Ode to the Fuchsia Lipstick of My Mother

I know that lately The.Well.Set has been devoid of my beloved fashion musings and I am sincerely sorry. If it's any consolation my brain has also been devoid of fashion musings because my work wardrobe generally consists of work out clothes {which doesn't suck} and the occasional suit for when I have a meeting and need to wear my big girl pants. 

Wait no longer my friends! Inspiration has struck. Writer block has passed, the SXSW fog is clearing and I am ready to write again... I give you my ode to fuchsia lipstick.

Fuchsia lipstick, you say? 

[it looks like it's spelled wrong, but it's not. trust me, I google'd it]

Yes, an entire article about fuchsia lipstick because we all know how I feel about a) lipstick b)cost per wear and c) it happens to be really hot right now (see the Who.What.Wear layout above). These are three things that are the building blocks of my fashion persona and I urge you to make them a part of your own. 

How does one get to love lipstick so much you might ask? Look no further than my fuchsia lipped mother (far right in the early 80s, on the family farm in bright lipstick with my sister, Aunt Molly, and Great Grand Pappy Afton, my namesake). From before I was born to this day that woman wears lipstick like it's her job. 

No other make up on? No problem! Lipstick is everywhere. Literally everywhere. In every car, every coat pocket, in every drawer. She stashes and stocks up on lipsticks like they are illegal. 

She doesn't just wear lipstick... She puts it on and makes this pucker face in the mirror. It's fascinated me for as long as I can remember. It's like she's pretending that she's had her lips done or something. Nothing can make her feel more done than having her lips on and I've predictably started to agree. (that's her, my sister and I on Easter Sunday '89)

They say we all become our mothers and in this instance I am glad. Nothing could be more utterly feminine or affordable than lipstick. So here's to you mother dearest for inspiring me to put on some lipstick and act like a lady.

Where to buy, you ask? What do I like, you ask? 

You ask, I deliver. I like Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick in Flamenco Red 754.  I like it because it goes on like chap stick and the color stays true. Buy it here.

Monday Pick Me Up

"Those are spanx!"  {more like manx}

"No, they are my super hero tights!"

This Monday in particular is eating my lunch. Literally, eating my lunch. 

Post SXSW depression is a real thing and I think I have found a small, brief but legitimate reprieve. This clip of from Jimmy Kimmel Live of the Handsome Men's Club is SO FUNNY. It is packed with stars (Tony Romo, Ted Danzin, Sting, Ben Affleck) and over and over again it makes me ask myself "How did he get these people to do this?"

There's only one answer: Kimmel must be that cool.

Inspiration: Flavorwire's 10 Most Dramatic Fashion Shows

by Caitlin Brody

While no one is going to argue against the practicality of Old Navy (hey, even tech vests had their moment), it is clear that high fashion is often wearable (or in the case of The Devil Wears Prada — quite unwearable) art. But sometimes even these threads can get upstaged (theatrically speaking), and fashion shows become more about over-the-top production than the clothes. Case in point: Chanel’s RTW Fall 2010 show, which featured a 265-ton iceberg that was imported from Scandinavia and handcarved by 35 ice sculptors. In that spirit, after the jump we’ve rounded up some of the most outrageous runways shots we could find. Recession, what?

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2006

The late designer employed a larger-than-life hologram of his muse, Kate Moss, to start off his runway show (the piece was done by filmmaker Baillie Walsh, art-directed by McQueen). As you can see in this video, the model twirls about in a flowing dress to classical tunes, and then vanishes into the ether — quite like reality, no?

Marc Jacobs, Spring 2007

While this may simply look like a runway painted green (see: rolling hills), veer right. That isn’t just regular shellacked flooring beneath the lawn-green catwalk, but a sea of mint candies. No leads on just how many candies were used to create the effect, but Sofia Coppola certainly looks impressed.

Chanel, Fall 2008

Oversized purses, bows and double-C baubles made up just part of this kiddie-fashionista dream. The main attraction was the Chanel carousel, where the waifs were rotated round and round, joined by the equally svelte Karl Lagerfeld.

Fendi, Spring 2008

For the debut of his new line for Fendi, only one venue was splashy enough for Lagerfeld: The Great Wall of China. The over-the-top show reportedly cost a whopping $10 million to produce, and the “world’s longest catwalk” was constructed on a raised platform on a restored part of the landmark.

