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Archive for the ‘Fashion’ Category

Closet MVP: ASOS Color Trousers

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

I adore ASOS.  Ordering from the site has become an almost weekly event- and since they offer free shipping and free returns, I don’t feel the least bit guilty about it.  So there.

The prices also happen to be amazing (especially on their in-house line), and the style options are massive. Almost overwhelmingly so, but given the whole free shipping/free return thing, I can’t hate on them for it- in some roundabout way, they are doing the most altruistic thing, encouraging us to experiment with fashion, no strings attached. What can I say- I am an online shopping optimist.

After the Katy Perry cover of Elle in March, I became obsessed with brightly colored trousers- but since I had never even attempted something quite so loud and daring, it took me awhile to take the fashion plunge. Then, during my daily persusing of ASOS, I stumbled across a pair (or 10). And I ordered a pair (or 10). A love affair was born.

NOTE: Please excuse the semi-fuzzy photos. In my next life I will marry a professional photographer or something, but until then (or I figure out another solution), these are the photo flash cards I have been dealt. Oh, woe is me…

These photos showcase my most recent additions- the green in the photo above is the Tailored Slim Cropped (Price: $54.89) and the peacock and royal blue below are Slim Crop Pant (Price: $45.74). Both from the ASOS in-house label, and both fit perfectly right out of the tattered silver shipping baggie.

A few other factors contributing to why I declare these among the ranks of my Closet MVPs: They give new life to the most boring basics I have had in my closet for years and virtually stopped wearing because I was so bored of them. And, every time I wear them people ask me if I have lost weight (major bonus points for ANYTHING that can trigger that question) and then demand to know where I got my fabulous pants, thus giving me the excuse to ramble on about three of my favorite things: Core Fusion, Flywheel and, of course, ASOS.

 

What color should I add to my collection next? Take a peek on ASOS and let me know your thoughts. Decisions, decisions…

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Gone Classic: Back to My Connecticut Roots. Kinda.

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

I recently received a package from Eddie Bauer (a brand name that really had not been on my fashion radar since, well, at least high school), and for some reason, even though it couldn’t be farther from my usual style, I got all excited about this bag (pictured above).  The broken-in leather and shape remind of a camera bag/canteen hybrid, and while I typically shy away from cross-body styles because they accentuate the chest area a bit too blatantly, I decided what the heck- let’s give this a try. An excuse to experiment with creating a new take on classic Americana fashion, because there was no way I wasn’t wearing the bag immediately.

I demanded (okay, asked politely, but demanded sounds better) that my husband take me out for a lobster roll and I descended into my closet to build an outfit around the New England-y direction my day was about to take, all inspired by the bag. And the fact that I had a fresh spray tan, so I felt more confident I could pull it off (my usual summer weekend uniform is a dress of some sort and flip flops, or my DL1961 capri jeans and a slub tee.)

J.Crew Navy 5″ Chino shorts  and an Old Navy super soft denim-y button down took the outfit in a slightly ’70′s direction. If I wanted to keep it literal, I would have slipped on Top Siders or Minnetonkas or something, but alas, I am too vain to wear flats, so my giant K. Jacques wedges it was.

I guess, when I look back at the chain of events, I owe Eddie Bauer for the most delicious lobster roll (from Mary’s Fish Camp, obviously) that I have ever eaten.

Oh- FYI- the bag isn’t currently on the Eddie Bauer website, so I am guessing it comes out later in the Fall. In which case, I recommend you bookmark the site and check back often, because you probably should own it.

 

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Shopping Spree: Two Perfect Dresses

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

I couldn’t resist adding a few things into my closet for Fall, even though I am still in disbelief that summer is coming to a close (I didn’t set foot in the sand once- not that I am a huge beach person, but still…)

One promise I made to myself is that from here on out, I am going to be super picky about every purchase. There is only enough real estate in my closet for perfectly polished pieces that are easy to wear, with an element of timelessness.  And dresses in particular have a lot to live up to- in addition to the basic criteria above, they have to travel well and be flattering on-air.

