Weekday update #24: Cool Jacket

I had to snap two photos of C. She looks so darling today. Her jacket is to die for. Too bad my waist isn't a 20 (or some ungodly number like that!) or else I'd have stolen it from her. The dress was just as lovely, shoulda' gotten a shot of that too. Okay, I see how it is. I totally have to step my fashion game up. This is going to be exhausting. Earlier in the morning, an atty here cautioned me not to "break the bank" on all this fashion stuff, but confided that both C and I were the reason they couldn't wait to get to work every day, just to see what we'd have on. It was at that moment that I had to explain the true meaning of being fashionable/stylish (from my perspective at least). A woman should not adorn herself to make herself look rich. If she does, she's totally missed the point. I went further to quote one of my favorite designers, Mr. John Galliano, "we are in a credit crunch, NOT a creative crunch!" Words to live by. :-)

(Willi Smith duster; vintage dress & belt; DKNY hosiery; Burberry boots)

I woke up this morning with a new resolve inspired by this little dress, a gift from the darling husband, who always shower me with wonderful presents. The resolve is simple, I shall wear my little silk dresses during the day and not leave them waiting in the closet for some silly evening occasion. I don't know who made the rule that silk is for night time. As recent as the sixties, Chinese women in Hong Kong went to work and ran their daily errands in gorgeous silk cheongsams. The fabric is comfortable and demure. There is hardly any danger of revealing too much, so why has it been banished from the office? Well, unless someone tells me otherwise, silk dresses are coming back to my office. This particular number has a great ruffled neckline, but was a bit too slinky sans sleeves. A quick search in the closet produced this faux suede jacket with structured shoulders that played the strong counterpoints to the soft dress.

This is not to say that the jacket didn't have a bit of romance of its own. In the back, a lacy bow draped down the length of the dress and bounced in the most cheerful manner as I walked out of the house.

Weekday update #23: Teal the end of time

It makes me smile to see this dress looking so demure, because when the jacket is off you'd find out that the dress is a halter that leaves the whole back and most of the front bare. The neck tie part normally goes to the back, and it was awkward that way with the jacket on. I can't believe it never occurred to me before to wear it as a scarf tie in the front. I absolutely love it this way.

I did not expect to see C in teal today. I really didn't, but I'm so glad I did. Not just because we matched, but because we both took this color and put our own personal style on it. I suppose that's what this blog is all about anyway. I get it now! ^_^ All I can say is that I'm happy the weather is warming up. I didn't think I would as I really enjoy the cold and love to dress in layers. Lately, I've found that one can still layer even in warmer weather, you just have to have the right type of fabric!

(Banana Republic cardigan; Diane Von Furstenberg dress; Michael Kors waistbelt; Victoria's Secret hosiery; Stuart Weitzman boots)

Weekday update #22: Lace Collar

Yesterday, C wore the cutest leather gloves in burnt orange. I had wanted to wear gloves too. An elbow length, cognac snake-skin glove to be exact but totally talked myself out of it. Thought I was "trying." After I saw how smashing C looked, I decided to go with my first mind from that moment forward. Fashion mind that is. To "push the corporate envelope" and don red leather pants. This photo is a little bright as the pants weren't that red. But red nonetheless. In an effort to downplay the boyish look of the pants, I chose a high neck lace top and dainty jacket. Up close you can get a clearer understanding of what's going on here. The top half is girly, the bottom half is somewhat tom-boyish. There's the balance (or happy medium as I like to call it). Remember, there must be balance in all aspects of one's life, especially their wardrobe.

(Carole Little quilted silk jacket; Victoria's Secret silk & lace shirt; Ralph by Ralph Lauren leather pants; vintage Justin "Roper" boots)

I definitely can't pull off red leather pants, at least not without looking like I am trying on Gigi's clothes behind her back. I'll just take comfort in knowing myself well enough to realize that I should stay far far away from things with attitude. What I do are comfortable things, soft and frilly things. And this sweater is exactly that. Without the camisole, it's almost completely see-through and loosely hugs me like snuggles. And if you happened to see me, arms folded around myself with a smile on my face, you, my friend, had witness me hugging snuggles back.

Weekday update #21: Full on color

I have wanted to show off these gloves ever since I bought them over Christmas. When I lived in New York, a thing like that would have been easy as winter ware was an absolute must during the daily commute. The same is not true for Atlanta, where the temperature barely dips under 40F and my commute exposes my body to the element for exactly 0 minutes (house - car - office parking garage). Today, however, I woke up to 16F outside. Unheard of! I temporarily contemplated working from home, but then kicked myself for being such a weakling after just four years of living in the south. Instead, I decided to sport my burnt orange gloves since even my steering wheel was frozen. Aren't they just darling? Love!

