Style Realist

Red Tops

2012-01-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

I've been in love with my Pour La Victoire Agalia boots since I spotted them online. Hate to be a walking advertisement but Endless.com delivered them in two days flat (sans shipping, which is a shop-a-holic's dream). They're basically a piece of art - the stitching reminds me of a vintage football and the boot is just beautiful and edgy.

So Meta

2012-01-08T14:13:00.000-08:00

Fashion being inspired by fashion bloggers and their cameras. Proenza Schouler via Jak & Jil.

Frank Ocean: L'Uomo Vogue

2012-01-03T17:36:00.000-08:00

Love.

Cankle Classics

2011-12-10T10:22:00.001-08:00

Moccasins, Minnetonka; Leggings, Hyden Yoo; Coat, Vince Camuto

My ankles attracted a lot of attention with this look. I always love seeing what part of my outfit people stare at when they walk by. And from myself, friends and colleagues, here are the top looks I apparently borrowed a page from:

1. Someone's grandpa
2. Standard hipster-wear (I am not a hipster)
3. Flashdance
4. Someone who just rolled out of bed

Honestly I was just going for warmth and comfort. Mission accomplished.

Fly Kicks

2011-12-06T17:43:00.001-08:00

J. Crew blazer, Madewell sweats, Nike kicks

Photos by Rebecca Davis

Don't call it a comeback. They've been here for years. Looks like the fashion set is bringing sneakers back in full force (see: June Ambrose, Shannon Fitzgerald), and I can't complain! Aside from my Converse All Star Lights which I *heart* , I have a pair of purple suede/leopard print Nike Dunks that I've worn only a few times and now is the perfect time to pull them back out.

Slim, light sneakers are best in spring/summer, but heavy, more dramatic kicks work great for Fall.

The trick to balancing heavy kicks is to pair them with a mix of masculine/feminine or downtown cool/uptown structure or a mix of volumes and proportions.

Here are some of my favorites this season:

Miu Miu kicks: These would help me get over my sequin abandonment issues.

Isabel Marant kicks (image via @juneambrose)

AllSaints Pony Bound Hi-Top (thanks Zoe Report)

YSL kicks (have to find these on eBay)

Inspiration: 11.12.11

2011-11-12T07:20:00.001-08:00

Random bits. Mostly loving the uses of textures (sequins & velvet), color combos and the 1970's vibe.

Karen @ Where Did U Get That

all the pretty birds

Jak & Jil

William Yan

Levi's Cool

2011-11-05T05:56:00.001-07:00

Sweater & Tote, Levis. Shorts, Topshop. Tights, House of Holland. Boots, Dolce Vita.

Photos by Rebecca Davis

The last time I owned anything Levi's was in middle school. It wasn't until a friend needed to check out a pair of "demi-curve" jeans last week that I even stepped foot inside the Levi's store.

But on that trip, I walked out with this amazing peach-fizz fisherman's sweater and denim/canvas/leather Filson x Levis tote. American classics that still have an edgy-potential.

Levi's was officially on my fashion radar.

I actually initially left the store empty-handed because the sweater & tote combined were too pricey together for one go around. But within an hour, I was back in the store, a woman possessed, gladly snagging the knit and tote.

I'm looking at these items as small investment pieces remembering that Levi's is high on quality. You're not going to find your quick-fix staples and trendy items because that's exactly what makes Levi's the brand it is - a longlasting American heritage brand that's great at those true-blue classics.

Think I just had a love fest with Levi's. But honestly, I'm so thrilled with these two chic and understatedly edgy pieces.

Super special shout-out to my homie Rebecca Davis for the photos. The girl has mad skills :). Check out her Flickr here.

NYC November Sample Sales

2011-11-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

And can I get a hottub?!
Beyond excited about Surface to Air and James Perse.
If all goes well, that'll be me posing awkwardly in my Surface to Air Tyrol cape.

Definitely
SURFACE TO AIR
What: Men's and women's samples and items from past seasons are 60-80% off
When: 11/2 & 11/3 (10:30a-7p)
Where: Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave, nr. 16th St.

JAMES PERSE
What: Soft tees, sweaters, and jersey dresses for women at 50-80% off
When: 11/4 - 11/6 (Fri 9a-7p; Sat 10a-7p; Sun 10a-4p)
Where: 260 Fifth Ave, b/t 28th & 29th Sts

Maybe:
FASHIONHAUS
What: By Malene Birger dresses, Le Mont St. Michel sweaters, Rene Lezard leather jackets, Harvey Faircloth camel hair cocoon coats and basics and Roseanna separates and swimwear starting at $75
When:11/2 - 11/4 (Wed & Fri 9a - 6p; Thurs 9a-7p)
Where: 58 W. 40th St, b/t 5th & 6th Aves, 9th Fl)

I am Kate Lanphear: How to Be Your Own Editor

2011-10-26T21:57:00.000-07:00

At some point you've got to edit out the junk in your closet. It's probably beautiful junk. But it's junk all the same because you never wear it.

It's hard to have a concise style POV, let alone get dressed in the morning, when you're staring at a closet that's 40% full of pieces you don't wear and don't plan on wearing. A cluttered closet is like poor fashionista feng shui. It totally "effs" up the style flow. You'll go right along in life completely forgetting about the beautiful pieces that fit you well that you enjoy wearing, buried deep in your closet, because when you skim your wardrobe, you're confronted with 20 shirts you don't care to wear sandwiching the one shirt you ALWAYS seem to wear, and you automatically go for the fail-safe option.

I decided to edit my closet and found three main groups of pieces to throw out:

(1) Clothes I don't really like, but cost too much to toss;

(2) Clothes that don't fit me, never have fit me, and never will fit me;

(3) Clothes I save for "a rainy day" - those just in case items.

I bet you can go through your closet and make the same edits. As an example (and a bit of moral support, because I know how tough it can be to edit), here are five pieces I was able to finally justify tossing!

1. A classic white shirt. Perfect, expect that I own two other classic, crisper and better fitting shirts, and so it's now just a waste of space.

2. The sequined pencil skirt I bought as an option for NYE 2010. Not only has it never been worn, but it's so tight it basically binds my knees together if I try it on. I've been holding on to it because I've been waiting for the day when it would magically gain a little stretch so that it'd fit me properly. Unsurprisingly, that day never came. So it has to go.

3. The Hugh Hefner. That's what I call this petit Charlotte Ronson smoking jacket. I never quite figured out how to rock this thing. The fact that it looks like pajamas isn't so bad, considering I have a more over-the-top pajama type kimono from Topshop that I love. It just wasn't meant to be for this jacket.

4. The aformentioned multi-tiered crochet cocktail dress. My mother convinced me to keep this twice. Time to go.

5. A cozy knit with large awkward buttons I've always hated. Probably even hated the buttons when I bought the sweater..

Happy editing and when in doubt, think WWLD (What Would Lanphear Do)?

Fit for a King

2011-10-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

Recently had a conversation with a fellow blogger about men's vs women's fashion. She said guys have an easier time getting dressed.

I had to disagree.

Sure, guys seem to be better at giving off an "I-didn't-even-think-about-this-outfit" cool but their get-ups almost have to be well-thought.

Fit and proportion are so important for the boys.

A nicely tailored pair of pants can make the difference between a really dapper gent and a sloppy guy. On the flip, we girls can easily grab a belt and throw it around our waist to cinch in an oversized dress or can even embrace a baggier look with our "boyfriend" jeans.

I quietly snapped a pic of this dude while waiting on the platform one morning. His tapered chinos caught my eye because of their fit and masculine-cool.

You don't often hear "tapered" and "masculine" in the same sentence but that was the well-thought out tailoring and casual genius of this guys outfit.

It wasn't until after I took the pic that I noticed his baby blue suede shoes. Love.

Some People Hate

2011-10-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

When a new celebrity comes out with a fashion line, I hate. Just because you have a fancy stylist and pay them the big bucks to look decent, doesn't mean you are an authority on fashion to me.

While you can't deny that Kanye West has a POV on style, when I saw this post about his Paris fashion line debut, I was EXREMELY skeptical. Scratch that, I was down right hating...

Until I saw the pics.

And realized I would love to rock a sheer mid-calf skirt with a super high split and a freaking leg buckle on the calf. What about that doesn't sound amazing? And I appreciated the name plate jewelry. A totally unoriginal concept, but it's brings me back, especially since I still wear my "Amirah" necklace that I've had since a kid, eleven years ago.

Nothing about the line is genius and the tailoring could be better and the influences of Balmain, Givency & more are everywhere. Still....

Some people hate. I can't right now. Congrats Ye!

