The Fashion Time Magazine

The delightful Allie  (left) of Wardrobe Oxygen and My Wardrobe Today floats like a butterfly with her thoughtful opinions on clothing choices, fashion bargains, and personal style, and occasionally stings like a bee with her learned insights in to the fashion industry.

Allie, who lives and work in the Metro DC area, is expecting her first child with her husband, a joyful experience that has led her into a keen appreciation of maternity wear and an upcoming selection of her baby’s clothing.

We thank Allie for taking time out from her busy schedule to participate in the interview.

Fashion Time: How did your blog begin?

Allie: In 2005 I had a job that required me to travel for business and have many meetings and workshops with clients.  I started an online photo journal to make sure I didn’t wear the same dress or blouse each time I saw the same client.  People started finding the blog and three years later here I am!

Fashion Time: Fashion: is it a business or an art?

Allie: Both.  I do believe couture is a beautiful form of art, however prêt-a-porter is all about business – how to make fashion wearable and marketable.  Unfortunately these lines get blurred and often what one finds to be “fashionable” is just a billboard for the designer, or a tacky copy of the original work.  As for true fashion, as with any art it should be a successful business and provide profit for the artist and his team.  Wearable art – who wouldn’t love that?

Fashion Time: The top five items on your style wish list for the fall season are?

Allie: This is hard.  Usually by this time I already have a wish list and a few magazine pages in a journal for inspiration.  However this year I will be pregnant and I am not sure how I will be shaped and what will be comfortable.  I do love the tartans for fall and think I will be adding them to maternity basics and dark tights for a fresh look.  The slouchy and oversized knits are something I also feel I can incorporate into a maternity wardrobe quite nicely.  I also plan to invest in some riding boots – I love that a flat heeled boot is in style just in time for my pregnancy!

Fashion Time: In Camille Paglia’s Sexual Personae, she writes that culture is a defense against female nature. Do you agree that society tends to favor the masculine aesthetic?

Allie: In this day and age, what exactly is a male or female aesthetic?  If a woman shows strength, I no longer think society sees that as acting manly or butch; in turn a man who is sentimental or romantic isn’t seen as acting feminine.  I feel that society, at least Western society has developed so greatly in just the past couple of decades that claims by Paglia are seen as passé.  Women are praised for being strong, for being good mothers, for being sensitive, for being a “bitch,” and for doing all of them.  Yes, a few of society’s old views were definitely brought to light during the recent democratic candidate campaign, but I do feel it was due to marketing far more than due to old stereotypes and views by our society.  Different sort of campaign, and we very well may have a different democratic nominee for president.

Fashion Time: Who is your fashion muse?

Allie: I really don’t have one and never have.  Style and fashion are a bit of a hobby for me so I like to glean inspiration from many different places and people.  My style changes depending on my job, my recent travels, the music I am into.

Fashion Time: Would you ever wear fur?

Allie: I do have a fur coat – my great aunt found it at an estate sale and gave it to me when I was 16 years old.  It is black with bracelet-length sleeves and ornate embroidered buttons; my winter evening coat.  I feel that not wearing it is disrespectful to those poor animals who died for it.  I do not believe in purchasing fur though, and continuing such a horrible business.

Fashion Time: The most sensual smelling fragrance is?

Allie: My husband in the morning.

Fashion Time: Hair style that you like to see return to fashion?

Allie: I would love feathered hair to come back just for selfish reasons – my hair thinks it’s on an episode of One Day at a Time and loves to part in the middle and feather out!

Fashion Time: So, all the “It” gals are hoisting Godzilla Bags, leather hobos that allow you to carry everything but the kitchen sink with you. What’s a nice stylish bag to rebel against this trend with?

Allie: The classic envelope clutch.  It holds only what a woman truly needs – an ID to prove herself to the world, money to support herself (and buy her own drink/cab ride), powder so no one will ever see her sweat, and lipstick to remind everyone that though she is independent, she is still all woman.

Fashion Time: Maxi dresses are very “in” this season, but are they really all that practical during this hot and humid summer?

