All Things Fashionating by tracy mausser

All Things Fashionating will resume its normal posting next week. I am happy to report that I have just been super busy looking for more fashionating things to blog about and got caught up enjoying my amazing life! Stay tuned for more interesting reads...

Photo: Miu Miu Last night, while watching "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" with my son and husband, I realized that I am being faced with a mission almost nearly as impossible. My favorite black wedges from two seasons ago are finally coming to the end of their respectable life-span.  I am so sad to see them go, but the task to replace them is almost as daunting as climbing the world's tallest building in Dubai. My new loves must be fashionable yet comfortable and be able to take me to every aspect of my life:  work, school and social functions. Miu Miu, the high fashion brand from Prada, has a pair of patent leather cork platforms with a lacquered heel that I am considering.  Interesting enough to set me apart from the pack, but versatile and comfortable enough to fit into my life.  There are a few other contenders but, my next step, is to actually try these Miu Miu's on and see if they are too good to be true. However, I have chosen to ...

 Diane Von Furstenberg has definitely come full circle since she first introduced her iconic wrap dress in 1973. Paving the way for women designers in the early 70s, her company – DVF, a global luxury lifestyle brand – continues to reign supreme in the world of fashion.  Today, the saying “What’s Old is New Again,” certainly rings true for DVF’s Fall 2012 RTW collection. DVF and her right-hand man, Yvan Mispelaere, have created an ensemble that includes many looks which would have been right at home in the 1988 movie, “Working Girl.” Photo: DVF On the runway, DVF showcased clingy dresses – some that were draped and off the shoulder in brave, yet vibrant color combinations – that fell below the knee. An melon colored top tucked into pencil pants all topped with a blazer whose structured shoulders were reminiscent of a quarterback. An over-sized bouclé coat with a matching skirt was also paired with vibrant separates and elevated the look to fit ma...

Photo: ABC I believe that the television shows we choose to watch are a very personal decision and don’t necessarily define the person whom we are.   I know that I have some individual guilty pleasures such as “Mad Men,” “America’s Next Top Model,” Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and New Jersey, “Vampire Diaries”…you get what I’m saying.   These are shows that I feel comfortable watching while in the seclusion of my own home, but don’t typically admit to my devotion.   And for those who are big fans of “American Idol,” “DWTS,” and “The Voice,” I’m sorry to disappoint but I am just not a big enthusiast of these talent competitions.   I know I should be watching “Meet the Press” and “60 Minutes” each week, but I get enough of the negative current events through my newspaper reading. With my husband, we like to watch shows that have more adult themes: “The League,” “It’s Always Sunny,” “Parenthood” and, on occasion, I can persuade the artist in him...

Photo by Drybar In honor of Mother's Day, a few girlfriends and I hit up the newest Drybar location in Manhattan Beach. The Drybar, a blow dry bar, boasts a wash but no cuts or color. Just $35 blowouts. The concept has blown it out and they have expanded into the South and to the East Coast. For the standard cost, the salon offers various types of blowout styles named after sophisticated drinks like the Manhattan, Cosmopolitan, Mai Tai and Shirley Temple. For a wee bit extra, the dry bar offers UpTinis (Updos) for $70, Dry on the Fly (In Home Blowouts) for $73 and, most important, the Floater (a 10 minute head massage) at $10 extra. Nice! However, us hot mamas, had gotten ourselves a sweet deal on Daily Candy.  For only $25, we received a standard wash and blowout which included a free mimosa.  My stylist was Nancy and she did a fabulous job; I walked out feeling like a million bucks. Brilliant!

Sometimes we all get so caught up with our day-to-day obligations -- work, family, social commitments -- that we end up going 100 miles per hour all day, every day. Today, I am planning to live in the moment. This morning, I started my day with a run with one of my best friends, Rachel.  After Shane's baseball game, I'm off to spend the afternoon with two of my other closest friends.  With plans to end the day cooking an authentic Spanish dish, Paella, for my family. A recent Daily Om got me to slow down and smell the proverbial roses: It is only in the present moment that we experience being alive.   Life, in all of its fullness, is happening right now. While our thoughts are sometimes elsewhere, beautiful opportunities and moments are being passed over and lost to the flow of time. And though we cannot possibly fully experience each leaf that falls to the ground, sometimes we get so attached to reaching our goals that we don’t pay attention...

I have finally entered into the 21 st Century and am proud to report that I now have an iPhone. On my recent girls’ trip, I took a moment to look around and realized I was the only one in my group who wasn’t a part of the new smart phone phenomenon.   I felt left out of the cool kids club. Lucky for me, I was available for an upgrade on my service plan and I jumped at the chance to get my exclusive membership.   Although my over-the-top excitement soon turned to frustration as I realized how time-consuming it was to learn to navigate my new toy. Don’t get me wrong.   I actually love my coveted white iPhone 4s and am so excited to start acquiring my life-altering apps – especially now that I can play Words with Friends with my bestie from San Diego, Leslie.   (I looked it up and she invited me almost one whole year ago.) But first, I just have to get over the initial hurdle of sending emails, text messages and making phone calls.   You know the comp...

