Gentlemen, This one is for you.

So I don't want the men to feel totally neglected, and I've been planning on doing some entries on menswear, so here goes!
I want to focus on some of my favorite Men's fashion trends and styles throughout the past few years, and I will also be telling you gentlemen what will NOT get you laid. At all.
I guess it's a "Do's and Don'ts" type of article. I will be continuing to write articles on men's fashion so don't fret. I love you too.

Now, I don't think there's anything sexier than a guy in some dark skinny jeans and a black v-neck tee (yeah, I said skinny jeans. I think they're hot on guys. As long as they aren't so tight they look like latex paint, they're completely do-able.), But sometimes you need to kick up your outfit a notch. Kicking up your outfit does NOT mean wearing a Tshirt with glo-paint splashes and a Dude-Bro name label on it. (Affliction and Ed Hardy- STOP MAKING CLOTHES. Please.)

Here are some of my favorite looks that are simple and sexy, but have a little something special to them, along with some Style Icons that wore them best.


1.. Anything Brandon Flowers
Brandon Flowers is the awkward, boyish, and absoloutley gorgeous frontman for the Indie- Post-Punk- New wave band, The Killers. Besides having a voice that makes panties drop, Mr. Flowers is a pioneer in style.
Flowers brought back the ever so popular skinny suit look, but upped the risk factor and took it west. Southwest to be exact. During the Killer's debut album Hot Fuss, they jumped right into the Fall Out Boy/Panic! At the Disco ranks of Alt/Indie pretty boy bands and did the whole eyeliner/ironic suspenders a'la Moulin Rouge type thing, but they soon broke the mold in music and style with their Sophomore Album (my favorite) Sam's Town (A reference to the Band's hometown of Las Vegas).
To cut this short-The Killers made The Wild West "Hipster." Hipster is a terrible term for it I think, but really, the Moustache, the skinny pant and the thick framed glasses all point to the H-word. But there also was a twinge of the west in the look.
I saw them in Concert during their Sam's Town tour, and not only was the show a treat, but the style did not dissapoint.
After their style and sound took a turn for the amazing, Brandon never looked back and has been one of my personal style icons in menswear ever since. I personally love the feather shoulder decorations used for the Spaceman video.
I also am madly, deeply in love with that perfect face and flawless voice, but this is about style.
Goddamn it he's so fucking pretty.






2. Sid Vicious

Back in the 70's, Punk was blowing everyone's minds. Not only with the music, but the rebellious style as well. Kids were breaking away from the "Peace & Love & Flowers & Fringe" of the late 60's, in style and attitude.
When the Sex Pistols came onto the English music scene, not only was the music dirty, gritty and irreverent, but so was the fashion. Holes, rips and safety pins were met with leather, leopard print, buttons and hand-made graphics.
Sid Vicious is probably one of my favorite style icons of the punk era, and why not? There is something very appealing about the bad boy image, and there's also something very appealing about a look that seems the person just threw it together from a craft-table explosion at a thrift store, but knowing secretly that the person put a LOT of effort into said outfit. The devil-may-care
style of Sid Vicious (and for the ladies, his victim/lover Nancy Spungen) will always be a look that can never be copied without looking forced, so try to downplay the look with just certain destroyed peices paired with something a little less...destroyed.
My personal favorite look of Sid's is the white, slightly oversized white blazer (cut just so enough chest is showing) and black cigarette fit pant that looks like it was worn highwatered on purpose...because who cares right? Fuck 'em!







3. The Smiths/Morrissey

Oh, Morrissey. The object of my twin sister's undying love, the lead singer of the band that got her through the turmoils of highschool...and the man who introduced me to the thought that "Oh my heavens, I am ENJOYING an 80's band right now. What...the HELL." I was never one to appreciate the 80's in sound or style, but after I heard the melancholy lyrics, the heavy yet catchy bass riffs, and the haunting voice of Moz himself, I became addicted. The 80's post-punk style has really caught my eye with bands such as The Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen, and even The Cure (in their earlier days) in sound AND style. Some may say that these bands started the "emo" trend, but I think they really stand in a world of their own up to this day.
There's something really cool about a messy mop (sometimes in the eyes, and usually styled just so...), some thick "my Dad wore these in bootcamp in the 50's" glasses, and those ever trendy acid washed skinny jeans that many of these bands donned in the 80's. There's something incredibly, well, 80's about it, but at the same time, there's nothing 80's about it at all. Moz and others on his wavelength broke away from the bubblegum pop-Michael Jackson infused-froofy-glittery-geometric nonsense of the 80's and simplified the style so that it will continue to be timeless, and can forever influence "This Charming Man" of today.


