Are you a reporter who needs to write a fashion story? Here’s a helpful outline!
Runway Trends
By I.M. Tedious
By I.M. Tedious
- Find woman in department store. Be sure to make her sound humorless.
- Explain how said woman can’t find anything office-appropriate in the store.
- Explain how the coming season is even less office-appropriate.
- Quote from dismayed retail executive.
- Quote from upbeat retail executive.
- Info about exchange rate and prices.
- Quote from LVMH executive about how this doesn’t affect LVMH one bit.
- Comments about whether any clothing in the world is appropriate for women of a certain age/weight/profession.
- Closing quote from woman in step #1 about how she’s just going to wear last season’s clothes instead of buying something new.
I like suits. But not these suits.
There’s no waist!
There’s no waist!
I’ve been annoyed for years by these condescending Fashion-for-Dummies stories. They never mention the perfectly respectable pieces available from even the more outlandish designers (see my Versace post). They also omit how, over several seasons or even years, people tend to absorb and adopt aspects of “unwearable” fashions. (Oh, and remember how opaque tights and leggings would never make a comeback? Mm-hmm.)
A nipped-in waist and slit skirt saved my Moschino suit from being drab.
A nipped-in waist and slit skirt saved my Moschino suit from being drab.People so often cry wolf about fashion that when their dire predictions come true at last, no one flinches. A few years ago, I desperately needed a new suit for work only to be told at several big stores, “There are no suits this year.” To me, “There are no suits this year” is a more interesting take on the industry than “There are too many ruffles this year.” Designers can show ruffles with Viking hats for all I care. But, literally, no suits at all?!? Or office-appropriate separates? That season’s fashion story had been no different from the ones I read in the suit-selling seasons; how was I to know that this time they meant it?
Eeek boxy suits! The 80s that I don’t want to try!
Ms Style, pray tell me if it’s ok to be wearing pastel-colored suit to a job interview? I got asked this question, which of course knowing myself, I answered of course it’d be ok. Only thing I’ve been searching teh Interweb and many suggest dark colored suits??? I mean what’s the fun in that? Don’t women at least get some lineancy to go stylin’?
I’m lucky my job does not require suits. Otherwise, I’d be outta there before they say “and the dresscode is su… – huh? where’d she go?”
Well, I wear suits…but I have freedom not to! So only when necessary…
Thankfully I never have to wear suits and I don’t own any. I read an article earlier this year about how skinny jeans and leggings were past it.
Ugh, I hate to wear suits. That being said I have one similar to the last one. I look all business-like in it and professional. Trickery!!!
Well, Lynn, that depends on the person, the job and the location. Aren’t you in warm-weather environment? If so, pastel makes a lot of sense…much more than it would in New York for instance.
Classic WB! (I now refer to you as THE WB, overlooking that insignificant television network of the same initials).
I have a friend who writes just these type of columns for a mid-market paper. Sometimes I think, “Easy gig,” and then at other times I see a lot of social relevance to it (even as I cringe at “Spruce up your Christmas with cashmere!” and the like).
The thing is, for many people this writer is a fashion arbiter. I forget this and think too narrowly. She writes for people who want direction and assurance. Culturally, we look for clues. This reportage is extremely popular, even though I think THE WB should be writing (and yukking) it up.
Michigan J. Frog was so stylish with his top hat and cane, wasn’t he, Suzanna? Dammit! I miss that little green dude.
Glad my answer applies. My fresh grad buddy will outshine then (hopefully she doesn’t act dorky) haha! I’m so used to working in this climate and color has never been an issue so long as it’s not too garish for the corporate place. Thanks, babe!
^^In hot weather a person would probably look nuts turning up in a New York-worthy outfit. In fact, I can say “definitely” instead of “probably” because whenever I’m in a warm locale, people say to me, “Oh, you must be from NYC.” It’s the black sundresses…what can I say?
New Yorkers look elegant in the black shift nevertheless. We, on the other hand, would look like we’re trying too hard to look professional, pfft!
“No suits this year,” that’s rich. (Internal monolog begins: “hmmm, if that’s so, then what are all the bankers and lawyers and executives wearing year in, year out?”) Butt bows and leggings!
ENC, can you imagine anyone saying that to a man? No suits for you! It’s not like I was looking for an uptight suit either. Basically I needed a sex-ay skirt with a cute jacket (and I WAS working at an investment bank!). But I have a whole list of stupid fashion-related things that people have said to me. “Big hoops are out,” as I was trying to find earrings…about six months before every hoop earring was the size of a serving platter. And “no one will ever wear yellow.”
I’m sure if Hilary takes the reigns, this won’t be the case anymore!
What annoys me MOST is the stupid bloody Times of India and their city supplements, with their articles about ‘style’ (always brainless, without fail).
But…no suits? What would the lawyers and investment bankers and even the diplomats wear to work, then? I haven’t started working yet, but when I do (as a lawyer), suits are not things I’ll be able to escape. Might as well have fun with it, I say.