I’ve moved to here and here. This particular blog turned out to be just practice

OK, so what, I had a busy week last week, but now I’m back and ready for more. Not only will I be more committed to posting my theme days, but I miss writing. Stay tuned kiddies, I’ll be adding more column-like posts very soon.

But today is Friday. Lest we forget, it is fashion Friday. And because I am lacking motivation in almost all areas of my life because it SNOWED today instead of beaming bright sunshine complimented with a fresh warm spring breeze like it should be in Chicago in late March, I am focused on SUMMER. And COLORS. And MICHAEL KORS!!!!

Who’s afraid of color? Most people. Don’t be fooled. The options are out there and only the bold and the brave take the bait. Many people, men and women alike, stick to blacks, browns, beiges and jeans in the winter and fall, splashed with the occasional unoriginal bold red. In the summer, it’s unfortunately the same story, only varied by season-appropriate design and material. But thank goodness that fashion designers, despite producing what sells, produce fantastic beautiful alternatives to the same old same old.

This summer, Michael Kors brings out the flora and fauna of fashion. From his bags to his shoes, women wearing Michael Kors will not only make a statement to cheer on summer sunny days, but add a splash of life’s splendors to a dull-washed palette.

Give me more, Michael Kors. I would sleep in these shoes. They look amazing, and I can only imagine how happy my feet would be to strut around Chicago in them. Yes, please.

It is appropriately in-style this millennium, to mismatch tastefully. I would absolutely put this bag with either of the above shoes, and definitely yes with the incredible yellow top above. Also, Michael Kors understands that many people shy away from such bold inventions, and the bag and shoes shown here are available in black for the fearful. Be bold, be colorful. But if you must be blah, be a design daredevil with blah.

Thirteen commercial slogans that made new creases in our brains:

13.    Just do it.

12.    Wassaaaaaap.

11.    I am Tiger Woods

10.     Better eat your Wheaties

9.    Got milk?

8.    I wanna be like Mike

7.    Wait till we get our Hanes on you

6.    Dude, yer getting a Dell

5.    Bud. Weis. Er.

4.    Yo quiero TacoBell

3.    Oh, hey PC

2.    Time to make the donuts

1.    Make Seven. Up Yours!

http://whisperingcraneinstitute.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/trees-we-do-not-like/

this week, i made a new discovery and therefore must use words. and song. and video. this is officially the funniest thing i have ever seen. i cant decide whether bruce or cindy are the best. happy midweek.

At my husband’s urging… right, my husband… I’m going to highlight a certain “look” that only some of you will understand.

Let me begin by saying, for those of you who do understand, the look is unmistakable. I was in the Liberal Education department just before winter break last semester, waiting for my students (I tutored French) and a young undergrad walked in. And despite my inner voice to just keep my mouth shut and mind my own business, I asked the young man if he was from the west side of Michigan. “Yeah,” he said.

“Grand Rapids?” I asked.

“Yeah, how’d you know?”

“You look like it…. Sorry, not in a bad way, but you have the look. I mean you look good….” And I think I butchered his self esteem, but I buffered it by asking if he knew a few of my G-Rap friends, and he did, so we left on a good note.

The next west-Michigander walked in, and I placed her too. Grand Haven. Two for two.

Well, friends, the west Michigan look is all pieced together by one choice brand.

Yes, THE NORTH FACE.

With Spring approaching… not quickly enough, mind you… The North Face has some great styles for the Spring hiker, or more likely for the Spring hiker poser.

I’m really drawn to the Geo Mesh Vesta Hoodie. It looks like it’s comfortable in cool or cold weather, especially for all-weather joggers and spring hikers. Nights get cold in the mountains. Per www.thenorthface.com, this fantastic jacket features:

• VaporWick™ fabric
  
• Soft, easy-care gridded fabric
  
• Mesh side panels for increased breathability
  
• Hand pockets
  
• Monkey thumbs
  
• Back right bottom hem stash pocket
  
• Reflective graphics on front hand pockets
  
• Reflective piping and The North Face® logo
  

Next, this lil’ ¼ zip jacket is oh so chic, but also oh so practical for athletes. It offers Carbon from Bamboo technology, mock neck with ¼…. Wait, did that just say Carbon from Bamboo technology? (Yes).

I have no idea what that is, but I’m entirely distracted and will now spend the rest of my post investigating Carbon from Bamboo technology.

Oh. My. Goodness.

The North Face is so intelligent. Not only do they have a recognizable brand, great clothes that appeal to a very specific and loyal demographic, but they also use catchy phrases like “Carbon from Bamboo technology” that catch my eye –and my sporadic attention—like a black bear catching the whiff of a freshly grilled burger.

Anyway, according to their website, “Carbon from Bamboo technology is a method of enhancing the performance qualities of fabrics used for active outdoor endeavors. In this highly specialized process, dried bamboo is carbonized in a kiln at nearly 800 degrees Celsius, then ground into a fine powder. The Carbon from Bamboo powder is blended with a polymer to form fibers that are woven or knit into fabrics.”