Pierre Cardin, Spring 2008

Not to be outdone by Kaiser Karl, Pierre Cardin and his chief designer Sergio Altieri decided to take their presentation to the desert of Mingsha Mountain, in northwest China’s Gansu Province. The juxtaposition of the sand with the white of the collection is striking.

Henrik Vibskov, Fall 2009

Man-sized rotating hamster wheels and odd-looking bowler hat/mouthpieces made this playful Scandinavian designer’s show the talk of Copenhagen Fashion Week. They also led to some rather sweaty models.

Maison Martin Margiela, Fall 2009

Inspired by The Usual Suspects, Maison Martin Margiela decided to do his menswear show criminal line-up style — in front of a two-way mirror.

Moncler Grenoble, Fall 2010

A three-story scaffold was built especially for the Moncler Grenoble show at the Chelsea Piers Waterfront Golf Club. Judging by the scary ski-masks and the fact that Bach and Puccini provided the soundtrack, we can’t imagine a fashion show getting much more dramatic than this.

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Spring 3001

A virtual fashion show with Lego models, a Lego set, and even a mini Lego Anna Wintour. Fabulous or rather silly? We’re not exactly we’re sure, but we we’re willing to bet it was cost effective.

Gaga's New Kill Bill Style Video. You like?

Happy Friday: Reality IS better than FICTION

Women Who Drink Gain Less Weight? Christina Good Approves.

Freshman year, in a dorm called Towers, a certain group of frat boys donned a poster that showed a beautiful girl with a rocking body and the subscript, "Freshman girls, get them while they're still hot." 

Boozing turns highschool skinny bodies into lard, right? Not so says the NYTimes! Sitting down on Tuesday night (with a large glass of Cabernet Sauvignon), I checked the "most emailed" section of the NYTimes website and saw the best article in the entire world. Enjoy! 

Women Who Drink Gain Less Weight

By TARA PARKER-POPE

 

Lars Klove for The New York Times 

Can a drink a day keep the pounds away?

Dieters are often advised to stop drinking alcohol to avoid the extra calories lurking in a glass of wine or a favorite cocktail. But new research suggests that women who regularly consume moderate amounts of alcohol are less likely to gain weight than nondrinkers and are at lower risk for obesity.

The findings, reported this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine, are based on a study of 19,220 United States women aged 39 or older who, at the start of the study, fell into the “normal weight” category based on their body mass index. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston tracked the women’s drinking habits over 13 years. About 60 percent of the women were light or regular drinkers, while about 40 percent reported drinking no alcohol.

Over the course of the study, 41 percent of the women became overweight or obese. Although alcohol is packed with calories (about 150 in a six-ounce glass of wine), the nondrinkers in the study actually gained more weight over time: nine pounds, on average, compared with an average gain of about three pounds among regular moderate drinkers. The risk of becoming overweight was almost 30 percent lower for women who consumed one or two alcohol beverages a day, compared with nondrinkers.

The findings are certain to be confusing for women who continue to receive conflicting messages about the health benefits and risks of alcohol. Although moderate drinking is associated with better heart health, regular drinking also increases breast cancer risk.

The trend toward less weight gain among drinkers doesn’t appear to hold true for men. A 2003 study of British men showed that regular drinkers gained more weight than nondrinkers. Studies suggest that drinking alcohol has different effects on eating habits among men and women. Men typically add alcohol to their daily caloric intake, whereas women are more likely to substitute alcohol for food. In the Archives study, women who drank alcohol reported fewer calories from food sources, particularly carbohydrates.

In addition, there may be differences in how men and women metabolize alcohol. Metabolic studies show that after men drink alcohol, they experience little if any metabolic change. But alcohol appears to slightly speed up a woman’s metabolism.

The link between consumption of red wine and less weight gain was particularly pronounced in the Archives study. Some studies have suggested that resveratrol, a compound present in grapes and red wine, appears to inhibit the development of fat cells and to have other antiobesity properties.

The findings don’t mean women should rush to drink alcohol to lose weight. Other research shows that once a person is already overweight, her alcohol metabolism is more efficient, and so an overweight woman may gain more weight from alcohol than a lean woman. The data do, however, suggest that for many women facing weight problems, the extra calories are probably not coming from alcoholic beverages.

Welcome Braden Jarnagin (right) to The.Well.Set

Love this song!

Passion Pit is coming to Stubb's 

June 18; tickets on sale; $25; well worth it for the party they bring!

