A Skort Story
/
Peter Cohn Blouse, Worth New York Skort, Bally Sandals and Handbag, Oliver Peoples Sunglasses, Chanel Bracelet, Stephanie Kantis Earrings.
The Blue and The White
/
Scoop NYC Top, McGuire Jeans, Jimmy Choo Pumps, Hermes Belt, Prada Bag, Chanel Bracelet, The Jewelry Bar Bracelets and Earrings.
I suppose that you could call me patriotic. I was born and raised a Canadian Jew, lived in Israel for a year, and became a U.S. citizen in 2001. So even though I am a lover of the red and the white, (Canada), the red, white and blue, (America), my heart belongs to the blue and the white (Israel). This Thursday is Yom Ha’atzmaut, also known as Israel’s Independence Day. This young country, (it was declared a state in 1948), is a start up nation of the highest degree. From the cell phone you store in your pocket to the e-book you are reading on your Kindle, to the cherry tomatoes you just popped into your mouth, this tiny country is responsible for some of the most important and indispensible advancements in health, technology and lifestyle. For a full list, click HERE.
In honor of Israel’s birthday I decided to put together an outfit comprised entirely of blue and white. I love these white jeans by McGuire, which are cropped, flared and frayed at the bottom. I have been front-tucking my tops for many years, as it adds interest to an outfit, defines the waist and minimizes an oversized shirt. In the case of this shapeless top, I needed a little waist definition. My heels give me the height I so desperately crave, (if I stand up straight, I am a whopping 5’3 1/2”), and prevent me from getting a stiff neck from looking up to Jeff (6’1 1/2”)…who I request to be seated any time I have something important to discuss!
Happy Birthday Eretz Yisrael…Happy Birthday to us all!
Recycling The Bag
/
Take the inner tube from a tire, decorate it with soda can pull tabs, line it with fabric and what do you get? You get a chic, recycled handbag that can go from casual to dressy in the blink of an eye. When I first heard about these bags, I must admit that I was skeptical. I had seen bags made out of soda can pull tabs years ago when my mother and I were out shopping at the Palm Desert Swap Meet. Although we found them to be creative, we decided they weren’t for us, and moved on. Over the years I have seen many versions of this bag. I have remained unimpressed; that is, until I met Linnea Duvall, owner and designer of Glad Rag Bags, a super cool recycled bag that appeals to biker chicks just as easily as to stay at home moms.
Haute Hippie Jumpsuit, Gianvito Rossi Sandals, also seen here. Glad Rag Bags Handbag and Cuff, Oliver Peoples Shades.
Linnea’s background is just the opposite of where she landed today. Raised in a religious town in rural Pennsylvania, Linnea says she “grew up in a town where people were intimidated by fashion.” Straight out of college, at the age of 21, Linnea landed a job as an editor at Vogue magazine. As the youngest person on the staff, she eagerly absorbed everything she could about the fashion industry and wound up as one of the Make Over editors at Glamour Magazine. After retiring from the magazine industry, Linnea ran her own make over clinics around the country and moved to Los Angeles, where she now resides.
Me (in a CAbi Top and WORTH New York Belt) with Linnea (also in a CAbi top).
Linnea came across her new career by chance. While vacationing in Mexico a few years ago, she came across a handbag that was made from the inner tube of a tire and soda can tabs. The bag itself was basic, that is to say it did not have lining, pockets, soft materials or any hint of luxury that would appeal to her and her American friends. She approached the owner and asked him if he would agree to make the bag with all the bells and whistles she considered necessary to meet her standards. He agreed, and the Glad Rag Bag was born. These bags are optical illusions. They are decadently decorated in pull tops that make them sparkle and shine, but in a chic and cool sort of way. They come in numerous designs from a large tote to a delicate clutch. You will think that they are made from leather, until you pick them up, when you realize that the rubber makes them as light as air, and their price is a quarter of what you would pay for a designer leather bag!
James Pearse T-Shirt, Rebecca Taylor Faux Leather Skirt, Wolford Tights, Jimmy Choo Boots, Glad Rag Bag Handbag and Cuff, Oliver Peoples Shades.
In addition, because they are constructed from rubber, they can stretch to accommodate what ever you put inside.
Linnea has designed accessories to go with the bags, such as a cuff and a wrap bracelet that doubles as a boot band!
As a special favor to my readers, Linnea is offering a 25% discount, just because you are so FABULOUS!!
Simply go to her website, Glad Rag Bags and enter the code "neagirl25" and follow the instructions.
Linnea’s Glad Rag Bags are recycled chic, pulling their weight in tabs!
One Dress, Two Ways
/
So you purchased a beautiful dress this season to wear to a wedding, engagement party, graduation or some other special event. You dropped a chunk of change on this item, and now that you have worn it, you think it should wait until the next big event before you wear it again… WRONG! If anyone is a huge believer in wearing the clothes that are in your closet, and getting the most out of your purchase, it is yours truly!
I bought this beautiful dress by Elizabeth and James, way back in early spring, when my friend, Venetta Aguilar, showed it to me during a visit to one of my favorite haunts, “Yellow Dog,” the store she manages. I did not have a specific event in mind, but I knew that the instant I zipped it up, I would find somewhere to wear it….and wear it I did-- out to dinner, to a wedding, a party, even just to run around during the day when I dressed it down. In the evening, I added a leather jacket, which really altered the vibe, and kept me warm on those cool Los Angeles summer nights. Versatility is the key to good style, and reinvention is both smart and practical. I challenge you to think about the pretty dresses in your closet, and be inspired to wear them in ways you wouldn’t necessarily have imagined when they were first purchased. Try to think outside the box, and get more bang from your buck; you will be glad that you did.
Take One...
Elizabeth and James Dress, on sale here, J Crew Belt, Prada Sandals, Christian Dior Sunglasses.
Take Two...
Elizabeth and James Dress, on sale here, Sarah Pacini Belt, Necklace and Bracelets, Calleen Cordero Sandals, IRO Leather Jacket, Chanel Sunglasses.
