Carol Channing: Woman of Style

Happy Birthday, Carol Channing, you are a woman of style.

Zebra Print

Do not follow the example of Paula Patton, whose dress was overpowered with zebra print.

Worn judiciously as part of an outfit, zebra print can work, though.

Beyonce

Do not dress like a doily.

Store Snobbery

Do not consider places like Walmart and thrift stores beneath your fashion dignity.  I found two sharp blouses at Walmart tonight for my mother at a combined cost of $8.00.

Coco Chanel Sneakers with Dresses

Coco Chanel, by passing off sneakers as haute couture, bypasses fashion as art to cater to the dress-down crowd.  I've seen women at work wear flip flops with dresses, and now Chanel dilutes style with sneakers.  What's next, house slippers with formal  gowns?

Whoopi Goldberg: Fashion Fiasco

She dresses as though she's mocking fashion, has no clue, or does not care.  She inspired Lupita Nyong'o to become an actress, but she certainly did not inspire Lupita's exquisite fashion sense.

Sorority Asses

Do not use your ass to let everyone know that you belong to a sorority.  Yoga pants may be so trendy, but large letters on the ass are a tacky fash-sin.

Trust the Mirror

Ignoring the mirror results in fash-sins.  Sometimes an outfit which looks good in my mind's eye fails to look good in the mirror, so I change the outfit until the mirror gives me positive feedback.  An outfit which looks spectacular on some people may look ridiculous on others, so don't blindly follow the lead of models and celebrities.  If the mirror tells you that you look boring, drab, dowdy, or tacky, change your outfit until the mirror reflects an image of sharpness, style, edginess, or glamour.  The mirror is your final arbiter.

Oversized Polo Shirts

Do not wear oversized polo shirts.  It looks like a mess.

Pee-wee Herman

Do not dress like Pee-wee Herman.

Short Sleeves over Long Sleeves

If you're too old to attend high school, do not wear short-sleeved shirts over long-sleeved shirts.  What's the point?

Denim Skirts

Do not wear denim skirts if they make you look dowdy or somewhat Amish.

Socks with Sandals

Do not wear socks with sandals.  This is a mortal fash-sin.

Brooks Brothers vs. Walmart

Do not be intimidated by high-quality stores.  I have bought items at Brooks Brothers less expensive than Walmart.  I paid $3.74 for the shirt I'm wearing today from Nordstrom Rack.

High-heeled Shoes

Do not wear high-heeled shoes in snow.  They may look good, but don't take fashion to the point of idiocy.

Identical Couples

Couples, do not wear identical outfits.  Sometimes these ensembles seem cute, but usually in a nauseating way.  Congratulations, you're part of a couple, but maintain your individuality.

Downton Abbey's Lady Edith

"I thought I'd make a bit of an effort."  Lady Edith

Yes, and the effort paid off.

Fash-Sin constitutes failing to make a bit of an effort.  On occasions such as meeting for lunch, do not dress as though making a trip to the grocery store, or as if ready to mow the lawn.  MAKE A BIT OF AN EFFORT.

Onesies

Do not wear onesies in public.  They look ridiculous, as evidenced by Justin Bieber.

Andre Leon Talley's Signature Style

A sharp individual possesses a signature style, such as Andre Leon Talley's flowing capes and the late Carrie Donovan's glasses.  Visually create your unique persona.  Even while inspired by others, the sharpest people present their own look.

 

 

Mad Men's Megan and Marie

Clearly the sharpest, extremely chic mother-daughter duo of television.