048. The whimsically preppy

Refinery29.com
What's not to love about Obedient Sons & Daughters? I sure can't think of a single thing.

(I own ancient bedsheets that have this exact print. I'm tempted to make a ruffled blouse out of them now...)

047. Evaluating the eccentric (revisited).

Every once in awhile, I have this recurring conversation with myself. It goes like this:

"That has got to be the most bizarre thing I've ever seen.

"...But...I love it.

"Yeah, it's definitely kind of weird--but--"

"I MUST OWN THIS."

I will admit that a significant number of clothing and accessories I own have sprung from the resolution of this particular dialogue. And no, I'm not going to be ashamed about it, because I am most passionate about clothing that is practically offensive in its bombasticness. I'm not talking about a god-awful Gucci monogrammed pair of pants; no, that's just shockingly repulsive (unless you are able to work wonders with the rest of the outfit). When things are shockingly bizarre, at first sight, I am fascinated with them. As I begin to unravel what makes them so unusual, I realize it is the tiny elements which are beautiful and the combination which is odd. And by this time, I've decided whether you like the item, or if it's been badly done.

I'm currently trying to decide whether I like these Marc Jacobs flats.


ShopBop.com
Okay, so there are probably two potential reactions that people would have for these shoes: 1) Omigod, do we really need more Sesame Street in fashion? Down with the clown shoes! 2) What a beautiful color palette for shoes! I like how playful these look. They would definitely be a signature piece for one of my outfits.

I happen to situate myself closer to the latter camp, but I have a few complaints:

1) Suede sucks. In my experience, suede is even worse than wearing white, because at least you can get something white washed, bleached, or dry cleaned, but suede has this annoying habit of not only attracting dirt, but adhering to it. And let's not de-emphasize the fact that suede also seems to carry static electricity; it picks up everything. And then of course you must remember that suede has that annoying two-tone quality where you have to, like, rub it all in the same direction or it's going to look spotty. Don't get me wrong, I love suede and I wish I could wear it all the time! But it isn't durable. I mean, it is, but it doesn't look good for too long.

2) Marc Jacobs shoes are rarely comfortable. I've tried on so many pairs and, well, this is what I know. My feet have been in bad shape since the beginning of the summer, and for this I will not blame a shoe company, but could a little padding a la Seychelles really hurt? I don't understand why shoemakers don't consider comfort. I hate having to earn my way into a pair of shoes via trial by fire.

3) Is the pom-pom really all that endearing? Hey, I am totally up for pom-poms. I had this teacher in elementary school who endeared me to pom-poms by passing them out in class as a reward for good behavior. She invented this myth about these special pom-poms where they each had a personality and were afraid of the light, so you had to cup them in your hands. So I have a soft spot in my heart for the secret lives of pom-poms. But at a closer look, these particular pom-poms just aren't that great. They're kind of shabby-looking. By which I mean cheap. I am absolutely certain that you could find these pom-poms for five cents at a crafts store. In which case, I might as well just buy a suede shoe from J.Crew for half the price, and superglue the accessory on it. This would cost FAR less, plus the shoe might even be of better quality. Yes, I suppose I'm just a pom-pom elitist at heart.

So, even though my observations here are unavoidably negative, I don't mind this shoe...I'd just rather see it on someone else's foot than mine. Let bygones be bygones, Marc. Since your derivative collection is evolving very well, I'll simply expect better from you next season.

Oh, and I promise to update more. I'm not sure how well I'll live up to this promise, however, because law school starts on Monday...

046. Dressing oneself (The Oft-futility of Lacking a Waist and Going Shopping).

Anthropologie.com
This is a beautiful top, no? I've been seeing a lot of clothing in this style recently--I mean the bustier top, usually paired with halter straps. It's an old style obviously purloined from earlier decades. I've seen it gracing dresses, tops like this one, and bathing suits.

But wish as I might, I will never buy this top. Because of the price tag? Nay. Because I don't like to purchase clothes online? As if. I actually went into an Anthropologie over the weekend looking to buy a dress, any dress, pretty much regardless of price. I am taking a trip to Europe soon and I would like to have an extensive repertoire of cool summer dresses to bring to stave off the sweating that accompanies the warmer months. But I was barely successful in finding a single dress. Alas, my body is not fit for summer dresses. Try as I might, they just aren't for me.

