Mischa's Recent Hits, OKs and Misses

You always see Mischa Barton in the 'who's wearing the trend' or 'best outfits' sections of fashion magazines. But she is also known to wear a few not-very-flattering outfits out and about. She's a spectrum dresser -one who has hits, oks and misses. Here are a bunch of candids from this year:
Miss -White footless tights with that black shift dress look awkward together, and that pair of green sandals is definitely a no.
OK -Maybe it's because the black dress is so casual and that cardigan isn't, but this outfit is only so-and so.
Miss -The public display of bras is not cool. This dress could have been very classy if she had worn a solid top underneath.
Hit -I really like this outfit which is weird because it's all red and lacy, but it's other details like the ruffles in front and the fit are just so right. And the nude, patent shoes is a good modern choice to go with the otherwise all red outfit.
Hit- Mischa walking around in Paris. Love this outfit. It's casual in a sophisticated way.
Hit -Yes I like boring and simple outfits, although the hat and the necklace really adds something to the outfit. And yes, those are actually jeans, not pants, (I zoomed into the pic.)
Hit -Love the boho vibe from the outfit. It's boho in a pretty, not-messy way.
OK -The coat is so lovely and everything looks casual but put-together. The problem is her shoes.
OK -Mischa's wearing a nice casual little white dress for daytime, (but I don't like this particular white dress that much.) LWDs are must-haves this season!

Controversial -Loads of people made fun of Mischa wearing that dress on the left, but I think it's actually nice because it's like a sophisticated ballerina outfit. And that all-black outfit on the right, I'm not sure what but something seems off about it. Maybe it's the shorts or the leather jacket?

Hits -OK, so these aren't candids, but she (and the outfits) looked so pretty I couldn't resist. The black sequined dress with the coat are just perfect (left). And that gold dress (right) is pretty and right-on-trend without being too metallic and shiny.

Isn't it so unfair those gold Keds actually look cool with that sort-of-formal outfit (black sequined dress; above left)?

Zugspitze!

E-mail from Andrew:


It can be done.
Herr Roehmer has set up a way for some people to go skiing on Zugspitze after the gondola ride. but he needs for everyone who wants to go to have parent permission before they can go. [He needs paperwork.]

Essentially, I need you to get an e-mail to Herr Roehmer telling him that you think I'm a good enough skier not to fall down and crack my head open.
You can email him, or maybe call the hotel if need be, but that can get expensive.



Tell everyone that it's absoultely beautiful here. I feel like moving to Garmisch. The mountains are absolutely stunning. I'll show you the picture that I got that left me absolutely speechless. You'll love it.

FYI: A girl on the trip has the same camera as I do and has let me use her battery charger and converter. My camera died before I got to Dachau. Sorry, no pictures. I have taken some 350 pictures and still have over 750 pictures left for Paris. Yay!


That's about all for the moment. I'll tell you everything when I get back. [Or at least as much as I can remember.]

-Andrew

E-mail from Dad:

Herr Roehmer:

You have my permission to let Andrew Ranzenberger ski on Zugspitze after the gondola ride. He has the skills necessary to ski safely.

Get that boy on the mountain!!!!

Mark Ranzenberger

On the Street.....Prince Street, New York

I love a look that can inspire both men and women.

On the Street.....Color on Madison Ave., New York

Brunello Cucinelli & Co. at Pitti Uomo

The Horseman of Pitti Uomo

On the Steps....Paris

On the Street.....Fabrizio Capigatti, New York

On the Street.....That Marni Look, New York

Karl Lagerfeld & Lady Amanda Harlech, Milan

Giovanna in Paris

The Problem with the Drape Neck

Recently in the Ralph Lauren sale, I acquired this completely exquisite cable drape neck cashmere sweater for a very good bargain. And trust me, it truly feels exquisite. It looks great too.The only problem is that while the drape neck looks great and has an interesting twist compared to other classic styled sweaters, it is the devil to match it. I'm not sure about you, but I wear cashmere in cold weathers. And in cold weathers I usually wear a jacket over my sweaters to keep warm.

Unfortunately, with this drape neck, nothing looks good over it. If you wear a big coat over it, the drape neck creates a big bulge in your chest area that creates a terribly unflattering silohuette. If you wear it with a blazer or something and let the drape neck hang out, it looks strange. So the only way to wear it really is on its own. But when the weather is warm enough that I feel I can safely walk out with just a sweater on, this cashmere sweater is too warm.

So this style is actually quite a pain and I'm still trying to figure out how to wear it right. Ideas?

On the Street.....Thom Browne Tux, West Village

On the Street.....Comfy Cardie, Milan

On the Street.....Wooster Street, Soho

On the Street.....Wooster Street p.2, Soho

She's back - with another pair of great shoes

At Roberto Cavalli - One Of My Favorite Posts From Milan

Across the Atlantic

Katherine, Andrew and Margaret at
Mount Pleasant High School as Andrew, Margaret and 21 other travelers leave for Germany and France.

As I write this, Andrew's plane is approaching the coast of Europe. He's 6 miles above the Atlantic, eating up a mile every six seconds. He'll be on the ground in a couple of hours.
We were up at 3:30 in the morning. The school bus for Detroit Metro left at 5:45. I have never seen Andrew so geeked for anything. The predawn darkness was windy and cold, but he was more ready for this than for anything. He had seen this moment in his mind's eye for months, and he had to be ready for this. It wasn't an adventure. it was a passage.




His flight to Atlanta went off without a hitch; he collected $20 from a cash machine at the airport, and boarded Delta Flight 130 with no apparent problems. The plane left on time.
He'll be dragged out when he lands in a couple of hours, but it's only just the beginning.
Munich, the solemnity of Dachau, the incredible ski resorts of the Alps, the glory that is Paris.
It's his.
I fell in love with Europe. His sister fell in love with the place, as well.
Sending two kids to Europe in less than a year has been a stretch, but for them to know there is more than the lakes and the dirt roads, that they can have the world, is more than worth it.

Bebe SS07

I must say, I've been impressed with Bebe's marketing techniques lately. They've managed to present themselves as ladylike, sophisticated, stylish and chic.
Through Mischa, they also appeal to the young and trendy. These ad campaigns really makes me want to go out and buy this trench coat (unfortunately, the site says it is not available for sale. Why do they even bother to shoot this if its not even available sale??). . .

. . . and this dress. . . . . . and basically everything in the catalog as well. Even though the fashion in the catalog seems to be targeted at a more sophisticated audience, it just looks soooo cool with this jet as a backdrop!

Their website is quite well designed, comprehensive and easy to navigate too. And some of the clothes shown actually look nice.

The only problem with all this is their actual store and products. Have you BEEN to a BEBE store? Because the ambiance it emanates feels nothing like this. I've tried. I've been inside many times trying to look for remnants of this style, I even asked if they had this dress that Mischa was wearing in the ad (to which the sales people told me they have never seen in the store before)- nothing.

In reality, the actual store feels cheap, and most of the clothes look cheap, slutty and way overpriced, like these two tops shown above.

Even Eva Longoria- who always looks so chic and elegant- looks cheap wearing this Bebe top on the cover of this month's Cosmopolitan.

So kudos to Bebe's marketing and web design team, and to those in the Bebe design and store concept team- a little revamping is in order.The products have to FIT the image!