JAY-Z – Some People Hate

Mile High Love at First Sight

2011-09-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, a certain look will lock itself into your brain without you even realizing...until you're at the register with a long-sleeved floor-length black dress, with a slit to here that's vaguely reminiscent of Michael Kors' A/W 2011 collection. I promise this wasn't an intentional copy, but after seeing Rosie-Huntington Whitley looking crazy good in thigh-high Michael for the past few months, can you blame me for falling in love with this dress at first sight?

Aveder Outfit

2011-09-10T12:33:00.000-07:00

Keeping this short because I've had a very long two weeks and I'm going to get back to napping while I still can.

I did want to take some time out to direct you guys to The Aveder Outfit. I discovered this site a little while ago and was so impressed with the format and how it allowed you to explore style in such an engaging way. The site's creator, Cleon, is taking some time to revamp and focus the site a bit more - which I think every creative should do at some point....look at their project with a new set of eyes.

I had the honor of being shot for his final post on the Aveder Outfit, and I can't wait to see what he has in store for us in October when his new project launches!

Rocking:

Dress & Top - H&M

Tote - Coach

Make It Work: Summer Layering

2011-08-27T08:59:00.000-07:00

Yup, straight Tim Gunn style. One of my issues with summer layering is the risk of being hot if the weather that day doesn't turn out as cool as you thought it would. The key is having that right mix of crisp fall air and lazy summer heat. So earlier this week I was able to comfortably throw on this god-send of a sweater (a mohair/acrylic/nylon blend of light and slightly stretchy knit) over my blue Sophomore dress. With summer layering I think it's best to have your legs completely out, so that it balances the little bit of heaviness on top.

Rocking:

Knit - from Loehmann's ...the brand is Press

Dress - Sophomore

Flats - Kenneth Cole

I Scream, You Scream...Errr

2011-08-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong. I love me some Pharrell. I do. But this Qream business was not a good idea.

So many questions, so little answers: Is the bottle supposed to be a woman's body? Is that a Louis Vuitton print rip-off on the side? Why does the alcohol smell like hand lotion? Why does the alcohol taste like cough syrup? Just all wrong.

Honestly, I'm not convinced that Pharrell even had any creative to-do with this, um "silky drink".

Most awkward part of this alcohol experience was my coworkers and I having to tell people we were drinking Pharrell's Qream when they asked us what we were doing.

The money shot:

Bag Lady

2011-08-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

The best outfits come out of necessity.

Let me break this outfit down. Sunday afternoon. Rain. Trying to "recuperate" from the night before. Rushing to catch the train from Jersey to NYC. The tights were too comfy to turn down. Wasn't trying to just hang all out so I threw on my (soon-to-be-favorite) dress/top from H&M. And I was cold, so I tossed on the Gap tee. That's how I came up with my Peter Pan x Tiinkerbell outfit.

But apparently it was chic enough for someone to mistake me for a model (I'm seriously talking about the person was so nervous approaching me...). So while I was flattered, I really just felt like a bag lady, both literally and figuratively.

Cue Ms. Badu...

Erykah Badu – Bag Lady - Radio Edit

NYC Exhibitionism

2011-08-13T06:07:00.000-07:00

If you want to be a serious shopper in NYC you're going to have to get naked.

Thanks to my shopping habits, my parents can proudly say that their daughter went to the city and left an exhibitionist.

My first taste of exhibitionism was at the Only Hearts sample sale a few years ago. The windows were covered in the small store and there was a sign outside that said "No Boys Allowed" - pretty safe environment to get naked.

The next time was on a larger scale - Barney's Warehouse Sample Sale. The holy-grail of sample sales. My exhibitionism was made easier by the swarms of other girls who carelessly flung off their clothes around me in the mirrored pit that is the designated changing section.

So by the time I got to this Alexander Wang Sample Sale last weekend, with up to 70% off the Wang, you better believe I didn't hesitate to strip down in front of strangers.

The difference between the A.Wang sample sale and others though, was that the changing area was:

A. Unisex

B. Not hidden in some obscure corner of the store. It was front and center, right in between racks of clothing

So for those straight men who were wise enough to visit the sale, they were basically treated to a small peep show while they shopped.

No complaints here though. After my years of training, dresssing and undressing in front of strangers for that perfect half-off piece, nothing phases me and I was anything but embarassed when I had to expose my tush in order to squeeze into a pale green maxi.

Also scored a soft, striped, semi-sheer sweater. See the goods below:

Get naked:

What: Barneys Warehouse Sale
When: Aug. 25 & 26. Thurs. & Fri., 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Aug. 27 & 28. Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Aug. 29-31. Mon.-Wed., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sept. 1 & 2. Thurs. & Fri., 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sept. 3 & 4. Sat. & Sun., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sept. 5. Mon., 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 255 W. 17th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves.

What: Bird
Why: Rag & Bone tops, Rachel Comey blouses, Current/Elliott colored denim, Bantu bikinis, and Steven Alan dresses at up to 75 percent off.
When: Today-Aug. 24. Mon.-Fri., noon-8 p.m.; Sat., noon-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m.
Where: 316 Fifth Ave., b/t 2nd & 3rd Sts., Park Slope (718-768-4940); 203 Grand St., b/t Bedford & Driggs Aves., Williamsburg (718-388-1655); 220 Smith St., at Butler St., Cobble Hill (718-797-3774).

What: A. Turen
Why: Timo Weiland dresses and sheer cardigans, Current/Elliott cutoffs, MM6 Maison Martin Margiela and Iro blouses, and Jarbo basics.
When: Today-Aug. 26. Tues., Wed. & Sun., 1-8 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., 1-9 p.m.
Where: 85 Stanton St., at Allen St. (212-533-8200)

Slow & Steady x Sbtrkt = No Fluff

2011-08-01T17:32:00.000-07:00

I like my music and my clothes without fluff. Good clothes and good sounds should always win out.

Just discovered Slow and Steady Wins the Race, and fell so in love with their manifesto, that I didn't even have to look at the clothes to know I'd be checking out their stockists ASAP. Their rule? Good design is always relevant. So label snobs are not welcome.

They're pushing against the consumer restraints of fashion to offer high-quality clothing, at a steady pace year round.

So think leather tees, deconstructed sweats or ballet flats.

Oh, remember I brought up music earlier...

So Slow and Steady's mantra reminded me of an article I read on British producer Sbtrkt. He's all about avoiding the fluff too, and wanting his audience to focus on the quality of the music, not the celebrity (which is why he wears that mask).

I think the Slow and Steady x Sbtrkt swag go perfectly together. So while you sift through the website, I'd recommend bopping to Sbtrkt (with some help from Drake).

Barely There

2011-07-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

This past month, I've basically been waking up, thinking how can I be as naked as possible today and still be appropriate for work. That's how hot it's been. Thank sweet baby cheeseus for summer dresses - without which, women probably really would consider going to work naked.

Rocking:

White dress - H&M

Black dress - American Apparel

The CookUp: Musical Style

2011-07-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

It's refreshing to see hip-hop guys putting effort into their style without seeming forced. Was randomly watching the video for "The Cook-Up" by Stalley w/ Wale, Black Cobain and Tone P, and noticed the subtly chic accents of their wardrobe.

Tone P's cargos are on point and both Stalley and Black Cobain use contrasting colors red and green well. I especially like Stalley's red fitted cap and green Ohio University tee. Not to mention his calf-high socks, representing that old man swag.

I also appreciated their man-ccessories, like Tone P's stripe band watch or that random guys pink G-Shock.

Whoever their stylist was for the video didn't try too hard, and the boys could have actually dressed themselves - and I mean that in a good way. The style seems authentic and real. So many music guys (and gals) put on, so it's nice to see genuine fashion-sense.

Couture Propaganda

2011-07-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

Tom Vek: Aroused on Nowness.com.

Public Service Announcement

2011-07-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

This is really a test, I think.

Agreed that I wouldn't shop for the rest of the summer (unreasonable, I know, but it's better to over reach...)

Unfortunately for me, as I very innocently online window shopped tonight, the shoes I so eloquently crushed on are available on sale, at Pixie Market (final sale) with size 10 one of the only two sizes left.

Quick, someone buy these before I do!! Thanks.

http://www.pixiemarket.com/store/wovenhuaracheheels-p-3028.html

*stop*

Sunday.

2011-07-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

Spent most of today doing what I love: shopping, reading magazines, cooking and yoga.

Here's the tshirt and some art I got from Brooklyn Flea. I had a really great and genuine conversation with the artist, Bobby Hill, which made me like his work even more.

And the amazing stack of magazines my boss gave me to pour over (I think she's enabling my addiction).

