February 26th, 2010
I write this with great sadness since I should be enjoying myself apres-snowboarding in Vail. Yes, the blizzard interfered with my long-awaited plans. Now I’m stuck within the confines of the dirty, slushy city while my snowboard collects dust. Wah wah…
The only thing that snapped me out of the snowstorm blues was a nice bout of shopping. I’m talking 6 hours of hard-core store mania. My guilt-free budget logic was quite simple: spend on clothing what I would have spent during my ski vacay–including the cost of my round-trip flight. (Mind you, I can pretty much justify any shopping excursion.)
During the first leg of the buying frenzy, I spotted–in my periphery–a panda bear walking upright around a store in the Flatiron. Uh huh. You read it correctly. I had to do a double-take to figure out what the heck was happening. A full-grown adult woman was wearing a panda bear hat–chin clasp, ears, and all. It was not cute. Unacceptable, if you ask me. I mean, who even makes such a thing for grown-ups? Halloween costume? Sure. School mascot? Why not. Winter head gear? NO.
If you feel like channeling animals–steer clear of the stuffed-animal kind and go for something more…normal. In fact, combat wearing an animal’s head and opt for a trapper/aviator hat, perhaps?
- Eddie Bauer Fair Isle Knit Bomber Hat ($15)
- Barney’s Co-op Suede Trapper Hat ($59)
- Paul Leinburd for Crown Cap. Lumberjack Aviator ($88)
Posted in General, I Love NY | No Comments »
January 18th, 2010
When wintertime and holidays roll around, I eat with reckless abandon. Hearty stews, meat, potatoes, hot chocolate, pasta–anything to give me that faux feeling of warmth. On a recent trip to Amsterdam, I didn’t anticipate the severe level of eating that would ensue. Some bizarre force overcame me–and I wound up consuming every morsel of food that hit my plate. I mean, it wasn’t like I was in the cuisine-mecca of the world. I just had to be the cold weather and all of the biking in the “ijs,” slush, and snow. Thank God I don’t live in Antarctica. I’d be the Goodyear blimp by now.
So how does one fashionably mask the winter bloat/hibernation layer? That’s what oversized sweaters are for, my Wunderfriends. Pair a forgiving sweater with some leggings (or stretchy denim if you feel daring and if your stomach allows) and some riding boots–and no one (not even you) will notice that spare tire around your waist. The function is two-fold, providing insulation to your newly-insulated body! Just don’t go too crazy with these sweaters. Be mindful of sizing (translation: buy your normal size)–otherwise you’ll end up looking even bigger due to a bunch of extra material. Just enough where it doesn’t cling to your body… Also, be mindful of balance by not wearing something baggy on the lower-half as well.
Yeah, I’ll see you at the gym. I’ll be the one wearing leggings and an oversized sweatshirt for the next few weeks. But the tasty food was worth every pound!!!
- Free People Voluminous Fair Isle Sweater ($50)
- Silence & Noise Polka Dot Intarsia Sweater ($58)
- Horace Black/Grey Stripe Long-sleeve Knit Top ($91)
- Rebecca Taylor Mushroom Open Knit Crewneck ($225)
- Autumn Cashmere Hand Knit Popcorn Cable Sweater ($407)
- 3.1 Philip Lim Double Breasted Knit Shawl Coat ($795).
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December 6th, 2009
Well, there’s no sense in fighting the inevitable any longer. Old Man Winter has finally reared his ugly head.
This type of weather seriously makes me want to go into full-fledged “nester” mode. I’m talking hot cocoa, ginormous chunky knit sweaters, amazingly snazzy thigh high boots, and fluffy scarves. (The only thing missing from my repertoire is a working fireplace. Okay, fine. I’ll take any type of fireplace since I don’t even have a decorative one. Although there are “faux” fireplaces that are sold on QVC. But don’t tell anyone I know about the fake ones–nor that I know about QVC… Please.)
So back to scarves. There is something very luxurious about swathing oneself in the warmth of a soft, oversized, knit scarf. The look and feel exudes confidence, style, and comfort. The sheer thought of wearing one–as it wraps around my neck and blankets my cheeks–makes me, dare I say, somewhat excited about the season.
Try one of these magnificent creations to cozy up your day.
