Hippity Hoppity - dressing your inner rabbit in springtime classics

J. Rabbit models the latest in mixed media dressing!

Here we see everyone's favorite rabbit crush showing mixed media dressing 

with all of this season's coveted trends, 

and last season's and the one two whatever   previous seasons'

nerd glasses, sequins, shaggy sweater, brocade pencil skirt, skinny belt. 

Note absence of tights - bare legs are still with us!

And while the skirt lacks pockets, a glimpse at the back view 

shows us that a large random vertical buttonhole can be put to good use 

for those fashionistas who like to accessorize with a fluffy tail.

Hey, it wouldn't be a fashion shoot without a random bird!

and of course, glasses, messy hair, distracted eyes, a pouty expression and
a pop of red....

the little creatures are MARKDOWNS!
they began their decorative careers as
overpriced Christmas ornaments at
Anthropologie
and came home with me in March....

I have more rabbits in different trendy outfits,
the one in the capri pants is a hoot,
so we may be seeing more fashionable rabbits.
I also got a handful of dressed-up mice.
That is, mice wearing awful bridesmaid dresses.

why didn't Paul Revere just use his cell phone instead of being so mean to that poor horsie?

Favorite rants around here include having to deal with people who think history began with their graduation and spending money on goods of dubious quality from foreign parts. I'm shocked to realize that I've been judging imports from China based solely on what's been happening with Chinese craftsmanship during a few recent years in my lifetime. Quite obviously these are the people who invented silk, in many beautiful colors and textures, whose porcelain and pottery can still stir the heart and whose paintings can lift your sight to heaven. China has a long, long history, much longer than ours, and I can only hope that this brief era of ghastly attempts at world domination through cheap ugly fashion will be a short one.

This is where I explain that my high school had a great turnover of teachers between the time that I graduated and the time my sister entered. Mine were the last of a generation of ancients - I'd like to think they were aged by wartime and economic disasters, but I'm sure my classmates and I had a role. The best of them were cynical and world-weary. Miss A was an Army brat who'd lived in France. She taught its civilization as well as its grammar. She spent her summers taking groups of rambunctious teens on bicycle tours long after the age when she should have been on a bike, but it was the only way she could afford to travel. Mr R's dreams of medical school had been interrupted by an unplanned family, but he taught biology with verve, imparting a sense of wonder every time he helped me focus a microscope. Miss H was a gentle lost soul who read sonnets aloud, ignoring spitballs, paper planes and flying chalk. "I am in this building to expose them to poetry," I heard her say to a colleague. "Even if some of them are only here for the lunch, they are entitled to poetry and that is what I will give them." Mrs S - well, I'm sure her dying words were either about the Bourbons, who learned nothing, remembered nothing, or more generally, about those who do not remember history being doomed to repeat it. Whatever the course she was assigned, those were the principles she taught. And of course there were horrors - the gasp that greeted me when I entered Mr Meredith's calculus class and sat down. He went to his grave believing that the female brain's capacity for mathematics stopped at long division, and I'm still looking for that grave so I can dance on it.

My sister's teachers were world-changers, in their own heads anyway, not that much older than their students, hopeful, cheerful, knowing war from books and media, knowing that they were building a future by molding young minds. They aspired to level playing fields. They were young, optimistic, arrogant. I was the one who told her how to cut school to get to a museum exhibit before it moved on, who snuck her into foreign films, who pushed her to think outside the classroom. Efforts well spent, now she pushes me.

OK, now back to me. I learned from teachers and family that there were people who made it from infancy to adulthood without having seen a television. I learned that for hundreds, even thousands of years, people had no books in their houses. And most had no houses, and books were rare because there was no printing. I learned that scientists suffered because their theories and discoveries disturbed comfortable thinking. I learned that most of the time, people will believe what they're comfortable believing.

If, for example, you believe that your file room is staffed by skilled, dedicated professionals who pay close attention to their work and never lose a folder or a document, you can sign your firm's professional insurance application in good conscience. You don't want to hear from some malcontent with a stamped receipt in her hand that important papers have gone missing. If you believe that your product is beneficial and healthful, you don't have any qualms about shading the description of the strange rashes that afflicted some nervous weirdos after consuming it. If you believe that you have great taste and a fine fashion sense, then it's not a reach to believe that you are doing a good deed by bringing cheap ugly ill-made clothing to the market, notwithstanding Gresham's Law - oh, right, your education was limited to fashion and your high school history course was, um, basic, so the concept that Bad money drives out good also means that crap merchandise drives out good is beyond you....

