Socks and Sandals

Prada shirt jacket and high-waisted pants, Stella McCartney shoes, socks from elementary school (seriously)

I did it! I said I would and I did!  I wore socks and sandals to work!  It was a Friday, the weather was summer-y, things, people were in a relaxed mood, basically the perfect setting to take some risks at work and get away with them.  Never one to shy away from a challenge, not just any socks would do--only the brightest and greenest ones in my sock drawer would suffice.  I figured the flower print of my Prada "suit" (part of my insane $50 dollar finds at the sample sale) would distract enough from the footwear.  And I think it worked?  I got some compliments and no quizzical looks, so I'm taking it as a victory!  Socks and sandals have prevailed!  I'm living the dream people....;)  Ok time to enjoy this beautiful summer-in-spring weather!

Changing of the Guard

 Marc Jacobs mohair shell, T by Alexander Wang long sleeve shirt, Wyeth by Todd Magill skirt, J. Crew shoes, AP watch

Today is the day.  The last day before I officially switch out the fall/winter closet for the spring/summer one.  It is a momentous occasion.  I just hope it will not be one I regret, like last year when I so anxiously changed out my closet in May only to be mocked and scorned by the coldest and rainiest June in over a century.   Goodbye wools of all types, shapes, and colors!  Goodbye sweet pastel mohair shell!  'Til we meet again....

Olé!

 Chloe satin cropped jacket, Ralph Lauren Blue Label shirt, Fendi skirt, Club Monaco tights, Marc Jacobs shoes, earring from India

Re-purposed clothing is a trend that's undoubtedly growing in popularity:  Lady Gaga famously re-purposed some Kermits, countless street-style blogs evidence the surge of re-purposed vintage clothing, one blogger, the Glamourai, bases her style on it, and model Hyoni Kang has even dedicated a whole boutique to the idea.  Hell, it looks like even the mainstream has caught on during these economically difficult times.  I agree.  Not only is re-purposing a great way to personalize a look, but it's easy on the environment as well--and you can start in your very own closet!  I wanted something to spice up this shirt/ cropped jacket combo, and lo and behold, an earring became a make-shift bolo-tie/brooch and gave the outfit a bit of a spicy matador feeling to it.  With a little imagination, old jewelry, hosiery, undergarments, and plain ol' run-of-the-mill shirts and pants can turn into something entirely new and exotic.  And no one else will have it.

OH and here's a little weekend working girl on elle.com's street chic !

Hodge Podge

 Dries Van Noten blazer and blouse, Rag & Bone pants, Rochas shoes

Versatility is the hallmark of any good wardrobe.  This is especially true of any good work wardrobe, as being able to sleepily grab things out of your closet and still look put together is essential.  Having strong pieces that are easy to mix and match is key.  Except for the blouse, each of the pieces in this outfit has already been featured on the blog, here, here, and here ( and soon enough, the blouse will also be featured, though on other blogs, as I was the victim of a couple street-style blog shootings this past weekend while wearing it in a slightly different iteration!).  Because of their versatility, these pieces easily combine into an outfit completely different than the ones in their original posts.  At their core, these are very simple basics of any wardrobe--color and shape-wise.  In fat, I think you can classify all these as neutrals, albeit a bit more on the saturated end, which only gives them an added level of uniqueness and interest that a plain khaki, blush, or grey wouldn't be able to.   I think that's really something to consider when investing in staples that will be your go-tos week in and week out: do keep you staples in the neutrals, but don't be afraid to play with different shades and saturation points to create a template that really makes a statement about your own personal style, not someone else's.

Sparkle Motion

 

Rodarte skirt, Club Monaco shirt, Ben Sherman blazer, Chloe flats

I tend to really push the business casual/professional/whatever you want to call it dress code in my office on Fridays.  There isn't an official decree of its being a business casual day, but it seems to be the prevailing M.O.  So, this week I tried to inject a little sparkle into my life with one of my fabulous Rodarte sample sale finds.  Although the flash on my point-and-shoot makes the wool-silk blend skirt look more appropriate for a step-and-repeat in NYC rather than a midtown office (ok, I have to admit  I only know "step-and-repeat" because of Jill from Housewives of NYC, isn't she being such a B this season?? So disappointed in her.  But that's another blog altogether...).  In real life, however, the metallic is much more subtle--somewhere between glimmer and shimmer.  To keep the rest of the outfit unquestionably appropriate for the office, I did a take on the classic school uniform (as headmasters intended, not hormonal teenage girls).  As for styling, when I take risks at work, I sometimes like to balance it out by incorporating elements on the verge of dowdy.  For example, in this outfit, I decided to button the top button of my dress shirt.  It's a styling choice I've been doing for  years, but it's even starting to be endorsed by real fashion people, so try it out sometime!  I think it looks best with something a bit non-traditional or louche.  It brings a more casual outfit to attention immediately!

