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J. Jill Spring Sale!!!! Make sure to check out J. Jill from March 5th through the 7th for 15% off the entire store. J. Jill carries sizes 2 through 18, petite, and plus size (which can be ordered upon request or through the catalogue). If you can't make it to the store that weekend, call JoAnn, the store manager, and let her know you read this on my site; She'll do her best to accommodate your needs! –Bonnie Suit Yourself I open my laptop to write, and there he is: David Beckham sitting on a chair in nothing but a pair of black Armani briefs... never ceases to amaze me, that one. However, seeing that perfect body in next to nothing reminds me that in four months bathing suit season will be upon us, and the whole "upon us" part is where we begin to panic. To the average American, swimwear is painful (and by the way, 99% of us are average, so even you think you're alone, you're not). The thought of being exposed to the public while in a bathing suit simple makes us cringe. In our heads we are too fat, too pale, too old, too doughy, and a battery of other criticisms that make us loathe ourselves far more than anyone else in our lives ever would. We secretely carry around these feelings of insecurity and oftentimes to mask the pain, we do what? Eat. Brilliant. When we share how depressed we are, other people look on in confusion because you see, they also think they are too fat, too pale, too old, too doughy... you get the idea. We all wonder around carrying this immense bag of self-hatred. We are so silly, we humans are. Now I am going to shift gears here, and yes, I have a point. I practice bikram yoga 5-6 times a week, and I have to say that it is the best thing I have ever done for my mind and body. But in one of my first classes, while I was sweating in the 100 degree room, suffering, cursing the instructor for torturing me, and desperately trying to stand on one straightened leg while holding the other straightened leg out in front of me, all in the attempt to put my head on my knee, she said, "make your legs look like an upside-down "L" like LUCKY to have two legs." I nearly fell over. She was right, I was lucky to have two working legs, albeit not the most perfect, toned, or tanned legs, but they were mine and they worked! You all see where I'm going with this, don't you? No one is perfect, cliched but true, thankfully, and we all have elements of our bodies that we wish we could change (and oftentimes with a little hard work, we can), but to spend our lives wishing we were someone else is a colossal waste of precious time. Bathing suit season should be a joyous occasion, a time to celebrate one more beautiful summer you get to spend on this amazing planet... aren't you "lucky"? Let your body, whatever size, feel the warmth of the sun, the sound of the water, and the smell of the floral air... take it all in folks, no regrets, no remorse, no hate. We are all "the beautiful people", we are walking, breathing, feeling, shockingly perfect creatures, and don't you forget it. Shine, inside and out! –Bonnie Jeepers Creepers, Where You Get Those Eyes? Ever feel sorry for the kid who had to wear glasses while you saw perfectly through those 20/20 eyes? Well before you bust out another 'four eyes' joke, take note that you may just be running to your nearest vision center for a snazzy pair of frames yourself (with or without the prescription lenses), and aren't you going to secretely wish you needed glasses so you weren't succumbing to the fashion gods again? Hmmm? Quirky but true, glasses are this Fall's new accessory. Men down the runway this season sported trendy little specks from D&G, Karl Lagerfeld, Gucci, and Tom Ford to name a few. Think Clark Kent with a much better suit (and body if I'm being honest). Yep. It's the Brady Bunch with a little extra scratch in their pockets. The retro 60's, heavy rimmed, dark plastic frames are what's hot–yes, I said hot. Here are some of my picks for quirky/sexy/stylish/did I say sexy/eyewear: #1. Ulla Eyewear Ulla favorites: Ann Et Valentin, France Alain Mikli, Handmade Oh-La-La Paris If nothing else, stop in and check things out. I felt I could take my time and try on every frame in the store if I wanted to, and I wasn't pressured at all–which is rare these days! Ulla Eyewear, Hilldale Mall, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. 608-231-3937
#2 Contact Lens and Optical Center, State Street The best way to tackle this little gem is to pop in and start trying on the frames. Some of the frames are actually vintage, so there may only be one pair, and others are discontinued and may also be in limited supply. The store has a ton of catalogues to browse through, so if you don't find what you want, they can order in the frames, no sweat. I was partial to a brand called 'Mainstreet Collection' which retailed for about $24.00. Many of the styles were older models and discontinued, but I fell in love with a pair of very large emerald green plastic numbers that were reminiscent of Gloria Vanderbilt- so much fun, and affordable to boot! Contact Lens & Optical Center, 346 State Street, Madison. 608-256-1814
Well, there you have it. If you think this is an odd and unflattering fashion trend, you may be right, but I personally think it's brilliant. Being able to accessorize outside of the box is what makes fashion fun. However, if the notion of wearing glasses leaves a nasty taste in your mouth–memories of getting pelted in the face with a dodge ball during P.E. and picking up the pieces of your frames while the gym erupts into a flood of laughter–then this probably isn't a trend for you. Always do what makes you feel good about yourself, and take what I say with a grain of salt. Trust me, I will never wear lavender corduroy knickers with a matching beret ever again, no matter how trendy they may become in the future–ever. Shine... inside and out! –Bonnie
It's in the bag OK, What I am about to say may shock and horrify you, but there is a very good possibility that your backpack may be in need of a makeover. As a matter of fact, if your 'carry-all' is being referred to as a backpack, it's a good bet you need an update. Keep these things in mind when selecting a new bag. Although you may already think you have carry-alls built into your pants, and you call them 'pockets', I am here to tell you that you are mistaken, my friends. Pockets should never be full of 'stuff'... ipods, blackberries, cell phones, tissues, sunglasses. Not only is that a bad habit because it stretches and ruins the fabric, it also lends to a rather messy and unkempt appearance. Here are a few suggestions: These are unisex items... in my opinion. Kenton Sorenson Madison Bag $500 From Kenton (the designer), "The leather is tanned in St. Louis using an old fashioned plant derived tanning process that produces a tough, dense leather that conforms and softens with use. Its the same type of leather used for saddles and belts. I hand dye each piece with an oil dye and saturate the leather with oils and waxes to give it flexibility and protection from the elements. All stitching is done by hand for durability, using a heavy waxed linen thread. I personally make each bag by hand in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. I've been designing and hand crafting bags since 1999. CONTEXT, 113 King St., Madison contextclothing.com J. Fold Gear Bag $140 This is a cool bag, and I love the funkiness! It takes a bold personality to pull off white... shoes, belt, and yes, satchel! If you can rock this, though, you can rock anything! Jazzman has already ordered this bag, and it should be in the store right now. Jazzman, 340 State St., Madison Banana Republic Tumbled leather camera bag $148 This bag is disguised as a 'camera bag', but it is the perfect size for a person who doesn't have a lot to carry, but wants hands free for other things (besides holding cellphones, sunglasses, ipods... you get the picture!)