If you believe that you are an open-minded, clear thinking, good person, you may not notice when your limited experiences lead you to sound like a fool.

Recently someone who (I thought) should have known better, haughtily advised me that Joan of Arc was a legend and never existed in real life.

Um, who was burned at the stake in Rouen by the English in 1431?

Genius insisted there was no contemporary documentary evidence. Like photos.

I began to explain about chroniclers at royal courts and chroniclers who accompanied armies, and stopped. There's no cure for stupid.

Even the teachers whose names I still bless had their failures, and for all I know, they may have thought I was one of such. (But please see change of heart described in opening paragraph. What life has taught me: you can always learn something.)

I was actually glad to get to the dentist!

Wednesday was a crowded day, but somehow I was early for an appointment on 51st Street. I hate sitting in lobbies or reception areas for more than two or three minutes, so I was not unhappy to realize that I was only steps away from the corner of Anthropologie and J.Crew. With 12 minutes open, I opted for a fast lope through J.Crew, where to my STUNNED SURPRISE, I saw: striped shirts, plaid shirts, flowered shirts, checked shirts, spotted shirts.. All were cut on one of two bodies, the Perfect and the Boy. The originality of this concept was staggering. And Capri pants, solid and patterned. Enough with the ankle fetish.

the Max Mara version of the
Fatigue Jacket

Saw some cute striped cardis in a lightweight cotton-nylon blend which made my fingers itch while I was looking for the content labels.

Saw two floppy, unpressed "fatigue" jackets which would have been wonderful had I been planning to be a camp counselor this summer. I finally figured out while I was typing who could get a lot of use out of them: Honey! (of Doonesbury?) This is Max Mara's version of a fatigue coat, lighter crisper treated fabric, much nicer on. Given what JC is charging for their versions, the price of the Max Mara version didn't shock me. I bet we'll be seeing many more versions this Spring, too, these things hunt in packs.


While at JC, I tracked down this shirt that I'd thought I might like, it had vanished from the website but it might easily reappear. It is silk.

Those pale pink-or-lavender pockets have a lot of droop to them, which gives an unfortunate look. Update: Kind of the opposite of  Anne Hathaway's Oscar dress. The collar doesn't quite meet when buttoned. Also, on all 14 (I counted) of the shirts I examined, in the finishing process the front placket had been pressed down so hard that little round ridges in the fabric showed where each button had been. This was too bad, because the buttons are on the inside of the placket and are not supposed to show. I'm dubious about steaming those marks out. Left the shirt there.

I also had wanted to look at the microcheck cashmere twinsets. They had the shell in all 3 colorways, but none of the cardis. The biggest disappointment was the navy/red combo, in my photo it looks navy/pink, and in real life it looked more like black/salmon. I am tired of salmon. I'd like to say something profound and witty about swimming upstream, but I'm drawing a blank, consider it said. The bright pink/purple combo also missed, in my opinion, because the two colors are so close that from more than a foot away the pattern vanishes. And I saw a navy/pale blue combo, which was nice, but as I said I had wanted to see the twinsets, not just the shells..

The store also had a kind of retro, kind of Mondrian cashmere pullover which flickered briefly on the website and disappeared. I thought it  missed also, again, the colors weren't sufficiently distinguishable from one another from a short distance.

 I loved the windowpane cardigans, but would have to do some serious pre-purchase outfit planning for these, since I didn't think the shells were a great color match. Of course this was before Mrs. O. was seen in a windowpane cardi with shell. I probably no longer have time to wait and think before they vanish.

I also liked a quilted cotton cropped jacket, which I envisioned with jeans and possibly also with a Favorite Tank over a long cotton skirt.

Finally, I liked a blue-and-white striped silk blouse - I know, I said I'm bored with stripes, but I could easily see this one with white jeans this coming summer, which means there's plenty of time to wait out the price.


I thought that for the right person, this sweater with sewn-on necklace would be a dream come true. To me, it screamed "Hand wash!" I also worried about getting water in the interstices of the necklace.




like everyone else, I loved the Hummingbird accessories, and so I have tabled a decision on their practicality - spills? fingerprints? - until markdown/popback time.


