Surfer dude Tracy Feith has gotten some good press lately for being the chosen one for Michelle Obama's morning-after-the-inauguration dress and on a sadder note, for being forced to close the SoHo storefront that's been his home for ten years.

Never fear, the Texan, who could probably put even Matthew McConaughey to shame in a laid backed-off, is nowhere near over. I'm thrilled and excited by the first images of his Target line and plan on purchasing at least half of what I've seen. In stark contrast to the mostly miserable McQueen stuff (how very sad was that?) this stuff is sunny, flattering and downright adorable.

I guess in many ways he most deserves a spot in the Style Icons section but even design talents aside, I first and foremost recall my introduction to Mr Feith (via Sassy Magazine) as a total and complete babe. Years later he still looks delicious.

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Posted on April 6, 2009

The Queen of Knits

Two things seem to keep running through my mind right now, sweaters and stripes, sweaters and stripes..?It’s the approaching crisp fall days and the yearning for sweaters and it might be thoughts of Jean Seberg and Jonathan Richman or the appreciation of a beloved raggedy old Coolwear tee shirt of my own that has me on the stripe kick.

And on such a kick, no one could be more apt as my style icon than French legend and elegant wraith like talent, Sonia Rykiel whose bright striped sweaters feel as comfortable and beloved as her shock of bobbed and banged red hair.

Rykiel began designing when she couldn’t find a maternity sweater soft enough for herself. Don’t you just love entrepreneurial women? Since then, she and later she and her daughter have built a knit empire that never follows trends but transcends them.

That reluctance to fads has in some ways made her a less flashy hyped designer, like the dramatic McQueen for example, but her most recent show expanded beyond the expected with cute, bright party frocks and fun plays on the stripe. And I’m telling you I am all about knits and stripes and no one has done them better for as long as she.

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Posted on October 6, 2008

True Fashion Revolutionary

There’s so much to be happy about in today’s fashion, and I’m not talking about Italian Vogue fashion (though it makes me happy too!) but everyday-regular-girls-on-the streets-fashion.

More and more I see women in the subway or on their bikes or at my favorite bar looking adorable. Target and H&M have made it clear that style and affordability make great buddies, but the real person we have to thank for the marriage of the chic and the reasonably priced is Claire McCardell.

She’s not as widely known as she deserves to be, maybe because her clothes don’t tend to scream out their ingenuity or lack the fancy flair of her contemporaries (Chanel and Dior), but she’s probably the woman most responsible for the way we dress today. She pioneered ready to wear and womens sportswear and we can specifically thank her for: the tent dress, the wrap dress (though Von Furstenerg perfected it), contemporary swimwear, the ballet flat, fake fur versus real, and the widespread use of denim.

We’ll forgive her for coining the phrase “comfort first” because she had no way of knowing it might turn into velour jumpsuits and rhinestone flip flops.

Ten years ago, FIT staged a retrospective of her work but she’s even more relevant today with Mad Men resurrecting the beginnings of her quiet revolution. Back in the 40’s and 50’s and throughout her whole career, she was all about freedom for women and a casual but perfect look that defied the tradition of more uptight French modes of dressing.

She’s also relevant today for her inventive ways to save on materials and use new ones. Back then it was the war time rationing, these days it’s the dying earth and sinking economy.

But, at least if we follow her example, we’ll look good when it all goes down.

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Posted on August 11, 2008

Costume Designer

In the Warriors, you’ve got all those memorable lines (“Warriors, come out to playayay”), a charming and good looking cast, and plenty of balls-to-the-walls anti-authoritarian gang action — but it’s the costumes, designed by Bobbie Mannix, that are really the main reason this film has gained such a cult following.

I’m particularly fond of the Furies, who don face paint that outdoes Kiss and brandish baseball bats for whooping. They’re one of the few gangs in the Warriors world that actually seems menacing. Also a huge fan of the Punks, the ill named group that floats around on rollerskates, tend to be a bit heftier in the bod, and sport overalls and striped Rugby shirts. And who can forget the angel-faced rough girl, Mercy, and her second skin pink unitard? Dov Charney would approve.

When I found out the designer had also done the costumes for Xanadu, I was smitten and knew she just had to be my style icon this week. Her concept of the future, of gangs, and of aliens is unusual to say the least: A gang that elicits fear with purple shiny magician’s assitants vests and top hats? Sure. A muse decked out in lame and leopard print, why not?

While Mannix may be largely absent from the big screen lately (although she did just do 2003’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre) she does tons of commercials and has had something to do with the Spice Girls and Lil’ Kim (sweet).

Her own site is, unfortunately, more confusing than enlightening. There’s a photo gallery with no explanation of the photos; is she dressing little girls for their ballet recitals and involved with Medieval Times in her spare time? We may never know.

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Posted on March 10, 2008

Zac Posen
Ascots!
Tails!
Brocade!
Rolled up suit sleeves!
All good ideas, Mr. Posen.

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Posted on November 21, 2005