Fashion + Beauty
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The 5 Worst Fashion Crimes & How to Avoid Them
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There's bad fashion, and
then there's those looks that are so wretched they nearly
render us speechless. Yes, you've probably caught yourself
gawking at someone sporting one of these terrible ensembles on the
street or maybe you've crept down one of these failed paths
yourself. Never fear.
These 5 rules will help keep you on the right side of
the fashion police. Don't miss
4 more helpful rules here.
- IRONIC GRANDMA DRESSING: We love our
grandparents, we really do. They give us cake, tell us stories, and
pat our heads when we are sad. They don't commonly, however,
serve as our fashion muses (unless, of course,
Jane Birkin is your grandma). And that's okay;
leave grandmas alone. Also, and this is vitally important, if you
are a single girl about town, you will never get a date dressing
like this. Housedresses, chunky shoes, and glasses do not say
it's sexy time.
- ALL-LEATHER LOOKS: Yes, leather is in. For
example,
Yves Saint Laurent was having such a leather moment
that designer Stefano Pilati turned it into both a bodysuit and a
jumpsuit. But leather is best used wisely. If you wear a skirt,
tone it down on the top. A jacket? Jeans or trousers. But never
wear the whole lot together, because the dominatrix should stay in
the bedroom (if you're inclined that way, of course), not the
boardroom.
- OVERSIZE BAGS: If the
Olsens are over this look, you should be too. Nobody
has that much to carry unless she's going away for the weekend
or is the littlest hobo. A bag as big as your body? That's a
body bag.
- RUNWAY LOOKS HEAD TO TOE: One of the
season's most photographed looks was the fetching red velvet
brocade coat
Miuccia Prada designed. It was accessorized on the
runway with a large pair of waders. During the show,
they looked wondrous. On 57th Street during rush hour, maybe not.
Find a seasonal piece that speaks to you and make it work. That
coat would look just great with jeans, wouldn't
it?
- THE '80S IF YOU'RE 80: The first time
around you were 50, and it didn't make sense then, either.
Leave the resurgence of
'80s looks — the shoulders, the minis, the Dynasty
sequins — to the twenty-somethings who were born then. They think
shoulder pads are new and exciting. The only workable alibi? If you
were one of the girls in Robert Palmer's "Addicted to
Love" video and you've shopped your closet.
RELATED LINKS:
Top Fashion Trends to
Steal
Red-Carpet Divas: Who Wore It
Best?
Tina Fey Goes Glam
10 Fresh Fall Makeup Tips
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Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
Related: harpers bazaar, fashion rules, fashion don'ts, fall fashion, bad fashion
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Posted by kararush Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:29am PDT
WTF is wrong with having glasses?! Not all of us can stick our fingers in our eyes everyday or feel the need to shell out the extra cash for special contact exams and the contacts themselves!
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Posted by katie Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:40am PDT
I think glasses can be very sexy, if they're the righ kind for your type of face.
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Posted by m@r!@ Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:16am PDT
this is utter nonsense......... YAWN :D
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Posted by PennyLane Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:29am PDT
I'm going to throw my hat in the ring here, too. What is wrong with glasses?!
It's not our fault we were born with a vision problem. Contacts aren't for everyone, plus they are stinking expensive.
Don't classify glasses wearers in the grandma category.
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Posted by Angie Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:15pm PDT
well... i love big purses!!! i can carry everything!!! i just dont over do it with super HUGE purses... just big enough that looks good.
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Posted by HM.Hou Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:30pm PDT
There's nothing wrong with oversized/big purses.
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Posted by Kikki Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:09pm PDT
I would say the grandma look would be more like rolled down support hose, calf length skirts with high waisted elastic bands and sweaters with big pockets overflowing with tissues. Even granny glasses are cool again.
What about the pj revolution or mom jeans or hippee chicks that aren't authentic. Really the only one of these mistakes I've seen is the big bag craze. I really hate it because it make it so easy for them to shop lift, otherwise it's not too ugly. I kinda like them, but I don't need more crap in my purse. Have enough as is.
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Posted by Breanna Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:17pm PDT
yea lets all attack the glasses statement!!!! come on u guys, seriously? lol
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Posted by Cristina Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:27pm PDT
The real trick to fashion is confidence. If a woman is confident, comfortable, and happy.. that's when true beauty shows through. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what clothes a woman puts on, what really matters is the woman!
So, I say go ahead and don that grandma gear if it makes you feel good... rock huge hobo purses if it makes you happy.. put on leather everything if that makes you smile... whatever you need to wear to feel amazing- go on and wear it!
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