midsummer dressing

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

fringe benefits

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)

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)

hip hip hooray

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)

jersey girl

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.

girly girl

ruffles, a bow, and a sequined tote all in one outfit. the all black helps prevent girly overload!






ITEMS (rollover mouse to view detailed picture)
classic Vanessa Bruno sequined canvas tote (from Paris)
vintage silk ruffled jumpsuit (from eBay)
Alaia laceup gladiator sandals (old, from yoox.com)
Luxirare consolidated bracelet (from shopluxirare.com)

what a difference a week makes

oh, schizophrenic spring!

here's what i wore last sunday - it was cold, dreary, and rainy...







(Helmut Lang (original, pre-Theory, by Helmut Lang) button-down with elbow slits; Current/Elliot side-zip jeans; vintage Moschino belt; Rick Owens leather neck cashmere poncho; Alaia studded boots then switched over to Hunter wellies)


and here's what i wore yesterday - it was sunny, hot, and humid...



i purchased this dress early last fall at an end-of-season sale at Ludivine in NYC. the weather turned cooler soon after so this spring was the first time i was actually able to wear it!



(Vanessa Bruno dress; Juicy Couture heels; vintage necklace from Greenflea Market/NYC)

it's a good thing all of my clothes - fall/winter and spring/summer - fit in one closet otherwise i would be completely lost when the weather gods can't make up their minds!

showdown

leopard scarves - a reader's dilemma...

Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse:




Louis Vuitton scarf; H&M oversized cardigan; Balenciaga leather skinnies; Alaia boots

vs. Alexander McQueen


Alexander McQueen scarf; H&M oversized cardigan; Balenciaga leather skinnies; Chanel boots

it's a tough call, but right now i am loving the alexander mcqueen. it's not as common as the vuitton and the colors are beautiful. it also feels more luxurious and it is slightly bigger. there is also the fact that it is from mcqueen's last collection, which makes me cherish it more.

the vuitton is an absolute classic though. it's so recognizable and makes any outfit instantly chic - if i feel like something's missing from my outfit i just throw on the vuitton scarf and it seems to solve the problem every time. it is the "safer" bet, you will have it and love it forever.

to s.b.: i hope this helps a little - neither scarf is cheap so i know you really have to think about it. the best thing to do is to inspect the scarves up-close before purchasing, if at all possible. let me know if you have other questions.


i too have a dilemma, although not quite as difficult... should i keep this cardigan in both colors? only one? or neither? the beige would be right on-trend for spring, but i'm a sucker for anything black. hmmmm...

p.s. more reader requests on the way - i'm working on a post dedicated to eBay, snapped some pictures of work outerwear for Pennerad, and re: rick owens asymmetrical zipper cardi, currently not for sale but i'll let you know if i ever come across one!

p.p.s. thank you to everyone for your suggestions on new sites to check out and new sources of inspiration. i am going through them slowly and have to say you all are a stylish bunch, i've gotten so many great leads! thank you!!!

sweater coats

for some reason the weather in philadelphia feels a bit milder than in new york. perhaps because the buildings aren't as tall there aren't as many wind tunnels? call me crazy, but the cold has a little less "bite" here in philly. perfect weather for sweater coats! with temperatures hovering in the 50s and 60s, i have yet to break out a coat. with just a few layers of silk jersey or cashmere (both lightweight fabrics that keep you warm), i can get away with wearing a chunky sweater as my outermost layer. i also throw in a scarf for added warmth, but often find myself unwinding it and sticking it in my bag, especially when the sun is out...


Helmut Lang (by Helmut Lang) pants (from Tokio7/NYC); Rick Owens Lilies zip-up (from Century21/NYC); Rick Owens combo open cardigan (old, from net-a-porter.com sale); Alaia studded boots (from Bergdorf Goodman clearance); Ann Demeulemeester scarf (from aloharag.com); Elizabeth & James knuckle ring (from Intermix/NYC)





Missoni cardigan (from Filene's Basement/NYC); Autumn Cashmere shirttail hem sweater (from revolveclothing.com); Kier+J cashmere leggings; Chloe pull-on boots (from DSW Shoes/NYC); extra-long scarf made from two Portolano cashmere scarves from Filene's Basement; Ann Demeulemeester scarf (from aloharag.com); Elizabeth & James knuckle ring (from Intermix/NYC)


now that this blog has been up and running for a couple of seasons, you may have noticed that i use the same items over and over again. i don't like to amass tons of clothing and would rather have a few key pieces than a closet bursting at the seams, so i apologize for the repetition! sometimes it's difficult but i try to resist the temptation of buying clothes for the sake of showing something new on the blog. i will continue to add new pieces here and there, but until then be prepared to see a lot of familiar items!

i got the idea to layer two scarves from Siena Fleming on stylelikeu, it's quite ingenious and something that i'll be doing quite often from now on. i want more scarves! maybe that ought to be my shopping focus this winter...

