Just Because...: What's a Fashionista?

Monday, August 07, 2006

What's a Fashionista?

My mother shocked the living @*!*!@*# out of me the other day when she candidly asked, "What's a Fashionista?" My mother - the ORIGINAL fashionista - was unaware of the meaning of this label. Quick - get that woman some Ginko Biolba, stat!

Granted, my mom and I have our issues, more complex than can be explained, but one thing we always *got* was fashion. This is a woman who lived by the Vogue mantra, wore trends ahead of them breaking mainstream and shopped at The Forgotten Woman in NYC before Oprah gave it cred to her viewers. She knew how to tell a real Gucci or Louis Vuitton from a fake. She introduced me to shopping in "the city" aka Manhattan for fall and spring wardrobes. She knew the importance of quality over quantity (well, most of the time anywayz.) I don't always agree with the amounts of $$$ she would spend on this stuff, but back then to be able to tell my friends - "Sorry - I have to go to NYC to go shopping" (insert groan here) - truth be told, I loved hanging out with her and her friends as we visited Bloomies, Saks and countless stores up and down 5th Avenue.

She was one of the people I got some of my fashion mantras from (along with Ms. Kelly Ripa and Susie Pollick back in the day at DPUSA). My mom taught me the basics of looking at the mirror and making sure it fits correctly, that the shoes went with the outfit, and to always look put together. Kelly taught me the wonders of rockin' a mean stiletto and not falling, rhinestones *were* good with every outfit and Aquanet (at that time) was our friend. Susie taught me that Jewelry was *vital* (back then the bigger the better w/ earrings), the importance of cat eyes & eyeliner (for her it HAD to be blue - I however prefer more of a teal - makes the eyes pop and not as heavy nowadays) and we didn't have to look all slutty to be cute :) Oh - and to not look at the camera. I hated that damn camera. Now, there were trends I subjected myself to that I regret now - i.e. that damn bubble skirt, or when I had extensions 3 months later from cutting off all the hair only to have one of the producers go "Wow - your hair grows fast". What I wanted to tell Betsy that my hair was faker than the chicks from Sweet Sensation.

My mom's downfall is her hair. She needs to change her haircolor to a more normal shade of red and less of a tomato color. When she wears that with her red suit - talk about seeing her from a mile away. One of the most vivid memories of my mother's fashion sense, was this gorgeous buttery soft camel long leather skirt that was just too much for words. She would wear this with a tan angora and leather inset cowlneck sweater and a pair of boots. So chic and classic!! Needless to say, when I got a couple years older, during the divorce, she couldn't fit into this particular outfit and I was able to. You can bet your bottom dollar that this outfit was so timeless (well - for the 80s) that I could wear it not only around town, but also in Philly - oh how I miss that outfit. During the move it somehow disappeared.

Many lessons I carried on through the years, however adapting to the trends/classic edge. I'm more of an Audrey Hepburn style with a dash of Oprah. So when my mother asked "What a Fashionista" was, I realized that she had succumbed to that mindsucker, QVC/HSN and really was thinking that *they* knew the trends. So, for the holidays, I will be getting her a subscription to InStyle, Shop AND Lucky. She needs to realize that while she may be older, she's still fashionable. Even Lauren Hutton models the latest trends for Spiegel and they are pretty up on the times. They really don't cater to the same markets that QVC & HSN do. Now don't get me wrong - home shopping - hey whatever works. However, do NOT believe those hosts when they tell you that "Ponchos are in for fall". Hon, they have been out for about 2 seasons - get thee to Devil Wears Prada - STAT!

Posted by Lys :: 6:24 PM :: 0 comments

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Just Because...

Monday, August 07, 2006