“I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes”

Posted on August 25, 2010 by allyson

I've spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live? I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes!

- Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

Soooo it would be safe to assume that Carrie and I share the same obsession. But I don't have $40K to blow on shoes like she did. How do I feed my need for fashion and not live in a shoe box?

Sales. Sales. And more sales.

Let's break this down…

Sadly for designers the economy has crushed the fashion industry. With poor sales looming, designers are forced to heavily discount their goods. And voila, sales of 50, 60 and 75 percent off can be found at your favorite stores. In addition, "invitation only" sales have started to crop up.

Here are a few of my favorite invitation-only sales – just click on the links for an invite.*

http://www.gilt.com/invite/allysoninwonderland

http://www.ruelala.com/invite/allyinwonder

http://www.hautelook.com/invite/allysoninwonderland

http://www.envite.com/invite/ally25

http://beta.swirl.com/invite/allyinwonderland

http://www.ideeli.com/invite/allysoninwonderland

My personal favorite is Gilt.com, I get tons of great deals from them and they have everything: women's, men's, children's, accessories, shoes, makeup, home decor, wine, and even vacations!

I love to share good sales with my faithful friends, so check out my facebook page where I post a sale du jour.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/allysoninwonderlandcom/188101044008

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines with these excellent sale items available today!

And as always… OFF WITH HER HEAD!

Mood – Sales Queen

Song - Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (my link is down… grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!)

*Time for the fine print… I receive credit for everyone that buys something from theses sales. After you sign up and you recommend a friend to join and they make a purchase you will receive credit too! Most of these "credit" will give you a one time only discount of $25. Basically it a win/win situation for everyone. As Martha Stewart would say, "it's a good thing."

Still need convincing it's not a scam (I was suspicious too) check out this Forbes article…

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0225/070.html

Birth of cool

Posted on August 24, 2010 by allyson

For me, music and life are all about style ~ Miles Davis

Miles has always been one of my favorite musicians – after all he responsible for the "birth of cool." Not only was his music cool, but so was he.

The Rolling StoneEncyclopedia of Rock & Rollnoted "Miles Davis played a crucial and inevitably controversial role in every major development in jazz since the mid-'40s, and no other jazz musician has had so profound an effect on rock. Miles Davis was the most widely recognized jazz musician of his era, an outspoken social critic and an arbiter of style – in attitude and fashion – as well as music".

Miles was always impeccably dressed…

Miles+davis

Miles-davis

Miles 4

Miles davis

For decades, trumpet player Miles Davis was the living definition of cool. “Miles was regal,” says legendary saxophonist Sonny Rollins. “The music, the clothes, the hair, the physique. He was the complete package.” Davis’s music and sartorial choices were outward expressions of the inner man. He believed that the notes you don’t play are as important as the ones you do. It was an ethos that carried over to the clothes he wore. Up until the late 1960s, when he started merging jazz with rock ’n’ roll, Miles favored three-piece suits by Brooks Brothers and worked with a New York City tailor to create a style all his own: jackets that were cut in one piece, with only two seams—under the sleeves and down the jacket sides—no chest pocket or padding in the shoulders, and notch lapels that rolled down to a single button.

(Taken from GQ's Most Stylish Men from the past 50 years)

Check out his closet.

Miles Davis closet

(Photographed by Anthony Barboza)

Obviously this picture was taken after his preppy period… this was in the 70s while he developing a more avant-garde style of jazz. It's during this time that the album Bitches Brew comes out and completely changes the jazz scene once again.

Here is Part I of my funky favorite, "Miles Runs The Voodoo Down."

Still jamming?

Check out Part II…

So, Gentlemen, what can we learn from him today?

Always tailor your clothes to fit you and your personality. And what's even easier that that? Find a classic pair of khakis. By "classic," I mean slim fit and and flat front (NO pleats allowed!)

Here a few of my favorite picks.

Chinos collage

1) Five Pocket Chino- $75.00

2) Essential Chino- $59.50

3) G-Star Bronson Straight Chinos- $151.65

4) Broken-in Chino- $65.00

5) Penny Stock pant in Khaki- $78.00

6) The Tailored Khaki - $49.50

Want a casual look but are sick of wearing jeans? Try a pair of chinos/khakis in a shade of blue that are perfectly broken in.
(See #1 or #4 above.)

Since we're looking at classic pants, let's listen to some classic jazz.

Take it away, Miles…

Still can't get enough Miles?

Love the fashion?
Check out this blog with photos of his custom-made jackets.

Love the man and music?
Fingers crossed that this movie gets made. Don Cheadle said he will direct and play the musician.

Mood – Jazzy

Song - Generique (click and enjoy)*

*There were too many of his songs that I love, but Generique has always stood out to me. It has to be one of the moodiest yet sexiest pieces of music on the planet. So simple, so refined… but still such a strong piece of music.

mens chinos

I see you shine in your way

Posted on June 3, 2010 by allyson

I'm sooo digging the new Vampire Weekend video for "Giving Up the Gun."

I heart a preppy tennis-playing Jake Gyllenhaal!

Gotta love the preppy look. Although I guess I always have. I was born and raised a prepster. My childhood was filled with Izod, L.L. Bean, Polo, and Cole Haan loafers.

Even one of my favorite staple stores, J. Crew, was created to appease the preppies!

"J.Crew was founded in 1983 by Arthur Cinader, who hoped to capitalize on
the successes of "The
Official Preppy Handbook" and Polo
Ralph Lauren.
J.Crew was to be the price-conscious alternative for the growing legion
of yuppie shoppers." Forbes.com

For tips on what makes a preppy, let's consult the handbook that I stole from Mumsy…

According to The Official Preppy Handbook, there are ten underlying principles for men and women.

1. Conservatism (you can wear a classic sweater for 20+ years)

2. Neatness (tuck in your shirts)

3. Attention To Detail (everything must match)

4. Practicality (collars are buttoned down so they don't get in your face when playing tennis)

5. Quality (hand tailoring is not unusual)

6. Natural Fibers (only wool, cotton, silk, and cashmere are acceptable)

7. Anglophilia (Burberry, tweeds, tartans etc.)

8. Specific color blindness (in other words men can get away with wearing pink)

9. The sporting look (a fishermen's sweater that will keep you warm, even though you have never been fishing)

10. Androgyny (men's and women's khakis have the same fit)

Let's also consult the cover of the Vampire Weekend CD "Contra."

Aaaaaaaaah (imagine me saying that with a lockjaw)

Blonde hair.

Polo.

I have both!

I'll pair my polo with these skinny (the modern version of tapered) Rag and Bone jeans. And of course I must pop my collar.

What about accessories?

Let's try my mom's Gucci "Boston" bag (from the 80s) and these Fendi espadrilles.

Now don't forget the jewelry!!! The classic charm bracelet is essential to the preppy. I'm wearing my mom's and mine.

How cute is the Karen Walker charm bracelet??

I found it at my new favorite store Gargyle.com. You might want to check it out! Super cute, preppy, yet edgy attire. I also adore the Country Club feel.

Speaking of, I'm off to tennis… ciao!

Mood – Preppy

Song – "Giving Up the Gun" by Vampire Weekend

*If in the OKC area check out Gretta Sloane's selection of Rag and Bone.

rag and bone jeans