C is right about it being really cold today. I had no idea it would be this cold. I didn't watch the weather report this morning. I bet that explains why I practically ran from my car to the office, in a fur coat no doubt! Yeah, it was just that cold... for Atlanta anyway. So the cold weather would also explain why I got so many questions about this short sleeved, lime green dress. Not very wintery looking for some I would imagine. It's simple to explain really. This dress is made of a very (and I mean very) heavy linen & silk combination. There is no way I could wear it in spring or summer, in Atlanta that is. A cold day like today is truly the only time. So there you have it.
(vintage dress & belt; Hue hosiery; Michael Kors pumps)

Weekday update #20: bring the outside inside

I've never been one to hold on to things. Meaning, as soon I as I got anything new, I'd use it immediately! Yesterday, darling C acquired this wool topper for me. I could not wait to wear it. In fact, I wore it home, just to give it a test run to see how it would wear and if I would need to make any adjustments. I needed to make only a minor one. To wear a mock turtleneck in order to keep from scratching my neck off! I love wool, but it gets me every time. One of my fellow colleagues asked who was my inspiration today and I told him I felt like being a martain, but after seeing this photo with all that wild hair, I happily lay claim to Edward Scissor Hands! ^_^
(Marc Jacobs wool tunic; Zara mock turtleneck; Young Fabulous & Broke cashmere leggings; Burberry boots)
I adore wearing scarves. My mom started my collection when I was five and it has steadily grown for the next twenty five years. Normally, I stick to the silk ones for indoor wear, but today it's freezing, making me want to keep my large wool one on all day. To hold it in place, I tucked it under the belt and it actually blended into the dress quite well. A new idea (for me anyway) is born!

Weekday update #19: Belt it

One of my favorite runway looks from the spring/summer 2009 shows is Chloe's paper bag skirts and shorts gathered at the waist with a romantic fabric belt. So when I saw this skirt hanging on a picked over sales rack at BCBG looking rather lonely, I had to save it from an unloved fate. The original belt was of the same color and material as the skirt. It didn't drape the way I wanted to, so I replaced it with a soft silk scarf. Without deliberately matching it to the shirt, they turned out to go together. Such is fashion luck I guess.

I have a picture of Kate Moss that someone snapped of her in London, walking in the rain, in a get up similar to this one. It looked comfortable and easy. It rained today and I wanted walking in the rain, to and from work (my car that is...), to be comfortable and easy. You can't tell from the looks of this photo, but yesterday was my best hair day ever! As you can see, I don't ask for much. ^_^ (Banana Republic velvet trimmed cardigan; BCBG tank top; suede belt & silk skirt - vintage; Cole Haan g-series boots)

Weekday update #18: Skinny pants

My word, is my hair ever in some semblance of order, ever?! Short answer: Nope! And I just can't worry about it either. You don't really know what you look like til' you're on film, let me tell ya'. Anyhoo... these skinny leather pants are back by popular demand. I wore them a few weeks ago, but C was out of town. However, one of the attys here asked me to wear them again, so here they are. Now I didn't wear them for anyone in particular. Okay, that's a lie. I wore them for the Killers. I went to see them right after work. I didn't know one Killers song and had never heard of the band. Months ago, I got an e-mail from Ticketmaster containing a fabulous photo of this band. I was instantly captivated by one of the members, a guy with long hair wearing a fur vest! I thought to myself, 'it takes some cohones for a guy to wear a fur vest' (a straight guy that is, I mean, I assume he's straight). So, I bought tickets and anxiously awaited the show. All I can say is, I'm so glad I went with a fun person as the show, in itself, was a bust. Not to say anything against the Killers, but once you've tasted true Rock & Roll grit from the likes of Iggy Pop, Black Sabbath, and the Misfits (just to name a few) it's hard to go back to lollipops!
(YaYa cropped tuxedo vest; Brooks Bros. button down; Victoria's Secret leather leggings; Stuart Weitzman oxford pumps)
While most of my girlfriends flock to the shoe racks when out shopping, I hardly ever turn my eyes in that direction. Of course this is not due to a lack of love for shoes (that would a crime). I don't look because it makes me sad. 99% of the time, there is nothing on the racks that will fit my size 4 feet. Instead, I must patiently wait for the husband or my next trip to Asia, where I go crazy in a few favorite stores and walk out looking like I just committed a robbery. But once upon a blue moon, I, or in this case, my darling husband, would see a glimpse of hope on a shelf. "Those orange baby shoes look like they would fit your paws," said the husband. And they did, brilliantly. At 1/4 the price of the adult version, these kids Tory Burch were the perfect find.