Nana Banana

Esquire's Big Black Book

It's not all mid-day hot toddies and Elvis movie screenings here in Nana Banana land. Sometimes I vacation in 9-5 land. And my latest stint was with the fine gentlemen at Esquire. If you want to know how to wear the shit out of a pocket square, pick up their special Big Black Book issue. In it I'll learn ya how to tell time like an astronaut, cloak yourself for a fox hunt, and shop for socks like a serial killer.  Put on your big boy pants and buy a copy or I'll cry.  And we all know you guys still haven't figured out how to handle that (instructions also in the issue).

New York Fashion Week 2010

Hi hi friends,

I'm going to be covering fashion week again for AOL's Stylelist. Today I talked intellectual property law with Diane von Furstenberg and underwear choices with Bloomberg, so it's already shaping up to be an interesting week.  If you want to take a gander at the posts as they roll out, you can click here.  And I will have the trusty camera along in the hopes of catching some gems like last year's Fashion's Night Out-Rageous favorites Botox Skeletor and the Weeping Widow of Chef Boyardee (see below).

 

Smooches friends.  And to all you purty young catwalkers out there, EAT A BURGER.

-Nana Banana

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh NERD OUT!

It's no secret that Nana Banana likes herself some wacky eyeglasses.  I got what I paid for with the Tom Ford knockoffs from China.  A friend who shall remain nameless knocked the knock-offs off my face during a particularly energetic moment in the Britney Spears concert...they cracked clear in half.  Oops she did it again and all that business.  So it's been back to the compartively tame cheapies from Zenni Optical.

But just as I started to itch for some snazzy new frames, I came across this great new line via For Me, For You. Warby Parker is like a preppified Sol Moscot...but even cheaper!  All frames are $95, including lenses and shipping.  And they give frames to charity for each frame you purchase!  And unlike other online sites, you can return them if they look crap on your face.  And they have hot models (see below).

I'm kind of loving the following.  Thoughts?

Probably can't pull these off but I might buy 'em for name alone: They're called Tennessee Whiskey :)

   
Has anyone out there bought frames from them yet?  How'd they work out?  How's the quality?  And do you think they'd throw in one of the models with purchase? I kid, I kid.

 

WTF Chanel!?

As if my dream of owning the 2.55 weren't far enough away, those greedy little Frenchies have jacked up the price.  Now HOMD (handbag of my dreams) officially costs the equivalent of three month's rent.  First CostCo, now this?!  You're lucky you're a fine piece of quilted awesome, Ms. 2.55, because few people in the world could otherwise put up with you.  Sigh.

I have a problem

A few months ago, I developed a case of shoe lust. My impending unemployment helped stave things off, kicked up some financial antibodies, generally kept the bug at bay.  But this week I developed a fever, broke out into a rash of irrational purchases, and am now in the depths of a full-on footwear fanaticism.  It all started when I went to a Dolce Vita party for editors and buyers. It brought me into close proximity with THE BOOTS (holy jesus they're every bit as beautiful in person and yes I'm probably going to cave before fashion week). There was an open bar.  There were free shoes (see the sex-on-a-stiletto-black-cage-numbers on the left below)! 

One new pair of shoes should have been enough.  But that just unleashed the fervor within. So today after a breakfast meeting, I wandered by the Steven store on Ludlow, and they were having a firesale.  Two pairs for $50!!!!!  So, naturally I bought 5.  Because that is practical for someone that is funemployed. 

And Friday I head to the leather capital of the world: Argentina!!!  Someone please knock some sense into me!  Save me from myself!!!  (or at least compliment me on all of my beautiful new shoes!!! Don't they just bring a tear to the eye!?)

Resort Wear: Part dos

Last summer I dabbled a bit in mixing stripes with florals (see picture below - face taken over by an alien who felt pity for my bad hair day):

Forever 21's new collection of resort-inspired pieces has a similar take on the idea.  But what I love here are the floral shorts!  How cute are they?  They're not up for sale yet on the site, but this will be a definite purchase before spring.

I also love that cardigan/bandjacket combo. 

When oh when am I going to be a big girl and outgrow disposable fashion?

