Holiday Fashions: Part 2

As I previously discussed, we held our annual firm Christmas party this month. And as I said in my previous post, I planned the outfit over a couple of months.  No I didn't buy my dress in September, but I did weigh my color and my styling options. 

Ultimately, I decided to go with a blue dress from H & M because blue is my color for the season. Additionally, I pulled out a pink/nudeish necklace that gave my outfit some dazzle.  This left me with the option of nude for my heals.  I completed the look with a nude headband, that I spruced up with a gold headband with a bow and some bling.  I kept my earrings small and nude, since I was already rocking a giant necklace and wearing hair accessories.  Oh yea, and no jacket! What do you think about my south Florida holiday wear? 

Many of the guests were in cocktail wear, however there were a few who decided to go casual with jeans or office wear. Danielle and Shemeka went with the always classy and classic little black dress (LBD).  They also had the bulky necklaces.   

And then there was the lady in white.  White in the winter you say?  Before moving to Florida, I would have said ONLY if it's winter white. But I loved Janelle's white dress and I do see a lot of white in the winter here.  We played with the zippers on her neckline and the dress became club sexy if you unzipped it a bit.  This option actually came in handy later.

There was another holiday outfit that was worth mentioning, but she missed the holiday party. It was Nia, Danielle's daughter's.  You can see her outfit for her school holiday function to the right.  Don't forget, the kids need a holiday wardrobe too!

The Art of Journalism: Kapuscinski on Film

We try to bring you the cutting edge of the cutting edge here at the FAD.  So, far in advance of a movie that you might eventually see and love (see below), for our readers in Valencia, Spain, (!) we bring the announcement that a selection of Ryszard Kapuscinski's photographs taken in Cold War Russia will be on display at the Valencian Modern Art Museum.

Why even bring it up? Well: ask yourself, when was the last time you opened the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, or any other paper, for that matter, and read a dispatch from abroad that was so vivid, so captivating, that it called to mind literary greats?  Or that made you say, "this would make a great movie?"

Kapuscinski was Poland's foremost foreign correspondent for decades.  If you haven't read his accounts of, say, the downfall of Ethiopia's Emperor Haile Selassie, the Angolan Civil War, or the Soccer War in Central America, you are missing out on some serious Indiana Jones mixed with Hunter S. Thompson, with some Naipaul or Theroux mixed in.  So, fear not, we bring you the trailer based on his account of the war that broke out in Angola immediately upon independence:

Shot in the animated-documentary mode of the Award Winning Waltz With Bashir, an Israeli soldier's account of his role in the Lebanon War, this cinematic experience will no doubt be infinitely more exciting - and more stylish - than the usual Hollywood trash (we're looking at you, Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug).

And remember, you heard it here first.

Fashion Yea or Nay: Warhol's Tupac

Strolling the pristine streets of Lake Worth, I met this nice local chap:

So, loyal readers, a quick yea or nay to this matching hat and shirt ensemble?  For me, I give it a slight yea.  Tupac given the Warhol treatment is a big yes, but a matching hat with neon themes might be pushing it.  Then again, just I argue with architecture critiques, regardless of your stand, at least he's not being invisible - people are likely to love or hate this look, which is always good, in my opinion.

Holiday Fashions Part I

So it's the holidays and while you are gifting, eating and celebrating you will most likely be clothed.  What will you wear?  I always plan outfits for actual holiday's such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, because I know I will be seen.  I usually go for festive, but trendy as opposed to classic and traditional.  But these are not the only days to plan your holiday fashion.  What about holiday parties?

One big event I plan my outfit for is my work Holiday Party. Honestly, I have been planning my outfit for our firm's Holiday party for months.  I've pondered on color, accessories and hair more than I care to admit. But we will save that for next week.

This week, I found myself at another company's Holiday party.  I like to stay professional without sacrificing my style. Additionally, I wanted something that would transition from the office to a holiday party well.   It was Friday, so I went with jeans, a nude shirt with sequins on it and a navy blazer on top. Remember, I've got the blues for the fall/winter.  I'd like to add that the nude sequin top, is one that I've had in my closet for over ten years.  I love being able to pull out oldie but goodies. 