Corporate Snake

 J. Crew jacket, Alexander McQueen dress, Bally shoes, AP watch

Yes, yes more McQueen--what can I say, I'm obsessed!  But this dress, besides being an unfathomably amazing trompe l'oeil, is one of the most comfortable dresses I own (the jersey is divine!).  And a bold print is always a good way to spice up an otherwise horrible day at work and get out of those mid-week doldrums.  At least this week has had a couple of notable fashion highlights:

1.  Rodarte sample sale! Besides a cameo from Andrew from Kell on Earth (which I'm not going to lie, got me more than a tiny bit excited), there were some good (and some cheap) deals to be had.  Couldn't believe that skirts were going for $60-80!  Dresses were decidedly still NOT cheap, but not prohibitively expensive either.  I can now say that I am completely outfitted for my 5th year college reunion, which is...more than a month away.  Wow, I'm pathetic...;)

2.  Barneys Trunk-a-Palooza!  Despite a brief scare at work that I wouldn't be able to make any of it, I sneaked out just in time to catch the tail-end of a veritable menagerie of young, hipper-than-I-could-ever-dream-to-be designers  (also just in time grab one of the last mini-bottles of champagne)!  Being the super-nerd that I am, I was unbelievably jazzed to meet Richard Chai, Alexander Wang, and the Shipley &Halmos duo, order some great fall pieces, and let an awful amount of  fawning drivel escape from my mouth. Opposite of cool.  But I couldn't help it, I really enjoy all their work so much (especially Chai and Shipley & Halmos, but I can't deny that Wang's basics are a total staple in my wardrobe).  I was also pleasantly surprised that all the designers were so genuinely sweet and totally unfazed by my embarrassing gushing.   It made me love them even more!  Even got a couple of freebies on the way (an awesome Richard Chai LOVE scarf and a cool print from Shipley & Halmos).  Not too shabby.

Busy as a Bee

 "Vintage" top from Mom, Marc by Marc Jacobs skirt, j. Crew belt, Stuart Weitzman shoes

The concept of vintage shopping is one I'm not entirely comfortable with, unless, of course, the vintage comes from my own closet (or from my  family's).  I love the idea and love the look on so many people, but for some reason, I just haven't had that much luck with vintage clothing, no matter what part of the country I've looked for it.  To wit, I went to law school in Nashville--which is something of a vintage mecca (seriously, the things you can find for next-to-nothing are ridiculous)--but somehow managed to emerge with barely a handful of vintage clothing items.  What is wrong with me??  Why don't these things work??! Something that can look so unique and cool on someone else just looks like a costume on me.  And now I've to embrace yet another hurdle--albeit a psychological one--'90s vintage.  I still OWN and WEAR clothes from the 90s.   I don't know if I'm ready to see things from my closet as a portal to another time--I totally remember that time! Ah well, I think I'll survive.  There is much to be said for buying special new clothes to pour your own stories into.  I have a tendency to hold on to things (literally and figuratively), so making my own vintage will probably have to do for now.

Raising the Bar

 Chloe jacket, Brooks Brothers non-iron slim fit shirt, Alexander Wang pants, Coach flats

This is my "I'm SO over April" look.  Seriously, what's the deal with this month?  It needs to be over NOW.  And March had me thinking such promising things! This cropped jacket/bolero makes me think of happier times though.  It was my first sample sale purchase ever, and it was on the day I found out about bar results.  After much hullabaloo with overtaxed computer servers (like really NY State Board of Law Examiners?  Is it a surprise to you that all the people who took the bar exam will be trying to get their results the day of?), the Chloe sample sale was my very much deserved reward (and a belated birthday present)!  Which was promptly followed by more reward in the form of many fish-bowl margaritas at Chevy's in Times Square (we keep it high-class).  Which was then followed by serious and prolonged levels of anxiety about the economy falling and crashing all around us.  But nevermind, that day was marvelous.

