flickr user KORAREEFi

by Jake Kilroy

I am a straight male and I can honestly tell you that nobody looked better in jeggings last year than Conan O’Brien.

And it was because he laughed while wearing them. Jeggings go great with a sense of humor.

I’ll explain.

Somehow, in recent months, jeggings have crept into society like a stowaway on a luxury cruise.

Girls inside of jeggings need to know how baffling the clothing item is to boys on the outside. Jeggings are essentially “hilarity pants” to guys. We know that they serve an actual clothing purpose, but we can’t figure out if they’re novelty or not. This makes us uneasy. We like to know what’s supposed to be satire and what’s supposed to be art. Whether jeggings are either of those comes down to a fierce debate that will not be happening in this blog.

Instead, it should just be noted jeggings are jeans in the same way that tuxedo shirts are tuxedos. Can you replace one with the other? Sure, but somebody might think you were misinformed about the party dress code, and you’d probably freeze because of it.

And then comes the lofty explanation, “But they’re just like stretchy jeans!”

Consider this: if ‘stretchy jeans’ is part of your fashion defense, maybe you’re already in the wrong.

Ponchos are not Christmas sweaters, oversized business shirts are not dresses and jeggings are not jeans. Can each of those things be the other? Totally. Are they usually considered that way? No, not especially.

Also, if you’re claiming your leggings are jeans, then jeggings are just one more female fashion item that males somewhat grasp but grow wildly suspicious of. Hell, if you’re lying about something as mundane as your pants, what else could you be lying about?

The answer is “everything.”

Men accept jeans and men accept leggings (which we think are the same thing as tights most of the time). But jeggings are like a skintight lie. We feel tricked.

To males, jeggings are like a coat pocket that doesn’t actually go anywhere. Instead of musing on how cool the pocket looks, men talk about how we were fooled and then we grow furious about all of the cool things we could’ve stuffed into said pocket. We don’t say, “But it looks awesome.” No, instead, we say, “Dude, I could have a flask in here.” And we might not even own a flask either. But we also talk a lot about really cool things we wish we owned.

Dudes just don’t like being bamboozled.

I don’t know if girls think jeggings are a conversation starter, but, if that’s what you ladies are looking for, then expect the conversation to start off with “What the hell is with your pants? Why don’t they make up their mind?”

In all actuality, the only person who truly rocks indecisive clothing is Two-Face from Batman and he only started doing it after he had acid thrown in his face. So…maybe consider that.

However, jeggings are absolutely not a bad deal. They just can’t be easily categorized.

I was at a holiday party where jeggings made their appearance. When the guys present discussed the jeggings as if they were alien machines and could be valued as a deadly trap, the girls laughed, as they seemed to have heard this all before. What was their defense though?

“But they’re so practical! They’re basically leggings with pockets,” they informed us.

And this put the men at ease. It made so much sense! I mean, guys understand practicality. That’s why we like James Bond’s gadgets. Why would anyone not want a watch that also has a laser? Who hates convenience that much?

In conclusion, if you’re going to wear jeggings, have a sense of humor. We, as a collective dude species, are not against them. We’re open to them and, deep down, we’re probably very much for them.

Why? Because they make awesome butts look awesome.

So, really, I should say thank you, jeggings, for all the hearty laughs and awesome butts.

About the author:

Contrary to popular belief, Jake Kilroy was not raised by handsome wolves. Instead, he was raised by his nuclear family to lead a radioactive life in Orange County, California. He still resides there, though he skips town regularly. You may know him from fancy dinner parties in your area. He’s often the only one to bring licorice to such gala events. He is also an award-winning reporter and columnist.

Source: Flickr User paulstarpics

When you’re searching for the perfect holiday gift to give your favorite beauty maven, staying up-to-date on the latest trends is essential. After all, you don’t want the shame of handing over last season’s lipstick shade, do you? Talk about a fashion faux pas! To help you suss out the 2011 runway trends, here’s a look at three of the looks sure to be seen come spring.

Visions of Sugarplum
From soft lavender to electric violet, purple makeup dominated the runways during fashion week 2010. Whether it was worn on the lips, cheeks, or eyes, shades of purple added a fresh burst of color to the new looks of fashion icons like Jason Wu and Monique Lhuillier.

