Katherine Chloé Cahoon

I bet you already know what nostalgic rock anthem I’m dancing to in this Instagram!

https://instagram.com/p/pt2K_hifFG

To pull it off, I chose a gown with a sweetheart neckline like that worn by Frankie’s future wife on their first date in the movie Jersey Boys.

Both frocks also have flowing skirts—all the better to twirl it.

Since this is Travel Thursday, I’m featuring the ‘60s style Flip Flop Café in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. It’s known for comfort food, infectious smiles, and a flip flop-friendly attitude.

Women want to wear the pants too! And they have done so fashionably since the ‘60s. I’m referring to men’s wear-inspired fashions for women. The trend catapulted to popularity back then and is now experiencing a revival. So today, while continuing our trip down Memory Lane, I pulled together a feminine, updated pant-and-jacket ensemble that I could wear while executing the dance moves that groups like the Four Seasons did on-stage. Then I recreated them…right down to the splits. OUCH!

https://instagram.com/p/prUpNJifOU/

“Beggin,” the song in this vid, was released in 1967 around the time when Yves Saint Laurent introduced “Le Smoking,” this male-inspired look for women.

Female rockers of the ’60s gave men’s wear their own feminine twist. Here’s Marianne Faithfull in her heyday. This songbird was discovered by The Rolling Stones.

Today, prominent forces behind the trend are vendors like Title A, set to launch in July. British model/actress Agyness Deyn (below) has an enviable collection of designer duds, but created this line because she favored wearing her husband’s trousers and knitwear. She thought that other women would also like what she calls, “men’s wear-inspired pieces with feminine allure.” So ladies, there’s no shame in raiding your boyfriend’s closet and creating your own style.

After yesterday’s tribute to Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons, with their fashions and dance moves, I’ve decided to plunge deeper into that period. Those styles are coming back in a big way!

Lift, lift, and lift were the three criteria of ‘60s hair, as you can see from the glamorous portrait above of supermodel Jean Shrimpton. The 2014 mane is equally voluminous. Just look at Anna Kendrick on this month’s Elle cover.

Tomorrow I’m posting another vid dancing to a Four Seasons hit. For that, I took cues from “The Shrimp” and updated her doo as you can see in the following pic. I backcombed my hair for volume, swooped the front layer across my upper forehead, and pinned it behind my ear. That was a common ‘60s practice for girls without bangs, and those who wanted to DANCE but didn’t want to look like The Shaggy Dog. If you do have bangs, like Jean, and don’t plan to be energetic on the dance floor, then you can make a deeper swoop.

Long hair in the ‘60s often incorporated light waves. I was chatting with some ladies at the hair salon and learned that during that era they used clothing irons and ironing boards to smooth out their hair! Then they set it with orange juice cans to get the waves. In those days, home hair products didn’t include flat irons, jumbo curlers, round brushes, blow-dryers, or curling irons in a variety of sizes like we have. All I can say is, “THANK YOU INNOVATORS!!!”

In addition to full hair, dramatic eyes ruled the ’60s. Jean was a cat-eye princess!

And Goldie Hawn couldn’t have looked more glamorous in her thick long lashes.

So I combined both looks to create a cat eye complemented by two sets of long false lashes. Anna also showed off a cat eye on her Elle shoot. That girl knows that ‘60s style has returned!

If you haven’t yet mastered the cat eye, check out the tutorial that I did with Fatima. She’s MAC’s reigning makeup queen, and regularly does up those celebs for their magazine covers.

“Everyone remembers it how they need to.” That’s the movie’s tagline. But it applies to so much more than the lives of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. I’ve chatted with ladies who lived through the band’s heyday as they reminisced about the fashion and dance moves of that time. They each remembered it a little differently, so I decided to devote this week to the band’s music plus the fashions and dance moves of that era.

Since this is Meeting Men Monday, I’m pausing to focus on the men who made up the group, as reflected in their music and portrayed in the movie. Their feel-good tunes are just as appealing today as in the ‘60s. “Sherry,” “Oh What a Night,” “Who Loves You,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”…the music and lyrics of these hits conjure up the image of men who love life, music and women.

