kickin it

wearing shoes from Pixie Market (I forget the brand), Zara pants, Madewell denim shirt, Roxy jacket, vintage fur stole, "faux-leciaga" bag

God I love these shoes. They do this miraculous thing to your legs that actually makes them look longer, even though the shoes only have like a 3/4" heel. Bonus that I can extract my pinkie toe from them and up the creep factor in a completely subtle, yet terrifying way.

stella jean

The entire spring collection at Stella Jean is Style Porn approved. Bright tribal prints and prim, 50's silhouettes are an unexpected but pleasing combination, especially when styled with basics like button-downs, slim pants, and vintage t-shirts. I don't know that much about the designer, besides the fact that she has roots in the Caribbean and currently resides in Rome. But I do know that I'd swoop on any one of these looks, any day of the week.

Microtrends

Please excuse my long overdue and unsolicited roundup of Fall 2012 fashion month. Truth be told, I was barely paying attention, but I've diligently spent the last two three nights sifting through the collections and while I came away with a clear sensation of the obvious references--pantsuits! 60's! orange! baroque opulence!--I was also able to pick up on a few trends that were being quietly whispered as opposed to loudly proclaimed. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Cankles: boots were slouchy in the weirdest places this season--or covered in hair. Either way, this can only mean one thing: ankles are OUT and log legs are IN! (L to R: Givenchy, Moncler Gamme Rouge, Aquilano, Alexander McQueen)

2. Head-to-toe wallpaper prints. See? I knew I was onto something with my grandma couch print pants. Just call me a trend forecaster. (L to R: Sophie Theallet, Anna Sui, Carven, Miu Miu)

3. Powderpuff coats. These guys are all roomy through the shoulders and arms. They came in other colors, too, like the ubiquitous powder blue (as seen at Acne). (L to R: Jil Sander, Antonio Berardi, Lyn Devon, Chloe)

4. Needlepoint. Insert joke about "not your grandma's needlepoint." Because seriously, it's not at all like your grandma's needlepoint. (L to R: Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana, Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana)

5. Wide horizontal stripes on dresses. Slimming schmimming. Who cares if you look like a double wide--these stripes are graphic, bright, and cheery. (L to R: Otswald Helgason, Carven, Victoria by Victoria Beckham, Ohne Titel)

6. Split hems. Such a tiny detail but one that I noticed right away. Looks especially fresh on a slim, cropped cut. I foresee some ill-advised at-home DIY attempts to get this look with a pair of scissors. My pants are quaking in fear. (L to R: Rachel Comey, Rachel Comey, Rebecca Taylor, 3.1 Phillip Lim)

here go hell come

wearing Michael Michael Kors skirt, vintage sweater, vintage fox fur stole, vintage ring, bracelets, and necklace

Who else is excited for Marni at H&M on Thursday? Now, of all of you who are excited, who is actually going to haul their ass to the closest H&M on Thursday morning and wait outside with some pepper spray and a home made knife to get their hands on some of the oh so rare pieces in the collection? I wish that could be me, but adult responsibilities--and mandatory meetings await me. I may try to zip over there in the afternoon just to check it out, but I have a feeling it will all be gone by then, leaving only broken hangers and maybe a trampled child or two.

Shopping limited edition collections like this is a special kind of hell, but one that I find myself uniquely suited to. I guess I never played sports, so I take out my competitive urges in a retail environment.

double duty cords

top outfit: James Jeans cords, LL Bean striped breton shirt, thrifted denim jacket, Topshop fur gilet, Madewell scarf, vintage ring, Timex watch. Second outfit: James Jeans cords, J. Crew wool long-sleeved shirt, T by Alexander Wang sweater, scarf from India, UO booties

Or make that triple, quadruple duty. I just knew I had a skinny corduroy-shaped hole in my closet, and the recent acquisition of this pair (followed by wearing them for a week straight) really drove the point home. Found them on Gilt Groupe after exhausting myself in the search for cheaper possibilities. They have fake front pockets (yuck) but other than that are nearly perfect. And comfy as a pair of leggings, minus the camel toe.

