faux pas

If you've ever created an OKCupid profile, expect to receive a doting email on your birthday that not only reminds you of the passing of time, but also inquires about your relationship status with the subtlety of an overbearing family. "Still single?" the text reads. "Come check out your matches and find the men who want to meet you for your birthday!"

I'm sure it's standard marketing procedure, but I'm surprised a dating site that prides itself on revealing our hidden natures would make this gaffe, however trivial and humorous. There are middle-age people on these sites! Could you imagine receiving an email on your 50th birthday asking if you're still single? Apparently, nobody has studied the effect of age reminders and relationship-status inquiries on mood-regulating brain chemicals. Not positive brand association!

Is it already time for a Pride and Prejudice/Bridget Jones's Diary remake for dating in the Internet age?

>>  What is the world coming to when girls run around looking like an abominable snowman from the knee down?  I saw one yesterday, wearing these shoes, and looking smug about it too.  Too bad I had to burst my eardrums keeping the laughter in. 

>>  I found some amazing granny boots on ebay, buy-it-now price of $16.99 and all.  Too bad my feet are not Victorian-tiny.  These boots are a size 6, so I would have to be all Cinderella step-sistery -- like when they stick their monstrously large feet into that tiny glass slipper -- if I were to try these on.  But I thought I would give you all the heads up, I'm sure someone has lovely dainty feet out there. 

>>  Somebody stop him.  Looks like Mr. Alexander McQueen is jumping on the proverbial designer denim bandwagon.  His second ready-to-wear line, McQ, is a denim-based collection for both men and women -- a "younger and more renegade, but always signature McQueen" collection.  It will include denim jeans, jackets, trenches, and miniskirts, as well as knitwear, woolen coats, tees, and trousers.  The McQ line will be available at 600 stores in June, with prices ranging from $870 for selected knitwear to $105 for a t-shirt.

Maybe it will be something new -- we can always hope, since it is Mr. McQueen.  But as for right now, I'm not too impressed.

** sources: wwd

>> Remember when I went all psycho-babble-y about ze skinny jeans?  Well, here's a moment of deja vu for you, because Ben Sherman has come out with some lovelies, and I have to gush.  The dark wash is flattering for all you worried about wearing such figure-fitting jeans.  And, they're named after the Shrimp.  Yes, that's right, Miss Jean Shrimpton, the very lady who started the whole miniskirt craze, gets a pair of jeans named after her.  What can you say, she did have lovely long legs. 

>> When I said pauvre pauvre Monsieur Mouret, I didn't realize how right I was.  Apparently the man is currently on sick leave, suffering from stress about his newfound joblessness.  The Telegraph did a wonderful interview with monsieur, making me adore him even more.  When asked about his method of draping a single piece of cloth across a woman's body, he replied, "It was like in the movies, when you would see a couple in bed after making love, and there would be the woman, with just a sheet wrapped around her."  Pure sexiness.   

And when asked why he entered into a business arrangement in which he did not own or even part-own the company, he said, "Because I wanted to exist.  You know the story of Faust?  You will trust anyone if you want something so much." 

But my favorite quote from Monsieur Mouret -- when asked about his future, he said, "I'm Edith Piaf.  Je ne regrette rien."  The idea of M Mouret as the Little Sparrow makes me melt -- so cute.  I miss you already, monsieur, and you haven't even left yet. 

>> What's black and white and striped all over?  You might say the obvious answer is a zebra, but think again.  Because, really, why would I be writing about zebras? 

You see, lately I have been under the influence...of the beatnik culture, of course (you bad kid, what were you thinking?).  And these beatniks, they are most def black, white and striped all over.  In fact, if I was to write a recipe for a beatnik wardrobe, it would include:

1 pair black tights 

1 pair black flats

1 pair big black sunnies  (are we noticing a trend here?)

1  floppy hat

1 pair skinny jeans

1 white hairband

1 leopard-print fur jacket

1 black and white striped top

2 shift dresses, one black, one white

1 pair black leather knee-high boots

1 cropped jacket with big buttons

Mix them all up for different outfits, and you have it made in the shade.  Just don't forget to snap when someone reads their poem out loud.  Bongoes are your favorite instrument.  Oh, and smoke a lot.  Jack Kerouac is your God, and On the Road is your Bible.  Okay, maybe if you're doing all this, you've taken it a bit too far -- it's not like you need to do method acting or anything.  Just a little pinch of black tights and black flats here, a little dallop of a leopard-print fur jacket there, and you are looking snazzy. 

I've put a nice little slideshow of inspirational looks together for you here.  And Asos and Topshop each have their own little collection of beatnik-y stuff to peruse to your little heart's content.

>> Liberté, fraternité, égalité...and the inspiration for this jacket -- the four good things that came out of the French Revolution.  I've always loved coattails, but I never thought I would be able to wear them (I thought they only made them on tuxes these days). So you can imagine my excitement when I saw this soldiery jacket of goodness made by Mr. Ralph Lauren, of all people.  Okay, I'll give you a hint.  I was ecstatic.  So ecstatic, I could fly.  Using my coattails as wings, of course.