– guest blogger: laurie alvandian reviews east vs west coast styles

guest blogger: laurie alvandian reviews east vs west coast styles

Posted in AMAHZING GUEST BLOGGERS [Ashley Afriyie/Laurie Alvandian/Francesca Borgognone/Jessie Cohen/Moises Hwang/Krysten Kauder/Kristen Kubilus/Jacqueline Vasquez/Abbe Wright]

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What I love about the east coast is that, as the seasons change, so do the fashions. After spending the last four years in perpetually sunny southern California, where the go-to, everyday accessories are Coco Chanel sunglasses and Rainbow flip-flops, it is a refreshing change to return to a part of the country where it doesn’t matter who you wear, it matters how you wear it. And if you don’t wear it with attitude, confidence, and an I-don’t-give-a-damn-what-you-think mentality, you aren’t wearing it right. Anyone born and raised on the east coast knows this, and it’s about time our rivals on the west learned a thing or two from us.

When you wake up in southern California, you don’t need to look out the window. You don’t need to check weather.com. And your umbrella is still stuffed in the back of your closet growing cobwebs. Unfortunately for me, I was waking up in one of the wealthiest cities in Orange County and, as a born and bred Jersey girl, I found it very hard to dress the part. You see, fashion in California is all about being fabulous. But all the examples of “fabulous” that I saw around me were girls with fake boobs and fake highlights walking around with their $500 shoes and their $2000 handbags hanging midway on their arms. And this was what they wore to class. Coming from a small town where a million dollar house could sit a few streets down from a $200,000 house, and where the rich kids and the poor kids all went to school together, this was a bit of a shock. I mean, I still have some things in my closet that my mom bought me from Sears when I was in 9^th grade. But listen, I don’t want to rag on California style. That’s just how it is over there- everybody does walk around in flip-flops all day, most girls do have expensive handbags, and the surfer guys do shave their chests, wear board shorts, and say ‘dude’ and ‘narly’ every five minutes. I can tell you first hand, it’s all true.

The first thing I did when I got back to the east coast was pull out my fall trench coat and boots, and dust off the cobwebs from my umbrella. I celebrate the change, I celebrate the seasons, and I celebrate the crazy mélange that is east coast fashion. Most east coasters hang with people from all walks of life, so why shouldn’t our fashion choices reflect our eclectic lifestyles? I say, go ahead and rock that Sears sweater you got on sale for $7.99. Just make sure you pair it with a sharp set of heels and a strut that kills.

Top Six Items For Fall by Laurie Alvandian:

A good fall coat
A pair of brown boots
An umbrella with a unique pattern
A warm scarf
A wrap sweater
Colorful leggings

guest blogger: LAURIE ALVANDIAN

Posted by Taisa Veras @ 12 October 2009

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Oct 12, 2009
8:45 pm

#1 greg.d :

Seeming as I haven't been to California, yet alone the west coast this post is a great insight of what it's like over there. Great article Laurie. Hope to hear more of your fashion tips in the future.

Oct 13, 2009
4:04 pm

#2 lookbehindyou :

i love it! So true, however come up to norcal (sf bay area), and you may see a side of cali thats more akin to jersey life, if anything just cause of the temperate climate and plethora of NYC transplants… i think the heat may be frying Socals brains.
love the post Laurie!
and tai, you know i adore everything you do…and dont.

Oct 13, 2009
4:27 pm

#3 UknowWho97 :

Fuck yes, Laurie. I don't really care about fashion that much. Like you said, wear what you like with a "I-don't-give-a-fuck-what-you-think-attitude." I greatly enjoyed the east coast love, way to rep your set. Great piece, hope you write some more in the future!

- Brandon

p.s. I'm going to the Yankee game on Friday…if I see any girls in the bleachers wearing high heels I will trip them

Oct 13, 2009
7:02 pm

#4 jessmaj1487 :

Amen Sister!! seeing as I wear scrubs all day, and well, don't leave my house enough to show off my $2000 dollar handbag this season I am going to….wear what I have. and I'll take your advice and jazz it up with some fun accessories!

Any advice on how to make wearing scrubs look at all feminine? I look like a box.

Oct 13, 2009
7:17 pm

#5 Mary S :

Its interesting to read about the comparison because I've never been to the west coast. Weird that they don't have to worry about the weather changes or rain…this is an awesome insightful article!! I love the way you not only talk about the importance of wearing attitude as much as you wear the clothes, but you write with attitude too…I dig it…

Oct 14, 2009
7:37 pm

#6 Alessandra :

Yeah girl! Well said (although I don't condone wearing heels . . .) I've always felt this way about LA style too–more laid back, but with a little too much effort put into looking laid back. I think that while NY is the fashion capital of the world, LA is just plain trendy. (Although I must admit that when I saw photos from Coachella on WhoWhatWear, they kind of reminded me of a pseudo-Williamsburg, which threw me off a bit: http://www.whowhatwear.com/website/full-article/they-wore-coachella/)

Oct 15, 2009
11:04 pm

#7 Greg S/KARTHANOVA ENT. :

Its really nice to have someone tell it like it is..LAs to repetitive for I'd get bored quickly…its a shame..even as a screenwriter/producer I still don't wanna live there..good job Laurie…I expect some more guest spots soon lol…btw..I think ur wasted