Wide-Leg Vs. Skinny

As denim choices for women this season range from high-waisted, low-waisted, wide-leg, skinny leg, straight leg, and everything in between, what's a girl to do? I normally would not advise this, but you may want to ask the man in your life. I personally am long past the days of asking a man which outfit I should wear because I trust my sense of style much more than somebody else's, however, I recently experienced some unsolicited (yet helpful) comments from the freeflowing mouth of a very opinionated male friend of mine.

I received compliments from my friend when I wore skinny jeans (see the photos above and below) on two separate occasions. The compliments went something like, "you look nice tonight" and "I like the look you've put together, you really know how to use the right colors." Coming from a straight man with no interest in fashion, these comments made me feel great.

On the other hand, I wasn't so flattered when I wore my new high-waisted, wide-leg jeans from Old Navy. The comment from my friend went something like, "what are you wearing...it's not form-fitting...your jeans look like a giant garbage bag." I took these comments with a grain of salt because I really like these jeans and also because every time I wear them, someone compliments me. Just two weekends ago a salesgirl at Nordstrom stopped me to ask me where I bought them and complimented me on the fit of the jeans. So I guess the lesson is that sometimes men are the simple-minded creatures that we like to think they are, and they prefer form-fitting attire. Wide-leg jeans don't show off the legs to the extent that skinnies do. I think that wide-legs pants can be sexy. The trick is to pair them with a fitted top that is of the right proportions. Small proportions on top, wide-legs on bottom. Likewise, long flowy tops look best with tight fitted skinnies. And if you're dressing to impress a man or catch his eye, you may want to opt for the skinnies.

Street Clash Insights

Fashion Trend Guide brings you an exclusive interview with Darryl Natale, the creator of Street Clash, an international competition between street style blogs from around the world.


FTG: Tell me a little about yourself and what inspires you.

SC: Well, I'm from a small-ish Canadian city, escaped to Sweden for a year, cultivated myself, and landed back in Canada for the time being, finishing a film theory degree. Inspiration for me comes from a constant and inherent need for self-improvement. I'm a perfectionist, I guess.

FTG: How would you describe your personal style, and who are your style icons, if any?

SC: My personal style is all over the map. Depending on the day my clothes could be loud and colourful, or restrained and refined. I especially like asymmetrical design and jarring proportions. If I had to pick a style icon, it would be Klaus Nomi.

FTG: What inspired you to start Street Clash? Where did the idea come from and what were your goals when you first started it?

SC: A chance encounter with the Facehunter one night in London prompted me to consider getting involved in the street fashion blogging world, but there were already plenty of these blogs. So I thought of the idea of combining them all, but that had already been done by Street Peeper. So I got a bit more creative, and the idea came to me.

FTG: What was the hardest thing about coordinating Street Clash?

SC: Deadlines! Most street fashion bloggers can post whenever they have time, but for Street Clash, I have to get things done by a certain time of the day, or the votes will be thrown off. Not the most accomodating system, but I'm working on some alternatives.

FTG: Is there anything you'll do differently next time?

SC: Next time around things will be easier, since the blog has established a name for itself. Anyone is free to enter, of course, but I'll be a bit more selective about the blogs that will participate, and make sure they're serious about it.

FTG: Do you have any predictions as to who will win?

SC: I know who I'd like to win, and who will probably win, but I'm supposed to be objective, so I'll keep quiet.

FTG: What do you think are the essential elements of a great street fashion blog? Why do you think street fashion blogs are becoming so popular?

SC: That the photographers have a good eye is the most important, of course. But also a knowledge of framing within the photos, and a dedication to the project. People want updates, so you have to keep on top of things!

As for popularity, a lot of people are using these blogs for inspiration for their own style. It's a way of cataloging what we see on the streets for reference later on. And, in a way, it's become an art form in and of itself, depending on the skill of the photographer of course.

FTG: Given the increasing popularity and press coverage of street fashion blogs, what type of role do you see these blogs playing in the future?

SC: It's hard to say how long these blogs will be around for. Since Street Clash has started there have been at least 20 more that have started, but many of those have already fizzled out. It is clear that the fashion industry is already making use of these images in advertisements and in new collections.

FTG: Do you have any advice for street fashion bloggers?

SC: Stay dedicated and be selective!

FTG: Is there anything else you'd like to share?

