The Parent Trap

A child should never become the victim of a parents failures and insecurities. Motherly and Fatherly mini me's, whose parents have misused the power of the familial unit to bully their child into living within a predetermined safe set of guidelines. Guidelines that allows the parent(s) to breathe easier at night.

Everyone has the right to wave their freak flag. When you stifle that natural growth to soothe your own personal fears about life you take the risk of alienating a version of your child's personality from you. You have now created a dynamic where there will be things you can never discuss or discover together. Trust and unconditional love have been tampered with in the name of your emotional imbalance or worse yet, selfish insecurities.

Parental decisions that are made with the best of intentions have the possibility of backfiring. Not every child learns the ability to eventually see past well meant parental intent. There may come a time when you may find yourself railing against your child's version of reality, and no matter how hard you try you may not be able to recast your roll in their screenplay of events.



M

The Art of Sunglasses

Maybe it's because I'm missing the sun and warmer weather but I can't help that my thoughts have recently wandered in the direction of sunglasses. Many women and men for that matter, overlook sunglasses as a legitimate fashion accessory. What a mistake.


To illustrate the power that sunglasses can have as the final detail with the power to pull a look, or moment together, I have compiled a montage to my favorite fashion icon of all time Audrey Hepburn. If a picture is worth a thousand words than my point is about to be made:

100 Years of Jantzen

Jantzen, the Portland based swimsuit company has been in business for over 100 years. This iconic company is credited with helping to loosen the iron grip that a puritanical Western culture had placed on a woman's relationship with the sea.

Their first bathing suit prototype was actually for men in the Portland Rowing Club and it was presented in 1913. From there they went on the develop and design suits that were worn by: Elvis Presley, Princess Diana, Marilyn Monroe, and Elizabeth Taylor. Their suits have been seen at the Olympics and even Givenchy has been one of their all star designers.

Knowing how "hot" these retro swimsuits are in 2012 I did a little internet research to find some of the original Jantzen ads. I always think its fun to see what a designers original vision was for the impact their product would have on the consumer. I personally found that the old ads are a ton more fun than the newer high fashion uber chic ones.

But if you take a look at the actual design of their 2012 swimsuit line you will be surprised to see that not much has changed. Sometimes a company does get it right the first time.

Before There Was Victoria's Secret There Was Maidenform

Victoria's Secret was not always the international powerhouse so many of us have come to know and love. Below you will find a collection of underwear ads from Maidenform during the 50's and 60's.
If nothing else these models appear to be having a lot of fun!

Year One - Let's Talk About It

Lying in Bed at nignt:

Me:                    Lorenzo?
Lorenzo:             Hmmm?
Me:                    Are we Best Friends?
Lorenzo:            No, now go to sleep.  .....
                         (long pause) .... We are
                         better than Best Friends.
                         We're Life Partners.
Me:                   We're gay?
Lorenzo:            (pause) ... Go to sleep.


 "That is where your getting your next purse from if you don't start acting right." Lorenzo nods in the direction of the Goodwill we are driving by.

" Won't it be amazing in the New System when we will all have the opportunity to
have perfect bodies...........  You won't have a trace of black in you."


My husband to his Cousin while we are in the field service car group:

Lorenzo:           I told him exactly what I thought about him.  It was the first time
                        in a long time I was genuinely mean to someone.
Me:                  Wait, what?
Lorenzo:         Other than Mary.

"  You know I can't understand a word you say when you speak immigrant"  Me to Lorenzo when he is frustrated that I can't hear him from another room.

Lorenzo:        Please don't yell in the hallway at the neighbors
Me:               I was not yelling in the hallway at the neighbors
Lorenzo:       Then what were you just doing?
Me:               I was yelling at YOU in the hallway that the neighbors HAPPEN to use.
Lorenzo:       Ghetto

"You see what a good husband I am?  First I bring you roses, then I yell at you.  Then I surprise you with a spa day."

Lorenzo singing from the other room:
Lorenzo:      Toniiiiiggght we are young. So let's set Mary on fire.  On Fire.  On Fiiiiirrrre
Mary:           Why are you setting me on fire?
Lorenzo:      With Love silly.  With Love.

Tulum, Mexico

It's BaAaaaAack..........

for Spring 2012.  Peplum.  I don't know about the rest of you but I happen to be a huge fan.  I first began my love affair with peplum as a young girl watching Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty flit across a Disney screen in those tiny fitted dresses whose fabric flowed into a slight poof just below the waist.  The look is a classic one adept at showcasing a woman's softer feminine side using structure and detail in a deliberate manner.

Below I have compiled a short photo list of some of my favorite peplum moments in fashion history.



How Alice see's India

This short video clip stands to reason how Chanel continues to be one of the only long term Fashion Houses that understands the value of imagery and the overall impact of the visual experience.  

It's as though Alice in Wonderland has taken a ride on the Darjeeling Express.