June 23rd, 2011 by admin

I’ll admit, during the summer months, I LIVE in my favorite flip-flops.  They’re easy, they match everything, and if I end up at an impromptu backyard pool party, I don’t have to worry about ruining my strappy leather sandals!  But of course, this never stops me from stocking up on the latest trends for those occasions when flip-flops just won’t do.  And with so many cute styles to choose from, how could I resist?

WEDGES

CLOGS

BOAT SHOES

ESPADRILLES

Which summer trend is your favorite?!

June 16th, 2011 by admin

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite cartoon characters was the original space age fashionista, Jane Jetson. I was in love with all the cool gadgets she had – from a robot maid named Rosie, to a machine that dressed her. As I got older, I often wished I had one of her dressing machines. Just think about it. How perfect would that be? My life would be so much easier. Everything I put on would be perfect. Everything I put on would fit me to a “T.” Well, I could be wrong here, but I think my wish is about to come true.

Coming to a mall near you is MyBestFit, a machine that uses 196 antennae to scan your body’s exact dimensions, using radio waves that reflect off the water in your skin, all while using only the power needed for 1/100^th of a cell phone call. The entire process takes about 15 seconds and, when finished, MyBestFit has recorded over 200,000 points of measurement. These  are then scanned into a computer that compares hundreds of different apparel brands before printing out a list of clothing that will exactly fit your body’s proportions – all this at no charge to you. The cost of the scan is covered by the brands that participate. The companies pay a fee if, and only if, your body measurements are a match to one of their styles.

To test the developer’s claims, Good Morning America sent three different women to a neighboring mall. Each of the women was scanned and received a printout of all the stores that carried clothing to fit their exact specifications. Then they were given one hour to find the perfect pair of jeans. Lists in hand, the three hit the stores – Gap, Banana Republic, Talbots and more – and in each, selected clothing recommendations from their MyBestFit printout. To their delight, each fit perfectly.

Although in limited locations, right now, the machine’s developers say they expect to have 400 of their systems in malls by the end of 2011. For more information, go to www.mybestfit.com. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait. With my love of everything Jetsons, I’m thrilled to be going  forward – into the past.

June 9th, 2011 by admin

I subscribe to no less than 25 high fashion blogs—packed full with gorgeous photographs of highly coveted pieces, fashion forward designs made with intricate details, and from the most luxurious fabrics.  I attentively read each word, absorbing every detail, drooling over the latest must-haves.   Sadly, I cannot afford a single one, so why do I torture myself?  Lots of reasons: personal inspiration, professional research, and frankly, even when looking at the most expensive, least attainable items—it simply makes me HAPPY!  I get a little adrenaline rush, that thrill of excitement that only comes with a hefty price tag.  Sure, I love a thrifty find as much as the next girl: a dress in a fun print I can wear all summer, picked up for only $25 at H&M.  With every compliment, I relish the surprise and jealousy that fills my friends’ eyes, at something so fabulous and yet so cheap!

But nothing compares to seeing that $3000 handbag that only the rich and famous can get their hands on, splashed across the pages of my Us Weekly. Neuroscientist Professor Gemma Calvert of Neurosense has the answer: We are genetically hardwired to be excited by high value-objects.  Looking at those designer labels lights up the part of our brain associated with reward, craving, and addiction.  Additionally, wearing luxury brands signals to others that we are genetically fit, because we have accumulated so many resources that we can afford to spend serious cash on something as “frivolous” (her word, not mine!) as shoes.  So there you have it–yet another excuse to embrace your shoe addiction–it’s only natural!

June 3rd, 2011 by admin

In our continuing series “BFT Fan Profile,” today we talk with, in her words” the “diminutive, 5’ 11,” Jill Wurm, 35, a Marketing and Communications Director and freelance graphic designer from Ferndale, Michigan. Jill says that if she could she’d wear a size 10 3/4 shoe, but makes do in an 11, has one husband, one sister, and three very large dogs: two Old English Sheepdogs and a Komondor.

I laughed when I read her responses. Customary fan profile “protocol” dictates that I take her answers and weave them into a story, but her answers are anything but customary so I’ll let them stand as written. Thanks Jill, you made this so easy!

BFT: Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Jill: One sister, she’s only about 5’8 and managed to have a tiny 9.5 shoe size.  She sucks – mostly for that reason.

BFT: Do you have any children? If so, are they going to be tall?

Jill: They better be. If I had to deal with it, so should they. My husband is almost 6’3 so we should be able to make something in a reasonable size.

BFT: Is the rest of your family tall or are you the rarity?

Jill: My mom is only 5’7 but my dad is closer to 6’9 although in his old age he’s slouched his way to an adorable little 6’6.

B FT: Who are your favorite shoe designers?

Jill: Jeffrey Campbell. I also still really like Fluevogs.  John Fluevog has done a great job evolving as a designer to stay current.  I wore his shoes as a punk kid in high school and now he makes edgy things that I wear to work.

BFT: Who are your favorite clothing designers?
Jill: I love Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, and Zac Posen.  I wear a ton of H & M stuff, though.

BFT: Can you describe your style? Is it edgy or casual or…?

Jill: That’s such a hard question.  I don’t think anyone that really has style can sum it up in a couple of words – I like stuff that’s interesting; ready to wear pieces but with an artistic flair; edgy/arty, though, not hippie/arty. It’s so clichéd to say “I like unique things,” but I guess I do. I have no issue trying things that other people won’t wear.  I’m tall, I can wear anything. Exaggerated volume, odd color palettes and extreme detail but I like pairing those things with more classic pieces like form fitting blazers, belted cardigans, skinny jeans and other pieces that give me a good feminine shape.  It’s about balance.  I think you can change any outfit with shoes.  What makes one outfit look dowdy can make another really edgy.  Creating the perfect combination is like an ongoing art project. It keeps my mind sharp.

BFT: What shoe is on your radar right now? Are you actively on the ‘hunt’ for a specific shoe?

Jill: I’m not actively hunting for a specific shoe because, to my wallet’s chagrin, I always seem to find what I’m looking for.  I’ve actually been trying to cool it down a bit but I really am interested in the Jeffrey Campbell Meeker ankle boot.

BFT: Which designer do you wish would make larger sized shoes?
Jill: I wish Jeffrey Campbell made more tall and knee high boots in large sizes.  I see so many cute options but it seems like they never go higher than a 10 and I just can’t squish in… and believe me, I’ve tried.

And we finish with my favorite question; the one that separates the men from the boys – so to speak – the shoe lover from the shoe collector.

BFT: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Jill: It’s so hard to say. I know it’s less than 400 but it’s definitely more than 300.  That’s not counting what I’m storing at my sister’s house…

-

Jill Wurm, she’s my hero J