Twitter makes following fashion, Kardashian family easy

I started using Twitter recently. A little late in the game, I know.

I haven’t done a whole lot with it yet. At this point, the sole reason I joined Twitter is to follow the entire Kardashian family. There’s something particularly warming about knowing exactly when Kim is headed to the gym or how happy Khloe is about getting married that I couldn’t resist any longer.

My weird obsession with the Kardashian family is hard to explain. I’m certainly not suggesting that these girls are intellectual role models. No — I would never recommend that anyone drive under the influence (Khloe) or make a sex tape (Kim). The family, in case you don’t know, is a group of people famous for no significant reason other than that Ryan Seacrest decided they’d be entertaining enough to have a reality show on E! Really, I think the reason I like them so much is that they dress well.

There’s something about having style that makes you a more intriguing person. Think the Olsen twins. I harbor quite the fixation on the Michelle Tanner duo, not because of their acting skills — trust me. I’ve seen “New York Minute,” and that’s exactly how long it took for me to forget it. But because of their fashion sense, I’m a total sucker for anything with an Olsen twin on it. Mary-Kate’s the cover girl of some fashion magazine? I’ll buy the issue right now.

I’m hesitant to use the term “girl crush” because it’s a little too Seventeen magazine for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been a fan of the glossy since middle school and enjoy reading about packing the perfect healthy lunchbox as much as the next girl, but as I approach the age of 22, I feel like I shouldn’t be relating to their cover features anymore. I’m not exactly hankering to steal Hannah Montana’s style secrets. Give me more credit than that — I’m at least up to Selena Gomez’s level.

Anyway, I’ll admit that I have a passionately idolizing view of certain people. I’m a huge fan of Kate Winslet. More for her regal beauty than style choices, though they’ve certainly improved recently. Thank God you can’t trot up to the stage and grab that Academy Award in a potato sack.

My love for Rachel Bilson was delayed, for I refused to watch the first season of “The O.C.” because it all seemed too dramatic. Then my hairdresser convinced me to watch a few episodes, just for the clothes.

“Sam, these girls are going to dictate fashion right now,” he proclaimed like the Vogue version of Nosferatu.

So I watched; my hairdresser was right. Since the show’s unfortunate ending, Miss Bilson has continued to impress me with her ability to put together casual but completely on-trend daywear.

Since Josh Schwartz has a knack for selecting “It Girls,” I also must thank him for giving me Leighton Meester. Her headband-wielding “Gossip Girl” character Blair Waldorf is a personal favorite of mine. This is another instance in which I was first sucked into a television show for the sole purpose of wardrobe analysis.

My tomboy roots relate to British transplant Alexa Chung’s quirky pairings, while my feminine side lives for Scarlett Johansson’s ultra-femme, retro ensembles.

I look to all of these girls for fashion inspiration when I’m stuck in a style rut. There’s nothing that pulls you out of the wardrobe doldrums quite like a quick flip through a celebrity-laden magazine. That’s not to say you shouldn’t come up with your own clothing ideas, though.

You know that scene in “Mean Girls” where Gretchen is crying in the girls’ bathroom? She’s explaining how Regina wouldn’t let her wear those “really expensive white gold hoops” because they were “her thing.” I shouldn’t admit this but, I’ve always sided with Regina on this one. Her desire to be unique is practically a fashion commandment.

And yet, I’m a total hypocrite. To borrow the words of Chuck Palahniuk, “Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everybody I’ve ever known.” I’m constantly on the lookout for outfit inspiration. The amount of time I spend reading fashion blogs is probably on par with the most dedicated cancer research labs.

I actively follow what people are wearing and subtly let it influence my own ensembles. Personal style is a stealth operation. Copying another’s look too blatantly is a major fashion offense. The trick is to draw influence from a pool of sources wide enough that the exact origin can’t be placed.

So the moral of the story: Cast a wide net, fish around for ideas and then make them your own. Feel free to show me the outfits you come up with on Twitter — just don’t be offended if I end up stealing your ideas.

