Left Coast Fashion

I was walking through Caesar's Palace, The Venetian and Paris' fashion-filled hallways in Las Vegas last week and had a very conscious thought about left versus right coast fashion as I studied some of the styles I would have not paid attention to a few years ago......

I thought, "since I've moved to the west coast, I don't shop at Ann Taylor anymore." Meaning, I don't even go into the stores, get tempted to or look for a similar style. French designer Agnes B, who many of my East Coast girlfriends recommended I visit in Paris, was largely too conservative when I finally found two of four stories throughout the city. I left empty handed. Something happens when you move west.

A few hours after I had this thought, I ran into four industry girlfriends from the east coast, all of them reporters or editors from Boston and New York. They often shop at Ann Taylor and Banana Republic remains a staple.

It does not mean I'm now attracted to rhinestones, rubies and diamond shirts, or embroidered jeans (okay, perhaps some of the jeans). Nor does it mean I only wear flowy new age shirts found at coffee shops in quaint Marin neighborhoods or bright sweaters, rather than more traditional tans, greens and navies.

And not to pick on Ann Taylor, but c'mon, she's all about straight conservative lines, tends to be tailored and safe rather than bold and daring. Simple and elegant is great. Conservative and tailored is also great and there's definitely a place for it. I'm just glad there's less of a place for it on the west coast.