All Things Fashionating by tracy mausser

Hot Proper Ladies in Hats I had one of the most exquisite weekender experiences of my life recently.   My friend Linda invited a few girlfriends to join her in New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA) to help her celebrate her 40 th birthday and upcoming nuptials.   I was honored and excited to be included but, what set this girls trip apart from the rest, is that Linda is currently residing in NOLA.   So – us Angelenos – got to experience N’Oleans not so much as tourists but as locals. We started off the weekend lunching at the grand dame of New Orleans’ old-line restaurants, Galatoire’s, located right on Bourbon Street.   We arrived eight strong decked out in party dresses and fancy hats ranging from Kentucky Derby to the Royal Wedding. For more than 100 years, Galatoire’s has catered to NOLA’s high society and last Friday was no exception.   The Galatoire’s experience is less about food – which is French Creole cuisine and delicious – but more about the scene.   My girl

So I posted a few weeks ago that I had stocked up on some fun and trendy blouses for work.   I had success at one of my favorite fashionista on a budget boutiques – Forever 21.   For $100, I came home with tops in every color of the rainbow, a beautiful accordion-pleat skirt plus some fun accessories.   F21 can be hit or miss for me as sometimes the fashion is just too junior but, in this case, I scored. I love shopping designer but I have a hard time spending a lot of money on trendy items that have a short life-span, so I look to lower-end chains to satisfy my craving for over-the-top trendacies as I did in this case. So, when one top in my bounty landed me mucho compliments, it seemed wrong not to share.   Forever 21’s Essential Sheer Blouse – in Georgette-style – features a pleated, round neckline and fluttered raglan sleeves.   The tie drawstring at the waist gives it a flattering nip without an actual tuck.   The only down-side is that it is not lin

God, I love food trucks.   I am in ecstasy whenever I find one and get to taste all those delectable delights that I wouldn’t normally eat.   But do you know what I love (conceptually) more than food trucks?   That’s right, fashion trucks.   The mobile boutique trend is on the rise and I am praying that it is one movement that drives it home. In major cities across the U.S., fashion hawkers are taking their wares to the road. In Boston, The Fashion Truck ( www.fashiontruck.com ) has geared up to bring more than Red Coats to the masses; Dallas boasts The Vintagemobile ( www.thevintagemobile.com ), a converted school bus, where antique western wear is the main theme; and Portland folks have a hankering for Wanderlust ( www.wanderlustmobileshop.com ), which sells vintage clothes from the 50s and 60s. On a local level in Cali, Palm Springs has The Styleliner, ( www.thestyleliner.com ), which peddles high end accouterments from around the world, and Le Fashion Truck

All weekend long, I had been thinking about what I wanted to post for my personal essay.   There was really no topic out there that I felt passionate or intrigued to write about.   I realized that I was experiencing writer’s block due to being preoccupied with preparing for a girl’s trip which was looming on the horizon. I am flying to New Orleans this weekend – with a few of my closest girlfriends – to celebrate our friend Linda’s 40 th birthday and her upcoming nuptials. I  am super excited for several reasons: I am so happy for Linda and excited to celebrate with her; we have several fun events planned; and I have never been to the Big Easy before. With my typical Type “A” personality and love of (slave to) fashion, I started thinking about my outfits for this trip a few weeks ago.   I took inventory of my walk-in and started researching by perusing fashion rags and checking my usual online shopping sites to get inspired. After making a few purchases and worki

Well, the first weekend of Coachella 2012 is behind us and photos of the music festival are starting to trickle out. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a modern day Woodstock that is held over two consecutive weekends this year. The event -- which is held in Coachella, California -- features many genres of music and large sculptors, and is only a two and a half hour drive from Los Angeles.  It is a big attraction for celebrities and peace, love and happiness keepers across the globe. My hubby and I so wanted to pack up the kid and car and head out to the desert for some tunes and people-watching, but tickets didn't materialize this year.  We chose to be happy just being voyeurs. Here is a little tease, but stay tuned for an ATF recap of all Coachella fashion later in the month.  (L) Lilly Collins and Emma Watson (Photo:Donato Sardello)  RiRi dressed way down! (Photo: Michael Buckner) Paris Over the Top!  (Photo:London Ent./MoVi Inc.)

