res pulchrae

knit tales

2012-01-08T15:49:00.002-05:00

Belated Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of you! I've been busy but life is great, which to me is a perfectly valid excuse for not posting more

thin cotton turtleneck (American Apparel) // vintage wool nubby sweater // Balenciaga leather pants (yoox.com) // suede boots from Daffy's // Alexander McQueen skull ring // vintage Gucci watch // Maison Martin Margiela gold ring set (yoox.com) // flea market bracelet

You haven't missed much; mostly I've been wearing some version of my usual Les Chiffoniers pants + button-down shirt + coat uniform. But I finally have something new to show you guys - this awesome hand-knit wool sweater tunic. Apparently it was from the 60s. I love pieces like this - kind of a no-brainer, just throw it on and go. I plan on wearing it with over-the-knee boots as well. I like to think it is Isabel Marant-ish, but that might just be my way of consoling myself because I can't actually afford any of her stuff!

sale away

2011-12-04T19:25:00.001-05:00

How is everyone? Any good sale buys? I myself did not partake in Black Friday madness, and I missed out on everything I had my eye on online. I just wasn't quick enough with "proceed to checkout!" I'm not even that disappointed, I feel like I'm in a good place with my wardrobe right now.

Rick Owens Lilies asymmetric top (Century21/NYC)
Calvin Klein Collection over-the-knee boots (theoutnet.com)
Comme des Garçons wool vest (Second Time Around consignment)
Hermès cuff

Vanessa Bruno Athé double-breasted jacket (theoutnet.com)
Balenciaga leather leggings (yoox.com)
Rick Owens boots (brownsfashion.com)
Elizabeth & James knuckle ring (Intermix/NYC)

old and new

2011-11-13T10:33:00.001-05:00

I love chunky sweaters but the season to wear them is so short. They don't exactly fit under my winter coats so the window of opportunity falls between the end of autumn and the dead of winter. I am actually considering chopping the sleeves off some of them and turning them into vests so that they fit under coats. I have yet to pull the trigger though - one of the candidates is this Rick Owens sweater so you see why I'm hesitant.

Martin Margiela Line 4 shirt (yoox.com) // Phillip Lim chunky cardigan (Barneys Co-op) // JBrand Houlihan skinny cargo pants (Barneys Co-op) // cashmere scarf // Givenchy wedge boots (Century 21/NYC)

Phillip Lim rosettes dress // Balenciaga leather leggings (yoox.com) // Ann Demeulemeester scarf (aloharag.com) // Vince short-sleeve hooded sweater // Dolce & Gabanna coat (eBay) // Rick Owens boots (brownsfashion.com) // Martin Margiela gold ring set (yoox.com)

excuses, excuses

2011-10-22T16:11:00.000-04:00

Oh how these photos lie! Move just a few inches to the left or right of where I'm standing and you'll see a big old mess. I'm in the middle of switching out my wardrobe and there are clothes and shoes everywhere! I decided to take a break and blog a little but in all honesty there has been more of these "little breaks" than there has been actual cleaning...

Les Chiffoniers latex pants (Intermix/NYC) // Rick Owens boots (brownsfashion.com) // thrifted faux fur vest (Addiction Consignment/Philly) // Dolce & Gabbana coat with leopard lining (eBay)

third time's a charm

2011-10-05T19:06:00.000-04:00

I never thought my calves were particularly big until one day last fall at Bergdorf Goodman when I tried to squeeze into a pair of Louboutin Egoustina boots. They didn't even go past my ankle! I suppose my calves are healthy runner's calves, nothing like the super-slim ones all French Vogue editors seem to have. I think it also has to do with the fact that I'm short, so the thickest part of my calf is a few inches lower on my leg than the average.

I have tried several versions of over-the-knee boots. These Biba ones were the most recent to date. I still love how they look but they are so tight around my calves that when I take them off at the end of the day there are huge dents in my skin from where the zippers dig in.

When the price dropped on these Calvin Klein suede boots from theoutnet.com I decided to give them a try. They are still snug around my calf but not uncomfortable, just enough to keep the boots from sliding down. I can actually stuff a thin pair of jeans or pants in them (unlike the Bibas) and the heel height is perfect. I am pretty confident that these will be the last pair of black over-the-knee boots I will ever buy. Between these and the others I should have all my bases covered.

Rag & Bone shirt (yoox.com) // Vanessa Bruno Athé jacket (theoutnet.com) //
Calvin Klein Collection over-the-knee boots (theoutnet.com) // Prada mini bag (eBay) //
rings by Elizabeth & James and Iossellani

thrifty

2011-10-02T16:12:00.000-04:00

I haven't been trolling thrift and consignment stores as often as I used to. I'm either too busy or too lazy and most of the time I'd rather shop online. When I do get out and find something though, the thrill is still there.

I found this Ralph Lauren linen blazer in pristine condition at a consignment shop. It is made in Italy and has lovely wood buttons. I actually spent more money getting the sleeves hemmed than on the blazer itself, but the total cost was less than similar jackets I had been considering from H&M and Zara.

The Row t-shirt I'm wearing in this outfit is also a consignment find. I would never pay full retail (~$200!) for it but it has become one of my favorite basics.

Makes me wish I had more time and energy to devote to "thrifting"!

Ralph Lauren Collection linen blazer // The Row t-shirt (Fisch for the Hip/NYC) //
Sara Berman cropped leather pants (theoutnet.com) // Balenciaga belt (eBay.com) //
YSL Tribtoo patent pumps // Alexander McQueen warrior skull ring (saks.com)

collection i'll be stalking

2011-09-29T19:56:00.000-04:00

I have trouble keeping up with fashion shows. There are too many of them and too many seasons for me to keep track of - as soon as I think I'm caught up, the next round of runway shows begins.

I don't remember viewing Junya Watanabe's F/W 2011 collection via runway pictures last spring, but when I saw the first shipment at Barneys it was love at first sight. With my solid base of essentials (tuxedo jacket, white button-down shirt, leather pants) I would have no trouble incorporating these pieces into my wardrobe. With end-of season sales, eBay, and discount sites, I'm hoping that at least one of these will land in my closet eventually. Let the obsessive bookmarking and stalking begin!

Junya Watanabe Comme Des Garcons plaid shirt dress
Junya Watanabe cropped pants
Junya Watanabe leather shorts
Junya Watanabe Ester taffeta and faux leather quilted gilet

tough call

2011-09-25T19:57:00.000-04:00

I always have trouble getting dressed this time of year. It's as warm as it's been all summer but I'm tired of wearing my summer clothes.

Junya Watanabe CDG studded collar shirt (eBay) // Luxirare cuff // Sara
Berman cropped leather pants (theoutnet.com) // Charles David boots (endless.com)

Zara vest // Current/Elliott side-zip jeans (Barneys Co-op) // vintage
Helmut Lang strap tank (eBay) // Christian Louboutin flats (net-a-porter.com) //
Vanessa Bruno canvas tote (Printemps/Paris) // Hermes cuff

nine to five

2011-09-22T19:18:00.000-04:00

And now for the latest installment of "dirty mirror, messy closet" work outfit pictures...

L: AKA shirt // D&G pants // Gucci belt // Michael Kors pumps
M: Michael Kors sweater // Benetton skirt // Delman pumps
R: Nili Lotan shirt // Helmut Lang pants // Louboutin shoes // Urban Outfitters trench

L: Jill Stuart jacket // James Perse tee // Prada cashmere skirt // Michael Kors pumps
M: Ralph Lauren linen blazer // Steven Alan shirt // Rag & Bone pants // Tod's loafers
R: Diesel blouse // Benetton pencil skirt // vintage belt // Michael Kors pumps

shorter days, longer nights

2011-09-18T16:05:00.000-04:00

Well I'm back! I hope everyone had a great summer!

I feel like myself again, fashion-wise, now that the weather has turned cooler. I wouldn't rush to switch out your closets though - it looks like next weekend will be warm again.

vintage Helmut Lang blazer (eBay) // James Perse tee //
Maison Martin Margiela shredded shorts (yoox.com) //
Céline mirror heels (Century21/NYC)

Missoni ombre duster sweater (Filene's Basement/NYC) // Rick Owens tank x 2
(Barneys and theoutnet.com) // Les Chiffoniers sparkly pants (Filene's Basement/NYC)
Givenchy boots (Century21/NYC) // Hermes cuff // Alexander McQueen ring

tips and tricks

2011-08-14T05:27:00.015-04:00

One wardrobe trick that has always worked for me is to wear skirts higher up in my waist, right at the smallest part of my torso, to make my legs look longer.

Missoni top // R.E.D. Valentino skirt // Hermes belt // Fendi bag //
Gucci watch // Giuseppe Zanotti sandals

Dolce & Gabbana silk top // vintage Christian Dior skirt // Hermes belt //
Gucci watch // Giuseppe Zanotti sandals

This skirt is so old (actually all of the clothes in this post are!) I'm so glad it still fits. The skirt is actually several layers of pleated silk. It's hard to tell from the outfit picture so here is a closeup:

Love the print!

interchangeable

2011-08-07T15:26:00.001-04:00

The weather has been marginally more tolerable lately. It is still about 30 degrees hotter than my comfort zone but at least it no longer feels like I'm stepping into the fires of Mordor whenever I leave my apartment.

Still, the heat makes me do things I normally wouldn't, like show my bra in public. I should care more but I really don't. It must seem strange to some of you to hear an East Coaster complain about the weather. It's not so much the temperature (although it has been hovering above 90F for most of August) as it is the high humidity. I'll take dry heat over humid heat any day. It's the humidity than really makes you sweat. It's actually cooler out on the West Coast most days.

Rick Owens jersey skirt // James Perse ribbed tank // Urban Outfitters bra //
Chanel sandals // Hermes cuff // Gucci lizard band watch

If I had known how often I would wear this tank I would have purchased multiples. I'm always hand-washing it so that I can wear it on consecutive days without doing a full load of laundry. Same with the pants, actually. I have been living in them this summer. The perfect slouchy pant.

(same as above) // Balenciaga trousers // Chanel t-strap flats

oh stella

2011-07-31T17:05:00.000-04:00

I love Stella McCartney's designs and I would buy more of her stuff if

1. they were not so astronomically expensive, and
2. her designs were more short-person-friendly.

To be fair, no high end designer actually caters to those of us who are 5'4" and under, but at least a lot of things can be altered to fit. This is not always the case with the majority of Stella's designs. The waist and knee breaks are always in odd places unless you're tall, so altering to fit would mean taking the whole thing apart. (She might have to address this if she plans on expanding to the fast-growing luxury Asian market.)

If I'm lucky enough to find one of her pieces on sale, most of the time I can only pull it off if I wear heels, as is the case here.

Stella McCartney shirtdress (Fisch for the Hip consignment/NYC) // Missoni espadrilles (Anbar Shoes/NYC, now closed)

This dress is trademark Stella - loose-fitting and blousy, all-natural fabric, very comfortable to wear - something a male designer would never design for a woman, lol. (Wait, I take that back - I forgot about Albert Elbaz for Lanvin!)

odds and ends

2011-07-09T18:34:00.000-04:00

string vest from eBay // JBrand "Houlihan" skinny cargo pants //
Giuseppe Zanotti jewelled sandals

"Radical Fashion" by Clair Wilcox. The book itself is so-so,
but add Rick Owens and I hope my closet will one day read like this list!

I may not like hot weather, but I do love cute bikinis. These are my newest ones.

