boots, sneakers or flats; but watch out for those puddles!

Well Now You Know

The first, and yet only, fashion journalist to win a Pulitzer is Robin Givhan. She was honored with the literary award in 2006 for criticism. This African American woman has written for Vogue and many national newspapers, most notably with The Washington Post. Givhan also authors a blog for the Washington post called Off the Runway.

Beachy Keen

Having lived in Northampton Massachusetts (the hippie cousin of the preppy Long Island, New York towns) for four years, and summering in Manhattan for… longer than that… I have no experience with Hampton couture. However, I have watched enough TV (Sex and the City, Single In the Hamptons or The Real Housewives of New York City anyone?) and hobnobbed with enough people who “summer” outside of the City to know that it’s a beach by day party at night scene.

When you find yourself in the prep capital of New York, you may blending in with the regulars or make a statement of your own in day time attire:

Blend in elegantly with modern classics with summery pops of color.

Striped towel, Lands End
Safari shirt dress, Gap Body
Graphic print bikini, H&M
Yellow jelly flats, J.Crew

Or stand out in a bright tank dress and a more subdued one piece of your choice.

Floral print beach towel and rubber gladiators, Old Navy
Black Monokini, Newport-News
Sheer mesh cover-up, Rogan for Target “Go International”

Gone but not Forgotten

Hey!
I'm still in the setting-up/figuring out stages with this blog. I'm considering a once daily posing schedule because I want this to be a serious blog. So sorry for the lack of articles...
I plan on posting my articles from The Sophian this semester, but they're on my other PC (memo to self: must back up files!)... which in all the post college unpacking and re-situating has not been set up yet.

Until then I'll post new articles and entries and figure out my posting schedule/writing style.

<3!

Superheroes, Sartorially

As my final year at Smith wound down, I found myself counting down to a huge May event, no, not graduation but, the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s spring gala. Dubbed “The Party of the Year” by industry insiders, this event is the fashion world’s answer to the Oscars. Seeing as I prefer Fendi to films this event is definitely one of my favorite celebrity studded events of the year, besides the fall and spring fashion shows.

In years past designers such as Yves St. Laurent and Paul Poiret have been honored at the event and topics such as fashion and furniture in the 18^th century have been exhibited. According to the Museum’s press release, this year’s thematic exhibition “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy,” will explore the image of the superhero as “the ultimate metaphor for fashion and its ability to empower and transform the human body.”

The sartorial choices of the caped heroine are not only for those who want to blend into the night or attend a comic book convention. Designers are looking towards these purveyors of truth and justice as inspiration for their spring lines. Why else would Marco Zanini have caped dresses and jumpsuits stride down the Halson Spring 08 runway? Why else would Nylon magazine dedicate four pages to the debate on whether leggings are an appropriate alternative to pants?

As a person who is curious about leather and admittedly wears leggings outside the dance studio, I would love to take the chance to explore the look of my favorite heroine, Storm from X-Men.


Photos (left to right): gap.com, americanapparel.com, shopbop.com, bananarepublic.com,
http://www.devir.com.br/zero_2006/marvel_af/xmen_series1_storm.jpg

Storm, a lead heroine in the X-men series, is known for her trademark white hair and sleek form fitting costume in either white or black with gold/yellow accents. When taking fantasy fashion to reality is to keep the look referential, so even though her look may not be very flattering to mere mortals, we can take a key piece, the lacquered high waisted pants and recreate the Storm look.

Shirt: Gap, Special Edition Philip Lim ¾ sleeved tunic.
Legging: American Apparel, shiny high-waisted legging, in black eel.
Shoes: Opening Ceremony, lace-up sling back oxford pump.
Jewelry: Banana Republic, Mod hammered cuff.

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