Eleanor Lambert: Fashion's First Lady

A few weeks ago, I got a text from Sasha Rae, my bestie who lives in Victoria. All it said was "I have a new style icon: Jane Birkin. She's a babe from the 60's. The Birkin bag is named after her. Who's you style icon?". She does this from time to time, suggest an idea for a blog post. Usually her ideas are really great. She also sends me outfit photos of herself when she's proud of a look. She's cute like that.

So, anyways her text got me thinking about who I look to for style inspiration. It was harder than I thought, as I didn't have anyone come to mind immediately. Then, in my PR class we were asked to write a press release on Eleanor Lambert. Having never heard of her until that point (embarrassing now that I know who she is), I had some research to do.

Eleanor Lambert was known as the godmother of fashion PR, having single-handedly making New York City the fashion mecca of the world by taking over the Paris dressmakers’ best-dressed-women poll in 1940 and organizing a biannual Press Week of Seventh Avenue in New York City. Both of these achievements live on today, as Vanity Fair’s International Best Dressed List and New York Fashion Week. Always searching for ways to integrate art with fashion and convince the world that the American garment industry was equal to its international counterparts, Lambert founded both the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Council for Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). 

After learning all of this, I had developed a bona fide girl crush.  This woman was responsible for making the fashion industry what it is today. She often didn't take payment for her services, doing it for, one can only assume, the love of her craft. Eleanor Lambert was an inspiration and force within the fashion industry until the day she died in 2003, at age 100.

While I am inspired by her business savvy more than her personal style, the woman obviously knew how to dress. Known for her turbans and over-sized jewelry, many people called her obscure. I call her brilliant. I respect a woman who knows what she wants and goes for it and that is exactly what Eleanor Lambert did.

j.

The Truth About Heels

chambray shirt {Forever 21} - striped shirt {Century 21} - sweater skirt {Madewell} - 

black leather tote {Banana Republic} - polka-dot socks {Gap} - black booties {Topshop}

You probably thought I'd be wearing heels in these photos, right? The truth is, this is about the highest heel you will see featured on this blog. I know what you're thinking, "girl...you cray cray, that isn't even a heel". Well, you're right. But I remain firm in my stance that this is the highest of heels that you'll see here. This is for a couple reasons. One, rarely do I wear heels during the day and this is when all my photos are taken. And two, you try stomping around NYC in a pair of heels and then let me know if I even need to give you a second reason.

It's a bit of a shame really. I feel like the laws of high heels have it a bit backwards. I would proclaim that a city, such as, New York would be the perfect place to wear heels in your day-to-day life. However, the amount of walking and standing one does during the day in New York makes wearing them down right stupid. I know there are women out there (because I've seen them with my own two eyes) who make it their mission to wear heels wherever they go. Many of those women have personal drivers and a desk job so really that's just unfair and they're rubbing it in. But, the select few brave souls who wear their heels to run errands, walk anything more than one city block and do not spend the majority of their day sitting down - well, I bow to you. Really. 

I wore a pair of heels to an event this weekend. I think I was crying by the end of hour one. I was certain of nerve damage by hour three and by the end of the night in the cab I was convinced that my feet would be bleeding, if even still there, when I got home.

So, to all my heel wearing sisters out there: I salute you.

j.

Happyness

photos taken during my recent trip to Toronto

A few things that have been making me happy lately:

• Fall TV season. This is going to be a good week...
• That moment of relief when you take off your "yet-to-be-broken-in" shoes - fashion is pain, people. Fashion. Is. Pain.
• Walking past the corner flower stand and taking a deep inhale of the gloriously fresh scent of freshly cut flowers. A very welcome smell in this otherwise stinky city.
• Kids on the subway and their unabashed manner. From using Mom as a personal trampoline to using the leg of the strange man next to them as their hand rest.
• That 40 minutes of mindless entertainment while I watch The Y&R each night before bed. Ahhh, to not think for 40 straight minutes.
• Layers. Enough said.
• Hale and Hearty's soup and sandwich combo. Rocking my world.
• New friends, both at school and my internship. 
• Street art. Forever and always.

It's the small things, really, that are making seven courses and an internship doable. Have a good week, friends.

j.

My Homework Is Kinda Awesome

In case you were wondering the kinds of things I have to do for class. This is a small part of a big PR project that I'm working on right now. Now, I'm no cinematographer but...enjoy!

 

j.

