Monday, February 25, 2008

WWLGW?

by Brenda Roger

I’m a recovering handbag designer. I’ve decided to take a hiatus from sewing for a little while, or maybe I’m retiring, but like Celine Dion. You know, I go away for a while and then come back bigger and better than ever (debatable, I know). Who knows, maybe I’ll end up with a palace in Vegas.

During my handbag venture, British handbag designer, Lulu Guinness, was one of my idols. She has a quirky sense of style and the trust fund to back it up. When I was on my honeymoon in London seven years ago, I left behind a substantial quantity of slobber on the Lulu Guinness handbag display in Harrods. The only thing I love more than looking at Lulu’s handbags is looking at photos of Lulu herself. Her look will hopefully help me in the coming months with one of my many jobs –being my husband’s other half.

We are about to take off on the whirlwind that is the spring event season. This means traipsing around the city to various events and social functions. Choosing ensembles for these events is not as effortless as I would like. I decided this year, I am going to open the closet and say, “what would Lulu Guinness wear?” That’s my new mantra. WWLGW?

I should explain to our readers-at-large that Pittsburgh is a very conservative city. I should also say that Lulu Guinness is frequently pictured in ensembles that consist of a red satin dress, turquoise blue tights, and purple satin shoes –at the same time.

This time of year, I go a little crazy. I start wearing what I call “get-ups” to work because I’m so bored with how everything looks. That disgusting taupe color that snow turns when it’s been around a while is all we ever see, not to mention the crust on all of our cars.

Readers! Please! Go to your closet this week, fling it open, and ask yourself, “WWLGW?” Then go for it! We need color, and pattern, and bold fashion choices.

If you see someone in the east end of Pittsburgh today in a zebra skirt and turquoise tights, that’s just me! Please wave!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love Lulu Guiness! I love her so much that I special ordered her book, and when it arrived it was $35 and completely boring---and skimpy. So I returned it, which I NEVER DO with books. (I did it again,though, with the new Anthony Bourdain book, which was ALL PICTURES, and I do not adore Tony for his pictures, let me tell you.) But I still love Lulu.

Brenda, you do visit Go Fug Yourself, right?

All those "lifestyle" people fascinate me. Maybe it's because I'm a writer always looking for quirky character stuff. I se Cojo has a book out now, but is Cojo really a book person?? I don't think so.

I salute your new mantra, Brenda!

Anonymous said...

Go Fug Yourself is one of my guilty pleasures!

Anonymous said...

Brenda--Pittsburgh "very conservative"? Join us next month for a night at Outrageous Bingo, a fundraiser for two local gay/AIDS-related organizations. The drag queens who fly around the hall at intermission, lip-syncing to old disco tunes, are anything but conservative. And, sure, we have our share of little old ladies, but the night attracts the young blue-haired, green-haired, orange-haired, pierced and tattooed set too. All quite an antidote to our winter's grey doldrums.

Anonymous said...

Brenda -
Lulu who?
I'm not a follower of fashion -- in fact, I can't stand to watch any of the make-over shows because I invariably prefer the way they look "before" to "after" -- but I share your longing for color in this bleak winter landscape.
Let's all commit to dressing in bright colors this week, okay?

Anonymous said...

Gina, I'm so with you on those makeover shows. They're so cruel---rude "experts" trying to coinvince real people they look good in mini skirts.

Joyce Tremel said...

Brenda, you would look stunning no matter what you wore!

I'm trying to do a little better in the fashion dept. Although I'll never give up my jeans, today I'm wearing a purple silk mock-turtleneck sweater with them. It's a little more fashionable than my usual Shaler Police polo shirt!

Anonymous said...

I just try to wear something that doesn't have dog and cat hair all over it. Or would that make a fashion statement?