A PSA from my lovely roommate

My roommate and I are simultaneously procrastinating the completion of a certain writing assignment. During the putting-off of said assignment, the following text conversation took place:

Erika: The temps went below 50 last night. The (f)uggs are out in full force.

Myself: Ugg. Literally.

E: There's nothing I enjoy more than that period of time when its assumed that flip flops or uggs are both footwear options in the morning.

M: I think maybe tomorrow I will sport one of each on either foot. Just for you.

E: I would actually die. Of pure happiness. And make sure you were selected for fashion on the street, symbolically summoning to all: FALL means FLATS.

and there you have it. Re-think your footwear, ladies, because Erika's out to get you.

G-20 round up

The whirlwind of the G-20 has come and gone, leaving Pittsburgh behind with a little more media attention than usual and some smashed windows. I must say, I'm sad to see the event come to an end. It was a welcome change of pace and I was getting used to having the SWAT team flood campus everyday.

How did this global meeting affect the fashion industry? Well, as for Pittsburgh stores, check out these pictures I took in the Shadyside neighborhood:

Corporate chains had to board up all their windows (on the left is J.Crew and Victoria Secret is on the right) to avoid brick-hurling, anti-capitalism protestors.

Instead of boarding up, family owned stores protected themselves by advertising their independent status. Bragging about organic fabrics and local designers was popular, too.

Residents who work downtown (where the convention center is located) were advised to dress down to avoid the attention of anti-corporate protestors.

As for Michelle, she looked as radiant as ever.

Will my stud obsession ever end? Not in the foreseeable future.

I want this bag, pronto. The purple or grey will do. You decide.

Happy birthday to a fashion icon

I'd like to wish a happy 75th to one Brigitte Bardot. I'm a little early, her birthday isn't actually until Monday.
Thanks for inspiring me to tease my hair, doll!

Speaking of style icons, since you know I'm obsessed with Michelle Obama, I'm going to direct you over to the first lady fashion blog post I did for chickdowntown.

"MObama" the next First Lady fashion icon?

In case you didn’t know, the G-20 is happening in Pittsburgh.

Tomorrow, the leaders of the world will descend upon our quaint city and walk among us mere Steel Town mortals. Well, maybe not so much walk as get chauffeured around in bulletproof limos.

I’m not going to delve into anything political here because, quite frankly, I don’t know enough about the government to speak about it in a public forum.

What I do know, however, is fashion. Tomorrow marks the arrival of one of the best-dressed women in politics — Michelle Obama. As entertaining as protesters are, what I really want a glimpse at is what Michelle decides to wear to her dinner at Phipps Conservatory tomorrow.

Much credit is due to a woman who displays her opinions on gun control — or lack thereof — right on her sleeve. Michelle is all about the right to bear arms — have you seen those shift dresses?

I’m over-the-moon excited to witness the makings of our country’s next fashion icon. When was the last time the White House housed such a figure? Jackie O? Surely not anyone in the average Pitt student’s lifetime.

Michelle is the second first lady to appear on the cover of Vogue. The first was Hillary Clinton, but let’s not kid ourselves — Hillary’s pantsuits hardly inspire any sartorial salivation.

Michelle has an undeniable attention-capturing quality. The July issue of British Vogue featured a photo spread, shot by Mario Testino, of the world’s first ladies at the previous G-20 in London — and if there’s one crowd that’s as “MObama” obsessed as we, it’s the Brits. While all of the world leaders’ wives were distinguished and beautiful, Michelle cascaded off of each glossy page, radiating je ne sais quoi.

In nine months, countless style-conscious citizens have become obsessed with the fashionista.. We can’t get enough of her colorful and preppy aesthetic.

Perhaps where Michelle succeeds best, however, is in her democratization of fashion — undoubtedly no coincidence, given her husband’s political leanings. She mixes couture pieces (Jason Wu, Azzedine Alaia, Thakoon and Michael Kors) with cardigans and dresses from stores like The Gap, J. Crew and occasionally even that holy grail of elementary school teachers, Talbots.