While at the party, I met Kate.  Kate glammed it up with a nice classic black cocktail dress. It was a sheer black lace with a nude underlay belted with a nude ribbon. It even had a classy cutout, protected by the nude underlay.  Cutouts are a hot trend for this season.  I always love black and nude together, in fact, I wore black and nude cocktail dress to our firm's Holiday party last year. Kate definitely picked a winner for the Rock Legal Holiday party this year.  

I realized that I didn't ask who she was wearing.  But is that really important? Another thing that's not important when selecting holiday wear is cliche colors.  When choosing color, don't feel confined to red and green cause it's Christmas or blue for Hanukkah.  In addition to color choices, you have attire choices. You can glam it up with a cocktail dress like Kate or you can opt for a more casual look like I did for this party.  And the best thing about holiday parties in South Florida, no coats necessary!

Staple Pieces

It's November and I live in Florida.  So it's not really autumn, just November.  But as a fashionista I like to stay true to picking my colors of the season, even if I live in this tropical season-less paradise.  I've chosen blues for my fall color; deeper blues from navy to cobalt to electric and royal blue.   Like with color, I am also guided in my shopping and my styling by scarves and hair accessories. They are my staple pieces.  I am usually always wearing one or the other, if not both. 

As you see above I have on a printed, navy and warm toned scarf.  I am also sporting a tweed camel flower in my hair.  I think it personalizes my look because the majority of people neither wear scarves, nor hair accessories.  But because I do like to wear a scarf and hair accessory, I keep it simple with my jewelry. I have to wear earrings, but usually just simple hoops Nothing to detailed. The scarf along with the colors gave me a fall look without the heavy layers.  I was at the beach and it was warm. 

My co-blogger Dustin Zacks, took the picture of me as we were at the "Lake Worth Beach" ArtFest. When he considered what his staple piece was, he settled upon his gold chain and bracelet. 

After talking with festival attendee Marilyn (pictured left), I realized that many people settle on jewelry for staples. Marilyn's staple was her scorpio necklace, because she's a Scorpio.   I suppose you could look at my scarves and hair accessories as jewelry.  

But a staple could be anything.  What do you wear most?  What's your staple?  Jeans?  Black pants?  A particular belt?  

Albany is Brutal: Brutalism, Art Deco, and the Empire State Plaza

Attending a recent wedding for a longtime friend, I was pleasantly surprised at the architectural specimens to examine in Albany, New York's relatively unimposing skyline:

Who would think that this modest upstate town would hold a feast for the eyes of brutalism fans?

Consider, for example, the Empire State Plaza, directly across the street from the State Capitol.  This, I can tell you, is my kind of public space:

More closely resembling a North Korean parade ground, this concrete wonderland, laced by modernist buildings on all sides, naturally lead the pedestrian's eyes to the borderline brutalist Cultural Education Center.  Yes, even the name of the building replicates a militant, unapologetic governmental stance. A gathering place for the community, or an indoctrination center to praise the dear leader?

Even better, step back a few steps to the Northern entrance to the plaza, and look to your left and right: 

First, the Robert Abrams Justice center:

Who wants a justice building to look friendly and welcoming? Brutalism tells the man on the street: don't mess with Albany - we will crush you.

Turn your head and it's the suitably stark "legislative office building." (above). Wouldn't you shudder at the thought of trying to find a bureaucratic solution upon being faced with walking under the massive concrete slabs, or with trying to find your friendly state senator or representative to seek some redress? 

All the while, across the street behind you, you see where we came from, in the face of the ornate capitol building:

So on one end of the plaza we have the Capitol building, completed between 1867 and 1899.  And we have a plaza lined with stark 1970's modernist and brutalist timepieces.  So what about the time frame in between?  Just gaze up the street for a handsome art deco palace, the 1928 Alfred E. Smith State Office Building:

 So who would have thought, in Albany of all remote earthly places, we could encounter such impressive takes on modernism and brutalism, all within a stone's throw of some delicate antiques? Bravo, Albany, bravo.