- TopShop Cable Slubby Scarf ($32)
- Urban Outfitters Oversized Cozy Scarf ($48)
- ASOS Premium Knitted Alpaca Mix Cable ($85)
- Oak Black Oversized Tube Scarf ($148) pictured
- Iwona Ludyga Olsen Collar ($190)
- Wommelsdorf Round Edge Scarf ($335).
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November 29th, 2009
A few years ago, I was aimlessly shopping at Uniqlo and came across a navy stripe buttondown. It particularly caught my eye because of a few unique details–a banded collar, green contrast buttonhole threading, 3/4 length sleeves, and a shrunken fit. And I’ll proudly admit that I probably wear it 2-3 times per month.
Now, I’ll be the first to declare that buttondowns aren’t for everyone. (Meaning they don’t look right on just anyone.) But there’s something about the menswear blue stripe pattern that is universally flattering. The pattern and color combo provide a crisp, clean look on a variety of skin tones and hair colors. And makers are doing everything they can to add new twists to the traditional cut. Ruffle fronts, shirt dresses, tuxedo style, ornate collars, to name a few.
While effortlessly serving as a reliable prepster look, you can make this an extremely versatile closet staple. Add a bit of contrast by wearing leggings and over-the-knee boots. Or pair the shirt with a high-waisted knit skirt and ankle boots? Or maybe some boyfriend jeans and flats? The options are endless…
Don’t worry, no one will notice that you’ve worn it every week.
- Forever 21 Crinkled Striped Shirt ($20)
- JCrew Stripe Cotton Popover ($60)
- Blue Bird Shirting Lean Lines Tunic ($88)
- Free People Menswear Stripe Top ($98)
- Sibel Saral Striped Ruffle Shirt ($172)
- Elizabeth and James Brigitte Silk Shirt ($295) pictured.
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November 22nd, 2009
When I saw–what I like to term–the “re-onslaught” of pleated, baggy, Z-Cavaricci-esque pants and pin-rolls, I knew something else was right around the corner. Cropped shirts. They were seen this summer on those who quickly embraced the fad after seeing it hit the runways. Now, they can be seen all over stores–TopShop and H&M to name a few. I’m chuckling to myself as I write this because the first things that come to mind are 90s TLC music videos.
If you are jumping on the cropped bandwagon, why don’t you save yourself some dough and do it yourself (DIY)?
- Buy a cheap tee at a chain store like Old Navy, American Apparel, Uniqlo, H&M, or Forever 21. Or use one that you already own.
- Put it on.
- Mark where you want to crop it (suggestion would be slightly below your natural waist since the bottom will roll up a bit after cutting).
- Take it off, lay it flat, and cut it!
- Lightly tug the bottom of the newly cut shirt width-wise so the bottom rolls up a bit naturally. The natural roll is one of the beauties of knits–so you don’t even have to worry about seeing a rough edge after you cut it.
For the modest, I would suggest wearing the cropped shirt over a longer base layer. You are still rocking the feel of the cropped shirt without actually baring your midriff. But let’s draw the line at women’s fashion. Boys, keep your cropped shirts at home. Thanks.
Posted in On The Cheap, Women | No Comments »
November 7th, 2009
Wearing black can do many things for you. It can be slimming, dressy, sleek. The color can serve as a blank canvas for showcasing an eye-popping necklace or shoe. Oftimes you can work the system by aimlessly buying bargain-priced black items versus splurging on them. However, there are a few items that are too easily distinguishable and require more thought upon purchase: black purses, black pumps, and black trenches. This doesn’t mean you have to spend tons of money. It just means you need to have a more prudent eye when shopping.
Ask anyone who has searched earnestly for any of the above… It’s not easy!!! Many black purses–even the expensive ones–can look boring or cheap. Try to look for some with someunique hardware or a clever design. Black pumps can look bad if they’re made of matte leather. Look for a classic pump with a twist (i.e. platform, rounded toe, or something equally distinctive) or patent pair for some oomph.
And lastly, we have black trenches. Construction, buttons, and material are what will set yours apart from the gazillions of other bland ones that exist in the world. The smallest details can take you from blah to fashionista. Look for collars that are wide enough to pop. Look for metal, leather, or wooden buttons versus plain-ol’ plastic ones. (Or change them out yourself.) Look for fun little accents–like back vents, epaulets, storm panels, buckles, baubles, etc!