Update: Sadly, the event is already sold out... Please go to Craigslist for tickets. 

UPDATE, UPDATE: Tickets for a SECOND NIGHT (6/19) go on sale TODAY @ 10 a.m. That is now! Hurry get 'em while they last.

Buy tickets here.

Jeffus' J-J-Jam: New Neon Indian "Sleep Paralysist"

New Gorillaz from Plastic Beach

The (Un)Domesticated Diva: Great Work Advice

By Jackie Hamilton, Austin, Texas

When I got out of college I was having a blast. I had that rare job that I loved, money to spend, and I was filled with the realization that if I wanted to do anything in the world, I could. No more asking my mom for anything. It was awesome. And then that ridiculous R word hit and my work life fell apart. I was told that I had a few months to find a new job. Countless hours of networking, pouring over my resume (thank you to everyone who tweaked it for me!), one job turned down (although the job was awesome, let’s be honest: my sister was paid more for her “just out of college” job in 1996), I finally landed a job with a Fortune 500 Company. 

While a lot of people would give their first born to work here, I was just happy to be employed! After the relief of not having to move back home with my parents wore off, I realized I just really don’t like my job, although my company is great. 

Apparently this is the consensus for our generation. We are so desperate to have work that we no longer care what we do. A good guy friend of mine once described this time in our life as the “Middle School of Life”. And it’s so true. We are at that awkward braces stage, where we don’t know what we want, how to get there, and are really embarrassed to have to rely on our parents. Only this time we have swapped the dreaded Mom Carpool Mini Van drop off with the equally discomforting, “Hi Mom, the most beautiful and best mom in the world, can I move back in with you?” Or better yet, “will you pleeeeease pay my rent Mommy Dear?”

On this journey of trying to find my career identity (affectionately explained by Christina Good as the quarter-life crisis), my boss has been really great about having me meet with different people throughout my company to see what career path suits me (this has been awesome- if you can, I would talk to your boss about this as well). I have had 30 minute meetings with people across the company to see which department I would best fit in (i.e. be the most profitable for them). 

In one of these meetings a couple of weeks ago, a colleague gave me a really great piece of advice. To have a folder entitled “Why I deserve a Raise”. Every time my boss sends me some sort of “Great Job!” email or I do something amazing or without him knowing, I put it in this folder. In 6 months, when I have a review, I can go to him with printed out examples of exactly why I deserve those extra pennies on my paycheck, or better yet that really fabulous promotion. 

 

So go into your Outlook, make that folder, and if you are having a bad workday, muse over the fact that you are way better than that annoying coworker in the cubicle to your left and you are going places. 

Oh! And the guy that gave me that piece of advice? He’s now my boss.

J.

Pee-in-your-pants Funny: Here's to Herstory Month

"...Good job women, bad job high schools..."

That Hellen Kellar line kills,

despite the fact that it is seriously offensive.

For All You Fashionably Aware: NYMag's Fall '10 Review

Just as the weather starts to turn a tad warmer and you gradually fill The Guide to Menhattan's mold of "Every City Girl Ever" I implore you to check out NYMag's Fall 2010 Fashion review. Despite the fact that the clothes were somewhat demure aka classic (nothing wrong with something that lasts people: it's called recession chic) the best part about the entire video is when it is acknowledged that fashion is starting to catch up to the real world. It is simply modern, more streamlined and livable. Less frou-frou (ahem, Uncle Karl). These are clothes that you can buy and wear this year and next. 

Note: Except for the Snookie poof at Vera Wang. You cannot wear that unless you are from West Texas or New Jersey {insert NY's Gov. Patterson's lisp-y SNL voice here: hilarious}. 

New MGMT, You Know You Are Excited.

I'm pretty excited about MGMT's new album that is set to release April 13th. Mostly because the last one kept me quazi-sane during my first year out of college and in the working world. "Time to Pretend" and "Kids" had the ability to transfer me from my makeshift Elfa desk back to the glorious Saturday afternoon of ACL where they truly were the show of the weekend (if you were there than you know what I am talking about). But when I read below that they are moving away from songs like those I am perplexed to say the least. Will the album be as good?  We'll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, the in between time, see what Flavorwire's Andrew Whang has to say about it and their weird infomercial...

