My So-Called Fashion Sense

It's official. The 90s are back and we're not the only ones who have noticed.

You think you can hide out there Mr. & Ms. General Public? We see you in your floral prints, your little backpacks, belted cardigans and your chunky shoes.

We have a prediction for you, babydoll dresses, reddish-brown lipstick and rollerblading will soon seem like a great idea.

Oh and also, you will be totally in love with Jordan Catalano. And you will almost touch his shoulder during a pop quiz.

Kris Kross will make you Jump Jump

Phat Tony: Hey Gurrrrl.
Betsy: what's happening?
PT: Absolutely everything. I was just standing in line at Starbucks waiting for my tall, non-fat, extra-caramel, caramel macchiato when I realized that women have been wearing a lot of jumpers lately.
B: jumpers like an Anglophile's sweater or jumpers like when we were 5?
PT: Jumpers like when we were 5.
PT: I mean granted, most of them have worn it under a suit jacket in some sort of semblance of professional-wear but I just keep thinking why is this necessary? I mean, how are you comfortable removing that jacket when you have something like THAT underneath. I mean, regardless of the color of the garment it skews towards the juvenile.
B: Perhaps something like this?
PT: Haha, maybe not entirely that bad but seriously not good either.
B: yeah, I don't really get jumpers, I mean, they got semi-trendy for 5 minutes 3 years ago and the fact that people are still wearing them is really pathetic
PT: True that.

We Love Ricotta

Ricotta is an amazing cheese for several reasons not only for its starring role in lasagna. Don't get us wrong here, we are also fans of parmigiano reggiano (especially when spoken with a deep and somewhat phony Italian accent), goat cheese, and the all important mexican mix pre-shredded variety but still, with all the options, ricotta has some surprising and unexpected uses.

We recently had brunch at Vento where we sampled a duo of olive tapenade and ricotta spread served with a lovely crusty bread. Dipping into the ricotta, we thought, what is this magnificence? It turned out to be a surprisingly simple concoction of ricotta, olive oil, salt and pepper. We wouldn't want to dole out an exact recipe here, but note that if you apply each ingredient to taste, you can't really go wrong.

We've recently heard talk of using ricotta at breakfast time.


Simply composed of ricotta, a drizzle of honey and a sprinkling of either fresh or dried fruit the folks at the Kitchn suggest that this is "a dish simple enough for a fast weekday breakfast, yet still fancy enough to serve to your best company." We agree.

Get It Together: Cousin It Shoes

Dear Kate Moss,

Right, so you're cute in that "maybe I partake in the occasional illegal substance but at least I don't eat junk food sort of way." For this reason, we've consistently looked the other way during your five year fling with fringed moccasins and/or Pete Doherty.


We're not really going to hate on this choice of footwear too badly because for one thing Kate, you can pull this off. Sienna Miller might be different story but like Charles Barkley, you are not a role model.

What we do take issue with is these little beauties strutting down the Etro runway.

Look closely, squint if you have to, but these are actually a pair of suede fringed sandals a la Cousin It. Do you hear me Moss? Fringed. Sandals. Suede. We blame this on you. I hope you're happy with yourself.

Yours truly,

The Aesthetes

Herve Leger: Binding Arbitration

We have noticed a plethora of starlets sporting the Herve Leger "bandage dress," on the red carpet and oftentimes the exact same version.

There's nothing wrong, per se, with this look it's just that it seems a little...well...binding.


And we missed the memo dictating that constipated was the new black.

Plaid Love: Redux

If we loved plaid last summer, we are in a long-term codependent on-again off-again relationship with it now. Phat Tony has been waxing eloquent about flannel for ages and I, having embarrassing tendencies towards adoring all things Français, am enamored with the twist of irony and the references to "American redneck culture" with which the French have embraced plaid recently. Specifically note the below courtesy of Sartorialist.


We love plaid. We love that it references both the music of the Keiths (otherwise known as Toby Keith and Keith Urban) as well 1990s grunge. We love that it can be edgy or preppy, male or female, French country or American classic. We think a pattern so protean is more than just a trend but embodies true staying power.

Teeny Tiny Backpacks

Are we entering the phase where the mid-nineties has become nostalgic and retro? I mean, how else can we explain the return of the dreaded belted cardigan. Once we started seeing women sporting the mini-backpack (mini-pack) trend of '96 we wondered what next? The Britney Spears cropped shirt, the ubiquitous Mayim Bialik hat, the painted-on Cindy Crawford mole? Shudder to think. Seriously though, we have seen people rocking these lately.


We clearly approve of the man-bag concept and especially a technologically advanced, ergonomically correct backpack. It begs the question though, if one needs to wear some sort of carryall that requires distribution over both shoulders due to its weight, perhaps said weight should be heavier than your Louis Vuitton change purse, your iPhone, and your L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Lipcolor.

We, of all people, realize that fashion is not always utilitarian but seriously, this mini-pack trend is wholly useless. Unless of course you've been cast as Lacey Chabert's character in your community theater's upcoming revival of Party of Five. In that case, party on.

Welcome Back Blogger

Hi, what's your name?

So we realize we've been a little M.I.A. lately. We've been busy. I mean, with starting intensive doubles bocce ball lessons, seriously overconsuming Pellegrinos and Fizzy Lizzies and watching the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on repeat, we've barely had time to focus on any real actual work, let alone the important task of spreading our missives in re: good taste.

There was also that slight sojourn we took to consult on a fashion show for a line which will remain nameless but that we will refer to by its top secret code name of "Honey Slim." Let's just say our new choreography of "walk walk walk walk turn walk sneer walk walk walk exit" revolutionized the entire situation.

And lest we forget we also attended the McDowell School of Dance spring recital which also happened to be the 25th anniversary celebration. We haven't seen so many feathers, sequins, and jazz hands put to good use in ages, if ever.

However, have no fear, we are back and it feels good to be home.