But in the film, they are portrayed as dark. I realize that the lives of boys who were raised on mean streets and men who worked on the road could not have been easy, but there had to have been good times along with the bad for these extraordinarily successful musicians. No one goes through life on a breeze. What’s important is to appreciate the good and face the bad with wisdom and grace.

Nevertheless, in honor of their music, I created an Instagram video to “Sherry” incorporating the shimmy, twist and other ‘60s dance moves. Since the idea to make the vid came last minute, I didn’t have time to track down a friend to operate the camera, so it’s a selfie. I think I got more exercise turning on the music, hitting “play,” and running in the frame than dancing:) Here is the result.

https://instagram.com/p/pme-dAifBQ/

Word to the wise…don’t tackle with the troublemaker on the left. She’s a diva… Kidding! I had fun editing this video and choosing my shift dress. This look dominated the fashion scene in the era, as you can see in the following frame from the 1969 French movie La Piscine.

Here it is again in classic black-and-white photos of ‘60s supermodels, Jean Shrimpton and Hiroko Matsumoto. And it has resurfaced this season, as evidenced by my current Kate Spade frock.

Kate brought it out in green, another ‘60s throwback. Her hue is almost identical to that worn by the beautiful Ann-Margret back in the day. My grandma always said, “Keep your iconic pieces. Eventually they’ll be back in style!”

I was heading toward the leopard cage to take a pic in my leopard dress when I spotted this stunning peacock. The sociable bird, who rules the zoo, struck a proud pose for our photo shoot!

I wore a leopard dress that I’ve owned and loved for years. In fact, I wore this in my first Meeting European Men comedic travel-host video. It was one of my YouTube ventures that made best-of lists. Good memories! The guys and I had so much fun egging each other on when filming this and hamming up our parts. Everyone commented that it felt like a party.

Even though my leopard dress is no longer in stores, I’ve found a similar one by Marchesa Voyage that I love just as much.

I got the idea for a zoo-inspired fashion week after seeing stores bursting with animal prints. Today is all about the feisty jaguar posing behind me in the second picture below. I’m wearing a top from Ro & De. It’s described as a “leopard print,” but when I wore it to the zoo, one of the cats’ caregivers had a different opinion. She excitedly analyzed the spots and concluded that they most resembled a jag because some of the rosettes had spots in the center. So I guess that means when you wear this top, you can channel either animal!

Since my 1. STATE shorts and Cole Haan heels looked like they were made to go with this top, I threw them on. Told you these shorts were versatile! Let’s not count the amount of times I’ve worn them:)

These pictures showcase Washington State’s Woodland Park Zoo, which is known for protecting animals by recreating their natural habitats. Other fascinating zoos around the world include Toronto, which offers interactive experiences like camel rides, and Budapest, which is one of the oldest in the world and features both art nouveau architecture and a botanical garden. If you have a favorite zoo, I’d love to hear about it.

When I discovered this Milly zebra-patterned dress, I couldn’t think of a better place for a fashion shoot than with the zebras themselves!

While I was taking this picture, a little girl passed by and told her mom that she wanted to be “twins with a zebra too.”

If I had to sum up Milly’s creations in only a sentence, I’d say… They’re crafted with high-quality fabrics in an array of designs from subdue to shout-out.

Those fabrics make Milly’s more sophisticated picks ideal for a long day of meetings. Once on a trip to LA, I had nine back-to-back. They were in a variety of locations, some of which were an hour apart! One Milly got me through all that craziness. It accompanied me in and out of a rental car, tromping around studious trying to find my production companies, and spending hours talking with people in offices. At the end of the day, my eyes may have been blurry but my Milly was still in perfect condition.

Upon leaving Hawaii, where tropical animals abound, I wasn’t ready to say sayonara to all those delightful creatures. After featuring my amazing dad yesterday and his daring photography stunts with wild animals, I thought it was fitting to finish out the week with a fashion shoot at the zoo. Today is all about flamingos.

Since I don’t have any help with this site (it’s all just me), I was thrilled that this time I didn’t have to set up my little camera and run into the shot before the shutter clicked, as usual. My dad agreed to come along and take the pics. I was thrilled!

