nye

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

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

sale stress

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

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

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

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

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

. 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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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.