The DEB Project x Until The Violence Stop

2011-06-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month I was lucky enough to attend a viewing of Until The Violence Stops, a film by Abby Epstein.

Nevermind the fact that the screening took place in THE nicest yoga studio I've set my bare feet in, or that the event was in support of Girls Write Now, but the film itself was amazing and highlighted an issue that society has become sort of numb to.

Until The Violence Stops documents how The Vagina Monologues grew into an international grassroots movement called V-Day to stop violence against women and girls. I'll forever be a sociologist at heart so I loved that the film documented how women in various communities (from Harlem to the Phillipines) engaged with V-Day and bonded over experiences specific to their communities.

I seriously recommend checking out this film if you haven't already. The amount of women (and people generally) affected by some form of abuse directly or indirectly is appalling and this film helps bring some of those unheard voices to light.

It has me trying to figure out the next V-Day season to get involved. I've also never experienced the Vagina Monologues, so I'll see about dragging my friends to go, ha!

Shout out to Dirty Debutante for an elightening and dope event.

Some pics from the event. A lil blurry, but I'll just act like I meant to do that, b/c I'm just artistic and stuff:

Fashion Sloredom: Miista, Bassike, Free People

2011-06-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of a fashion slore - meaning, I get new crushes daily and sometimes I just can't commit. Here's what I'm crushing on this week. Excuse my promiscuity...

Bassike - http://www.bassike.com/

Miista - http://miista.com/

Free People - http://www.freepeople.com/

Heat Rage

2011-06-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Considering it's 94 degrees outside today, I really shouldn't be eyeing T by Alexander Wang's pre-fall 2011 collection. But also considering that I'm on a shopping hiatus and probably won't be purchasing anything for a little bit, I can eye whatever the hell I damn well please!

Greys, nudes, navys and blacks. My kind of color party.

P.S. (sorry, didn't mean to take my anger out on you. Withdrawal symptoms of not shopping...)

Images via knight cat

Dress Responsibly

2011-06-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

Ever since I saw this image of Kate Lanphear in her Princeton sweatshirt, it gave me a whole new understanding of school pride. (In fact, I'm still searching for a vintage P-ton shirt...)

Last weekend was Princeton's infamous Reunions (fun fact: it's the second largest U.S. beer drinking event after the Indy 500), and while I didn't attend, I wore my orange and black in spirit.

For the sartorially unversed, orange & black are a challenge. But it's really all about color blocking. Take note:

Sources: Garance Dore all the pretty birds altamira JAK & JIL We Heart It

Wavvvvvvve

2011-05-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

If you ask me at any given moment, I'll tell you I'm a trendsetter (i.e., "Omg, I've been mixing prints MONTHS ago! You're so late! Ha! I'm such a trendsetter.").

Unfortunately, I think what really happens is that I consume so many fashion blogs, where insanely chic chicks are dictating the next style trends by what they wear, and I subconsciously reference these girls when I'm getting dressed and shopping, so by the time Style.com declares it a trend, I'm already ahead of the pack.

With the monochromatic trend though, I'm definitely fully aware of my copycat dressing. I've been making an effort to up my monochromatic looks this season, so there's no trendsetting here. Just some good old fashioned thinking really hard before I get dressed each morning :)

Rocking:

Blazer - Zara

Dress - Urban Outfitters

Flats - Sam Edelman

5 Things I'd Do With My PS1

2011-05-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I'm kind of a bag snob. That means I can't find an excuse to waste money on a bag that's not worth it's quality, BUT, that also means I rarely have enough dinero to spend on a bag I think is worth the dough.

I've been lusting after this Proenza Schouler PS1 bag for a while now, and even though Target has an exact replica, I'll continue to hold out for the real thing. Opening Ceremony may be carrying the bag, but I'll still contemplate the possibilities of what I'll do with my very own PS1.

1.Coyly show off my PS1 as if I didn't know it WAS a PS1!

2. Breathe a sigh of relief that my PS1 could fit so many items in one compact space.

3. Shield the rain.

4. Stretch.

5. Life live.

"Fashion is the Armor to Survive the Reality of Everyday Life" - Bill Cunningham

2011-04-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

Image via The Sartorialist

Monochromed Out

2011-04-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

After flipping through my recent Elle issue and seeing a "wardrobe challenge" for Market Editor Jade Frampton to attempt a week of dressing in monochromatic looks, I felt inspired and threw together an all purple 'fit today.

Loved this outfit for several reasons - not only is purple my fav color, but it was a no-muss-no-fuss thrown together look that was super comfortable also. I'm excited to add more layers, or as the weather gets warmer, adding some patterns in the mix with more dramatic monochrome looks.

Rocking...

Blouse: Gap

Pants: Topshop

Flats: Ann Taylor (don't sleep on them)

Food x Fashion

2011-04-05T18:59:00.000-07:00

...just a few of my favorite things. Oh, and gotta love the social experiment-y feel of it all.

Stolen Girlfriends Club x Red Bull

Fight the Powers that Be

2011-03-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

My ankles have been rebelling against this stubborn cold for the past two days - I've worn cropped pants with my Converse All Star Lights, hoping that maybe if I flash a little ankle skin, the weather gods will take note and shed some much needed sunlight on NYC.

But still, while my ankles continue to fight the good fight, the rest of me cannot deny the stroke of genius that is Elizabeth Cabral's winter 'fit (that's my new short term for "outfit"... I get lazy sometimes). The pink/red color combo is sartorial enough...but honestly, I wouldn't have done a second take if it weren't for that Prada stole!

*figuring out a way to stripe-dye my faux fur Topshop stole*...

Images via Citizen Couture

Foxxy Lady

2011-03-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

I need a pair of these shorts in my life for spring. They're from the brand Stone Cold Fox - which, ahem, is exactly what I am...toot! toot! (that's me tooting my own horn if you were confused).

I would style this with either a simple, neutral wedge and jean shirt OR an unexpected vibrant shoe with a graphic tee.

Stone cold fox tip via stylorectic

Stone Cold Foxx by TheStyleRealist featuring beaded jackets

Wildfox Couture polo white tee, $89
T shirt, 39 EUR
Diesel black gold beaded jacket, $700
Acne denim jacket, $240
Casadei wedge sandal, $890
Giuseppe Zanotti platform shoes, $650
TopShop cross body bag, $70
Maison Michel wide brim hat, $495

Color Me Bad

2011-03-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

For some reason I always gravitate towards "wowing" on the bottom half than on the top half. Ok, if that doesn't make sense, I mean that my collection of tops is pretty underwhelming compared to how I dress my bottom half - whether that's shoes, pants, skirts, tights, etcetera etcetera.

Maybe it's because I think my legs are my best assets. Whatever, I'm not going to analyze this all crazy-like, but this is all to say that I love the skirt/tights combo I have going on today.

The green tights were a very needed pop of color to bring a little cheer to this still freezing "Spring", but my favorite part of the get-up is this wool/leather skirt from Uniqlo that dramatically splits when you sit. It's the little details that count.

Rocking...

Jacket: H&M

Skirt: Uniqlo

Bag: Coach

Tights: DKNY

Boots: Nine West

I Want This Shirt

2011-03-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

Source

Be Careful What You Wear to Bed At Night

2011-03-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

I'm psychic. I'm pretty sure I am.

I know this because I sometimes have dreams up to a year in advance of when that actual "dream" occurs in real life. Almost like some sort of weird deja vu. These dreams usually aren't ground breaking, and I don't realize their creepy deja vu vibe until it's actually playing out in real life when I suddenly shriek

"This is deja vu from my dream!! I'm so pyschic!"

But what if your dreams were deeper portals into the person you're supposed to become, the things you're supposed to accomplish and the people you're supposed to meet? (Like maybe I'm destined for couture because I'm always decked in it for my dream soirees?)

That's a question my friend Pat Altema explores in his short film directorial debut, "Dream" (sans the couture bit).

His film tells the story of Jim (Ben Whalen), a college student, who can't get over a recent break up. Depression, insomnia and a bout with a psychiatrist ensue. When Jim finally does doze off, he dreams of a future with a beautiful wife, only to meet her in person the next day, a perfect stranger. On the brink of crazy-town (or maybe, he's just psychic, like me) Jim must decide how he'll approach this little nugget of opportunity and deja vu.

Never mind the fact that the director is my friend, the movie (yes I got a sneak peek, so ha!) is great and the trailer above reveals just enough to keep you wanting more. Be sure to share your feedback in the comments section :).

Jewels for Thought

2011-02-22T19:25:00.000-08:00

I've never been a huge Valentine's Day person - no I'm not one of those bitter anti-Valentine's Day chicks (although the awkward experience I had this past 14th with my ex was definitely mortifying enough to turn me into one).

