Monthly Archives: December 2012

The History of the Ballet Flat

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

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Perfect for slipping on and running out the door for a busy afternoon of shopping, ballet flats are universally adored for being both comfortable and chic. For those of us looking to take a break from our heels and leave a daintier footprint on our earth, the ballet flat is the perfect shoe to satisfy our needs. The ballet flat is lightweight, and with little to no heel, walking in them could not be more comfortable. They are truly a fashion classic!

Ballet flats have been in style for centuries, and naturally it all started with ballet, modeling the ballet flat after the ballet slipper. The ballet flat dates all the way back to the 16th century when they served as equal opportunity footwear. However, the flat briefly went out of style with the introduction of the high heel after Catherine de’ Medici wore them at her wedding.

However like all trends in the style world, ballet flats were revived after Marine Antoinette walked to the guillotine in a pair of heels. Heels quickly went out of style and ballet flats became the shoe of choice for many women.

Brigette Bardot in her Ballet Flats

 

Brigette Bardot in her Ballet Flats

Then in 1947 ballet flats were introduced to the everyday women with the help of Rose Repetto. She crafted her first ballet flat, hand-stitching the now timeless Repetto ballet flat, for her son, the renowned dancer and choreographer, Roland Petit. Her ballet flats immediately became popular among professional dancers. After French actress and animal activist Brigitte Bardot wore a pair of Repetto’s flats the trend of the ballet shoe launched into iconic status.

Audrey Hepburn in Ballet Flats

Ballet flats took off again in the 1950s after Audrey Hepburn wore a pair of ballet flats with skinny jeans in the film “Funny Face” in 1957.

Today women all over the world consider the ballet flat to be their go-to shoe, so lesson learned, never underestimate the ballet flat!

Non-traditional Gifts this Holiday Season

13 Thursday Dec 2012

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As the holidays approach, one of the most rewarding but stressful parts is gift giving. Most of us probably spend hours trying to find the right present for the person who has everything while simultaneously being thoughtful and kindhearted. Even though around the holidays it is customary to give sometimes lavish presents, it is also possible to give gifts this holiday season that are a bit non-traditional and will have some meaning behind them.

Here is a list of a few of our favorite non-traditional gifts:

GlobalGiving Gift Cards

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The gift cards from GlobalGiving allow you to give the gift of giving; the recipient of the gift card gets to pick the projects they want to support and see how their money has been put to work with updates from the field. This is the perfect gift that keeps on giving this holiday season!

 

Custom Puzzle

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Customized gifts are always a favorite, and what’s more fun than a personalized puzzle for the whole family? This 252-piece puzzle will definitely provide lasting memories!

 

 

Nature Box

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Give the gift of health this holiday season by gifting a 3-12 month subscription to Nature Box. The subscription includes a monthly delivery of nutritionist-approved snacks that taste great. Each box includes 15-20 servings of healthy and delicious snacks for your friend or relative to enjoy beyond the end of the holiday season.

Prints from 20×200

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The website 20×200 has one-of-a kind art prints for sale starting at $24. The website was launched in 2007 with the hope to encourage more collection of art, so join the movement and support an artist and purchases a print from 20×200.

Free Arts NYC membership 

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Membership gives you a wide range of benefits, including two-for-one admission and merchandise discounts at the Guggenheim, Whitney, New Museum, and Cooper-Hewitt, among other cultural institutions. Proceeds benefit local art programs for children in need, so this is the perfect gift for the museum junkie while helping the local NYC community spread art and creativity.

How to Transform your Work Look to a Party Look for the Holidays

11 Tuesday Dec 2012

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Career women in the 21st century commonly have to make the style transition from the boardroom to a night out with no chance to go home and change. No woman wants to show up to girls night out in her power suit; however, with a bit of planning, changing your look from day to night can be easy.

The first step to successfully making this transition is to determine what office staples can double as party appropriate pieces. Make sure to plan ahead when choosing clothing for the workday; you’ll have an easier time with structured separates that can stand alone.

Examples include sheer and silky blouses, neutral pencil skirts, blazers, solid color, A-line dresses and closed-toe pumps. Why not take a silky blouse and pair it with skinny jeans and the heels you wore to work that day? Or, throw your blazer over your party dress for a chic alternative to a stuffy winter coat.