Resort wear 2010

Nana Banana is gearing up for several weeks of sunshine--first in San Juan, then heading further south to Argentina.  My pasty skin and difficulty finding appropriate swimwear has never made selecting beachy clothes an easy task, but it hasn't stopped me from being a sucker for resortwear.  Give me a psychedelic caftan and hubcap-sized shades or nautical stripes and sweetie espadrilles, top with messy vacation curls, and meet me at the cabana. 

I've been daydreaming outfits all week while swaddled in my Stay Puft Marshmallow sleeping bag coat, and I got even more excited today when I saw these sundrenched shots from The Sartorialist's recent trip to Rio.  Oh to be able to pull off that effortless Brazilian beach look.

What I would like to look like while traveling:

Sights I would like to see:

Yum.

Fashion girl crush continues to break bag-loving heart

Dear fashion girl crush,

I have loved you for many years, even when you moved over here and started hanging out with Agyness Deyn and filming an MTV show (which kind of fell apart, which was not your fault because you're fabulous and really smart and British, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise).  Anywho, I loved you even though you constantly flaunted your really awesome collection of handbags and skinny man friends.  And it just hurts my feelings that after all of this love and devotion, you've never once offered to share in the many blessings the great lord above has showered upon your adorable self. 

Anywho, you may not know this but I've recently been laid off.  And look at you!  You had a fabulous handbag named after you by Mulberry.   And gosh is it beautiful.

I was wondering if maybe, just maybe, you'd consider using your good fortune to cheer a sista up.  One bag in brown would just be a sleigh ride of puppy dogs and unicorns in my bleak funemployed life.  Or, you know, if you don't use this one anymore, I'd settle for that.

Smooches!  LYLAS,

Nana Banana

Budget bitches

I think it's really important to see the good in things, to focus on the potential that is within each discarded piece of clothing at a thrift store and dream of the heights of grandeur such pieces could reach with a nip here, a tuck there.  You also probably know that such tendencies have led to a closet full of unworn, ill-fitting, stained and otherwise unwearable goods.  It is with this in mind, that I have to express my extreme reverence for the blog New Dress A Day, in which one energetic young lady is seeking to feature one new article of reworked vintage each day for an entire year.  365 days, 365 dollars, 365 pieces of clothing. Nana Banana tips its (still-ripped, I swear I'm going to fix this next week) cap to you. 

BEFORE

AFTER

Nana Banana gets knocked up

It seems that my friends were getting seriously busy this fall because now they're all knocked up.  And when you're "up the duff," there's only one question you need to ask. "What would Heidi do?"

For the next few days Nana Banana is going to draw on inspiration from the world's hottest pregnant woman and pass along some ideas for all the ladies-havin-babies out there. It's the least I can do for people that actually still want to hang out with me without the sweet respite of binge drinking.

First up in our WWHD series?  Eveningwear. The beautiful Ms. Klum seems to follow two rules for preggers eveningwear: Highlight your assets, and know the value of a good high heel.  Using those two guidelines, I wanted to point out the following...

1. Nobody puts baby in a corner! 

Modcloth $74.99

When you suddenly have to address the challenge of dressing a whole new body type, I think the tendency can be to throw on some solid-colored jersey-knit and call it a day.  But I think it's sweet to just wrap the bump up in (stretchy) sequins and celebrate that fact that though you may not be able to booze, you DO have a new and improved rack (see also: highlighting your assets). 

2. You can still find ways to be on-trend.

Modcloth $62.99

For the past five or more years, the preggers set has been in luck because baby-doll silhouettes and tunic+legging combos have ruled the day. Lately the trend has veered more towards hourglass Mad-Men inspired looks and terrifying spiked-and-shredded ensembles.  But there are still alot of clothes out there that leave room for the bump and nod toward runway looks.  I like the way that the shoulder appliques on this dress have both a vintage 40s vibe and a little of that Balmain strong-shoulder look.

3. Don't break the bank cause the baby already has that taken care of.

Fashion Ninja $28 and $36

Kids are expensive.  Maternity-wear has a limited shelf-life. So it's not worth throwing away tons of cash that would be better spent on say a "yay, I popped out the kid so I deserve a new handbag," spree.  Or, um, a college fund or something.  Etsy has quite a few sellers that make great separates for bargain prices like the convertible top above and the floaty WWHD-inspired one-shoulder number, both from etsy seller Fashion Ninja.

So, what do you think friends?  I've never been knocked up so I could have this all wrong.  Suggestions?  Corrections?  Complaints?