Halloween Fashion

Should adults dress up for Halloween?  Well yea, if you have somewhere to wear a costume.  In fact, this Halloween I had three costumes.   The Saturday before Halloween, which fell on a Thursday this year, I attended a house party in Miami as Janelle Monae.  On Halloween Day, I wore a witches outfit to work.  I was a professional witch, that you could only tell was a witch because she wore a witch's hat.  And on Halloween night when I went trick-or-treating with my implant family, we were all zombies.  In fact, this was my most fashionable Halloween, and by most fashionable, I mean the most outfits.

There are many things to consider when choosing a costume.  Do you want to be clever?  Do you want to be scary? Do you want to be sexy?  Sexy costumes are almost a given for a woman.  But I always respect a woman who steps out of the norm and get creative or even scary.  I loved when Lindsey Lohan's Mean Girls character, Cady showed up to a Halloween party full of girls in their underwear with a scary mask on. I also love wordplay costumes.

Here are range of adult outfits from this Halloween. Don't feel like you can't have fun, just because you are not trick or treating or 20.  

Group Photo

Japan, then and now

Wednesday Adams in Houston, TX

Brutalism Part II

We at the FAD Palm Beach are proud to be ahead of the curve.  Our recent reappraisal of West Palm Beach brutalism may have surprised those who hate the concrete-laden architectural style. But as it happens, we are not alone - our discussion foreshadowed this interesting commentary from Slate:

Brutalism is probably what comes to mind when people are presented with the term high modernism in the context of architecture.

Three cheers to J. Bryan Lowder of Slate, then, for his erudite defense of brutalism. High modernism? Maybe. More likely, we just like to see buildings that look like alien fortresses.  Check out this beauty from Toronto - would you believe it's a library?

On a less serious note, we can also note the similarity between the Toronto library and the iconic Turkeytron character, of Aqua Teen fame:

Mixology

Do you know what I'd like to see more of in South Florida? Print Mixing. Print on print just screams tropics.   It sounds like an intimidating look to pull off, but there are a few ways to ensure your outfit looks polished and fashionable.  It's worth noting that if you're not careful, you could end up looking like you got dressed on laundry day in the dark.

The Fashionable Wife

First thing to think of when it comes to figuring out if two prints match is color.  Second is pattern.   Black and white is the easiest to start with.   If you start with a black and white piece, you can bring in another black and white piece or use color in your other printed piece.  With black and white any color would work well. The look to the right is an example of that look.   The pattern is also important. As you see here, she paired a black and white striped top with a colorful, floral bottom.  This look would be perfect for fall in West Palm Beach.  The stripes keep it simple and the floral print pops. 

Project Runway Avante Garde 

Now if you want to be fancy and show off those fashionista skills, you can attempt to mix two prints. Start by finding a color scheme that works.  The above look is from the Project Runway avante garde challenge, in which Season 12 Winner Dom Streater paired navy and red violet.   She went with a bold larger abstract print on the bottom and a smaller, yet busier, floral print on top.  But it works together beautifully.  The clothes are a little more than we are used to wearing in South, Florida but the patterns are perfect.  Think large and small in the same color scheme.

Sorry for the
 angry look 

Today, I paired a green and navy, floral printed top with a green and white, striped scarf and black pants.  I have also used this same scarf with a black and white striped dress. If you start small with accessories, the style will be simple and less stressful.  I will keep you posted on when I try a bold night look.  

Using Color in Your Wardrobe

So in addition to me covering fashion  here in South Florida, I would like to give out some tips for the fashionably challenged and just generally.  

As I scanned my Florida wardrobe to pick out an outfit for a party, I realized that I have really stepped it up when it comes to one color; coral.  I have bought multiple coral pieces this season and they are either black, white, tan, or coral.  Or at least in that tone. I use a pop color as my guide when I go shopping.  It's very South Florida. 

After working in retail and styling women's wardrobes for the season, I've realized it's much easier to pick outfits when everything matches.  You can still wear other colors you already own when the mood strikes, but your pop color is a shopping guide. 

Colors of the season are expressed through ready to wear collections across the globe. I pick a trendy color for the season and run with it.  It makes my shopping much less schizophrenic.   When I was younger, I would just buy anything; anything I liked.  Yet now I will not make a purchase, unless it's in my color tone of the season or I just love it.  