Wireless Bluetooth headphones by Rocketfish. Best new tech purchase - freedom from wires is amazing!!! You don't have to worry about the length of strap on your handbag or always having a pocket to stick your iPod in. Great for running, too. I keep a playlist on my phone (my iPod is so old, it is not Bluetooth-enabled) and also have it paired with my iPad since I always have it with me on the weekdays. There are controls right on the earpiece so you never have to take out your music player to rewind/fast-forward or change the volume. Of course you can also take calls without taking out your phone, but personally I hate talking on Bluetooth because it looks like I'm talking to myself! Lol. Wireless range is ~30 feet (10 meters.)

Whoever the fit model for pants is over at Balenciaga clearly has me in mind ;-)
Best fitting pants ever. Too much is never enough!

I hope everyone is enjoying summer!

midsummer dressing

2011-06-26T18:05:00.000-04:00

Rick Owens jersey is an integral part of my summer survival kit.

So comfortable and cool against the skin.

Rick Owens tank dress // American Apparel tube dress (underneath) //
vintage Hermes belt // Martin Margiela gold ring set //
Ralph Lauren Collection sandals

It was actually way too hot for a jacket, but doesn't every outfit look so much chic-er with a blazer thrown over it?

Rick Owens tanks // Rick Owens Lilies skort // Balenciaga boyfriend blazer //
Alaia sandals // Hermes collier de chien cuff

backlog

2011-06-12T19:15:00.000-04:00

original Helmut Lang by HL knotted strap tank // McQ leather shorts
Balenciaga boyfriend blazer // Christian Louboutin flats

Ann Demeulemeester shirt and pants // Ralph Lauren Collection sandals

Ralph Lauren shirt // Current/Elliot shorts

summer survival

2011-06-05T22:06:00.000-04:00

Winter is by far my favorite season, so you can imagine how badly I dealt with the sudden onset of heat after months of rain. If only reverse hibernation were a viable option - I could stay indoors with air conditioning and a fridge full of ice cream and never see the light of day until the heat breaks and cold weather sets in.

One thing that makes the heat a little more tolerable is this (half)skirt, which is fast becoming a summer staple. I almost look forward to hot and humid days so that I have an excuse to wear it. Almost.

Rick Owens ribbed tank x 2 (Barneys and theoutnet.com sales) // Ann Demeulemeester skirt (luisaviaroma.com) // Don Ciccillo swarovski toe ring sandals (yoox.com) // Hermes collier de chien cuff // cotton bicycle shorts

where there's a will there's a way

2011-05-22T16:08:00.000-04:00

All you knowledgeable fashionistas will probably recognize this attempt at an Isabel Marant runway look.

For those of you who (like me) do not want to spend $185 on the original Isabel Marant tank, I would suggest searching on eBay for "string vest" (include men's and search worldwide) and make sure you get the 100% cotton ones, not the nylon fishnet. And don't spend more than $10.

Alternatively, if there's a section in your city populated by Jamaicans, the neighborhood stores there might sell them. Again, don't spend more than $10, $20 tops.

The camisole I am wearing underneath the open-knit tank is awesome - Le Mystere Tisha lace cami. It has a full, built-in underwire bra. It is quite expensive but I highly recommend it. It goes under everything and eliminates the quadruple straps you would have to deal with if you wore both a bra and a camisole.

cotton open-knit tank (eBay.com) // Sara Berman leather pants (theoutnet.com) // Costume National silk blazer (eBay.com) // Christian Louboutin pointed-toe pumps

runway to my way

2011-05-15T22:45:00.000-04:00

Ann Demeulemeester S/S 2011 skirt.

Ann Demeulemeester S/S 2011 skirt // Nation Ltd. gray top // Martin Margiela black mini tube skirt //
thrifted Donna Karan sandals // Prada evening bag

Skirt on the runway and on Harper Bazaar Australia's Christine Centenera

Although I cannot imagine a situation where I would let the train drag behind me (that is until I buy my marble-floored mansion and hire a team of minions to keep it dust-free) I still wanted to keep that option open. I saw these snaps-on-a-strip at the sewing supply store and tried them out, sewing the strip along the edge of the skirt and at the tips of the train. It works very well and because the snaps are an inch apart I can actually adjust the length for different heel heights. This skirt is currently my favorite "not-so-basic" basic. It looks great with a plain white tank top in the summertime and I plan on using it as a layering piece when cooler weather rolls around.

warm days cool nights

2011-05-08T19:06:00.000-04:00

tank top with side tails, knit cotton mini dress - original Helmut Lang by Helmut Lang //
Rachel Comey boots // Elke Kramer necklace

the long and short of it

2011-05-04T16:42:00.001-04:00

New Theyskens Theory tank. This was never on my radar until I tried it on in store. 100% pima cotton, not too tight, and best of all, I can wear a regular bra with it - not always the case with flimsy summer tops. From Barneys Co-op, Philly.

It is longer in the back than in the front. Unfortunately the side slits are positioned right in the "muffin top" area, but as long as the waistband of my pants don't dig in I'll be fine.

Also, Elke Kramer resin pyramid necklace. The rope-like chain has a summery vibe and I like that the length is easily adjustable. This will be the perfect accessory for the simple dresses I plan on wearing to beat the heat in the summertime. From Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, Philly.

brighter days

2011-05-01T10:16:00.000-04:00

These are without a doubt "man repelling" pants. They are super-wide and balloon-y. But nothing beats a comfortable, loose-fitting pair of linen pants for warmer weather. As long as I wear them with heels they are not so offensive.

Just like newly-minted Duchess Catherine, I too brought out my family jewels yesterday (ha!) I had a choice between a loud belt or a loud necklace - I would never wear both at the same time - and I chose the latter.

It was finally time to wear sandals! And bags in other colors besides black!

Not looking forward to making a mess and switching out my wardrobe for the new season. I think I'll ignore that task and enjoy the beautiful weather instead... just like I plan on ignoring the enormous bill for dry cleaning my winter coats.

Chloé silk blouse (Chloé outlet @ Woodbury Commons) // 3.1 Phillip Lim linen trousers (yoox.com clearance) // Burberry Prorsum sandals (theoutnet.com clearance sale) // Fendi bag // flea market necklace (Greenflea Market/NYC) // inherited pearl and diamond ring

familiar territory

2011-04-28T10:44:00.002-04:00

I had a request for a new work outfit post, so here it is. Pictures are awful, but I don't have time in the morning to do a proper set-up (or clean my mirror - ick! Sorry.)

For work outfits that are far more superior to mine, I would highly recommend my new favorite blogger, The Working Girl, Esq. She has an amazing wardrobe for both work and play, with coveted designers like Thakoon, Theyskens Theory, and Prada. Even if I didn't have a dress code I doubt I would be as corporate chic as she! Very inspiring, do check her out.

1: Rag & Bone shirt // jersey pencil skirt by Velvet // Louboutins
2: Theory shirt // Grifoni pants // Trina Turk trench // Tod's loafers
3: Theory shirt and pants // Furla belt // YSL ankle boots

Ralph Laurent shirt // Grifoni pants // Tod's loafers // Zara coat // Gucci belt // APC men's bag

nyc shopping guide

2011-04-25T11:27:00.002-04:00

A reader asked for my shopping recommendations in NYC. I thought I would post it here as a quick reference for all my readers. As a disclaimer, I would like to say that the shopping landscape changes a lot in NYC so for more up-to-date listings I would supplement my list with shopping guides from Lucky Magazine or Refinery29. I also do a lot of online shopping nowadays, so I might not be the ultimate source. These are the areas I am most familiar with since I grew up in Midtown West and went to grammar and high schools on the Upper East Side. These are the stores I frequent, and I tried to group them by neighborhood so you can actually plan a shopping trip. For more restaurant recommendations I would definitely check out Gennie's blog Maison des Reveries. She has them labelled under "nyc" and "restaurant recommendations."

Downtown/Soho:
I would start in the Financial District at discount megastore Century21. I like to go there early in the morning before it gets too crowded and disorganized. I purchase a lot of Rick Owens at Century21, but they have tons of other brands like Pucci, Dolce, Margiela, etc., as well as some mid-range brands and a big denim selection with brands like JBrand and Hudson. From there I would take the C or E trains (not the A) uptown to Spring St. and walk a block east to Thompson St. One of my favorite consignment stores, INA, has a small branch there. A bit pricey but way cheaper than original retail prices. If you're hungry a good place for lunch is Snack, right next door to INA. They serve good Greek classics for decent prices. I love the veal meatballs (keftedes) and greek salad. Also on the same block is Porto Rico Trading Company, which serves great coffee. It is very small and I don't think there's a sign, but there will be a bench in front and bags of coffee beans in the window. Sometimes they have homemade caramels which are really good. Then I would head back to Spring St. and walk about half a block east to Flying A, which has a bunch of under-the-radar European brands like Maje which are often hard to find in the US. Flying A is great for edgy basics. They have some vintage pieces but I would refrain from buying vintage in NYC. It is incredibly overpriced, especially editor/blogger faves like What Goes Around Comes Around and Screaming Mimi's. You can buy vintage in other cities, same type of merchandise as those stores, for a lot cheaper. I prefer to shop designer consignment. The only exception would be Shareen Vintage for dresses. Definitely check them out but they keep very irregular hours so Google their hours and location beforehand. Anyway, back to Soho. So keep walking east, you'll hit some cute small stores like Wink, great for accessories, and Olive & Bette's, which has some cute t-shirts if you need to buy presents for anyone. There's an LF store somewhere there too for that "boho" look and some cute summer styles. If you want a refreshing iced drink I would stop by Vosges Haute Chocolat and get the iced white chocolate. It has hints of lavander and is so delicious. Grab a pack of their caramel marshmallows or chocolate-covered toffee if you have a sweet tooth. Next and not to be missed is Roundabout Resale. I think it's on Mercer St. but double-check. Awesome selection, the items are new but discounted since they are from past seasons. They had a lot of Ann Demeulemeester and Alexander McQueen last time I was there. They also have some pre-owned Chanel and some decently-priced designer shoes. The APC store is close by and great for that classic French look. Walk south to Grand St. for the new Alexander Wang boutique, or walk north to Prince St. for Intermix and Miu Miu. Intermix is quite pricey and the staff is not the friendliest, but they are great for "going out" outfits. It is very trendy and it's how stylish young NYers dress. If you plan on hitting up the Meatpacking District clubs and restaurants, Intermix would be a good place to find an outfit. They often have a sale rack and the items I buy there I end up wearing often. Walk east to Broadway and you'll find all the high street shops. Topshop, Mango, and Madewell are worth a look since they are not as ubiquitous as H&M or Zara (which are also on Broadway.) Scoop is another trendy boutique on Broadway, similar to Intermix. I like their resort collection - I think of Scoop as the place to go if you have a house in the Hamptons. Opening Ceremony and Oak are off Broadway also. If you keep walking east you'll hit the East Village. I'm not too familiar with the area, but Pixie Market, Unis, and another branch of INA are all eastward.