I enjoy watching these birds. They’re always on the move, stretching their wings as if performing a flamingo ballet.

For the fashion shoot, I chose my 1. STATE shorts, which I’ve worn on my site before. Can I help it if they’re so versatile?! This time, I paired them with Cole Haan nude heels. Even though these bad boys are very comfortable, they’re obviously not appropriate for tromping around the zoo:) Well, unless you want to get killer leg muscles and kill your feet in the process! I wore them just for this shot since combining shorts with heels is such a big look this season.

To complete the outfit, I chose a Michael Kors top for a splash of turquoise.

And I couldn’t end without chatting about my love for this nail trend. It’s fairly well-known that the traditional French nail isn’t as prevalent as it once was. What has taken its place? A look I call, “The Gradated French.” It’s a subtle surprise. At first look, my nails appear to be a deep pink. But look again and you’ll see that the tips are slightly lighter.

With Father’s Day yesterday and today being Meeting Men Monday, I couldn’t think of a better man for you all to meet than my dad. He is just the right blend of wise, daring and loving. For years, he was one of the top international advertising photographers. This was an age where there was no such thing as Photoshop, so he had to do whatever it took to get the image right every time, on time. He shot for all the major motorcycle companies in the world. To do this, he trained at Suzuki Racing School, and shot hanging out of the back of pace cars and helicopters, and being strapped to scaffolding…but that wasn’t as dangerous as some his projects involving wild animals, from black panthers to this Bengal tiger.

So my dad has this total enviously tough side, but he’s also gentle as you can see from this picture taken when I was an infant.

When my brother and I were young and facing challenges, he would lift our chins, look deep into our eyes, and say, “You just have to crawl out of the jungle.” And then he would add, “You can do it!” When I went off to kindergarten, one of my friends thought she’d never master the monkey bars. On the first day, she kept falling off, so she sat by herself and hung her head. I patted her on the back and said, “You just have to crawl out of the jungle. You can do it!” She did.

When Dad retired from photography, he sold all of his equipment because he didn’t plan on taking pictures any more. But since I’ve started this site, he’s been persuaded to take some when I’ve been in a bind. He jokes, “Most dads my age are downsizing to smaller houses. I’ve downsized to Katherine’s little purse camera.”

All jokes aside, what I love most about my dad is that he’s willing to get in there and help our family no matter what. I love you Dad!

Before saying farewell to a place like this, a girl has to have a proper celebration:) I planned an island party and put on one of my new Hilton Hawaiian Village dresses by NIJI of Waikiki. I limited myself to just bringing home two; otherwise I could have ended up owning the entire store:)

Not wanting the fun to end, we did a little more dancing by the lagoon before packing to leave.

A Hawaiian celebration isn’t complete without a floral headpiece. I got mine at one of the Village carts one morning while I was heading to the beach.

This place has an array of prices, from reasonable to astronomical. If you look carefully, you can find great bargains. And I can’t help doing a little bargain-bragging…all of the items I spotted were ultra-reasonable! So if you come to the resort, I’d advise leaving room in your suitcase for souvenirs.

You can travel back in time to the 50s, 60s and 70s in this Hawaiian café. It features authentic décor bursting with memorabilia autographed by rock legends and shining stars of the silver screen. It also offers one of the best food-splurge fests. Of course, I splurged big time!

This throwback is tucked into Waikiki’s turn-of-the-century style shopping area, King’s Village. You know you’ve entered Rock Island when you spot Marilyn in all her glory! I couldn’t stop myself from sliding in next to her for a pic.

The beacon burgers are the café’s specialties. And no one can pass up their milkshakes!

But I was just getting warmed up. I couldn’t say goodbye to Rock Island without a banana split. My motto? Moderation in all things…except dessert:)

It only seemed fitting to wear a 50s-esque dress to this 50s haunt. I’ve always liked the wide waistbands and flowing skirts of that period, so I wore a current Eliza J frock that brings back some of those features. Seeing that I wore another Eliza this week, I’d say I’m officially in love with the line!

A girl could go to Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki, never leave the property and have a landmark trip. This place is an oasis of waterfalls, flowers, tropical animals, surfing, restaurants, the best ice cream on the planet, and charming stores.

