4-29-2010

Today I had a pretty busy, long day. I had a 7:30 meeting, which I dressed up for but at 4:15, when I realized that I was going to be at work for at least another hour and a half, I sort of snapped and I changed into gym clothes even though I wasn't planning on going to the gym. So I don't have a picture of my fancy meeting outfit. But these are the shoes I wear with my gray Ann Taylor "meeting dress" and my black Calvin Klein "meeting dress".

A "meeting dress" is a fake category of dress which I made up to denote a dress that you can wear with a blazer and wear to a meeting. It's slightly less dressy than an actual suit but it's still more dressy than "business casual".

Back to the shoes:

High, high heels are one of the only "sexy" things you can get away with in a work environment. The plainer the rest of the shoe, the higher the heel can be without it looking inappropriate. The rest of these shoes are about as plain as it can get and the heel is pretty much the highest I'd consider wearing (about 4.25").

But I want to be clear: I don't wear them because I want to be sexy. I wear them because I want to be a ferocious amazon woman. Heels are a power trip! Until you fall on your face...but I usually don't do that anymore...

They are from some new off shoot of the Jessica Simpson brand called "JS by Jessica Simpson". I can't find any online explanation as to what this new branch is all about. Not sure if she is trying to go for a "Steven by Steve Madden" approach? That "spin off" has been very successful and "Boutique 9 by Nine West" also seems to be doing well. I'm a fan of the "slightly better quality" brand offshoots because you can usually find the designs from these lines on websites such as endless.com and shoes.com for nearly the same prices as the shoes from the central brand. It's only in stores that they are noticeably more expensive. Contrarily, I really, really don't like "Madden Girl", which is the only brand offshoot I'm aware of whose niche is producing shoes that are noticeably less well made than the original brand's shoes.

Anyhoo, these shoes are by Jessica Simpson just like 75% of the rest of my boots and pumps. I've really got to talk to that girl - I think it's high time she gave me an endorsement deal.

4-28-2010 - Take 2!

Tonight I had drinks with Carla and Allyson. Obviously they both have killer style (see the last picture).

Here is what I wore. Thank you to my stellar photographer!

Blazer: The Gap
Shell: Ann Taylor Loft
Crops: Ann Taylor Loft
Sandals: Jessica Simpson
Bangles: Ross Simons
Earrings: Ross Simons
Bag: Arcadia

I was probably overly summer-y for the actual weather but I am sick to death of cold weather clothing!

I get compliments on these Jessica Simpson sandals every time I wear them. Believe it or not, I got them at Marshall's. They were on sale for $17.99. It does seem surprising that shoes this cute could be marked down so low but it makes more sense when you consider that it was the Marshall's in the Maris Grove shopping center. I'm not sure I see Jessica Simpson as the shoe brand of choice amongst the Maris Grove residents...

New Shoes!

The company that makes these shoes is called Unisa. For some reason, this particular shoe is only available on piperlime.com.

I liked the design of the shoe and I REALLY liked the color combination. What's nice is they look exactly like they did online!

Anyway, they are pretty unique but not in a trendy way. I "just had to have them" so to speak.

My next blog post is going to be about going on a budget.

04-28-2010

Here is what I wore to work today.

Glasses: Vogue
Shell: Ann Taylor Loft
Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft
Belt: The Gap
Pants: New York and Company
Pumps: Restricted

New York & Company is not my favorite place to shop for work clothes because I think the quality of their merchandise is poor but these pants were on sale for $20 - so how wrong can you go? They are supposed to be high-waisted but they aren't exactly because I was between sizes and decided to go with the smaller rather than the larger size. Obviously they aren't inappropriately tight or anything but they should hit at my belly button rather than an inch below it like they do.

New Bag!

So I have been wanting a cross-body bag and I have specifically been wanting one that I can bring out with me at night. Something that can effectively function as a clutch. As was recently brought to my attention by KRB Jr., clutches are easy to lose. For someone who frequents bars, cross-body bags are a trend that makes a lot of sense.

Now, let's be serious, if I could have any cross-body bag on the planet, it would obviously be the Chanel 2.55 - but until I have $1,500.00 lying around, that isn't going to happen. (Just so everyone knows, I'm aware that the Chanel 2.55 wasn't originally meant to be worn across the body).

Sooooo I opted for this Kate Spade bag. I thought it was pretty reasonably priced on endless.com. As soon as I took it out of the box, I was a little concerned because I thought it would be bright white. I was planning on using it as a post-Memorial Day bag. But, in fact, the color would be more aptly described as "bone".