The woman even — gasp! — wears things more than once! She has a few belts in constant rotation, broadcasting to the American public via her waistline, “It’s ok to repeat, girls!” This, is smart — very smart. When the country is in an economic mudslide, she knows to practice a little closet restraint.

Despite her numerous admirable fashion choices, Michelle has managed to pick up a few negative reviews — like the time she wore shorts to the Grand Canyon. The blogosphere worked itself into a frothy frenzy debating whether or not her outfit choice was appropriate.

Honestly? If I hadn’t first seen the picture of her with a towering “Short Shorts!” headline over it, I would never have thought anything of it. Leave the woman alone. Last time I checked, shorts weren’t that scandalous, especially when worn in Arizona. In August.

As Michelle quickly ascends to icon status, my thoughts turn to what her ultimate signature will be. What will people wear years from now when they dress up as Michelle Obama for Halloween?

Jackie O had her big shades and pearls. When emanating Michelle, perhaps girls will slip on a voluminous pleated skirt and pointed flats, top it off with a pink plaid cardigan and clip their hair into an elongated bob.

So Michelle, if by a glorious twist of fate a copy of this paper lands in your hands: Hi, I’m Sam, and I’m a huge fan. Keep rocking those gun-baring shifts. I salute you.

Spotted

I have a bit of an obsession with finding out what fashion journalists and bloggers actually look like (I'm creepy, ok?) so I practically leaped out of my seat when I read Joe Zee's column this month for Elle.

He photographed a whole bunch of my favorite people, including Amy Odell, editor of The Cut, and Abby Gardner from Fashionista.

Read it and see if your favorite fashion people were featured!

Snagged

I'm a huge fan of jewelry that has a bit of wit to it, so I'm positively smitten with this Burberry ring that's made to look like barbed wire.

If I could be granted ONE wish right now...

...it would be an all-expenses paid trip to London.

And I would've left on Thursday night, so I could witness every second of Fashion Week. For LFW's website, they asked designers to name their favorite spots in London. I was reading through them whilst silently weeping and wishing I was still there.

Amanda Whakely said, "Portobello Market on a Friday morning." Aye. That was my favorite thing to do on Friday mornings over the summer. I didn't have class or work, so I'd jump on the tube and patrol the stands for souvenirs and interesting characters.

If I were flying over to London right now, on board with all the Voguettes, this is what I'd wear.

Talk about a bad hair day...

I'm not here to talk to you about Kanye's little tiff with Taylor. (Though, for the record, I don't feel bad for her and I think the whole thing was hilarious. No duh, Beyonce should've won. Who's ever seen the music video for 'Love Story?' But whatever. I digress.)

What I am here to discuss is what the hell is going on with Kanye's scalp? It looks like an alien descended from above, imprinted crop circle-style messages on his head, then whispered in his ear "Do something crazy so everyone in the world sees this." So, if a meteor hits Earth

sometime in the near future, don't say Kanye didn't warn you.

And while we're on the topic of bad hair, Drew, what's wrong with you?! That 7th grade emo kid dye job? I can not even handle those tips. I love you, really, I do. But no.

Lilly Lover would be an understatement

I saw this car in the King of Prussia mall parking lot over the summer and snapped a picture. (I forgot about it until today, my bad.) The entire thing was painted in a Lilly Pulitzer print. It doesn't really get anymore Main Line than that.

What the eff are they wearing?

Ever since that little campus anti-fashion compendium I put together a couple weeks ago, I've been getting a stream of tip-offs to people around Pittsburgh who aren't following the rules.

They're pretty entertaining, so I'm going to share some with you.

"Spotted: fashion faux pas" (Note that it was at least 75 degrees outside, rendering that Ugg/legging combination completely unacceptable.)

"Ok so this tranny in my ethics class is wearing short white socks, maroon pumps, and a jean skirt. Tee-rashy."

"Someone hasn't been reading the pitt news..."

(Plaid and stripes, guilty as charged. Someone's bad idea of Pitt pride at a football game.)

