These are a few of my favorite things (clothing-wise, anyway)

With apologies to Julie Andrews, Rogers and Hammerstein....

When the alarm sounds, when the time's short, when I'm feeling sad(ly confused about what to wear), I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad(ly dressed)...

Big belts: my go-to solution to pull an outfit together.. Literally. I have a few big belts now: a couple obi styled ones (Kaj Ani, who was waaayy ahead of Marc Jacobs' obis for Louis Vuitton, and another suede one I picked up in the young designer's market on Elizabeth St.. Plus a great big black one from Ter et Bantine that is made out of quite thick, stiff leather, so I wear that one when I'm feeling thin and want good posture. I have another black one, but elastic, from Hache (when I'm feeling not as thin, or have more layers to deal with). I saw some black elastic belts at American Apparel, if you want to get one at a low cost. I talked my friend Maria into getting one in Miami. (Hope you like it, Maria!) And I added a dove gray one this year from Hache that looks really good with springier floaty layers. I wear them with everything - over cardigans with jeans so I don't look too much like I'm dressed for doing laundry, and to give blousy, volume-y dresses a slimmer silhouette, or to convert a dress into a tunic by hiking it up and draping it around the belt. Even my ski jacket has a belt. When I like something, I like something.. what can I say? Plus, it makes your waist look smaller. Or maybe it just stops you from eating much. But that also makes your waist look smaller..


High heels: pretty self explanatory this one, so will leave it short except to state the obvious: high heels make pretty much every outfit look better. As a side benefit, I also think that they are better for you than flats. I am currently working on my theory that high heels provide essential health benefits, along with hot peppers and alcohol. The experiments are going well, but inconclusive so far, so I will need to continue this study. Volunteers are welcome to join. I'm getting a little tired of big platforms, though. I like a little heft to some shoes - and a bit of platform does further distance your feet from city sidewalks, but the row of $800 stripper shoes (SALE PRICE!!) that I saw at Bergdorf Goodman and Saks just leaves me cold. Then again, maybe my eye/brain connection is a little bit off. I walked by a bakery this evening and saw that one of the giant cookies on display had I. O. U. in icing. Strange sentiment for a cookie, but one never knows nowadays... (it was I *heart* U, I realized later).


Jumpsuits: I don't agree with the "rule" that you shouldn't wear a style if you wore if the first time. Okay, some trends should never return, and I'm not going to wear pre-teen clothes again, but I felt incredibly cool and fashion forward when I wore my jumpsuit the first time around and I am enjoying their return. My friend Ann wrote about her experience with harem pants in New York and Paris (she stayed with me in NY and looked super cute and stylish in them!) and I think jumpsuits can be a bit similar. Some are definitely easier to wear than others. They are a strong statement - the look is very different from the low-rise skinny jeans that are still the current uniform - and fit is key. I have three now - I've worn the Sue Elen one a few times, it's easy as it's sort of a "cool girl casual" skinny cut. I just wore the long sleeved blouse/shorts jumpsuit, but haven't yet gone out in the harem-pants/plunge neckline yet (the last two both Ter et Bantine). But I'm looking forward to it!!


Structure: I guess this is sort of related to big belts, in terms of pulling things together. On hot summer days, especially on the beach, I do definitely like floaty and loose, but most of the time for work or going out, I prefer looking like I'm not an amorphous blob. And the nice thing about structured clothes is that you can hide some amorphous blobbiness if you wear something that's cut well. And I just think those clothes are beautiful. I'm not going to lie and say they're the most comfortable, but they do look good. And just think of the beautiful relief you'll feel when you're out of them! (same goes for heels, really, and big belts!) This dress is my Bottega Veneta sale find, by the way. Think it's appropriate for a wedding? It's not a good photo, but maybe you can see how it's constructed...?


I have more wardrobe favorites: boots, scarves, cardigans, the right jacket, shirtdresses, and layered necklaces, but I'll leave those for another time... How about you, stylish readers?

Souk-a-Matic

Sometimes I think of things to write when something strikes me and sometimes I just take the ideas that you all give me (like Lederhosen for women - thanks Janice!). My friend Aina asked me if I would write something on on-line shopping. This topic required some creative thinking about what angle I'd take since I don't really shop on-line, having got a little burned with some purchases in the past. (cue flashback...)

