JenRocksFashion Colorful Musings from the Practical Fashionista…

My best friend Susan recently sent me an envelope full of articles, clippings and a short note.  (Isn’t snail mail such a rare, unexpected joy?)  On the reverse side of a profile of actor Tahar Rahim from the French movie “Un prophète,” Alexa Chung glared at me decked out in some fierce Versace:

Feline and fierce Alexa Chung in sharp aqua dress and crimson dominatrix heels by Versace. Red tights by Fogal.

The photo inspired me to try the same color combo the very next day, but in a much tamer, more practical way:

Rockin' red and turquoise my own way: Kate Spade and American Apparel

Now before we wax on about this palette being some fresh, new, highfalutin concept, it occurred to me that the Smurfs have been rockin’ it since 1958:

Papa Smurf, a trendsetter?

They have a ridiculous new movie coming out this month too.  So…is Donatella trying to emulate Smurfette?  Here’s a possible clue:

Donatella as a blue coquette?

Flirty and frivolous Smurfette strikes a pose

Hmm, on second thought, she doesn’t need a cartoon muse; she’s the greatest caricature on her own!

Update on July 16, 2011: While standing in the grocery store checkout line today, I was flipping through the August issue of Bazaar when I saw it–Smurfette stars in a fashion story about fall’s best accessories!

I had a hate-hate relationship with the color navy for the longest time.  Back in college, I bought a dowdy navy suit for a job interview.  It didn’t help that I paired it with navy pumps which made me look very stewardess-meets-Murphy-Brown.  Navy always seemed too difficult and annoying to match.  While its hex triplet is #000080, there are so many variations–some veer towards purple, others almost black.  Little did I know that I shouldn’t have been trying to “match” different navies in the first place.  D’oh!

Only recently have I gotten over my distaste for navy, finding myself now at the other end of the spectrum of full-on love and affection.  How did I do it?  By simultaneously kicking my paralyzing fear of wearing stripes.  A bunch of articles in Seventeen and Glamour had convinced me years ago that horizontal stripes would make me look like the Michelin Man.  But then I became enamored with the idea of sailor shirts–the marinière that almost every Frenchwoman owns.  Apparently, the Breton shirt was officially created and introduced in 1858 as part of the uniform for French sailors; the thought was that the distinctive knitted shirt would allow anyone who fell overboard to be located more easily.  So practical yet so chic!  Lovely Audrey Tautou wore one in “Coco Before Chanel“:

Audrey Tautou channeling Coco Chanel.

Another Frenchie, Jean-Paul Gaultier, has made it his trademark:

Jean-Paul Gaultier showing his Breton stripes

Even Naomi Campbell looks positively serene wearing hers at the beach:

Striped sass? No, Naomi looks calm and casual

Well, I slowly began to throw caution to the wind and before long have amassed my own little collection of navy tees and nautical tops:

Seeing stripes, a novelty for my wardrobe

Most of mine are from J.Crew, Banana Republic and L.L.Bean.  However, if you want to ramp up the authenticity, check out Petit Bateau, Saint James, and Armor Lux.  Peter Beaton also makes a classic.  And if hipster-meets-traditional is more your speed, consider Jean-Paul Gaultier for Opening Ceremony.

Looking back, a striped tee would have been more appropriate for my last seafaring excursion off Long Island:

Trying to keep her steady

But this July 4th, no one will be wearing blue stripes better than Old Glory herself.  Cheers!

[Optional maritime playlist: Christopher Cross's "Sailing," Billy Joel's "The Downeaster 'Alexa'," Jamie Cullum's "All at Sea," and Enya's "Sail Away."]

Update on July 8, 2011: I was swiping through the Flipboard iPad app (love it!) when I came across this Instagram photo by David Lebovitz, an award-winning pastry chef and writer living in Paris.  His website is wonderful too.

