Gimme A Head With Hair

I wanted something different after sixteen years of a TWA (teeny weeny afro)--different but low maintenance. I wanted to let my hair grow out a little, but dreaded the über ugly growing-out period. Every woman has experienced those hair-raising weeks during which you make comparisons of yourself to Buckwheat, Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, or Phil Spector in any of his jacked-up wigs.

So, I talked to my fabulously cool barber about a growing-out plan that would prevent frump and horror. Here’s the result--my first fro-hawk! This is the coolest haircut ever. It works with my style and speaks to my inner rock chick.

Seasonings: Samples of All Things Spring

1. Sandals that are embedded with rhinestones, crystals, or brass are among the hottest footwear trends this spring.  Glam up your shoe collection this season!
2. Extreme heels, scary stilettos, platforms, and wedges that look like small buildings on your feet are being offered by everyone from Ferragamo to Nine West to Donald J Pliner. High fashion or fetish?  You decide.
3. Super strappy sandals from Jimmy Choo, Nicholas Kirkwood, Coach, Calvin Klein, Via Spiga.  Knockoffs at earth-bound prices by Alice and Olivia for Payless, Aldo, Nine West. 
4. Cascades of ruffles like flower petals on everything: t shirts, blouses, dresses, cardigans.  Pretty, but not precious.
5. The trench: short, classic, sexy.  Think “Come Spy With Me.”
6. Utilitarian fashion: utility jackets and sporty anoraks in fabrics ranging from silk to waterproof canvas can be dressed up or down. 
7. Bold floral motifs.  Dainty prints need not apply.
8. Menswear-inspired pieces: the endlessly wearable boyfriend jacket in every fabric imaginable. Button-down shirt. Sexy fedoras--the ultimate in cool. 
9. To my mid-life sisters - just say “no” to thigh high dresses.  Sorry, but they really are for younger women who strut along on long slim shapely limbs. 
10. Deny any knowledge of the dropped crotch pant.  It’s unflattering and makes one look like she needs a diaper change.

So, what will I be wearing?

• Jean leggings with tunics and lightweight casual dresses
• Sophisticated, ladylike sheath dresses in a variety of colors and prints 
• Pencil skirts from J Crew, Banana Republic and Boden USA
• Skinny jeans
• Colorful sandals
• Cute flats in blue patent, purple patent, black patent and pewter

It's an exciting season which inspires me to be joyous, sassy, and bold.  How are you feeling today?

Rockin’ the Casbah

Style is universal. Style is how you move through the world. It is the thumbprint that you leave, how people remember you. My hobby is style. I love to be surrounded by beautiful things, I love to carry and wear things that look and feel wonderful. Don’t we all?

I recently found Hijab Style, a style blog for Muslim women who wear hijab. It’s straight outta London and it rocks! Hijab is Arabic for “cover” and is the head scarf worn by Muslim women. It can also refer to the modest Muslim style of dress. Muslims differ as to how hijab dress should be enforced, but the blogger for Hijab Style is a fierce Muslim fashionista who shows us how to blend high style and modesty. The writer writes extensively and knowledgeably about contemporary fashion, contemporary Muslim women and the crossroads where they meet.

The blog features sections on evening wear, featuring hijab-friendly western designers such as Max Azria, Valentino, and Giambattista Valli. Sections on office wear feature items from Topshop and Ralph Lauren. There is coverage of Jakarta Fashion Week, street style from Dubai, and shout outs to Islamic clothing lines that explode with color and whimsy. My favorite items are the show stopping BQ sunglasses, which are described as a “new brand of shades with a chic twist on tradition.” BQs claim to be the “first sunglasses especially tailored for the piously dressed women in the Persian Gulf.” They appear to be a stylized mash up of racing goggles and a superhero mask.

This blog is fun and extraordinarily eye-opening; I could spend hours there. I'm not trading in my jeans or sundresses, but I gained a new perspective on Muslim women and the liberating aspects of the hijab. Check it out here.

All quotes from Hijab Style blog.

Aw-w-w Chucks!

My mom wouldn't let me wear Chuck Taylors when I was growing up--she thought they were ugly. She preferred Keds, so that's what I wore. They were cute, ladylike, and came in every color in the rainbow. Through the years I had pairs in navy, red, aqua, white and spring green, but my heart belonged to Chucks. It was like dating Steady Freddy but lusting after Randy Ricky.

Chucks are perenially cool--the shoes of basketball stars and rebels. On the street they were called "gang wars." I bought my first pair as an adult in the 1980s, and have kept at least one pair in my shoe collection at all times over the past 25 years. I have eight pair in rotation right now, including chocolate leather high tops and licorice black leather low tops for winter cool. Last summer, while shopping at Filene's Basement in DC, I found "superstar" Chucks--white canvas sprinkled with dozens of tiny silver stars--and added them to my collection.

I bought another pair last weekend. They are black canvas with tiny multi-colored loops scattered all over. Got them at Kohl's. I'm not a Kohl's shopper, but I was chasing a skirt that I saw in Vogue. Didn't find the skirt, but I found a pair of funky red high top Chucks in the men's shoe department.

So, why Chucks? I prefer a little sass with my casual wear. They look great with jeans and add a rocker's edge. I rarely wear gym shoes if I'm not at the gym. Why so many pairs? They're like Lays potato chips--I can't have just one!

When I was in Rome last year I was surprised to see that Chucks were everywhere--worn with very skinny jeans on young men and women. I'm sure that I'll see them on the streets of Paris when I'm there this summer. If you want to see them in action, check out old NBA footage or the film version of West Side Story.

Almost Famous

I was walking down Walnut Street this afternoon with no particular destination when I was stopped by a fabulous looking woman who said that I looked "amazing," and asked to interview me about my personal style. I was surprised and flattered and of course, agreed to the interview. Turns out she's Cynthia Gouw, the host and executive producer of Snapglow.tv on Philly.com.

She got me on a good look day. I felt great and it is the day before my birthday. The weather was scrumptious and I walking into town from the Cezanne and Beyond exhibit.

I was wearing Express skinny jeans which I had cuffed at the ankle, a black lacy MaxStudio short sleeved tunic with a black lace cami underneath, five year old black patent leather flats and black fishnet knee highs. My accessories of choice were oversized black sunglasses from Ann Taylor Loft and the luscious pebbled gray shoulder bag that I bought in Rome last year.

Ms. Gouw asked about the choices I made when I got dressed this morning, and here are my practical answers:

• I live in jeans whenever I'm not on the job because they are versatile and comfortable
• My jeans are cuffed because they are too long
  
• Flats mean I can walk farther faster
• Fishnet knee highs peeking out of the shoe funk up the look--give it an edge
• Large sunglasses offer more protection from UV rays
• The tunic is making its debut today after being purchased over a year ago
  

She asked permission to ask my age and I happily told her that I will be 55 tomorrow. I also told her mid-life women can still be sexy and stylish, and I'm out to prove it, but they've got to step away from shapeless sweatsuits, boxy sweaters, Mom jeans and gym shoes.

I only wish she had asked me about my lipstick! I was wearing Bobbi Brown's "Cassis," a rich rusty-red color that I admired on my gorgeous friend Jocie. The lipstick added polish to the look.

Ms. Gouw says that she will let me know when the piece is posted. Stay tuned!