Mom101's blog

Unexpectedly Hott - Michelle Obama

2008-11-04T16:26:14-06:00

So here I am with an Unexpectedly Hott assignment, wondering what the heck I think is worthy of that second t these days when, like divine intervention, the night before my post is due, it appeared in vivid color across the 600 million-inch flatscreen the sigOth talked me into:

Michelle Obama.

Or, shall I say: Michelle Obama in Narciso Rodriguez.

We're talking First Lady with an empasis on the sssssss in "First."

Now granted she didn't wear it precisely the way it was originally worn on the runway by some size -22 waif. And indeed there have been plenty of, er, vocal dissenters on the fashion blogs taking issue with her choice. But I'm siding with Alisa Gould-Simon of Black Book in calling it "her most commendable fashion statement" yet.

Indeed Michelle could have gone conservative Beltway. She could have taken the safe route with some lame-o matching jacket and skirt, or some simple sheath dress with (yawn) pearls so that the entire fashion press could tap their white-goved fingers delicately against their palms in approval. Instead, she took a chance with this zingy little number, some freeflowing locks, and, I think, a glimpse at her youth, energy, and independent streak.

I don't think it's coincidence that the Obamas were all clad in red instead of blue either.

The look was urban, it was fashion-forward, it was the embodiment of change in the White House. And if it's not disrespectful, to call you Unxpectedly Hott Michelle, well, it was. I'm predicting a lot of red and black at holiday parties in the coming weeks.

So what say you? Hott or nott? (And nottsayers, do your best to be clever without being cruel, I know you can do it.)

-Liz Gumbinner is a contributing editor to BeautyHacks and the co-editor of Cool Mom Picks

[photo: Raedle/Getty/Getty Images NY Daily News]

Mad Men style, hold the pointy bra

2008-10-15T20:52:53-05:00

Hallelujah! is the refrain of those of us in desperate need of some good, scripted entertainment this election season--for Mad Men is back in full swing.

Walking around the streets of NYC, actual home of the actual Madison Avenue, I'm seeing fashion inspired by series making its way over to the other avenues too. Think textured fabrics, beige skirts, princess seamed coats, tailoring that didn't come off the racks at H&M.

I admit it bums me out a wee bit to say goodbye to the empire-waisted maternity wear that passed for fashion over the past year or so. But unless I'm forced to cram my postpartum tuchus in a pencil skirt, I think this is a trend I can get behind.

With the world in turmoil and our economic future looking all wackadoodle, it's nice to think back to the mid-century age of innocence, even if it was an innocence mostly in our own minds.

I adore imagining my whole city filled with women in opera gloves and men in fedoras who actually thought to take them off in the elevator.

Shoes were polished. Bra straps didn't show. Underwear was actually...under. Your wear.

Not that I'm going to walk around town in a costume this Fall (no ballgowns for at cocktail parties me) but I love the idea of bringing a little elegance back into my wardrobe with a nice cashmere cardigan and some tasty little patent pumps.

Anyone else? Any 50s-era fashions you've got your eye on right now? Send me links! Mama needs to shop.

Liz is the co-founder and editor of Cool Mom Picks.

[photos: AMC blogs]

Can't keep up with the trends? Shop Bop does it for me. Um, I mean you.

2008-09-25T16:39:36-05:00

I am hopelessly behind in my fashion trendwatching this fall, what with two kids to chase after, a million writing jobs, election season, and the new fall TV season. But my co-editor role at Cool Mom Picks still demands that I know at least a little about what's going on up and down 5th Avenue right now, and so I'm going to let you in on my favorite cheat:

Shop Bop.

This online boutique doesn't just have every cool young designer on the planet for sale, it helps you navigate it by allowing you to shop by trend.

So if you've let your Vogue subscription lapse and your favorite nail salon is still trying to pawn off last spring's Elle as reading material , click the shop by trend tab at Shop Bop and soon you'll know that you should be wearing:

Art Prints like Catherine Malandrino's short jersey dress.

Feathers and fringe, which sounds a little chicken-like to me, but actually includes goodies like the yummy Rachel Leigh fringe necklace.

