Archive for the ‘The Sartorialist’ Category

Lost luggage

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

One time not so long ago I was flying to the West Coast when the airline lost my luggage. Yeah, they located it about 36 hours after I landed, but in the interim, I had to attend a full day of a professional conference, plus cocktails and a restaurant dinner. But I was okay because I always pack a toothbrush, mascara, and fresh underwear in my carry-on, and also because I never dress like a slob on an airplane. I’m not going to say that my travel outfit is the most stylish in my closet (it’s not), but it’s tried and true:

  • a black cotton v-neck dress from Zara that has the benefit of both a plunging neckline and the ability to be slept in;
  • a generous pashima that I picked up in India that 1. can hide the plunging neckline, 2. doubles as a blanket on cheapo carriers, and 3. is pretty;
  • black cotton tights that are always a necessity on chilly flights but can be stripped off and stuffed in a suitcase in a tropical destination;
  • suede booties that are chic and can be kicked off at security and under the seat;
  • and cute jewelry.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to look better-than on an airplane and have the flight attendants compliment your shoes. And it’s precious to believe that you’ll get an upgrade for it. But isn’t the ability to go to work or dinner or an interview more valuable?

Crotch shots

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

I’m sorry, New York Times, but I’m failing to see exactly how most of these companies are exactly de-sexing their underwear ads. Yeah, we’re talking four-packs instead of six, a dusting of chest hair, and a general lack of lack of oiled-up torsos, but it’s not like we’ve tried to reproduce, say, the Dove ads for men’s boxer briefs.

Ode to poor eyesight

Sunday, April 21st, 2013

I wear sunglasses at

Night. So I can, so I can

See in front of me.

I’m a writer. I’m a bespectacled writer. It’s no Dorothy Parker, but surely, with this effort, the Prada money is mine.

Boob study

Friday, April 12th, 2013

A new French study finds that brassieres do little good: “Medically, physiologically, anatomically – breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity.”

But before you go out and burn your bra, I’ve got to ask: How was this study conduct? Because my observation is that women who opt to forgo a bra tend to be those who can get away with not wearing a bra. Whereas I’ve known full-figured friends to wear their bras to bed (Carrie Bradshaw is a small-breasted exception here).

Out-there fashion

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

I am not a Star Trek fan, but I have a soft spot for Trekkies, possibly because I am a closet nerd and probably because I love the irrepressibly cheesy William Shatner. So, I always keep my eye out for Star Trek news…like the fact that the hot new thing in Shanghai is to dress up like a character from Deep Space Nine.

What? you say. Star Trek in China? I didn’t know they’d translated the reruns to Mandarin!

Actually, it turns out that what’s popular is Star Trek fashion, which, if anything, is even more amusing. An American living there and a visiting friend took advantage of the quick and inexpensive tailors to have uniforms made. When they came to pick them up, he writes, he noticed several other similar jackets — it seems that people coming into the tailor’s shop were so taken, they ordered their own versions on the spot, often with embellishments like matching pockets and crazy colours. “It dawned on me,” he says, “they thought of these cashmere jackets as an edgy fashion statement, not nerd strength lady repellent. My Star Trek uniform…was cool.”

Seriously, don’t you love the idea of throngs of Shanghai-ers dressing like Spock or Worf?

Patriotic ‘dos

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013

If you’ve ever agonised over a haircut, just think what would happen if you lived in North Korea. There, women can choose from one of just 18 hair styles, while men have 10 options. All are supposed to ward off the “corrupting effects of capitalism.” And while I believe in the power of a good trim, that seems like a lot to ask.

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Interestingly, I note that none of the multi-hued ‘dos favoured over the years by basketball star-cum-diplomatic envoy Dennis Rodman made the, er, cut.

Crapify

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Only the Paper of Record would write a story about models “sleekify-ing” (a word that I’m pretty sure violates Times style every which way) totally straight.

After you’ve finished digesting the earthshattering news that models are under pressure to lose weight, perhaps you’d be curious to learn that people who are dating sometimes sleep over.

Pants, ce sont mal

Monday, February 4th, 2013

Bonjour, lawbreakers.

Those pantalons you’re wearing? They’re technically illegal in the City of Light. It seems that Paris has laws on the books forbidding women from wearing pants. But unlike the prohibitions against headcoverings, the French seemed disinclined to prosecute.

The unmaking of a president

Monday, January 21st, 2013

One more reason to not want to be president (not that I qualify, anyway). Aging sucks enough; to watch it in time-lapse photography with a sad-music soundtrack might be a bit much.

Happy inauguration day, BTW!

Mirror, mirror

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013

Dear Guys,

It’s not all about you. We don’t wear make-up just for you. Or hot outfits. Or fix our hair. Or go to the gym.

Maybe we sort of, kind of do it for other women. But mostly? It’s for ourselves. (As a corollary, we’re also self-critical. When we ask you, “Do I look fat in this?” it’s because we think we look fat in this.)

Just getting that out there.

Thanks,

The Ladies