"Today I saw a girl walking around carrying two items by Vera Bradley. They were different patterns. Is that better or worse than if they'd matched? I was so distracted by the misfortune that her backpack was filthy I couldn't make a decision. Thank you."

So consider this the beginning of a new venture, lovingly entitled "What the Eff are They Wearing?"

If you see a fashion crime happening, where ever you are, I want to hear about it. Text me, facebook me, email me, leave a comment. We can't just let these bad things happen.

Check yes or no

Riddle me this:

The Proenza Schouler model pictured above definitely, totally has leg hair.

• Yes?
• No?

Gross.

The shoes are pretty sweet, though.

Maybe someone should show this chick a clip of that episode of ANTM when Fatima gets yelled at for showing up to set "ungroomed."

I'm really obsessed with the three following things:

1. Everything about this look from Organic by John Patrick: the hair, the red lipstick, the strong shoulders, the voluminous leather skirt. Could this BE any more in?

2. These flats I scored half price at Urban Outfitters last weekend. They go with everything.

3. This weather. It's perfect and I wish it was like this all the time. It's so much easier getting dressed in the morning when you don't have to worry about freezing OR sweating.

Thoughts on Ashton Kutcher's New Project: The Beautiful Life

So Ashton is at it again, producing another show with 'beauty' in the title. This time, it's a behind the scenes look at the modeling world. I'm always gunning for more shows that look at the fashion industry since, you know, that's what I'm into. Not to mention I'm really championing a Mischa Barton revival. So I'm watching the premier and taking notes:

• They would use that song from 'The Devil Wears Prada' in the beginning segment. Wishful thinking much?
• That shot of Mischa Barton gazing out the window of her limo? Uh, definitely the same as our first look of Serena in the 'Gossip Girl' pilot. You know, when she's staring out the window of the train?
• Is it just me, or does all this name dropping just sound...clumsy? Is this show actually just a big branding opportunity for the fashion industry?
• I'm 20 minutes in and literally can't watch this anymore.
• This show is so getting canceled after three episodes. Nice try, Ashton. Again.

The Power Fashion Couple

I LOVE this picture of Garance and Scott at The Sartorialist book signing.

Could there be a more a fashion-forward couple in existence? They're everything I dream to be someday in my distant future.

Forever 21 the fashion equivalent to ghonorrhea

Let’s discuss this thing currently going on in New York called Fashion Week. For months, the fashion world has been preparing for seven days of unbridled chaos. Diehard fans leave their comfy shoes and moral standards at home as they attempt to beg their way into the Bryant Park tents. (“Really! I left my fashion show ticket at home! I swear I’m on the list! YES, this is Valentino!”)

Because of some unfortunate logistic issues, I wasn’t able to spend the weekend in New York. Not that I’d be able to do a whole lot once I got there since, you know, I don’t work at Vogue, but I wanted to witness the overall spectacle firsthand.

Instead, I celebrated Fashion Week from the comforts of my own home. I wish I could say I drank copious amounts of champagne and marched around town in towering heels. The reality was far less glamorous. I clicked my way through the Spring 2010 shows online — blissfully blister-free.

Viewing all the runway glamour has triggered an overwhelming desire to completely overhaul my wardrobe. Suddenly, everything in my closet seems so ... last season.

This is a common problem for me. I have a tendency to get sick of things very quickly. Before a song’s play count hits 10, I can’t hear it anymore. I wear an outfit twice, and I’m over it. This has caused some to assume I’m a tad pretentious. These presumptuous folk are actually quite wrong — I just get bored easily.

The unfortunate downside of this affliction is that I’m broke. I’m a junkie with no means to get her fix. I have a hard time accepting the fact I most likely will never afford the beautiful, luxurious clothes I crave. It’s depressing. Really — go on style.com and watch some of the shows. I’d recommend Karen Walker, Boy by Band of Outsiders, Helmut Lang and Jenni Kayne.

You’ll have a much easier time sympathizing with my situation after you’ve seen them. It’s probably for the best I wasn’t present at any of the shows. I would’ve started shrieking and been asked to leave, which would’ve been, to say the least, rather embarrassing.

