Last Hurrah

 Brooks Brothers shirt, J. Crew sweater, Erdem skirt, Ferragamo shoes

I don't know if anyone else is feeling it, but the suddenly cooler nights are a pretty clear indication that summer is....shhhh!!!......over.  All those cheery brights and florals don't seem as fresh and lively as they did just a couple weeks ago.  Not that I'm ready to give it all up quite yet (that would totally throw a serious wrench into my NYFW plans), but I think it's an appropriate to celebrate and thank them for all the hard work they've put in over the last few months.  When it comes to florals (and beautiful clothes that are appropriate for everyone woman and/or man), no one does it better than Erdem, so my celebration rightfully starts with him.  I absolutely love how his floral arrangements don't venture into the cloying or overly saccharine territory.  Just perfectly sophisticated with the right amount of whimsy that would make even the biggest non-believer in obvious beauty a convert.  In that spirit, enjoy these last weeks of Indian summer and wear the hell out of your summer favorites!

Where the Sun Always Shines

For some reason contrary to popular perception, it's never rained the several times I've been to Seattle and/or the Vancouver area.  Snow once, yes.  But considering the regions's reputation for drizzly weather, I think it's safe to say I'm lucky.  This particular trip I took the bf for the first time, so instead of hanging out in my pyjamas at my parents' house, we hung out in pyjamas and took in some sights: Stanley Park, Granville Island, Crescent Beach, the Peace Arch, downtown Vancouver, and a few others in BC.  Mount Baker (snow and shorts is a combination I will never stop marveling at), Pike Market, the Experience Music Project (Nirvana exhibit!!!), Lake Washington, and the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle/Washington.  After my fill of delicious food and wonderful scenery, it was hard to leave.  I completely recommend it for the outdoors fan who still craves a bit of civilization.  In particular, if you are a rock music fan, the Experience Music Project is a dream come true.  Athough the current major exhibit focuses on Nirvana (the 20th anniversary of Nevermind is coming up on September 24th), Krist Noveselic and company did a great deal of broadening the subject matter and making it a real insider's take on the history of punk music and the underground scene that brought Nirvana to the mainstream (thankfully!).  There are literally hours of interviews and music worth listening to.  What impressed me the most is that there is a whole section devoted to "jam rooms" where visitors can have 10min at a time (at least) to jam out on the guitar, bass and drums (and even record it!).  It made me think there might be hope for the younger generation yet.  Since it was a pretty chill trip, I tried to keep the fashion on the cas side, but thought it might be fun to do a little roundup of the sights and scenes.

Alexander Wang cardigan, Ralph Lauren button-up, J. Crew t-shirt, Marc by Marc Jacobs jeans, Converse sneakers

More pics after the jump!

New Slang

Street style as authentic as it gets--on the street!  

J. Crew T-Shirt, Jasmin Shokrian tank, Acne shorts, Proenza Schouler shoes, Celine bag, Prada sunglasses

I was having a hard time articulating what seems to have changed recently in my approach to style.  No, it was not just a change in careers that seems to have gotten my freewheeling, "anything goes" nature...going.  But, after reading Will Welch's piece in GQ about the inevitable death of street style, it looks like I've found a voice for the feeling.  A brief overview of the article:  basically, Welch argues that street style has become too contrived to be inspirational; that the exact reason street style was so appealing (the naturalness, the spontaneity) has given way to the same kind of stodgy, unrealistic aesthetic standard that the Old Guard carries, and which seems burdensome in current times (ok I may have embellished his words with some of my own, but that's basically the gist of it).  One prescient commenter (yes, there is such a thing! ;) on nymag.com also noted the lemming effect of street style--it's increasingly not about individuality but about solidifying street style stars.  I'm not sure if I'd go as far as to condemn the whole kit and kaboodle (I think there's still a lot of great inspiration amidst the increasing contrivance), but there is more than a grain of truth to the article; and, I think I've been unconsciously railing against that very same realization.  Looking at pictures from my recent trip to the Pacific Northwest (errr and Southwest Canada), I couldn't help but notice what seems to be a very deliberate, yet unwitting desire to just throw an outfit together.  Not to look sloppy or unkempt, but to just actually not think about it.  The net effect:  I took 3 pairs of jeans (only wore 2 of them), lace short/leggings, one dress, and one pair of shorts for a 9 day trip where I actually left the house.  And I didn't self-immolate!   At least my bank account might appreciate this new turn of direction...

More vacation pics of me "grunging" it up in Seattle and Vancouver in the next post! xx

Summer Vacation!

 Dries Van Noten shirt, Acne shorts, Proenza Schouler shoes 

The daydreaming is over.  Summer vacation starts NOW.  All apologies to the commenter who gave praise earlier for not being a blogger who indulges in the pan-blog Acne obsession.  In my defense, the shorts are my first Acne piece!  And they were only $45 on the Outnet.  Once again, the big short obsession trumps all.  :)

See you in a few!

The Long and the Short of It

 Gant men's sweater, Ralph Lauren Blue Label button down, Dries Van Noten pants

 HA!  You probably thought I was already on vacation didn't you?  No, that was just standard pre-vacation anticipation (laziness).  I will take this opportunity (before I actually do go on vacation imminently), however, to talk about alternative bottoms.  This may just be a logical extension of my infatuation with big shorts; but, I also am always on the lookout for bottoms that are not quite pant, not quite short, not quite skirt, yet still completely workable on the conservative side of the conservative- to-crazy spectrum.  Wearing a non-conventional piece of clothing may be an easy way to make an outfit "interesting", but why demean legitimate experimentation that way? I prefer to look at it not as a cop-out, but as legitimate moment of liberation from everyday conventions (that won't land you in jail).  I've worn these lovely Dries shants (ew no), ports?, no, cropped salwars before and given their motherland heritage its due, but I think their inherent hybrid nature also deserves some recognition.  So, not-quite-anything bottoms, we salute you.