A whole slew of purple and black dresses (Alice+Olivia leather mini dress shown), most of which would have looked awesome on me in about 1987.

Grunge-influenced clothes like the Michael Kors high-heeled plaid duck boots
(at right) which are both bizarre and totally awesome. (Although
something tells me that Kurt Kobain is moaning over them in his flannel-covered grave right now.)

Glazed, glossy bags, every one of which I would buy if I could. Seriously, if a secret admirer happened to drop the $528 Foley+Corinna Jet Setter Jr Tote at my front doorstep, no strings attached, I would not hesitate to sign for it.

Winter forals for people that evidently have very heated offices in the winter, or live in LA.

And now that you know what's in and what's hot, here's my second tip:

Hit H&M and find the cheap versions of all of it. Because little of it will last more than a season or two.

Liz Gumbinner is a contributing editor to BeautyHacks, and is the co-founder and the editor of Cool Mom Picks.

Extending your salon pedicure in a salon pedicure-unfriendly economy

2008-08-12T21:59:35-05:00

In NYC where nail salons exist two to a corner and a pedicure can cost less than what some people spend at Starbucks in a day, professionally groomed tootsies are practically a requisite for resident status along with a love for chocolate egg creams and the ability to talk an off-duty cabbie into taking you home in the rain.

The economy being what it is however, I've broken down and *gasp* gone far longer without Dashing Diva attention than in summers past. Don't tell the mayor.

Of course I could bite the bullet and start doing it entirely myself, but there's something about sitting on my toilet seat massaging my own feet while my kids lick the electrical sockets in the next room that doesn't attain quite the same level of relaxation for me.

So I'm splitting the difference. I'm going once a month instead of two or three times. And during the lullls, I've picked up a few easy little tricks to extend the time between jaunts to the salon.

1. Switch to light polishes from dark so little chips and flaws take longer to show. I agree with BeautyHacks editor Susan Wagner that chipped nails look nasty, no matter what the New York Times says. Especially on your toes.

I've recently evolved my trademark OPI nailpolish shade from Malaga Wine to pale pinks like Sweet Heart. And to no deleterious effect.

2. Give those heels a good buffing before showering to keep calluses at bay. No cheese graters! Bliss Spa's online site carries the spectacular Diamancel foot files and they sell them on Amazon too. The files are not cheap but oh, how they are wonderful.

3. If all else fails, get out the closed-toed shoes. Good thing ballet flats are in, huh.

Any other good tips for the pedicure DIY-er (Or DILess Often-er)? My pampered feet thank you in advance.

-Liz Gumbinner is the co-editor of shopping blog Cool Mom Picks

[Diamancel photo via Blissworld]

Hollywood Fashion Tape: For those rare moments that celebrities actually want to keep their clothes on

2008-07-24T16:52:55-05:00

Every woman has her fashion secret. For me, it's Hollywood Fashion Tape, genius little strips of hypoallergenic double-stick tape that I rarely leave home without.

How do you think J Lo kept from pulling a Tara Reid in that green Oscars dress a few years back, anyway? Camera tricks?

Even miles from a red carpet, Hollywood Fashion Tape has rescued me from fashion nightmares more ways than I can recall: It's hemmed an errant pant lag in a pinch, kept wrap skirts wrapped, and sealed plunging necklines that desperately needed less plunge. (Sorry boys, no show today.) It's fantastic for keeping bra straps from peeking out under tanks or scoop necks. And during my early months of pregnancy the tape turned out to be an economical wardrobe extender, closing the Grand Canyon-esque gap between my buttons that appeared as my cups, er, ranneth over.

Don't think for a moment that you can get the same effect with a strip of Scotch tape rolled in two. This stuff is thin and strong. But fear not, when you peel it off, it doesn't take your skin with it.

On smaller jobs I like to cut the strips in half and make the box last longer, but it's not all that expensive to begin with. A pack of 36 is just $6.95 through the company's website, in local boutiques, or at national retailers like Macy's and Jo-Ann fabric and craft stores.

Or heck, skip it. I hear the paparazzi is paying good money for nip slip photos these days. -Liz Gumbinner is the co-editor of the shopping blog Cool Mom Picks.

[photo via Hollywood Fashion Tape]