If plum doesn’t do it for you, why not try 2011′s must-have metallic? Glimmering gold donned the eyes, lips, and even eyelashes at the Fashion Week shows of Donna Karan, Anna Sui, and Rodarte. Shimmering shades of gold are perfect for the holidays, and will give your spring look a burst of sunny radiance.

Perfect Pair Gift Idea: CARGO’s Color Palette in London offers shades of champagne-gold and deep eggplant, as well as complimentary shades of mocha and greenish-brown. Pair it with a silky black liquid eyeliner for an eye-enhancing gift that can’t be beat!

Hairy Situations
The side part is back and better than ever. Shows by Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc by Marc, and Michael Kors were walked by models sporting deep, exaggerated side parts in hairstyles that ranged from straight and sleek to full of body. This season’s messy hair trend goes along perfectly with the side parts spotted during Fashion Week, making a dynamic styling duo that’s both stylish and easy to achieve.

Perfect Pair Gift Idea: Mason Pearson’s Styling Comb coupled with a texturizing paste like Jonathan Product’s Dirt is an excellent holiday gift idea for your favorite stylist-in-training. The pomade will create a perfectly messy texture while the comb helps to separate, texturize, and shape a flawless side part.

Read My Lips
Vibrant coral to neon orange lips, like the looks seen at L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2010, are sweeping the fashion and beauty world as the “it” look for 2011. Bright, impossible-to-ignore lip shades look especially fabulous when worn to accompany this season’s 1970s fashion trend.

Perfect Pair Gift Idea: 3 Custom Color’s Light Brights lipstick in Area Sheer is a sexily sheer shade of electric tangerine. Formulated with a silky, lip balm-like texture, Light Brights is a great way to ease into 2011′s neon lip trend without feeling too over-the-top. Pair it with a fabulous purse mirror, like Paul and Joe Beaute’s Beauty Mirror, for simple and stylish on-the-go application.

Big and bulky is the main focus in today’s accessory industry. Dressing a little more casual and classic, we can make a statement with our jewelry. At this year’s international trade show, Train New York, we saw many innovative pieces. While they were all unique, they all upheld that current “bigger is better” philosophy.  Jules Kim

Jewelry has always accentuated certain parts of the body. Jules Kim, a jewelry designer, has designed products that accentuate traditional parts of the body as well as those forgotten spots. She’s designed bar rings for Urban Outfitters, along with the Grenade launcher – a necklace worn as a sling, and dangling cross earrings in the shape of bones. For less accentuated parts of the body, she has designed rings that wrap around the tip of the finger. Made of gold, this ring relieves the wearer of the hassle of painting her nails; it has a gold piece that sits over the nail. And Kim just sold an entire set to Beyonce!! Another innovative piece is the Gelfling ear tip in brass. It’s placed at the tip of the ear. 

Treehouse

Turning away from the innovative looks of the 21^st century, Treehouse, a small shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, presented homemade goods that have a vintage look. A new collection sold in the stores is a group of necklaces and rings that are created through sterling silver molds of vintage medallions. The medallions, placed on chains with adjustable lengths or silver bands, are inspired by the medieval seventies. Each medallion is decorated with a zodiac sign symbol.

Another piece that caught my eye is the pair of hand and dagger earrings. The hand appears delicate and feminine while the dagger contrasts with its masculine medieval warrior look. It’s a great mix-and-match idea that combines the lady in waiting with the chivalrous knight of the medieval time period.

Cleo & Cat

This season brooches have been all the rage, placed on jackets and bags, adding a little glitz and glam. Cleo & Cat are sister designers that create unique jewelry made out of semi precious stones, clay, silver, gold, and other natural materials. Their pieces have a Middle Eastern feel to them, which made them stand out to me. Their brooches struck me as the most unique, coming in different shapes and sizes such as the Chrysolite Flower, which is made from clay with a chrysolite stone in the center and the Green Amethyst Coil, also made out of clay, with an amethyst stone.

Fashion Week can always be a little frustrating for us common folk. I personally love to look at what designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Marc Jacobs come up with, but I know there is no way I can actually wear any of it. However, Spring 2011’s fashion week brought some incredible looks anyone can play with and look great wearing. Take a look at some of these designer collections that offered a little bit of everything.