diy #1

so i was at intermix in soho one day and spotted a really cool t-shirt. it was a white, crew-neck cotton tee dotted with swarovski crystals. the price tag? $1400. why? because it had the letters B-A-L-M-A-I-N on the tag.

i'm not a big diy-er, mostly because i run out of patience easily. i'm ashamed to say i would rather fork over a couple of benjamins for a racquel allegra tee or martin margiela ripped leggings than shred things myself. for some unknown reason, perhaps it was the long labor day weekend where i stayed in the city, i got bit by the diy bug and decided to give it a try. also i think i was a little pissed off that someone out there was charging $1400 for a friggin t-shirt. it's not like there are 24k gold threads sewn into it or anything...

so here goes - i went over to my parents house to work on it because they've got a nice big dining room table. i also ended up leaving my bedazzler there, i was afraid i'd start bedazzling everything in sight if i brought it home with me.

first i had to pick a t-shirt. i knew that i didn't want it too tight and stretchy, especially around the bust, because the grid of sequins would no longer be orderly if it was all stretched out. i ended up buying a 100% cotton tee by organic by john patrick from barneys co-op. it has a great oversized fit and is very comfortable.



i knew the easiest way to apply the crystals was to first draw a grid then just drop the crystals at every intersection. however, i was too lazy to draw all those grid lines, didn't have a ruler long enough to cover the length of the oversized t-shirt, and was impatient to start bedazzling. so i only made a few lines forming a cross in the middle of the t-shirt.



using a quilting ruler, i spaced the crystals as evenly as i could 2-inches apart, using the few lines that i drew as a starting point then using that row as a marker for consecutive rows of crystals. i used three different colors of hot-fix crystals - black diamond, clear crystal, and silver shade, and the way the light plays off each is so nice, especially at night.



here is the final product, the picture doesn't do it justice because you can't really see it sparkle:



i was too lazy to do the back. the tee is so big it took me a lot longer to finish than i had originally estimated. do you think it's absolutely necessary to bedazzle the back as well? i'm kind of hoping the consensus is "no."



here's how i wore it today, i paired it with my LNA leggings that have zippers going down the entire length of the leg (love!), Alaia boots, and a Balenciaga boyfriend blazer:

typical

- work nine-to-five(thirty)
- quick outfit change
- fairway supermarket (harlem - gotta love the COLD ROOM!!!)
- cook
- eat
- will probably stay in tonight, unless i can convince someone to see terminator salvation with me
- sleep





i know most bloggers have way more interesting weekdays, but this is my life right now.


(theory buttondown, furla belt, d&g pleated trousers, louboutin wedges; american apparel tee, current/elliot jeans, alaia studded boots)

may saturdays

here's what i wore last saturday. it ended up being a decent day weather-wise, despite all my talk of needing a rainhat.



and here's today, though i might not end up needing the jacket, it's supposed to get much warmer later in the day.



ITEMS (rollover mouse to view detailed picture)
may 2:
Paul & Joe oversized sweater dress
Free People lace bandeau
Office London laceup peeptoe boots (via Topshop)
Soixante Neuf tusk necklace
pearl ring

today, may 9:
JCrew men's checked button-down
Helmut Lang (original, by Helmut Lang) pants
Alexander McQueen trench
Alaia studded ankle boots
hammered silver ring from the Met jewelry collection



i love these helmut lang pants, they are the perfect length for showcasing my alaia boots. whenever i spot helmut lang at a consignment store, i can usually tell if it's original helmut lang or if it's link-theory helmut lang, because most of the stuff they churn out under his name nowadays is crap. but here are some tips to tell whether or not it's original helmut lang for consignment or ebay shopping: (1) original helmut lang tags are black with black stitching, although the size tag is often white with black stitching; theory helmut lang has white tags with light gray stitching (2) original helmut lang sizing is italian sizing (i.e., 38/40/42...), unlike the theory sizing of 00-12 (3) **very important** original helmut lang items are made in italy. very big difference! i'm not sure where theory helmut lang items are made, but i'm guessing china.

saturday, april 18th '09

oooh spooky... (i was having trouble with my camera's remote control the other day, but all is well now.)



my enjoyment of the gorgeous weather was somewhat marred by all the booty shorts and muffin-top emphasizing tanks i witnessed this past saturday. c'mon people, it's not like it was 100 degrees and humid. maybe i'm just getting old.

and since when is a vanilla cone with chocolate dip (my "usual" from the ice cream trucks - i LOVE ice cream, but i am lactose intolerant so i just suffer through the pain... isn't life cruel) $4.00?! say what???!!!





ITEMS (rollover mouse to view detailed picture)
Maje oversized tee
Rick Owens Lilies drawstring pants
Furla modal scarf
Alaia lace-up kitten heels
Elizabeth & James knuckle ring, inherited diamond ring, and Met Museum hammered silver ring