The next step is to accessorize. The holidays are all about sparkle, so pack a statement necklace or bracelets to create an evening look. Also, choosing an eye-catching belt or pair of shoes can transform your ensemble from lunch meetings to the office holiday party! Changing your hair and make-up can freshen up your look even further and take it to the next level.

Here are a few of our favorite pieces that can easily transform your outfit from day to night:

LRD: The New LBD

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Forgo a little black dress this holiday season, and mix it up with this red peplum dress from Neiman Marcus. This bright shade is perfect for the holiday season and can be easily dressed up with a few key pieces for a holiday party.

“Cinch It”

Mago beaded belt kate spade beltIf you do have the perfect little black dress, or want to bring a solid color dress to life, then add a festive holiday belt like these from ShopStyle! The winter season calls for dressing up your outfits, and a belt is a simple way to take your work look from day to night.

“Jingle Bells”

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Jewelry is one of our favorite ways to dress up a look for a holiday party. These bangles and earrings from BaubleBar add the perfect sparkle and can easily be added to your work look.

 

“Cool Clutches”

clutch 1clutch 2There is nothing that can elevate your work look faster than a fabulous clutch. Bold clutches are a piece of jewelry in themselves and are the perfect embellishment to any outfit! These clutches from ShopBop are perfect for the holiday season and beyond!

 

“Sparkling Season”

glitter pantsCompletely transform your look with these sequin pants from beauxx.com. Throw these into your bag as you head off to work and you will definitely be ready for any holiday party! Wear a more neutral blouse like the black one that has been paired with the pants, and then before you head off to your party, transition into your night look by simply changing out of your work pants into these fun sequin ones!

 

“Twinkle Toes”

glitter flatsShoes are a fun, and easy way to change up your look from day to night. These glitter flats are the perfect addition to any work outfit and can instantly dress up your look. Timeless, yet modern these metallic gold flats will make any outfit this holiday!

The History of the High Heel

06 Thursday Dec 2012

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High heels are by far one of the most popular (and important,) items in a women’s closet and without their remarkable history we would be heel-less.

It is believed that Catherine de Medici (1519-1589) brought high heels in Vogue for women. We can all thank this fashion forward royal who insisted on wearing high heels on her wedding day to boost her short stature.

King Louis XIV

The heel in France then became a status symbol of higher classes. In the early 1700s men like King Louis XIV decided to wear high heels and made it illegal for anyone who was not from the noble classes to wear heels higher then his 5-inch heels. However, the shoe was quickly banned after the French Revolution when Napoleon came to power.

In the New World in the Puritan Massachusetts Colony a law was passed that banned women from using heels to seduce men, as women wearing them were believed to be witches.

Not until the middle of the 19th century did high heels become a more widespread fashion accessory. The invention of the sewing machine made it possible for a greater variety of heels to be made.

marilyn monroe high heels

It wasn’t until the 1950s that emerging fashion designers entered the fashion world and more and more heels appeared in stores and on Hollywood actresses. Women’s stilettos and heeled boots were introduced and the high heel became an integral part of a women’s wardrobe.

Then with the emergence of the feminist movement in the 60’s, feminist groups began to criticize the high heel, seeing it as a “man made” object that slowed the progress of women.

Finally, women came to their senses by the 1980s and heels were seen as a part of power dressing, giving the women a sense of height, power and authority.

High Heels Today

Today we can spot high heels just about everywhere we look. From the boardroom, to the subway to the catwalk and thankfully, it doesn’t look like they will be going anywhere any time soon! You know what they say, “The higher the heel, the closer to God!”

SHE-RO of the Week: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

05 Wednesday Dec 2012

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Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (4)

SHE-RO of the Week: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Obaid-Chinoy is an activist leading a fight against punishment for domestic abuse in her native country of Pakistan. She worked with Daniel Junge to produce a documentary called Saving Face which also won this year’s Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. Obaid-Chinoy is currently working with Project SAAVE (Stand Against Acid Violence), which partners with organizations to provide survivors with the surgeries and support they need to start over.She is truly an inspiration who is giving a voice to many women all over the world!