So in an unconventional fashion, I decided to make Cannon Lewis jewelry my (belated) Valentine this year because I think I've fallen madly in love with this line.

Here are 7 reasons why I'm crushing on Cannon Lewis:

1. Cannon Lewis - the talent behind the namesake line - has been mastering her craft for 11 years, letting her entrepreneurial spirit guide her when she was just a teen. Just as I'm venturing into my own career move, I can't help but be inspired by Cannon's power girl spirit...

2. ...not to mention the girl's got soul. And she bares her soul on each and every piece of jewelry - from original poetry and stream-of-conscious musings straight from a diary entry to fittingly self-aware scribbles. I.e., the piece with an emerald-color stone that states proudly "I've always been green", or the necklace below with the word "Life" stealthily etched in, like a personal, secret mantra for the wearer.

3. She uses stones with personality. With rutliated quartz (see #4) and landscape quartz being her favorites, she tailors each piece to the unique personality of the stone itself.

4. These earrings. Enough said.

5. Ok, so celebrity validation is not everything, but it is cool. Both Reese Witherspoon and Louise Roe (that amazingly composed fashion correspondent who blew Olivia out of the water on The City) have been spotted rocking Cannon Lewis.

6. Cannon pulls inspiration from nature and architecture when designing her jewelry - with the architectural angles and the organic elements of nature reflecting in her designs.

7. When I asked Cannon to give me a one-liner to describe Cannon Lewis jewelry (such pressure!) she summed it up perfectly: "Cannon Lewis jewelry is whimsical...yet soulful. It has an element of timelessness but just doesn't take itself too seriously." Couldn't agree more.

(7a. Last but not least, Cannon's pup, an adorably charming King Charles Spaniel named Sophie had me at hello.)

Despite the Perpetual Snow, I Feel Inspired

2011-02-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

Rebecca Minkoff - "Urban Gypsy" (my favorite, only because I consider myself an urban hippie)

FYI - Rebecca Minkoff is streaming live today at 2 pm EST here

The Cut, that witty fashion blog that's just about the only thing getting me through the work week at this point, tapped 65 designers for one image and a one-liner on the inspiration behind their Fall 2011 collections. Here are the ones I dug, and even though the last thing I want to think about is adding more layers, texture, wool, etc. to my frame, next fall looks like it will be one part ethereal, one part luxe and one part color (noun equivalent?), which is something to look forward to. With the NY shows kicking off yesterday, we'll see how the actual collections stack up to the inspiration.

Alice + Olivia - "Glamour"

Alice + Olivia show streaming live at 5 pm on Monday, February 14 here

Elie Tahari - "Smoke"

Kaelen - "Saloon"

Erin Fetherston - "mirage"

Mandy Coon - "Noir"

Marios Schwab - "Emmanuelle"

Preen - "Opportunity"

Preen show streaming live at 11:30 am on Sunday, February 13 here

Vena Cava - "1994"

Yoana Baraschi - "Hypernature"

Wes Gordon - "Mystery"

House of Waris - "Devotion"

The Obligatory NYE Outfit Post

2011-01-13T19:33:00.000-08:00

Channeled my inner Cher and Dionne for New Year's because I'm pretty sure this dress is straight from the 90's - a deep purple, velvet mini cocktail dress by Jill Stuart.

It's funny too because the 90's are one of my least favorite decades in terms of fashion. But purple is my favorite color, and I'm sort of anti- entire outfits decked in sequins for NYE (it just seems like such an obvious choice) so a velvet cocktail dress was the perfect balance of luxe to ring in the New Year.

Link to your outfit posts in the comments section, I'd love to see what everyone wore for 2011.

Dress: Jill Stuart Cocktail

Shoes: Sam Edelman

If I Am Crazy, At Least I'll Be Fabulous

2011-01-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

When the weekend rolls around I'm so burnt out from dressing like "office-Barbie" that I do try to put some thought into what I'm wearing regardless if I'm just making a Starbucks and Trader Joe run. Should it be the ikat-print jumpsuit layered with knits and biker boots, or the knit-sweater dress and House of Holland tights?

Needless to say, I can totally relate to this short film by Julie Miller for Dossier, which I found over at ClosetTour. This girl is basically having an existential crisis when it comes to what she should wear. That scene, where she basically has her entire closet draped on her tiny frame is easily me on any given Saturday morning...

Dossier Journal: Independent Designers Showcase from teenage peanut video productions on Vimeo.

Head Start

2010-12-29T19:52:00.000-08:00

Already following through with my fashion New Years resolutions, that being to be more furry in 2011. Bought this faux fur stole from TopShop (among other goodies, like the head warmer and two nautical semi-cropped tops that I'll be rocking this spring), and I'm really excited to wear it, I think on New Years. How fitting, no?

My Sartorial Resolutions

2010-12-26T17:46:00.000-08:00

Before I sit down and write my 2011 New Year's resolutions and dig into all that serious stuff I need to change about myself and my habits and yadda yadda, I wanted to share my fashion resolutions with you guys. With a completely new decade ahead of us, I think it's time for me to take some style risks:

1. Wear EVERYTHING in my closet
....not all at once though :). But there are too many things I've bought and have been so clueless how to work it (i.e., the sheer American Apparel jumpsuit I bought last spring that hasn't left my closet, but I'm taking tips from The Cut, so ~~maybe~~ this spring I WILL be sheer).

2. Embrace my inner granny. This year I WILL finish my snood in time to rock next fall and with my newly found knitting group, I should be able to stick to this resolution.

3. Diversify my pants portfolio. Starting to get sick of having jeans as my go-to, so I'd love to get some bottoms that I trust in different silhouettes, colors and materials for the new year. Chinos, here I come!! (this guy's neo-Chinos below are great inspiration)

4. Go with the flow. I know effortless style usually is just the opposite, but I've found lately that when I think less and trust my inner style goddess my outfits come out surprisingly more put together and chic.

5. Be more furry. Faux is probably all I'll be able to afford next year, but I've always shied away from the stuff in general because I used to think it was too gawdy. The more I see others wear it though, the more I see the sophistication in that style.

6. Invest in more cropped tops. I have an obsession, and sorry, they will never go out of style for me so :P.

What will your style resolutions be for 2011?

*Images via The Cut, Jak & Jil, The Sartorialist, Constance Victoria, FashionToast, StyleSightings

WANTED: Old Lady's Knitting Club Sans Old Ladies

2010-12-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

Sadly, it's been nearly a year since I started knitting my Snood Dogg from one of Wool and the Gang's beginners kit, and I'm only half-way done!

I have a bad habit of jumping from one project to the next and I realized, maybe what will help get me focused was if knitting somehow became a social activity for me. Maybe if there were a designated time each week or month when I'd knit, and if other people were there to keep me focused, then I could actually complete this Snood by next fall...

And so...I wanted to see if there were any fellow knitting fashionistas/bloggers, etc in the NYC area who were interested in putting together a knitting group?

Or is there a knitting group (sans old ladies) that you know is already happening in NY?

We could sip tea (or wine) and munch on crumpets (or tapas) and revel in each other's company while snickering at each other's poorly knit scarves.

If you're interested in participating in a NY area knitting group (or if you know one that's already established), send an email to thestylerealist@gmail.com or drop a line in the comments section!

*Update*: So it turns out that Wool and the Gang actually holds their own knitting groups at the Soho shop, every first Thursday (from 6-9 pm) and third Sunday (from 1-4 pm) of the month. Kits are 10% off (so everyone in the comments who thought they were too expensive, maybe this is an added incentive?) and mimosas/wine/treats are served, loud music is played, and laughter ensues...I'll definitely be there, will you?

Little Me Time

2010-12-13T17:58:00.000-08:00

Enjoyed some "me time" today. A little gym, a little cooking, a little (window) shopping, a little dancing in the mirror (don't judge me) and a little lounging in my favorite cozy sweatshirt dress by James Perse.

And if you've ever wanted to know more about me than I already share on here check out my latest vanity venture (b/c aren't most blogs just that?) at Tumblr: Her Cultural Dictionary. Or if you just need another thing to distract you at work when you're supposed to be getting stuff done...

Happy Monday!

Surprising Seattle Duds

2010-12-12T23:45:00.000-08:00

So I was going to do a whole post on far away boutiques that I wish were in NY (still might do that a little later), but after finding Alexandre Herchcovitch shorts on Seattle-based boutique Totokaelo's online shop for only $21.85, I knew this boutique deserved it's own post.