Michael Kors

We all know that it is physically impossible for pants these days to get any skinnier—so it came as no surprise when Kors and other designers came out with wide slacks on their runways. In New York, Michael Kors’ slacks were sleek and appeared comfortable—not over-the-top. Who wouldn’t trade their jeggings for a pair of these any day? In a neutral color, these slacks would be great for a day at the office or a comfortable afternoon at the market square. Add a thin belt and clutch and you are ready to go.

Burberry Prorsum

Burberry is well known for its reinvention of the trench coat—and their Spring 2011 collection in London featured their famous coats. However, they added a little innovation to them with the addition of vertical stripes and assorted belts. Although embellished, the coats are still appropriate for everyday use and will bring the perfect amount of pizzazz  to an otherwise simple cardigan or flowery dress.

Isaac Mizrahi

It is no surprise that many of last week’s shows included embellished clothing, and Isaac Mizrahi presented this embellished look perfectly in New York on September 16. This sequined neckline and “tie” on a simple woven top was the perfect blend of adding a little spontaneity and flare to a simple look. Can we dare wear this? With Mizrahi’s inspiration, I think we can.

Alberta Ferretti

Although we are about to put those sandals away for winter, Alberta Ferretti showed us what to look forward to after snow’s end. The show in Milan featured simple sandals with straps just above the toes and other straps wrapped around the ankle. Comfortable and yet so chic, this look is sure to make an impact next year.

Fendi

Fendi’s runway show in Milan on September 23 featured vintage accessories. This handbag pictured below has that 60s boxed silhouette. The mix of baby blue and forest green recreates that flower girl look and is a smart choice for a spring color palette. Another vintage accessory to look forward to next spring: cat eye glasses! They appeared in almost all of the looks in the collection. For those who purchased them for this season, don’t forget to store them in a safe place this winter.

Clark Russell, Dominique Schurman, Nadia Alexandria and Rami Kashou at the unveiling

Fashion’s Night Out in L.A. featured a myriad of memorable moments (think Ferris Wheel on Rodeo Drive), but Rami Kashoú (that’s right, one of our fave Project Runway finalists) stole the show at the Beverly Center when he unveiled an Origami Paper Couture Gown made entirely out of Papyrus greeting cards and paper goods. The talented designer’s created tons of to-die-for dresses for red carpet celebs from Jessica Alba to Penelope Cruz, and this groundbreaking design was no different. Modeled by Nadia Alexandria who had her hair and makeup done by celeb stylist Clark Russell, the dramatic, fairytale-like flamenco gown exuded a sense of life and celebration and was “the first of many illustrious displays of Fashion on Paper the public can anticipate in upcoming months,” said Papyrus CEO Dominique Schurman. This unprecedented alliance between Rami and Papyrus became an instant FNO favorite when thousands of FNO attendees lined up to view the dress and pick up specially signed Papyrus-made limited edition prints of the design from Rami himself. Read on for our interview with the acclaimed designer:

How did this partnership with Papyrus come about?

I got a call from Dominique one day asking me if I would be interested in working with her on this project. I felt honored to have the opportunity to work with Papyrus products on such a creative project as I have always been a fan of their cards and merchandise.

Where did you start from in your vision of creating the origami dress, and what was the process like?

After meeting with the creative team at Papyrus I went home with my mind racing with design ideas. I wanted to create a cerebral design full of color and life. I began sketching and testing some of their paper materials in my studio and one design idea lead to another. With time as I was working on the design it gradated from an evening gown to a collage of images and origami art piece. I used their cards and and cut out images from them, creating flounces, lined with their beautiful gift wrapping paper. I used their colorful envelope linings and created origami flowers, butterflies and hummingbirds. I also applied their sparkling gift bags and other materials all around the gown that gave the design a life and a 3-dimensional angle. In the end I pieced together an origami flamenco one-shoulder vibrant evening gown full of detail and explosive in color.

What was your inspiration for the gown?

My inspiration was an origami 3-dimensional flamenco gown that is full of color and detail, a gown made entirely of Papyrus paper products that was fairy tale like and that encouraged the viewer to imagine without limitation.