Another way color guides me is that I tend to buy a lot of black, white, gray and other base colors which you can wear with any pop color you choose  during any season. 

Now I've got to figure out what I will use as my fall pop color.  What color do you like for fall?

Lake Worth Guerrilla Art

This, from "O" street in downtown Lake Worth, on a property that has long been abandoned.
Love it. More please.

Florida Art History, the Materios, & A Manufactured Controversy

       Generating a little controversy through art, whatever the medium, is quite entertaining, especially in a local arts scene dominated by the mundane.  So it was with much anticipation that I attended the recent exhibition of collector Phil Materio’s compendium of Florida art, as part of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority’s series exhibiting on Clematis in the heart of West Palm Beach.

                “Foul play!”, shouted one pedantic local blogger, the self-styled “FireAnt” of the Broward/Palm Beach New Times.  It seems that this “FireAnt” felt that Materio’s exhibition violated “fair dealing,” as he is the husband of West Palm Beach City Commissioner Shannon Materio, and his exhibition may somehow generate business for Mr. and Mrs. Materio's McMow Art Glass business.

                We at the FAD blog compliment the anonymous “FireAnt” on his dizzying intellect – suggesting that somehow Mr. Materio was given preferential treatment for exhibition is surely worthy of a journalistic prize of some third world country or cow town. Bravo for Holmes-like deduction skills.

                For our purposes, and for our readers, who presumably are concerned more with the aesthetic than with scoring minor political points, we will judge the exhibit on its own merits. Spanning a range from 1890 to the present day, Materio’s collection was an impressive tutorial on the history of certain schools of regional Florida art.

                Included were examples of the Flagler-funded art colony of St. Augustine, the traveling Black artists dubbed the "Highwaymen", and tourist and local art ranging nearly the entire 20^th century.

        Some of the tourist art seemed to almost revel in its saleable tackiness:

      What exactly are we to make of number six in this set of tourist art from the 1920's to the 1940's?  To this critic, #6 calls to mind a nuclear meltdown at Hialeah Park.  Yet while this set of paintings might not exactly make the heart sing, Materio's historical notes explained that such works enabled artists to earn their living from painting and selling their finished products to tourists flooding Florida and searching for a little reminder of paradise to bring home.

      I most enjoyed the earliest paintings from Flagler-era artists in and around St. Augustine.  Flamingos and crocodiles call hotel art to my mind, but depictions of the winding Spanish influenced architecture of St. Augustine represent something more substantial and timeless:

        

      So in totality, Materio's exhibition was an enjoyable immersion into several schools of regional art in Florida.  Whether Materio had an inside track to display his collection (or if the exhibition generated publicity for his art glass business) is of no consequence: hopefully, the manufactured controversy surrounding his exhibition publicized even further - and generated higher attendance at - this impressive array of schools of art we may not have previously been aware of.  If such a refreshing experience is the consequence of benevolent cronyism, we at the FAD blog can only say, "More, please."     

Team Fashion in South Florida

You know, I've never really been into watching televised sports of any kind.  I am, however, working on it.  I've been told that I will never get a man to commit if I don't adopt a team; any team.   I've at least started tolerating watching a basketball game here or soccer game there.  

In Houston, I only went Astro's games; as a patron a few times and as a waitress.  So I was either in a sundress or a uniform.  I never really put much thought into my outfit in relation to a sports team, well other than my uniform.  I did purchase some cute Astro's earrings once.   However, living in Florida during the era of the Miami Heat, has really made me pay attention to sports fashion in a way that went unnoticed in Houston.  

Floridians get dressed in team regalia just to watch the game at home.  And if they have tickets to a game they will most definitely don their flyest team sportswear. That's dedication to support your team through fashion, even when the can't see you. Sports fans are intense and in Palm Beach County that intensity permeates their fashion choices on game day.  I am in  South Florida so I see either Miami Heat or Miami Dolphins tank tops, hats, t-shirts and everything else. Oh also plenty of soccer jerseys.  

I have yet to adopt a Florida team, and really don't plan on feeding the franchise machine.   The only time you will catch me dressing for a team is when I am going to work, or are playing for that team.   I may wear a team shirt that someone gave me if I so happen to be going to a game.  But it better be a Texas team.  

