{Style Expert} What do you think of this look?
FOF Lynn Yaeger has been an unmistakable fixture on the fashion scene ever since she became a fashion reporter for the Village Voice thirty years ago. She’s also a regular contributor to The New York Times style magazine. Known for her gothic clothes, powdered face and cupid’s bow lips, Lynn is truly the arbiter of her own unique style. She’s also a vintage fanatic who admits, “Here is what I do every single morning, in between teeth-brushing and waiting for the coffee to boil: I turn on my laptop and type “baby locket” into eBay….”
Our style panel has strong opinions on Lynn’s funky fashion, but what do you think? Do you applaud her creativity or jeer her eccentricity?
FOF Terry Gibraltar: “It’s impossible to mistake Lynn Yaeger. I’ve run into her at every vintage store and sale for the past 10 years. She’s cultivated her mix of vintage, 80’s, Japanese design and “dolly” forever, and she’s made it such a part of who she is that it really works for her. Thank god for people like Lynn who make life more interesting to look at!”
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Terry Gibralter is the founder of Bespoke Custom Shopping Tours, carefully-crafted shopping “vacations” and a self-proclaimed, “fashion-obsessed” FOF.
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FOF Susan Grant: “I love the whole look on this woman and think she did a masterful job of assembling disparate pieces. This isn’t a vintage look straight off of a mannequin. It’s both flattering to her shape and interesting to mentally deconstruct! It’s an artform.”
Susan Grant is merchandise manager for Muse, a full-service jewelry showroom.
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FOF Sherrie Mathieson: “Lynn uses her body as a canvas for the creativity and imagination that we often lose as we become adults. She does not ‘compete,’ by the usual standards. Some may dismiss her as merely eccentric, but I think even within that category some do it well and some don’t. She has a great sense of texture, color, and design. I think she does her ‘art’ very well.”
Sherrie Mathieson is a leading style expert and Random House author of Steal this Style and Forever Cool.
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FOF Gail Garramone: “This woman is a fashionista… for a living. As such, she gets a free pass on looking as out there as she wants. Look at her lipstick! Who else could pull that off? I like the way she puts together an outfit. Would I wear it? Not on your life. Should my best friend who works at a bank wear it? No. Should this woman? Sure! It is appropriate for her lifestyle and certainly expresses creativity. It is not vulgar; it’s funky.”
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Gail Garramone is a veteran V.P. of Liz Claiborne Inc. where she traveled around the country with Tim Gunn producing fashion workshops.
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Sandra Soich: I applaud the creativity but there’s a limit and she is definitely OVER the limit. Being age appropriate is a beautiful thing and can be accomplished quietly. This lady is screaming for attention!
Sandra Soich is wardrobe stylist to the stars and founder of YourFashionTherapist.com.
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Tell us FOFs: Do you agree with our style experts? What do you think of this outfit?
FOF Robin Mizrahi: “Perrrrfect. This woman has got it going on. Her wonderful dress (I believe it is Celine) is clean, modern, appropriate-length and unadorned, which keeps it edgy. Honestly, when you are wearing a thigh high boot, sans hose, do you need any other adornment? Love the clean, classic boot shape–no wedge, or crazy platform. If I saw this woman on the street I might even get a bit intimidated by her. Well maybe not I, but most women would. Makes me wonder what perfume she wears . . .”
FOF Terry Gibraltar: This outfit shouts in-control-New-York-working-woman. Head-to-toe black is a bit austere, but she looks quite put together. The dress is a flattering fit that emphasizes her trim waist, is not too short and works well with the very on-trend, over-the-knee boots. If an FOF’s thighs look good, she can always show a little thigh with pride.
FOF Susan Grant: “A clean, fabulous look. The show of skin is totally acceptable as the skirt isn’t offensively short and the distance between the top of the boot and the hemline is minimal. The look of the season captured in a chic, age appropriate way.”
FOF Sherrie Mathieson: The over-the-knee boot (a more sexy style than the classic knee-high boot, and in this case made a bit younger and sexier thanks to the heel) gives great coverage in exchange for that sexual innuendo. The gap between the dress and the boot is judiciously small and has a similar effect of a long sweater or anorak with tights and boots. She did it well…thumbs up!
FOF Gail Garramone: “Simple but powerful. It works because the wearer is thin and tall enough to pull it off. It also works because it is all black, which offers a slimming silhouette. There is just enough room between the top of the boot and the length of the skirt. An FOF should never wear a miniskirt with pumps or lower boots unless she is Tina Turner about to go on stage.”