Allie: Personally, I am a huge fan.  I have loved long dresses since my wedding gown – may seem hot, but you’re able to discreetly open your legs, swish the fabric to fan yourself, sit in any manner you choose, stand over an A/C unit and have no one be the wiser, and look utterly chic about town in the most comfortable of flat sandals.  Where they are not practical is a sporting event.  I recently went to see the Washington Nationals play and saw several dozen women in the stands in maxi dresses.  There is a time and place for all forms of fashion.

Fashion Time: Makeup: You’re not a big proponent of overdoing it with cosmetics, Tammy Faye Baker style, LOL, what about women who don’t wear makeup?  How many women can actually get by, without resorting to a little makeup?

Allie: The older one is, the harder it is to go without makeup.  Skin thins, pores become more prominent, life is not as forgiving.  Just as an older woman can’t get away with a little tank, jeans and flip flops, she also cannot get away with a naked face.  A little concealer, some blush and mascara can go a very long way…

Fashion Time: You are a mom to be, so we must ask you, have you picked out the baby’s clothes yet?

Allie: No, but do know in a couple of weeks when I know the sex I will be a baby-clothing shopaholic!

Fashion Time: What is trendy in baby wear this summer?

Allie: Oh gosh, I must admit I have not been looking because A) I do not know the sex yet, and B) it may not be trendy next year when my baby will be able to sport it!  I must say it is nice to know I don’t have to dress my infant solely in pastels.  Many companies are coming out with fun, cheerful and hip clothing for babies – far more my speed than pink ruffled pinafores 24/7!

Fashion Time: What is hot in maternity wear for you, which doesn’t make you look like a total wreck, but instead looks very flattering on you?

Allie: Dresses are a Godsend – they are comfortable, feminine and stylish.  I can see myself in dresses 90% of this pregnancy.  I also steer away from loud prints – not sure why they make maternity and plus-sized clothing in gaudy patterns – it just makes women look larger and more stressed.  Finally, I am not going to hide this new body – feminine necklines that show my growing décolleté, empire waistbands to provide figure definition, slim trousers to balance out a floaty top, and fabrics with knit and stretch so my clothing skims my curves and doesn’t make me look like an ice cream cone.

Fashion Time: What ONE item from your wardrobe would you take from your house or apartment, if a fire happened?

Allie: That’s tough!  Over the years I have become a bit detached from my wardrobe – sizes change, styles change, lifestyles change.  I think before I grab anything form my closet I would grab my jewelry armoire (oh yes, I have so much it is an armoire and not a box).  I collect jewelry, scarves and hair accessories to really add my personality to simple classic garments.  It would be sad to lose some of those one-of-a-kind pieces or gifts from loved ones.  Top of the list would be my sterling silver wrist cuff I purchased eleven years ago to celebrate surviving my first “real job” interview.  I wear it almost every day, it is almost a part of me.

Fashion Time: “Bad Girl Style:” If you want to dress like a Bad Girl, what wardrobe and makeup suggestions can you offer to our readers?

Allie: I love getting a bit rocker when I go out on the town.  Amazing how much a smokey eye and some tousled hair can transform a woman.  I also think a slouchy off the shoulder top in a silky black jersey fabric is a great addition to any woman’s wardrobe.  Pair with jeans, white trousers, a sequined mini, velvet tuxedo pants… it’s sexy without showing too much and totally gives that Bad Girl vibe!

Fashion Time: What are some of your favorite places to shop in your area?

Allie: Honestly, DC is a hard city to shop in if you are petite, over a size 10 and not preppy or conservative.  I am the queen of the internet – I scour online boutiques and eBay to find clothing that both fits my figure and my sense of style.

Fashion Time: Tell us about some male celeb eye candy you’ve been scoping out recently?

Allie: Oh my, I must say one benefit to pregnancy is falling in love with your husband all over again.  He has been my main source of eye candy!  That being said, my current crush (that my husband is full aware of) is Jonathan Rhys Meyers – if you haven’t caught the past seasons of The Tudors on Showtime – you MUST put it at the top of your Netflix queue!  He was utterly yummy in Bend it Like Beckham, and is to die for as Henry the 8th!