Also, just had to share the perfect Valentine's day card from my boyfriend. If you know us, you know how apt this card is. If you don't, let me assure you, it is very apt.
 

I'd rather be wearing...

1. Rodarte x Opening Ceremony button down
2. Tom Ford Sunglasses
3. J Brand cords
4. MADE brass rings
5. J. Crew Edie purse
6. Balenciaga wedges
7. Gryphon faux fur jacket
8. Topshop Beanie
9. Dannijo necklace

desolation yes, hesitation no

I dunno about you guys, but I'm going to party tonight like the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world. You dig?

Thanks to the few of you who have gone on this journey with me for the past--GASP--3 years. I still have no idea what I'm doing, but I guess I'm doing it.

mixmaster

wearing Reliquary vintage jacket, old as hell Three Dots turtleneck, J Crew skirt, UO tights, Missoni for Target shoes, BR cuff, Stein Mart necklace, vintage ring

BOO YAH for rolling clothing racks. On Sunday night I set aside a week's worth of clothing and getting dressed has been a breeze ever since. And more creative than usual, I might add. I have these crappy pictures to prove it.

pussy bow

Not nearly as dirty as it sounds...






wearing vintage blouse, Zara pants

sissies

wearing vintage shirt and jacket, fucking awesome necklace borrowed from my best friend, UO jeans, vintage Frye boots, Banana Republic bag, Christian Dior sunglasses. Rachel wears Zara dress, UO belt, vintage bag

My sister just came to visit from New Orleans for Outside Lands. As you can see, we actually kind of look alike, a fact which isn't so surprising unless you saw what we looked like growing up: basically she was blonde haired and blue-eyed and I looked like a Sephardic Jew. Now she looks like a Sephardic Jew too so no one would be surprised that we're related.

Whenever she comes to visit, it seems like we go on a mad shopping binge with my mom. This time was no exception, but unfortunately it was my mom and sister who had the most luck at the consignment store. My mom came home with vintage Gucci heels and a pair of quilted Chanel-esque ballet flats by Stuart Weitzman, and my sister found an absolutely adorable cross-body bag for $12. I too didn't leave empty-handed, coming home with this gigantic lucite bead necklace to wear with clashing prints. The best purchases (or at least the most exciting) are ones that look perfect with the outfit you have on when you buy them. Instant satisfaction.

Ughhhh, I would so wear the shit out of those Gucci sandals if my mom and I wore the same size!

high fiving a million angels...

wearing UO pants, vintage shirt and jacket, Zara cardigan, J. Crew belt and bracelet, Zara pumps from like, 5 years ago, Noir earrings, Faux-lenciaga bag (don't hate)

Here is a more detailed, narcissistic look at what I was wearing on Mother's Day. I thrifted these pants from the trunk of my car (a really great spot for lost and forgotten articles of clothing--you should try shopping there sometime). I think I tried to sell them at one point and then put them in a shopping bag with a pink snuggie and left them to die. The shoes were suffering a similar fate in an old storage bin under my bed before I realized they bore an uncanny resemblance to the current asymmetrical Zara pumps everyone in the blogosphere is wearing. With a skinny, pegged pant they remind me very much of Isabel Marant's FW2011 collection. I am giving myself serious high fives for this look. High fiving a million angels...

complimentary

wearing thrifted Ellen Tracy skirt, H&M sweater, child's motorcycle jacket from leather shop, Made by Elves shoes, necklace from Lili Vintage in New Orleans, Banana Republic bracelet

Why are they always eating at Subway on The Real World? Can't they get a reputable food establishment to sponsor the show? Oh wait, I'm the only one who still watches it, so I guess not. And speaking of advertising, how am I supposed to extract meaning and enjoyment from life without Donald Draper's weak-chinned profile brooding through a haze of cigarette smoke on Mad Men? With the series postponed until 2000-God-knows-what, I'm resorting to marathons of Chloe and Lamar just to make it through. Clearly, I can't go on like this. My brain will literally implode on itself from disuse.

In happier news, I am approaching the 3-week countdown of my trip to New Orleans. I can't wait to bury my face in Alligator cheesecake.