So Hard to Shoes

 Rochas shoes, BCBG skirt, Ralph Lauren Blue Label lavender shirt, J. Crew cashmere "sweatshirt" sweater, pearl necklace from Vietnam street market

Does anyone else agree that shoes are overrated?  This is probably some weird idiosyncrasy on my part, as the female shoe fetish has been widely documented in pop culture and beyond, but they really don't do that much for me.  That is not to say I don't get all verklempt when I come across a pair of genuinely amazing and fierce shoes.  But the disappointment that is inevitably to follow tempers the whole affair for me.  The entire exercise becomes something wrought with too much longing, frustration, and loss.  I WANT the 6-inch heels with feathers and spikes and sequins. I GET the sensible 2 inch heels/flats in a classic but altogether uninteresting shape because I can actually walk in them.  Yet all the while I pine and yearn to adorn my feet with the latest and greatest arts and crafts project gone-so-wrong-but-so-right.  All this is made even more difficult by my stupidly narrow feet, which make finding even comfortable shoes impossibly difficult (especially in the summer--strappy shoes?  fugetaboutit).  On top of that, since moving to New York, shoes have become all business all the time.  The only fantasy that exists is the one where I fall onto the subway tracks to be run over and gnawed on by rats because of my super-cute, super-high, and completely impractical heels.  Sigh, I am already on the verge of a panic attack.  Every now and then I do get lucky and let my defenses down enough to fall in love.  These Rochas peep-toe oxford platforms are my latest fling.  Part oxford, part ballet slipper, part sneaker, all amazingness.  You will be seeing a lot of these this summer.  I can't wait to wear them with a full skirt!

Casual Friday

 Alexander McQueen shirt and houndstooth vest, J. Crew jeans, Marc by Marc Jacobs boots

Today I got up, it was cloudy and rain was imminent, so I said F-it, I'm wearing jeans to work.  And, as you can all see, this is what I did.  Caution, meet the wind.  The slightly depressing and gray weather did, on the bright side, give me the opportunity to break out one of my latest bargains that would have otherwise been relegated to under-bed storage for the summer with nary a wear to its name.  I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Gilt Groupe.  The reasons to love are obvious: convenient, easy, fast shipping, adrenaline-inducing, (usually) a good selection.  The reasons to hate are equally so:  overpriced, incorrect/misleading pricing, stale merchandise you could have gotten cheaper at a department store/boutique end-of-season sale, etc.  If you aren't REALLY well-versed in the designer you're browsing on Gilt, there is an extremely high probability you will be getting, how do you say, "ripped off."  Luckily, my instincts guided me well at Gilt's last McQueen sale where I picked up this vest for $69 (actually less thanks to a credit)!  As with any shopping fanatic, the more I can get off an item, the more satisfaction I derive from it, so the fact that the retail price listed on Gilt was only $270 did not quite give me the dopamine rush I had been hoping for.   75% is good, but nowhere near my best numbers (that would be this Prada skirt I got for $50 down from $3200).  But, it was McQueen...and super cheap..oh AND cute!  And when the vest promptly arrived, I was so very pleased to find the original price tag with a retail of $655!   Those are more like the numbers I like to see! Anything in the 85%+ off range makes me feel like I've accomplished something great with my day.  Is that crazy?  Actually, don't answer that...

Military Time

Rag & Bone pants, Brooks Brothers french-cuff dress shirt, Katayone Adeli lace shirt, Stuart Weitzman shoes

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical of Rag & Bone at first.  I understood where they were coming from aesthetically, but thought it was just a big Y-A-W-N.  Recently though, designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville have really stepped it up for the 2010 seasons by spicing up their basics with military touches and creative layering (J. Crew are you listening? This is layering done right).    On top of that, I am a big proponent of the whole military/utilitarian trend and think it's a great option for office (as long as you stay away from the bohemian flower child styling that seems to be a prevalent choice).  Instead,  I would keep the coordinates feminine (lace, sheer, soft, pretty colors) but sharp and not too frothy (i.e., clean and conservative lines).  This particular pair of pants is actually my first ever Rag & Bone purchase, but I am already a full-fledged convert.  Although they were shown worn considerably larger and slouchier on the runway (see below), I preferred a tighter fit as a more versatile option.  I really can't wait for the A/W 2010 line to come out--it was one of my favorite shows of the season!  And wouldn't you know it, Barneys is having a big party "trunk-a-palooza" blow out April 21 featuring fall collections from Rag & Bone, Shipley & Halmos, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, among others.  Suffice it to say, it's on my calendar.

