Thumbs Up or Down - Form and Function

My Uniform…

Triple drat.  Mother Nature is not cooperating with my intent to take pictures this morning of the Easter goodies I had lined up for you today.  So I am going to slide my usual Friday style post in today. I am fickle like that…

Today’s TU/D is really about my daily attire.  I tend to be a creature of habit and when I find something that works I put it on repeat.  Since many of my days are spent doing things typical of most stay-at-home folks, my daily uniform tends to be casual.

stripes

Although I want to make it clear that I miss the days of dressing up to the nines to go to the office sporting 4 inch heels.  While some relish the prospect of wearing casual/comfy attire everyday, I do not.  I love to get dressed up.  In fact, I will occasionally show up to preschool pick-up in a dress with some animal print cinched at the waist and a colorful heel.  It should also be noted that I never go to the store without lipstick either.

bright color

What can I say?!  As I have mentioned before, I come from a long line of vain women.  My yia yia always said, ‘you never know who you might run into running errands.’  I think Coco Chanel is quoted with something along the same lines.  Vain or not, I simply feel better when I am properly put together.  Even when picking out brussels sprouts.

pattern

Although my uniform now tends to fall toward the functional side of the spectrum, my inner tendency to zhush usually comes through in the form of color, pattern, or a really great shoe.  I am an incurable believer of form before function.  So no matter the task, my shoes will always look good even if my feet are killing me.  I was once spotted walking from SoMa to Nob Hill to North Beach in high heels - those tech heads shook their smug heads in disbelief but at least I looked good.

shoes sans heels (and sans socks!)

However, there are times when function prevails and for those times my uniform is some variation of pant/top/ballet flats or driving mocs.  Please note that the driving moc is as far as I will go for actual function.  I suppose the uniform is both form (bright colors, patterns, and accessories)  and  function (a shoe without a heel).

ridiculous that I don't have a full length mirror -
and again with the crazy faces!!  bah!

What is your uniform?  Are you Thumbs Up for form or for function?

All photos by me

kisses,  mrs. V

Thumbs Up or Down - Pinterest Manners

Thumbs Up or Down – Shoes, No Socks, No Service

I admire people who make fearless fashion choices.  Typically, they have a fearless personality to match.  I especially applaud men who have the confidence to rock some color or pattern mixing or shoes with no socks.

via

Nick Wooster via

Recently, I was a bystander in a cyber kerfuffle over the whole concept of men wearing shoes without socks.  I had no idea this was such a polarizing topic.  I wear shoes without socks all the time.  Loafers, high heels, ballet flats, chuck taylors etc.  Why is it generally accepted for women to wear shoes without socks but for men it is considered a no no?!

via

I love the look of a man wearing a slipper or brogues sans socks.  To me it shows a certain self-assured swagger.  An insouciant jauntiness that says, I don’t take life or myself too seriously.

Nick Wooster via

Scot Meacham Wood of SMW Design

But the point is not really about men wearing shoes without socks.  The point is about manners.  This little kerfuffle happened over on Pinterest.  Scot Meacham Wood, whose design skills, taste, and style I have long admired, was pinning these images of men sporting shoes without socks.  And men mixing prints and wearing bright colored pants.  I was surprised to see a bunch of negative comments posted about these pinned images.  At first, I thought perhaps these were close friends of his poking a little inside fun.  But that doesn’t seem to be the case, as he eventually had enough diplomacy to politely ask them to ‘unfollow’ his boards.

look at his drawing room!  so great.  via

Isn’t the intent of Pinterest to be a place to catalogue images that are important and meaningful to each of us?  And share them with like-minded folks - people who choose to 'follow' us based on similar tastes or aesthetics?  And if so, then why the need to be so nasty?

To be sure, I don’t like everything pinned by the people I follow.  I might even snicker a bit to myself – wondering what in the world you were thinking.  But I wouldn’t have the bad breeding to post snide comments.  Unless of course, you are my sister, in which case I would tell her she was being bonkers.    

