Shoes: What’s your take?

Here’s mine:

WRONG: Pinchy, torturous pumps and boots with toothpick heels. (Yo, I live in New York! Ever try to walk over a subway grate in those?)

RIGHT: The Ellen DeGeneres look: Converse basketball shoes with classy suits. A long stride is sexy!

So, kittenish and girly or funky/industrial? Discuss!

Burkhas: the next fashion trend?

I saw a woman in a burkha today. Depressing sight–head-to-toe wrinkled fabric as she waddled through the subway underpass, looking sort of like the over-bundled younger brother in “A Christmas Story”. But a couple of years ago, I saw another burkha-clad woman on the train. She appeared totally at ease in her ensemble, which was made of luxurious, flowing fabric, an alluringly sheer veil, and velvety gloves that had some kind of iridescence to them. Could it be the next frontier of fashion–the designer burkha?

BTW, the article under Links about Oprah’s South African School is by Robin Givhan, a Washington Post op-ed columnist who writes very thoughtful and thought-provoking pieces on fashion and its sociopolitical implications. Need to register (free) to view the entire thing.

Global Warming Sucks!

It got up to 70 degrees here in New York on Saturday, Jan. 6. Can I say I’m really steamed (pun intended) that I haven’t used one pair of my many wool socks this “winter”? And that I’ve had to press my spring raincoats back into service after having cleaned and garment-bagged them? Who will reimburse me for my expensive wool sweaters and pants that have been largely hanging in my closet this whole season? I bought my significant other snow boots for Christmas–will he ever have occasion to use them? The smiling local weather folk are showing clips of people jogging shirtless/in shorts through Central Park. Bush is in Washington probably smugly taking credit for saving people $$$ on heating fuel. All I want is SNOW!

(Meanwhile, the department stores, in their usual cluelessness, are ironically right on target wtih resort wear and early spring offerings.)

WINNERS & LOSERS OF 2006

Yes, at year’s end it’s time to review the WINNERS & LOSERS OF 2006:

WINNERS:
Catalogs: thank you LL Bean, Land’s End, JJill, Eddie Bauer. You make reasonably priced clothes of good quality, in my size. And you send coupons!

Stores: Ann Taylor. Great career clothes that don’t condescend just because I’m 5′4. Classic lines, forgiving slacks (if you get the right cut) and nice fabrics. A bit pricey but they have great sales. Cole-Haan: I cringe every time I hand over my credit card–but their shoes are worth it. Durable and stylish, with enough support, and beautiful, buttery-soft leather.

Manufacturers: Bali & Flexees shapewear. They’re really coming a long way toward making tummy controls that don’t feel like “Girdles.”

LOSERS:
Catalogs: Wissota Traders. Their shoes look practical but I tried ordering rain ankle boots in a “Narrow” width. Narrow for who–an elephant??!!

Stores: most department stores. I was looking for twinsets this holiday–you know, the matching sweaters with the sleeveless or short-sleeve tops underneath? Nowhere to be found. Have you noticed that when one store pulls a style off their racks, the rest follow suit? This copycat mentality has got to stop!