How long did it take to make the dress?

3 weeks. Lots of sewing and cutting!

You’re most known for your beautiful draping, but with origami and paper, that’s a bit more difficult; did that play a factor in your creation of this gown?

I love to drape, but I also love to construct and create architectural shapes and lines. The origami was the perfect skill to learn and apply on such a creative and artistic project, so that was an instant inspiration for me.

What was the most difficult part of creating this gown?

As you can see the skirt has over 20 flounces made entirely out of Papyrus paper collage. Each flounce alone took me one hour to make, from start to finish. The most challenging part of this process was sewing the skirt part of the gown. The paper is very delicate, and for those who know sewing, a machine usually doesn’t allow a lot of space to maneuver such a large garment. It was difficult to control and slide all the paper through the needle, but with a lot of patience and many hours later, the hard work paid off.

What was your favorite part about making the dress?

I enjoyed very much the freedom to try new ideas and not plan so much. It was a free flowing process that I think surprised me in the end result. I also enjoyed the fact that the Papyrus team trusted my creative intuition and gave me complete freedom to translate their products into my design.

Any fun behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the making of the dress or fitting Nadia into it?

Well many of the Papyrus cards and bags have an endless amount of glitter. Therefore by the end of every workday I would go home completely covered in glitter, as though I was at some type of rave or parade. My friends used to make fun of me. Nadia was a pleasure to work with. She is beautiful and made the fitting process so easy, not to mention how proudly she showcased the gown at the event!

On Project Runway, the judges praised you for your design for the challenge where you had to create a dress made out of candy wrappers. How was your approach to this dress different/did this remind you of that challenge in any way?

It certainly was some kind of  ”déjà vu.” The best way to answer this question is it was like the Hershey’s challenge times 20! I think this gown is much more advanced and complicated than the design for the Hershey’s challenge.

Are there any other materials you haven’t worked with yet that you’d like to use?

I would like to work with vinyl and rubber.

What are you currently working on?

Currently I am working on a dreamy and angelic wedding gown for Papyrus also made out of their paper products. I am also designing dance costumes for the Helios Dance Theatre. Also I am designing wedding gowns for soon-to-be bride clients. My collection also.

Any new Fall trends you’re looking forward to?

Super constructed clothes.

If you could design a greeting card for Papyrus, what would it look like/say?

It would be an inspired design/sewing kit for those who love fashion.

Did you get a chance to enjoy any of the other festivities at FNO?

I had such a blast at the Papyrus event that I stayed there the whole time

[photo credit: Gina Blair]

I love putting an outfit together, but some days, I find myself in major lack of the time and the energy.  It’s easy to just throw on jeans and a t-shirt, but I always feel like that ‘s such a cop out; every day is an opportunity for a new great outfit, and I hate to think I’ve wasted it.

A blazer isn’t a bad option for dressing up jeans and a t-shirt, and a great pair of heels can do the trick as well.  The only problem is, usually when I’m resorting to jeans and a t-shirt as the principle pieces in my overall look, it’s because I don’t feel like dealing with more major things like blazers and heels.

As a solution for amping up my casual days, I started thinking about suspenders.  I don’t know that we’ve ever seen suspenders worn enough by the general (female) public to be able to call them a full-on (again, female) trend, but we certainly saw them popping up quite a bit on celebrities like Beyonce, Drew Barrymore, and Diane Kruger back in 2009.  Suspenders might be a little too quirky to have blown up since then into a must-have accessory for fashionistas everywhere, but I thought they deserved a chance at being rescued and redeemed.

I found skinny black suspenders in the menswear section of H&M, snapped them right up (no pun intended, I swear) to test my proposal, and now the results are in: I’m totally loving them!  They give plain outfits an extra little piece of interest that really makes quite a difference, and they’re an easy added touch that make it look like I must have put a lot of thought and fashion savvy into a look—when really, I’ve hardly made any extra effort.  Plus, they’re just plain fun, so go ahead and get some for yourself!