SC: Street Clash is moving soon (you heard it here first)! For the Canadian readers, look out for 2threads.com Canada, a project I'm working on. Street style, party, and fashion photos from Toronto, Vancouver, and Montréal. It's gonna be big.
** I would like to personally thank Darryl for his time and for bringing so many great street style blogs together for this competition.
Now go and vote for your favorites over at Street Clash!

Chic Pets - OffLeash Style on State Street

As someone who grew up with many pets, I know firsthand how important they are to their families. Walking along State Street in Santa Barbara, it's evident that people want to take their pets with them wherever they go. What pet owner doesn't want to spoil their favorite furry friend? Thanks to OffLeash, a chic pet boutique in downtown Santa Barbara, you can find everything you could ever desire (from a bathrobe to a wig) for your beloved pet. Here are some of my favorite items from their online boutique.

Items pictured above:
1. Tiny Chill Pill Soft & Squeaky Toy, $7.50
2. Handmade Catnip Sushi "Paw" Roll, $12.50
3. Milky Way Bathrobe, $20 - $25
4. A Dog's Life Peanut Butter & Honey Organic Treats, $8.50
5. Indiana Bones Suede Collar, $37 - $57
6. Biodegradable Cornstarch Pooch Clean-Up Bags, $4.25 (35 bags per box)

OffLeash is located at 1103 State St. and store hours are:
Mon - Thurs 10 - 7, Fri & Sat 10 - 8, Sun 11 - 6

On Saturday, October 20th they will have a "HOWLoween" pet costume contest at OffLeash with prizes and a pet wig for the funniest costume. There will be a chance to "Bob for Bones" for $1 (like bobbing for apples) and "Scary Slobber kisses" (from a St. Bernard puppy) for $1 in order to raise funds for the Central Coast SPCA. There will also be adoptable dogs at the store. So get your pets dressed on Saturday and contribute to a great cause!

Click the flyer to enlarge.

LA Fashion Week SS'08

Los Angeles Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is now in full swing! Check out this event that's taking place tonight in Hollywood...


Click to enlarge.

'ZAD Gem

For those of you who love to shop in the Santa Barbara area, I have good news. A reader just informed me about the 'ZAD Outlet in Goleta. They sell jewelry, clothing, and accessories at deeply discounted prices. (The items are overstock and wholesale samples.) Store hours are Fridays from 11 to 4, and they are located at 59 S. La Patera in Goleta. Take a peek at the map below for an idea of where they are. If you're curious about 'ZAD, have a look at their website. Happy shopping!


Click map to enlarge.

I See Sequins

My constant exposure to an array of fashion magazines and the retail scene often leaves me with a mental wish list of items each season. Sequins are no exception. As someone who daydreams of fun sparkly outfits to wear out at night, I often gravitate toward the sequin tops and tunics that can be found just about everywhere this fall. At last count, I have about five sequin tank tops. My most recent trip to F21 leaves me with six, as I couldn't resist this gray ribbed top with sequins sewn on the front. To dress a top like this down for daytime, I could simply pair it with a fitted white T-shirt underneath, some wide-leg jeans, and my cartoon print Chucks which I wear everywhere. I admit to overbuying certain trends such as this one, but I think sequins will hold strong through the SS '08 season.

More sequins, this time in the form of the sequin beret I've been stalking at Urban for a while. It also comes in solid red or black, but I chose the multi-colored one. Berets are almost becoming too prevalent for me, now that everyone is wearing them pulled low over the hairline like Rachel Bilson.

Here's another way to rock the beret - more of a stereotypically French style. It looks playful when titled off to one side. I think it takes some attitude to pull this look off.

Below is the Manoush jacket that had me craning my neck when I walked past Anthropologie last weekend. I found it on the Anthropologie website, but the image is too small and does not do it justice. While prowling the sale racks in the Santa Barbara store, I almost jumped up and down when I saw it on sale for $129.95. It has eyelet trim, zippered pockets, puffy sleeves and interesting banded elbow areas.