Upper West Side:
If you want a less crowded boutique shopping experience I would start the day with breakfast at Alice's Tea Cup off Columbus (73rd or 74th St). They have awesome scones. Make sure you ask for cream and jam with your scone, unless you get one of the savory ones, which are excellent as well. Then I would head west to Broadway and hit up Loehmann's. Loehmann's and Barneys are owned by the same person, so you'll find a lot of discounted Co-op brands like Elizabeth & James, Vince, and Theory. I also found a pair of Alaia sandals there recently for $200. Further uptown on B'way is Barneys Co-op and Filene's Basement. Filene's on 79th had a ton of Missoni last time I was there (but not much else.) There's also a huge Urban Outfitters on 72nd and B'way. There's a cute shoe store called Tani on Broadway, on 69th, and they have a second branch close by on 72nd between B'way and Columbus. Most shoes are under $200 and they have really cute, practical styles. If you want a snack, there's a Magnolia Bakery on Columbus. I am not a fan of their cupcakes but the banana pudding is to die for. I would also stop by Levain Bakery on 74th off Amsterdam. The best giant cookies - my favorites are the oatmeal raisin and chocolate peanut butter. You can buy them in packs of 5 to take home. They freeze well and you can bake one whenever you feel like it! For an inexpensive lunch I would go to Hummus Place on Amsterdam and 74th or 75th. Very good food and sometimes they have sangria which is really good. Le Pain Quotidien on 72nd near Central Park West is also good for lunch and LAND Thai on Amsterdam has a generous, affordable lunch special. On Amsterdam and 82nd you'll find the Steven Alan Outpost, which is their outlet store. An entire wall of their classic shirts and other cute basics all on sale. Back downtown on Columbus Ave. in the 70s there are other branches of Intermix and Wink. If you're tired of shopping Lincoln Plaza Cinemas has a great selection of independent films. I'm pretty sure they are pre-screened as I have never seen a bad movie there. It is popular among the geriatric set, but the movies they show are often exclusive to LA and NYC, so if there's an indie flick you've been wanting to check out, Lincoln Plaza Cinemas might be showing it. If it's still showing when you're there I recommend the movie Incendies. For dinner Bar Boulud is right next to the movie theater and there's a decent Japanese/sushi place, Dan, on 69th and Broadway.

Fifth Ave./Madison/Museums
If you plan on visiting Museums along Fifth, you can sneak in a little shopping too! You can start at the MoMA and even have lunch at the restaurant there, it is very good. Then head over to Bergdorf Goodman, which in my opinion has the best designer shoe selection (even better than Barneys') and they have a lot of styles you don't get to see online. Barneys is within walking distance of Bergdorf's and it's always nice to look around, especially the handbag section. On your way to the Metropolitan Musem (I think the Alexander McQueen exhibit is opening soon) I would walk along Madison Ave. instead of Fifth Ave. (you'll pass by the Whitney museum on the way.) I would say between 79th St. and 86th St. on Madison there are several high-end designer consignment shops; they are often on the 2nd floor so you might have to look up to spot them. Upper East Siders get rid of a lot of their clothing quite frequently so you can find some gems in those consignment shops. Handbags are often at least 50% off. For snacks on Madison I would go to Lady M cake boutique on 78th for a slice of their "mille feuille" cake and a glass of their excellent iced earl gray tea. For good gelato Sant Ambroeus is also nearby on Madison (often featured on Gossip Girl) but for even better gelato there's Ciao Bella on 92nd off Madison. If you want a quick lunch after the Met or Guggenheim, Pintaile's Pizza on 91st is a good bet and Serafina on 79th for their cream of tomato soup and terrace seating. On Lexington Ave. there's a great store Ludivine on 82nd, which sells French brands like Vanessa Bruno. Pricey but good selection and well-edited. Speaking of editing, there's another cute boutique EDIT, on Lex and 90th. Again, pricey (it is the Upper East Side!) but they have some nice things. Another favorite is Otte on Madison, they carry a lot of the same brands as one of my favorite online stores, lagarconne.com. Sometimes I prefer shopping the smaller boutiques because the buyers do the editing for you. And often the staff is friendlier during a recession ;-) For dinner on Madison Ave. my friends and I frequent Le Bilboquet on 63rd, near the Cavalli store. The Cajun chicken is really good and Le Bilboquet is not as ridiculously priced as other restaurants in that area.

Nightlife:
I am by no means an expert in this. I don't go out as often as I used to but Lit Lounge in the East Village and The Jane are well-reviewed (although The Jane is sometimes difficult to get into without someone in the know) and for a "Sex and the City" type scene and great views the Gansevoort is always nice. For something a bit more low-key, the bartenders at Vero Wine Bar on 2nd Ave. near 77th St. serve really yummy, delicious drinks - they're kind of girly drinks, so not the best place to bring a group of guys, but their drink specials are delicious (very easy to get drunk!) MPD in the Meatpacking District had one of the best dirty martinis I've ever had. I also like Avenue for a decent clubbing scene and The Back Room is cute because they serve drinks in tea cups!

I am quite clueless when it comes to the other boroughs, so if any Brooklynites want to add their favorites, feel free to do so in the comments! I am sure I missed a ton of places and neighborhoods (East Village, West Village, Union Square) but I hope this guide is of use to someone.

Again, feel free to add your favorites in the comments, I would love to discover new places. Bon voyage!

when life hands you lemons...

2011-04-20T19:09:00.000-04:00

It was a weekend of repeats. This is what I wore last Saturday. There's a better view of the t-shirt in the previous incarnation of this outfit here.

It rained the entire day but that was exactly what I needed. Forced to stay indoors I finally tackled my growing "to be altered/hemmed" pile. It is inexcusable how long I keep stuff sitting around, wasting away in that pile. There were some great items in there, including a perfectly slouchy yet slim pair of Theory pants and almost a week's worth of work trousers. It took the whole afternoon but at the end of it I felt like I had a whole new wardrobe. I vow never to let that pile grow that high again!

Nation Ltd. oversized tee layered over Monrow tee // James Jeans skinny pants // 3.1 Phillip Lim chunky cardigan (Barneys Co-op/Philly) // Chloe boots (DSW Shoes/NYC) // Hermes cuff // Elizabeth & James knuckle ring // silver ring set (forkjewelry.com) // Marc Bernstein leather and metal wrap bracelet // Furla lightweight scarf (yoox.com)

you snooze you lose

2011-04-17T19:01:00.000-04:00

Another repeat outfit (sort of.) Still waiting for warmer weather to try something new.
The frequent torrential downpours are not helping the situation either.

This is another one of my favorite shirts, by Ralph Lauren. I love the white collar. I went back to purchase a few more and maybe other colors but sadly they were all sold out.
Oh well - you win some you lose some!

Ralph Lauren Collection shirt (RL outlet at Woodbury Commons/NY) // Les Chiffoniers leather pants (barneys.com) // vintage Chanel jacket // Christian Louboutin "Rollerball" studded loafers (eBay.com) // G-Shock men's watch // cheap mirrored aviators from Daffy's

uniform update

2011-04-10T22:03:00.000-04:00

Cropped (leather) pants, comfy shoes, plain tank or tee, and a sharp black blazer - I fell in love with this silhouette after seeing versions by The Row and Theyskens Theory. I have a feeling this will be my uniform this spring.

I bought these leather pants during theoutnet.com's clearance sale. $39 for genuine leather pants was such an irresistible deal I bought two pairs and had no qualms chopping about a foot off these to make them the perfect cropped length. The small strip of cloth along the inside calf makes them slim but not skin-tight as it tapers toward the bottom, which is exactly the shape I was going for. I'm not sure what to do with the second pair - I might turn them into flared cropped pants or hold off until the next trend in pant length reveals itself.

Yves Saint Laurent "Le Smoking" tuxedo jacket (old, ebay.com) // Sara Berman leather pants (theoutnet.com clearance sale) // Christian Louboutin cut-out flats (old, net-a-porter.com) // Maison Martin Margiela Line 11 gold ring set (yoox.com)

in limbo

2011-04-03T19:14:00.000-04:00

The calendar says spring but the temperature says winter! Although I will always love black, sometimes I get tired of wearing drab winter colors.

I spy... a Martin Margiela gold ring set! They popped up one day on yoox.com - I don't think I checked out so fast in my life!

I'm in a state of limbo right now when it comes to my wardrobe. Every week I wrestle with the decision to switch out my closet from winter to spring. So far I have resisted - I think I'll wait until we have a string of consecutive warm days. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later, I have a few pieces just begging to be worn!

T by Alexander Wang striped linen tee (Barneys Co-op/Philly) // Current/Elliot jeans (Saks Off Fifth outlet) // Zara coat // Mulberry "Alexa" handbag // Rachel Comey boots (Steven Alan Outpost (their sale outlet store)/NYC) // Martin Margiela 11 gold ring set (yoox.com)

fringe benefits

2011-03-23T12:07:00.000-04:00

Those of you who follow my tumblr might already know that I made a killing on a recent trip to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in upstate NY, an unplanned stop on the way back to the city from a weekend of snowboarding. Here's part of my loot - Jil Sander fringe jacket, from the S/S 2009 collection by Raf Simons.

Original retail price: $1795

Clearance price: $280

"Take an additional 60% off clearance price" promotion:

BOOYAH! Now we're talking. Beautiful Jil Sander runway piece for less than 20 Starbucks drinks? Yes please, wrap it up!

As expected, impeccable tailoring by Jil Sander:

This jacket was the pièce de résistance, but I also walked away with a pair of Balenciaga pants for $22 (no joke) from the same clearance rack and a beautiful silk blouse from the Chloé outlet 80% off retail. I highly recommend going to the outlets on a weekday if you can. There were tons of extra promotions going on that I've never seen on a weekend, probably to make up for the slower weekday traffic.

Jil Sander S/S 09 fringe jacket (Saks Off Fifth outlet) // Theory tank // Alaïa wool bicycle shorts (eBay.com) // H&M tights // Rick Owens boots (brownsfashion.com) // Tres Fluo leather bag (oogaboogastore.com) // silver cuff rings (forkjewelry.com)

Here is a runway picture of the jacket (on the right, it's on the model in the background.)

Jil Sander S/S 2009 (style.com)

fashion desert

2011-03-19T18:23:00.000-04:00

I've been experiencing "dejà vu" with my outfits lately, and this one is no exception, so if it's been a bit boring around here lately I do apologize. I did buy a few great pieces recently to spice up my wardrobe. I'll introduce them as soon as I finish up alterations - hemming, shortening sleeves, blah blah blah. Oh the life of a short girl!

I did have some fancier shoes on originally, but I decided it was too early in the day for sexytime. Kidding! (It's never too early for sexytime.) Actually I realized that I had two different colors on my toenails and fingernails so I swapped out the sandals for these dorky heeled desert boots. I liked the more casual feel.

Dance dance dance!

T by Alexander Wang pocket tank (Petulia's Folly/Philly, now closed) // Les Hommes-Femmes side slit skirt (yoox.com) // vintage leather jacket (ebay.com) // Louis Vuitton x Sprouse leopard scarf // Veronique Branquinho heeled desert boots (ebay.com) & Marc Jacobs studded ankle wrap sandal (Bergdorf Goodman/NYC)

streamlined

2011-03-09T16:18:00.000-05:00

Balenciaga x 3 // Margiela body // Cecile & Jeanne gold cuff

scheming

2011-03-06T18:05:00.000-05:00

Thank you everyone for your advice RE: mixing metals. Although I can't see myself committing fully to it anytime soon, I think I should definitely relax when it comes to little things like hardware on shoes or belts.

This is what I wore today. I went to visit the Apple "geniuses" to pester them about the iPad2 launch this Friday. If an Apple employee says the store won't be getting the shipment until 5 pm, are they blatantly lying for the sake of crowd control? I should offer one of those broke college kids money to stand in line all day and save me a spot...

mixing metals

2011-03-02T15:33:00.000-05:00

Milder temperatures last weekend allowed me to continue substituting a proper winter coat with layers of vests and jackets.