Team fashion in Palm Beach will give you an easy way to ALWAYS be in style.  It is an easy trend to keep up and can be like a uniform in your wardrobe rotation.  Additionally, there are higher fashion options when it comes to team wear for fashionistas.
   

Miami Trends

So I hate to insult you by blogging about The Real Housewives of Miami, but I must.  I know the Housewives are trivial and most likely all have social disorders, yet in fashion land they rule. They are true Florida fashionistas. 

The fashion on the show is impeccable.  I am sure they have stylists for the show, because all of the Wives' looks are polished.  The fashion on the show really speaks to the style in Miami.   Miami is full of beautiful people who are willing to take the risk and wear something trendy and expensive.  Dare I say, trends are created in Miami. 

Alexia, the blond on the right with neon green top, and black and white horizontally striped skirt, created an incredibly sexy look for the daytime.  I am a fan of pairing black and white with a color in any manner. And in South Florida, especially in Miami, why not make it a neon color?  The outfit is trendy, polished, sexy and remains classy. Not much skin is showing and if you have the figure you can pull it off at any age.  What you can't see is that the skirt is high wasted, and the shirt is a crop top.   

And then there's the white.  If ever in doubt when picking a daytime look, wear white.  Two of the 'Wives' wore all white to this daytime event, and the other two sported white bottoms.  Short white dresses are the best.  All white is all over the South Florida fashion scene.    

When I go to Miami, I am always looking to do a trendy style.   I once made the mistake of going to Miami dressed down, once.  Housewives of Miami gives me unexpected inspiration for how to dress, and how not to behave.  

Palm Beach Architecture: Courthouse Divides Pt. III

                From the oldest origins of the neo-classical Miami-Dade courthouse, to the tropical decay brought to mind by the Fort Lauderdale courthouse, we bring you, finally, to 1994-built main courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach.  The WPB house of justice is perhaps a middle ground between the ancient origins of Miami-Dade’s courthouse and the new wave tropical decay of Fort Lauderdale’s.

                

Consider the attempt to give the pedestrian entryway from Dixie Highway some form of permanence: little stone monuments! Quotes! Wow!  Unfortunately, these “monuments” bear an unfortunate resemblance to road barriers.  No one could think of a more inspiring testament to our system of justice?

Consider also the symbolism of the arch at the top of the entryway between the two wings of the building: this rather overt walkway is symbolism by blunt instrument; an attempt to symbolize the openness of the justice system – come one, come all, you are welcome here.

                Yet for this critic, as you may have suspected gauging by my earlier commentary on the neo-classical Miami-Dade courthouse, the overall effect of the design strikes me as rather cheesy.  The arch, for all its pompous self-importance in the skyline of West Palm Beach, is something that beats you over the head.  Its supposed symbolism slaps your face, rather than the timeless pillaring and triangular designs of Miami.  

          Consider the effect of the building as a whole: [Special thanks to Mr. Keith Vincent of the fascinating www.courthousehistory.com website for allowing use of the image below].

           To this critic, this design calls to mind the 2000s, the era of the Rush Limbaugh pill trial, rather than the eternal struggle of truth - the quest for Western man to better himself - called to mind by timeless Greco-Roman columns of Miami.  The cheap attempt to replicate or imitate columnar shapes in the second levels do not inspire.

                I know there will be some in our audience who disagree – but we at the FAD Palm Beach will always err on the side of the classic-yet-never-outdated rather than siding with those who confuse a pretentious symbolism with weightiness.  

We at the FAD blog temporarily take leave of critiquing our public buildings.  But to those who think that architectural design in courthouses is a mere trifle, consider the timeless, evocative response felt by an earnest bankrupt in Honore de Balzac’s Cesar Birotteau, who can express the weight of our courthouses' symbolisms better than we ever could:

"To those persons who take society in its serious aspects, the paraphernalia of justice has a grand and solemn character difficult perhaps to define. Institutions depend altogether on the feelings with which men view them and the degree of grandeur which men's thoughts attach to them. When there is no longer, we will not say religion, but belief among the people, whenever early education has loosened all conservative bonds by accustoming youth to the practice of pitiless analysis, a nation will be found in process of dissolution; for it will then be held together only by the base solder of material interests, and by the formulas of a creed created by intelligent egotism......