I have a body some would covet, others would scorn, and others would pay little attention. I have no waist to speak of, no hips, no butt, but unfortunately medium-sized breasts that are, alas, not all too firm. So I can't wear low-cut tops because I just look sloppy; in fact I avoid all halter tops for the same reason. I attempt to avoid showing any cleavage because it just makes me look bigger; and I NEVER leave the house without a bra. So I don't have an hourglass figure but I do have assets that I don't want to show off. What I look best in is a structured dress, one that defines the waist (much like high-waisted shorts do) and doesn't cut too low. Preferably, I like a curved neckline that hits one to two inches below the clavicle. Seriously.

So I walk into Anthropologie bent on perusing the sale section, or perhaps indulging myself in a full-price purchase if necessary, when what to my wandering eyes should appear...but all manner of low-cut, halter top, lack of structure, spaghetti strap dresses, arrayed in the loveliest colors, looking cool and breathy and flowy and effortless and...everything that I absolutely cannot wear for fear of looking like a gargantuan balloon. Did I mention how much I utterly detest spaghetti-straps?

To add to my list of Reasons Why I Hate Summer Weather, I shall mark down "Breasts causing annoyance, agitation, and cleavage sweat." Also to add: "Temptation to buy clothes that are unflattering. Lack of palatable options. Envy. Disgust. Frustration. Annihilation."

Help?

045. The battle with bag addiction continues.

I'm always on the fence with Diesel. Visiting the store on Union Square never ceases to confuse me. The bodyguards loom forbiddingly at the front door, giving any non-leather-clad-hipster the evil eye. The place is never packed but instead rather bald, with a paltry number of browsers cruising the racks of merchandise. I never know whether the atmosphere is elitist or street, because all manner of people can be seen wearing Diesel, from poor to rich. In short, I never know what image I give off when I myself wear Diesel...is it a covetable status symbol or representative of something undesirable?

Diesel does have the habit of producing unattractive crap for unreasonably high prices. I primarily like their accessories, although the European Diesels do offer something palatable in the way of clothing. Anyway, I was trolling online for bags (as is my wont) and what did I find but this:


Ssense.com
Does this honestly remind anyone of Diesel? The little oval insignia makes it look almost Versace-ish. The clincher? This bag is only $144. I mean, when was the last time you saw an attractive bag for under $200, sans discounts? All you can get for that price are Coach and Dooney & Burke, dreaded and detested scourges of the fashion world. Hiss! Flee!

I then discovered this equally tempting piece of utilitarian delight.


Ssense.com
Retailing for - shock - a mere $116! Who would have thought? The last bag I liked that was made by Diesel cost upwards of $600 and resembled an upside-down leather parachute. It was quite genius, although unwieldy. But this--could be useful! For my trip...for carrying--useful things...

Should I try to talk myself out of this one, or just succumb to the beauty of the splurge? I want that purple bag...

044. Deja vu.

Let me tell you a little story.


Lorick New York
I work at a law firm, and one day my boss waltzed into work looking even more stylish than usual. I stared at the adorable print on her blouse, and thought, "I've seen that before. I LOVE it. Where have I seen that before?"

Time passed.

I watch Gossip Girl fanatically (for the clothes and the Chuck), and one evening I was watching reruns of the Thanksgiving Day episode. I stared at the adorable print on Blair's dress, and thought, "I've seen that before. I LOVE it. Wait...OH MY GOD THEY ACTUALLY SELL THAT DESIGNER LINE IN THE TRISTATE AREA???"

However, I wasn't about to ask my boss for style tips (we already have similar versions of the same Botkier bag, and I'd rather it not appear like I'm mimicking her, which I'm sincerely not). I figured I'd find out who the designer of the blouse and dress was eventually.


Lorick New York
Lo and behold, I was browsing the blogosphere today when who should I stumble upon but Abigail Lorick herself, a.k.a. Eleanor Waldorf. I've known for ages that Waldorf's line is not a smattering of random garments snatched from real-world designers but instead derives from a single collection produced by a real designer. I didn't know that this particular dress was part of her line.