A few years ago, I fell for a metal belt by Valentino in the shape of a snake. I think I had this great idea of a waist-cinching belt that was a little Greek goddess, a little Goth, and a little Art Nouveau and that would pull in blousy tops over jeans and be both tough and pretty. Sadly, as with most things, the reality was a bit different from the fantasy and it didn't fit well (cast metal isn't flexible), was droopy (cast metal is heavy), and just didn't work with anything I owned (cast metal is weird). Luckily, they took it back.

After that, online clothing shopping lost a bit of its appeal for me.. The only things I have bought in the past year are a basic black cotton turtleneck (yawn), iTunes and Amazon downloads, some nice laundry products (double yawn), a suitcase, a PS2 game for my nephew, and food from freshdirect for a friend's baby shower party.. That's about it.

But it's not just once bitten, twice shy.. I like walking to a store, talking to people there, trying things on, getting a good sense of how something feels, fits, and works with what I have... Maybe that's why it always seems so appealing to shop when I'm traveling. The object I buy comes with a story and the interactive social experience of talking to salespeople and other shoppers and picking that thing (or things) out of everything else in the shop. Yes, there's a risk that I'm getting ripped off. I know I overpaid for my rugs and the "saffron" my sister and I bought in the souk in Morocco, but it was fun, we drank a lot of mint tea, and came back with some new stories to tell when we got home. And I didn't even have to carry the heavy rugs I bought as the chivalrous gentlemen who sold us our rugs made Megan carry mine as well as hers, as I had a broken wrist. Sorry Megan!

And if I'm not traveling, but am wandering around home in New York (aka shopper's paradise), I feel like I want a barrier to stop me from going into all the amazing boutiques rather than another means of access!!

A number of my friends have had much more luck than I have. My friend Annabel in London got a gorgeous dress from Net-a-porter and Ann (who wrote a comment on this blog about her experience with harem pants this spring) finds great stuff - and great deals through on-line shops. I have other friends who have a great eye (and success) on eBay, too.

I read in this week's FT "How to Spend It" magazine about on-line vintage shopping and thought this could be something I'd like. Like fishermen, many of us have our "great catch" stories of what we found in little hole in the wall vintage shops. (Mine are a 1970's Diane von Fuersternberg jersey dress and 1980's Ungaro blouse, both for peanuts.) But, to be honest, I didn't enjoy breathing in all that dust (those shops always felt a little dirty to me) and always felt like I needed to sanitize anything I bought.

Vintage now seems to have gone upscale with all the editing (and hopefully cleaning) already done for you. It's like looking at the Met's Costume Gallery - only it's all for sale! But, as I learned, if it looks like a collector piece, it's priced like a collector piece. The sites mentioned in the FT article had some amazing 100+ year old clothes. And, if one of them had actual online shopping and not just teaser photos with a London phone number, a gorgeous slinky 1940's cocktail dress would be mine. But then, for a different reason, another dress caught my eye: a 1970's floral dress from Montaldo's, an old school, and quite expensive shop that used to be in Winston-Salem, NC (and some other mid-sized US cities in the south and southwest). The dress was sweet, but what really grabbed my attention was the price - GBP 475, or $760. Maybe I'm missing something, but that's for used clothes, right? And this isn't exactly vintage Lanvin. That can't be right! I bet it had been donated to the Jr League Rummage Sale! Anyhow, it killed my desire to buy the 1940's dress online. Maybe, when I'm next in London, I'll stop by and check out the shop in person. Even though you'd think there would be more information and more transparency in on-line shopping, I feel about as easy a mark as I did in Marrakech.



























Nothing in this photo was bought online, but my dress is the vintage DVF and the carpet is one of the two that Megan generously carried for me through the souk.

And Megan, I owe you again because I'm pretty sure the souk photo (main photo) I used is one you took.
As you can see from the photo directly above, I'm not a photographer (or a model).

Ephemeral, Dangerous, and Unfair

One of the things that I like best about writing this blog is that you all will often write back what you think. And often you'll write me first! Since this blog is sort of loosely structured around style, I'll throw some discussions into the mix of stories, photos, and designs that catch my eye. I really do love getting your comments - so let me know what you're thinking about!

