I’m so in love with plaid right now. Never have I loved it as much as I do now with the exception of my freshman year in high school when grunge rock was the new black and lumberjack, over-sized, flannel plaid was the outward expression of said new black. What I love about plaid now is the delicate take on what started as pattern that was indicative of function, utility and axe-carrying-outdoor gigantic men named Bill who hold logs on their shoulders. Not anymore.
Green and black checks thwart the notion that checks are for picnic table cloths. Fun because it's a babydoll shape but pretty because of the high-seam and cargo-style fold-up sleeves.
Here is a pretty purple cinch-waisted tunic that's flattering with skinny pants or even sleek bootcut black trousers. Create a contrasting look by layering on tons of fake pearls (I'm talking 5 or 6 extra long strands) and slip on simple ballet flats or even low-top Chuck Ts.
Take a forever-stylish shirt dress and add some plaid. Black tights and heeled mary janes. Sport the dress over cropped leggings and ankle boots. Or save for the first spring day and wear bare-legged!
Top it off with a plaid coat. People shy away from patterns in outwear but I say, patterns are our friends. The only thing that shoes is part of your legs which are typically of solid color or fabric. If you wear wild tights, just don't wear this coat. Otherwise, the soft purple and warm golden colors make this an easily versatile piece to own.
I have a current obsession with all things Scottish and this fits the bill. A classic pencil skirt with a fold town flap at the waist adds interest, covers the tummy, hits the high-mark on the high-waist trend, and I just love it. Is that enough?
Lovely People, that is. A label I just landed on from my best online resource, Racked.
Check out these gems on super-duper sale. Not a long post, but a worthy post for you today. Click. Love. Buy.
I can picture these under jeans, with leggings, miniskirts or any skirt. And if you're daring, you can wear them with tights in the fall and winter.
Pretty colors against neutral tan. Open peep-toe with leather strappings to securely hold your foot in place. Tapered heel, double buckle. Add all this up and you get a delicious shoe.
Or, just let me dress properly for you, dear rain.
I was catching up on the last three days of Women’s Wear Daily and listening to the not-so-gentle pitter patter of rain drops on my window A/C unit. I thought to myself, what am I going to wear when I leave the apartment today. I have eggplant colored Hunter rain boots. So my feet and legs are safe. But I hate every single umbrella I own. It’s a collection of pathetic $5 black umbrellas that never open right bought in emergency from the street vendor combined with branded silver and red umbrellas from various magazines and websites that I’ve worked for and my friends have worked for. There was one earnest umbrella purchase, a clear plastic dome number that makes me feel like a 6-year old girl. It’s cute, but c’mon. And so, I went in search of the umbrella that would allow me to schlep in the rain, elegantly.
Here’s what I came up with.
Umbrellas.net. A site dedicated to lovely, fashionable umbrellas to carry any woman through modest downpours, tempered drizzles, and torrential pseudo-tsunamis. My faves…
Classic black/white/red combination printed on clear plastic gives an airy feel over your head when you hold this up to shield from the rain. The slight dome shape is more protective than the shallower quality of cheaper versions. The hook handle makes for easy "holding" and hanging upon arrival home. Finally, the pattern of birds and flowers provide prettiness. It's something all women need on a lousy-weather day. $54
This beautiful white brocade number is divine and heavenly on its own. But what really makes this stand out is the exquisite handle. It's a combination of wood and metal, topped off by a fine metal/mesh globe that feels sturdy and secured in the palm of a perfectly manicured hand. A bit pricy at $175 but it is an accessory and you can't frown upon a well-made accessory. Just because it's raining doesn't give us an excuse to commute any less beautifully.
Another angle, to see the handle.
For the travel bug in you, this number collapses and expands with the touch of a button on the handle. And the neon colour pallete literally gives you "sunshine on a cloudy day."
I’m in love with Ralph Lauren Rugby. For those of you unfamiliar, it is just as it sounds: a line of clothing inspired by the sporting look of Rugby uniforms combined with an undercurrent of the UK but bubbled neatly in all-American classic style. Then, it’s reimagined to fit an urban-cool, funk-a-licious prepster of any metropolitan city (or a really daring suburbinite). The colors are right, the stylings are fresh, innovative and captivating, and the quality, well, it’s Ralph Lauren after all.
Here is what I mean…
Plaid of the prepster, distressed and rolled-up jeans, proper heels, girly ruffles, and a newsboy cap. Could more styles end up in one outfit so harmoniously? Probably not.
Fair Isle sweater dress with a wide neck that shows off a more intersting, but subdued pattern. The tie adds a droplet of masculine style that peeks out and the leggings provide a special layer of femininity, lest we forget, we're girls.