I don't own a lot of prints when it comes to clothing; I'm more of a textures and colors girl, but I am definitely inspired to be more creative after viewing Lorick's collection. The benefit of prints is that they breathe new life into old shapes. When it comes to clothing, you can either be innovative with the tailoring and cut, or you can be extremely creative in the design of your fabric. Lorick employs both methods to create garments that seem, to the untrained eye, conservative; yet there is a lot going on in her clothing line that embraces innovation. Anyway, I'm impressed. Lorick New York just screams quality to me.


Lorick New York
Anyway, even if I'm a bit late to jump on the bandwagon (I know everyone else blogged about Lorick ages ago), I must pitch my vote of support. I've liked her designs from day one, as she seems to share the same kind of pared-down sophistication that I covet.

043. The Unbearable Lightness of Pearls.

Stock image (Audrey Hepburn)

I am not the type of person who wears heavy bangles, dangling necklaces, or earrings that drag your earlobe down. I feel weighed down by solid metal jewelry, and rings and necklaces often bother my skin. I prefer simplicity over complexity, and lightness over heaviness.

I've been thinking lately that perhaps what my ensembles have been missing is jewelry. It doesn't need to be complicated or excessive. Often when an outfit doesn't look right it's because it's missing that key element—that one thing that pulls it all together. You need diamond earrings to glitz up the LBD, heavy amulet-like crosses to make an all-black outfit goth, an enormous wooden cuff bracelet to enhance the boho vibe of your peasant blouse. You need pearls to turn any outfit, wild or conservative, into an instant classic.


Cultured pearl necklace
As legend would have it, pearls begin their life as an irritating grit of sand, which the oyster encases in layers upon layers of a glossy substance. This technically isn't true - the impetus for a pearl's conception is typically organic matter - but I am still reminded of the tendency of people to conceal perceived flaws by placing a veneer of beauty over them. I am thinking not only of excellent dental work but of artists who have constructed masterpieces inspired by some hidden pain. The ugliest things can be transformed into objects of beauty. I am also thinking that attractive but twisted female villains would do well to wear pearls as a symbol of their true nature. Or if you prefer to be less metaphoric, pearls are a straightforward symbol for elegance.

All of this thinking has caused me to conduct some research. The site Pearl Necklace Jewelry (catchy, I know) offers what seems to be the best price available on the Web. The pearls are apparently sold at wholesale price and the clasps and/or studs are 14K gold (good for me, since my ears are very sensitive). Purchases can be made with PayPal and security is managed by VeriSign. Shipping is free worldwide (sweet) and they do provide a guarantee that the pearls are genuine.

This reminds me, I need to do just as thorough a check-up on all the sites I buy from...

Here are a few pearls (ha) from this website:


Black pearl necklace


Akoya pearl necklace


Freshwater pearl necklace


Pink pearl necklace

I think what appeals to me about pearls is the type of color: smoky hues, dusky rose, warm charcoal. Everything is muted and subtle and soft. And pearls have a contoured, organic shape, no jagged edges or lines.

In conclusion, you can't go wrong with pearl jewelry - it's never gaudy or untasteful.

I must do more posts about jewelry! The last one I did was for that combination jewel-pearl ring from ShopAdele.com, and that was back in the fall.

042. Elizabeth James; Marketing tactics.

ShopBop.com
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's collection, Elizabeth James, just touched down at ShopBop today, and I couldn't wait to check out the lookbook. Apparently the label's name is based on the statistical study that revealed that Elizabeth and James are two of the most successful-sounding names in our (whose?) society. The idea is that when people hear the name, they will imagine an sophisticated, esoteric, and enviable assortment of clothing. The inner snob in each of us will be influenced to buy Elizabeth James in the hopes that it will endow us with similar qualities.

Now whether you buy into this AT ALL is entirely up to you. I am not a big fan of Elizabeth James but I don't particularly dislike it either. I think the Olsens have been successful in creating a line of simplistic but mechanically creative garments. There's a touch of casual and a touch of professional chic, for whomever is either an obsessive fan of the twins or just somebody who happens to like $225 gym shorts. The problem with celebrity-assisted clothing lines is that you pretty much have to like the celebrity to like the clothing. Your (dis)like for the celebrity can potentially cloud your judgment of the clothing itself. But here, I don't see much of either girl's personality, or maybe I'm just not trying hard enough to look. As with The Row, they've gone very basic.

