Peep Show

It was a very warm day when I wore this, and the SF breezes did their best to create a peep show with this wrap dress, which I wore without a slip because of the heat. Luckily this oversized handbag is just the right shape to carry in such a way that it holds the dress together when I'm walking. It's important to look nonchalant even when your dress is threatening to expose your underwear.

I just love the silhouette that this dress creates. The draped neckline, the nipped in waist, and the cascade of ruffles on the skirt really accentuate my curves and even create them where they don't exist. I feel like this dress should earn a commission for all the work it does.

Dress: All Saints
Shoes: Bettye Muller
Bag: Coccinelle

Memory Lapse

This was a weekend outfit, and to be honest I've been so busy lately that I can't for the life of me remember what I was even doing that day. I'm hoping I can chalk this memory lapse up to stress and not Alzheimer's. If you happened to be hanging out with me when I wore this, a reminder of the day's activities would be most appreciated.

Top: Max Studio
Cardigan: Survival
Skirt: thrifted and shortened
Shoes: Born

Versatile

This is a near recreation of an outfit I wore during my travels in Europe recently. On one of the warmer days in Lisbon I wore the tunic/belt/pants combo with sandals, and later in the trip when it was cooler I wore it with black boots and a yellow cardigan. Here I tried to create a hybrid between a warm/bright colors and a cold/layered outfit, because although we're well into spring now, we're still getting some colder days. Sometimes I feel like I could rename this blog, "Seasonal Dressing When the Weather Refuses to Cooperate."

This little tunic is magical in its ability to bridge colors I would've otherwise never attempted to pair. The cardigan is sort of a salmon-coral color, and putting it next to tomato red would be an impossibility were it not for the multitude of shades existing in harmony in the tunic. Pieces like this create a huge amount of versatility in a wardrobe.

This is my recent new haircut, and this time my hairdresser added a few dark purple streaks. She weaved them in underneath the top layers so that I can show them a little, or a lot. My hairstyle is now as versatile as my clothing.

Cardigan: Anthropologie
Tunic/belt: gifts from mom and sis
Jewelry: Metal Pointu's
Pants: Michael Kors
Boots: Bronx

Christmas at Easter

Most of this outfit was a Christmas gift. As I mentioned recently, I spent Easter weekend in Sacramento visiting my parents and sisters who were visiting from Oregon, and the rest of the family who lives in the Sacramento area. As we generally do, we had a very belated exchange of Christmas gifts when we got together. Personally, I like Christmas better in the spring; the weather is better and the flowers are blooming, which seems much more celebratory to me.

The dress, belt, and tights were among my Christmas gifts. It's a good thing having a sister who works in a boutique clothing store; she picks out all the cutest stuff. This dress will make a great summertime piece, but for the rainy day I layered it with a long-sleeved shirt and rain boots.

The bag is a recent score from Crossroads Trading Company. It's almost brand new and even came with its certificate of authenticity; it was also marked down 50% from its already rock-bottom price, so I got what was probably originally a $600 bag for a mere $23.

Bag: Botkier
Dress, belt, tights: gifts from mom and sis
Shirt: Promod
Boots: Aquatalia

Strategies

Spring is always a tough season to dress for here in San Francisco, and this year is especially difficult. After a gloriously mild winter with many sunny, warm days, the rain and cold temperatures set in just as the rest of the country seems to be breaking out their sandals and sundresses. My solution has been to employ bright colors as much as possible, even though as you can see I'm still having to wear thick tights and sweaters to stay warm.

I leave tomorrow for my trip abroad, but I've got some posts scheduled for while I'm away. My first stop is Lisbon for 5 nights, on to Strasbourg for work for the next 4 nights, then a long weekend in Paris before wrapping up in Boston at a conference. In total it's a 2-week trip with several different types of activities and potentially a couple different climates. Packing for this trip is therefore going to be a particular challenge, so if I'm successful I'll share my strategies after I get back.

