The "Mullet" Rule

There are 2 words I often hear: "classic" and avand-guard. To describe them more "fashionably", let's use 2 fashion figures: The Duchess of Cambridge Catherine, and pop singer Lady Gaga. :)





However for the majority out there, we are neither of these, instead we find a middle ground.

These days I find myself no longer spending a good chunk of my precious morning hours on thinking what I should wear and what it should go with...Call it a fashion rut or revolutionary thinking as you wish, but I discovered it's whole lot easier when you are just following some basic rules and not putting too much thoughts into it. I don't look like I am trying too hard to be different and "stylish" but rather feel more comfortable with what I am in.

So what I follow is the "mullet" rule.



If you are fan of the 80s, you probably remember the mullet. Yeah, that short in front, long on the back hair cut. Rumor has it that Bono and Billy Ray Cyrus had a fight over the ownership of this original haircut.

So how is one thing related to the other? I am talking about mixing. Mullet is a perfect mix of serious military man look with funky rock start. When it comes to day to day wardrobe, we can totally follow it by mixing 2 different things: either different materials, silouette or styles.




Mullet Rule 1: Mixing silhouettes

Skinny pants have been hot for years and they are not going anywhere this year either. It's one of the most sought after silouettes perhaps, especially when pairing something loose and casual on top.


Nicole Richie, the queen of the skinnys, is famous for this type of mixed silouettes



With a pear shape, skinny pants aren't my friends. Instead, I would rather reverse the process: wearing something fitted on top and a puffy skirt at the bottom.



I would love to get my hands on this Cynthia Rowley floral piece if I could only afford..



Emily Blunt doesn't look too shabby in this little Miu Miu number.



Mullet Rule 2. Mixing materials

I love playing with texture in different clothing pieces, such as lace with leather, wool with silk, brocade with plain...


source:maisondecouture.wordpress.com

I have been playing with these looks since 2010 when Dolce & Gabbana launched their spring "blue jean bride" collection.


Mullet Rule 3. Mixing personalities

Many of my friends look at me as one of the most romantic and sensitive souls on earth. And I do love ruffles and other sweet girlie details. However, to avoid an overdose on the sweetness, I take lession from Brit TV personality and model Alexa Chung. She's the epitome of girl meeting boy and pulls off "old fashioned" vintage style with modern twist.




source:markrougevintage.blogspot.com

Lifeguard!

I have always been fascinated by the name "lifeguard". Maybe it has something to do with watching "Bay Watch" growing up or the name simply sounds very heroic. :)

Last time when we visited sunny Southern California, our beach hotel was next to a Lifeguard headquarter. I was secretly hoping to have a glance at a few real life swimsuit models...but it was a couple of chilly gloomy days on the beach and the red flag drove the swimmers and divers aways, and of course, no lifeguard sighting either. :(

Lifeguards, as romantic as they may sound, are part of Emergency Service System in many countries. They work next to police, fire department and may work as primary EMS (Emergency Medical Services) providers. In reality, lots of lifeguards are not just superb swimmers/divers, they are trained paramedics. They will respond to any type of emergencies occured around the areas they are guarding, ocean beaches, swimming pools, lakes...

Weather Channel has a new reality show called "Lifeguard!". It's primarily filmed on Orange County becaches, Southern California and tells the true stories behind these people in red swim suits with model physiques and tanned skin. Of course, most of them are really easy on the eyes, too. :)  So next time when you bump into some of them, give them some cheers!





http://twcmediakit.com/cable/series/lifeguard.html

Princess in Pleats

I don't know if it was just a coincidence or what, but anyway, as I wrote something about the 80s' teen icon film "Pretty in Pink", the very next day, we see the lovely Duchess of Cambridge appeared in a pale pink dress at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Lunch in Windsor Palace.

The dress is from Emilia Wickstead's fall 2012 collection.








source: http://www.graziadaily.co.uk

Now we can conclude that Kate does love pleats. We have seen several versions.


source: glamour.com







From fashion sense, it's pretty smart for the Duchess to choose pleats to balance her relatively broader shoulders with narrower hits and thighs. However, sometimes, pleats do tend to appear more childish if not chosen properly with the right color, material and cutting. What do you think? I thought the Duchess looks pretty lovely in the first pink dress.

Pretty In Pink

30 years later, we got "Gossip Girls“ and "Glee" to look up for teen stories and fashion. 30 years ago it was all about the ”Brat Pack" and Molly Ringwald who was the epitome of teen idles.

I remember watching a TV show in which people asked the question like "Who brought the shoulder pads into the high fashion?" Most answered "It was ‘Dynasty' and 'Dallas'" and others said "'Pretty in Pink'".

I had watched "Sixteen Candles" with Molly Ringwald a while ago and always wanted to check out "Pretty in Pink” and am anxious to see how Molly pulled off the entire "Retro Chic" trend back to her time.

"Pretty in Pink" is a sweet teenager love story, sort of "cindarella" style. Molly is a young girl growing up poor with her single father. Then she met her Prince Charming at school. The whole thing of "cross class" started.

In the movie, every outfit of Molly has something pink in it. She probably looks like an odd ball in today's fashion world. But back to 80s, there was a huge trend on retrospective dressing and apparently she was the trend setting. I did see shoulder pads, a lot. :)



Yeah, the boy on the right to Molly IS John Cryer. You know I am talking about "The Two and Half Men". That John Cryer. :)





So to pay the tribute to the "Best Teen Movie in 80s", I decided to wear this frayed edge tweed jacket by Zara, and a berry pink drees underneath. :)



Speaking of Zara, I think Erica Hill was wearing this jacket during yesterday's "CBS This morning" airing. :)

Fab? Drab?