I've always been curious as to whether or not you guys mix metals when it comes to jewelry. I'm not very comfortable with it - I even go so far as to match the hardware on my shoes to my jewelry - but if I can get over the fear of mismatched metals I feel like I would have more outfit options. I think this is why I'm having such a difficult time finding sandals for summer - it seems like shoes have either gold or silver accent hardware and I would like a shoe that matches both. Thoughts? Am I crazy?

even better than the real thing

2011-02-27T16:37:00.001-05:00

After several failed attempts to purchase the Martin Margiela ring set I've been lusting over from thecorner.com (I would go through the entire checkout process only to be told the item was unavailable), I turned to my trusted personal shopper, a.k.a. Google, out of frustration. He came through for me once again. I found these cuff rings from a site that turns old silverware to jewelry - these rings are actually made from old butter spreaders. When I received them they were all a little too big. I had trouble re-sizing them without proper jeweler's tools (you can imagine how sturdy a butter knife is) but after pinching them for several hours in a vise and fine-tuning with a pair of long-nose pliers, they fit quite well. Overall I am very pleased; usually when I settle for second best it's only temporary until I get my hands on the real thing. Not so with my butter spreader rings - I love that they are recycled. These are a permanent addition to my jewelry collection.

casual friday

2011-02-23T15:39:00.002-05:00

Here is a selection of my work outfits from the past month.

On the far right is an outfit for casual Friday. I had not been able to participate in casual Friday that often because my jeans were either skinny and too tight to wear to the office or boyfriend-fit with too many holes in them. Several weeks ago I decided to do something about it and bought a pair of jeans appropriate for work - still on the slim side, but not so baggy as to look sloppy. These are actually just skinny jeans which I bought 2 sizes up from my regular denim size. They are by Resin, from Barneys. I have a similar pair by Diesel that is a darker wash, so between the two I'm able to take advantage of a few more casual Fridays. It's a nice little perk, it makes the weekend seem that much closer.

winded

2011-02-20T21:05:00.008-05:00

These pants were so well-concealed among the tons of other black things in my closet that I forgot all about them. I'm glad I re-discovered them, the high waist works perfectly with my lace crop top. This is also the inaugural picture using ---> Tag Loudly <--- just hover over the first photograph for information on what I'm wearing (might not work in some RSS feed readers, like Google)!

Maybe it was the brief taste of spring we got last Friday, but I really did not feel like wearing a winter coat anymore even though it was still quite cold; I wore a scarf and cashmere wrap in lieu of a coat. I was totally fine until I got hit with the wind gusts. Holy crap. It was quite a workout just walking against the wind.

How do you like my market bag? I'm so trendy, I know. It's no Jil Sander but it'll do... for now... (It's really old, from Whole Foods ;-)

before the season's over

2011-02-13T10:56:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month on Groundhog Day, Chuck the groundhog predicted an early start to spring. Judging by next week's weather forecast it looks like he might be right (he does after all have a winning record of 6 out of 8 years!) Knowing that spring might be around the corner forces me to wear fall/winter items that I neglected to wear during the season, like this Helmut Lang hooded scarf from his F/W 2002 collection. I can hardly wait until all the snow has melted and the temperatures climb up to the 50s and 60s, but it would have been a shame to let the season pass without wearing this scarf at least once.

This scarf/halter top hybrid is more than five years old now. Some of my readers might remember it from my Stylediary. Here is a back view and runway picture of the scarf (Stella Tennant opened the show wearing it) to give you a better idea of what it is. Flipping through old Helmut Lang collections is so nostalgic for me, it always reminds me of his quiet genius and brilliance as a clothing designer.

original Helmut Lang by Helmut Lang scarf (Century21 Dept. Store/NYC) // Martin Margiela nude bodysuit (yoox.com) // Balenciaga pants with ankle zippers (Joan Shepp basement sale/Philly) // Christian Louboutin pointed-toe pumps (eBay.com) // Hermes collier de chien cuff // BCBG (Repossi knockoff) gold knuckle ring // Alexander McQueen warrior skull ring (saksfifthavenue.com)

wardrobe planning

2011-02-10T20:53:00.001-05:00

Here are just a few examples of the type of look I'll be going for as soon as the heavy wool coats and puffy down jackets are stored away. I own almost everything I need to copy these looks, I just need a few fill-ins.

One of my favorite features in other blogs is when bloggers re-visit shopping lists they made at the beginning of each season to see how well they stuck to their resolutions. This is my attempt at a shopping list and I plan to revisit it around August.

"Needs" (quotation marks necessary as I use the term very loosely):
- Crisp, white, slightly boxy sleeveless button-down shirt. I already found a few candidates online, but it's early in the season and I want to have a few more options before I take the plunge.
- Classic black (patent?) leather loafers. I love my Louboutin Rollerballs but I need a pair without spikes that I can also wear to work.

Splurge:
- Maison Martin Margiela leather shopper in the gray color. This bag is already available for pre-order from LuisaViaRoma but I would rather see it in person first. It should be available at the MMM store in NY soon.
- Frank Gehry for Tiffany sterling silver torque bangle. I fell in love with this bracelet ever since I saw it at the Gehry for Tiffany debut several years ago. I should have bought it back then as the price has since skyrocketed. If I start saving money now until mid-August, I can use my birthday as an excuse to finally buy it. That's the plan anyway.

The following items are not very specific, I will hold off for the right price (consignment, sales, eBay) and/or until I "fall in love" with an item:
- A colorful Missoni piece for summer. I would love a bikini but they never seem to sell the tops and bottoms separately. I could go for a nice kaftan or tunic also.
- ~~Classic black pointed-toe pumps~~. Just bought a pair of Louboutins.
- A pair of tan heeled (non-stiletto) sandals that go with everything. This is proving more difficult to find than I thought. Why is it that designers only make flats or 5-inch heels, nothing in between?!

Always on the lookout for:
- Ann Demeulemeester open lace-up boots in the original tan color. If you know anyone or spot them anywhere... size 35, 35.5 or 36.
- Original Helmut Lang items from when he was still designing.
- A particular black Rick Owens jersey skirt. It's a maxi skirt, kind of twisted in the front with an open slit. I missed out on it last spring and would love to stumble upon it again.

So there you have it - 10 items for spring. I have very little faith in my ability to only stick to these 10 items so my goal is simply not to go overboard and stray too far from my list.

on the run

2011-02-06T16:09:00.000-05:00

Last Friday I had to hustle to catch a train straight from work, then as soon as I pulled into Penn Station I had to run to meet friends for dinner. This outfit was perfect for that sort of situation. I wore the shirt and blazer to work then quickly swapped my dress pants for these JBrand cargo pants before I left the office. I was comfortable enough for an hour-and-a-half train ride yet pulled together enough for a casual dinner.

Man, the weekend flew by (as it always does)! I can't believe it's back to work tomorrow. In other news, Go Packers! Go Steelers! I don't really care! I guess I'll just be watching the Superbowl for the commercials this year...

Ralph Lauren crested blazer (Christmas present) // vintage Christian Dior Jeune Homme shirt (eBay) // JBrand "Houlihan" pants (Barneys Co-op clearance sale) // vintage boots (Vagabond/Philly)

ever ready

2011-02-02T16:40:00.000-05:00

I recently found out that the straps on this blazer exist so that you can carry it around like a backpack, comme ça:

It's a brilliant concept - you can take your jacket off without worrying where to hang it up. I walked around my apartment like this then simply put my arms through the sleeves when it was time to head out. Now I wish all my jackets and coats had backpack straps!

P.S. These are my favorite snow boots. They are "on permanent loan" from my mother's closet. They are vintage by Bally (of Switzerland - go figure, they should know a little something about snowy weather out there...) I have no idea what the exact materials are, but they're fully lined with shearling, have a small wedge heel with non-slip soles and are completely waterproof. I am dreading the day they give out on me, but every winter I take them out of storage in the same condition as the previous year so I think they've got several years left in them.

P.P.S. How do you like my ridiculous t-shirt? I plan on wearing it when I travel abroad - I'll be ready for my TSA pat-down at the airport! Ha!

Helmut Lang (original, by Helmut Lang) blazer // Alexander Wang x style.com tee // Les Chiffoniers latex pants // vintage Bally boots // Hermes leather cuff

sick day shopping

2011-01-29T19:42:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts, I came down with the flu for the first time in about 6 years. It's also hard to stay motivated when your only footwear choices are snow shoes and rubber wellies to wade through slush! This is seriously the most effort I've put into an outfit since the weather gods decided to hit the northeast with a blizzard a week, so you really haven't missed much.

In better news, I'm totally in love with my sick day purchase - this men's style oversized jacket by Vanessa Bruno Athé. One of my shopping goals for the year is to buy less clothes and avoid impulse purchases, but when I was home sick for three days straight clicking "proceed to checkout" was the about the only thing I had enough energy for. I haven't been that sick in a long, long time - here's hoping there's at least another 6 years before I get sick again!

Below I included a closeup of my Via Spiga coat for those of you who wanted to see the buckles in detail - just click on the picture to see it full size. I was actually wearing the Vanessa Bruno jacket underneath the coat when I took the closeup - it really is amazing how much I can stuff under this coat!

Vanessa Bruno Athé wool jacket (theoutnet.com) // McQ leather shorts (theoutnet.com) // Via Spiga coat // Huntress welllies (zappos.com) // Steven Alan reverse seam shirt

better late than never

2011-01-16T15:02:00.000-05:00

I've had this coat for many years but I don't wear it often because it's about two sizes too big. I remember the day I bought it. I was running around the department store with my mother growing increasingly frustrated that none of the coats fit (this was back in the day when shopping online was still a rarity for me, and also I probably weighed less than 100 lbs.) Finally I bought this one out of desperation. Needless to say, once I found a petite coat a few seasons later this one just hung in the closet, sad and forlorn. Fortunately I never got rid of it because I recently discovered (thanks to Phosphene's most recent look, in which she layers a jacket underneath a winter coat) that I can comfortably fit a blazer or a jacket inside. I love the slim fit of my JCrew coat but I would never be able to wear anything more substantial than a thin sweater underneath. I'm very happy now that I don't have to give up my beloved jacket collection during winter! And also somewhat miffed that I didn't discover this sooner...

Ann Demeulemeester moto jacket (Bergdorf Goodman/NYC) // Balenciaga leather pants (yoox.com) // Ann Demeulemeester scarf (aloharag.com) // Chanel motorcycle boots (Bergdorf Goodman/NYC) // self-shredded tee and James Perse black t-shirt // Via Spiga coat

black swan

2011-01-09T10:13:00.004-05:00

I haven't actually seen the movie yet but that didn't stop me from paying homage. This skirt flares out a little bit like a tutu and the the obvious footwear choice for this tribute outfit was my Lanvin ballet flats.

Rick Owens cashmere and leather poncho (Barneys/NYC) // Rick Owens leather skirt (Barneys/NYC) // DKNY merino wool leggings // American Apparel thin cotton mock-turtleneck // Hermes gold and black collier de chien cuff // Lanvin patent leather ballet flats (Barneys/NYC)

houlihan

2011-01-05T17:14:00.000-05:00

If any of you have been eyeing the JBrand Houlihans or want a second pair in a different color, now is a good time to buy them - they are down to $89 from $230 at Barneys. When I was in the store I had a sneaking suspicion that I was a victim of the "skinny mirror" effect but they were just as flattering when I tried them on at home. I should warn you though they're supposed to be cropped - I just happen to be a shortie ;-)

thrifted vintage silk Krizia blouse (Bella Boutique/Philly) // JBrand Houlihan skinny cargo pants (Barneys Co-op/Philly) // thrifted vintage boots (Vagabond/Philly)

new year, new stuff

2011-01-02T11:27:00.000-05:00

Before I show off my sale purchases I have a few guardian angels to thank: Prêt à Porter, who said she wouldn't be going crazy during the sales and is determined to buy less this year; OnlyCoolCats, who told me she would be showing some restraint this sale season and only buying things on her list; last but not least fleurette, who gave me a gentle warning not to get sidetracked. Thanks to these ladies I was able to avoid getting caught up in sale season frenzy. Instead of coming home with a bunch of trendy items (I was this close to buying distressed Balmain jeans), I focused on items that I knew I would wear often simply because they are slightly different versions of things that I reach for time and time again. This may sound boring but I think I did a great job supplementing my wardrobe.

