On the Town: Two Events

Each Fall Rochester has it's own twist on Fashion Week with two events worth penciling into your calendar.

Dado's Fall Fashion Show

Dado's Fall/Winter fashion show is TOMORROW and Tuesday night at Good Luck restaurant at 8pm. Formerly a one night affair, this shows increasing interest and attendance. While the retail clothing is the star of the show, other highlights include Jewelry by Mann's Jeweler's and a guest performance by Rochester City Ballet. Proceeds benefit the Wilmot Cancer Center. Tickets available at Dado Boutique...currently standing room only tickets available. 

Fashion Week of Rochester

A three day event called "Fashion Week" in honor of the International Fashion week happening each September. Rochester's version consists of a Thursday night boutique crawl and three fashion shows. It boasts collaboration among local boutiques, retailers, salons, and accessory designers. Note: must buy tickets in advance for the fashion shows. This year's events take place October 14th, 15th, and 16th. Ticket locations below. 

Panache Vintage & Finer Consignment
(585) 473-5343

... 2 Chic Boutique
(585) 271-6111

The Center for Youth
(585) 271-7670

Suzanne's Distinctive Fashions
(585) 383-1810

Scott Miller Pittsford Location
(585) 264-9940

Scott Miller Webster Location
(585) 264 9940

 (photo from my personal collection)
 

How Skinny Should My Tie Be?

Rule of thumb, gentlemen: your tie should be an appropriate width-to-body-mass ratio.

With the trend towards skinnier and skinnier ties, we make a nod to all things MadMen and every other 60s based tv show hitting the channels this fall (Pan Am, The Play Boy Club). But, seriously fellas, take a good look in the mirror and make an informed decision. "Does this make me look like I am wearing  a piece of fruit-by-the-foot?" A slender man with a slender tie= dashing. A big dude with a skinny tie has created a disproportionate suggestion that he is even larger. 

Need a guide? Keep the width no wider than a roll of extra wide duct tape and no skinnier than the width of your two index fingers. And this my own personal suggestion- a tie should never be skinnier than one's belt. 

The retro-inspired skinny tie image is not complete unless paired with NONpleated dress pants and/or a sleek, fitted suit.


Cheerio, my dapper men. Cheerio.

 

MORE Closet Cleansing! Keeping the Basics

Half the battle of cleaning and clearing the closet is knowing WHAT to keep.  Check out these basic checklists to see if your wardrobe is passing or failing.


A woman's closet should have:

• a versatile little, black dress and heels
• a crisp white t-shirt to be worn with dark denim
• both a pair of boot cut and a pair of straight/skinny jeans
• a sassy black pencil skirt hitting slightly above to slightly below the knee
• black dress pants that make your ass look amazing
• 2-5 button down dress shirts in classic colors and weaves (ex pin stripe)
• plenty of liner tanks
• various cardigans in neutral colors
• a pair of adorable red shoes
• ballet flats (neutral colors)
• bras & intimates; underwear in both black and skin tone
• a black, dressy wool coat for colder weather
• a tailored, feminine trench coat

  

 A man's closet should have...

 

• more ties than dress shirts
• 5-10 button down collared shirts including white and classic blue
• dress shoes in black, brown, and white for good measure
• socks appropriate for dress shoes
• a couple v-neck sweaters and zip/button up sweaters for layering
• at least, one tailored suit
• a few well-fitted classic white t-shirts 
• a few pairs of tailored denim
• a pair casual sneakers that would be considered a hybrid between sneaker and dress shoe (Slip-ons are often the best).  

In the Know: Cool Metal Jewelry

It is hard for me to tell you. I selfishly want to keep this amazing little secret to myself. But, today I gave myself a talkin' to and decided you all just need to know. Marissa of Interstellar Love Craft has the best deal on  handmade metal jewelry that you are going to find in Rochester. 

I do not frequently find myself to be a repeat customer with jewelry but WOW. I am on my fifth piece already. Marissa's aesthetic is refreshing. She plays with metal in an both earthy  and geomtric styles. I have gotten compliments every time I wear my pieces. The prices are fair, even on the special order items. My last piece was a special order that she let me help design. She didn't up-charge for the request and didn't mind when I asked for an extension on the chain. 

My next piece is going to be bringing her some of my favorite material (fool's gold/pyrite) and seeing what she want to do with it....can NOT wait. 

You best get some pieces by this niche designer before the demand begins driving prices up. 
Support a cool person who is creating a style for a very select crowd, here in Rochester.



Interstellar Love Craft . Marissa currently works in a studio at 250 Goodman St, #203. She has shown her jewelry at Java's Hearts & Crafts events and at the 2011 Clothesline Fest and will be at Artist Row Sunday, September 18th at the Rochester Public Market (10am-4pm).

Closet Cleansing 101

If Fall motivates anything in Western New York, it's a good shopping spree. Colors on the trees, feeling the breeze for the first time in months, and of course back-to-school-back-to-the-grind reminders that, alas, summer DIES for good when the seasons change around here. Play time is over. But not for your closet it isn't.

Some pointers for re-addressing the closet as you clean and clear it this fall:

If it's a classic and you have not worn it in a year, ditch it or replace.Classics- things like black dress pants, the little black dress, your husband's dress shoes.

If it's a trend item and you haven't worn it in 3 months, ditch it. Example - a blouse with nontraditional sleeves, a pair of pants with an extra long inseam, something in a color popular only this year.

If you have to ask yourself IF you look good, tell yourself to feel good, or wonder if it's too young for you, ditch it. Life is too short to suffer with image complexes. Wear what feels natural and makes your attributes look like attributes.

If you have 3 or more versions of the same item, ditch the excess. How many blue t-shirts do you need?Keep one plus another for backup.

If you love, love, love it so much that it's pilling, ripped, or faded, replace it asap!


Things to ditch this year:

Mommy Ass Jeans...that's right. Just because some 20-year-old can pull off a 1992 Kate Moss high waist, acid wash denim "retro" trend does NOT mean you can.

Uber Pointy Shoes or early 2000's Chunky Shoes. OUT.

KEEP it IF...

You wear it every week. (Your favorite high heels/dress shoes.)

It's lends itself to layering.(Cardigans, liner tanks or t-shirts...that shirt that never seems to get sweat-stained.)

You always feel good about your body when you wear it. KEEP.

It hangs well and rarely needs to be ironed.