My husband (who, despite being a definite guy’s guy and working in finance, is my most trusted stylist- friends of mine have actually asked to rent him out for shopping trips) accompanied me to Saks last week, and we found two dresses that are pretty freaking amazing. One I picked out, one he picked out. Both will get tons of wear, this season and beyond.

My Pick: Milly Addison Puff-Sleeve Dress
The statement color, the lady-like shape, and the flutter sleeves that cover my arms just enough (I have a major arm thing, FYI) have me convinced  that this dress was made for me. Not to mention the bow detail on the patent skinny belt. In addition to an arm thing, I have a bow thing (my wedding had a bow theme throughout, actually) and skinny belts are my most favorite accessory always. So clearly this dress had to come home with me. And it did.

His Pick: Tibi Tweedy Knit Cap Sleeve Dress
Brian loves dresses with boots- must be a Texas thing. And this dress is made to be worn with chocolate textured tights and brown boots. I fell in love with the fact that it has such a girly shape, but in a very menswear-inspired tweed material. Bonus points for leather details and pockets.

 

Have you bought any fall dresses yet? I am still building my collection, so if you wouldn’t mind sharing, comment below.

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As Seen on TV: “Today Show” Back-to-School Fashions

Monday, August 15th, 2011

This morning I shared back-to-school fashions on the Today Show- it was an intense segment to put together, but once I had every look completed to my (very picky) liking and saw the kids all lined up in a row, it was well worth the 500 pieces of clothing called in, sorted through and ultimately returned. It is crazy to think how much prep goes into what will amount to less than five minutes. But, in my experience, the more effort you put in pre-segment, the more effortless it will look, and I obsess over segments that feel like completely relaxed conversations where a camera just happens to be there.  So, hopefully this segment felt like that. You guys can be the judge of that.

Anyway- onto the good stuff. If you loved the outfits as much as I did and want to know where you can find the pieces featured, I pasted a little cheat sheet below. To see the segment and the article with more details on Today.com, click HERE.

Pre-School: The trend is MIX, NOT MATCH- kids this little can get away with it, and it encourages them to have fun with fashion and express their personality. Because we all know getting dressed in the morning is about so much more than just putting on clothes, right?

ISABELLA:
-Mini Boden Cardigan- $56.00 at www.bodenusa.com
-Crocs Jaunt Rainboots- $34.99 at www.crocs.com
-Kicky Pants Tights- $18.00 at www.innovative-baby.com
-Old Navy Lunch Bag- $7.94 at www.oldnavy.com

ALEX:
-H&M Striped Tee- $12.95 at H&M stores
-Old Navy Camo Pants- $16.94 at www.oldnavy.com
-Old Navy Vest- $26.94 at www.oldnavy.com
-Old Navy Lunchbox- $10 at www.oldnavy.com
-Sperry Top-siders- $30 at www.striderite.com

Elementary School: Inspired by the bright pants on the runway, but translated into denim for fashion and function, COLOR DENIM is the perfect new spin on the back-to-school classic.

JULIANA:
-Joe’s Kids Pencil Jean- $49.00 at www.joesjeans.com
-Crocs Hi Top Sneakers- $49.99 at www.crocs.com
-H&M Butterfly Cardigan- $19.95 at H&M Stores
-Total Girl Backpack- $34.99 at www.jcp.com

K-LA:
-Jumping Beans Polka-Dot Thermal- $18.00 at www.kohls.com
-MiniBoden Classic Jeans- $34.00 at www.bodenusa.com
-Old Navy Sneakers- $10.00 at www.oldnavy.com
-Total Girl Messenger Bag- $34.99 at www.jcp.com

Middle School: A personal favorite here, COZY KNITS- think plush, yummy sweaters that one could wear in a ski lodge curled up by a fire or on a Arctic fishing trip, if you will.