I’ve decided to write a few letters, punctuated with desperation, to various designers. I’m volunteering the arduous task of cleaning up their post-Fashion Week messes by taking some of their extra clothes off their hands.

Since responses are about as likely as me getting an “A” in math this semester, I’m forced to find reasonably priced additions to my wardrobe elsewhere. Here’s where I need to employ some impulse control: fast-fashion chains.

Slews of stores make mega bucks from replicating designer duds. The garments are usually of disastrous quality, but since they’re dirt cheap, you convince yourself to buy things you neither need nor look good in — bad news all around.

Now bear with me for just a moment as we flash back to the SATs and look at an analogy: Fast-fashion chains are to style schizophrenia what promiscuity is to venereal diseases.

When you’re exposed to too much low quality crap, you end up making bad decisions. So this is my PSA: Save yourself for the pieces that are really worth it. You’ll end up with a killer closet and no regrets in the morning. A cohesive wardrobe makes getting ready on the fly — even for an 8 a.m. recitation — a total cinch.

Stores like Forever 21 encourage you to buy things that aren’t your style. They’re aware of it — that’s why their return policy sucks. Sure, that awkwardly cut frilly top in the back of your drawer only cost $12.99, but those little impulse buys add up. With the $100 you spent on a few pieces that have unraveled in the wash you could’ve gotten a pair of decently made shoes that go with everything.

Before approaching sale racks or cheap chains, think about what you really need. Commence your shopping sprees with a critical eye. I suggest flipping through magazines right before shopping so you can pick out items that appeal to you and stick with them. Don’t let a smooth-talking bargain sway you.

Now, I’m certainly no saintly Forever 21 virgin, and I’m not going to launch into a sermon about cost-per-wear. Sometimes fashion mistakes happen.

Clean out your closet, learn from the stuff you’re throwing away and move on. So go forth my nimble little born-again shoppers. Be smart and always use protection, because Forever 21’orrhea is a horrible thing.

Line I'm Completely Loving: Be&D

I saw this picture of ultimate cool girl Leigh Lezark on the Elle News Blog and fell completely head-over-heels in love with her bag. I'm a total sucker for anything studded, so I did a little research on the designer, Be&D. The Brooklyn-based duo launched their line in 2004 and have been churning out luxurious leather goods ever since.

They have a ton of really hip, really beautiful stuff. I want it all.

R.I.P. Patrick

I just returned home from a South Oakland bar crawl (you guys can read all about it in the joint column I did with my editor on Friday in The Pitt News Dining Guide) to find that Patrick Swayze had died.

Rest in peace, Patrick, and may your iconic black wife beater live on for ever.

A love letter of sorts

Dear Band of Outsiders,

If you happen to have a spare copy of this ensemble lying around amongst your post-Fashion Week mess, please allow me the arduous task of taking it off your hands. I promise to take good care of it, wearing it for as long as Pittsburgh autumns' allow. I've always been a fan of your preppy-with-an-edge aesthetic and I solemnly swear, if you send me this, I'll be a fan forever more.

xoxo,

S

A little studded slice of heaven

Remind me again why I don't own these? Oh, right. I don't have $428. Bummer.

Another one to bookmark

I'm love love loving Yvan Rodic's (the guy behind Face Hunter) new self titled blog. I'd even go as far as saying it's better than Face Hunter. There's a wider assortment of photos-- lots of great candid moments and quirky characters. Add it to your bookmarks, pronto, and consider it required viewing.

Just the excuse you were looking for

If you're a student in Pittsburgh this weekend, skedaddle on over to SouthSide Works for their college weekend. Feel free to indulge in a little I-survived-the-first-two-weeks-of-classes treat for yourself. You deserve it.

It's Fashion Week, did you know?

I've been perusing Day One's shows over at style.com (God bless their organization and speed. It's practically like I'm in New York watching the shows live...). I've been saving all my favorites in my lookbook. Check it out.

Freud and Fashion share surprising connection

What would Freud look like in a nice pair of leggings? I shudder to think, but recently, I have been making more and more connections between fashion and psychology.

