American Woman

Last weekend, a good friend and I got our wine soaked selves up early for a little culture. American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity (1890-1940) was happening over at the MET. Since I was in the mood to play the part of a refined young woman that nibbled on croissants and regularly enjoyed the arts on Sunday mornings – we decided to check it out.

Through fashion we traveled over fifty years of social, political and sexual emancipation. Each decade had a theme:

• "Heiress” – think Rockefeller, and not Clark Rockefeller.
• “Gibson Girl” - think Gap girl – turn of the century style.
• “Bohemian” – think art patron, not Olsen twin.
•  “Suffragists”- they wore clothes comfortable enough to vote for the first time in.
• “Flapper” – the ladies rocked bobs, beads, Benson and Hedges and bootleg gin.
•  “Screen Sirens” – old Hollywood glamour

The exhibit ended with a nice little video montage. What is it about a video montage that makes me weep like I’m reading a Nicholas Sparks novel? I barely held it together through the flashing pictures of iconic blue blooded American women like Jackie O., Grace Kelly, Michelle Obama, Madonna, and Cindy Crawford. Lenny Kravitz’ American Woman played in the background and I HATE that song. But, apparently when it’s featured in a good video montage I get downright emotional.

Clearly this wasn’t the MET staff’s first time at the rodeo. Right after they got us feeling all American and nostalgic, they tried to get us to spend a few George Washingtons. They had the “shop” part set up with a little section for each decade theme. It was like taking a myspace profile quiz – What Sex and the City character are you? You know the quiz you’d take and get Miranda, and you’d be pissed. So I beelined it for the flapper area hoping for a nice bottle of bathtub gin - they must have been sold out.

Hipstomania

My first live ‘oxford shoe as an intentional fashion choice spotting’ took place this past weekend on a city bus in Brooklyn, NY. Some sad little hipster was sporting the look with the trouser of the moment – think belted, baggy, pleated, and cuffed at the bottom. I have to admit she looked pretty fresh, but, we were also in the hipster capitol of the entire world. Had she been sporting her edgy look in any other reasonable town or city (save for Allston Rock City of course) she might have gotten a few funny looks – in Brooklyn, well, she blended right in with the scenery.

In other news associated with the independently thinking subculture, the Hipstamatic I-phone app is taking Facebook pages by storm. For as little as $1.99 in the Apple store your boring night watching TV on the couch with your chosen life partner can be turned into a retro masterpiece.

Thank god above life partner doesn't read my blog.

Oxford Coma

My living room looks like the waiting room at your doctor’s office. No, there aren’t Kleenex wielding snifflers waiting for their appointment on a row of hardback chairs, there are just a ton of magazines. Elle, Vogue, Bazaar, Lucky, Town & Country, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, In Style, Boston, Self, Body & Soul, Conde Nast Traveler – the list goes on and on. And those are just my subscriptions; my husband is also a magazine nut. It’s not that I love killing trees, I just love ripping out the pages and following the trends. I love finding out what I’m allowed to wear at 28 (thanks Harper’s Bazzar) what Rachel Bilson thinks is cool (InStyle), what magazine Nina Garcia is working for this week (Marie Claire?) and which new designer Anna Wintour has chosen as the next best thing.


There are some super cute and wearable trends out this season (Hello Florals!) But, there are also some horrible looks that I recommend avoiding:

#1 Oxford Shoes

Don’t do it. Unless your first name is Oliver and last name is Twist this trend is not for you. The only shoes with laces you should be wearing are the ones that help with your traction on the treadmill. Even more concerning, they are dedicating an entire category to “oxfords and mocs” in the women’s shoe section of JCrew online. Be afraid, be very afraid.

#2 See through Bags

Unless you work the perfume counter at Macy's and are required to carry around a clear purse, please let this trend quietly go back to 1991 where it belongs with other crystal clear things – like Pepsi. And, if I’m going to be lucky enough to purchase a Prada bag, you better believe it’s going to be made of hi-quality leather and not plastic vinyl.

#3 Safari

Is it just me or is this in every other season? If you’re 6’2” and 110 lbs then yes, the khaki shirtdress will work for you. Otherwise, you risk looking like an off-duty beekeeper or Bindi the Jungle Girl.

The North Enders

All three of my amateur models. Michael Kors dress, Chloe blazer and French Connection romper

Anna rocks secondhand Michael Kors up above all that Paul Revere business

Leah wears a secondhand Escada cocktail dress and apple-red Prada heels

So what's with all these random used clothes? I'm working on the second part of Rabbit Hole Industries - high end consignment.  It's where it's at.  The North End is also where it's at, these chicas and I have been living/working/carousing in the shadow of the Old North Church for quite some time now - myself going on my eighth year (holy shiz.) I've served a lot of Carbonara in my day (mostly nights actually.) So what better backdrop than the freedom trail?  As soon as rhishop.com gets up and running these clothes will be available for purchase and you too can look as fabulous as my desk jockey/waitress/model friends.