Teen Vogue Fashion Show

New York City was abuzz with all things fashion and beauty this past Friday night for the annual celebration of fabulosity: Fashion’s Night Out. From SoHo to 59^th Street, sidewalks and subways were crammed with style fans working their hottest ensembles from their fall wardrobes as they popped into the myriad venues hosting parties, meet-and-greets, sales, and runway shows. And my lucky self got to check some out!

Shenae Grimes after her DJ set at the Teen Vogue Fashion Show

My first stop was the Teen Vogue and ASOS.com’s Block Party in the West Village. The “Sex and the City block” (where Carrie Bradshaw “lived”) was bustling with teenaged girls handing out free Fiji water, Terra Chips, and Arizona Iced Tea. A gaggle of DIY-ers bedazzled FNO-goers’ handbags. The DJ pumped retro and new tunes like Fleetwood Mac and La Roux while people stopped into local shops before snapping photos with the evening’s host, 90210’s Shenae Grimes, who, just after 7pm, announced the Teen Vogue & ASOS.com fashion show, at which point the energy on the street was nearly palpabale.

The show featured fresh face after fresh face strutting their stuff in fall knits and fluttery minis along a tented street-level runway dotted with floodlights. Fun had obviously been the models’ instruction as they blew kisses, danced, and actually smiled! Understated make-up like natural lips, bright eyes, and rosy cheeks were the beauty rules of the runway.

Warren-Tricomi Salon

Hair created by stylist Matt Fugate of Sally Hershberger Downtown was long and loose or tied up into quirky updos (think twisty braids and gravity-defying near-Snooki-level bouffants). Some ‘dos were topped with soft crocheted caps. Fugate describes the concept for the show as “young [and] flirty…undone and effortlessly cool.” To attain his signature (and totally on-trend) deconstructed braids, he used Sally Hershberger Salon Texture Blast. “It’s a super lightweight formula that helps to add body to the hair,” Fugate explains. “We separated the hair into two fishtail braids and then deconstructed them and piled them on top of the head to create a more modern, feminine look.” Fugate created the bouffants by a ton of backcombing and Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer hairspray.

Then it was time to dash uptown to the iconic Plaza Hotel in time to score a free hair consultation with the uber-chic stylists at the Warren-Tricomi Salon. The salon itself is a study in classic/cutting-edge, mirrored and marbled and packed with products like Kérastase Paris and their signature brand of eponymous hair-care products.

Alas, they were packing up their kits when I got there, but I was handed a glass of wine and checked out the intricate braidwork with kicky wisps and make-up touch-ups that were wrapping up as the crowd prepared for a free show in the Plaza’s Palm Court by soul singer Corrine Bailey Rae. The star of the night was also styled by the folks at Warren-Tricomi, and she looked radiant with a springy halo of curls and shimmery lips.

Salon owner Joel Warren mingled with the dressed-to-the-hilt guests (think sky-high caged stiletto booties and body-hugging mini-dresses in jewel tones and basic black) as they clamored for cocktails at the single circular bar. Hair was either long and loose or twisted into casual topknots.

Corrine Bailey Rae took to the stage and wowed us with her buttery voice—but I couldn’t stay, I had to get back downtown!

Rachel Zoe at the Piperlime Pop-Up

When I arrived, the Piperlime Pop-Up Store on Mercer Street was the scene of a near-riot as throngs of Project Runway and Rachel Zoe fans waited (that’s a kind word) in the street to catch a glimpse inside. To chants of “Rachel! Rachel!” I elbowed my way past exiting reality-show contestants (Jennifer Carroll from Season 6 of Top Chef among them) and was finally granted a golden ticket. Inside, the ever-fabulous Ms. Zoe greeted fans, signed autographs, and posed for snaps. Her trademark cascading waves had been traded for a blown-out, slicked-back look that complemented her glittery beaded top, skinny (what else?) black cargo pants, and black stacked wedges.  Red lips and longer-than-you eyelashes completed her look.

All the Project Runway contestants had come and left by the time I got inside, but there was plenty to see. The clothes, featuring Rachel’s picks for fall, were a mixture of vintage-inspired fur vests, buckled-bedecked boots, and soft, beaded blouses—all to die for. As I checked out the merchandise with my vodka and lime I spied Rachel’s husband Rodger on the phone, then chatting with autograph seekers. I also spied and deeply coveted a pair of Pour La Victorie gold snakeskin booties—a Rachel Zoe pick—and I have just one word for them: Want!