I mean, twenty f-ing dollars! (excuse my French lol). Usually finding a deal like that requires being lucky enough to hear about a sample sale where prices are incredibly marked down. So, yes, major props to this boutique for allowing poor saps like me to still be chic on a budget.

Totokaelo's stock in general is so well curated - the site even provides daily lookbooks so that we can sort through the B.S. Not that anything in this boutique is B.S. I'd gladly trade in my entire closet for every item in this boutique....but for now I'd settle for the pieces I have shown here (in no particular order)

Rick Owens shearling jacket (above)

Marsell High Boots

Electric Feathers Convertible Circle Dress

Bodkin Quasar Coat

Opening Ceremony Lace Up Wedge Boots

Thanks to zipped for putting me on to Totokaelo.

In the Midnight Hour

2010-12-05T21:20:00.000-08:00

Lately it feels like my creativity has gotten sucked out by reality - but a reality that's been both good and bad.

And regardless of whether you have any idea what I'm talking about, that's just to say I've been really missing that feeling of creating and working hard at something artistically, and witnessing the payoff when the project is completed. I stumbled on this video of Pharrell Williams in the studio single-handedly creating the song "Midnight Hour", crafting the beat and chorus, and was envious of his focus, passion and the way he became completely absorbed in the process of creating.

This version of the track he's working on actually sounds waaay better than the final version as sung by artist Natasha Ramos. Creativity in it's purest form...a little inspiration for the night I guess as I'm typing this in the midnight hour...

The Brad Pitt of the Internet

2010-11-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

I dreeeeeam of Lanvin.

Which is why it probably sounds a bit ridiculous that I won't be one of the hundreds of people clawing their ways into H&M stores on the 20th (ok I might, depending on if I can wake up that early)...

...but the thing is, I've never been too impressed by past designer/mass chain collabos. Even when the designer adds their magic touch, the materials used are still lowgrade and I can't justify paying over $100 for something where the quality is still pretty poor.

The Lanvin <3 H&M collection may be different though because Alber Elbaz is a genius with his hands. He understands a woman's body and reflects that in the way he drapes and lays the fabric. Judging by the lookbook and video (after the jump), it seems this will still be the case but I have a feeling we'll be missing that real opulence of Lanvin that comes with having luxe materials.

Needless to say, I do plan on snagging something from the collection - maybe a tshirt or the tulle jacket? Although I am looking forward to trying on some of those dresses, like the blood orange number or the schizo floral dress. This way at least I can dream of Lanvin in Lanvin x H&M...make part of the fantasy come true ;)

Geeks Come Out at Night

2010-11-01T19:45:00.000-07:00

Have to do the obligatory Halloween post right? Especially since the majority of my costume pieces are things I can wear in everyday life (hello, fanny pack!).

So I guess to celebrate my move from NJ to NY I was a tourist :). Maybe my costume doesn't compare to Rachel Zoe's Brad Goreski being dressed as Tavi at Lanvin's Halloween soiree but I did get a bunch of kudos while being out and about and it was my most creative costume to date (i've been some variation of a sexy cops/sexy mice/sexy hippie for the past few years...).

If you had a great Halloween costume/post on your blog, share the link in the comments section, I'd love to see!

Impolitically-Correct Knitwear

2010-10-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

So I know socks are a huge trend this fall, and I even pledged my commitment to following suit this season, but Rodarte's $500 pair are just OD. The idea of "fashion" seriously does but some extremely ridiculous values on certain things out of, i guess, the desire to be exclusive, but anyone who actually shells out $500 for these socks is dellusional in my opinion.

And that's not because they cost so much (I get it, they're hand crocheted mohair and alpaca socks...the price of materials alone can be insane as I found out when I decided to knit my own scarf, which I'm only half-way finished by the way), but because they're just not practical - they're already holey so they're going to stretch and gape, and they're spot clean-only, so no washing or dry cleaning. They're not even practical in a fashion-sense to me (that's my polite way of saying they're not cute), I just don't see the value.

This video from the NY Post asks people on the street in NY what they think of Rodarte's $500 socks, and aside from being pretty funny (i.e., the guy who says "Who would wear socks you can't wash?"), I actually agree with what these non-fashion minded folks are saying. Check it...

Thrive

2010-10-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

The more I blog, the more I'm learning that personal style isn't devalued by taking inspiration (or even flat out copying, occasionally) from someone else. We're supposed to influence and be influenced by fashion.

With that in mind, I've found L.A. label thrive to be a good source of inspiration for the office. I'd hate to be completely stuffy at work but I also need to make sure I'm appropriate for typical 9-to-5 wear (I actually got pulled aside by my HR lady for wearing too short shorts on casual Friday once, oops!). And it seems thrive offers that perfect balance - it's rooted in that kind of fun and girly cali style with demure and edgy influences from our European counterparts, thanks to creative designer Cem Cako's Belgian couture touch.

What I love most about thrive's AW10 collection is the use of texture and asymmetry. So I grabbed my wooliest of scarves and asymmetrical tube dress and paired with some scrunchie socks and a soft blazer for my own take on thrive's edgy lady-like sophistication. I think this is a great workwear look. What do you think? Did I make the grade?

Wearing:

Blazer - H&M

Dress - Ann Taylor

Scarf - H&M

Socks - DKNY

Shoes - Alfani

Hey Old Friend

2010-10-07T20:12:00.000-07:00

Somehow it seems the fashion gods who reign over Banana Republic and the Gap have moved on to the ugly duckling of the bunch known as Old Navy and bestowed a remarkably chic leather jacket to the chain.

I found this out today at work, when my coworker told me she was eyeing a cute leather jacket from Old Navy.

My response: "Oh, that's what's up. You mean pleather, though, right?".

No disrespect to Old Navy, we go wayyyy back. In fact, it's because I knew Old Navy so well back in the day (circa middle school and early high school when I also wore platform Sketchers) that I knew it just wasn't possible that Old Navy was selling an actual leather jacket.

But to my surprise, not only is this a real leather jacket, but it's really cute!

Maybe I haven't been to Old Navy in a while, but this is definitely a step up. It's a high-end element meeting a mass-market consumer. Kind of like the Target/designer mash-ups, but flipped, and then flipped again...

And now my endorsement, for only $200, buy the jacket here *thumbs up*:

Just In Time

2010-09-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

These past few weeks have been so stressful - I'm apartment hunting and never knew that it would take this much effort. Call me clueless, but, yea, I just didn't realize.

So the best part of this past week was on Tuesday when I received my House of Holland tights from Asos.com (as seen above on Constance Victoria). I literally waited three weeks for these lovelies to be shipped from the UK, and now that they're here, I'm getting really excited about fall and building my seasonal wardrobe.

Last fall I bought a lot of solid color tights, but this fall I want to experiment more, especially with knee highs and interesting, non-predictable patterns like the ones above. With that in mind, here's some inspiration I'll be using...

Images from 5 Inches and Up, Face Hunter, The Sartorialist, Fashionnerdic.

Comfy Little Devil

2010-09-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

Comfort is always at the back of my mind whenever I get dressed.

It's like I have those two sides on my shoulder, like a comfort conscious angel and a stylish devil that are bargaining for my outfit - the one side telling me it's ok to roam in sweats and moccasins and the other beckoning me to consider my appearance and throw on heels and chic-movement-restricting clothes.

Comfort definitely wins out a lot, but the key is to balance comfort with chic in surprising little details.

I hate the idea of leggings as pants on a consistent basis but its so hard to get away from the comfy stretchy material. And so I turned to Hyden Yoo - a label that's basically perfected the art of comfy chic - for these stitching detailed leggings and luxuriously cut sweat-blazer, to satisfy both the angel and devil sitting on my shoulders.

And honestly, Hyden Yoo makes leggings as pants look so good, it's just too difficult to resist.

Wearing:

Blazer & Leggings - Hyden Yoo

Shoes - Nine West

Top - H&M

Designer Spotlight - celestemichelle

2010-09-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

Meet celestemichelle.

She's someone who, with a little bit of disposable income, would rather furnish her neck, ears, and wrists than furnish her apartment. She lives on the LES and seeks one-of-a-kind pieces from relatively unknowns. She's someone who understands trends, but knows how to subtly put pieces together without seeming overdone.

"Wait, that sounds like me!"

I couldn't help interrupting Michelle Johnson as she described the kind of woman who wears celestemichelle - the jewelry line she started nearly a year ago with husband Zaheer. With prices remaining under $100, Michelle and Zaheer have secured celestemichelle's visibility in Bloomingdales, Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie by pushing a bold idea of trendy vs classic.

celestemichelle is challenging the conventional idea of "trendy" by introducing "trend jewelry" with a personality of it's own, that subtly interprets trends and avoids the literal translation (think amber and forest green semi-precious stones in a sharp cut-out ring as an interpretation of this fall's military trend).