I spied this NaPua sundress at one of the Village shops. Each is tiny and packed with island-inspired frocks…many of which aren’t sold online. So a fashion-loving lady has to act in the moment when she sees something she likes.

I’ve been all over the resort in this little number.

Tonight, I’m taking it dancing. There’s live music here at Hilton and right next-door on the boardwalk. It’s guaranteed to get people in a good mood and migrating to the dance floor.

The outfit just wasn’t complete without a flower clip. This look isn’t only hot in Hawaii. Floral hair accessories have been filling style magazines.

Anna Sui is a sassy creator with one of the most adorable cosmetic displays in Waikiki’s glitzy Galleria. Her guiding philosophy is, “You have to focus on your dreams, even if they go beyond common sense.” Well, I’m glad she did!

When I entered the Sui suite, I came under Anna’s makeup spell amid all the options. I had a terrific time choosing which items to take home. I tried out an array of lipsticks and spritzed on the moisturizing mist. I got so carried away that I closed down the store!

I couldn’t return to my hotel without some of these nail polish babes. They’re hits with little girls and ladies alike.

And then there are the rings with lip gloss cleverly hidden inside. Need to touch up your lips on the go? No problem. You don’t even have to prowl through your purse. I’ve seen several travelers around Oahu sporting these. They are especially popular in Japan.

As the intercom announced that the mall was closing, Anna’s fragrances were calling to me.

I quickly snapped this pic with Tina, the charming suite manager. Then I dashed out with my purchases before getting locked inside. I want to return to this enchanting place soon!

On the way back to my resort, I couldn’t help posing for a shot at this gorgeous lagoon. The Joie top I wore is so versatile that I love taking it on trips. That night, I wore it with ripped denim shorts, perfect for walking along the beach and cruising Waikiki. Another night, I dressed it up with a blazer, skinny slacks and heels…perfect for hob-knobbing with the business set.

You’ve all heard of island fever. Well, I was getting a little of what I call, “mainland fever” in anticipation for heading off to Oahu. I couldn’t wait to arrive. I felt like the little kid on our flight who asked her mom, “Are we there yet?” before the plane even took off:)

Shortly after landing, I had an event to attend and wore my new Eliza J dress. It turned out to be an ideal pick. The weather forecast switched from “clear” to “evening downpour.” Not like I cared. After all, I was in Hawaii! A little rain wasn’t going to stop me from having fun.

I’d planned on creating a fancy updo, but that wouldn’t have survived the elements, and I didn’t want to inconvenience my group by lugging around an umbrella. So instead, I let my hair drip-dry, threw in Ouidad Sea Spray, and had a terrific time. Yes, I was caught in a tropical deluge, but as you can see from these post-rain pics, my relaxed hairstyle held up and my gown was made of material that didn’t water-spot.

I paired my Eliza J gown with a Nadri bracelet…

…and Badgley Mischka heels. They look fussy, but they’re so comfortable that you could dance the night away in them! You know I can never attend an event without hitting the dance floor:)

So, on this Meeting Men Monday, I’m sharing a tip from that evening. Everyone in my group said that they had such a great time. It could have been otherwise. If I’d stuck with the fancy updo and put a damper on the evening by trying to dodge the downpour, I would have been a total date spoiler. I think it’s always more important to help people have a good time than to look perfect.

When I went to relax at the park on my lunch break, it took no time for these friendly little creatures to come waddling over. The ducks here embrace everyone, even the little girl who happily joined us to chase after them. Some of the web-footed wonders just shot her a look that said, “You think you can make us move? Think again!” They know they rule the place;)

The weather was beautiful, so I wore a top as light as a spring breeze and adorned with flower appliqués. It’s by my new fashion find, Bellatrix Clothing. Their mission is to provide beautiful pieces that can go with an assortment of outfits. I only just bought this keeper and every size has already been snapped up from the Nordstrom store near me! A girl has to move fast when she finds something she likes from Bellatrix. After all, they share a name with one of the brightest stars in the night.

The rest of my ensemble consisted of a versatile Coach bag that I’ve trotted out for quite some time, Fendi watch, Guess jeans and Vince Camuto heels.