So here are three of my sale purchases, all in the same outfit:

Nili Lotan boyfriend shirt (Intermix online sale) // unknown label cropped leather pants (Roundabout designer resale boutique/NYC) // Hermes collier de chien gold and black leather cuff (consignment)

nye

2010-12-31T17:22:00.002-05:00

This is my current New Year's Eve outfit. Then again there are several hours before the festivities begin so who knows, I might just end up in jeans and a t-shirt! I am a big fan of shopping your own closet for special events. After all, one sign of a good wardrobe is that you don't have to go shopping every time something comes up, right?

Thank you all for sticking around and have a happy new year!

D&G lace blouse // McQ leather shorts // YSL tuxedo jacket // Hermes cuff // Alexander McQueen ring

my year in style

2010-12-29T20:16:00.000-05:00

A few of my favorites from the past year. How time flies! I'm excited to see what 2011 will bring.

sale stress

2010-12-26T21:46:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! I should be back to my regular outfit posting after New Year's. In the meantime, I thought I'd share a few looks from thecorner.com - I was pleasantly surprised to see how great their styling is! The site is not part of my regular online stalking rotation since I just wait for everything to get dumped onto yoox.com the following season (they are run by the same parent company) but they are having a good sale right now. Granted, even on sale any one of these ensembles could set you back thousands of dollars, but they sure are nice to look at!

I've been snowed in since this morning so I've been busy checking all the online sales. It's a little overwhelming - I have to narrow down my choices from hundreds of "wants" to about 2 or 3 actual purchases. So far I've shown some restraint but any more snow days and I'll be in big trouble. I hope all of you have better luck whittling down your sale choices!

two birds with one stone

2010-12-19T18:03:00.000-05:00

What a busy week this was! And it looks like this coming week will be no different. While I have a rare opportunity to sit down and pause, I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and show you
1. what I'm currently wearing (just got back from a weekend in NY, and I'm headed back again Thursday night for Christmas - it can be so exhausting all this back and forth!) and
2. what my Christmas tree looks like!
(and 3. how awful was the NY Giants loss today - to Philadelphia, no less!)

silk/cotton button-down tunic from Scoop/NYC // cashmere A-line tunic sweater by Velvet // Theory skinny pants // Charles David boots

Also, I was tagged by one of my favorite bloggers Dead Fleurette to do a "what's in my bag" post, so voilà:

- YSL wallet (highly recommended, it is very well-designed with tons of compartments and it is extremely sturdy.)
- Blackberry Bold 9780 with OS6. I actually just upgraded my Blackberry this weekend and I love it! The OS is much improved over my previous one, especially with regard to the web browser. I noticed that a lot of bloggers carry Moleskine notebooks around - I did too for many years, but my smartphone has since replaced my Moleskines. I also have unlimited web access as part of my data plan, so my phone has also replaced newspapers and magazines - I just view everything online now.
- That red blob is a giant Bottega Venetta leather tassel which is attached to my keys.
- My Alain Mikli eyeglasses (I don't wear them except for distance - driving, watching TV, etc.)
- A water bottle.
- And last but not least, the blue LeSportsac pouch holds: my iPod, a pack of tissues, Chapstick, hand cream, lipgloss, a Pilot G-2 pen, a small bottle of Tylenol, my Blackberry charger, and a compact mirror. This pouch makes it so much easier to switch handbags since I don't have to dig out everything individually and transfer each one-by-one to a different handbag.

Well, that's all folks! I will be missing in action all this week and probably next week as well, but rest assured I will be keeping up with all of you via Google Reader mobile on my Blackberry, which works so beautifully on OS 6. Yay!

Happy Holidays everyone!

standbys

2010-12-12T09:28:00.000-05:00

Ummm, feeling lazy, so reverting back to the old standbys...

YSL logo men's tee // thrifted flannel shirt (Vagabond/Philly) // Les Chiffoniers leather pants (Barneys.com sale) // Rick Owens DRKSHDW furry hooded sweatshirt (Century21/NYC) // Rick Owens boots (brownsfashion.com sale) // Hermes collier de chien cuff // Marc Bernstein triple wrap bracelet // assorted rings

class act

2010-12-09T08:58:00.000-05:00

So have I confused all of you yet with my schizophrenic style? It does help me avoid falling into a style rut, although I am not entirely immune from them.

I've been posting a lot this week because another short blogging break is coming up!

ITEMS (mouse over description to view item detail)

- Martin Margiela nude body (yoox.com)
- Paul & Joe lace trim cotton blouse (lagarconne.com)
- JBrand flare-leg twill pants (Barneys Co-op/NYC)
- YSL "Charlotte" ankle boots (Barneys sale/NYC)
- Balenciaga belt (eBay)
- JCrew petite plaza coat ---> link
- vintage YSL mink-trim scarf (Addiction Consignment/Philly)
- Alexander McQueen skull ring (saks.com)

cashmere queen

2010-12-07T16:04:00.000-05:00

when it's cold outside, i love to drape myself in cashmere head-to-toe (down to my socks!) cashmere keeps you warm but it's lightweight so it doesn't add a lot of bulk. i often find that a good thin cashmere sweater can provide as much (or even more) warmth as a bulkier wool one. it can be quite expensive so i'm always on the lookout for sample sales and online deals. now is a great time to stock up on cashmere - i've been getting a lot of email blasts about cashmere blowout sales from discount sites like gilt, hautelook, and ruelala, and tons of sample sale alerts in NYC.

however, if money is no object, i suggest picking up one of each style in every color of La Garconne's new cashmere sweater line, Lou. they all look perfect, you will not need to buy anything else all winter. if you do stock up on these don't even tell me about it, i will be insanely jealous!

ITEMS (mouse over description to view item detail)

- Autumn Cashmere shirttail hem sweater
- vintage apron (Vagabond/Philly)
- Kier&J cashmere leggings
- Portolano ruffle hem cashmere wrap (overstock.com)
- Portolano cashmere gloves (Filene's Basement/NYC)
- Chloe Paddington boots (yoox.com)

unconditional love

2010-12-05T09:42:00.000-05:00

. this coat weighs a ton.
. during winter it resides on my couch most of the time because at the end of the day i don't have the superhuman strength required to hang it back up in the closet.
. before taking the coat on or off i first i have to take out any chunky watches or bracelets because otherwise my wrist won't go through the narrow sleeve.
. i can't hang it in the back of chairs at nice restaurants because if i stand up, the chair will tip over without me as a counterweight.
. i have to tip coat check attendants extra because i feel guilty for making them struggle.
. my sister thinks i look like the grim reaper when i wear it.
. a lady on the street once offered to buy the coat off my back because apparently it's the perfect winter maternity coat.

despite all this, i love this coat. i wouldn't have it any other way.

DRKSHDW fur-lined druid hood sweatshirt (Century21/NYC) // Rick Owens cashmere poncho (Barneys sale/NYC) // Rick Owens cashmere pants ("$100 or less" rack at Joan Shepp/Philly) // Karoo cashmere tunic (found in my closet at my parents' place) // Chanel biker boots (Barneys sale/NYC) // Hermes cuff // American Apparel cotton mock turtleneck

no fuss

2010-12-04T15:03:00.000-05:00

i'm back! a little bit worse for wear. with the exception of this morning's run i haven't worked out since Thanksgiving and i'm starting to feel sluggish and puffy. i plan to go back to my regular workout schedule this week, but in the meantime there's nothing a good chunky sweater can't hide!

now all i need is a battle plan against that one co-worker (i'm sure there's at least one in every company in America) who turns into Martha Stewart during the holidays and brings in batches of baked goods every day until Christmas...

Dolce & Gabbana shirt (Filene's Basement/NYC) // Prada ribbed cashmere sweater (eBay) // Helmut Lang by Helmut Lang cropped pants (Tokio7 consignment/NYC) // Christian Louboutin rollerball studded loafers (eBay) // Chanel quilted purse

à bientôt

2010-11-24T17:18:00.000-05:00

this is certainly not the most scintillating outfit picture to leave you with for the Thanksgiving holiday, but there you have it, this is what i wore last sunday.

i'll be logging off and taking a break from the blog for a few days. i'll be spending time with my family, catching up with friends, eating way too much food, and maybe starting my Christmas shopping (let's see if i can resist buying things for myself!)

also, i took a cue from Dead Fleurette (hope she doesn't mind!) and recently started a tumblr to archive images i find inspiring.

for those in the US, enjoy the holiday and try not to get trampled during Black Friday sales. i'll be back in a few days with some brand spankin' new outfits. or, a more likely scenario, i'll be back with the same old, same old...

Martin Margiela nude body - what an awesome winter layering piece! (yoox.com) // Current/Elliot boyfriend jeans (Third Street Habit/Philly) // Rag & Bone t-shirt (Barneys Co-op) // thrifted Calvin Klein collection navy blazer (Housing Works Thrift/NYC)

scripted

2010-11-21T09:45:00.000-05:00

there aren't enough weekends in autumn to wear all of my favorite jackets; pretty soon it'll be time to hide beneath thick wool coats. i solve this dilemma by preparing a "script" for my day and writing in as many wardrobe changes as possible.

... first, an early morning coffee run ...

Les Chiffoniers leather pants // SHIRT by CP Shades flannel shirt // 3.1 Phillip Lim chunky cardigan // Alexander McQueen pashmina // Tres Fluo leather bag // Miu Miu harness motorcycle boots

... later in the afternoon, making the rounds in thrift and consignment stores to console myself for not being in NYC for Lanvin x H&M. i briefly considered jumping on Amtrak for a day trip but that would have been silly seeing as i'll be heading home on Wednesday for Thanksgiving. i'm sure all of the good stuff will be gone by then. oh well, you win some, you lose some ...

Alexander McQueen sharp-shouldered tee // Chanel jacket // Hermes collier de chien cuff // Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse leopard scarf // Charles David suede boots

... and finally, an evening look ...

Costume National silk jacket // Alexander McQueen pashmina // suede boots from Daffy's

mélange

2010-11-18T17:33:00.000-05:00

cool in the shade, warm in the sun - last weekend was perfect fall weather.

ITEMS (rollover description to view item detail)

- vintage Yves Saint Laurent blazer (eBay)
- Yves Saint Laurent lace logo tee (INA Consignment/NYC)
- McQ leather shorts (theoutnet.com)
- Alaia grommeted boots (Bergdorf Goodman/NYC)
- Mulberry "Alexa" bag (consignment)
- Ann Demeulemeester scarf (aloharag.com)
- Alexander McQueen skull ring (saks.com)

in hiding

2010-11-15T17:28:00.001-05:00

ITEMS (mouse over description to view item detail)

- Rick Owens cashmere/leather poncho (Barneys/NYC)
- Current/Elliot jeans (Barneys Co-op/Philly)
- Helmut Lang by Helmut Lang elbow slit shirt (ebay)
- Christian Louboutin rollerball studded loafers (eBay)
- Elizabeth & James knuckle ring (Intermix/NYC)
- Marc by Marc Jacobs Latin rings
- Iossellani tiny skull ring (Barneys Co-op/Philly)

uno más...

2010-11-13T16:17:00.000-05:00

Costume National jacket // Alara tuxedo shirt // Current/Elliot jeans // Italian suede boots from Daffy's // Alexander McQueen animal print pashmina

Q: what is your process for creating new outfit combinations? i don't have a very large wardrobe, yet i often forget i own certain pieces.

A: it doesn't take a lot of time or effort for me to get dressed. after checking the weather forecast, it usually takes me 5, 10 minutes at most to come up with an outfit. i really had to think about this question, but i managed to boil down my process to a few loose guidelines. (these are for dressing in fall/winter, i don't really like my summer style so i'll just ignore that entire season, lol.)