Cardigan: Cynthia Rowley
Top: a gift from Sal
Skirt: Skunkfunk
Boots: from Scoop in Copenhagen

A Dress for Any Season

I've done shockingly little (for me, anyway) shopping in recent months, mainly because of the consecutive large expenses of throwing a big wedding party and then buying a house. Moreover, because I'm much busier at work I have a lot less time to poke around on the internet and inevitably find pretty things to buy. This is undoubtedly a good thing; at my previous job I often felt that I shopped mainly out of boredom, and waiting for a package to arrive was pretty much the only thing I looked forward to there.

This dress is one of the only items of clothing I've purchased since May or June. The pattern in particular really appealed to me, because it can work for any season depending on what I pair it with. Pinks and soft greens would make it great for spring and summer, while jewel tones or burgundy will work for fall and winter. For this outfit I added the mustard yellow cardigan and burgundy socks to give it a fall look, but left my legs bare because the weather is still pretty warm.


Dress: eShakti
Cardigan: Anthropologie
Belt: a gift from Mom
Boots: Bata
Bracelet: Leslie Danzis

Ho-Hum

This was one of my ho-hum outfits from when I was still sick (I'm feeling better now). I've noticed that when I'm sick I tend to wear pants more often, probably because it's less work than dealing with tights and slips and all that. If we lived somewhere hot I'm sure it would be just the opposite; throw on a sundress and some sandals, and you're good to go. Out here it's almost never warm enough for that, so pants are the easier option because there are no additional leg coverings that need to be selected.

At any rate it provided the impetus to wear these cords again, which as you may recall are down to their last few wears. A careful examination of the nap proved them to be still wearable for probably a few more times yet. Next time I hope it's actual inspiration, and not illness, that brings them out again.

Top: Max Studio
Cardigan: Anthropologie
Necklace: Foxy
Cords: Marlowe
Shoes: Art Shoes

As Good as it Gets

I've never been too crazy about flats, but I've realized that there's a time and place for them, such as a day you know you're going to be criss-crossing the campus all day (yes, my workplace is so large that we call it a campus) and your feet just need a break. So recently I went digging around on 6pm.com in search of a black or gray pair (because despite recognizing the need for flats I still wasn't willing to spend much money on them), and I turned up these. They're reasonably cute, they were deeply discounted, and they feel like walking on little pillows. They don't knock my socks off (no pun intended) aesthetically, but then again very few pairs of flats do, so I feel like this is about as good as it gets for me and flats. I like them, or rather, I like the feel of wearing them enough that I can put up with the ho-hum look of them.

Dress: Desigual
Necklace: can't remember
Shoes: Born

Covered in Color

Well it's spring, and right now it's also cold. Clearly this makes dressing in a springy way very challenging, so for this outfit I simply deployed as much color as I could possibly pile on. Electric blue legs, green scarf, orange jacket, yellow bag. When you're this covered up, the best you can do is to cover yourself with color. 

Dress: Desigual....  Scarf: Rhapsodia (Argentina)....  Jacket: Tulle....  Bag: Coccinelle....  

Tights: Foot Traffic....  Shoes: MIA

Weekend Errand

This was a casual weekend outfit; I only had one quick errand to run that day, but I decided I might as well look good doing it. This top/cardigan combo is one that gets used a lot on weekends, because it's comfortable and easy to wear, while the pattern mix keeps it interesting. The sandals are new (they're the Kors Elsie style) and I'm totally in love with them; they're comfy, stylish, and versatile. The reviews I read almost universally mentioned that the suede platform and heel scuffs easily, so I treated them with suede protector before wearing them, and I'm planning on wearing different shoes when I drive, since the angle of my foot when I'm driving tends to wear the backs of high heels. A couple of simple precautions and I can probably keep these shoes looking new for a long time to come.

As for that errand I had to run....

I finally got the Marie Antoinette wig. It makes any outfit better, doesn't it?

Top: Max Studio
Cardigan: Nally & Millie, a gift from Mom
Necklace: Wendy Brandes
Belt: Red Dress Shoppe
Jeans: Joe's
Sandals: Kors Michael Kors
Bangles: Amrita Singh
Marie Antoinette wig: Helen's Wigs

Hybrid

This is another runway-inspired outfit, which I got the idea for after seeing Christian Dior's blends of vibrant blue and burgundy, as well as the interesting mixing of long upper layers with shorter lower ones. The end result was sort of a hybrid; below are the two outfits I drew from compared with the final outcome:

As you can see I put my own spin on it by including some pattern mixing, and the vibrant, floral trench coat (as well as the absence of any fur) gave the outfit a springier look. The nude, patterned tights look funny in these photos, but I promise my legs did not look that creepy in real life. I would've actually preferred to go bare-legged, but it just wasn't quite warm enough yet.