My friend Doreen recently sent me a link to a website and short film, "the story of stuff" , which highlights the downside of a consumer-driven society. As you might guess, I'm conflicted on this one. I love fashion, and fashion is ephemeral, dangerous, and unfair (one of my favorite Karl Lagerfeld quotes) so to be fashionable would seem to require constant purchases to try to keep up with a fleeting moment. But that can put you on a crazy treadmill where you are constantly upgrading and updating and feel that you look shabby if you don't have the most recent designer everything. That's a way to empty your wallet very quickly! At the same time, I personally think buying cheap is an even worse thing to do as you're adding even more "stuff" - and (I know I'm generalizing, but...) typically, it's badly made of shoddy materials, based on a knocked off design and probably made in a sweat shop somewhere. For me, right now, I'm trying not to buy anything at all rather than to buy crap. My closets are so full, there's no reason for me to buy crap - or good stuff, for that matter. Then again, what role does reason have in aesthetics? I think it might be a cameo role; I'm pretty sure it's not the lead.

I did have one little victory in my effort not to buy stuff. I had seen a pair of Christian Louboutin nude heels in Vogue and immediately decided I wanted them and would head off to the Meatpacking store and buy them. They looked great and would go really well with so many things I have. But then I thought for a minute and realized: spending $900 on a pair of shoes I'd wear to work (to work!!!) was not going to get me to my goal of building up cash and keeping down credit card debt. I took a look in my own closet and found a pair of shoes (Manolo's, so really not too shabby) that are somewhat similar in style and color and that I'd worn a couple of times and (embarrassingly) forgotten I had. They're not exactly the same as what I was excited about buying, but hey - that's $900 in my bank and a box-shaped amount of space not taken up in my closet! And they're great shoes!

I think the desire to acquire stuff is largely psychological. As another friend pointed out to me (quite correctly), I buy a lot of the stuff I do partly because of my job. I'm not talking about investing in professional-looking clothes, I'm covered on that front. I'm talking about shopping to make myself feel better. It's not that I feel unhappy, but if I'm spending most of my waking hours at a job, no matter how pleasant and engaging it may be, shopping becomes appealing as a creative outlet, a stress valve, and a distraction. And I think it does make a difference in my mood and general happiness up to a point, but after that, it's just surplus.

I'm not advocating not buying anything and I'm definitely not "anti stuff" (you all would justifiably laugh in my face if I tried to claim that!). Industries and jobs and a rising standard of living depend on consumption and I also happen to think that aesthetics are very important. I want to look good - and I want other people to look good too, as there are zillions of people in New York and it's much more pleasant when the crowds are good looking.. The goal for me is trying to avoid that "surplus" buying, beyond what I'm excited about. I'm also trying to shop strategically, using my purchases to support designers and stores I like. I hope this doesn't come across as preachy - it's a subject that I'm really trying to think through for myself and thought I'd share it here, in case any of you were also interested.

On a different topic, I'm trying to use my own photos more, but seem to have maxed out the photo editing capabilities of Picasa. I guess it takes a lot to make my amateur photos look good! I've got a couple more clothing themed blogs written and waiting for me to get the pictures right. So please bear with me as I try to figure that all out!

Mix and Match

I thought I'd do something a little different this time since my last few blogs have had more words than pictures and been more broadly about style. This time I thought I'd be a little more specific and a bit more personal.

I've mentioned before that wearing something that I like really does affect my mood and can cheer me up as I'm getting dressed for work. (I may also have mentioned before that I get dressed for work at the ungodly hour between 5-6am, so cheering myself up is no mean feat!) I get a kick out of mixing things up like you'd think they weren't supposed to be (such as wearing two different tweed patterns together), or repeating a pattern (like the green circle pendant with the jacket that has green circles on it, or the iguana maryjanes with fishnet hose), or really layering it on (multiple necklaces and brooches) to offset a men's style suit. (I took the jacket off in the photo.)

