The 4 Hour Work Week / Off-Topic Book Post

Eveyrone, yes, everyone needs to read this book.

Buy it from Amazon.

Read more about it at www.4hourworkweek.com.

It's not really about time management - although it's definitely discussed. It's more about challenging the vast majority of peoples' ideas about the "work-life equation". Granted, author Timothy Feriss does remind me of a motivational speaker at times, but his words generally ring true.

Here's a (long) quote from the intro:

"Gold is getting old. The New Rich (NR) are those who abandon the deferred-life plan and create luxury lifestyles in the present using the currency of the New Rich: time and mobility. This is an art and a science we will refer to as Lifestyle Design (LD).

I’ve spent the last three years traveling among those who live in worlds currently beyond your imagination. Rather than hating reality, I’ll show you how to bend it to your will. It’s easier than it sounds. My journey from grossly overworked and severely underpaid office worker to member of the NR is at once stranger than fiction and — now that I’ve deciphered the code — simple to duplicate. There is a recipe.

Life doesn’t have to be so damn hard. It really doesn’t. Most people, my past self included, have spent too much time convincing themselves that life has to be hard, a resignation to 9-to-5 drudgery in exchange for (sometimes) relaxing weekends and the occasional keep-it-short-or-get-fired vacation.

The truth, at least the truth I live and will share in this book, is quite different. From leveraging currency differences to outsourcing your life and disappearing, I’ll show you how a small underground uses economic sleight-of-hand to do what most consider impossible. If you’ve picked up this book, chances are that you don’t want to sit behind a desk until you are 62. Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, real-life fantasy travel, long-term wandering, setting world records, or simply a dramatic career change, this book will give you all the tools you need to make it a reality in the here-andnow instead of in the often elusive “retirement.” There is a way to get the rewards for a life of hard work without waiting until the end.

How? It begins with a simple distinction most people miss—one I missed for 25 years. People don’t want to be millionaires — they want to experience what they believe only millions can buy. Ski chalets, butlers, and exotic travel often enter the picture. Perhaps rubbing cocoa butter on your belly in a hammock while you listen to waves rhythmically lapping against the deck of your thatched-roof bungalow? Sounds nice.

$1,000,000 in the bank isn’t the fantasy. The fantasy is the lifestyle of complete freedom it supposedly allows. The question is then, How can one achieve the millionaire lifestyle of complete freedom without first having $1,000,000?

In the last five years, I have answered this question for myself, and this book will answer it for you. I will show you exactly how I have separated income from time and created my ideal lifestyle in the process, traveling the world and enjoying the best this planet has to offer. How on earth did I go from 14-hour days and $40,000 per year to 4-hour weeks and $40,000 per month?"

For the rest, you'll have to pick up the book.

Language opens its E-Doors

Attention online shoppers:

One of my favorite Chicago boutiques, Language, has just opened up an online storefront at www.shoplanguage.com

Some of the designers they carry include Smythe les Vestes (adorable coats and jackets), Geren Ford, and Karen Zambos.

Use the coupon code "Bienvenue" to get $20 off your order.

Happy shopping!

Spring Trend Review

Check out my spring trend review on See More Shopping -and if you live in Chicago or planning on visiting soon, you'll get some ideas on where to shop (hint: avoid Michigan Ave).

Read it here.

Paging All Shoe Fanatics...

Here's my article at Second City Style about the latest and greatest in spring footwear. It's about platforms and wedges that are actually comfortable!

Reaching New Heights (In Comfort)

"Like all girls, I love shoes, especially high heels. Naturally I’ve been delighted to see how they’ve been climbing skyward for the past few seasons....(read more).

Silver Versace wedges from Eluxury.

Walk Like An Egyptian

I've always been a big fan of the opulent designs inspired by Ancient Egypt. What can I say except that perhaps I was exposed to Cleopatra (the movie with Elizabeth Taylor) at an impressionable age?

Here's a few great pieces from Pink Mascara:

The gold pyramid necklace is by Draugsvold, the silver snake is Adina, the earrings are by Kipepeo, and the sandals are Twelfth Street. The enamel bracelets, of course, are by costume jewelry master Kenneth Jay Lane.

What are your favorite Egyptian pieces?

This isn't a Plastic bag Either

Couldn't get your hands on the Anya Hindmarch tote? Here's another bag that supports a worthy cause: the World Food Programme's FEED bag.

