It's raining boots!

Love, love, love the boots with jeans tucked-in!  It looks sooo chic!  Even here, the boots themselves are great.  They look just a bit worn in.

So, on a day like today that features rain, rain and more rain, I definitely saw my fair share of boots.  Some did it just right, like the chica above and some, unfortunately were mired in the past.  "What do you mean, Red?" you ask.  

Well, let me break it down--Uggs are sooo last year.  

I know.  I know.  You just bought a pair and need to wear them obsessively to justify the cost, but seriously, it's over.  Don't punish yourself.  They might come back in the next 20 years or so.  Save them if you want.  Fill them with moth balls or hermetically seal them.  Or, maybe try cryogenically freezing them alongside Ted Williams' head.  

Here's the deal: boots are fabulous for most legs--especially for those of you of the thick ankle variety.  However, Uggs do nothing to help this.  Plus, there is this whole touristy aspect to it.  Whenever I see someone walking down the street wearing Uggs and a miniskirt, it's the new tourist id tag.   I know they read their In Style bible from last year cover to cover learning about this "hot" look.  The deal is, NYC isn't quite the same in terms of style as LA, where the look originated.  I can't really imagine anyone here saying, "wow, i really want to wear some fuzzy boots with a mini skirt."  You'll either get frostbite on your legs, if it's winter, or you'll drown your feet in sweat due to the crazy humidity and heat here in the summer.

Now, don't get me wrong, wearing Uggs or other ugly boots for their practical value is one thing, but newsflash--winter is over.  What about some cute polka dot plastic rain boots, or for those on more luxe budgets, there are some Burberry options out there that are pretty adorable.  

Ok, now for the tucked-in jean/boot discussion.  Again, I LOVE it.  But.... (You knew there had to be a "but," right?)  Anyhoo, here's the potential disaster:  your silhouette matters in terms of pulling this look off.  If you tend to be pear- or apple-shaped, this might not be the look you want to do.  

Why? you ask.

Well, it's sorta like stuffing a balloon into the top of a boot--you look ready to pop.  It's similar to the issue with peg-legged pants.  (remember this one?)  It emphasizes the width of your hips.  If you are generally stick straight, this is a good way to create some curves and if you are more of an hour-glass figure, again this just accentuates your curves beautifully.

Now, to do this look well, you should also consider wearing your skinny jeans for this look to work.  Trust me, I keep trying with my bootleg jeans and i never look quite right.  It's more like Farmer Fred going to work in the field than anything else.  Not really the look I want to convey.  All the same, summer will soon be here and boots will move to the back of the closet for that gorgeous three month stretch.  Enjoy them ladies and to quote a dear man: "Make it work!"

Come on, "cuff" it up

Ok, like many people, when the weather heats up, the hems of my pants tend to get shorter. Capris, clamdiggers, walking shorts and even short-shorts appear, but probably one of the most common trends involves us rolling up the cuffs of our jeans. Here's the problem--how do you get it to look like you meant to do it, versus the "oh-crap!-my-bathroom-flooded" look or the ever popular "it-might-rain-and-I-don't-want-to-mess-up-these-oh-so-fabulous-dirty-ripped-jeans" look. Either way, clearly a dilemma deserving the highest level attention possible. So here we go, dear reader, let's plunge into these tricky waters and see how best to avert the flood.

To provide a visual aid, I have a rather poor resolution picture here that does happily give us an example of what not to do.

I could mention the platform nurse shoes, but I'll leave that for another segment and keep my focus on the cuffs. They are not "bad" per se, but definitely not good. It's all about balance.

Rule #1: if you are short, be very careful with this look.

In general, cuffs work best if you are amazonianly tall. Now, if you, like me, fit into the 99.9% of the population that is not of that demographic, think long and hard about this look. It can really cut your legs out from under you, making you look even shorter.

Rule #2: if you have to roll them up to be able to wear them without dragging on the ground like a kid playing dress-up, then for the love of Pete, get them tailored.

If you notice the picture shows a lady with cuffs that seem a little thick, trust me they looked thick in public, it just looks like her pants are too long. Not really saying "fashionista." Now, when you see maybe the single roll that keeps a narrow profile, much better.

Rule #3: if you are going to cuff, you better be wearing cute shoes.

I know I said I wouldn't get into it, but I couldn't help it. They are sooo ugly. She has shapely ankles and then these huge Herman Munster clunkers on underneath. A cute pair of flip flops or maybe some sweet ballet flats would be a much better choice here.

So, to cuff or not to cuff, that is the question. But seriously, if you are 5' or under, do you really want to look the size of an oopah loompah? Let's think tall, long, elegant, not short and stubby.

All "wrapped" up

So I actually like this outfit a lot. Simple, sweet, professional. Wrap dresses are phenomenal for practically any figure--provided they fit. I am not sure if you can tell from this picture, but the dress had a moderately full skirt. (When you go for this look, remember to check the length. If you are petite with a full skirt and nipped-in waist, it could look a bit off.)

Overall, in this case, very cute.

So, why you ask is she highlighted on this blog.

Very good question, my friend. Here it is: it's cute, but boring.

No color, no texture, no nothing. I am all for the NYC uniform, aka black, black and more black. But, I have to wonder sometimes if that becomes a fall back option rather than a fashion-forward decision. In this case, wouldn't a great bangle in that fantastic au courant lemon yellow, or maybe some fabulous red, pink, purple or even leopard print pumps set off her look. Heck, even some long gold chains (no, not Mr. T, but think something more refined) would really take it to the next level. However, if we choose a more modest pairing that won't shock, why not loose the lame belt that came with the dress and pair a wide, glossy black patent-leather belt with it. This is a fabulous option to maximize a tiny waist and create a gorgeous hour-glass figure.

Ladies, you know all this. You probably have these pieces in your closet already. It's spring time! Let's celebrate by adding a little color, a little texture, or maybe even some pattern.

Hello to all the "Juicy" hineys out there. This one is for you.

Ladies (and gentlemen), welcome to the inaugural posting for nyc fashion 101. Here's the deal, there are so many of us out there trying so hard to get it right. And then there are those, like the lady on the right who get it sooo wrong. So, this website is dedicated to helping folks to get it right.

No, I claim no expertise on the subject, but hey, that's the beauty of blogging--democratic to a fault.

So, just in case you were considering it:

Ladies, do not wear a velour track suit with writing on the rear end.

This is particularly applicable for those in the 40+ set. I don't want to kick someone when they're down, but seriously, if you have a flat hiney, it does not qualify as juicy. Seriously. I guess you could go for irony, but again the age thing gets me. Maybe she put it on without looking at the backside. There. That's an encouraging thought. So, for any of you out there considering such an option, please look in the mirror first and consider just how juicy is that hiney.

Now, for those of you who might have a really tight body that you want to show off to its best advantage and to you I say "right on," but please no "Juicy" hineys. It's just bad. No really, it's baaaad.