Now here's the other thing I'm doing differently this time... I know that all of you reading this are very stylish - I'd love to hear your thoughts! Is there anything you like as your personal style? Or, maybe something that you like on someone else, or like from magazines and want to wear? Other things I like to wear - or are looking forward to wearing are big belts, jumpuits, and really high heels, and I'm trying to figure out how I'll approach the return of the shoulder.. What about you? Love them? Hate them? I'll post your photos if you want to send them to me :)

Dress me!

My apartment is looking like a hurricane hit it. The last two bags of winter clothes headed to the dry cleaner for the season are by the door, sweaters are in piles waiting to be cleaned or put away, and there's an explosion of summer clothes that I've moved from the back of my closet but can't fit into the front since warmer clothes are still there. With temperatures ranging from the 40s to upper 80s this week, I'm confused: What season is this??

When I look through it all and try, unsuccessfully, to shove a few more hangers' worth into my closet, I get so frustrated I give up, and look instead for some new place to start a pile. This chaos has shut down my wardrobe creativity. I've forgotten how to dress for this season, so just go for the easy and obvious (and boringly safe). It happens each time the weather changes - suddenly the clothes I'd become so comfortable and familiar with and could mix up in a way I liked without even really thinking about it are gone and here are all these new guys that I need to get to know again. I have purged my closet pretty aggressively (I wrote about that in Closet Bulimia a few months ago), so this is all stuff I want. But I'm overwhelmed. I need a weekend to get reacquainted and see what works now. Some pieces I will probably wear the same way I wore them last year, but some looks won't work anymore since new styles and trends have affected my eye.

I know this could seem like a trivial point of discussion, but if you view your wardrobe as a personal form of design and as an expression of your mood and personality (as I do and as I know a lot of my friends do), it matters. A bad outfit might not ruin my day, but it can certainly get me started off on the wrong foot (or shoe).

I'll work it all out - these are all items that I've picked out and spent money on, after all. But my inclination to play it safe when overwhelmed makes me realize how helpful it is to have the help of an objective eye. I am really lucky to have friends who are fashionable - and some, like Jane, who work in fashion - and who can push me to be more adventurous and try new shapes or pick one piece that will bring new life to a 5 year old suit (which Jane did!). I do almost all my shopping with friends now and they have helped me define my own style much more than I could have on my own, as contradictory as that sounds.

I was interested to see that a lot of the hooplah around the introduction of Top Shop into New York focused on the staff, who are meant to function as stylists. I haven't been to the New York Top Shop, but if it's anything like the London one, I'll probably want to run out screaming. Maybe one function of the stylists is to prevent customers from doing that! Even if it's not to retain customers physically, I think it's smart strategy. At the higher end, shops offer edited collections and personal service. But, to me, stores in the middle just have racks and racks of stuff. It's too much. No wonder people end up buying what everyone else does. Will chain store stylists encourage more people to explore their personal style? I hope so! I love seeing people break out of "safe". I saw a woman yesterday who I'd guess was in her 60's, dressed in understated khaki, but with bright lilac tights. The surprise of it made me smile and point her out to my friend, Aarti, who said "that'll be you when you're 60." Something like that, I hope.

I Like Bike

I was working on a style post, but am putting it aside for now, since biking is more on my brain. Bike commuting to be specific.

As I mentioned last time, I've resolved to ride my bike to work - and I did! Twice this week, avoiding the day it was forecast to rain. I admit I'm a fair weather biker (though not a fair weather friend!).

The ride to work is great - there's not much traffic, and there's a beautiful diffused light as it's still early. But the ride back is .. hmm.. how should I put this? ...invigorating? enervating? massively aggro(-vating)? Let's just say, I come home fairly jazzed and aggressive. That's not really the goal.

To put it poetically, I haven't found my way home.

I looked up an on-line bike map and was pleased to see a bike lane going down 5th Avenue. However, when I tried it, I realized that when they said "Bike Lane" they might have meant "Bus Lane". You're smart and you've probably worked this out already: bus lanes aren't really good bike lanes, given the size difference and all.. Not to mention the fumes and the frequent stops. I chose to ride near the pedicab guys since there were a lot of them and they're pretty colorful and noisy, so hard to miss (well, since I'm hopefully assuming the target is not to hit them, I guess I really mean EASY to miss!!)