JENNA:
-H&M Ivory Sweater- $24.95 at H&M stores
-Joe’s Jean Legging- $49.00 at www.joesjeans.com
-Mudd Boots- $54.99 at www.kohls.com
-Mudd Messenger Bag- $44.00 at www.kohls.com

SOLOMON:
-Superdry USA Buffalo Zip-Up- $250.00 at www.superdry.com
-Urban Pipeline Pants- $42.00 at www.kohls.com
-Land’s End Alpine Boots- $59.50 at www.landsend.com

High School: Combine BASICS WITH BRIGHTS- oranges, corals, reds, greens are best anchored with tones of khaki, beige and brown. So you can get colorful but stay polished- and the separates can transition well into suitably sophisticated outfits for college interviews and after-school jobs.

GABRIELLA:
-H&M Blouse- $39.95 at H&M Stores
-Tommy Hilfiger Wedges- $85.00 at www.amazon.com
-H&M Jeans- $29.95 at H&M Stores

JERRY:
-Ditch Plains Button Down- $40.00 at www.jcp.com
-Lands’ End Kids Zipper Sweater- $39.50 at www.landsend.com
-Boden Chinos- $78.00 at www.bodenusa.com
-Tommy Hilfiger Laptop Case- $30 at www.tommy.com
-Rugged Boot- $49.95 at H&M Stores


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On A Mission: Braids, Take 1

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

My life has always, to some extent, revolved around my hair. As I mentioned before, I initially started doing TV so I could expense my blowouts- this motivated me to book a segment every Thursday so I could have good hair for the weekend. And having good hair and being in good shape have always been mutually exclusive- there was no chance I was risking smooth locks with a sweaty session at the gym.

With baby weight to lose, and a new freelance lifestyle to adjust to, I decided the time had come to be the master of my ‘do domain- and braids seemed like a good place to start. The goal here is to find simple styles that work well with post Core Fusion hair that may or may not have been washed in recent memory, and will stay out of my face and off my neck for minimal futzing and sweating. Additionally, the look has to not simply accept, but in some ways encourage, flyways- between frizz and split-ends, there is no way around them.

Note that when it comes to hair, I am generally incompetent. Makeup I can do- and I enjoy the process. Hair just stresses me out- I don’t have the dexterity, or the patience. So this self-imposed mastery of the mane is no easy feat.

This look is my first success- hopefully more to come. Here is how I did it (yes, it is so easy and not terribly precise):

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Fashion Find: Me? Sophisticated? With This LBD, Perhaps.

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

I didn’t intend to buy a black dress when I went to Saks with my mom last week. I didn’t particularly need one. But sometimes, when you come across a piece that you just know, instinctually, is going to take your look up a notch, you just have to fork over the credit card. This Josie Natori dress is one such piece.

To be honest, I had no clue Josie Natori did ready-to-wear. I happened to be on the floor at Saks I don’t normally go to (when shopping with  mom, I veer from my usual direct route to the 5th floor) and saw this dress draped on a mannequin. The epitome of a very overused fashion phrase  ”simple, but sophisticated”. And since I don’t do sleeveless unless forced, the sleeve factor was a huge motivator to get undressed and try the damn thing on.

‘Twas love at first site. Lightweight fabric that is perfect for travel, and I know for sure that with the right mix of accessories, I can get tons of mileage out of this dress- be it a cocktail party, a work event, a tv segment or a date night with my husband. One of these days I will do a post showing it in a few different scenarios, as soon as I have the occasions to get creative. (Beyond the Lululemon pants and Hanes V-neck tees that have become my uniform as of late- shhh….)

Oh- and the day after this purchase, I went to a press preview for Josie Natori’s intimates and loungewear collection for Target, coming out later this year. Josie Natori was there, wearing none other than my new dress in a beautifully shocking shade of pink.  Which I am still jealous of. Anyway- we bonded instantly (she couldn’t be sweeter, by the way) and she let me in on two secrets:

1) She originally designed the dress in pink AND black, but Saks only wanted black (playing it safe, I guess) so the one she was wearing was actually her sample- the only one of it’s kind.