I have so many more male fashion icons, and in my next menswear article, I will highlight a couple more, and I will also get you guys in the "know" with the do's and don'ts of mens fashion...



So stop whining like girls, because I am so giving you something to read too!


Until next time,


Love & Louboutins


Keely

Launch Time!

So I wanted to make sure I had some substantial enteries for all of you to read, mainly because I don't have time to update every day, and I wanted you to have a good chunk of material to see what my blog is all about.

So with that jabber out of the way:

YAY WE'VE LAUNCHED!

I will be constantly re-writing the HTML on here and will be looking foreward to making many more improvements as we go along. I can't wait to see what this blog will blossom into with experience, and I hope you not only enjoy this blog as entertainment, but also I hope you are able to grow with me and my adventures in fashion and other aspects of my life.
I also hope you leave with some amazing tips on how to be fashionable and sexy of course!
I am a Stand Up Comedienne (1/4 of the time) So I hope you don't take my satirical posts too seriously. Because there is, of course, humor in fashion. If there wasn't, well, we'd all be Models.


Let's rock this thing out.



Love & Louboutins,

Keely

What a Slacker! Shopping Guide Thread #1

So I haven't posted on my blog in awhile...
I'm busy, but not like "I can't post in my blog" busy.

Though we did have a tsunami sweep through my neighborhood (Flash-flood I guess would be the ... realistic term) and flood my whole damn house, which then almost burned to the ground from all of the electrical shit in my basement.

I saved my pets though which is the most importaint part.

Anywhooo

I want to talk today about using your fashion resources.

There are ways to make a very fashion foreward outfit, without having to spend thousands of dollars on designer labels, or travel out of your way to get to them.
Is this blasphemy?! A fashion blogger telling you NOT to wear designer label clothing?!

Nope, it's something I've had to do most of my life, since we only recently got any type of designer or "big name" stores in my city. (And it really IS a city, we're just in the middle of the country. It takes a long time for anything to reach us.)
We just got a Sephora for chrissakes. (BAD BAD BAD. I already have NO money, BUT I love you Sephora and how you drain me for the sake of beauty.)

I want to make this a series which I will update from time to time, so for today, I want to start with what most people consider their mortal enemy:

THE MALL.
*DOOM*

Okay. Seriously, the mall isn't THAT.....bad.
I worked there for years (on and off) at my first job from the time I was 15 until about 20, and being the observant young trendsetter that I was, I spent most of my breaks walking around the mall putting together copycat outfits in my head of Vogue editorial fashions compared to the storefront ensembles.

It really is do-able.
The KEY is to shop at two kinds of stores:
A) The store that carries the ESSENTIAL basics (E.G. The Gap, Express, The Limited, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc)
B) The store that carries the crazy "trends" (E.G. Forever 21 *my favorite because of the categoried rooms*, Charlotte Russe, Wet Seal etc)
Stay away from any stores that go by Teenage trends and high school/Middle school fads. (DEB, Vanity, Hot Topic, Old Navy)

You want to hit the College-age, Professional Young adult stores.

The big thing with Couture and High-Fashion, is that it can be crazy, young and fun, but generally, fashion has a high cohesive maturity to it. Fashion always goes back to "elegant, older."
But I also want to stress, you don't have to be decked out in couture to be fashionable. That's the beauty of fashion, you can tweak any look, and make it your own. My point of this thread in the series is to give a general guideline to not looking like an 80's Soccer Mom, or *shudder*having to fall back on that disgusting, sweatpants & Uggs, college dorm type style.


The last thing you want to do is LOOK like a girl walking around at the mall.

You want to pair your mature, professional basics with something fun and flashy. Something classic with something patterned.

And mixing patterns is VERY do-able.