Scot's wonderful red pants!  And that rug in his office! via

I follow Scot precisely for his vision and for his taste.  We are like-minded in our aesthetics but he has the added experience, confidence, and self-assurance to sport any of the looks that he has pinned.  And that is why I follow his boards and read his blog - The Adventures of Tartanscot.  He inspires me to push beyond my comfort zone.  And I haven't even touched on his amazing work.

his bedroom!  look at all the details.  via

a small sampling of his shoe collection.  dying over here.  via

Scot and his friends at home as featured in Rue Magazine

In an homage to Scot, I donned a bright and cheery outfit the other day complete with loafers sans socks. Scot, if we lived in the same city, I would give you a big momma hug for always displaying such style and grace.  Then I would squeal with delight over your red pants and not so subtly beg an invitation to your next holiday fete.  Who wouldn't want to be smashed in the middle of these jolly gents having a laugh?!

no socks!

If only I had a bright colored pant-yellow or minty green!
And why do I look possessed?!

Every time I try to photograph myself it ends
in peals of laughter over my ridiculous faces.
What is up with that dang eye?!

So, I say THUMBS DOWN to petty comments on Pinterest.  And I say THUMBS UP to men wearing shoes without socks AND women!  What do you say? Have you encountered any mean comments on your boards?

kisses,  mrs. V

Style - Hollywood Glamour - The Oscars

Thumbs Up or Down?  Oscar Edition

Lots of arresting metallics, one shoulder numbers, and black seems to be back, baby.  I am probably the only one, but I wasn’t loving the white dresses this year.  And can we talk about Kelly Osbourne’s hair for a minute?  Seriously.  So dumb.

THUMBS UP:

Rose Byrne

Rose was the most stunning of the night, for me.  This hair is the opposite of dumb.  Forget that fractured look - this is how you cut and style a bob!  For 2 disillusioned minutes, I actually  contemplated the possibility of getting my hair cut and dyed to match. 

Viola Davis

The green color is perfect for her skin tone.  I like how the top is structured and then the bottom gives way to that flowy accordian chiffon situation.

Glenn Close

Wow.  Is she ageless?!  This dark green tuxedo-ish dress is so good on her.

Leslie Mann

Another stunner for me.  Color is beautiful and her ponytail was gorgeous - not too high.

Octavia Spencer

The best she's looked this award season.  This dress is so flattering.  Her best accessory is not in the shot - that darling Tait Taylor.

Milla Jovovich

Sparkly.  Perfect shade of lips.  Understated accessories allow dress to really shine.

Giuliana Rancic

The details in this dress are incredible.  One of my favorites of the night.

Stacy Keebler

Statue-esque to say the least.  Loved this on her but if I am honest that little swirly rosette on the hip is dangerously close to looking like a cheese danish.

Ellie Kemper

Ordinarily I would hate a rusty color like this, but on her, with her coloring and that hair, it is truly stunning.

Cameron Diaz

This beige color is very risky for blondes.  Almost always, it looks like boogers.  But somehow, this worked.

Kristen Wiig

Most people poo pooed this look on Kristen but I thought she looked naturally beautiful.  She would have looked weird with an Oscar up-do.  

THUMBS DOWN:

Emma Stone

Many of you will disagree.  But this red was all wrong for her hair color.  And that flouncy bow was distracting.

Michelle Williams

Even more of you will disagree.  I wanted to really really love this - and at first glance I did.  But then I kept looking at it and something just didn't work.  The coral color is very chic but unfortunately against a 'red' carpet fell flat.  And I don't love the bust area or the little skirting around the hips.

Rooney Mara

A structured skeleton.  Someone please give Rooney a sandwich.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Boring and safe and predictable for me.  Most will disagree.  Next.

Kate Mara

I don't understand the droopy off-shoulder accent on anyone.  It results in an ill-fitting look like your bra strap is constantly falling down.  And look at her shoulders - the sensation translates in her posture.

Penelope Ann Miller

Not flattering at all on any level.  Boogers.  Sparkly boogers.

Natalie Portman

A red piece of furniture for the red carpet.  In case Angie passes out from only eating air.

Angie

I get it.  You're sexy.  But not in this, doing that stupid pose 50 times.  Angie, men do not like skeletons.  They want a juicy ham hock not that malnourished chicken bone.  You were way more sexified with your curves.

Jessica Chastain

Another piece of furniture.  But for the record, I think you are gorgeous.

Penelope Cruz

Love the color but hated her hair.  My personal feeling is that this look aged her.

Shailene Woodley

No.

Kelly Osbourne

I can't believe she is part of any fashion commentary.  I like her dress but that hair is beyond silly and the lip color is not good.

mrs. V has spoken.  Talk amongst yourselves.

Images from here, here, here, and here.

kisses,  mrs. V