I really liked the blue/burgundy mix; I will definitely play around with this pairing again. I also thought the long cardigan and trench over the shorts was cheeky and fun, and I will be looking for other ways to use this type of combo. My goal in creating this outfit was to demonstrate how runway fashions can be adapted to fit what's already in your closet, and how they don't have to be copied verbatim in order to capture the overall impression.

For more couture-inspired outfits, be sure to check out Emma's runway to work day series.

Trench coat: Liquid
Cardigan: Cynthia Rowley
Top: Forever 21
Shorts: made from thrift-bought leather pants
Tights: Hue
Bracelet: Betsey Johnson
Boots: Miz Mooz

Upper Hand

T

This top is the third and final item from the trip to Desigual in New York, and isn't it just gorgeous? I love long tops that have interesting details, because they're such an easy way to create a simple, casual outfit with jeans. I like the length on the longer side so that I can wear the top comfortably with my low rise jeans, and the interesting details means I don't need a lot of layering or other embellishment. This top has got a great mix of bold patterns and colors, and the metallic red ink even adds some textural interest. I still can't decide if that's Jackie O's face on the back though.

Here's another look at my new Bos and Co. boots. Up until this week it rained in SF for something like 14 days without a break, so these waterproof boots have really come in handy lately. I love clothing that makes you feel like you've got the upper hand on the elements.

Top: Desigual
Scarf: Forever 21
Jeans: Deisel
Boots: Bos. and Co.

Impatient

This fun, patterned dress is from my adventure at Desigual with Sal. We both tried on a lot of the same items that day, but if I remember correctly this is the only one we both bought. All that bright color and the fact that it's sleeveless really makes this more of a summer dress, but I got impatient to wear it and layered it up for a cool weather outfit. Not wanting to completely obliterate the summery vibe, I added a pink tank top to fill in the neckline and add some brighter color near my face.

Dress: Desigual
Cardigan: American Eagle Outfitters
Boots: Miz Mooz
Bracelet: Betsey Johnson

Sneaky Hangover

If you read Sal's blog you probably can already guess where this dress came from; I bought it in New York when we visited the Desigual shop. That was an interesting shopping experience, to say the least. It was the morning after my night of poorly planned and even more poorly executed drinking at the Empire Hotel, and I woke up feeling remarkably chipper, so Sal and I happily scampered off to Desigual before she left for the day to visit a friend.

Everything was going along swimmingly until about 30 minutes into our shopping session, when I was suddenly overcome with a wave of sweaty nausea and lightheadedness in the dressing room. By the time I was ready to bring my purchases to the counter I had to sit down on one of the displays, for fear I might pass out or vomit right then and there. Sneaky hangovers are the worst. But you can see what a committed shopper I am; even in my wretched and half-dead state I was able to pick out this and another dress, plus a tunic-length top. I just love the beaded silver go-go dancer on the dress, and the fact that it has long sleeves makes it great for the San Francisco climate.


I paired the dress with this adorable scarf that was given to me by the folks at Eileen Fisher when we visited their studio. I love all the pompoms around the edge; it's like a party around my neck. To secure the ends of the scarf I added a brooch that my aunt gave me for our belated Christmas gift exchange.

Scarf: Eileen Fisher
Dress: Desigual
Tights: Sock Dreams
Boots: Bronx

Foot Soaking and Cocktails

This outfit is from before the trip and therefore is pretty old, but oh geez do I remember this day. I got off the shuttle from work only to find that the next bus wasn't due to arrive for almost 30 minutes, which was more than enough time for me to just walk the rest of the way home, rather than sitting there in the cold. But the shoes! -- while they're great for an average day at work, they don't feel so fab after 2 miles of walking up and down San Francisco's hilly streets. It took a lot of foot soaking and cocktails to ease the pain once I got home.