Starting today, September 10th at noon, celestemichelle will be one of the featured sales on ideeli.com. The sale will feature amazing statement necklaces (like the bib necklace I fell in love with below), sophisticated earrings and feminine bracelets and ends Monday, September 13th.

Read on to find out more about the name "celestemichelle", why Morocco is a great fashion inspiration, how Jay-Z sets Michelle's design mood, and a glimpse at some of the pieces on sale at ideeli.com.

Metal, pearl and semi-precious bracelet with magnetic closure - one of the pieces on sale at Bloomingdale's, Aqua.

Bib necklace and one of the pieces on sale at ideeli.com

Michelle and Zaheer's studio

Artwork from the celestemichelle studio

Starfish studs by celestemichelle

Military-inspired ring worn by the designer herself

One of Michelle's favorite pieces

On the name celestemichelle

Celeste is the name of my great grandmother. When I was 6 months old she raised me so I wanted to just honor her. I was going to call it Celeste but I added my name to give it a nice ring – celestemichelle. But it’s really named after my great grandmother.

On her hometown influences

[The jewelry itself is] more inspired by where I grew up in rural Jamaica. A very very natural, raw, untouched beauty. It’s not touristy. It just raw. The beaches, the mountains the caves, everywhere I grew up as a kid. It’s influenced by that aspect of nature.

On the most creative and inspiring city

If I had to pick one [city that's influenced me the most], I’d probably have to go with Marrakesh. When I went to the Majorelle , that garden was just so beautiful. It had all the wild plants that could only survive in heat, all the succulents, pricklies, cactuses. And then there was this one sweet side, with the roses, daisys. And I felt just to see those two sets of plants existing side by side in this one garden was just mind-blowing, breathtaking. There was also a memorial for Yves St. Laurent who I really love so I feel like that was the most inspiring trip to-date.

On Jay-Z

I really like to hear hip-hop before I start designing which is weird. I feel like trends start in urban cultures - and by urban, I'm not talking about Manhattan urban, I'm talking about Brooklyn and Fulton St. I like peace and quiet but usually when I'm going to design I like to start with music, and my preference is hip-hop [with] Jay-Z being my favorite. I don't even really listen to hip-hop outside of designing, it's not the main thing on my ipod. I usually listen to Adele and Air Supply, but there's something about his voice that puts me in a good [design] place.

Me and Michelle in her studio. I'm wearing one of the bib necklaces being featured on ideeli.com that Michelle and Zaheer were so gracious enough to let me keep after I fell in love with it!

Dear Summer...

2010-09-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

...I know you gon' miss me.

We go together like Nike Airs and crisp tees.

And I'm gonna miss my short shorts

so I had to pull them out 1 last time.

Wearing:

Shorts, Top and Purse - Zara

Wedges - TopShop

Charlotte Ronson & In God We Trust

2010-09-06T17:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to both final sales and my inability to stop eating past 10 pm this summer, I'm selling two items on eBay:

These Charlotte Ronson perforated black suede Crawford sandals are sooo chic, and so I'm truly sad to depart with them. They are "allegedly" a size 10 - however they fit more like a size 9 (my toes were literally hanging over the edge), so anyone who's a size 9, these are the perfect sandals to wear into Septemeber and break out for next summer.

Bid on eBay here.

These high-waist shorts with geometric-patterned details are from NYC's In God We Trust. I bought them at the beginning of the summer, with the hope of slimming down enough to fit into (that method of shopping always ends in disaster though). The shorts are a SIZE M and fit as a size 6.

Bid on eBay here.

Any questions let me know ;)

SomeLikeIt(Hot)

2010-08-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

Jeans: J Brand

Tank: BDG from Urban Outfitters

Bra: La Vie a Deux

Shoes: Charlotte Ronson

Thanks to Jennine Jacob's recent eat, sleep, denim post on the many ways to roll your jeans, I've been enlightened. This entire time I've been doing the classic fold, and have never opted for the more fun, messier varieties.

So today, in this 94 degree weather, I put on my white hot J Brands (which I scored for $20 at an Intermix warehouse sale, by the way) and opted for a mix between the classic peg and the messy roll.

How experimental do you all get with your jeans?

The Barney's Warehouse Sale Survival Guide

2010-08-24T17:50:00.000-07:00

Until last week, my only insight into the infamous Barney's Warehouse Sale was that Will and Grace episode where Grace is standing in a pile of cashmere, with a ton of clothes piled on her back and women are frantically running around fighting for clothes.

Last week, I got to be Grace!

And while Will and Grace DID steer me wrong in some respects (uh, hello? I thought the warehouse sale was actually in Barney's, not an actual warehouse), it ultimately prepared me for the competitive, eagle-eyed mentality I needed to walk out of there with the loot I did - a pair of Dries Van Noten booties (!!), Rag & Bone wool caplet, James Perse sweatshirt dress and The Lake and Stars bikini.

Still, in order to survive your own run-in with the Barney's Warehouse Sale here are the seven tips I have. Call it a survival guide of sorts:

1. Wear a Helmet
When a 10 lb Chloe wedge literally fell on my head, as I squatted near the bottom of the shoe shelf, do you think that stopped me? No! I barely even looked at the girl who knocked the shoe on my head, as a I grabbed the last Dries Van Noten boots in my size. Perseverance pays off, and next time I'll bring a helmet.
2. Trust Other Women
If you think all women will turn into a bunch of cat-fighting screeching chicks at the sight of half-off Christian Louboutins you're wrong. In fact, I was told on several occasions how "cute" a shoe looked on me and while we like to think we buy clothes based on our opinions alone, let's admit it, we also care what our fellow fashionistas think, and sometimes their compliments can lead to a pretty good purchase.

3. Less is More
While I wanted to walk out of there with every item marked 75% off that I even remotely liked, I literally sat down and picked off pieces one by one based on what I had in my closet already, what was practical, and what was really worth the price.

The heel on these wedges was too wobbly, so my practical sense said don't buy. (Maybe this was one occasion when I shouldn't have listened to my practical sense though....)
4. Remember that Designers Believe Women are One Size Smaller Than They Actually Are
Remembering this will help you save a huge amount of time. Instead of searching for a 6, I went straight for the size 8s and 10s (and it even turns out that I'm a size 11 foot instead of a 10 in high-end designer world). The first part of finding a good deal is knowing exactly WHERE to look.

5. Shut up and Shop
This is sort of a reiteration of #3, but first things first, grab all you see. Don't think, don't speak. Then narrow down later. You don't want to regret not picking something up at the end.

Freedom(Riders)Baby

2010-08-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

The entire purpose of this post is to share pics of this little red van I spotted at the beach. I thought it was the cutest thing ever and it made me think of the 60s/70s, road-trippin' (it also made me think of the Scooby Doo van lol). And oddly enough, I was appropriately dressed - I imagine this outfit is similar in silhouette to what someone in the 60s would have worn as an actual bathing suit, but it's safe to say I didn't stay in this get-up for too long...I'm a beach baby so about 5 seconds after I took this pic you would have found me running (literally) into the ocean.

Top: American Apparel

Shorts: Only Hearts

Sunglasses: Persol

WhatGoesUp(Must)ComeDown

2010-07-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I get the urge to flee - maybe mentally, maybe physically - for various reasons. This summer I was just looking forward to visiting a new city and Chicago was the destination of choice. Aside from the fact that my "weekend getaway" turned into a one and a half day fly-by due to a delayed flight/thunderstorms/brief stay in Grand Rapids, MI, Chicago was def a good time - deep dish pizzas, amazing architecture, and a crazy-artsy culture I can appreciate. But alas! - the shopping experience was not that great (I did snag a pair of black high-waist suede shorts for $20 at Zara!!) and as much as I'd like to downplay my shopping problem (don't we all have one though?) I would need to be somewhere where my sartorialistic creativity could roam just as freely as I do. With that in mind, New York will probably always be the city for me, and needless to say, my urge to flee is carefully tucked away as I enjoy a stress-free weekend inside, exploring new blogs, dancing in the mirror and perusing HBO on demand :).

Maxi: H&M

Bag: Zara

'Scuse Me While I Kiss the Sky

2010-07-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

Hat: Arth

Top: H&M

Skirt: Urban Outfitters

Bathing Suit: Vickie's Secret

Glasses: Persol

I used to never do monotone outfits. Having an outfit that was all one color or one shade of a color was a huge no-no for me (unless it was all black or all grey) and that kind of thinking is a result of my high school fashion sense. Freshman and sophomore year of high school EVERYTHING had to match - I would wear red converses with a red belt and a red shirt. It was overkill. So once I got out of that phase I vowed never to go back. I made sure I purposely didn't match.