Hello Highland-ess! This kilt makes you want to draw your dirk but the leggings and heels remind you that you're dealing with a woman. The shirred shoulders soften an otherwise classic pattern of plaid, and the hat "tops it off" with a funky personality.
Tops, that is.
My new favorite tank top is so much my favorite, that I now have 10 of them. I ordered these magnificent blends de poly et cotton as new workout wear. I loved them so much, I bought more to wear as regular wear. I like to wear bright colors at the gym–I get so tired of the typical black and black and black. My typical strategy is cheap, colorful tanks. I buy cheap so I can buy often. You see, I need to stimulate my mind at the gym, and frequently, a change of gear (shoes, sneaks, or bottoms) does the trick. I feel refreshed and it makes me want to go! Hey, you do what you need to do to get your rear in gear, right?
These Old Navy tanks are my new “it” gear to don at the 19th/Broadway Equinox, my current gym locale de amor.
Check the tanks.
Buy the tanks.
Wear the tanks.
Love the tanks.
Below is the pink version, but there is a rainbow of color upon color to choose from. And, best of all, they’re now $5 on OldNavy.com
I just bought these amazing new boots from the DKNY store here in NYC. As I was strolling, I decided to go into DKNY to browse and look at all the fall garments adorning the shelves, draping lovingly over racks, and boasting their rich colors and supple fabrics to passers-by. Then, I saw the boots. They made me stop, look, grab, touch, buckle and unbuckle, and ask urgently to have them in my size. Ashley, the lovely sales woman happily obliged and giggled at the slight pleading in my voice.
She brought them in my traditional size 8 and, as any good sales person would do, one half size up. She knew that they run small and didn’t want me to lose my momentum at the first pair feeling just a touch snug.
She was right. I tried the 8s. They were stunning but snug. I tried the 8.5, slipped them both on and was immediately transformed into from a 5′2″ sassy woman to a 5′8″ GLAM-azon/contestant for America’s Next Top Model. Even my walk changed as I approached the floor-to-ceiling mirror.
There was no question. I was buying them. And here they are–my new boots. Love them with me, won’t you?
I will wear these boots with the following: Dresses with tights. Leggings. Skirts. Flared-leg pants and jeans. Shorts in the fall & spring. To work. Out for the night and back again.
Transforming your summer threads into fall ensembles can be as easy as adding a jacket, cardigan, or under-layer like a long sleeve, fitted cotton tee.
Take your favorite summer maxi dress (you know the ones – those sexy, grecian-flowing, full-length cotton or silk jersey dresses you wear with beautiful flats or flips). Create a foundation underneath with a tissue-thin t-shirt and top it with a tailored blazer or jacket. Instead of your beloved flip flops, trade up for a pair of low-heeled riding boots with tights for another layer shielding your precious legs from the fall nip. The long dress looks effortless, comfortable and still sexy in a very reserved fashion. The blazer adds a tailored bit of structure, and the pretty t-shirt puts comfy cotton against your skin and adds a pretty pop of color underneath the seasonal re-emergence of black (black…always good for fall).
Check it out…
Easy and inexpensive, from one of my favorite stores - Target!
Can't get enough of JCrew's basics - Cardies, tanks, and these great Ts
A good blazer is one of the best investments you can make. It transforms anything into a polished, fitted, and sophisticated look. And it acts as your "coat" in the in-between weather temperatures, like in fall.
Like a good blazer, a well-made pair of boots go with EVERYTHING no matter what you're doing. The tall shaft make them ideal for all lengths of bottoms and the low heel is the saving grace of your feet for a long day at work or running around town.
to fall, that is. If you feel like you can’t take your summer duds into the fall, you’re crazy! you can absolutely do that with a few key styling elements. Fall is the best because you can have the opportunity to wear leggings, boots, cool jackets and other warmer weather accessories without feeling like you need to pile on a huge, heavy, burdensome coat.
That said, here is the first installment of Summer to Fall – Let’s Move Forward!
Summer Skirts Become Fall Skirts
There’s nothing better than a dichotomous, seemingly unmatched outfit, just working! Take a girley, fluttery summer skirt (the brighter the better!) and pair it with ankle length leggings and ankle boots or t-strap pumps. Top it off with a lightweight cotton, crew neck sweater and a classic Nipped-in Blazer.
New to me, but maybe not to others, is a little store in downtown Manhattan, birthed by the French (of course, because that’s where high fashion starts) called Comptoir des Cotonniers (literal translation: Counter of the Cotton Ones). This store was introduced to me by my friend Anita a few months ago. I’ve only been once, but I will return.
It is a French-made ready-to-wear line for women with bright and rich colors, simple patterns, a girly, whimsical (yet timeless in style) aesthetic, and all the best blends of silks, cottons, and the like. They sell shoes, bags, dresses, pants, tops…the French works.