 

                                   S/S 2010                                                              A/W 2010

(Photos via Style.com)

Easy Does It

Marc by Marc Jacobs jacket and blouse, "Vintage" Guess pants from high school, Lanvin flats

Being comfortable at work is really one of the top considerations in creating a work outfit for me.  You're sitting at a desk for at least 8, 9, 10 hours a day, and, not too long after joining the workforce, you find yourself contemplating whether you could somehow incorporate sweats or pajamas into your ensemble.  I myself have not been able to resist such louche temptations, but we must have more dignity than that!  We must at least choose comfy shapes in fancy, expensive-looking material!  So, this is what I often do.  Look for easy shapes dressed up by a great quality fabric, print, or preferably, both.  Silk pieces are obviously a great shortcut for comfort in the summer--they look expensive and appropriate for work and you'll probably feel even comfier than you do in that ratty old free t-shirt you got for showing up to that random RA theme party in college.

Accessories Report

  Prada sunglasses, Nars lipstick in Funny Face (and obviously not in NYC)
 

Since this blog focuses on officewear, accessories are bound to be neglected to a certain extent. Unless you're the type of person who wears sunglasses indoors or has more bling than they know what to do with (yes that's a preposition at the end of the sentence--damn it all!).  Fortunately, I am not the former and unfortunately, I am not the latter, so accessories will probably remain a bit out of focus.  Of course, this is not to say they will be non-existent.  Every now and then I think I'll try to feature accessories that I incorporate into my working world, even if they don't stay on once I get to the office.  Especially when I find something I just love, like these Prada SS 2010 sunglasses!  I had coveted them since I saw them on the runway, but feared they would be too trendy in real life without the pigtails and palm-tree emblazoned bloomer short-shorts.   I was happy to find that they are just the right balance of fun to add to any outfit and have swiftly gone into heavy rotation.  On top of it all, there are being sold at a terrific price-point (well, for designer sunglasses).  Highly recommended.

Further notes on accessorizing for the work place:  other than an occasional statement necklace or ring, I don't recommend being TOO experimental with accessories at the office.  It's just too easy for jewelry to make you look unprofessional, un-serious, and inappropriate, even with the most conservative and uninteresting outfit.

Some Other Cat Eye Options: 

Luella (at asos.com)

Alexander Wang (at shopbop.com)                          Karen Walker (at shopbop.com

   Lucky Brand (at zappos.com)                              American Eagle (at ae.com)





                                                                                                 

Simple Is as Simple Does

   Dries Van Noten shirt, silk skirt from Gabay's Outlet, Club Monaco necklace, Bally shoes

It's been a hectic week, and sometimes I wish life were as orderly as these pixels...more later....

UPDATE:  So, the reason I wanted to post this shirt is that, being the huge dork I am, I signed up for a class meant for alums of my college entitled "Speaking of Art."  Basically, the mini-course is a broad macro look at art criticism and the philosophy of art. The first week's introductory reading brought the modern quantification of art to the forefront of my thoughts and inspired me pick this Dries Van Noten shirt to wear (well that, and the unusually warm weather in NYC).  I really think this print is brilliantly symbolic of the tension between the modern tendency to quantify as means of determining value and art as something inherently unquantifiable.  This print some how reaches a kind of perfect symbiosis between the two.  It's obvious that the perfectly geometric pixels, perfectly arranged, are a reference to this quantification, but what I think is less obvious is that the process that created this very technical print was actually completely artistic to the core.  Part of an interview I read with Dries detailed the process of creating the print:  the print was first created on the computer and then pixelized into squares.  This is where the art part comes in: unwanted motifs were accidentally created through the pixelizing and inevitably, certain individual pixels needed more or less of of a certain color.  However, changing the color of one pixel would then affect and change all the other colors on the screen.  Ultimately, Dries decided to scan every individual pixel separately in order to orchestrate the color field he wanted for the particular piece.  The content of every pixel was an individual decision guided by artistic license and creativity alone.  Tension, symbiosis, what have you-- it is at the very least an apt metaphor for the complex state of art and art appreciation in a world increasingly ruled by quantified instrumental value.

Easter Tuesday?

 Diane Von Furstenberg dress, Lanvin flats

Pockets!

What can I say?  I'm a girl who can't say no to animal print...

So I know Easter was last weekend, but who says that Easter brights need to become as elusive as the Easter bunny once the holiday is over?  Since I was out of the office in a slightly more casual environment today,  I broke out one of my favorite spring dresses that could give any Easter egg a run for its money.  The classic shirtdress is a must-have in any working girl's wardrobe, and of course, Diane Von Furstenberg is the undisputed master of them.  I love this dress in particular because I haven't seen many shirtdresses in stripes, let alone such vibrant ones.  Lanvin flats are also a must-have in my book-- they are probably the most comfy cute flats I've come across so far, largely due to a hidden platform that gives your arches some support (and your legs a little lift!).  Grosgain ribbon, jewels, python, prints--you name it, Lanvin does it.  Who knew flats could be the thing to add that bit of  je ne sais quoi to an outfit?  Ah, Parisian chic at its finest (and most practical)!