Wow. How many other brands’ pieces of clothing are made from bamboo? Where is the bamboo grown? Is it adult bamboo, or juvenile bamboo? Can people be allergic to it? What about the pandas?

Wait, forget that last part. This is so amazing. Its really revolutionary to think you’re wearing bamboo without really wearing “bamboo.”

The site continues with the science lesson saying, “The end result of this process is a high-performance garment in a compressible and comfortable fabric that displays the following key characteristics:

WICKING & QUICK DRYING
Carbon from Bamboo technology utilizes the highly porous nature of carbon to dramatically increase the surface area of the fabric. Consequently, there is more area to wick and disperse moisture which also decreases dry time. Studies show that Carbon from Bamboo technology achieves a higher percentage in moisture transfer compared to standard polyester.

ODOR ABSORPTION
The highly porous nature of Carbon from Bamboo also acts as a net to trap odor-causing molecules where they can quickly decompose without releasing any odor.

UV PROTECTION
Lastly, the same porous structure of Carbon from Bamboo, along with its dark black color, work in tandem at a microscopic level to trap harmful UV rays. Finally, the performance qualities of Carbon from Bamboo do not diminish with incremental laundering. Since the carbon is added to the polymer, it becomes part of the fabric instead of a coating that washes away over time. Carbon from Bamboo will maintain its performance qualities over the lifetime of the garment.”

BRILLIANT!
Fashion Friday has evolved, scientifically, into Venture Vendredi!!
How thrilling.
In conclusion, The North Face cool-season apparel made from the revolutionary Carbon from Bamboo technology is worth every penny because of the scientific backing of a new-age fabric making your jacket piece last longer than… well, this season’s latest trend.

Gotta love dating.

Here are thirteen of the worst (or best, if you’re cynical comme moi) pick up lines.

13.    Girl, your legs must be tired. Cuz you been running through my mind ALL DAY

12.    Are you a parking ticket? Because you have FINE written all over you.

11.    Hey, I lost my phone number. Can I borrow yours?

10.    Are you lost? Because heaven is a long way from here.

9.    If you were a McDonald’s hamburger, you would be a McGorgeous.

8.     Excuse me I think I dropped something. MY JAW!

7.    (hands on shoulders) Oh, those are shoulder blades. I thought they were wings.

6.    If I follow you home, will you keep me?

5.    What’s that in your eye? Oh, it must be a twinkle.

4.    You must be Jamaican because Ja Makin me crazy!

3.    Hi, do you have any raisins? How about a date?

2.    You’re ugly, but you intrigue me.

1.    Do you believe in love at first sight…or should I walk by again?

I saw it first at least four years ago on Ma Chère, my jewelry-making fashion-plate bestie, and I’ll never forget how stunning the look was. The look? Tunic, leggings, all buckled together with a ginormous belt.

And it hit the streets from there on.

This week’s fashion pick: THE BELT.

Etiquette tells—or more like dictates—that the belt is not only an accessory to match the purse, the shoes, and potentially the gloves and hat, but belt should always be worn if your pants have belt loops.

Well, folks, who throw etiquette out the window, because the belt is back and bigger and bucklier than ever, and usually not the loudest most eccentric part of any outfit.

The belt trend snuck up on us with that belly chain thing that was kind of hip for the rocker teen crowd in the nineties. We all remember it. Girls were fastening it around their low-rise bikinis, drawing more attention to the strikingly rebellious belly button piercing, also fresh out of the nineties grunge scene.

It moved into the chain and rope belts for sophisticates, hanging low around the waist drawing attention to the widest and usually the least favorite part to accentuate, but I have to admit, I have three link belts. Sigh.

Then, we came to the wide, wider, and widest belts that screamed RODEO, still hinged on the hips.

For the past twenty years, everything went from regular fit to low-rise, and people kept pushing their pants further and further away from their ribs, threatening crackage. Well, let me tell you friends, crack kills.

Just about when “booty cleavage” started to become a horrible, terrifying, please-dear-God-no trend, the fashion police stepped in a pulled up our pants.

And finally, somewhere around the turn of the millennium, everything moved up to the east side. Or… the waist side.

The wide belts came up to that point, just under the ribs, called the waist. Not the hips, the waist. Wide belts were everywhere; in the tip tops of designer shops to the second hand consignment stores telling fifty years of fashion tales.

The wide waisters got skinnier for about one season, threatening the end of wide waist huggers, but the belt remains at the waist, now all shapes, sizes, and colors.

There are few fashions that make everyone look good. And when I say everyone, I mean tall, short, thick, thin, apple, pear… everyone.

But the belt—if done correctly—can be a striking and flattering accessory well worth the investment.

Cinch it. Look longer, leaner, and leggier.