In preparation for their highly-anticipated sophomore release Congratulations, trendsetters MGMT have released a 21-second “informercial” about what comes with the unique packaging of their new album. For just $13 you get a scratch-off cover, a custom metal coin, and a 32-page booklet of photos and lyrics. Sure, the description on the order page could have sufficed, but why settle for bullet points when you can have an ’80s-infused slideshow?

Ben Goldwasser told NME back in January that the upcoming release is less about standout singles than their debut: “We’d rather people hear the whole album as an album and see what tracks jump out rather than the ones that get played on the radio — if anything gets played on the radio! There definitely isn’t a ‘Time to Pretend’ or a ‘Kids’ on the album. We’ve been talking about ways to make sure people hear the album as an album in order and not just figure out what are the best three tracks, download those and not listen to the rest of it.”

UPDATE: Listen to some of the new tracks in their entirety here. 

Randall M for Austin RiffRaff Musical Update

Listen to this new music first...

Then plan for this: Girl Talk to play 40 Acres Fest (free)

UT's Music and Entertainment Committee presents the annual Forty Acres Fest, happening April 10 at the Main Mall in Front of the Tower on campus. This year, the music will be provided by the incomparable Girl Talk.

The show is completely free and will feature an opening act that is yet to be determined.

Grizzly Bear- "Knife (Girl Talk Remix)"

Read more of Randall M's Magical Musical Musings Here.

Side note: April 10th is the same night as Yeasayer at the Parish and Vampire Weekend at Stubbs. Alas, the life of an Austin music enthusiast. 

Thank God We Are Not Alone in Hating The Jersey Shore Look

A Club in New Orleans Banned Jersey Shore Clothes

By: Amy Odell

Republic nightclub in New Orleans has a sign on the door that reads, "If it's on Jersey Shore it's not coming through the door: No Affliction, No Ed Hardy, No Christian Audigier, No Exceptions."  

[See said douche bags at left]

A seemingly brilliant move; we commend the establishment's severe distaste of Shore-approved style. But the new policy is also kind of a tragedy, because one of the most fun things to do at nightclubs is make fun of what people are wearing. [Racked]

Read more here.

Update Your Wardrobe for Spring: The New Gladiator Sandal

My latest fashion obsession is the new Chloe' sandals for Spring/Summer 2010 ($595, Intermix). You know what I mean by my obsession right?... Inevitably I'll be confronted with said obsession and get so excited to see it in real life that  I will buy it with my measly income and struggle to pay it off over time {see a real life example of this with these Vera Wang boots I purchased last fall here- I STILL LOVE THEM, no regrets}. Emphasis on struggle. Damn Quarterlife Crisis.
 

I digress.

The new Chloe' sandal takes the neo-classical gladiator sandal and gives it a more military/safari-ish edge. Not too edgy of course, still wearable and in muted browns and canvas' it's almost downright preppy. Hannah McGibbon really nailed it. 

Pair this lovely set of sandals with any of the much coveted florals for Spring for a look worth remembering. Important side note: make sure to show plenty of leg with these shoes, no, not like prostitute leg, but short hems are in and the proportions of these sandals with their covered up ankles will do your legs a serious disservice if you wear them with something that cuts below the knee aka the widest part of your lower legs. Herrr-o tree trunk legs.

Thankfully, there are several versions that are not attached to the over half a grand price tag. The 80%20 (so named because of our tendency to wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time) from Intermix ($145, pre-order now) capture the look just about the same as their expensive cousins. These bad boys even have a hidden 3 1/2" heel to make your legs look like woah.  

Don't thank me. Thank the  Shoe Gods. That's right I capitalized those words out of reverence. Muahah.

Make Reservations Meow: Austin Restaurant Week

 

Click here for a list of restaurants.

Benefit Video + Johnny Depp = One Powerful Spell Indeed

So much better than "We Are the World."

Happy Friday: who's happier than this man?

I want some of what he's having...

The Genuine Gentleman on the Infamous Penis Pants

 Yes!!!! Finally, another way to compensate for a small penis. 

I mean, you have the classic ways to compensate for a small penis:

·       Big Boat

·       Huge Truck

·       Corvette

·       Enormous biceps with a sweet arm band tattoo

and now PENIS PANTS.

 (Designer Isabel Mastache kicked off Madrid Fashion Week with her avant-garde, penis trousers for men.)

Penis Pants? Really, Penis Pants?  I have never thought of myself as a fashion forward gentleman but I have almost always understood the trends until now!  These pants are utterly reDICKulous. 