1. most of the time i start with a base layer - for me, that's skinny pants and a slightly oversized top. from there i "build" an outfit, usually by throwing on a sharp, well-tailored jacket and a plush scarf. here are previous versions of the outfit above, all starting off with that base layer:

2. statement jackets are key to my look. this is probably why i can't turn down a good jacket, even though it's the last thing i need more of in my wardrobe!

3. it helps that my fall/winter wardrobe is comprised mostly of basics in neutral colors - white, beige, black, gray. if you walk into my closet blindfolded and pick out a random top and a random bottom, chances are you'll be able to walk out of the house in that outfit - everything matches. (it also helps that everything fits.)

4. when i get dressed i think about texture. shiny with matte, cashmere with leather, cotton shirts with chunky knits, etc. leather and lace is a combination i'll be playing around with this particular season.

5. i also think about balance. this is very important to me, and i think it's the key to looking effortless. i am forever balancing opposites when i get dressed. i pair skinny-leg pants with looser shirts or oversized sweaters. i balance tight dresses and short skirts with boxy jackets and grandpa cardigans. i wear men's style button-downs with leather or latex leggings. i'll throw a tough motorcycle jacket over a girly dress.

a great example of this balancing act is Carine Roitfeld during fashion week. she often wears very sexy thigh-high boots but she'll pair them with a demure knee-length skirt and plain sweater, or a classic trench coat that falls just to the knee. it's all about downplaying sexiness without getting rid of it entirely - taking it down a notch from overt to subtle.

that's pretty much it - an outfit "base", a great jacket, neutral colors, texture, and balance. the rest is trial-and-error, and having a blog or other style diary helps tremendously.

if anyone has other tips to share, please do! i would love to hear your process.

shine on

2010-11-10T17:45:00.001-05:00

my camera is crap. (maybe Santa can do something about that for Christmas?) fortunately photo-editing software makes up for some of its inadequacies. the "softglow" filter on GIMP salvaged this outfit picture by making it appear way more well-lit than it actually was.

i should also explain that i will be neglecting all my other boots until i wear these in to the perfect amount of slouchiness. it might take a couple of weeks.

p.s. i also updated the archive; the original was getting a bit unwieldy so i split it into fall/winter and spring/summer.

ITEMS (mouse over description to view item detail)

- Chanel tweed jacket (consignment)
- Michael Kors sequin leggings (yoox.com)
- Karoo cashmere boyfriend sweater (shopbop.com)
- Chanel handbag (consignment)
- Italian suede boots (Daffy's/Philly)
- Alexander McQueen skull ring (saks.com)

save it for later

2010-11-07T20:04:00.000-05:00

i was a little hesitant to post this outfit. i was afraid of the Chanel purists out there who would gasp and say "where is the matching skirt?! the fancy stilettos?! why aren't you wearing PEARLS?!!!"

well you know what, i'll save the pearls for when i'm fifty. right now, this is how i'm wearing the jacket!

Chanel tweed jacket // Martin Margiela Line 4 striped button-down shirt // Les Chiffoniers latex pants // random Italian suede boots found at Daffy's // Portolano cashmere scarf // Hermes collier de chien cuff // Elizabeth & James knuckle ring // Vanessa Bruno classic tote

p.s. bigger pictures - yay/nay/indifferent/didn't notice?

the ultimate

2010-11-06T21:32:00.000-04:00

i saw this jacket several months ago at a consignment store. i visited it at least once a month, and every time i walked through the shop door i expected to see it gone from its perch. finally one day i requested to try it on. as soon as i put it on, i understood why no one had bought it. it fit me perfectly, right down to the sleeve length. it was snug around my waist yet fit around my chest without gaping (i found out later that the lining actually has a bit of stretch in it); it was a soft-structured jacket yet the shoulders were sharp. simply put, it was perfect. the way the jacket fit made me feel like it was made especially for me and no one else. needless to say, the jacket left its perch at the shop and came home with me that day.

tl;dr part deux

2010-11-05T19:14:00.000-04:00

I was given an "I love your blog" prize by Dead Fleurette. Thanks so much! I'm very honored, and now it's my turn to answer the questions.

The rules of the prize are:
- Do an entry with the prize.
- Answer the questions.
- Give the prize to 10 blogs.

1. Why did you create the blog?
I used to post regularly on StyleDiary, an online community where people shared pictures of their daily outfits. Many of this blog's followers knew me first from that site. You can view the archive of pictures from StyleDiary on the page above, there's a link below the header. This blog is just an extension of that; it's basically the same concept, except this time my outfit pictures are slightly bigger.

2. What kind of blogs do you follow?
I follow tons of fashion blogs, much more than can fit in my blogroll. I also follow nerdy blogs like xkcd, slashdot, and BoingBoing, and silly ones like The Daily What and Comically Vintage on tumblr (<--Click! Best site ever!) I'm a native New Yorker but work in Philadelphia now, so I follow random New York -centric blogs to keep up with the times - I love the New York Public Library's twitter and tumblr, and I'm obsessed with the MTA's time-lapse videos.

3. Favorite makeup brand?
Well, unfortunately I am headless, but if I did have a face I would use La Roche-Posay's Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid, Powder FX mineral makeup, YSL Touche Eclat, and Chanel's Inimitable Noir Obscur mascara.

4. Favorite clothing brand?
I collect original Helmut Lang by Helmut Lang pieces. I don't like the contemporary re-incarnation of the brand under Theory, most of the stuff just looks like wannabe Rick Owens. Incidentally, Kate Lanphear also collects vintage Helmut Lang so she is probably the one outbidding me on all the super amazing pieces on eBay. If Helmut Lang gave up his fine art career, bought back his name, and started designing clothes again, I would empty out my retirement fund and be the first on line (or maybe 3rd, since Kate Lanphear and Carine Roitfeld would probably get there ahead of me.) I do like the regular Theory line for work wear though, and Steven Alan for work shirts. I can't live without my Les Chiffoniers pants - I have 4 so far. Other brands I love and wear are Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester, Martin Margiela, and vintage YSL. For shoes I like Louboutin and Chanel. I must also mention that I never buy anything at full retail price, so put your darn claws away!

5. Your indispensable makeup product:
YSL Touche Eclat.

6. Your favorite color:
Beige.

7. Your perfume:
It's always been Jivago 24K.

8. Your favorite film:
Oh man, I was going to pretend that I like artsy French films (which I do!) to sound more interesting, but what I really love are violent films with good plots, and if there are a bunch of good-looking boys in it, even better. So one of my all-time favorite films is Scorsese's The Departed. I also like The Godfather, Aliens, and Terminator (the sequels of all those, not so much...) And randomly (also to sound less like a dumbass), I like many of Atom Egoyan's films.

9. What country would you like to visit and why?
Japan because I hear they have fancy toilets that greet you by lifting the toilet seat when you enter the bathroom, and also Sweden for all those great clothing brands (Acne, Weekday, Monki, etc.) that are hard to find in the US.

10. Make the last question and answer it yourself:
What is your greatest fear?
Mediocrity.

too long; didn't read

2010-11-04T19:55:00.001-04:00

ah, so tired. today is the first time this week i didn't come home from work only to do more work! t.g.i.f. tomorrow, that's all i'm sayin.

Theory button-down shirt // Theory pants // vintage leather jacket // Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse scarf // Lanvin shoes (not to be confused with the errant Lanvin ballet flat in the corner! ;-)

i thought i might take advantage of this (most welcome) downtime to answer some recent questions...

Q: why are your weekend outfits so different from your work week? do you work in a conservative environment? i work in education, and i must admit to loving my work week outfits so much more than my weekend outfits. so it is surprising to me to see one of my fav fashion bloggers (::blushing::) have the complete opposite experience.

A: i'm an engineer, and yes we do have a dress code, although it's not very strict. i pretty much interpret it as "shirts with collars + no jeans." i'm totally okay with dress codes. it's like back in the day when i had to wear a school uniform - everyone else complained, but i loved it. that's an extra 15 minutes of sleep when you don't have to think about what to wear! i think a Devil Wears Prada sort of situation where i had to look chic everyday (Paris Vogue team, i'm lookin at you) would be a nightmare actually. i have to commute outside of the city for work, so when i'm stumbling in the darkness of the early morning, the last thing i want to do is come up with a cute outfit. it's not everyone's cup of tea, but i take comfort in the fact that all i have to do is pick out trousers and a button-down shirt and i'm out the door. i know i'll always have the weekend to wear whatever i want, just like those precious "first fridays" at school when you didn't have to wear your uniform. it's probably also why i'm generally overdressed for the quotidian things i do on the weekends. there's another advantage to having separate wardrobes - i extend the life of my weekend clothes by not wearing them so often. all the clothes i love would be in dire condition by now if i wore them as often as my work clothes. everyone's situation is different of course, but i don't feel like my self-expression and creativity are stifled by boring work wear. if anything, unless you work in fashion, when someone's handing you a paycheck every week you want to be known for your work not your flair. as you can tell from my latest post, i'm into this whole fashionista-secret-identity thing... i don't think my co-workers would recognize me if they saw me on the weekends! luckily the chances of that happening are slim to none, as they are probably holed up in their basements all weekend playing World of Warcraft, not partying in the city. lol. love you, nerds.

le week-end

2010-10-31T20:02:00.002-04:00

my traveling outfit this past weekend:

COS sweater (from Ytligheter via seconds.se) // vintage Yves Saint Laurent scarf (from Addiction Consignment Boutique/Philly) // Balenciaga leather pants (from yoox.com) // Rick Owens boots (from brownsfashion.com)

i just wanted to thank all of you, my readers, for letting me indulge in my love of fashion with this blog. none of my friends or family know about this blog, so it's kind of my little secret. in the middle of a stressful work week or after a crazy weekend, i really look forward to those few minutes when i get to slow things down and morph into my alter-ego, miss fashion blogger. blogging is never a chore for me, and when i wear an outfit i love, it's even better knowing that i get to share it with you guys. i update as often as i can, and i hope you'll come back after any short breaks in blogging due to the upcoming holidays and life in general.

it's time once again to log off and return to normal life. i think i'll ignore all the cleaning and unpacking and re-packing (might be heading up to NYC again this weekend!) that have to get done and watch a movie instead - i just received I am Love from Netflix, very excited!

have a great week, everybody!!

where in the world is...

2010-10-31T15:10:00.000-04:00

...Carmen Sandiego?!!!

the only thing i had to buy was a cheap hat from a street vendor - now that's my kind of Halloween costume! a surprising number of people were able to guess who i was, although most had to go back in time to elementary school to jog their memories.

i hope everyone had a great Halloween! i had a blast in the city of ___ ____ - well, you should all be able to track down Carmen Sandiego from the hints above ;-)

straitjacket

2010-10-27T17:33:00.000-04:00

it's still too warm for thick, chunky scarves here on the east coast (we almost reached the record high of 80F today), but at least this type of weather gives me the opportunity to display some great detailing on my fall jackets, like these cross-straps on my Helmut Lang blazer.

et voilà, all strapped in!

(actually it was slightly too warm even for a jacket last sunday when i wore this outfit, but sometimes you have to suffer a little for fashion, no? ;-)

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
- Helmut Lang (original, pre-Theory, by Mr. Helmut Lang) strap tank (old, from eBay)
- Helmut Lang (original, pre-Theory, by Mr. Helmut Lang) cross-strap blazer (old, from eBay)
- Les Chiffoniers seamed pant (old, from Intermix warehouse sale/NYC)
- Christian Louboutin "rollerball" studded loafers (from eBay)
- assorted rings

pale fire

2010-10-24T10:04:00.001-04:00

Ann Demeulemeester shirt (from eBay);
Ann Demeulemeester trousers (from Joan Shepp clearance/Philly);
Chloe sandals (from yoox.com);
Mulberry "Alexa" bag;
Alexander McQueen viking warrior skull ring (from saks);
Love Quotes linen scarf

steppin' out...