After nearly dying of desire for a completely new wardrobe styled personally by Rachel Zoe, the ingestion of several delightful cocktails, and surviving the mob scene in SoHo, I packed it in and went home to shop online. Those gold booties will be mine!

[photos taken by Megan Gilbert]

The CMA Music Festival on September 1^st gathered many talented country performers but I found myself too busy looking at the simple and yet innovative styles to take in the combination of fiddles and electric guitars. My favorite looks came from Carrie Underwood, Joe Don Rooney from Rascal Flatts, and Taylor Swift who flashed some new trends but mostly went for simple styles, creating classic looks that never seem to bore us.

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood performed her hit single “Cowboy Casanova,” while wearing a pair of simple Daisy Duke folded jean shorts, a sheer light gray tank top with a white “wife beater” underneath, and absolutely adorable cowboy boots. Although this outfit seems very simple, I was intrigued by the combination of trends and classics. Sheer tops are a new trend that allow layering in warmer weather; this top had a sequin design, another trend this fall season. Cowboy boots are a country classic but this pair stood out to me. The boots had a simple shape but were accentuated by their two tone brown coloring and silver chain with blue gem wrapped around the heel of the boot. The gem was such a simple touch and yet so captivating.  And don’t get me started on her LC side braid – Way to go Carrie!

Joe Don Rooney

The lead guitarist and harmony singer Joe Don Rooney wore a simple outfit that appeared both classic and rocker when he and his band mates performed for screaming fans. Rooney wore a purple button down shirt with a classic gray vest and matching gray jeans. Although this seems very straightforward he added personal touches that added some trend elements and personal style to his look. One included the newly popular long chain necklace; his was a feather charm gold chain. His other accessory included two blue bandanas that were tied at the end of his sleeves, folded to ¾ length, adding a rocker feel to his classic look. And the swept side bangs just topped it all.

Taylor Swift

Taylor always comes onstage wearing a girly dress that showcases her innocent look. And yet again, she did not disappoint. When performing her new single “Mine” she wore a sun yellow dress with what I like to refer to as Cinderella straps. The straps had two pieces, one staying on the shoulder while the other fell to the side. To add a little rock edge to her look, she wore light brown cowboy boots. Following the girly look, she used that peach lip gloss just before summer’s end and we must move on to darker shades.

With a passion for vintage wear, French-based design house Gerard Darel, of which Robin Wright is the face, won The Blonde Bombshell’s cable-knit sweater at a Christie’s auction over a decade ago. Now, in a move similar to its 1996 reproduction of Jackie O’s black bead necklace, Gerard Darel has created a replica of the trendy, iconic item of clothing MM so often wore.

So for the perfect transition into fall, snuggle into the luxurious fabric of this impeccable sweater!

Hermes Birkin Bag

Ferragamo Satchel

Oh my goodness, I am so in love with the latest handbag trend: top handle bags!  Ladylike anything and everything is hot across the board in fashion right now (call it the Mad Men effect), and top handle bags are the best accessory to complete a classic and polished look.

The Hermes Birkin Bag is probably the best example of a feminine top handle bag, and it’s one accessory that will never, ever be unfashionable.  Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous—but also expensive!

Marc Jacobs Satchel

MICHAEL

Sliding down the price scale a bit, some of my favorite top handles come from Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, and Salvatore Ferragamo.  The Marc Jacobs Quilting Westside Leather Satchel is absolutely adorable, especially with that fabulous clasp closing and precious little padlock charm.  The MICHAEL Michael Kors Leather Satchel comes in a beautiful shade of camel (definitely the hot color for fall), and I love the buckle detailing.  Finally, the Salvatore Ferragamo Candida Ganciomania Satchel just screams elegance and luxury.

BSweet

BCharmed

For more affordable—but still fabulous—top handles, look to Steve Madden.  The BSweet and BCharmed handbags are beautiful, and they won’t break the bank.

By the way, don’t think top handle bags are just another trend.  Even though they’re really having a big moment in their own fashion spotlight right now, they’re truly timelessly chic, and definitely a worthy investment!