French Fried

Not only does J. Crew owe us Bitches at least a couple of gift certificates for the amount of virtual ink we continually spill over their sartorial offerings, so does BCBG.

I'm a big believer in finding one or two labels that season after season come out with pieces that flatter your body type, skin color, and pocketbook. For me, that label is BCBG. Probably half the stuff in my closet comes from this clothing brand, founded by French/Tunisian designer, Max Azria, who along with his wife, Lubov, helms the global fashion house BCBGMAXAZRIA.

BCBG stands for "bon chic, bon genre," which in Parisian slang means, "good style, good attitude." I would have to agree. While the brand does put out some pricey items (their shoes rarely retail for under $200 a pair, for instance, and I usually need oxygen to even look at the price tags for the Runway line), the majority of their pieces are well within the average working gal's budget. They are also beautifully made, exceptionally versatile, and manage the neat trick of being both on-trend for the season and yet also wearable year after year.

Best of all, unless you must have something NOW, as in, right this second or you're gonna die (which, you know, does happen on occasion), there is no need to pay full retail. BCBG is famously sale-happy, both at their outlets and on-line. Keep checking back and you can bet that the $150.00 boyfriend blazer you eyed last week will be slashed anywhere from 30 to 70 percent next month (what that says about the true cost of clothing production is a subject for another post, so for now, I'll just, la, la, la, la, la.)

Anyway. I just got BCBG's Pre-Fall 2010 notice. Yes. Fall. Because when it's 95 degrees outside with at least three full months more of sweat-producing weather to wade through, the stores are chock-a-block full of sweaters and boots. The fashion industry, it is just like Australia: it operates upside down and counterclockwise.

Here's what I'm lemming for so far:

I'm always intrigued by the expressions on these models' faces.
This one seems to be saying:
"Hmmmm . . . that looks like a quarter down there on the floor. Or is it one of those new dollar coins?"

And this cozy/chic lil' number:


Because in the winter? When I start stuffing my face and holing up in front of a full season of fall television? Nothing hides a holiday goody-induced extra 10 pounds like a floaty knit, some tights, and a pair of booties.