Behind the Scenes

Above are a few behind the scenes shots from this afternoon's rabbit shoot.  I'm no Annie Leibowitz but I think the Iphone did a pretty decent job trying to copy our photog.

Q & A with a Bold Boston Beauty

Who cares what A-listers are wearing? I’m wondering where the chick in front of me at Starbucks got her fantastic bag. Being the stereotypical unfriendly Bostonian that I am, I’m certainly not going to ask her. The Rabbit Blog is asking everyday ladies to tell us what’s happening (or not) in their Beantown closets. First up: the stylish Ms. Rachael Gross of Lola Grace Events, pictured on the right with business associate Kelli Marie Ahearn . We find out that Rachael really wants to head out on the town in head-to-toe red lace a la Alexander McQueen, but she plays it cool in a pair of the hottest jeans.

Q: What (or if you want to be fancy – “who”) are you wearing lately?
A: Miss Me skinnies and the old faithful ripped True Religions... never fail!

Q: Where do you shop?
A: The last few purchases were made at the newest spot in Braintree, Bling Boutique.
Q: Where do you reside?
A: I sleep in Hanson, Work in Boston.

Q: What was your best fashion purchase ever?
A: Ahhh..... Fendi!

Q: Who is your fashion icon or inspiration?
A: Reality: Cameron Diaz. Fantasy: Lady GAGA

Q: Where have you been, where are you going?
A: Been: To Hell & back. Going: places.

Q: What do you like about your city?
A: I love the charm. I feel like we have 5 different cities within the city. From the North End to the Sound End. From Back Bay to Bay Village. From Downtown Crossing to Chinatown. Wherever you go, there is a different type of energy but yet, a similar charm!

Q: Can you tell me about a time you really missed the mark?
A: Ah... I miss it often. Especially when over accessorizing. I have learned that less is ALWAYS more.

Q: Can you share a blog-worthy photo of yourself and tell me why you thought you had it going on in this pic?
A: For now, this one is my fave. I loved loved loved wearing this BB Dakota dress! The style fit my body type perfectly... which is hard to find! And I got a TON of compliments... which makes it sucking in my stomach and wearing 5 inch heels for 7 hours all worth while!

It’s your turn next – email photo and answers to info@rhishop.com. Also, check out the latest styles down the Rabbit Hole at http://www.rhishop.com/.

Poetry SLAMmed

Roses are red. Poets are blue. I almost threw down with a rhymer or two.

There was some serious DRAMA at the Open Studios event yesterday where we were hawking headbands. It started off like any other Sunday. Actually I’m completely lying, it didn’t at all. There was a water emergency and I couldn’t find a coffee to save my life. So if anything, it was unlike any Sunday I had ever experienced. I actually witnessed an old lady selling cases of water that she dragged up from her basement, and buying into the pandemonium, I of course had to purchase one. It was a lovely glass bottle of Aqua Panna that expired in 2007 – does water expire? Anyway, I digress. Back to the Open Studios.

Apparently, the venue was double booked. The market that we were a part of was scheduled from 12 -6, and the Poetry Slam event was scheduled from 3-8. However, neither parties where aware of each other, and we crafty artisans got there first and began to peddle. Scented soaps were bagged, jewelry was gift boxed, little boxes with tiny ceramic animal handles were admired, headbands were bought and all of a sudden it was like Harvard’s library threw up into our market. A crowd of bespectacled angry poets with wiry hair, unkempt clothes, and 3 ring notebooks arrived waxing poetic about broken promises, and verbal contracts.

The female who had organized the event decided to take her frustration out on me. And I have to say for someone who writes verses for a living (how do I know she does it for a living, you ask? Everything is on the internet my friends) I wasn’t too impressed with her hissy fit of a case. I told her that since I was behind a table selling hair accessories, I was probably not the manager of the venue.

Anyway, her and her blonde ponytailed husband (think Good Will Hunting – “how do you like them apples”) had a meltdown, found a microphone and ruined the market. True story. And if you’d like to know anything about her, or you’d like to be directed to any of her creepy poems I found on the world wide web let me know, I just don’t want to publish it here. Like I said, everything is on the internets!

Our Studios are Open

Tomorrow, Rabbit Hole Industries will have a table at The Burren in Davis Square as part of Somerville's annual Open Studios event.  Jane and I will be rocking our table in the SLAM market from 12-4, we have some awesome new styles -so come by and check it out!