Santa Barbara Style - A Mouse On A Cat On A Dog

While the photo above may not look interesting, there's an interesting story behind it. Walking down State St. today in Santa Barbara, I saw a man walking his dog. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't just a dog. It was a dog with a cat on its back, and the cat had a mouse on its back! If this representation of the pet food chain wasn't enough, the man walking these 3 animals also had a bird perched on his shoulder. As he walked by, many a pedestrian turned their heads and commented in awe. It was the cutest and the strangest thing I've seen in weeks. All of the animals looked so calm, and the man appeared oblivious to all the attention. It was as if his pets inherited his docile nature! I wanted to snap a photo as he walked by, but I didn't have time to dig into my overstuffed handbag. Fortunately, I saw the man later eating on a bench while his pets rested. It's hard to see the mouse, but it's white and I circled it in pink. **October 29th update - I have noticed that due to the popularity of this post, people are reposting this blog entry in forums and on message boards. THAT IS ILLEGAL unless you have my permission. Please read my legal note on the blog's sidebar. If you'd like to post a link to this blog, that is fine, but do not duplicate any content WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!

I didn't shoot any street style, but I did a little bit of shopping. I was disappointed in the product offerings for the most part, but I bought a Manoush jacket from Anthropologie that I had admired from afar last week. It was on sale, and I'll post photos later.

As far as trends, there were leather bomber jackets, sweater tunics, colored skinny jeans, and plenty of berets at Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom, Reference, Gossip, and Angl. Sequins are also going strong, as are metallic boots (seen at Aldo). Bebe had a lot of hot pink and red in their garments, along with a variety of bold graphic prints and some faux fur-trimmed jackets. At Reference and Bebe, many a top and dress included jeweled accents near the neckline or bodice. Satin and silk tops and dresses also seemed to dominate the racks at Bebe and Nordstrom. I noted tailored menswear vests at Gossip and Urban. Overall, I was bored with the fall trends and didn't buy much...until I got to Target, that is. More photos and details to come soon!

The Green Light

Have you gone green yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Ditch your SUVs and carpool over to the Green Living Expo at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on November 16 and 17. Check out the booths and sample organic food and wine, or watch the fashion show dedicated to organic fabrics! Hours for the expo are 10am to 4pm both days, and the event is free. For more info click here.

**Update - the fashion shows will take place at 12:30 and 3:00 on both days.

Not Your Mom's Jeans

After reading about the opinions that several fashion bloggers and their readers have about high-waisted pants, I realize that it's a touchy subject with fashion followers. Either you love the trend or you hate it. Let's face it, some people are slower to adopt new trends and others like to be the first to test the waters. I admit that I've always followed trends, but there are a few that I never buy into because they don't flatter my body type. The older I get, the more brazen I am about trying out new trends before the mainstream. I was particularly inspired to be more creative with my wardrobe after my trip to London.

As someone who has seen more than their share of whale's tails and plumber's smiles while walking through the mall or sitting in a classroom, I am glad to see that waistbands are rising. The high-waisted styles are not for everybody, as they can be constricting and unflattering when worn the wrong way. One thing I'd like to clarify is that there are important differences between so-called "mom" jeans and the high-waisted styles that you'll see this season. So don't be afraid of high-waisted because it's not equal to "mom" jeans. Here's why.

First of all, "mom" jeans are unflattering on everyone. Yes, even in that photoshoot that Cory Kennedy did with "mom" jeans tucked into gladiator sandals and styled in other ways. Why are they so hideous? They create unibutt. What is unibutt, you ask? Well it's hard to describe, but it's when your behind appears to be one flat mass. What causes unibutt, you ask? Poor fit in addition to poor pocket size and placement are the key perpetrators of this crime. Go to any supermarket in suburban America to see this crime in action. "Mom" jeans are: high-waisted, tight in the belly and waist area, loose in the butt, have pockets that are placed too high and are too small, are too loose in the thigh area, and taper down toward the ankles creating the illusion of a droopy butt and big thighs. They make women look big exactly where they don't want to.

The high-waisted styles this season should not share any of these characteristics. They should be fitted in the butt area, have larger, lower placed pockets to balance out the extra fabric in the waist area, and they should be fitted through the hip and thigh. If the pockets are placed too high or there are no pockets (or small pockets), this can create the illusion of a bigger butt because there is nothing to visually break up the large amount of fabric on the butt. If the style is wide leg, it should flare slightly through the knee and the lower leg. If it's skinny, there should be 1-2% stretch to allow for movement.

When worn correctly, high-waisted styles can create the illusion of longer legs, show off small waists, and visually trim the hips. For more info on how to wear the trend, check out my previous blog post from June 8th. To find out why I love the high-waisted skinnies by Cheap Monday, read my post from July 24th.