Here is an example of an outfit that you can buy at the mall RIGHT NOW, and,well, NOT look like you are at the mall.




The wide-legged jean (Aka "Bellbottoms" in case you were a flower child like my mom) is making a HUGE comeback, and is my all time favorite denim trend. And the slightly destroyed wash makes the look a little more Rock & Roll, and a little less "casual jean Fridays" at the office. Pair this jean with sky high wedge platforms, and you are officially a supermodel. Helpful hint: when wearing this jean with tall wedges or platforms, make sure you wear them long. Try buying a longer inseam or jean than you would usually buy. Example: if you wear a size 4 short, try a size 4 regular. If you wear regular, buy a size long. If you are like me, and can't even find longs that have the right length, try going up a size and pair with a cute belt. It always looks best if the bottom of the jean is at least touching the bottom of the platform or is no more than half an inch shorter than the bottom of your shoe. High-waters will ALWAYS look bad. And a short heel with these jeans will swamp your legs.



Pairing a fitted top with a pop of color or a funky pattern will help with proportions, and will balance out the wideness of the jean, while adding a quirky, head turning element to your outfit.
Helpful Hint: If you are going to wear something a little more flowy with the jean, try a crop top with a fitted tank underneath. Anything too wide on top when worn with a full leg will tend to swamp your figure. The pop of color adds some fun to the look.

(Source: Forever 21 stores & Online)

When it gets cooler, there is nothing sexier than a motorcycle jacket.
Helpful hint: Wear a tailored, fitted leather jacket. Most motorcycle jackets are cut to be more flattering,slightly oversized isn't totally a BAD thing but you don't
want to look like My Dad and his Vietnam Vet buddies at a Patriot Guard get together.*I do love those Vets and the Patriot Guard, but you get my point.*




Finally, add a wedge platform (the higher the BETTER)



And some chunky jewelry.
Helpful Hint: Chunky Jewelry always is a nice compliment to a fun patterned top and a leather jacket. Feather earrings always look hot.





Of course, this was just a simple example with some general helpful hints and guidelines when looking for fit, style and how to pair different cuts and patterns.

But make each outfit your own! Have fun with it! Don't be afraid to show your own style. I know I'm not.
I have the side of my head shaved with racing stripes for shit's sake.

Until next time.

Love & Louboutins

Keely



Photo Credits and Sources
(Source: Express stores http://www.express.com/rerock-flare-leg-jean-light-wash-33453-24/refine/Leg+Shape/Flare/control/page/3/show/3/index.pro)
(Source: Forever 21 Stores http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=FOREVER21&category%5Fname=top%5Fcamis%5Ftanks&product%5Fid=2076841440&Page=3&pgcount=25)
(Source: Charlotte Russe Stores http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11294158&cp=4238904.4192333.4241189)

(Source: Charlotte Russe Stores http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11344198&cp=4241184.4192366.4241200 : http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11508513&cp=4241184.4192366.4241202 : http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11762953&cp=4241184.4192366.4241198)

Where's the "Look" Going?

I don't get it.


I remember thinking this when I was about 12 or 13 and I opened my first issue of Vogue. (I was a late bloomer in the Vogue world. My Mom didn't have any vintage issues laying around for me to sift through as a small child,thus starting my early development into a chic, fashionable little girl, as romantic as that overdone story *Sorry, "childhood memory"* may seem to the fashionistas who recount the first time they read Vogue)
The models all looked like...little kids. Like pre-pubescent boys, with alien eyes and babydoll lips.
Then there were the ones that, in my oppinion at the time, we just plain UGLY.
I mean, how could these girls be MODELS?

I get it now, and I find them extremely beautiful (moreso than those beauty pageant-type commercial girls doing makeup or *shudder* catalogue and swimwear modeling.)

I remember the exact editorial I fell in love with, that made me stare in awe at the girls gracing the pages of Vogue,during what I believe was the summer of 2006 before I started on my own modeling escapade-

That damn Fendi buckle bag and Hermes maxi-dress still haunt me to this day.


But after flipping through the latest Vogue, I am starting to revert back to "I don't get it."


(Prada)

And it's not something purely technical, like, I look at the up and coming girls and say "Why are they going for the gap toothed girls?" or "WOW they really like the strong jawline now."