However, after taking 40 gazillion pictures of it, I think that it's white enough. Having it in a more muted color than super bright white might actually work out well: it'll match more things and I could potentially start wearing it slightly before Memorial Day. I would really love to wear it this weekend...maybe I will if it's warm enough to justify white.

A draw back of the off-white color is that it won't quite match my white gap crops or my new white sandals.

But I just really like the actual bag. And, if you can pretend for a second that my greasy mug isn't present, how cute does it look in the last picture???

P.S. in the second picture you can catch a glimpse of two important things. One from my fashion past and one from my fashion future: a. my prom dress and b. the black jump suit that I am planning to wear all around the town this summer - I found it at Old Navy! Of all the places to find a jumpsuit...

4-27-2010

Here is what I wore to work today. As I was waking up this morning, WHYY was very clear about the fact that I should definitely wear a sweater.

Glasses: Vogue
Scarf: The Gap
Camisole: Old Navy
Sweater: J Crew
Pants: Ann Taylor Loft
Pumps: Nine West

These pumps are pretty useful. They're practical because they have a super low heel and they match a ton of stuff. It's actual my second pair of the same shoes because I ruined the first pair on concrete steps! And I decided to get the exact same ones because these are the only shoes that really go with my Ann Taylor pants suit. Typically, when I wear the suit, I also wear a cream-colored top and these pumps.

Classic Dressing: My Thoughts

So I finished reading Amanda Brooks' chapter on "classic dressing". I have to say, she sort of sold me. Here's why:

1. Jackie O: "Arguably our most famous fashion icon, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis defined the concept of America style for her generation and beyond. She may be most famous for her pink tailored suit and pillbox hat, but it is her more casual and 'unofficial' outfits that inspire me most." (p. 64)

(Barring the square-toed shoes, someone could wear this exact outfit today and be considered 100% stylish!)

2. Classic does not have to equal preppy: "Classic does not have to mean predictable or boring impeccable American prep. There's french classic, movie star classic, tomboy classic. The list goes on." (p. 33)
(Brigitte Bardot, Classic? Yes, Preppy? No!)

3. In a lot of ways it's the most practical and economical: "Classic dressing should feel authentic, not theatrical. It's about making smart shopping choices and keeping the clothes you buy for a long time; whether you have been or not, it's always chic to look as if you've been wearing the same pieces for years." (p. 31)

(Keeping in mind this picture was taken in 1928! Needless to say, Chanel knew her stuff!)
(P.S. I would commit unspeakable acts of malice if only to have those gloves!)


4. The Fisherman's sweater: "When worn simply (with, say, black trousers and flats) it can be chic and timeless" (p. 40).

I freaking love these sweaters! And I'm not afraid to admit that it's because they remind me of the early 90's. Apparently they are not 90's. They are classic. I need one asap!

I could go on: riding boots, aviator glasses, ballet flats, pumps, button downs, L. L. Bean totes. Now that I am building a work wardrobe, I'm really into the idea that classic pieces exist. Trends aren't always work appropriate and in the interest of trying to look the most professional at the lowest cost, I've decided that I need to do my best to buy nice things that won't go out of style and will last unless I spill coffee on them (always a possibility!). So I was really feeling this classic dressing chapter because it was very in line with a lot of what I've been thinking lately when I shop for work clothes.


(Images courtesy of famespy.com, flickr.com, cimcontent.net, minichika2.files.wordpress.com, pinkofperfection.com)

4-26-10

This is an example of something I would wear to work on a typical day that I do not have a meeting. I like to wear my glasses at work because I think it lends me an air of professionalism. Also, I'm blind.

Amanda Brooks says that "the most super-chic detail on a formal trouser is a pressed crease down the front of the leg" (p. 42) so now I feel insecure about my non-creased pants. These pants probably need to be dry-cleaned anyway and when I take them, I will definitely get that oh-so-chic crease pressed in.

One of my tricks to look pulled together in a non-complicated way is to wear a belt and shoes that either match or compliment one another. I wear these tan pumps with this tan belt at least twice a week. Another example is that when I wear my low green crocodile-print pumps, I either wear my dark brown skinny belt or my metallic copper skinny belt.

These Ralph Lauren pumps are the nicest pair of shoes I have ever owned except for maybe the Doc Martins I had in 8^th Grade (I’ll probably never wear those again but I refuse to throw them away!).

