Happy New Years Everyone!

 

We appreciate your support and readership and wish you a grand 2013. Keep in mind that “13” is the numerical equivalent of the Hebrew word “Ahava” which means Love. This should be a good sign – don’t you think?

 

XOXO,

Wear Your Invisible Crown

 

 

Prelude to Post: I can’t seem to fight it. Late Parsha posts are my fatal flaw (well one of them…you’ll soon see that I have many others). Bear with me anyways?

Comparison is the Thief of Joy



        I’m convinced that I’m an old soul. In fact, I like to think of my soul or consciousness (or whatever you’d like to call it) as a stereotypically portrayed grandmother. There she is with her silvery hair coiled into an immaculate bun, quilt thrown over her legs, knitting a hat, murmuring to herself in Yiddish (which is kind of odd because I’m of Middle-Eastern descent and all…huh).

St-EYE-lista

Take 2

        Welcome back to our bi-monthly column "The St-EYE-lista!" This column features an individual whose personal style captured our EYE and whose fashion sense can be reinterpreted for the modest dresser. Wear Your Invisible Crown is eclectic. We enjoy representing styles that swing all over the fashion pendulum. Whether your P.S. (personal style) is tomboyish, retro, glamourous, edgy, or classic, we've got you covered.
       This month’s St-EYE-lista is a 21^st century Anna Karenina, Lucille Ball, Russian Babushka, and Grace Kelly all rolled into one. Did that pique your interest? Good…It totally should. Her name is Ulyana Sergeenko and she is the second wife to Russian insurance billionaire Danil Khachaturov. At first glance, Sergeenko appears to be yet another Eastern European beauty with the graceful mannerisms of a well-pampered, hoity-toity, high-society woman. Yet, upon closer inspection, one will realize that she is also a deeply creative, avant-garde artiste.  

  

       Over the past couple of years, Sergeenko has focused on developing a couture line founded in Moscow. Although she does not yet possess the fame and publicity of other European couture labels (Chanel and Dior), she is still highly illustrious in the fashion universe (especially the Russian fashion universe—Miroslava Duma and model Natalie Vodianova are dedicated followers).

 

       Sergeenko’s couture collection is a gift to all vintage-infatuated women. It's simultaneously reminiscent of Jane Austen novels, Grimm’s fairy-tales, Old Hollywood glamour, and Russian aristocracy. The silhouettes, patterns, and textures of Sergeenko’s collection emanate a certain eloquence and nostalgia, one that touches upon every woman's whispered yearning to be queen for a day. (This fantasy starts when a girl is about three and never seems to end...). In addition, although Sergeenko isn’t Jewish, her style is very modest. (Perhaps more modest than the author's? Oy vey).

Without further ado, let us revel in the womanly and aristocratic style of Ulyana Sergeenko!

  

 Prelude to Post: My friend (the talented journalist Atara Arbesfeld) and I recently published an article in The Jewish Press. We wrote a review on Jew in the City's spectacular Chanukah party and her Jewish Orthodox "All-Stars" Video. Please click on http://www.jewishpress.com/sections/features/jew-in-the-city-all-stars-party-lights-up-with-chanukah-inspiration/2012/12/21/to read all about it! If you haven't yet heard of the fabulous Jew in the City, then you must check out her site ASAP (at www.jewinthecity.com).

 

WINTER LAYERING PART 1: THE DENIM JACKET

 

        The advantage to being a nifty, thrifty college graduate without a full-time job (yet!) is that you have no choice but to become innovative and economical. You transform into a quasi-Sherlock Holmes and compel yourself to think out-of-the-box. Let's see now--sugar cubes can sweeten my tea and exfoliate lips, while a hairdryer can style my locks and dry the icing on cakes. Clever, huh? From ramen noodles to hairpins, and from rubber bands to lipstick, everything in your house must now serve double-duty. If that's not possible, then we've got a problem here Watson...

 

“Ten Things We Did Better as Children”

This girl is wearing her "Invisible (or not so invisible...heh-heh) Crown." Yay!

 

       As mentioned in a previous post (October’s “Parshat Vayeira, Hurricane Sandy, and Children”), I don’t believe it’s a mere coincidence that recent head-lining tragedies have centered around the murder of children (Casey Anthony, Leiby Kletzky, the two children and the nanny in Manhattan, the child that passed during the Colorado shooting, and now the Connecticut massacre). As I forge my way into adulthood, I only realize now how “cheated” I feel over my lost childhood. A child’s unadulterated optimism and belief in humanity have not yet been overshadowed by adulthood’s cynicism, embitterment, and blasé attitude towards (almost) everything.

        Many children have a sheer confidence towards life, a “fall down to rise again” doctrine, and a fascination with the smallest trinkets and bugs and flowers. The horrific tragedies involving children not only remind us of how incredibly fragile they are, but also of life’s general fragility. Although I attached this link to October’s post regarding “Children,” I’m not sure if actually worked. I don’t like to take chances again, so I re-typed “Ten Things We Did Better as Children” from www.ThoughtCatalog.com This article is by Chelsea Fagan. It’s worth a read!

Would You Wear...?

Would You Wear…?

Velvet

Welcome back to our “Would You Wear…?” column! This column introduces trends that would perhaps challenge the status-quo (as far as wardrobes are concerned). It will usually feature a style that is either unfamiliar to you or requires a bit of daring on your part. If you haven't seen our last "Would You Wear...?" post, then please click on the label below THIS post.

Tom Ford Fall 2011

        There are days when my mother’s tendency to keep clothing from the 1950s-1990s can overcrowd that random wardrobe on the first floor, making it increasingly difficult to eye my own random skirt lying pitifully in the clutter. Why is there so much unnecessary stuff? Then there are days when I proclaim my mother a genius for stubbornly clutching on to the Anne Klein heels circa 1990 (back in the days when they were crafted in Italy!) and a purely wool, Anne Taylor “Grandpa” cardigan circa 1982 (Williamsburg hipsters--be jealous). One of my favorite items from the “random wardrobe-slash-Mother’s personal Smithsonian” is a deep green, velvet GAP skirt from the early nineties.

 

       As soon as I found it, I tried it on, zipped it up and twirled it around. Fortunately, the skirt is the perfect fit and length. To this day, I marvel at its magnetic simplicity. Wearing this skirt is like wrapping caramel around my legs—minus all the stickiness of course. The texture and color are delicious. But, there is one conundrum: What on earth do I wear with velvet? Especially hunter green velvet? Do you have a modus operandi for tackling this striking yet notoriously tricky fabric? I don’t!

So, let’s go on a journey and see what pairs well with it:

This week has been a bit hectic. We apologize for the AWOL. Without further ado:

 

JEWISH HEROINES:

"Quappi in a Pink Jumper" by Max Beckmann
 

       America has experienced the clichéd “straw that broke the camel’s back” this Friday. The movie theatre shooting that occurred in July carved a deep wound in the nation’s heart, but the Connecticut school tragedy fatally and mercilessly squeezed it. This tragedy is purely unfathomable. The ONLY solace is for G-d to joyously reunite parent with child upon the coming of Moshiach. Any other attempt at consolation is pathetically feeble and terribly inadequate.

      The evil that reared its repulsive face on Friday propelled me to consider the classic Good vs. Evil theme in general. Harry Potter established that “Good” wins as does every other Grimm’s Fairy Tale.