Doesn't my nail polish look great though? This is Black Cherry Chutney by O.P.I.; I don't bother with nail polish very often, but when I do I love to go BOLD.

Dress: Noa Noa
Cardigan: Solemio
Bangles: Amrita Singh
Necklace: from Ambiance in the Haight
Shoes: MIA

Rainbow Beams

The sun has clearly changed its angle lately; here it was so bright that it created little rainbow beams right across my photos. Lovely for sitting in the window seat and enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning, lousy for taking pictures. I hope this doesn't mean I'm going to have to find a new photo spot for the winter months, but it may come to that if it stays sunny.

This outfit was all about comfort; no tights or thin elastic waistbands squeezing my middle, no tugging or readjustment to be done during the day, and no pinching or rubbing on my feet. Since the solid black top and solid teal skirt isn't the most exciting combination, I brought in some additional pattern and color with the scarf and socks.

The socks also helped to tie the shoes in with the rest of the outfit, since they contain both beige and black. The shoes are mostly brown, so I was afraid that they might not make sense with the black top and belt if I didn't have something to help with the transition. The other thing I've thought of doing with these shoes is changing the laces out for black ones so that I can wear them with pretty much anything.




Scarf: Promod
Shirt: H&M
Belt: Red Dress Shoppe
Bracelet: Amrita Singh, via Gilt
Skirt: LA Made
Socks: Sock Dreams
Shoes: Fly London

A Good Foundation

This was my take on the classic 'sexy secretary' look, but with a modern twist. I started with the basic shape of a pencil skirt and blouse, selecting my leopard print top for the full retro effect. But then I changed up several elements: instead of nylons and pumps, I swapped in colorful tights and boots; instead of a cardigan I wore the fitted tank top as a vest; instead of a solid skirt I opted to throw in a pattern mix with the plaid.

I think in the final analysis though, it's really the mix of neutrals that is the most modern element of this outfit. Classic style rules say that you can't mix brown and black, but clearly that's an idea that has been overthrown in more recent years. To me the pairing looks very chic, and moreover it's a lot more flattering to many skin tones than wearing head-to-toe black. It also allows you a wider range of possibilities for using your leather goods, such as belts and shoes.

Speaking of outdated style rules, I'll share a little secret about this outfit: the smoothness and fit of the skirt is largely owing to a foundation garment. The stretchy fabric of the skirt, combined with the snug fit and geometric pattern, tends to make my thighs look a little bulgy. Adding some tummy and thigh control made the skirt hang straighter and gave me a lot more confidence in pairing it with a shorter top. This allowed the skirt to do what it does best, which is to show my butt to its best advantage. With a form-fitting garment like this one, a good foundation garment can help minimize distractions so that your best features get the focus they deserve.

How do you feel about foundation/control garments -- lifesaving innovations, or outdated and oppressive? Personally I wouldn't want to wear them all the time, but for specific garments they can really polish up the look.


Leopard top: Forever 21
Tank top: thrifted
Belt: Lazaro
Bangles: Amrita Singh, via Gilt
Tights: Foot Traffic, via Sock Dreams
Boots: purchased at Scoop in Copenhagen

Anything But Ordinary

I've worn this combination of top and vest a few times now, mainly on weekends when I want a comfy but interesting jeans-based outfit. On weekends I've worn it with more casual indigo jeans and left the vest loose and open, but here I decided to dress it up with black jeans and the gunmetal harness.

Speaking of which, a few people have inquired about this particular harness. As you may recall, I described a few weeks ago how the leather is hard to find and a bit tricky to work with, which is why we don't currently have anything in this leather listed in the shop. But Mark does still have a small amount of it left and can do custom orders on request. The style I'm wearing here is the Ryder, and we've also made the Aria in this finish, but I also think it would look beautiful for a Willow, a Raven, or a Jane Doe. So far we still haven't been able to find any more of this leather, so when it's gone it's gone.

Anyhow, I loved all the striking black and white patterns in this outfit, and how the shoes even have a stripe pattern and silvery jewels that echo the finish of the harness. Which just goes to show that even the classic combination of black and white can be anything but ordinary.

Shirt: Max Studio
Vest: F21
Harness: Audra Jean
Jeans: Diesel (via Gilt)
Shoes: Bobbi Blu