Most of my heels are from Nine West or Jessica Simpson, both of which I think of as “better” shoe brands. Jessica Simpson in particular has great designs. However, these Ralph Lauren pumps are truly in a separate category. I’m sure it would take a shoemaker 40 seconds to explain what makes them better shoes but, in lieu of the proper terminology, I’ll just say that they’re clearly nicer shoes. I love, love, love them and I’m terrified of ruining them!

Also, in case you can't tell in the picture, these non-pressed pants are blue. I have them in black as well.

Glasses: Vogue

Button-down: J Crew

Pants: Ann Taylor Loft

Belt: Ann Taylor Loft

Pumps: Ralph Lauren

4-25-2010

This is what I wore to go meet my potential room mate today.

Plaid Tunic Top: Max Studio

Leggings: The Limited

Boots: Jessica Simpson



As you can see my J Simp boots are a little worn at the toes.

Amanda Brooks says that, when it comes to riding boots, "the more worn in they look the better". These aren't exactly riding boots but they're not so far off and it makes me feel better about scuffing up the toes to know that apparently it's fashionable!

The reason the toes are scuffed is because they're actually at least a half size too big for me but they were the FOURTH pair of tan or brown boots that I bought this fall! The first three were all duds. So by the time I got these, I didn't want to bother with sending them back for the correct size even though I instantly knew they were too big.

PSA: Jessica Simpon shoes run really large!

New Shoes!

I bought these shoes today at the DSW store in Ardmore because I really needed white heeled sandals. The brand is called Kelly & Katie - the real cork heel is what sold me. I also really like the overall shape of the shoe.

Saturday Night Fashion

First, in the black track jacket, we have one of LBK's friend from law school. He has great style.

Then we have two random party-goers who I don't know but I liked their respective hipster looks.

Then we have LBK herself in a tube top from Victoria's Secret, REALLY CUTE heels from Frye, and jewelry courtesy of moi. The earrings are made of old beer bottles!

Last but not least is another one of LBK's class mates, Jon Jorge, who also has great fashion sense.
























































These shoes turned out to be majorly uncomfortable! They are from Naughty Monkey, which is one of my favorite brands. I still really like them - I love, love, love the shape of the stacked, dark wood heel - but they get an F for comfort.

My top is from the Gap, my pants are from Banana Republic, my bag is from Ann Taylor Loft, and my jewelry is from various sources.

(My Jessica Bennett flats, I got a great price on them!)

My Top is from New York & Company. That store is really hit or miss but I loved this top because the cowl neck and the sleeves are mesh. It's very attractive and feminine but still work appropriate. I also have the same top in turquoise.

Black and khaki is one of my favorite color combinations.

Bags: how many do you need?

When I was in New York with my friends for my birthday, I saw Amanda Brooks' book I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style in the bookstore at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. I thought it looked really interesting so recently I bought it on Amazon.

On page 47 she asserts that "If you are a classic dresser...a black and a brown handbag are really all you need." Here's why I think she's wrong:

1. Hello! Evening bags! You can't bring the same huge bag that you carry around with you all day out at night!

2. Black and brown can look pretty "heavy" during the summer months. I think you need a white bag in the summer.

Personally, I think every woman needs four larger day bags:

• a black bag and a brown bag for fall and winter that you can alternate depending on your outfit
• a "summer bag", which should probably be white. If not then it should be coral or turquoise or some other flashy color (perhaps lime?) that you can really only get away with in the summer months
• I personally believe in such a thing as a "spring bag". My spring bag is tan and cream from Arcadia. My ideal months to use it are the end of March through the middle of June. It wouldn't be inappropriate to use in September or early October but fall is my favorite season and the beginning of fall always makes me feel like wearing deep, rich colors.
  

I also think every single woman who ever goes out at night needs a black patent clutch. If she's only going to have two other clutches, she might want to think about a silver one and a gold one. I also feel like a white clutch or evening bag is a must for summer time.

My Blog

This blog is going to be mostly about fashion. Primarily, I want to document the outfits I wear and that well-dressed people I encounter in my day-to-day life wear. I want to document new purchases that I'm happy about and talk about purchases I want to make regardless of how fanciful they may be (Here's looking at you, Chanel 2.55 bag!). I will definitely discuss my thoughts on fashion-related books I am reading. I may also discuss my thoughts on other books I'm reading - not totally sure yet.