2010-10-23T17:45:00.003-04:00

... in my new H&M dress.

can't go wrong with a cheap dress - if someone (probably myself) spills a drink on me or i snag the lace while dancing, it's all good.

comfort zone

2010-10-17T21:41:00.003-04:00

back from a much needed weekend in NY to visit big sis and the parents. i was finally able to cheer on the Yankees without pissing off Phillies fans!

it's always hard to leave but at least i get to bring back a goody bag filled with enough home-cooked food to last the week.

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
James Perse baseball hem t-shirt (old, from shopbop.com)
Missoni ombre duster sweater (old, from Filene's Basement/NYC)
Les Chiffoniers stonewashed suede pant (old, from Kirna Zabete clearance/NYC)
Portolano extra-long cashmere scarf (super old, from Filene's Basement/NYC)
Charles David boots (from endless.com)
Mulberry "Alexa" bag

running late

2010-10-14T08:22:00.015-04:00

definitely didn't help that i had to document each shoe option for the blog!

finally settled on the Lanvins. i loved the outfit with the Chloe boots, but the flats made it more daytime-appropriate. duly noted though, for when i would need a fancier version.

Ann Demeulemeester cropped biker jacket; T by Alexander Wang pocket tank; Vanessa Bruno Athé tube top worn as skirt; Hermes collier de chien cuff; Chloe boots/Lanvin flats

mais il fait chaud encore

2010-10-10T20:14:00.002-04:00

it is slightly cooler today, but it was definitely summer weather yesterday. it was so warm i didn't really need the shrug but i refuse to get dressed in october (it's october!) without layers...

the Gucci belt bag was purchased back in high school, on a trip to Italy. i guess i was more logo-conscious back then. i don't use it that much anymore, but sometimes it's convenient to have both hands free - like when i'm at a farmer's market or rummaging through a thrift store, which is exactly what i did yesterday.

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
Alternative Apparel tank top
Rick Owens Lilies tiered jersey cardigan (super old, from net-a-porter.com sale)
Paula Frani chiffon skirt with high slits (super old, from Daffy's/NYC)
Charles David boots (from endless.com)
Gucci belt bag (super old, from Gucci/Italy)

hip hip hooray

2010-10-07T01:51:00.001-04:00

i kind of enjoy how this tunic exaggerates my hips...

it reminds of this fashion era...

Keira Knightley in The Duchess

...which in turn reminds me of this...

failblog.org

lol.

Yohji Yamamoto silk tunic (old, from eBay); Alaia wool shorts underneath; House of Holland suspender tights (from sevennewyork.com); Veronique Branquinho double lapel corduroy jacket (super old, from eBay); Alaia grommeted flat ankle boots (old, from Bergdorf Goodman sale/NYC); Alexander McQueen warrior skull ring (from saksfifthavenue.com)

lookbook look, part 1

2010-10-03T18:17:00.001-04:00

i didn't make those fall inspiration collages cuz i got time to kill, i actually do reference them for my outfits. the look i chose below is actually from theoutnet.com. their styling of the leather shorts in this particular outfit is probably what influenced me most in my decision to purchase the shorts:

don't worry, i didn't actually walk out of the house with the YSL heels (i wasn't interested in getting picked up on the street!); it's merely a segue to confirm, for those of you who asked, that these Tribtoos are incredibly comfortable. in fact, they are the perfect evening/going out shoe. i do have to mention that these are the lower-heeled version, which was not sold in a lot of department stores, but was available in the YSL boutiques. the heel is much more manageable - minus the platform the heel is only about 2".

here is the "in real life" version of the outfit.

oh dear Miu Miu harness boots, so glad to see you again after all these months!

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
T by Alexander Wang pocket tank layered over Rick Owens ribbed tank
McQ leather shorts (from theoutnet.com)
Rick Owens long cardigan (super old, from net-a-porter.com sale)
Wolford Velvet de Luxe denier 50 tights
Bliss Lau body chain (old, from blisslau.com)
Alexander McQueen Viking warrior skull ring (from saksfifthavenue.com)
Yves Saint Laurent patent leather Tribtoo pumps (old, from YSL, 57th St./NYC)
Miu Miu motorcycle harness boots (old, from mytheresa.com)

night light

2010-09-30T20:10:00.000-04:00

i should probably learn how to take pictures with flash now that the days are getting shorter...

Nanette Lepore silk blouse (one of the few "going out" tops that i own);
Balenciaga leather pants;
Prada evening bag;
Alexander McQueen warrior skull ring;
Yves Saint Laurent Tribtoo patent leather pumps

reality check

2010-09-29T19:32:00.001-04:00

oh, the irony. one day last week these were the only two things in my mailbox - the new Barneys shoes & handbags catalog, and some news about my retirement fund. cruel, huh? at least the universe (or the mailman) has a sense of humor. i'm sure the TRowePrice ram breathed a sigh of relief when i didn't find anything in the catalog i couldn't live without.

may as well stay on topic and post a work outfit, seeing as i'll be working for the next 40 years until i reach retirement age...

Costume National one-piece shirtdress; Christian Louboutin wedges; Prada bag

i absolutely adore this Costume National dress/one-piece suit, which i purchased many moons ago. i don't wear it as often as i would like because
1) whenever i deviate from my usual trousers + button-down shirt combo and wear something dressier at work, people worry that there's some big meeting they aren't aware of. i should totally mess with them one of these days - "you mean you weren't invited to this very important meeting today?" j/k, i'm not that mean...
2) the skirt part does not have a back slit so it severely restricts my movement; i have to climb stairs bow-legged and forget about trying to board a bus - i would have to request for the driver to "kneel" the bus toward the curb like they do for the elderly and handicapped! but it's such an awesome piece of clothing and i love it, even if it takes me twice as long to get anywhere because of the half-strides i'm forced to take.

still staying on topic, here are some looks from the Barneys house collection which i would love to wear to work. the pants in the third outfit are perfection:

let's see, if i wanted to update my work wardrobe with these pieces it would cost me roughly $7500 pre-tax (and that's not including the shoes!) while i would much rather have the clothes, i think i ought to put that money in my retirement fund instead. thanks for the ideas, though.

problem solver

2010-09-26T15:19:00.001-04:00

all in all a good outfit choice for a day that was neither hot nor cold, sunny nor rainy. it is my belief that a good trench coat will solve 90% of outfit issues (this particular issue being -> i didn't want my a** hanging out on display but it was too warm to wear tights.) just throw a trench over it!

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
vintage Dior Jeune homme shirt (super old, from eBay)
McQ leather shorts (from theoutnet.com)
Alexander McQueen trench coat (super old, from yoox.com)
Alexander McQueen viking warrior skull ring (from saksfifthavenue.com)
vintage Hermes collier de chien cuff
Charles David boots (from endless.com)

dangerous territory

2010-09-23T08:38:00.000-04:00

if you told me five years ago that leather booty shorts would be a staple in my wardrobe, i would have worried over where you thought my career path was headed!

but here they are, my awesome leather shorts, the last thing on my fall/winter "needs" list. just in time, too - the holidays are coming up so no more shopping for myself for a while. i can work on my "wants" list during the post-holiday sales ;-)

crossing my fingers that it will be cool enough to wear them this weekend for a proper outfit (i don't plan on wearing them outdoors without tights!) but the forecast for friday is 92f so i don't think that's going to happen.

McQ leather shorts (from theoutnet.com)

say hello to my little friend

2010-09-20T08:03:00.000-04:00

Jil Sander knit minidress; Balenciaga Le Dix boyfriend blazer ; Charles David boots; Mulberry "Alexa" bag...

...and let me introduce you to my Alexander McQueen viking warrior skull ring!

yeah!

lookbook, fall 2010

2010-09-18T11:16:00.005-04:00

like most people, i am inspired by beautiful design - Alexander McQueen's last collection, the latest Givenchy haute couture collection - but honestly, where am i going in a jewel-encrusted gown? i'm dressed up enough as it is just running around getting my errands and grocery shopping done. this is probably why i prefer magazines like Elle and Vogue Paris - American Vogue has some beautiful editorials and features some really nice clothing, but i don't find it very relate-able.

when working on these collages i found my "inspiration" folder quite sparse. i'll try to be better at saving images i like, and also plan on looking for new sources besides the usual. most of these looks aren't very exciting, but i wanted to focus on outfits that i can easily copy without having to run out and buy a whole new wardrobe. hope you like!

lagarconne/les chiffoniers/theoutnet/style.com

tfs/vanessa jackman/altamira

tfs/google images

tfs/google images

addendum

2010-09-15T19:06:00.000-04:00

this post is sort of a footnote to the previous one. this is what i wore last saturday. when i go away for the weekend i usually bring: one pair of pants (which i usually wear on the train), a dress, a couple of tops, and one pair of shoes which i wear for the entire weekend. i choose either silver or gold jewelry and plan my outfits and handbag accordingly. i check the weather forecast to make sure i won't be, say, stuck in a thunderstorm wearing super-fancy shoes. i know some people like to have outfit choices when they go away for short trips, but i much prefer to pack light.

i guess my only gripe with Les Chiffoniers pants is that they all stretch out after a couple of wears - apologies for the saggy leather butt!

p.s. for those of you who asked, i received Dexter and American Psycho last week. apparently Netflix thinks i'm in a serial killer type of mood...

p.p.s. finally updated the archive.

p.p.p.s. i will try to retire these pants from the blog for at least five posts, lest you all think i wear nothing else! (though i could very easily live in them!)

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
Les Chiffoniers classic leather pants with zippers (from Barneys.com clearance)
Helmut Lang drape-back tank (old, from Barneys Co-op/Philly)
Jeffrey Campbell "Ann" boots (from eBay)
Free People lace bandeau (in black, from Urban Outfitters)
vintage Chanel purse
vintage Hermes collier de chien cuff
Luxirare giant cross necklace (from shopluxirare.com)
Yves Saint Laurent "le smoking" jacket (super old, from eBay)

sports night

2010-09-12T15:33:00.000-04:00

fresh off Amtrak from my weekend trip. got back in time to catch the second
half of the Giants season opener, then the Yankees are playing in about half
an hour, and of course the US Open men's final tonight. in case that match
isn't as interesting as last night's semifinal, i picked up some Netflix options
that were waiting for me in my mailbox. and i still have ny fashion week
photos to browse through.

what a great way to unwind before the work week begins again!

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
Yves Saint Laurent "le smoking" tuxedo jacket (super old, from eBay)
SHIRT by CP Shades oversized button-down (old, from Intermix/NYC)
Les Chiffoniers leather pants with zippers (from Barneys clearance)
Jeffrey Campbell "Ann" boots (from eBay)

9/11

2010-09-11T09:46:00.000-04:00

stay strong and resilient, new york.