It's more inexplicable than that. I can't quite put my finger on it.
They aren't nessecarily UGLY girls, they aren't anything extremely different from the usual high-fashion look...but they are?

Maybe the term I'm looking for is...

90's?


It's the styling, the whole essence of the girls they are picking now, and the general VIBE of fashion that I am just.not.getting.
Maybe I've finally fallen out of the model-loop? I am getting pretty old. (23 is a career killer for models.)

Bring back the Sashas and the Gemmas and the Magdelenas.

Some new faces that I can't grasp-














In other news -Raquel Zimmerman is looking really old.

In other other news - Raquel Zimmerman is old.



*UPDATE!*
I figured it out.
The girls before were delicate and looked like weird babydolls, really fragile looking.
The new "look" is really rough and angular in the face.

Ew.

Out Here, You're a Whacko if you Wear it.

Burberry, Prada, all headliners in the Fashion world, and will treasured by women (and men) until the earth explodes in a firey doomsday that is the Rapture.(Oh wait that already happened.)

Yeah, not here.

I decided, though blistering hot, (I guess 108 Degrees isn't THAT bad...if you're the Devil...) that I would be inside a cool, air conditioned salon and would be immune to the sweat and humidity inside and could wear one of my favorite fashion trends (from a few seasons ago, so sue me.)

The slouchy, ribbed sock with open-toed platforms trend that Burberry sent their Models down the runway in during the Summer '10 season.

I love it. Love Love Love. At first, I thought "Oh Noooo. What do they think we are, a bunch of foreign tourists? Some old men from Nebraska?!"

But the more I actually WORE the trend, the more it grew on me. It ended up turning into one of my favorite fall/winter fashion ensembles.

Of course, you have to do it right.

I paired my slate colored, slouchy ribbed stockings with some camel platform sandals, and of course, a pair of high waisted and cuffed, ribbon belted, slate colored mid-thigh shorts and an adorable camel pullover sweater with black detail to the collar and sleeve cuff area (It didn't actually have cuffs or a collar, but whatever) a black belt (We have to have some black on while working in the salon.)
My hair was straight but slightly tousseled, and my makeup was minimal with a touch of blush and some gold on the eyelids and eyes lined with a slate pencil.
Lips nude of course.

I was feeling very trendy, and confidently walked into work.

"....Are you wearing socks with heels?"
"Yeah, It's inspired by Burberry's 2010 collection."
...Blank stare...
"Oh thats cute!"

I don't think they really thought it was "cute."

After a whole day of strange looks, and literally every customer staring at my feet instead of my face, I realized... People here in this town sure do wear this trend (old men and some lazier ladies) and no one really notices, but dress it up and make it fashionable, and all of a sudden you are a total eccentric looney bird style-wise.

As one of my co-workers so eloquently (and maybe a bit agressively) put it-
"Keely, we are in _____. People here don't look at your shoes and KNOW it's Prada, or Burberry, or whatever. People here don't even know who those designers ARE. They just know you are wearing socks with sandals, not that you are being 'Fashionable.'"

Wait... isn't a point of fashion not for you to project a certain designer, but to wear the trend, and in that manner, SET the trend?

I don't see this trend catching on in my town anytime soon, well, because I would have to be wearing the newest from Abercrombie & Fitch (I used to work there, sadly, and pathetically admit that I do like a few things from the store and still own merchandise from A&F... but their Button-Down white blouses are pretty versatile, and their jeans are the only ones I can find that are long enough for my legs, while not falling off my waist. And I wear my jeans LONG, because I own a TON of wedges. That's my excuse.), or have to hang out around a bunch of downtown hipsters. (guilty)

I'm going to keep taking a crack at the local trends though, because if getting weird looks and comments gets a trend noticed, I don't care if it catches on or not.

I'm exposing them to some Culture and Fashion. One sock at a time.

Don't Forget Your Roots

Even though I do complain about this city, about it's drivers, lack of fashion, and tendancy to act like one big group of gossipy highschoolers, It's still my home. That's something I never forget, and It does have a place in my heart and it's who I am.

What bothers me, is when people get out of here to do this or that, and come back acting like they are worth so much more than the people who have made lives here, or who haven't had the chance to "escape."

