Working full time and raising three kids was no walk in the park. To maintain some semblance of serenity and focus, something had to give. Spending time on the logistics of a wardrobe was not an option. But I was enmeshed in the fashion world and I needed to appear “pulled together” no matter what other diversions were orbiting my daily life. My solution was simple; elegant white shirts from Anne Fontaine. I owned … Read More
By Ellen Lewis
From the moment I met Laura Mehlinger, creator of the hip Lola Haze™ Lingerie Collection, I knew she was going to make her business work. Maybe it’s her streetwise savvy stirred into her Harvard education and infused with a passion for lingerie design, but this was clearly a modern visionary with no fear of trying something new. Now she has fast tracked her collection into the Bridal Market with a much … Read More
I was finally able to see the acclaimed exhibit, “Impressionism, Fashion and Modernity” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this week-end. I made it just under the wire: the show closed on Memorial Day. It was worth the effort though, because this was a display of paintings from some of history’s most renowned artists highlighted from a very interesting and innovative perspective. Showcased in tandem with these masterpieces were renditions of the actual dresses worn … Read More
I was always a curvy girl. It wasn’t easy growing up that way in my generation. From the time I was 12 years old, when other girls began buying bras because they wanted to, I was buying bras because I had to. It was no easy task to find the right fit with enough comfort as well as support. Either the bra was really an abbreviated undershirt, or it was something too mature for my … Read More
By Ellen Lewis
Did you know that the original bridal trousseau originated in France? It was meant as part of the hope chest, an armoire to be filled with a variety of things that the bride would need to start a new life. Here in the USA, the tradition was translated into the Bridal Shower celebration, for which lingerie remains one of the most sought after gifts. No wonder some of the most precious wedding … Read More
Maybe I am dating myself, but listening to the Beach Boys while suffering on the treadmill today got me in to a summer thinking mode. After all, Memorial Day is nigh. Bathing suit season looms. That’s another story. I found the perfect camouflage in the market last week at The Nightwear Network showroom from the hot LA based brand, Cover UP by VP. Twelve dynamic prints in nine easy silhouettes complete this fresh collection … Read More
By Ellen Lewis
It’s no secret I am a Samantha Chang fan. She has that rare mixture of an artist’s touch and business reality. When I saw her new Modern Vintage collection, I flashed back to my wedding when I was 22 and insisted on wearing a vintage peasant wedding dress. My very traditional mother did not fare well during the try on process. My taste was always eclectic leaning towards the shabby chic. I … Read More