Metrocard by Reed Seifer

thank ye, weather gods

2010-09-09T19:38:00.000-04:00

quick after-work costume change. needless to say, i found any excuse to go
out after work since it's cool enough to wear leather pants and a jacket!
woohoo!

vintage Yves Saint Laurent blazer; Rugby Ralph Lauren button-down; Les
Chiffoniers leather pants; Christian Louboutin flats

shorts story

2010-09-08T17:20:00.000-04:00

yeah, was in a booty shorts kind of mood for labor day. must be because it's
almost time to retire them for the season?! i certainly hope so...

dang these are short... i wonder how many more years i can keep wearing
this stuff? they do have Garance's seal of approval, though, so i think i've
got a few more years of booty shorts left in me ;-)

SHIRT by CP Shades oversized button-down (old, from Intermix/NYC);
Prps denim shorts (old, from Intermix warehouse sale/NYC);
Charles David "Bryden" boots (from endless.com);
cross pendant from Portobello Market/London;
G-Shock MT-G men's watch;
Oliver Peoples "Elsie" sunglasses (from Oliver Peoples/NYC)

colorguard

2010-09-05T13:08:00.000-04:00

so sorry for the lack of updates. i blame a combination of work deadlines,
busy weekends, family functions (i have another to attend later on today),
and general ennui with the way i've been dressing this summer.

i feel like i've gained a couple of pounds with all these family functions and
the mountains of food everywhere, so loose and billowy clothing has been my
choice for the past few weekends. i dug up this old knit dress from my
StyleDiary days.

the dress is still in great shape. for as long as i can remember, i've been
using Cheer detergent with Colorguard (i think it's now called Cheer for Dark
Colors.) it helps prevent my dark clothes from fading. in case you care.

the weather seems to be turning and work is slowing down a little, so i hope
to be back to more regular posting soon!

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
KA7 by Katayone Adeli dress (super old, from Barneys/NYC)
Charles David "Bryden" boots (from endless.com)
Hermes collier de chien cuff
Vanessa Bruno classic tote bag

the look for (a lot!) less

2010-08-25T17:16:00.002-04:00

i was lamenting the fact that i had no good reason for dropping $625.00
on a flimsy lace mini dress...

Lover lace mini dress and Acne leather jacket from net-a-porter.com

...and then i realized i already had something similar, a dress i picked
up at a thrift shop a couple of months ago. yeah!!!

thrifted lace mini dress; Ann Demeulemeester cropped biker jacket

3 items or less

2010-08-22T13:15:00.000-04:00

some items are just "loud" enough that you don't need much else in the outfit.

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
Ter et Bantine white maxi tank dress (old, from Century21/NYC)
Sass & Bide studded leather harness (super old, from eBay)
Giuseppe Zanotti brown heels (from eBay)

reader request: rollerball preview

2010-08-18T20:23:00.002-04:00

i did plan on styling several different outfits with the Christian Louboutin
"rollerball" spikey loafers but got lazy when i realized i would have to take
a lot of my fall/winter things out of their plastic bins, where they currently
reside. so i apologize for this half-assed attempt, which was the best i
could do with stuff i could easily reach for. no worries, you'll be seeing
these shoes with better outfits in the fall! 'til then, here's the preview:

Rick Owens tank; thrifted plaid shirt; thrifted army shirt; Les Chiffoniers
classic leather pants with zippers; Hermes collier de chien cuff; etsy.com
sword pendant; cross pendant from Portobello Market; Christian Louboutin
"rollerball" studded loafers

the pants are the latest addition to my Les Chiffoniers collection. i never
thought i would find these on sale, it seemed like all the other styles would
go on sale except these. but there they were on Barneys.com, 60% off.
woohoo! Les Chiffoniers makes the best, most comfortable leather pants.
these aren't Ross's leather pants, y'all.

work it out

2010-08-15T17:48:00.000-04:00

low humidity -> more opportunities to wear leather this summer!

Kain tank (old, from Intermix/NYC); Kiki de Montparnasse leather bikini
top (from gilt.com); Rick Owens leather skirt (old, from Barneys sale/NYC);
thrifted Donna Karan sandals; vintage Hermes collier de chien cuff; cross
pendant from Portobello Market/London

cotton and leather cropped tee (from eBay); 3.1 Phillip Lim wide-leg
trousers (old, from Barneys Co-op sale/NYC); Balenciaga belt (from eBay)
thrifted Donna Karan sandals

re: workout regimen. would you all be annoyed if i said "i don't do anything
and i'm naturally super skinny and i eat A LOT." well, don't worry, i won't!
there was a time, up until high school, when i could probably eat a whole
roasted pig and still wake up with perfectly flat abs the next morning.
sadly those days are behind me, but fortunately i do not have to be a diet
and workout fanatic to maintain my weight.

my main motivation for maintaining weight is: i have a lot of nice clothes
and i would like to be able to wear them for a very very long time.

i go running every weekend morning, not very long, about 5 miles per run.
for me running is more meditation than working out, which is why i try to
run early in the morning. i do Pilates 2-3 days a week, 4 if i'm feeling
ambitious or if i'm heading to the beach that weekend. lol. my weak spots
are my arms and my butt (i want a bigger one!) so i try to target those
areas with Pilates. running is not very good for your posterior - in
some cases it tends to flatten it out, so i try to include stairs in my
running route. for some reason it's difficult for me to tone my arms. they
just seem to get bigger (though firmer) without getting toned. i'll just
have to keep at it, i guess.

that's it, folks. i wish i had some amazing weight-loss secret to reveal!
like most people, some days i wish i was skinnier (♪ i wish i was a little bit
taller, wish i was a baller ♪) and more toned, but i try not to be too hard on
myself. i just make an effort, that's all.

lost weekend

2010-08-13T20:18:00.001-04:00

killing time before my Amtrak train...

just back from the beach, in my (well, i guess it's no longer mine!) old
bedroom at my parents' place in ny.

1: Margiela Line 4 button-down shirt; Current/Elliot jeans; Jeffrey
Campbell boots. 2: Shoshanna bikini; Shay Todd romper cover-up.

just some random photos for a quick post before the weekend.
have a good one everyone!

seven things

2010-08-11T22:40:00.000-04:00

thank you to the lovely Emmy of Selective Memory for passing on a blog award
to me! now it's my turn - here are seven random things about me...

i hope i lived up to the award ;-)

instead of picking two other bloggers, i'll just invite everyone to create
a post like this. just remember to send me a link via comment so i can
check it out!

summer skin

2010-08-08T19:43:00.000-04:00

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
re-worked vintage scallop-hem shorts (from etsy.com seller neneee)
Yves Saint Laurent ruffled shirt (old, from eBay)
vintage Hermes collier de chien belt
Cecile & Jeanne hammered gold cuff (old, from Cecile & Jeanne, Madison Ave./NYC)
Christian Louboutin mary-jane espadrilles (old, from Barneys clearance)
Mulberry Alexa handbag
Chanel "Gold Lamé" nailpolish

second best

2010-08-05T19:31:00.000-04:00

took advantage of the overcast, not-too-hot weather last sunday to wear leather.
and black, lots of it.

i gave up on the search for the Ann Demeulemeester laceup boots at a decent
price on eBay and instead settled for the Jeffrey Campbell knockoffs. i really
want them in the original camel color anyway, so that search is ongoing. i
took these to the cobbler to chop off about 2 inches since they came up too
high on my leg. aside from the cheap faux-wood heel, these aren't such a bad
substitute. plus i saved about $800.

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
Kiki de Montparnasse leather bikini top (from gilt.com)
Alexander McQueen padded shoulder tee with tails (from net-a-porter.com)
Rick Owens leather drawstring skirt (from Barneys sale)
Jeffrey Campbell Ann laceup boots (from eBay)
Hermes collier de chien cuff
Elizabeth & James knuckle ring and hammered silver ring from the Met Museum gift shop
Iossellani small skull ring (from Barneys Co-op)
Marc by Marc Jacobs rings with Latin sayings
Chanel quilted purse with charms

i think i may have also found my new fall/winter nailpolish color -
Black Sequins by Dior - a very dark purplish blue with sparkles.

360°

2010-08-01T16:43:00.001-04:00

strange how i'm showing just as much skin as i would be wearing a pair of
denim shorts, yet somehow this feels way more scandalous...

ITEMS (rollover mouse to view detailed picture)
H&M linen-blend nude cardigan
Free People lace bandeau (old, from Urban Outfitters)
Paula Frani chiffon high-slit skirt (super old, from Daffy's/NYC)
Giuseppe Zanotti brown heels (from eBay)
Cecil & Jeanne hammered gold cuff and necklace (from Cecil & Jeanne, Madison Ave./NYC)
pearl and diamond ring (inherited)
Fendi nude convertible clutch
Chanel "Gold Lamé" nailpolish

randoms!

2010-07-26T23:13:00.001-04:00

here are some random outfit photos until i take some new ones, hopefully
this weekend.

some of these are really old (the chunky gray sweater should clue you in...)
"going grocery shopping/running errands" outfits. others (like the third
one down) never actually made it out the door - they were "would this outfit
work in real life?" test shots. mostly these pictures just fell through the
cracks and never got a dedicated post.

jersey girl

2010-07-18T11:16:00.000-04:00

Rick Owens Lilies jersey is the perfect thing to wear in the summer - drapey,
soft, thin, and comfortable. i've gotten by with the few pieces i own, but i
think it might be time to add to my collection - especially if this "hottest
july on record" trend continues.

Rick Owens Lilies wide-leg pants (old, from eBay); T by Alexander Wang tank
(old, from Petulia's Folly/Philly); Free People lace bandeau; Matt Bernson
gladiator sandals; sword pendant (from etsy.com)

Gucci t-shirt (super old, from eBay); Rick Owens Lilies skirt (old, from
Century21/NYC i think?); Alaia laceup heels (old, from yoox.com); Luxirare
"consolidated" bracelet (from shopluxirare.com)

as you can see, i was channeling my inner Carrie Bradshaw with the latter
look. if you do not have perfect washboard abs like she does (i'm still working
on mine!) i recommend hiding your bellybutton and showing just a sliver of skin
when wearing cropped tops - makes it a bit classier, in my humble opinion.

all images via google image search.

white out

2010-07-14T17:18:00.000-04:00

'twas another scorcher last sunday...

in addition to the air conditioning on full blast, sometimes i leave this
vertical fan on to simulate a gentle breeze. if i could i would buy one of those
ocean sound machines and hibernate in my apartment until wintertime!

you may remember this skirt from my awesome haul last year. i finally got
around to hemming it. i didn't actually cut any material off - i just folded it
and sewed a few stitches to keep it in place, just in case i change my mind
later on and decide i prefer it knee-length.

Theory tank; vintage necklace (very old, from Greenflea Market/NYC);
R.E.D. Valentino skirt (from Intermix sample sale/NYC); Giuseppe Zanotti
jeweled flats (old, from yoox.com)

leather love...seat

2010-07-11T10:31:00.000-04:00

it was overcast and dreary yesterday, but the trees needed rain and i needed a break from the sun's rays so i had no complaints.

i bought a new leather loveseat! tufted and grommeted, exactly what i had been looking for. the seat is quite deep - perfect for lounging in front of the television. now all i need are some cushions.

ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
The Row maxi dress (old, from Barneys/NYC)
Kiki de Montparnasse leather bikini top (from gilt.com)
Balenciaga belt (old, from eBay)
Chanel camellia rubber flip-flops (old, from Barneys/NYC)

and thank you to Joelle of The Owls Are Not What They Seem for introducing me to my new official summer nailpolish color, Gold Lame from Chanel. love!!!

same old

2010-07-08T15:58:00.000-04:00

i hope everyone had a great 4th of july weekend!

mine was pretty much perfect - all i did was sleep, go swimming, and eat often and extravagantly (lobsters, mussels, homemade apple pie with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream.) best of all, i was able to spend time with both friends and family. usually my weekend jaunts are so short that i have to choose either friends or family, but the extra day gave me time for both!

recording daily outfits was the least of my priorities during the mini-break, so here's an old outfit taken before the long weekend:

Cacharel top (super old, from eBay); Etoile Isabel Marant pants (from Third Street Habit/Philly); Chloe platform sandals (old, from yoox.com)

this top is a favorite of mine and perfect for sweltering hot days. it's so big it barely touches my skin and it feels like i'm wearing nothing at all, if that makes any sense...