Photo Courtesy DANNIJO website A fter seeing a fashion brief in People Style magazine about  DANNIJO Jewelry, I found myself very curious about their funky designs. Once on the site, I was blown away by the extensive variety of choices, but the Sloane cuff brought me back to my Guns N Roses days when I was living in New York City.  This gorgeous mini stackable studded cuff is classic rocker chic. Retailing for $220, it comes in Oxidized Silver or 14K gold platings. Founded by sisters Danielle and Jodie Snyder in 2008, DANNIJO jewelry is hand-made in New York and offers an eclectic range of designs. Danielle’s bohemian, rocker vibe combined with Jodie’s timeless sophistication makes for a versatile and ever-changing statement collection that consistently maintains a strong sense of DNA. http://www.dannijo.com/

Well, ATF's birthday week has come to an end.  I enjoyed sharing my top four posts of all time and having a little reprieve from writing all new posts this week. Next week, my blog will cover some old and new fashionable and current topics, while carrying on with my self-deprecating personal anecdotes. ATF's fourth most viewed post was just from last week -- Hot Proper Ladies In Hats Take On NOLA.  Here is the link for your reading pleasure. http://allthingsfashionating.blogspot.com/2012/04/hot-proper-ladies-in-hats-take-on-nola.html#!/2012/04/hot-proper-ladies-in-hats-take-on-nola.html Thank you again for following my blog and I look forward to continuing to share All Things Fashionating with you.

Back in the 1990s, I had a friend who worked at In Style Magazine. She had some connections and got me, and another friend, a gig dancing on Club MTV. The original host – Downtown Julie Brown – was holding the mic and the Pet Shop Boys were rocking The Palladium in New York City during those early years of the MTV show. The show, which was modeled after American Bandstand, cut back and forth between teen-agers (uh, hum and young adults) who would dance to hit songs and videos of those songs.   Often there were musical guests who performed their new singles; such guests included Paula Abdul, Deee-lite, Salt-N-Peppa, Black Box, Vanilla Ice, Samantha Fox and MC Hammer just to name a few. The first time I had the opportunity to dance, I was completely excited but wasn't sure what to expect. I was told to bring several changes of clothes as we would be filming part of a season over a two day period. At the time, I was still going to college and living at home w...

Sometimes you have to look back to the old, to find something new.  Now, not to get too down on Ulta Beauty but, one of the things that I really needed to replace last weekend, they could not do so.  At the top of my list, I needed to replenish my Benefit Bluffdust, which I absolutely adore because it has yellow tones that calm the redness that I tend to get on my face.  Unfortunately, it seemed that was the only Benefit product that they did not carry at the mega beauty supply. I was unable to find anything else that was comparable, so I shelved that dilemma to another day.  Well, by Thursday, I was completely missing my loose powder and the dilemma had blown up into a catastrophe.  I had to run into CVS Drugstore for a birthday card when I remembered that my best buddy from growing up -- Amy Pavao -- had always used Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder.  It always caught my eye because it came in this super cute box with a big powder puff. So, for ...

I’ve been hearing all kinds of buzz about a French documentary profiling the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.  I had been hoping to publish this post yesterday – on Wednesday June 1 –the three year anniversary of Laurent’s passing, but National Running Day took precedence. Sorry Mr. YSL. But, I am praying that I get a chance to see “L’Amour Fou,” (Mad Love) which is about Laurent and his longtime companion and business partner, Pierre Berge. The movie, which is directed by Pierre Thoretton, is only out in limited release. I have not actually viewed the film, but I have seen mixed reviews. According to the L.A. Times , the documentary is narrated by Berge as he applauds Laurent on his accomplishments in the world of fashion, such as being a forefather for ready-to-wear fashion and his breaking the mold by using non-traditional looking models on the runway.  It also touches on YSL’s struggle with alcohol and depression throughout their 50 years tog...

Well, today, it has been one whole year since I officially launched my blog about nothing. Ultimately, I am very proud of it and so happy that I have been dedicated to keep up with my writing about things that I find fascinating. Obviously, my primary focus is fashion, entertainment with a little pop culture thrown into the mix of my own personal story. But, on the same note, I can only imagine what would happen if I was able to devote more time to my blog. Now, I know I shouldn't beat myself up over such things. I’m supposed to focus on what I have accomplished and not dwell on those things that I have not...yet. However, I can’t help but have this feeling that, with a little perseverance, ATF could be so much more so I keep plugging along. I want to thank those of you whom have been loyal readers of ATF from the very beginning. I truly appreciate each and every one of you and implore you to keep following me. I dream big and I know that event...