There are some extreme cases in which celebrity lines are nothing more than a rehash of what that person wears on a regular basis. (Take Lauren Conrad, who brashly regurgitated her favorite pieces of clothing all over the so-called runway of her self-titled "collection.") Elizabeth Charles is the other extreme. It's difficult to difficult to deduce the celebs' taste. I suppose the Marianne jacket is probably the hallmark piece of the collection. But since the personality of the clothing falls flat, the backbone of the advertising must fall to the visual effects, and ShopBop has this technique down to a fine art.


ShopBop.com
I read Almost Girl's blog on a regular basis and for a while now I have been reflecting on what she said awhile ago about "guerrilla shoots"--e.g. fashion photoshoots done for online publications/websites. For online boutiques, advertising is based just as much on visual seduction as it is on word of mouth or linkage. And because there are so many such sites around, to get into the big league you have to have a competitive clothes turnout; a constant barrage of new and interesting things. Visually, this translates into the need for a super editorial campaign onsite and in banner ads--and these must cycle continually on a fast-paced schedule. ShopBop does a great job of creating their weekly lookbook, as well as their individual item presentation. The photography is creative as well as streamlined, and this is, I believe, even more important than the actual clothes they sell. Some people will buy a toothpick for $20 if it's marketed properly. All businesses aim to do the equivalent.

There are hundreds if not thousands of online boutiques, and it's easy to fall into the void if you don't stay at the top of your game. Don't deny it--we first judge a book by its cover, always, even if what draws each person in is a different feature. ShopBop happens to have a clean layout, a skilled photographic team, and a professional email notification setup. Although I later recanted my love for Elizabeth James after looking closely at the clothing and realizing it wasn't quite my style, the photo gallery at first drew me in with its aesthetically pleasing styling. If I were an impulse buyer, I'd have been snared.

041. Revisiting un objet d'art.

I snapped this of the BFF when we were trying on clothes at CUSP.



It's a good thing neither of us actually wanted to front the cash for this dress because we might have had to fight to the death for it.

Oh, Marc by Marc Jacobs SS08.

040. For sale...come check it out!

I'm cleaning out my closet in preparation for a lot of expenses in the near future, and I'm inviting everyone who's reading this to come see what I have for sale! It's listed on my regular blog. Come take a look:

EVERYTHING MUST GO.

Clothing from:
-Miss Sixty
-Anthropologie
-Free People
-Arden B
-L.A.M.B.
-Bebe
-Sample Sales
-& more!

039. Cravings.

I do have a weakness for Forever 21. I spend plenty of time berating retail chains like H&M for mass-producing poor quality clothes, but every once in a while, I need my fix--of cheap clothes. It's nice not to always have to pay $120 or more for a shirt. Even if the stitching is always unraveling and you know the reason they give you extra buttons is because the ones on the garment fall off if you so much as breathe on them (case in point: I destroyed my high-waisted shorts today by pulling them on too quickly--a button popped off and is impossible to reattach!). And they're pretty cute sometimes. As long as I don't recognize which designer they've ripped off, my conscience doesn't suffer too much.

I never have enough hot-weather clothing. But I'm going to Europe for a few weeks this summer, so I need a few new things that I can throw by the wayside if I run out of baggage space because I've bought other, better clothes in Paris.

Here are a few tops that are actually quite cute and could be paired with a pair of designer shorts or skirt:


Brianna Woven Top, $24.80
Forever21.com

Crinkled Metallic Wrap, $22.80
Forever21.com

Candy Stripe Babydoll, $24.90
Forever21.com

My best advice when shopping stores like H&M and Forever 21 is to avoid faux-expensive material that looks satiny, as it will inevitably come off as trashy; shun the viscose-spandex hybrids, as they pill and age within mere hours; cotton is your best bet. I always replace the cheap-looking buttons on shirts with quality, vintage buttons from Etsy. You can also make any other minor alterations yourself, given you know how to operate a needle and thread in the most basic ways. You might argue it's futile to embellish what will eventually fall apart no matter what, but my belief is, if you're going to wear it, for however short a time, you might as well maximize its potential.