tough call

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)

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

warm days cool nights

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

mixing metals

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?

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)

ever ready

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

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

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)

straitjacket

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

addendum

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)

randoms!

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.

things i should stop buying: part 2 - black blazers

each of these is pretty unique but still, how many black blazers does one person actually need...

1. Helmut Lang (original/pre-Theory, by Helmut Lang) cross-strap blazer:




2. Balenciaga boyfriend blazer:




3. Costume National Luxe silk blazer:




4. Yves Saint Laurent "le smoking" tuxedo jacket:




must... stop... buying... black... blazers!!!

all worn with:
Martin Margiela Line 1 nude bodysuit;
Rick Owens merino wool pants;
flea market copper necklace

summer black

usually it's not such a huge challenge wearing black in the summer, but this year every weekend in june had temperatures near record highs. light-colored clothing seemed to be the natural choice every time.

i did manage to break out the black once. i thought this Helmut Lang top, with its slinky fabric and open back, would be a good candidate for summertime black, especially when paired with some crisp white trousers.









ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
Helmut Lang (original, pre-Theory, by Helmut Lang) halter top (from eBay)
Nom de Plume lace bustier tank (from Urban Outfitters)
Catherine Malandrino high-waisted trousers (from sample sale)
Luxirare consolidated bracelet (from shopluxirare.com)
Tres Fluo mini leather shopper (super old, from ooga booga store/LA)
Matt Bernson gladiator sandals




p.s. updated the archive
p.p.s. i hope you'll excuse my schizophrenic dressing - i go from preppy to modern to girly from week to week, it's difficult for me to stick to one style aesthetic!

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!

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...

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.