Imagine yourself at the bar, trying to get a drink and you feel this thing on your hip.  First you don’t mind because the bar is super crowded and you are trying to get your drink on. As you try to ignore it the bar gets more crowded and the thing continues to rub up against you. Seconds become minutes and now you can’t understand what is bumping into you. You look down and see a fabric covered dick on your leg! What the F!  You know what happens next.

Penis Pants? Do we need these? I already assume that every man has one. Just go to the gym and head to the locker room.  You will see plenty of penises just hanging out there but that is what I expect when I change. I just don’t need to be sitting in a meeting and have some banker walk into the room with a cloth dick just hanging there. 

God, can you imagine your dad wearing these! 

Keep checking The.Well.Set for more Genuine Gentleman articles.  The image in your head of your dad in the dick pants will haunt you for the rest of the day. ENJOY! 

Naomi Campbell Shockingly Still a Biatch

 

Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images, Thomas Concordia /WireImage

After the very sad passing of Alexander McQueen his staff started immediately recalling all of the Spring 2010 samples they'd sent out in preparation for London Fashion Week. His loving staff did this to protect his legacy and insure that none of the pieces were misused for personal gain.

Naomi Campbell, not surprisingly, kept the samples and has been wearing them despite his staff's wishes. I understand that yes, she is Naomi Campbell and yes, that they were, possibly, close friends but this just seems off. Return the dresses Naomi! You aren't fooling anyone this isn't about fashion darling McQueen- it's all about you. Boo on you. 

But, what else would you expect from a person that beats their assistants with cell phones? What a j.e.r.k. 

Free Music Courtesy of the Lovely Jordan Jeffus

Free Portugal the Man download, because they are awesome.

Boom Goes the Dynamite: Timberlake & Timbaland

The Pope's Top 10 Albums of All Time?

According to this site, the Vatican daily paper, L'Osservatore Romano, has started dabbling in pop culture. Drum roll please: The Top 10 albums are, in no particular order:

The Beatles' "Revolver"
Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon"
Oasis' "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?"
Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
U2's "Achtung Baby"
Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours"
Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly"
Carlos Santana's "Supernatural"
Paul Simon's "Graceland"
David Crosby's "If I Could Only Remember My Name."

  Interesting, no?

Happy Friday: Smiling Japanese Puppy

awwwwww

Straight Pimpin': "I'm Talking About Mountain Dews Baby"

"I'm talking Mountain Dews Baby!" -What do you think the CNN reporter thought of that? Priceless.

Shaun White is the king of the mountain and one of the only people I've ever seen that looks nearly identical to Carrot Top. Regardless of his appearance, did you see his gold medal performance Wednesday night? His 'for-fun' victory lap that garnered him an even higher score? 


I know, I am geeking out a lot right now, but my adolescent angst was steeped in snowboarding in New Mexico: I was one of those uni-sexual snowboarders (you saw the girls right? you couldn't tell what they were once the helmet was on) falling down continuously- one time I face planted so bad my board hit me in the back of the head while it was still attached to my feet {yes, I called it 'my board'} and knocked my sunglasses off my face. 

It's real hard.

Needless to say, I appreciate and respect Shaun's talent. You need to watch his gold medal victory lap  below. It is spectacular.

WTF: Where do you even get stickers like this?

At first glance you might think, "ah, this sticker is cute." If you think this then you obviously did not take the time to mentally process/count the cats in this pic. So, let's do it together: one dog, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 regular sized/live cats, one dead cat {ahem, the halo} and one very large cat named Sadie who is apparently larger than the human daughter of the family. What exactly are they feeding that cat?! 

When you're younger everything your parents do is generally embarrassing and you are just overly sensitive, but this one truly takes the cake. Now I like cats as much as the next hipster-impostor-20-something-female, but I think if this was my childhood vehicle I'd fire this at my parents: "Please take that ridiculous sticker down, now everyone knows that you could be on Hoarders and our house smells like cat pee. I hate you!"

Happy Mardi Gras!

Missing NOLA this Mardi Gras. There is truly no place like New Orleans. The glitter, the androgyny, the camaraderie, and of course the ever present red solo cups for people's roadies.

Wishing I was there and not here at my desk. There's no place like New Orleans, there's no place like New Orleans, there's no place...

Except for Vegas. My two debauchery centered loves: 

 Vegas & Nola.

Happy Friday, Xox George Harrison