Category Archives: fashion

postcard from nyfw: fashion vs. style

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Am I the only person wondering what the fug is happening at the J.Crew NYFW presentation today? Purple culottes, yellow fur and a suit/jumpsuit/snuggie aberration that defies all rational thought. No. Just no.

Fashion vs. style, friends. I say it all the time, but if this doesn’t bring it home, I can’t imagine what will. I’m all about fashion as art – the design, the eccentricity, the sheer creative genius of it all. But loving a portrait by Picasso doesn’t mean I need to have my ear surgically relocated to my lower cheek.

The next time a designer or a model or a magazine or a blogger tells you something should be in your closet, just take a moment. Think about whether you love the art of that “something”, or whether you love how it would actually make you feel in the real world. Think about what you wear that actually makes you look and feel your absolute best, that makes you feel the most you. Does that “something” fit the bill?

I’m not saying we shouldn’t ever try new things. I swore I’d never venture into skinny jeans, but here we are three years later and I have a closet full of them. I’ve found cuts I love, and ways to wear them that make me feel sophisticated and stylish. Pencil skirts, on the other hand? I have a closet full of those too…but no matter how many magazine editorials tell me they’re sexy, I never feel anything but chubby and self-conscious when I wear them. So, I finally started buying A-line skirts, and it was a revelation.

There’s a reason we all love that French girl style, and more often than not, it’s because they know better than to succumb to every fad that comes their way. Find your style, be true to it, and if a trend happens to pique your interest, dip your toe in. But also, feel absolutely free to walk on by.

 

|   A FEW STYLE CLASSICS THAT CAN’T MISS   |

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a sartorial pickle (also, welcome back!)

Friends, I’m back! I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer, whatever you’ve been up to. My break wasn’t quite as meditative and relaxing as I might have hoped, but the work I got done made me feel more productive and happy than I’ve been in ages. One sweet client is in the process of opening a brand new store, another revamped her entire online presence, and I got to roll up my sleeves and help them make those dreams a reality. Not a bad way to spend the summer, if you ask me.

I also took a little trip to Portland, which I’ll be telling you all about before long. I’ve missed the Rose City so very much, and spending a few days traipsing around old haunts was just what the doctor ordered.

Despite the fact that 80-degree temperatures just won’t quit in CA, I’m also intent on rebuilding my wardrobe for fall. But I’m in one of those phases when every single thing in my closet just bores me to tears. Do you ever have those seasons? Read on

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pleased to meet: laidback summer style from lou & grey

Friends, it is hot as a bucket of beans in San Francisco this week. How are things where you are? To say I don’t do well in warmer climes would be, well, the world’s most hilarious understatement.

The biggest problem with the mercury hitting 90, of course, is that it’s too hot to drink my summer wardrobe is nowhere near ready. Remember, I’m still doing my “how to dress like a French girl” experiment! And blazers + scorching temperatures are not exactly a match made in heaven.

So, when I got a note from LOFT introducing me to their newest creation, Lou & Grey, I was, shall we say, ready for love. Really, does it get more summer-perfect than this? Read on

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the how-to: bundle up in style

When one of you (hi, Amy!) suggested that I talk a little about bundling up for winter, I got pretty excited. The truth is, winter is my season! While I hate the cold, I absolutely adore cold weather style. So, today I thought I’d dispense a few of my favorite tips for staying chic no matter the weather. Read on

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friends & family: shopbop and saks

Friends, I know. It’s temptation central around here this week. But Shopbop Friends & Family and Saks Friends & Family? You’d never have forgiven me if I didn’t tell you about it. Both are offering 25% off SITEWIDE (with the usual exclusions), and my guess is you either (a) hadn’t heard but really needed to know, or (b) had heard, and have frantically been clicking back and forth between the two sites, figuring out what to buy and where to buy it. Or is that just me?

What to do? Buy the piece that won’t go on sale in 3 weeks. That Vince cardigan you’ve been eyeing. The Rachel Comey boots you’ve wanted since last fall. Denim. You get the idea. Oh, and buy things that are already on sale…an extra 25% off is always a good incentive. Need a few suggestions? Read on

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what i’m wearing: shades of grey

Until fall’s in full swing, I’m doing my best to straddle the seasons by adding a few doses of grey to my usual warm-weather wardrobe. Dark charcoal feels like a bit much while the sun’s still beating down on me, but paler shades are the perfect transitional hue. Plus, they play as well with pastels as they do with black, so they’re worthy investments that will see you through the coming months in plenty of style.

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Read on

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weekend forecast

Since it’s fall, and we can all use a little shake-up now and then, I thought I’d experiment with a little change to our usual Friday Finds routine…are you up for it? I always have the grandest plans for what I want to do every weekend. Then I end up running errands, cleaning the house and watching bad television. Ah, married life. But the point is that I start with big plans.

Here’s what my fictional weekend looks like so far: Read on

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asked and answered: what to wear with leather?

Yay, reader question! Being answered in a timely fashion! I’m pretty proud of myself. Amy asked such a great question over the weekend, I had no choice but to answer straightaway:

All the leather out there reminds me of my unresolved question from last fall: how do you match leather tops/skirts to boots? Do we avoid leather boots completely? Do the boots need to match the color of the leather top/jacket/skirt? If not boots, then what kind of footwear, especially in the colder months? Thanks! ~ Amy

Amy, you’re so not the only one wondering about this. Matching leather is a hurdle it took me years to master – and finally, I realized I was worrying too much (as usual). In general, the only rules I stick to are these: Read on

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