But fashion works in cycles, as you all know, so it's only natural that I'd want to start dressing head to toe in one color. Besides, if you look at designers like Jil Sanders and Calvin Klein, monotone outfits can be more chic and than costume-y (which is how I used to think of them...almost like if you were dressing as a crayon for halloween lol).

Anyway, the point of this all is, I liked my all blue get up for the beach, but it's something I would never have worn about a year ago. It was too hot to worry about color choices this weekend anyway.

Hope everyone had a good fourth!!

Sketchy Chicks

2010-06-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

Shirt: Rocksmith

Shorts: Madewell

Bag: Madewell

Necklace from Loehmanns

I was very happy with my outfit this weekend. No, not because there's a naked sketched chick provocatively posing on my shirt, but because I successfully turned this huge t-shirt into a cute cropped top. I'm always afraid to alter any of my clothes myself because I don't have the best track record with that kind of stuff - I usually end up creating something so totally unwearable - but this weekend, maybe because I was rushing and didn't have time to think about it too hard, I just snipped, cut, tucked and rolled this shirt into a mean little top, perfect for a night of party hopping in Brooklyn :).

Boldly Unaware

2010-06-23T18:46:00.000-07:00

Dress: Vintage

Shoes: Elizabeth and James

Jewelry: Urban Outfitters & vintage

Aside from suffering from 18 bug bites (!!!) this past weekend, it was a good one. I got to break in my Elizabeth and James wedges and my kooky owl ring from Urban Outfitters at my family's annual Father's Day Brunch. My aunt and I were both feeling the only-decorate-one-arm-thing, because we both stacked our bangles and topped it off with a bold ring.

Next time, I won't be standing so close to the shrubbery though, because that's probably how I go so many bug bites :(.

Fearless

2010-06-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

Absolutely insane for no apparent reason.

Dsquared

Jak & Jil

Bleak Body-Con

2010-06-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

I am such a typical consumer. Seriously. Here's how easy it is to rope me in:

1. Give a fab fashion blogger a designer collabo opportunity

2. Have said blogger design a body-con dress that's just my style

2. Have said blogger post electrifyingly cool pics on her blog in said dress

3. Have said blogger include a link to purchase said dress

4. Cha-ching! (for Rumi and RVCA that is)

It literally took me less than five minutes to look at Rumi in her Rumi Neely x RVCA Machinery dress, click on the link, and whip out my debit card. So sad. No one wants to be a typical anything. But I got the email today that my dress is officially on it's way to mi casa and I'm really excited. I know the tanning bed/Fifth Element vibe Rumi has going on in her pics makes the dress look ten times cool, but I'm super excited to rock this dress. I would have gotten white, but I'm so clumsy, some kind of liquid is going to find it's way on that dress, so it's safer to go with black. Can't wait :)

Good ole' AA

2010-06-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it doesn't matter how many clothes you've got in your closet, you feel like you literally have nothing to wear. I think if you're not concerned with fashion, it's so difficult to understand this concept, because we (as fashionistas) literally have tons of stuff to wear. But if you have that perfect idea of an outfit for the night in your head, and those pieces are not in your closet, it's only down hill from there. You end up staring at your closet, trying on billions of outfits and variations of outfits, and then turning to that old fail-safe. For me, that fail-safe is my American Apparel tube dress and then some sort of top or bottom or accessory to make it look new and different each time (this dress has been to a LOT of parties and clubs with me!!).

It's just so easy to move in, so easy to throw on, and because it's so basic, it's so easy to put a new variation on it each time I wear it. And the place we went to last night was so freaking hot (Greenhouse), it turned out to be the perfect summer staple.

Plastic Dreams

2010-06-09T19:08:00.000-07:00

You know what Melissa shoes take me back to? Jellies - the sandals we used to wear back in the day. I mean, they basically really are a grown up version of jellies, which is kind of cool. They're a great way to take some of the seriousness out of "fashion" because sometimes "fashion" is a little stuck up. Anytime I can wear something fun that leans more towards wearable art than towards a serious idea of fashion I try to do so.

So of course I had to pull my Alexandre Herchcovitch for Melissa wedges (or wedgies? as in wedges + jellies? lol) out when a coworker invited me to a Melissa shoes/Lola Schnabel and Scott Campbell art installation event. I'll be honest, I didn't see too much art, but I did see the shoes. Can barely tell these are plastic, huh?

Oh, and the Misshapes dj'ed and they were sooo good. Had me dancing all night in my comfy Melissa wedgies :).

How to make a non-fashion post a fashion post

2010-06-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

I have NOT been blogging enough. Sometimes I just feel like I have nothing to say, or nothing that's relevant to what the point of my blog is supposed to be....maybe kind of like how I'm just rambling now and not saying anything fashion-related. And then just to make the post relevant, I'll throw in a picture where I look really chic, like this...

...or this...

...from my bday in April.

But seriously, summer's here, which means there will be more kodak moments to capture and I'll hopefully remember to bring my camera out. Stay tuned...

Right Back At-cha

2010-05-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

A couple people have gotten in touch with me regarding the Te Casan booties (after the eBay sale ended unsuccessfully), so I'm re-listing them here. Good luck!

If they don't sell (again) I'm definitely willing to work out a price off eBay. These are such great shoes to go to waste, because I know I'll never wear them.

Sub version

2010-05-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

I'm having a love affair with street art, and fashion doesn't know it yet. It all started last weekend when I saw "Exit Through the Gift Shop", a documentary-that-never-was about street art and the elusive & notorious UK street artist Banksy that actually turned out to show the filmmaker, Mr. Brainwash ironically becoming a flashy, overrated street artist himself.

Regardless if my description of the film makes sense or not, it opened my eyes to the crazy, beautiful world of street art - not to be confused with graffiti. From what I can tell, street art has a little bit more artistry, a little bit more subversive and a little bit more interesting (in my opinion).

That probably explains why I love such ironic clothing...it kind of reminds me of street art in a way. So maybe my fashion and street art crushes can co-exist...

p.s. if anyone knows any great pieces of street art (especially in NY), let me know, i'm totally obsessed right now...

(most) fashion images from Jak & Jil; (most) street art from Banksy

Te Casan

2010-05-02T18:45:00.000-07:00

So I'm going to try and do the impossible - edit my closet down to only those things I will definitely wear.

Everyone has those pieces of clothing that you never wear or think about wearing, but you can't let them go because there's going to be that ONE day when that piece of clothing is going to be the ONLY thing that can complete your outfit....but, let's be real, that never happens...

...so, I'm using eBay to help me edit down my closet and find a nice new fashionista's closet for my goods to reside in.

First up: Te Casan dark red suede booties. These are limited edition, never worn shoes that I've had for about two and a half years now.

I'm never going to wear them, no matter how unconventionaly chic I think they are. Feel free to visit my eBay listing if you're interested in buying. Thanks!

Skipped a beat...

2010-04-27T19:36:00.001-07:00

A very random assortment of things that made my heart skip a beat through my blog perusing today...well really the finsk color blocked wedges were the only things that literally made my heart skip a beat, "i die"...the Tommy Hilfiger (who knew?) sea foam dress is really just beautiful...those textured hunter green knee highs are uber cute, i've been looking for some knee highs, maybe i'll find some to wear this weekend...the clown sign is just hilarious...wanting to steal that pink coat from Karla's Closet....stackable bracelets? Out (but not really), stackable rings? In...perhaps the only clogs I'd ever wear...and last, but not least, in a salute to my alma mater, this rockin' sweatshirt that Kate Lanphear, Style Director of US Elle is wearing is HOT! I have to find that sweatshirt before reunions this May. In fact, if anyone has any clue where that sweatshirt is from, give me a holler!

*end post*

The Cape

2010-04-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

The Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show was definitely good to me this weekend! I snagged a khaki cape, slightly reminiscent of the Chloe cape - but, dare I say, edgier because of the hood/collar?

I hope these pics do the cape justice, but I obviously need to invest in a tri-pod, as my chair/tape/cardboard box set-up clearly forgot that I had a head.

Regardless, I was absolutely ecstatic to find this cape! No doubt, one of my best vintage finds. I'm probably going to hem it to just below my knee a la the Chloe cape, and per this random fabulously chic woman walking the showroom floor's advice, I'm going to add some sort of brooch to the nape of the cape (I swear I didn't mean to rhyme).