Despite my inability to understand anything math- or science-related, I’m a psychology major. Forgetting that Pitt, home to one of the preeminent medical schools in the country, can turn just about anything into a science (I swear even my creative writing classes are methodical), I signed up for psych.

I thought I’d spend four years sitting in leather chairs and analyzing people’s personalities. Turns out you don’t really do this at all. Instead, I’ve spent the last three years repeatedly learning the same things: habituation, Freud’s creepy phallic obsessions, neurological pathways and that whole nature vs. nurture thing.

Today in Sam’s Psychology of Fashion 101, we’re going to discuss habituation. In case you’re one of the lucky few who’s managed to escape the confinements of Intro to Psych, allow me to define: Upon repeated exposure to any given stimulus, the human body gradually stops responding to it. Essentially, you’re capable of getting used to anything you spend too much time around.

This explains why a boy’s bedroom always smells like stale beer, and they don’t seem to notice, and how we manage to sleep in Oakland despite the constant cacophony of helicopters and ambulances outside at all hours of the night.

I think habituation goes far beyond daily smells and sounds, though. It works for our cultural experiences as well. For example, people who live and breathe fashion habituate to runway trends. The more magazines and fashion shows they see, the more their standard for normality is altered. Suddenly, neon leggings and a sequined blazer seem like a perfectly acceptable outfit for the most mundane of daily events — like jury duty.

To the rest of the world, these clothes seem utterly ridiculous. But to the fashion set, they are beautiful. There is a total perception disconnect between the fashion and non-fashion world. In major cities, the spheres collide a little bit. In smaller towns, however, wearing something not generally seen in the window of American Eagle attracts strange looks.

In the true nature of a psychology student, I decided to do a little experiment. I composed a list of quirky clothes that I think are absolutely extraordinary and set out to see if a non-fashion lover would have the same opinion.

I needed someone far removed from the fashion world, someone with an untrained eye completely unexposed to the idiosyncrasies of the industry. So I called my brother. Despite my constant nagging to update his wardrobe, he generally sticks to polo shirts, cargo shorts and college T-shirts. Exactly the perspective I needed.

We started off with a look at a piece from Balmain’s Fall 2009 collection — a wide-shouldered blazer and black pants with metallic embellishments. “Uh, are you going to a disco ball dance?” he replied.

So we moved onto a denim jumpsuit from Madewell. “If I walked downstairs in this, what would you say to me?” I asked. “It looks like you just got out of solitary confinement.”

Would a shorter denim romper get a better reaction? “Well, it saves you the effort of buying two separate pieces of clothes.” Guess not.

What about a pair of harem pants? “It makes the wearer look like a horse.”

I figured those would get that reaction. So I showed him a picture of a really sweet military style jacket. “Whaddup, G.I. Jane?” I tried not to be offended.

Distressed, boyfriend style jeans? “Yeah, I like to buy ruined clothes, too.” I felt like someone was insulting my firstborn child.

I sadly wimpered, “So really, all this stuff is a no-go?”

To which he answered, “I guess being fashionable takes dedication. Aside from the jeans and the cool disco pants, this is all too extreme.”

So there you have it. Exhibit A: that fashion-lovers habituate, truly believing clothes — that to the rest of the world seem like a freak-fest — are totally cool.

Tomorrow marks the first day of New York Fashion Week. A whole new season of ridiculous trends will debut. Some will have mass appeal, others will not. If you spot me running around Oakland in some atrocious get-up, I apologize in advance. I can’t help what I like — blame psychology.

Oh, the treasures you can find on Etsy.

Because I'm fully obsessed with Anna Wintour today (I'm blaming it on anticipation of Fashion Week and the wide release of The September Issue), I'm directing you over to my bestie's blog for a post about the funniest thing I've ever seen on Etsy. They're finger puppets. Of folks like Marc Jacobs, Christian Siriano, and Vivienne Westwood.

I'm encouraging my friend to buy two, so that someday when she must give her children a finger puppet-aided demonstration of the sex talk, she can do it with Karl and Anna.