Some of my faves du jour:
- TopShop Trench Belted Coat ($160)
- Hayden Harnett Garcon Turnlock Trench ($550) pictured
- Burberry Prorsum Sateen Trench ($1795).
Posted in General, Women | No Comments »
October 29th, 2009
I know Halloween is on the horizon… But I feel more allegiance to my Yankees right now!!! It’s times like these when I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world than here. An amazing dream of an evening with Alicia Keyes and Jay Z opening up the game with one of my fave songs and then a much-needed win. Sheer bliss, right?
I’ve never been one to wear a Yanks tee to a game, but always make sure I don some navy. Here are some suggestions for showing your support:
Men:
- J Crew Fine Lambswool Button-down Vest ($58)
- Lacoste Red! Slim Fit Military Poplin Shirt ($110)
- GF Ferre SF283881575813 ($341)
Women:
- Splendid Melange Poorboy Cardigan ($74)
- Calypso Sailor Shirt ($135)
- Reiss Natalia Chunky Stitch Cardi ($220).
Posted in I Love NY, Men, Women | No Comments »
October 21st, 2009
With the desire to wear my ankle boots the other day, I found myself trying to figure out what to wear with them. As I was rifling through my closet, I realized that I had somehow built up a collection of sweater knit skirts– in pumpkin, eggplant, black, houndstooth, gold… Not really something that I set out to do, per se–but something that arose organically.
Knit skirts can be a nice change to the hubbub of the world of flouncy rayon/silk blends, unforgiving wool garbadines, and standard stretch cottons. They add some texture, accentuate curves, and are very comfy.
Avoid “skirt”ing this subject with one of these:
- Silence & Noise Solid Straight Sweater Skirt ($58)
- TopShop Knitted Lurex Cube Skirt ($65)
- Eryn Brinie Zippered Knit ($105) pictured
- Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Red Heart Pocket Knitted Skirt ($342).
Posted in Women | 1 Comment »
October 10th, 2009
Did Nostradamus predict that 2009 would be this filled with questionable trends? We’ve had an unpleasing amount of cold-weather days, a crazy number of pregnancies, and disappointing recession-fueled layoffs. My theory is that everything is intertwined… It’s cold outside–so the unemployed fill up their free time with baby-making. Sounds about right, no?
Another trend I noticed is that many people (myself included) have been inundated with weddings this Fall. With the immediacy and accessibility of Facebook photo albums, it’s too easy to be caught wearing the same dress at multiple weddings. Funny how technology can lead to our wardrobe’s demise!
Not all hope is lost. Have you ever considered designer dress rental? Think about it. You can wear the dress you’ve always wanted for a fraction of the price. And you can ensure that you are never seen in the same dress in photos ever again. Take that, Facebook photo albums!
Ilus New York
Wear Today Gone Tomorrow
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September 24th, 2009
Similar to those who try to re-introduce the “nautical” theme every Spring/Summer, we have others who try to throw in the LBD most every Fall/Winter. And this is one of those times.
If you ask me, you can never have too many black dresses. However, that doesn’t mean that you should start snatching up every single black dress that you stumble upon. You don’t want to become another New Yorker stereotypical statistic. If you wear black, you’d better find one that turns heads.
Mind you, it takes a ridiculous amount of searching to find just the right one that speaks of originality and taste–all the while fitting like a glove. The quest can be quite daunting even. Like finding a good pair of jeans, there is a variety of cuts and makers. You just have to go through a bit of trial and error to find one that clicks.
I like to have one for weekday, one for going out, one for weekend, one for special occasion. No, I take that back. I like to have multiples for every occasion. The ones that are top of mind for me right now are ones for special occasion. (I have a few weddings to hit up this Fall.) Punch ‘em up with some pizzazzy-shoes and accessories to make them all your own.
Don’t be in the dark this season, go for one of these:
- Fred Flare One Shoulder Bow Party Dress ($60)
- Max & Cleo Parisian Scoop Neck Dress ($140)
- BCBG Strapless Bubble Dress ($298)
- Alexander Wang Tech Slinky Jersey Fitted Dress ($750)
- Emilio Pucci Velvet and Tulle Paneled Dress ($1,860) pictured.
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