2) Her Fall collection features the same silhouette, in cashmere. I will certainly be buying it.

The dress is $395 (which for a dress with such timeless style is really a good price), you can check it out here.

If you don’t mind, leave a comment about your LBD of choice- if you happen to be able to find a link to it online, include that as well- so I can check it out.

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Fashion Find: Shorts That Flatter The Short. For Real.

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

 

In theory, shorts are a summer essential. In my personal reality, shorts are potentially the most daunting style to pull off. Ever. Which is unfortunate given the fact that they actually make one of my summer pet peeves- the whole warm weather battle of the thighs- null and void.  Note- if you don’t know what I am referring to with the thigh thing, then a) I hate you and b) consider yourself lucky.

At 5’2″, shorts never seem to look right anyway. So I had pretty much given up on the whole thing. Until Monday when I made a pilgrimage to Yumi Kim on the Upper East Side and decided to be bold and give the Moni Shorts a try.

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Maximizing My Maxi Dress Collection

Monday, June 13th, 2011

If you follow me on Twitter (which you should, I promise- I am actually much more charming in 140 characters then in real life, which is sad, but true) you have probably heard just about enough of my maxi dress musings.  So I promise, after this post, I will shut up about them. But indulge me one last time, will ya?

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A Denim Discovery: DL1961. Who Knew?

Monday, June 6th, 2011

I confess- I have been a major J Brand devotee for the past few years. Sure, I threw in a pair of Citizens of Humanity here and there, but for the most part, it was J Brand or no brand. But all that has changed- at least for summer- with my newest denim discovery- DL1961.

Every summer I have the same issue- I want jeans that I can wear with flip flops for day, but still be able to dress up for night with a pair of heels. So, knowing the task at hand, I ordered 10 pairs from various online retailers- and returned 9 of them instantly. I felt like Goldilocks- this pair was too tight in the legs, this one was too loose in the legs, this was was too distressed, this pair was too fancy. Especially something you plan on wearing with flats, fit is everything. Because let us be honest here- flats do a five foot two frame no favors.

In a huff, I pulled on the last pair to arrive- DL1961 Betty Ankle Skinny Jeans. I wasn’t terribly optimistic as I had never tried this brand before- and with fashion, I am certainly a creature of habit. And wouldn’t you know- they were just right. A slimming wash, a purposeful, clean cuff and the perfect combination of structured yet fitted. The last thing I (or anyone innocently passing me by on the street) need in a cropped pair of jeans is a legging-like look.

This weekend I wore them consistently- with a fitted pique polo (post on that to come) and my Supergas to take Alexa to music class, with a grey burnout tee and Havaianas for an afternoon in the park, and with my new and very loved Rebecca Minkoff blazer, a black tank and these shoes, which I probably wear more than I should but just can’t help myself.

I highly recommend you give them a try- and since Shopbop has free shipping and returns, you really have no excuse not to.

Now, if only they came in white…

(Image via Shopbop)

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Win It: Summer Shoes from Via Spiga

Friday, May 27th, 2011

 

Personally, when I update my closet for a new season, the first thing I buy is a new pair of shoes. That sort of helps to set my mood for the months ahead, and I can build outfits (multiple outfits, for multiple occasions) around them. Love these from Via Spiga, as seen in my BetterTV segment, because they have a heel (which I require), but are actually comfortable to wear for hours at a time. And, the green hue works equally well with black, brown, navy- you name it.

Via Spiga is giving away 5 pairs to lucky winners- so enter below, and if you win, you can thank me later for starting your summer style off on a pretty darn good note.

BetterTV/Via Spiga Summer Shoe Contest

Note: This contest is open to US residents only. Only one entry per person. Winner will be chosen at 5pm on Tuesday, May 31 and notified by email from BetterTV within the week.


 

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