Speaking of birds, am I the only one who's been wondering why, with all the birds and critters around,  the flamingo hasn't surfaced for Spring or Summer? Well, it has. There's a flamingo-print silk blouse on Macy's third floor, not far from the elevator! Did you know that Macy's give a 10% welcome discount to people with non-US passports?

I breathed a sigh of relief and headed for the dentist.

the social ramble ain't restful

we're going to a Broadway show
I hope it'll be a winner
we're going to a Shakespeare play,
then out with the boss for dinner
what'll I wear, what'll I wear, what'll I wear? 

I'm going on an interview
I only need one good offer
I'm going on an interview
who knows what these guys will proffer
what'll I wear, what'll I wear, what'll I wear?

there's a barbecue at Jerry's house

I'm meeting his parents and friends
it's a barbecue at Jerry's house
it's beginning well, who knows where it ends?

what'll I wear, what'll I wear, what'll I wear?

wanting things to go ok
wanting things to come out right
I don't want to be that girl --
the one whose buttons wouldn't stay
the one whose zipper was too tight,
whose hemlines would unfurl
when she sat down, not me, I'm not that girl.

I'm the girl whose shoes are shined,
I'm the girl whose files are neat.
I'm the girl who's well-prepared
whose stock of supplies can't be beat.

I have candles in my desk drawer,
with matches, with ramen and cookies in store.
Scissors, bandaids, tape and pins you'll find
and three dictionaries - yeah, kind of a bore.
But these clothes fall apart when I wear them
with buttons that hang by a thread,
there are holes in the sleeves of the sweaters
and glue spots between the sole and the tread.

what if I became a nudist?
I'd have an all over tan!
I'd have to tone up some droopy spots
and relearn how to talk to a man.
I'd bring a sunlamp to work with me
in case of a sudden cold draft
and I wouldn't videoconference,
the clients would think I was daft.

meanwhile, tonight: curtain time doth approach!
I've stapled up the hems of my pants,
I've cleaned off my shoes with a ketchup packet
and found a charming antique brooch
to fasten the front of my jacket.

now all I need is a confident stance
till the end of the evening when there might be romance,
when it won't be so bad if my clothes fall apart...
I can throw this stuff out and make a fresh start.

I'll make friends at Nordstrom's, at Bergdorf's and Saks

No more will I order in blind desperation,

then open a package and shout

OH NOOO! No, I'll have a Lady I Call at Neiman,

a Shopper who goes through the racks,

who'll tell me if something is in or is out,

who'll track down my wants like a regular G-man

and end this wardrobe alienation.

Klaatu barata nikto... did pod people take over fashion in 2010?

And if a crew from outer space made us sad, are we alone in the universe?


Here follows a rather long quote from a recent post by Roxy of Effortless Anthropologie, which is more than worth reading. I've copied most of the text, and I urge you to go to the post and read the readers' comments. Here's Roxy:


For me, 2008 and 2009 were my personal shopping high points. The trends of the seasons fell nicely into my style sensibilities and both Anthropologie and J.Crew (my two favorite stores) were hitting all the right notes. Even luxury brands were speaking to me, with plenty of beautiful options worth saving up for. I look back at the shapes from late 2008 and early 2009 and I still love them! A-line skirts that brush the knees. Beautifully detailed or ruffled tops that show off curves in a distinctly feminine shape. Bold dresses that work and play well. Lots of defines waists and collarbone-showcasing necklines. Pumps with solid heels but no crazy platforms. Accessories in gold, silver and leather. An emphasis on rich, saturated colors and strong contrasts. What's not to like?

With the economy crash in late 2008 many retailers suffered but Anthropologie did quite well in 2009. Unfortunately that's also when they made a drastic left turn. Midway through the year the brand was outperforming its peers and setting new earnings records. In a strategy session Anthropologie decided that in order to keep pace, it needed to start attracting new customers. This is a smart decision but the execution was so strange. By new customers Anthropologie meant a newer, younger demographic. Alright, doesn't sound so bad...I'm technically a part of that though on the older edge. 