From Amazon:

Buying one World Food Programme FEED bag feeds a child in school for one school year.

School feeding acts as a magnet, dramatically increasing enrollment, sometimes by as much as 100 percent. It also improves performance at school; children concentrate better on a full stomach. Girls who go to school not only marry later but have half as many children than illiterate women. Furthermore, these children are healthier and better educated.

19 cents a day or 34 dollars a year can transform a child's life and provide the tools for a lifetime of self-reliance. School feeding is a simple but effective way to beat hunger and poverty.

The FEED Project is a partnership between the United Nations World Food Program and Lauren Bush, WFP Honorary Spokesperson.

Buy it here.

"It's about finding what you love and making it happen"

I recently got a chance to talk to Eve Chrust, the designer behind the casually cool Eve*Lynn collection. Her relaxed dresses and tops are the perfect way to stay comfortable and chic this summer.

How did you get into fashion design? I got started by re-fashioning vintage tops while in college at George Washington University. Then it wasn’t so much about fashion as it was creating unique, individual pieces to wear. I wore them while bartending and the look really caught on, so I started doing selling pieces out of my dorm room and it all grew from there. After I graduated, I moved to New York and expanded the line, bringing in my partner Lallie Harling for the business side of the company.

What's an average day in your life like? With a small business no two days are the same. I do the design part and I’ve got two seamstresses, and Lauren is the production manager, but small companies are the same in any industry in that everyone does a little bit of everything. We just wake up and deal with the problems that arise that day.

What or who inspires you? Because of the way I was trained, which was kind of backwards – I started making things on my own and then took classes to communicate in order to be able to communicate my ideas. However, I was always very artistic minded and aware of how art translated to fashion. My moods, whims, feelings, the colors I see, and the seasons all influence my line.

Any trends/ideas/looks that you are currently obsessed with? We’re doing a lot of super-mini bubble dresses and lots of really soft, open draped backs. Tunic lengths that can be worn as either a dress or a top are also big right now.

What is your personal style like? I wear my own line of course! I’ve got a couple silk bubble dresses trimmed with vintage ribbon in bright purples and magentas, but I’m really a serious jeans and t-shirt kinda girl. A lot of my little tops are really comfy so I wear them most of the time.

What’s your favorite part of the job? Least favorite? The creative side - the actual designing and sketching and sourcing of all the fabrics and trims – is my favorite. And my least favorite is the sales end of things.

And a few random questions:

What are you into (besides the fashion)? Recently I’ve gotten really into cooking because it’s a stress free way to be creative outside of fashion. I also love snowboarding and yoga.

Do you have any pets (the fashionable kiffen is an animal lover)? Two adorable shih-tzus, one is just a puppy and the other is almost two.

What’s your favorite way to escape the fashion industry for a while? Definitely skiing and snowboarding out west.

You can check out her latest offerings and shop at www.eve-lynn.com

"Make It Work" in Book Form

Fans of Project Runway's Tim Gunn (the best thing about the show) need to check out Second City Style's awesome interview. The man is just brilliant.

The interview.

Buy the book here.

I Don't Get It

I have a confession to make: I don't really get Kate Moss.

Don't get me wrong, she does wear some great pieces sometimes - but is she really the first girl to mix vintage with modern? Or combine bohemian and rock chick styles? It's not that I actively dislike her look, but I don't understand the kind of adulation she receives from the fashion press and followers alike.

The Topshop collection that she "designed" is currently all over the fashion blogs. Some of the jackets and little vests are pretty cute, but they're nothing particularly new. The ultra-mini dresses and skintight denim will only work on people who are actually built like Kate Moss.

Besides, she often looks semi-unwashed, greasy, and kind of vacant (read: stoned as hell). And she willingly engages in relations with the least attractive man alive. Honestly, we have to question her taste a little bit.

Kitties!

Look at the gorgeous tiger cubs that were just born in Nanjing, China.

Aren't they adorable?

*Yes, this is fashion-related. Tiger prints are always chic.

Time Out Chicago's Spring Fashion Guide - Is it still 2006?

I just checked out Time Out Chicago's spring style issue, and while the magazine isn't exactly Vogue, I would have hoped that they could have done a little better. Let's critique it, shall we?