The British Royal family will have a very busy summer: Jubilee Celebration, Ascot Royal Enclosure, and of course, The London 2012 Olympic Games...

Just like other fans of the Duchess, I am anxious to see what Kate will wear during all these public events. :) Kate has come a long way to turn a college graduate to the new blood of the most affluent royal family in Europe. I was not here during the Diana Fashion Era. But I wonder...if we (I mean me; it doesn't really mean everybody) are just as crazy as those Princess Diana's followers?

A year has gone by. We have seen many outfits of Kate, floor length gowns, classic formal attire, casual outfits and among others. So what do you think of her style? Below are the gowns Kate has rocked in during seveal events. What do you think? Fab? Drab?

The most recent appearance in London Olympic Gala Concert in Jenny Packham.




source: graziadaily.co.uk

source: metro.co.uk

Attending exclusive 30 Club Dinner in London. It's a thigh high slit gown by Roland Mouret. Some British media joked about it by making reference to that leg of Angelina Jolie at the last Oscars event.




source:splashnewsonline.com

At Sun Military Award, in a Alexander Mcqueen black velvet gown. This one has been on lots of fans' most favorite look list.


source:fabsugar.com.au



source:zimbio.com

This lavender delphos inspired gown is definitely on my list of the "best dresses" of the Duchess. She wore the Alexander Mcqueen piece last summer when visiting hollywood.


source: thehollywoodgossip.com



I never thought skinny people would have "problem" of "hiding" anything when picking up clothes. I thought it was the big people like me who have the trouble. As much as many people raved about this Jenny Packham dress she wore during her Canada visist, I thought the dress actually was not flattering. It made her look alarmingly thin, almost looks dangeours.


source:fabsugar.com.au

ps. Did you notice how much our girl loves her Jimmy Choo evening sandals? LOL.

Dainty vs. Bold

Jewelry trends have not been shifted as much as other fashion elements during the recent years. Bold design, continues making statement: Global, Art Deco, Baroque...the bigger the better.

I think it's ingenious to make clothes with jeweled necklines. Doing it all in one takes out all the guess work.

During the recent "African Cats" London Premier, the Duchess of Cambridge Catherine stepped out in a gray Matthew Williamson Peplum dress, with jeweled trims. She also added her own touch by adding the same beads around the neckline and lots of viewers raved this detail big time.


source: glamour.com

Original Matthew Williamson


However, fixed neckline also has a flip side that is you are kind of stuck with one look. :) So adding a statement necklace instead might be a better choice, like what Amy Adams did in her appearance in 2009 Academy Award: a multi colored gem stone statement piece on a strapless red dress. Hello, Gorgeous!



Anne Hathaway is getting lots of positive attention these days.



The first lady has been promoting brands like J.crew and Jason Wu by wearing them in her own stylish way. This outfit is just as good as "gold". :)



As much as we see bold fashion jewelry everywhere, a dainty ultra femenine fine jewelry is still coveted by women. A recent poll in a fashion magazine showed that more than 70% of the voters would spend big bucks on a fine piece over lots of cheaper fun stuff. Dainty but well made fine jewelry is understated but at the same time it's classic and shows off more personality of the wearer than we would think. :)

Alexa Chung has been spotted wearing this little palm tree pendant by Tiffany's.



She also wears this little star in lots of her streetshots



Katie Holmes



It's always fun to see how a celebrity who can afford litterally anything constantly wears the same thing. Kiera Knightley must love this little darling necklace from bottom her heart.

3 In 1: Brooke Anderson

These days, when talking about classic styles, we either look back at least 40 years or as far as UK and lock our eyes on the new Duchess of Cambridge Catherine or . Actually when fashion becomes everything in everywhere, it's not very hard to find styles anywhere you go.

I am talking about CBS "The Insider" co-anchor Brooke Anderson, who is a perfect 3 in 1: successful career woman, beautiful mom, and a classic stylist.



When Brooke first replaced Lara Spencer, who returned to "Good Morning America",  in the daily entertainment news "The Insider", she first showed un in pastel button down shirt and khaki pants. I was like, "Oh now, that's one newswoman trying to be different".

As blonde as she is, one couldn't help but wonder "Was she a beauty pageant as well?" Sounds cliche, but totally true. In fact she was one, once up a time, representing Atlanta at Miss Georgia Pageant. But as that old saying tells us, we shouldn't ever judge a book by its cover. Brooke Anderson is a true journalist with serious academic credentials. :) And believe me, it shows if you watch her interview techniques and confidence in front of the camera.



As time goes on, Brooke started showing off her true sense of classic style, replaced the button down shirts with perfectly fitted sheath dresses and pencil skirts. She still wears pants from time to time, but they are dressier and more fun. I saw her in a black shirt with a pair of red pants in a recent recording, which was spot on. However, she does wear more dresses and skirts. In fact, sometimes, she reminds me of the beloved Kate Middleton with her clean cut style and solid choice in colors.



I think this is the same DVF dress that the Duchess wore during her trip to Canada




Anderson is  a California blonde with a perfect tan. No, she doesn't look any orange on my HD TV. :) She obviously keeps up with her appearance by sweating big time in gyms. Even with clothes on, it's not very hard to spot her toned arms and flat stomach. Can you believe this women had her first baby only 2 years ago?



So catch her every night at 7:30 at CBS "The Insider". You probably would agree with me or totally won't care for. :) But to me till this day, I think most of her outfit choices have been impeccable as a TV personality and anchorwomen in culture and entertainment.

Brooke Anderson and Kevin Frazier (co-anchor at "The Insider")