Today I rode home a bit earlier, though as every New Yorker knows, on a sunny, warm Friday, rush hour starts early, too, so it didn't really mean less traffic. I tried 2nd Avenue this time. No better than 5th, but uglier for sure. I also got a couple "watch it"s and "watch out, baby"s from cab drivers. I wanted to say "Thanks guys, but what exactly am I to watch out for? You? Blaming me for your driving is a bit rich, don't you think?" But there's no winning against a cab if you're on a bike and that would have been way too many syllables for that audience. I'm a bit of a Type A car driver, but you can't cop that attitude on a bike. Well, you could, but I don't want to do a bug on a windshield impression.

A couple quick style comments before I go... First and most importantly, I've read a couple articles about bike style where the author says you don't need a helmet. Seriously, this is not about style, please wear a helmet!!! At least if you're riding around midtown.(ok, mini rant. done now...) Second, flats and sneakers work equally well, and you won't get sweaty if your commute is as short as mine (ca 2.5 miles), so your change of clothes can just be pair of heels in your backpack, unless you're wearing a skinny pencil skirt, in which case ride in shorts or pants. Guys, forgive me for ignoring you here, but you probably don't have heel and tight skirt issues... :)

One thing I've learned through my very brief bike commuting experience, is that people who bike in New York tend to be viewed as suicidal, cool and independent, or quirky, or some combination of the 4. I've been surprised at people's strong reactions, but so far, it seems to me, that you are making a style statement just by riding your bike in the streets of Manhattan. People notice you and I even had my photo taken this week. So no Uggs or tracksuits... please!

By the way, just to prove that EVERYTHING is on the internet... The picture on this blog is of a poster that hung in my brother's room when we were kids. He liked bike riding (even then - he now owns a bike shop and does crazy downhill mountain bike races) and my mom has always been into design, which is why it was a cool poster.

Vacation Resolutions

I just got back to my apartment after a longer-than-expected vacation (thanks to the swine flu scare). My time away was fairly uneventful fashion-wise (though it must be notable that I didn't wear heels AT ALL for almost two and a half weeks!!!), but, as always, in between lying around reading and researching the local beverages and bars, I came up with a list of goals for my non-vacation life. It's not really fashion, but how much can I say about bathing suits? (hmmm, actually Miami may have provided me with something there.) Not for this time though - it's resolutions. So...

Resolution #1. Post a new blog: Check

Resolution #2. Buy less stuff: Actually, on vacation, I was pretty good on that one, relative to past trips. I picked up a couple of Mexican blouses in a Frida Kahlo inspired moment, though even in a peasant blouse I won't resemble her in the least given that my blonde eyebrows tend to disappear rather than combine forces as a unibrow. I'm very happy with my Mexican blouses - they're colorful, cheap, comfortable, and, given the extended nature of my travels, were the only clean tops I had for a while!

Resolution #3. Read more: Check. This goal setting is going really well, actually. I like making a list of resolutions that I've already met, so I can check them off and feel productive. I may start setting my New Year's resolutions on December 31 from now on! :) To be honest, though, reading more did require buying more stuff, including a kindle, which is absolutely fantastic - slim, light, and doesn't have pages that blow in the wind on the beach. It's almost perfect except for a few things that I'll mention in their feedback request and the fact that it requires the owner of the kindle to remember to bring the power cord. Ummmm...yeah.. Well, I managed to finish three books before it died. Fully charged, I think the kindle will be great for my work commute, though that does conflict with resolution #4.

Resolution #4: Ride my bike to work. I had so much fun on bikes this vacation that I'm inspired to change my New York commute from cab to bike. I biked to work when I lived in Frankfurt and felt so much more awake and refreshed (though starting work at 7:30am rather than 6am might have had something to do with it...) There's a lot written about biking fashion, but really, I plan just to wear flats and if my skirt is tricky, change into shorts or capri pants. Mine's a citified mountain bike, so no basket, but a backpack works. I do have my eye on my mom's old Gazelle bike from Holland (if she chooses to sell it). Maybe I could put a basket where the baby seat used to be (my seat) and put my clothes and shoes in that.. Easy! Where will I store it? Well, that and other issues answered with resolution #5.

Resolution #5: Work on my million dollar business idea. Interested investors welcome to contact me. :)