knit tales

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!

thrifty

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)

shorter days, longer nights

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.

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

backlog

original Helmut Lang top // McQ leather shorts

Ann Demeulemeester shirt and pants // Ralph Lauren Collection sandals

Ralph Lauren shirt // Current/Elliot shorts

before the season's over

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)

sick day shopping

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

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

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)

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)

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)

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.

pale fire

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

lookbook look, part 1

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)