Fashion Week

Hi Guys! I didn't really intend to take a week long hiatus there. I don't really know what happened. School, Fashion Week and interning happened, I guess. Some of you may remember that I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at a show last Fashion Week. Well, this time around I did not get to volunteer. Instead, Bloomingdale's sent me to three shows. As an attendee!!! I was living in a dream while I sat in the third and first rows (yes, you read that right...FRONT. ROW.) to watch Jill Stuart, Christian Siriano and Anna Sui show their Spring 2013 collections.

I can't really explain the energy that a live runway show has. It's magnetic and all-encompassing. It makes me feel inspired in ways that I can't articulate into words. My favorite moment of the whole show is right before it starts. One second the room is crowded and buzzing with chatter and in an instant everyone is in their seats, cameras poised for that moment when the first model rounds the corner. The moment I live for is that instant when all is quiet, intense with anticipation and then just when you can't take it anymore the lights turn on and the music starts blaring just as the first model begins her strut down the runway. It's magical.

My second favorite moment is at the very end of the show when the designer comes out to wave and take a bow. The look on their face is one mixed with unfiltered joy and utter exhaustion. What took them months of all-nighters is what you just saw in two minutes. The feeling I imagine they get when they see their finished collection walk down the runway almost makes me want to switch my major to design. Almost.

Needless to say, it felt incredible to be in the audience at, not one, but three shows. I honestly did not feel like I was living my own life. A BIG thank you to Bloomies and the Fashion Directors who made this happen. 

j.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice

black top {Urban Outfitters} - black & white striped maxi skirt {Joe Fresh} - geometric necklace {So Good} - 

NYC purse {gift} - gold watch {Target} - arrow bracelet {Etsy} - silver gladiators {Aldo} - photo credit {Kiki}

Sometimes the best things happen in the least amount of time. These photos are one of those things. I was really pleased with how they turned out and they were taken in, literally, under 30 seconds. Kiki and I were on our way to meet her aunt and uncle and needed to be there at a certain time. We had no time to spare but, of course, I asked her to take a quick photo anyways. She rolled her eyes at me and said only if you run across the street and start posing so I can get there, snap a few pics and we can keep walking. I feel like it would be at this time that most normal people would forgo the photo shoot. But I am anything but normal, so I ran and got my pose on so she would take a few photos. Which she did, in record time. And the result was pure magic (if I do say so myself). Thanks to the Keeks for always putting up with photo requests. I've heard people say before that behind every fashion blogger is a photographer boyfriend/husband. Well, behind (or in front, if we want to get technical) me, is a very patient bestie, who never says no to a photo shoot and always directs me to get the best shot, even when time is not on our side (which is usually always).

j.

Stripes, Specs & School

striped shirt {gift from Kiki} - beige maxi skirt {Joe Fresh} - Harry Potter glasses {Toronto boutique} - 

chain necklace {DIY} - gold watch {Target} - bracelets {Etsy} - color block tote {Gap}

I wore this outfit on the first day of classes. Because I don't think anything says first day of fashion school quite like stripes and Harry Potter glasses. Plus the glasses make me look real. smart. That's smarter than I already am, naturally. Can we just talk about my schooling for a quick sec? Today I bought a fashion magazine, which was actually a legit school supply purchase. I've had two assignments already. One was a shopping report which meant I had to pick a designer, visit their store, then answer some questions. The second was my Branding homework where I had to declare my favorite brand and explain why. So basically my schoolwork is to go shopping and write love letters to my favorite store, Jacob. Sheesh, a girl could get used to this (someone please tell me I wrote this in about a month...). 

j.

Pointing Fingers

You know how sometimes you will make a clothing purchase a little too hastily and that item ends up sitting in your closet for months on end? I've been making a real effort lately to minimize the amount that this happens to my purchases. On the other hand, there are times when you make a real solid purchase decision and that item finds it way into your regular rotation of clothing. This blue skirt is one of those real good purchase decisions. Every time I wear it, I am so happy I bought it. And I may be a bit of a weirdo but to me there is hardly anything better than having your shopping habits validated in this way.

black tank {Victoria's Secret} - blue skirt {Zara} - belt {Loft} - sunnies {H&M} - bronze gladiator sandals {Steve Madden via Century 21}

I have officially been to each of my classes now and met all of my profs. I can tell you that I am happy with five out of seven of my profs, and to be fair the other two aren't horrible just....what's the word, perhaps eccentric...each in their own way. I am most excited for photoshop and retailing because the former will allow me to use my creativity and the latter will be most beneficial to what I'm interested in pursuing as a career.

I hope you're all having a great long weekend!

j.