First of all, we have the Five Style Points, or how to update your look for spring in five easy steps.

1. "Think Thin". While skinny jeans and pants aren't going anywhere (unfortunately), this recommendation is not exactly groundbreaking. They also said the narrow, tailored look can "even work for dudes rocking a beer belly". I sincerely hope that the dudes in question do not take this advice to heart.

2. "Face Forward". What a surprise, the natural look is in for spring. Note to makeup artists and beauty writers everywhere: the natural look is always in. They also suggest incorporating random bright hues, another makeup trend that generally resurfaces every March. Maybe everyone gets inspired by all the pastel Easter candy.

3. "Dress the Part". Yup, dresses are still in because they're easy to wear and you'll look effortlessly put together. Blah blah, etc., etc. Trapeze styles are supposedly the brand-new "it" thing, too bad most of them resemble maternity wear. (Note: if you actually are pregnant, this is your season.)

4. "Redo Your 'Do". Okay, they did get this one right with the edgy Vidal Sassoon bob (love it! want it!) and the recommendation to skip the highlights in favor of a "rich all over color". Ladies, let's stop it with the stripy hair for once and for all.

5. "Find the Perfect Finishing Touch". We've got cute little embellished flats, light colored raffia, linen, and braided leather bags, and detailed belts. All stuff that fashionistas should still have in their closets from last spring. They've also got a plaid fedora a la Justin Timberlake - not exactly something the average dude can pull off.

Next we have the "Wear It's At" section, showcasing some well-dressed locals in different neighborhoods. I actually liked this section - most of the outfits were pretty chic but not overly styled (i.e. I actually believed that they stopped random people on the street) and there is plenty of variety, from skater kids to professionals in the Loop.

The "Bright On" fashion spread would have been completely unmemorable without the crimped hair (is that really coming back or was the stylist just having an 80s nostalgia moment?). All the white paper spheres against the candy-colored background reminded me of Ikea - maybe they got the sphere-things on sale?

Okay, the "What, this old thing?" article is actually really cool. Time Out challenged three local designers to turn "unfashionable castoffs into stylish pieces". There's a lot of interesting clothing rehab ideas, so check that article out. Really, they should stick to this kind of thing and leave the editorials to actual fashion magazines. In addition, if you're interested in buying the revamped items, you can place a bid at Dress for Success - hey, it's for a good cause.

Don't Feed the Models

I find the last paragraph in this NY times article very telling:

"Polishing off berries and meringue, they discussed the old days. Ms. Porizkova was glad her modeling days were over. “The size now is 0 to 2,” she said. “When I was modeling it was 6. Now, if you’re my size, you’re hugely overweight. I did a shoot at Vogue recently and I could only fit into one dress.”

Check out this current picture of the woman in question, former supermodel Paulina Porizkova - she still has her fabulous figure.

In case you didn't notice, the models really are getting skinnier and more frail. Personally, I think clothes look better on the size 6's. Remember the glory days of the supermodels? None of them wore a zero and they were definitely hot. Really, it's tough to look fierce when a stiff breeze could knock you over like today's girls.

Calling all Fashion Entrepreneurs....

Check out this cool event on April 26th. It's free thanks to the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center's Stitches Fashion program.

Thanks to the Second City Style Fashion Blog for alerting me to this great program!

Yohji Yamamoto on What's Sexy

This is a great article:

"Japan's elegant king of noir and the creator of Adida's Y-3 sneakers reflects on the rules of beauty, clothing as armor, and why it's never okay to wear primary colors.

1. I believe that there are three conditions to a woman’s beauty. First, you must realize that not all women are beautiful all of the time. Sometimes beauty comes on a subconscious level. When she is in love, or has met someone new and exciting, she shines. Second, you must understand that life is unfair. Beauty is something that, for some, must be worked at. The third condition is luck. Some women can just be lucky.

2. My role in all of this is very simple. I make clothing like armor. My clothing protects you from unwelcome eyes.

3. Color, for me, has too many stories wrapped around it. I like black, white, gray, and navy. Like a uniform.

4. Life is better for beautiful people. You can become lucky if you are beautiful, you can become rich. But there is no truth in this definition of beauty.

5. If you feel strongly about someone, go up to them. Pursue what you want in life. Why be shy about something like that?"

Read the rest of the article at men.style.com. My personal favorites are #7 and #10.