All Things Fashionating by tracy mausser

For spring and summer, I've been seeing bold print platform and wedge shoes everywhere.  The vivid designs are complete eye-catchers, but I'm just not sure if I'm going to be able to rock this trend being upwards of 40-something.  What do you think? I'd love to hear from you. Mia Riba, $59 Michael Antonio Genoa, $59 Not Rated Safari, $59 Pour La Victoire Bonita, $295 Splendid Whirl, $119 All shoes available at Piperlime http://piperlime.gap.com/

January Jones as Betty Draper In some Southern California school districts, instead of just getting President’s day off, the kids get “Ski Week.”   Now, isn’t that ironic.   However, I suppose if SoCal kids never get to experience the luxury of an unpredicted snow day than I guess Ski Week is the next best thing. Both of my boys have been gone since Monday, so I have been in Mad Men Marathon mode since the moment they packed up their skis.   With the pending approach of Season 5, I am desperate to make it through Season 2.   And, with three episodes a day under my belt, I am getting close to realizing my objective. <> <> January Jones <> The only problem is that I have watched so much Mad Men ; I’m having a hard time discerning reality from fantasy. Now, it is no secret that I enjoy watching Jon Hamm as the dashing Don Draper.   To me, he is actually starting to resemble my husband a bit.   Could this be a part of the rea...

Back in the days before I had kids, I would hoard gift cards and checks sent for my birthday and Christmas.   I would savor them for a day in the future when I could get my “shop” on.     My master plan was to set out – all by my lonesome – to my favorite local mall on a Saturday or Sunday morning.   I would always splurge and stop at Starbucks for a Venti latte. Then I would walk the mall, checking out all my favorite stores and scouring the fashion, sales and prices at various shops. Comfy shoes were a must because I never, ever purchased on my first walk through.   This was my research.   Being on a budget, I felt compelled to find the right pieces for my wardrobe but, even more importantly, at the right price. One shopping trip in particular, I ventured into my local mall’s double-decker Forever 21.   I had my coffee, the music was pumping and a gift card was in my pocket:   I was on a natural high that was fueled by the endorphin...

DVF at NYFW FW12   Last week, it was with great anticipation that I awaited to be a voyeur – since I am here in LA and had nary a ticket – into the runway shows of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City. However, an amazing opportunity to contribute a fashion article as a guest blogger for a new digital magazine, which will launch later this month, introduced a tight deadline and changed my plans. Albeit a tad late, I am happy to (finally) post my fashionating feedback about the best of the New York Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2012 collections. As fashion week progressed, it became profoundly apparent to me that – for women – next season is all about being feminine. So many of the collections at NYFW offered impressions of femininity and age-appropriateness, which is a super-hot topic for me personally right now.   I had already made a vow to introduce more ladylike silhouettes into my wardrobe and, even though I do have grandiose visions of loo...

While flipping through the pages of my most recent Glamour Magazine, I came across an advertisement for Dillard's Department store that caught my eye. Vince Camuto's pleated colorblock dress in a sherbet and melon color scheme made me feel like I was back home on the boardwalk eating some ice cream on a hot summer night. The dress was soothing, yet refreshing, and was pleasing to my palate. I am only sad that I don't have an excuse..I mean ocassion...to go out and buy it.  As far as I can tell, the Vince Camuto Pleated Colorblock Dress, $128, in melon is only available at Dilliard's; Vince himself and Nordstrom only carry it in an aqua blue color scheme. http://www.dillards.com/shop/Vince-Camuto/Women/_/N-173cuZlfx6/Ntk-all/Nty-1?catalogId=301&langId=-1&storeId=301

Ankle Straps Green Jewelry Metallic Shoes Day Time Clutch Color Block

Jason & Tracy on Ios As soon as we exited the ferry, I knew the island of Ios was going to be a lot different. Where Santorini was more built up and had a more sophisticated crowd, Ios was much smaller and it was definitely a younger, party group. Jason had lived on Ios for almost a month, so it was as though he was coming home.   We returned to the inn that he had stayed and rented a room – which just happened to be in someone’s house – where we would stay for the rest of our visit. Ios was less Greek than it was British (i.e.: there were a lot of Brits and consequentially a lot of pubs and a lot of drinking). By the time we arrived on the isle, we had been drinking pretty much all week straight.   Jason was excited to show me all of his old haunts and had planned a fun night on the town. We arrived at our first bar of the evening and I broke it to Jason that I just couldn’t drink alcohol tonight. He looked at me incredulously.   He said, “We are one...

Tracy & Jason at the beach on Santorini St. Valentine’s Day got me thinking about when I found my true love. Jason and I met in Southern California during the summer of 1994.   I had just landed in Los Angeles after having spent some time with my Mom in New Mexico after my college graduation; and Jason had just returned to LA after living in Europe for several months while playing professional volleyball.   h ttp://allthingsfashionating.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50#!/2011/08/celebrating-13-years-of-marital-bliss.html Jason had spent the last few weeks of his European adventure on the Greek Island of Ios.   This tiny island – 11 miles long and 6 miles wide – had made such an impression on him that he vowed to take me there one day. On our first Valentine’s Day, Jason surprised me with the arrangements for us to travel to Greece and back-pack through the Greek Islands late...

With Valentine’s Day less than 24 hours away, Cupid has struck me down with the love of Choo.   Jimmy Choo’s Summer Surfer clutch – in both orange and turquoise color schemes – delivers a little sunshine to our lives during these February cold spells. From the Jimmy Choo S/S 12 collection, this fun purse reminds us that – even though Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter – summer is indeed on its way.   (Unless you live in SoCal like me and have had the good fortune of experiencing summer weather all winter long.) Summer Surfer, a glossy acrylic bag finished in a photo-realistic print, retails for $795 and is available at Jimmy Choo and Saks Fifth Avenue. http://us.jimmychoo.com/en/us/springsummer-12/candy-pre-order-now/invt/121candypda/

I have been given the greatest gift. Last Thursday, I began working an altered schedule – albeit temporary – on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that I am able to be more involved in my son Shane’s education. When Shane was three-years-old, I began working full-time.   It was a blessing for both of us. After staying at home with him since birth, I was ready to re-enter the corporate world and bring home the bacon again; Being an only child, Shane was ready for the socialization of pre-school. It was a win-win situation. We found an amazing pre-school that also offered an accredited Kindergarten program.   So, for four years, Shane progressed along with the program. Small classroom sizes and a nurturing staff did all the hard work and Shane excelled. However, almost five years later, Shane is mid-way through First Grade in our local public school district.   He is doing well but, unlike private school, there is much more parent accountability and participat...