P.S. the vendor from which I bought this gem can be found at www.studiofortytwo.net

P.P.S. For those of you who watch The Real Housewives of NY religiously as I do, I also spotted Use Your Head, the vintage place Luanne and Ramona "donated" clothing too, but between you, me, and the woman working the booth, none of the ladies actually gave any clothes and it was all for show - scandalous! lol

Happy Sunday

2010-04-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

Currently detoxing from the weekend. This pics are from Friday just getting off from work, so you can imagine why I have that goofy grin on my face. Might go do yoga now but I'm feeling reaaaaaaalllly lazy. Hope your weekend was as good as mine. :)

Snood Dogg

2010-04-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

Let's see, it's been a week and a half since I last posted something, and the most exciting thing I have to share is that I finally dug into my wallet and bought a Wool and the Gang knitting kit. I'm actually really excited to knit this thing and have it ready for the fall. I'll be making the "Snood Dogg". Cool right? Listen, knitting can be cool too...

And I've been contemplating buying a kit from the Gang for about two years - that's when I first discovered the brand but I felt the kits were too expensive.

But then after knitting this really ugly scarf about a year ago, and realizing how much yarn and knitting needles cost, I discovered that maybe shelling the extra dough for a chic pattern, quality wool yarn, and needles (look at the size of those things!) isn't such a bad idea.

So hopefully in the fall I'll have this amazing post where I'm wearing my amazing Snood Dogg...I'll probably start tonight...wish me luck!

hippie red

2010-04-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

So I've been thinking lately about what my "style" actually is. I read sooo many magazines (I mean literally, reading magazines is like a hobby for me), and the way they classify how people dress such as, "minimalism" and "classic" and "rocker chic!", I'm forced to think about what category I can even put myself into.

Of course, I'm one of the most complex people when it comes to descriptive text, and I've come to the conclusion that my style is...you ready for this?..."hippie minimalist urban chic"...what!? What does that even mean? How can someone be at once a hippie and a minimalist? That doesn't make sense.

Regardless, I try to develop my style with minimal input from my consciously aware self...if that makes sense. I don't consciously seek out clothing - I think certain clothing seeks me out. '

What about you all? Do you make a conscious decision on how you hope to dress, or do you let the fashion winds blow you in whatever sartorial direction they take you?

Weekend Wear

2010-03-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

We've been waiting for warm weekend weather in NY for who-knows-how-long. We've been waiting for this for so long that people were literally out doing nothing. It was great. I spent my Saturday afternoon window shopping, checking out the Apple store (I don't know why it's always fun to go in there) and having lunch at a cafe. Oh, and as you can see above, also had a mini photo shoot outside the Apple store on 5th Ave.

Hope everyone else had a relaxing weekend as well.

Happy 101 Award :)

2010-03-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

The marvelous Jessica at marvelous things. tapped me with the "Happy 101" award. Thank you lovely! ... Soooo, 10 things that make me happy, you say?

1. Reading a great biography or autobiography about an interesting person. My last three reads were about Barack Obama, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and (currently reading) Coco Chanel.

2. Finding a shoe I realllly want in a size 10. None of my sartorial purchases are ever as fulfilling as walking away with a kick-ass shoe that's still available in my size.

3. Quality time with my parents. They're awesome.

4. Chocolate. Too much of a cliche? Don't really care...

5. Snuggle time!!

6. Being completely self-less and helping someone other than myself. It doesn't happen often enough, but when it does, there's no better feeling.

7. Cropped Tops. I don't know what it is. My friends have teased me, fashion experts have declared it's never ok to show your navel, but I just can't help it. I love them!

8. Reality TV. Hi, my name is Amirah, and I'm a reality TV addict....

9. A really happy, funny, laughing baby. Their laughter is contagious. (Of course, they're always cute when they're not yours lol)

10. Self-expression.

I now have the duty to pass this award on to 10 other fabulous bloggers. In no particular order, they are:

1. le pearl

2. Lolita Says So

3. The Starving Stylist

4. Flower Girl

5. Pennycones

6. PinkBow

7. Lemon Butter

8. Dirty Hair Halo

9. Cupcake Trash

10. 1nightstand with fashion

The Logic of My Studded Oxfords

2010-03-14T14:13:00.001-07:00

Let me tell you about these shoes. You know when you make that list of things you want to add to your wardrobe for the new season? For spring mine includes oxfords, a cape a la Chloe, leather shorts...

Most of the time I set myself up for failure...I never find half the things I want to, and if I do, they're way too expensive to justify.

So when I found these oxfords, I became obsessed.

Not too classic, but the rocker vibe is subtle.

I tried to pre-order on Bloomie's website but they didn't have my size. And then I became even more obsessed, until I finally hunted them down in a 10 after 40 minutes of scouring the web.

I'm sooooo excited to have these, but really, my obsession was a little out of hand. I was like a crazy person for 5-7 business days waiting for FedEx to drop these suckers at my door.

There's the theory that consumption is defined by a logic of sign value - in other words, the things we consume are signs of differentiation for us.

So, if I dig deep, I guess I bought these oxfords to demonstrate my rejection of feminine social norms....But in reality I really just got them because they rock.

P.S. These are dolce vita

15 Degrees Celsius

2010-03-09T18:03:00.000-08:00

This post has no other purpose than to marvel in the crazy colorful luxury that is Anna Dello Russo, Fashion Director at Large, Vogue Nippon.

This women literally has an entire apartment (next to her actual apartment in Milan) where she keeps her clothes...It's safe to say her walk-in closet kicks Carrie Bradshaw's closet's ass. Miss Dello Russo also recommends setting temperatures to no more than 15 degrees Celsius to best care for our garbs.

Sounds over-the-top but I'll trust anyone who lists fashion as their religion.

Sartorial craziness. Love it.

Sources: Images (Jak and Jil); Anna Dello Russo Facts (nymag.com)

(brunch) untitled

2010-03-08T19:08:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a great weekend...I did! Two parties (forgot my camera, so no outfit picks) and sunday brunch at Kitchenette in Harlem. Check out those blueberry-cherry pancakes. They tasted as good as they looked.

On a side note I'm loving this blog community. Thanks to everyone who comments/follows/reacts to/peers into this blog.

xoxo

Moment of Silence...

2010-03-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

...for the vintage 80's dress that almost was...mine.

I was the highest bidder on eBay, with 30 minutes left. Until some savvy shopper swooped in at the last minute (literally), making the winning bet, and simultaneously stealing all of the memories I'd already decided I'd have in this dress.

Did I mention purple's my favorite color?

Yea...it was too good to be true.

Reinvention

2010-03-01T17:53:00.000-08:00

Just started reading "Chanel: A Woman of Her Own". Reading about intriguing people with intriguing stories... there's always a lesson to be learned, even if their stories aren't directly applicable to my own life.

I'm only two chapters in and I'm already struck by aspects of Coco Chanel's character that have me thinking...So far I've learned that Chanel completely reinvented her childhood - multiple times. She recounted vastly different memories to friends, authors of her memiors, journalists...And that's only the tip of the iceberg...

So where is the line between reinvention and just plain deception - in fashion? Whenever I make a thought-out, calculated purchase, I think I'm always attempting to reinvent my style. On the other hand, it's the spontaneous buys that stay true to my minimalist style core - that's when I get the plain white tee instead of the sequined cut-off shirt.

But the sequined cut-off is so me too...It's just me on a Saturday night, not me when I'm most comfortable.

Like Coco Chanel, sometimes you dress, not for the kind of life you live, but for the kind of life you imagine...

When reinventing, are we just crafting our style or trying to be something we're not?

The Wanderers

2010-02-24T19:33:00.000-08:00

Vogue US - "The Wanderers".

I rarely like Vogue's editorials in comparison to other more risk-taking magazines, but this one is great. Karlie Kloss is also one of my favorite models. Definitely inspiration for spring that I'll be tucking into my back pocket.

Hot/Cold

2010-02-16T18:38:00.000-08:00

Figures that after 2.5 blizzards I'd finally remember that I have this uber-warm Free People coat that I bought at the end of last winter precisely with the intention of looking hot in freezing blizzards.

Ah well, better late than never.

Lee Alexander McQueen

2010-02-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

To say that fashion will suffer in the absence of Alexander McQueen is an understatement. His death has left a sartorial vacuum and the fashion world will undoubtedly attempt to fill that void. This isn't to say that the clothing he designed won't speak for him after death, nor that his namesake line will not embody some essence of his spirit even at the helm of a new designer. But an influential, wildly creative mind is no longer here - one that would have continued to play with our conception of style (lobster shoes anyone?) for many years to come. So, will there be imitators or will there be inspiration in this sartorial vacuum? Can you even imitate Alexander McQueen (successfully)?