Here’s the frenchie-411 on my faves:
Wear in the summer with ballet flats or in the winter with tights, boots, a turtleneck layer and high-waist belt!
Oh how dreamy and Mediterranean are these blues?
Stunning color, simple yet girly ruffles and a drapy, comfy style that is to die.
Trench for the Fall. Bag for all Seasons (and everything but your kitchen sink).
I own this top! Oh, the beautiful silk is loose and sexy, the color is universal for all skin tones and the wide neckline flatters most women's silhouettes.
I am of the school that one doesn’t have to spend a ton of money on one’s clothes or accessories but simply the best your budget can afford. When done smartly, inexpensive clothing can be made to look premium with the right styling, add-ons, proper care, and of course, carriage and demeanor.
Skin, hair and nails are no exception – they are the “first things we see” and as such, deserve as much attention. Here’s a little help!
SKINCARE:
Our faces greet new people, colleagues, and friends and show our emotions and thoughts. Our hair is an extension of our faces; it counts as an accessory. And, our hands animate our stories, touch people in greeting, demonstrate our excitement, and are integral in our interaction with people daily (ex. when you’re pointing to something on a page to show a colleague or friend, you don’t want your jagged nails being the only thing they see!).
I use a mix of drug store and department store cosmetics and skin care. There are some real quality brands of cosmetics sold at drug stores and online drug store retailers. Some of my standbys are eyeliner from L’Oreal Paris, Le Kohl Eyeliner in Cafe, Revlon ColorStay Bronzer, and Olay Regenerist Cleanser (a good cleanser is key to proper skincare).
Alternatively, a tour of the mid-to-hi-end cosmetic counters can yield transforming products like MAC Studio Fix combination powder and foundation and Smashbox Matte eye shadow in Java. Studio Fix is good enough to use for newscasters on camera and Smashbox’s eye shadows are highly pigmented, don’t crease (nearly as much as other brands I’ve tried) and have a velvety texture.
Not all of us need or want to wear a full face of make-up and that’s absolutely okay. But at the least, as we mature, a basic sheer foundation or power and some blush and lip gloss can provide a polished and bright face ready to face, greet, and charm anyone!
TIP: Take the time to get your colors done in a department store and then match the recommendations to a grocery store brand.
HAIR
Even a low-maintenance girl can have great hair. It doesn’t require a ton of product or hair appliances. It all starts with the haircut. If you invest in a good haircut, your hair practically styles itself. Keep it at a manageable length for your lifestyle. That could may mean long to tie into a sleek ponytail, a short pixie that only requires a little mousse or gel, or a chin-length bob with bangs that looks snappy and cute with one swoop of the flat iron.
Whether you spend hours or minutes on your “do”, take the time to find the right product for your coiffure. Again, drug stores offer effective and sweet-smelling options for hair just like costmetics. Some of my go-tos are Citre Shine Anti-Frizz Serum (I have super curly hair) and Herbal Essences Shampoo and Conditioner (mainly for the smell and texture). TRESemme offers a full-line of undeniably high-quality products that I’ve been using for years. Their mousse is spectacular both in fragrance and functionality.
Higher end products from Bumble & Bumble, Aveda, and Frederic Fekkai are legendary brands knownd for their high-quality and delicious-feeling output on your hair, whether straight, curly or in between.
Tip: Try a few different products from the drug store on the weekend where you can afford to have a “bad hair day”.
NAILS
Don’t underestimate the power of an $8 manicure. There is nothing I can attest to more than a quick cuticle push (or cut) and a sheer polish. It’s a weekly/bi-weekly investment with a pay-off that is infinite. Think of it: What’s more unattractive than someone shaking your hand with chewed-down-to-the-nub fingers or chipped, dark-red polish? I can even site a certain chef on Food Network whose name rhymes with “Play” that constantly has his hands on camera and they are consistently gnawed-on. Far from appetizing. Eww.
I would suggest at the least a quick mani at your local salon that includes a cuticle push and a sheer white or pink-toned polish. If you go further (like I do), getting a UV gel nail treatment is a good option. It is more expensive, but doesn’t require polish, doesn’t harm your real nails, looks remarkably natural, and lasts longer than a typical manicure.
Keep in mind that the recent trends are “allowing” far more than just the sheer or clear polish options. Currently I’m sporting Essie’s latest neon-takes-me-back-to-1986-colors – Punchy Pink on my toes and Perky Purple on my hands. No matter the color, as long as your fingers are clean, cut short-to-moderate length and filed properly, your hands will be pretty, presentable and perfect.
Tip: Fingers and Toes don’t have to match – in fact, they shouldn’t! If you’re neon-timid with your fingers, take your toes on a test drive with a fun pink, purple or (gasp!) blue.