So have fun checking out these very cool and let's fact it, useful accessories. It may look like a lot of cash to throw at something you think you already have... the backpack. But unless you are still carrying your lunch money in your shoe and holding documents in a Trapper Keeper... trust me, its time to trade up! Shine... inside and out! –Bonnie
I hope you enjoyed the 80's! When I think of the 80's, I think, "What was I thinking?". I grew up loving United Colors of Benneton, Duran Duran and all things fluorescent. The 80's were great... when I was 14! However, if you too have evolved, the thought of rat-nest hair and far too many plastic bracelets for one wrist is a bit too much to swallow. -BUT- Before you panic, here comes the good news: the reinvented 80's styles have evolved, too, and some of the things to watch for this season are actually quite refreshing... in a now-I-know-what-I-saw-in-those-seizure-inducing-prints-at Benneton kind of way! Just kidding. Here are a few things I will be watching for as the weather turns chilly. Knits: (big surprise right) Yes indeed, sweaters will be big this Fall (uncanny how I knew that). But before you start with the snarky comments, I don't just mean your run-of-the-mill crewneck sweaters. This season, sweaters will be adorned with jewels, metallics, buttons, snaps, finely sewn details, and prints galore that will set this year's go-to item apart from seasons past (think tye-dyed cashmere crew necks, printed cardigans, and chunky, funky turtlenecks). Also, expect knit dresses, jackets and even pants (not kidding). Texture/Fabric: This season, don't be thrown by a shake-up in textures and fabrics. Retailers, in the wake of a wounded economy and a depressed/repressed spending population, want to add spice to our lives, make us feel like what we are about to purchase is special, beautiful, and above all different from what we've been recently accustomed to wearing. Clothing will be marketed to make consumers feel justified in the purchases they are about to make, so I expect extravagant displays. Just remember, as it is easy to be lured by sales and glitz, make sure your purchase isn't guided by price, but quality and taste. Finally, I know that many of us were raised with a "must match" mentality, but this year may sometimes look like the window dressers were inebriated. Clothing will intentionally mismatch (think horizontal stripes with tweeds)... I get giddy just thinking about it. Color: Need I say more? Bright blues, oranges, pinks, and yellows to name a few, will be tearing it up this Fall, so if you were hoping to dust off that snowflake turtle neck, you may want to reconsider... the jingle bell sweatshirt has left the building, my friends (but we're not sad, are we?). Even brown wants a new look, and has decided if prefers "mushroom" and "espresso" to reflect and differentiate its varying moods (slick use of personification, eh?). If too much color makes you cringe, remember that neutrals never really go out of style, but you may want to add a special little burst of sunshine to your winter palate of colors this year. Jeans: Although some may be praying for the era of the "skinny jean" to fade into the past, I'm afraid that isn't going to happen. Keeping with the 80's motif, cuts will be figure hugging, and that means men's jeans as well... sorry boys, you do not get a pass this season either. Because the sweaters, in some cases, will be chunky and oversized, the jeans should be fitted anyway, right? However, the boyfriend jean is making a comeback. Pair a fitted knit top, cropped jacket with a baggy, faded pair of denim, flats, and some funky jewelry, and you have yourself a perfect hanging downtown in the afternoon ensemble. Just keep in mind, everything gets a bit dressier in the evening, so that may mean investing in a good pair of "dress denim", perhaps a trouser, wide leg cut? Accessories: If the clothing is fancy-shmancy, expect the accessories to be shiny, sparkly, colorful, metallic and fun (remember, your handbag is an accessory, so don't neglect to update that as well, and that goes for men, too. Guys have stuff, too, so look into a leather satchel if you currently stuff your jean pockets with junk!). In regards to accessories, if I'm being honest, I don't over accessorize at all. I keep it simple, but I like to have a few pieces that are versatile and that I know will draw attention... but not in a OMG!! kind of way (for you textsters out there). It's OK to be a peacock, but don't be a turkey (I know you're laughing on the inside). Well, there you have it. These are just a few things I thought I'd share with you. It's very daunting to try and keep up with fashion. It seems sometimes that just as we can afford that "IT" item, it goes out of style and newer, more expensive "IT" items take over. Don't worry. Buy what you like and wear it with confidence, and you'll be heads above those who are trying way too hard to be "trendy". You know, you can always start a trend instead of following one. I remember wearing a fishing vest out one evening when I was in college, and I was teased all night long, "Bonnie, going fishing?"; "Hey, catch anything?" Interestingly enough, the following month a very trendy but shall remain nameless clothing chain started selling fishing vests... who's catching fish now, huh!? Shine... inside and out! –Bonnie |
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