Photo: Bravo Television So, as spring has sprung, many of my favorite television shows are back on the air and some new favorites have cropped up as well.   Mad Men has finally returned along with America’s Next Top Model and the Vampire Diaries .   While I am still faithful to Bravo’s Bethenny Ever After , I’m finding this season a little depressing with all the marital distress Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy seem to be facing. However, I have found my Shangri La funny bone in a show about “Tehrangeles.” Ryan Seacrest and Bravo Television have teamed up to bring the most brilliant show that I have seen in years – Shahs of Sunset .   The show follows a group of wealthy young Persian-American adults living and working in Los Angeles.   It is the Jersey Shore , but Persian-American-style which means everything in excess. Seacrest, the executive producer of the “docu-series” said the upcoming cast was a mix between “hot” people and “not so hot, but funny

Almost a year ago – when I started my blog – some friends told me that my style of writing was similar to Ree Drummond, creator of the blog ThePioneerWoman.com, author of several best-selling books, and the star of her own television show on the Food Network.   Whoa, what a compliment. So, I immediately I signed up for the daily RSS feed of Confessions of a Pioneer Woman and have certainly enjoyed her lifestyle posts over the past year.   However, I knew she had a New York Times bestselling book but I had never had a chance to read it until just recently. While at the airport in Panama City, I was desperate for a book to read in Costa Rica.   Unfortunately, the bookseller did not have my current book in the The Immortal series, my newest obsession.   (Alas, will I never grow up?)   So I quickly purchased The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels and boy did I make the right choice. The book was fantastic; an autobiography about Ree’s break-up from her long

The sting of losing my favorite clutch two weekends ago is starting to fade.  Not that it could ever be replaced, but I am on a mission to find a new "going out" bag.  My python clutch was a mixture of purple, gray and cream: It just went with everything.  I already have a few black back-up bags and even a pink "organic leather" clutch that I picked up last summer.  However, the purple color scheme is still fresh on my mind but I'm thinking that I must change my mind-set and be open to a whole new purse all together. I found a few options at Nordstrom that I am contemplating, what do you think? Vince Camuto, $198 House of Harlow, $195 Diane von Furstenburg, $395 All photos courtesy of Nordstrom.com

On Tuesday -- as on any work day -- I walked into my closet and pulled on a work uniform.  Well you see, I don't really wear a uniform, I'm talking about the four or five work outfits that I wear when I want to be safe, comfortable and drab.  OK, I really don't want to be drab but, just for the sake of ease, these dark trousers, dark top and jacket all make me look like I am in mourning for my life. I needed an infusion of color and a little spring in my step. So the next day, I decided to stock up on some colorful work tops to mix into my wardrobe.  A sunny yellow blazer and shell were just the things I needed.  I also found a rainbow sherbet accordion pleat skirt with a coral sweater and tops in melon and soft pinks.  A teal sweater and aqua cross body bag proudly await their turn. I was so happy with my finds and I knew it was a good score because, as I was checking out, the sales associate commented on my beautiful rainbow of colors she was gingerly fo

Cheerful Givers, a top-rated non-profit, provides toy-filled birthday gift bags to shelters and food shelves so that parents living in poverty can give their children birthday gifts. Since the organization gave its first bag away in 1994, it has provided a half million needy children with a little birthday spirit.  According to its website, Cheerful Givers states that by gifting these birthday bags to less fortunate children, it helps them to build self-esteem, enhances self-worth and builds the family bond. Join me today by becoming a cheerful giver, it feels even better than getting a gift. http://www.cheerfulgivers.org/

I was so out of sorts last week.   On Saturday – more than a week ago – Jason and I went to our son’s school district’s fund-raiser and I left my clutch purse in the taxi on my way home.  I wasn't snookered and realized it right away.   Jason had handed me a big bag to hold and I put the purse down next to my leg -- on the seat -- to grab the bag.  When we got out of the cab, I didn't pay but I immediately took inventory and realized I didn't have my purse just as the taxi driver took off.  Jason chased the car down the street like a crazy man and, I was so thankful for his chivalry, but it was to no avail.  We phoned Yellow Cab right away and they put a bulletin out, but we had no luck. However, two days later and after quite a few phone calls, I was finally able to track down the cab that we were in and, realized, it wasn’t Yellow Cab but a different cab company.   The driver didn’t find my purse.   I know that it was my negligence that caused me to l

I have been harboring a few Bloomingdale's gift cards since Christmas.  The old saying is true: When you got money to burn, there ain't nothin' out there; When you should be on a budget, the choices are endless. Well, I've made the trek to my favorite Bloomies down at South Coast Plaza on a few occasions.  My goal has always been to find the perfect gift for myself but, since Christmas, I have come home empty handed on more than several occasions. This past weekend was Bloomingdale's Friends and Family promotion, I thought to myself, "I have a bunch of gift cards and then an additional 20% off, I can't go wrong."  But boy, was I wrong.  After walking for hours through Bloomies (and Saks and Barneys Co-op and Mango and Intermix and H&M and Sephora for inspiration) and then back to Bloomies, NOTHING caught my eye, peeked my interest, got my mojo going...a failure.  As I was literally walking out the door thinking of nothing but a lovely glass o