Arm and leg apparel

I'm glad the 80s are back. Very select parts of the 80s. Namely fashion for the arms and legs like arm warmers/fingerless gloves and leggings/tights. Items that warm the ligaments but often reveal the extremities, leaving room for finger dexterity and toe wiggling. 

Why hide your beautiful blouse with a sweater when you could slip on a pair of arm warmers that can easily come off when the sun comes out! This modular arm apparel is popular with musicians and bikers who are in cold places and need their fingers to grip, pluck, and play. I am both a musician and a biker, but I think arm warmers have a place beyond these activities. One catch - I've noticed some fingerless gloves can look like a bit hobo-esque...I guess something to watch for :P

Leg apparel isn't quite as easily removable, but it does let you wear outfits you wouldn't normally wear in 60 degree weather and can add some nice pattern or color to a simple outfit. But leg-wear comes with its own set of warnings. Bright opaque colors and patterns wrapped tightly around your legs can make otherwise slim legs look quite stocky :P I found an amusing but informative video that goes over some basic rules.
 
Rule #1: wear black or neutral leggings 
Rule #2: never wear leggings as trousers 
Rule #3: ballet pumps or wedges (or boots in winter), avoid stilettos  
Rule #4: accessorise with a belt

I think the exception to rule #1 is if the rest of your outfit is fairly monotone. Here are two excellent example wearings I spotted in the last week:

The first: a woman who had a long dark skirt to her knees and dark boots that went up to just below her knees and in between was a splash of hot pink tights. It was an awesome way to add some color to her outfit. 

The second: a woman wearing white tights with black cursive loops going across in rows. She paired that with a pair of black flats that tied low around her ankle.  

Here is some inspiration, along with some items I'm considering buying:
I'd love to hear your opinions. I'm guessing there will be quite a few dissenters on these various leg and arm apparel.

A Fashion Good Friday: The French say, "We're afraid NOT to wear black."

After a couple days of deep rumination, I think I've cracked the secret to French street style.  Oh yes, everyone knows French women pretty much invented chic, and that they live and breathe fashion the way ordinary human beings have to eat food just to survive.  Everyone knows they don't get fat. And everything they do, from walking down the street to buying bread to smoking a cigarette, oozes elegance.  

I'm no francophile--too biased after studying German for 5 years.  I mean, I enjoy croissants and duck confit as much as the next girl but I'll be darned if I think a French accent is sexy on anyone (except Vincent Perez, who probably isn't even French...right, he's Swiss-German and Spanish).  But I gotta admit, them Frenchies sure knows how to dress.

There are a number of articles, blogs, etc. out there devoted to that certain je ne sais quoi that makes Parisian street style so maddeningly alluring.  After going through reams of photos online, I think I've got it: the French wear a whole lot of black.  

When I announced this to Garry, he was unimpressed: "You mean like New Yorkers or interactive designers wear black?"

No. Yeah, New Yorkers (and Bostonians, and Londoners) wear a ton of black, but it's a serious black, with sharp edges and a no-nonsense kind of matter-of-course-ness.  It restrains rather than liberates.  No, the color black in France seems more essential, more necessary, like a lifeline or a child's security blanket.  It even becomes warm, playful and easy-going.  Interesting, non?



Of course there are other elements that seem to comprise the French style:
  • An "undone" or even underdone quality: One thing I notice is that American fashion is incredibly over-accessorized.  Just look at that recurring section in InStyle where they put together outfits that are supposed to go with different kinds of outings/occasions.  Bangles, earrings, necklaces, sunglasses, watches, etc etc etc.  Geez, man.
  • Ease: They never seem to think too hard about it.  With the exception of skinny jeans, they seem to prefer flowy and organic shapes comfortable enough to wear all day.
  • Proportion & fit:  Classic cuts, and everything judiciously edited, perfectly balanced, as if the outfit was grown on your body.
  • Color: Mostly neutral, ranging from black, tan, gray, navy, and hunter green.
  • Quality: Fine fabrics, well-shaped silhouettes, good stitching, lovely details.
  • Thinness: I was serious.  I don't think French women would look nearly as good if they were as fat as Americans.
  • Something unexpected: There is usually some small flourish that makes you look twice, either a pop of color or an interesting embellishment.
Essential elements
  • Bangs: Yes, hair always looks perfectly mussed, left long and loose.  
  • Minimal makeup, perfect skin: Eyes are lined, smoky, or plain.  Lips nude or classic red.
  • Black tights: Seriously, it's like every woman in Paris owns about 5 pairs.
  • A luxurious handbag and/or a beautiful scarf: That's all the accessorizing they need.
  • Fantastic shoes: They really pay attention to shoes and use them to make a statement.
For more inspiration, check out this blog I'm newly in love with from Garance Dore, a French fashion photographer.  Miles and miles of impossibly chic and effortless-looking style.

Thanks to:

Fashion Friday, 1 day late: The Look of 'Penelope'

I did a bit more digging into the movie--turns out the masterful cinematography in the movie was the work of the DP for Amelie after all, Michel Amathieu.  I'm proud I was able to spot it.

But what I was really interested in was the costume designer, Jill Taylor.  Turns out most of the pieces, though reminiscent of Anthropologie, were custom made, or at least custom embellished, for the movie.  I thought that was pretty cool--I assumed that most costume designers were just glorified shoppers, and I was hoping I could find out where they had bought that cool coat.  I went through and took screenshots of all the cool outfits Penelope gets to wear throughout the film.  This makes me want to get back into costuming--no money in it, but so much fun!