But to do it, Anthropologie decided that they had to abandon the designs that had brought them so much success and turn instead towards trendier, edgier cuts and designs. When I look at the February 2009 catalogue below, it's like the product of a bygone era. This was the last of the classic Anthro catalogues. Come March we got a new shape, a new paper material and an appropriate amount of confusion from the community.   
Since then, it's been hit or miss for many of us. After about a year Anthropologie realized their mistake and kudos to them for not only owning up to it but also working quicky to course-correct. I hope Anthro realizes know that the designs that made them so wonderful in the first place are timeless and attract fans of all ages. They may never be as big as The Gap -- is that a bad thing though? In this era of investor insanity where stockholders only care about seeing their share values grow, perhaps stability and routine, repeatable growth should be praised more than incredible peaks (which often come with incredible valleys).

And so the effort began in 2011 to turn back the clock so to speak and recapture the Anthro of yore. Leadership was cycled in and out, with the former design heads re-installed to bring back some of that old magic. It made for a very bumpy year where some items were unbelievably great while many were just head-scratchers. While the design team worked their asses off to reassure the customer base, the production team also had to do a 180 on the call to lower production costs by sourcing new materials and factories. Suddenly the call came back -- thank god -- for quality materials at the fairest price out there.

It's still very much a work in progress. Fall 2011 was the first collection influenced by the new/old team but it was not fully their ideas or designs. Now for Spring 2012 we see the full potential and clues about what's to come. I for one am very encouraged! In January 2011 I spent my birthday discount mostly on wishlist popbacks. This year I happily spent into my savings a bit to invest in a bunch of Anthro pretties at full price.....

While I'm seeing a lot of promise there is still work to be done. In their quarterly earnings calls Anthropologie has recognized that the customer isn't responding to some of their shapes -- i.e. the wide flares or shapeless draped tops. Yet despite saying they get it I still see those same questionable styles season after season. It's like Anthro is saying, "OK you didn't like denim super flares...how about corduroy super flares? No? OK, how about chino super flares! No? OK...how about...pastel super flares!! You'll like them dammit if we just keep knocking you over the head with them."

I feel that Anthro is still eying the trends a bit too much -- how many sidetail hems can a store carry? And two of my most loathed trends are already in-store: floral pants and pastel pants. While I love that fashion has embraced color for Spring 2012, I prefer my pops from saturated jewel tones. So while the sapphires and rubies in pants and tops call to me the robin's egg blue and easter egg pink are better left back in the 1980s Country Club they came from. Floral pants I'll never understand...can leopard jeans be far behind, Anthropologie? (Hope not...I really hope not.) But I also understand that not every trend will speak to me, so much the way I love ruffles to death I will politely nod and smile as my friend proudly shows off her new creeping vine print on white pants that make no sense to me but admittedly look great on her.


That's not to say Anthropologie is alone in tackling those trends -- it just always raises an eyebrow with me considering that the brand used to defy trends, not embrace them. They would do well to remember their own customer profile: independent women looking for something different. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again: I'm equally at home in Anthropologie, Theory, Helmut Lang or Alexander Wang. I don't go to Anthropologie to look for my ultra-modern downtown chic pieces. I go there to find clothing that's flattering, pretty and that makes me feel like the lady I am. I can balance the toughness and preppiness in elsewhere.


My hope is that Anthropologie gives their designs time to catch on. Frustrated customers need to be appealed to for a few seasons before they'll return. The word needs to get out that Anthro is coming back. And there's still some logistical issues, like price points, that need help. My outlook is positive. However, I feel that the community differs with me on several of these points.


I find myself in complete agreement with Roxy. I look for change and choices in fashion, and to me that's more than forced whimsy à la "grey tee with everything," or "jean jacket with everything." I've spent enough time in a jungle of sequins, animal prints and butt-cruising "skirts" to have reassured myself that, after all, I'm not Jane and I'm not Peggy Bundy.


So now I'd like to hear your thoughts. And thanks, Roxy, thanks. I feel better already.

beamed from outer space into my inbox

As if hurricane, winds, tornado warnings (yes, warning not watch), high waves and tidally augmented floods weren't enough, look what the Copywriter From Space just beamed into my Inbox. Congrats, young miss, you've made not one but two terrible awful puns. The first is obvious, the second, I explicate: you're not all atwitter, you're a twit. But you did spell the French right. I'm nothing if not fair. Now I will go lie down.

Picturing ET landing on a crop circle, dressed in tweed shortsies to protest JC's UK website prices.