We have had a few ladies (and men) in particular, who have had the chance to leave the Midwest, to pursue a decently (even better than decent in some cases) lucrative career in the Modeling industry. My modeling career bordered more on the former, but I had the opportunity to experience something that not many people will have the chance to experience, but still kept my wits about me when it came to the fact that, well, I'm no better than anyone else. I just moved up in a career field, which many have done before. My reasons for leaving before getting to become one of the bright new faces in Fashion are my own, but I don't regret that decision.

There is one young woman from my town who has become one of the most in-demand models out there. Walking for all the major designers, booking all of the big print and editorial jobs, and, well, she's Fashion's Sweetheart.
And you know, She really used to be a sweetheart.
I remember doing her first fashion show with her, It was a benefit show for a charity, put on by a super trendy Vintage store in the bohemian/Hipster part of town.
She sweetly and enthusiastically told the other girls about pursuing a modeling career: "My mom and I have kind of been talking about it, I think it would be fun!"
She talked about "I ate a hamburger before I came here, I was so hungry!"
Whilst the rest of us girls tried to maintain the pre-pubescent figure that she naturally enjoyed. (Don't you miss being 13?)
We chatted for a while about modeling, and I disclosed to her that I was with an Agency and she inquired about what it took to become involved with an International agency. After the information was passed to an inquiring young mind from an older (18 is getting up there for a model) and slightly less naiive mind, we proceeded to walk in the show. She was a hit with the crowd and photographers.


We parted after the show, and I hadn't heard anything of or from her since. Well, about a year or so passed, I was reading an article in the local paper and who's face do you think popped up? None other than that girl from the fashion show. And apprently, she had made it big. I mean REALLY BIG. She had joined a local agency here in town (Which for the most part is a huge scam, anyone can join as long as they pay upwards of $3,000 for modeling classes, with no guarantee of work afterwards- no Agency with any pull to their name would ever make their models pay.) and had a semi-successful run in a modeling scout show, but was just at the right place at the right time, and happened to be picked up by a scout from a well-known agency. They booked her, she was turned down quite a bit, but was picked up by an even bigger agency, and the rest is history.

About 2 years later,I was recently at one of my favorite cafes in that Hipster/Bohemian neighborhood, when none other than supermodel herself walked in. She was eating (barely) lunch with a friend. I had run into a couple of other times, but never approached her, because our one meeting a few years ago I would assume was far gome from her memory.
My sister looked at me and said "Isn't that girl the one from the fashion show awhile ago?"
Then we heard it.


The most arrogant 15 minutes I have ever sat through quietly in my life. Usually I would just punch someone, but I really like this place.
She sat there and bragged about how much more wonderful the food was overseas (TO THE COOK who is one of the sweetest people I know) turned her nose anytime he tried to relate cooking-wise to the conversation, and proceeded to brag very loudly about her escapades as a top model. To add to this lovely display of a humble young woman, she proceeded to act like she owned the place, and yell across the table to her guest (so that all 4 diners and the kitchen staff) could hear about the special treatment she recieves all over town when she returns home after fashion week and so forth. (She made sure to emphasize that her meals at very high end restauraunts here were USUALLY free...after insulting the cook's meal.)

My sister stopped me from doing something incredibly stupid, like saying something just as catty, but I controlled myself, and instead, walked out like a lady, tipping the man who cooked for us well over 30%.

Because I know where I come from, no matter where i go or what I become, it's tha values of where I grew up that kept me grounded while trying to still keep my teenage innocence about me in a world that could forxe you to grow up, devour you, spit you out and leave you Jaded.

Besides, even the smallest bit of encouragement from each person here helped me real my goal, and without it, I may have never experienced something so special.


People here still can't fuckin drive though.



(Photo Source, Kim Noorda by Laurie Bartley for Harper's Bazaar UK June 10 "On the Road" via )
*The model in question is obviously not Kim Noorda.

Pretty Pretty Pretty....Just Not Yet.

THIS BLOG IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

I promise, my lovelies, that this blog will soon look as fashionable and beautiful as your pretty little selves (dressed in Hermes, of course.)


I am working on it when I am not actually...well, working.


Love & Louboutins

Keely