It’s only Summer 2011, and I’m already sick of all the news coverage about the next presidential race.  Even though I live in the Nation’s Capital, I am not a political junkie.  I try to stay current on important issues (and the Weiner scandal was an amusing distraction), but it’s not like I’m devouring Politico Playbook (did I even get that right?) or tuning into mind-numbing C-SPAN.  Besides, I want this blog to be fun and fresh, not boring or boorish.  So this post is not about The Prez.  Let’s talk about The Missus instead.  Based on purely shallow criteria, I admire Michelle Obama alot.  She’s got great height (at a measly 5’2″, I’m envious), a great smile, and kickass guns (I’m talkin’ biceps not GLOCK).  And her sense of style is usually spectacular.  She rocks Jason Wu, McQueen, Rachel Roy–AND mixes in J.Crew and H&M!  Isn’t it refreshing to have a First Lady who doesn’t dress like a bland librarian or in staid St. John all the time?

Full disclosure: I like Michelle’s husband too.  He’s smart and articulate.  He’s a thinker who can play basketball.  And with his resonant voice and eloquent speech, he could read roll call and have people pay attention.  But I digress; I should stay focused on fashion.  Well, back in 2008, I got my hot little hands on this highly-coveted, limited-edition Alexander Wang that was part of the Runway to Change fundraiser for Obama’s campaign:

Alexander Wang for Runway to Change 2008

My thought bubble: “For $70, I too can work the cool, effortless M.O.D. (Model-Off-Duty) look!”  Not!  I’ve worn it exactly once–on November 5, 2008.  It’s my second-favorite tee of all time; the first one being my Marine Corps Marathon shirt.  On the savvy advice of a dear friend, I will eventually get it framed in a shadow box along with this article from Vogue magazine:

Vogue article from 2008

While I’m sure I’ll get more psyched about Election 2012 after the primaries and caucuses (why isn’t this “cauci”?), I really can’t wait to see what designers have up their sleeve for Runway to Change this time ’round.  Ooh, maybe some tops and totes by Rodarte, Thakoon, and Proenza Schouler.  Ba-rack the vote!

I’m not planning on kicking the bucket anytime soon, but I already know what I’m wearing to my own funeral (hey, as a project manager, I like to think ahead): my all-time favorite t-shirt.  No, it’s not Splendid, James Perse or Vince.  And forget capsule collections and limited editions–besides me, only 8,697 other women on the planet have the right to wear this.

It’s my Marine Corps Marathon 2010 race shirt.

Representing guts and glory over 26.2 miles

Now, I really don’t care what my loved ones decide to put on my lower half when they’re dressing me for the casket: my beloved Paige Premium Denim jeans or a sarong made from my two Hermès scarves…or perhaps they will skirt the issue and let me go commando.  Again, I could care less.  But above the waist?  I’d better be sporting this $40 shirt as I start my journey into the afterlife.  Why?  Because the MCM 2010 is the one and only marathon I have ever run in my entire life.  In terms of sheer pride, the accomplishment surpasses getting my master’s degree (if you’re a runner, you understand).  It was during Mile 20 as I was questioning the meaning of life, my sanity and the structural soundness of my knees that I suddenly realized: “Oh God!  If I don’t cross the finish line, I can’t wear THE SHIRT!”  Yup, that’s one of the major Golden Rules of Running, and you’ll burn in Hell if you don’t comply.  Well, that was enough of a carrot for this fashionista to start picking up the pace from the embarrassingly awkward runner’s shuffle to a semi-respectable jog.

So while some people don an expensive suit as a sartorial symbol of bad-assed-ness when approaching a tough negotiation, I will be striding confidently towards Saint Peter wearing my powerful little tee.  Ooh, and on second thought, maybe I won’t be going commando after all.

So one of my personal style commandments is that thou shall buy in bulk those rare items that thou truly loves and will wear year-round.  American Apparel Boy Beater ribbed tank tops fit the buy-in-multiples criteria for me.  Okay, I know, the company may be in bankruptcy by now, and their hirsute CEO Dov Charney is über creepy.  But at least “Boy Beater” is a little more PC than “wife beater.”  And these tank tops are 100% cotton.  They have a modest scoopneck.   They don’t bunch up or stretch out.  I wear them as a layering piece in the fall and winter, and on their own in the sweltering DC summer, and underneath my beloved knit cardigans in the spring.  Check out my drawers (couldn’t resist):

My collection of American Apparel tanks. They are reasonably priced so go crazy!