It is a rare thing nowadays to find men who mount the stairway of the old Palais de Justice in the grasp of keen emotions. Cesar Birotteau was one of those men.....

Possibly the mind is sobered by a glimpse, caught through the rich gratings, of the Place du Palais-de-Justice, where so many sentences have been executed. The staircase opens above into an enormous space, or antechamber, leading to the hall where the Court holds its public sittings.

Imagine the emotions with which the bankrupt, susceptible by nature to the awe of such accessories, went up that stairway to the hall of judgment, surrounded by his nearest friends....."

We seriously doubt that the West Palm main courthouse could evoke such serious emotions among litigants and the public.  Which would be more likely to bring forth such gushing respect for a nation’s judicial institutions, the nondescript West Palm building which could just as easily be an office building, or the classic, neo-classical look of the Flagler courthouse?

Color Blocking in the Sunshine State

In Palm Beach County, you are a fool if you don't utilize the beach as much as possible.   Along with frequenting the beach, comes frequenting your swim suits.  In Texas, I only had one or two suits max. But here, being so close to the beach my beach fashions are stretched.   Which brings me to color blocking. 

This past Sunday, I had an impromptu trip to the beach.  When it came to what to wear, I had this old aqua bikini top that I wanted to wear, but no bottoms.  So I color blocked the aqua top with a solid brown bottom.  It actually looked fashionable.  To my surprise, I noticed quite a few women with color blocked swim suits; an orange top and nude bottom that was very stylish and sexy. Wait, no not like that!  Though I think the trend works well when you incorporate a color close to your skin color. 

What about color blocking away from the beach?

Color blocking is a national trend right now, and when out and about in West Palm you will see the trendy with color blocked clothes, shoes and nails.  In fact while I was out this week I saw someone who color blocked with a print and it looked quite fabulous.   Actually, I may see if I can incorporate a print alternative into my next attempt at color blocking.  

What do you think about the print addition to the color blocking?

Palm Beach Architecture: Courthouse Divides Pt. II

                Modernists and fans of innovation may quibble with our recent defense of neo-classicism.  It is easy to criticize these buildings: they are outmoded, designed for people of the average height in 1930, they signify an old, unjust power structure.  To these critics, then, a more reasonable example of a courthouse may be in Fort Lauderdale, where the courthouse lies just south of the riverwalk and the famous Las Olas Boulevard.

                Grayness of neo-classical marble may dissuade some; crowded, antiquated interiors may infuriate, and dated designs may symbolize only inconvenience for many.

                For this author however, the Broward County courthouse, modern though it may be, is a pathetic testament to the esteem in which we hold our justice system.  Avoiding all descriptions of architectural classification, consider the street view from the Southwest of the site:

Let's be honest: from this view, the courthouse resembles an abandoned tropical self storage facility.  The tiers above the top floor, with their window spaces open to the sky, remind one of something out of bombed-out Mogadishu, rather than a new, more equitable, modernity.

        And for the critics of neo-classicism who criticize the aging columns and marble which may turn gray over time, consider the scorched-earth appearance of the upper levels of this newer building.  Is that mold? The remnants of a fire? Whatever it is, it does not inspire me to some higher ideals of Western civilization and justice of our peers.   Rather, with the palm trees in front, it reminds me only of the tropical decay of a third world country.

                Most disconcerting, however, is the overall blandness of the design.  Ask the stranger or tourist on the street: “What is that building right there? Is it an office building? A warehouse?“ Whatever your average third party might say, they surely would not quip “It is clearly a public building, held in the highest esteem by the populace.”  In fact, at least from the most commonly used entrance for civil matters, the Southwest side of the site, the building almost completely blends in with its surroundings - despite the not as sleepy overall site design, seen at left.

And this failure to inspire from street level, in this critic’s opinion, is where the building’s design utterly fails.  A courthouse is not an office building – it is supposed to stand for some higher values or ideals.  Does an utterly non-descript building inspire anyone? 

From the FAD blog, then, we issue a sound thumbs down to the Broward County Courthouse.