Blair and Her Outerwear

Last night, somewhat pathetically (yes, I’m a college student, and yes, it was Thursday night), I watched four episodes of Gossip Girl (I had a hard week at school, okay?).  I’ll  admit, the title “Gossip Girl” sounds all-around shallow and childish, but I’m telling you, this show is one of the most entertaining I’ve seen in a long time and has some of the smartest dialogue I’ve ever heard.  I particularly have a mild infatuation with the character Blair Waldorf.  She’s hilariously devious and has the wittiest (and might I add, bitchiest) lines ever. As if her amusing personality isn’t enough, she has the BEST.WARDROBE.EVER.  Every outfit she wears is supremely polished and she makes classic pieces look inventively modern.  I could drone on about how much I love everything Blair has ever put on (props to the show’s stylist, Eric Daman), but seeing as how it’s October and it’s getting cold here in Ohio, I think I’ll concentrate on her fantastic outerwear.

First of all is the classic trench coat.  Simple? Yes.  Classic? Yes.  Hot? YES! 

 

If you're looking for an inexpensive alternative to Blair's Burberry Prorsum trench, here's the answer: Target. $30. Check it out:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/183-0559429-7232004?asin=B002UCNQEI&AFID=Froogle_df&LNM=|B002UCNQEI&CPNG=&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B002UCNQEI&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001
   
Here is a moderately priced option from the Gap (on sale for $79.99):
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do? pid=498716012&userSearchText=trench+coat&searchCID=25781

Perhaps the best part about the trench?  It has been worn by two of the greatest fashion-icons of all time:

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's                                     Jackie Kennedy Onassis    

The next Blair-look I adore: The cloche.

 

  It's totally 1920s but she makes it totally 2010.

Where to get one: Kohl's.   

http://www.kohls.com/upgrade/webstore/product_page.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524892665690&pfx=pfx_shopcompare&cid=shopping3&mr:trackingCode=6A1D9989-ECA6-DF11-92F8-0019B9C04BE4&mr:referralID=NA

And finally, I absolutely LOVE Blair's French-inspired beret/scarf/jacket combo.

Black beret:

http://www.buy.com/prod/wool-beret-black-w08s70a/q/sellerid/15422940/loc/64935/206249512.html

An ADORABLE plaid cape-jacket with bell sleeves:

http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Larry-Levine-Womens-Cape-Sleeve-Plaid-Jacket/4324274/product.html

Katharine Hepburn at KSU!

I have some exciting news to share with you! My Fashion Apparal Analysis class visited the Kent State University Museum on Wednesday only to find The Broadbent Gallery on dislay, which features Katharine Hepburn's clothing from stage and screen (and it will be there until September 4, 2011!)! How lucky are the students at Kent State (myself included!) to have such easy access to part of Katharine Hepburn's wardrobe?  She is undoubtedly one of the biggest fashion icons...ever. She made American style what it is today!

And Katharine Hepburn is more than just pretty clothes:

"She'd spent her life making Katharine Hepburn fascinating - to bore was the inabsolvable sin - and everything about her had to be fascinating too...her interest and her enthusiasm were appealing. And on the whole, contagious."
                                          -James Prideaux, author of Knowing Hepburn and Other Curious Experiences

In my opinion, Katharine is the epitome of elegance, not only for young fashionistas, but for any young woman who strives for success.  Who doesn't want to be seen as fascinating and enthusiastic?  She was under the spot-light constantly, but even so, maintained her image as one of the classiest and most successful American icons of all time.  I'm going to speak for every young woman in America and say that to be seen in as good a light as Katharine and to be successful at something you love to do, would be the ultimate success, and therefore, Katharine is the ultimate role-model. 


Please, if you're a fan of the lovely Katharine Hepburn, check out The Kent State University Museum's website:
http://www.kent.edu/museum/exhibits/exhibitdetail.cfm?customel_datapageid_2203427=2234961.  The site features an interesting video about the exhibit! :)

Hepburn brought pantsuits to the forefront of American women's fashion in the 1940s.

This black silk gown (1948) is one of the garments displayed in The Kent State University Museum.

Hey Everyone :)

So I've decided to launch my first-ever blog! I hope to use it as an outlet for my thoughts on fashion and anything related. As a junior at Kent State University's fashion school, I have been exposed to professors with immense passion and intellect, students with astounding aspirations and creativity, and experiences I could have nowhere else.  I want to share the world of fashion through my eyes-- not just about how hot Blake Lively looks in that one outfit from Gossip Girl (although she does look good in anything...doesn't she?) or how Tommy Hilfiger put a beyond-perfect modern twist on classic American style in his Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection.  Any creative ideas I see in the world of fashion-- whether it be an innovative decorating idea or a cool, easy new hairstlyle-- I hope to share it with you and to receive your input and comments!  I want to emphasize that fashion is not necessarily the newest Coach bag, it's a perfect find at the Goodwill.  Fashion is what transforms a drab room into your ultimate living space.  It's what turns your mom's 1980s dress into an innovative staple of your wardrobe.  It's even the way a good run in the park makes you feel (after all, feeling fit is pretty fashionable, right?) or how the colorful fruit pizza you made was the perfect aesthetic complement to your best friend's birthday feast.  To live a fashionable lifestlye is to show off what makes you, you.