Urban Jungle

J. Crew jacket and black shirt, Old Navy khaki linen shirt, Uniqlo cropped pants, Bally shoes

      Dries Van Noten bag, AP watch

With all the ooh-ing and aaaah-ing over J. Crew by the fashion crowd recently (see one example of the latest gushing at Fashionista here), I have found myself distancing myself from the store/brand that was my go-to for the last few years.  Maybe it's my anti-majoritarian tendencies.  Maybe I liked J. Crew when it was less cool and still emerging as a preppy-stylish competitor to Ralph Lauren.  Maybe my olive complexion can only handle so many washed out pastels and aches for the brights and patterns of the J. Crew of yesteryear.  Maybe there are just things that have gone wrong under the direction of the so oft-lauded stylist extraordinaire Jenna Lyons:

A [BRIEF] CASE AGAINST J. CREW

1.  Pricing: I am not the only one to notice the price-points of J. Crew steadily inching up with every new catalog that arrives in the mail.  While I do still think that J. Crew pieces are quite decent quality, they are rather basic (no matter how many ruffles you put on a t-shirt) and it is still a mass-market store (i.e., not special in the least bit).  If I want to pay $14000 for something, I would probably go for something like this, rather than this very blah and ill-fitting sequin tank dress (or you could get this awesome Proenza dress for $500 dollars less than the J. Crew).  And don't even get me started on the shoes... The quality and design aesthetic of J. Crew, as cute as it may be, is NOT at the level of high-end designers--nor need it be--and it's prices need to reflect the fact that it is, and will always be, a mall-store.

2.  Styling:  I'm probably going to get a lot of flack from other people about this, as the consensus seems near unanimous about Jenna Lyons' styling prowess, but I am frankly sick and tired of her overstyled everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach to styling.  Maybe piling 20 J. Crew pieces into one outfit is a smart marketing move, not only to get merchandise out the door, but also to try to push J. Crew's image to a more fashion-forward one.  But really, how many dress shirts need to be piled one on top of each other for them to be innovative?  It smacks of a "Emperor's New Clothes" type of situation.  Once all the schizophrenic, caution-to-the-wind styling is pared down, J. Crew has, in my opinion, gotten more boring.   Yet everyone is happy to hop onto the Lyons bandwagon.  How many pastel t-shirts with ruffles do we need?  How many sparkly necklaces? How many pieces devoid of all humor?  One of the things I used to really love about J. Crew that, in its embrace of American WASP sensibilities, it had fun with color and print every season.  It was whimsical and, at worst, too prep-school or New England-y.  It had an identity.  Now it just looks like any other mid-range wannabe street-fashion brand...which brings me to...

3. Identity Crisis: Not to be repetitive, but J. Crew, after it's weird Banana Republic/bohemian phase in the late 90s, had successfully [re]branded itself as a reliable purveyor of Americana sportswear in the vein of Ralph Lauren.  While it still retains some of the basic elements of this preppy style, its identity seems to have weakened under the influence of Ms. Lyons.  Before, J. Crew represented not just one type of  look, but different facets of a lifestyle.  Now, the image I am starting to associate with J. Crew  is one of a one-dimensional, shallow girl (note even woman) with no context.  Just a girl who has to do errands or go to work.  Even when pictured in far-flung exotic locations, there doesn't seem to be much story behind the different collections, just a hodge-podge of current trends layered one on top of the other.  It seems like there really isn't a direction at J. Crew except to create mini-Jennas.  There is no lifestyle they are selling.  Not only is that damaging to the brand in the long-run, but it makes for some very one-dimensional, flat clothing.  It just leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.  I don't want a company that sells clothes so I can look like some other person.  I want to shop somewhere that lets me create the characters for myself.

4. Menswear:  I have less of an issue with menswear than the womenswear.  My only real complaint is that it is starting to suffer from the same one-dimensionality that afflicts the womenswear line.  It is fine and even necessary for them to incorporate the new rugged outdoors-y trends that are so hot in menswear right now, but I think they should add a bit of diversity to also incorporate more polished looks and not just crutch on streetstyle.