There’s no question that, in some ways, motherhood has made me go all soft. State of Wonder had me sobbing to Seth, who hadn’t even read it, weeks after I’d finished it. Sarah’s Key drove me into the fetal position. And–need I even mention– it’s been months since I posted on Threadmettle.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t dress like a toughie. In fact, maybe I’d be a little less susceptible to human emotion if I looked a bit more intergalactic.
Even if I remain the same old sucker, mommy wants her a strong shoulder!
Balmain is known for it:
(Photo jacked from WorldofFlyGirls.com)
A sweater like this one by Golden Goose is eminently wearable:
(Photo from, and sweater available on, La Garconne)
I’ll cut right to the chase: a new pair of shoes shouldn’t have you shopping for clothes. It should help you wear things you haven’t donned in ages.
(In case you too have a couple of pairs, along with boxes and the original shipping packages, all sort of hanging around your mirror, maybe this will help you make a decision.)
These Rachel Comey boots have busted my wardrobe wide open:
And this pair by Sam Edelman have me kinda floundering:
What do you think? Am I wise enough to take my own advice?
So, it’s Spring. Which means I’m hot one minute and freezing for the next five.
Anticipating the swelter-chill, I’m paying a lot of attention to knits. Cozy luxury, baby, cozy luxury. I like ‘em somewhat slouchy and mostly striped, like these two by A.L.C. and See by Chloe:
(Get it at net-a-porter)
(Available on shopbop)
If you consider the price tags, it seems I like ‘em expensive, too. Can I scratch this itch more affordably?
I love clogs. I do! Even though people like Christian Louboutin trash them so mercilessly.
Don’t get me wrong- there are some ugly, ugly clogs out there. The key is to watch the brands that make clogs soar, and there are, for me, just two: No. 6 and Swedish Hasbeens. (Sven can be very very good, but Sven can also be horrid.)
And guess what? In the grand old tradition of designer collaborations, Swedish Hasbeens is doing a collection for H&M:
I think they range from $59-69. So guess where I’m going to be on April 20?
(Photos from shopbop and whowhatwear, as usual)
There. I’ve said it.
Now the question is: how to style them? I’m thinking a black & beige striped sweater and leopard flats.
On a recent morning in Brooklyn…
ME: Why don’t I have a pair of leopard print shoes yet?!?
SETH: Um, because they’re weird?
I think my fair husband & I are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I mean, they look nothing short of awesome, worn in all these different ways:
(All 3 photos snatched from Who What Wear)
The first (Olivia Palermo) instance, while still really hot, is the no-duh way to wear them, as an accent to black. You’d want to wear texturally interesting black, as Palermo does, though I’d leave the animal print bag at home. Overkill!
The second (Tip #6) example is the way I’d want to wear them, thrown in with other prints (especially stripes), shooting for a Patricia Field-esque cacophonous harmony, but potentially giving credence to Seth’s take and looking like a real nutter.
The last illustration is the way I’d strive to wear them, just throwing them on with any outfit.
Now if I could only find the right pair…
Am I the last one to the party?
Apparently Pellegrino launched their special edition Missoni bottle (the first of their “Italian talents” series) in late summer, but I spotted the gorgeous thing for the first time just a week ago (at Blackbird in Chicago, which was delicious, by the way).
Assuming they’re still available, I’m going to pick up a bottle or two. At a nominal price and with zero calories, I’d say this is a gustatory/fashion indulgence even the most puritanical aesthete could get into.
Macrame by Prada? Amazing!!
Images unabashedly stolen from Nylon.
I haven’t been keeping up with Project Runway that closely since it moved to Lifetime –Bravo being my default cable channel and all– but I have enjoyed what I’ve seen of this season, the show’s eighth. It’s in NYC, the judges are a) consistent and b) likeable, and some of the designers are actually down-to-earth fashionable themselves. I speak of Gretchen, in particular. Sure it helps that she’s totally modelesque, but she also does a great job with accessories. I particularly admire this wide nautical bracelet she wears (stacked with an old-school Casio or Timex, in case you didn’t notice):
I’m a big fan of textile jewelry (remember my ode to Lizzie Fortunato?), and I love how wide it is. The partial beige dye I could do without; natural white suits me just fine.
Usually it’s a total nightmare tracking down some random piece, but in this case, I knew right where to turn: Etsy! I’m getting mine wide, in white, from MysticKnotwork. Let you know how it goes.
Update: my knot bracelet arrived today…love it!
first things first
Did I mention that I had a baby?
Needless to say, my little sweetheart usurps a bit of the time I once used for thinking (and re-thinking) each and every ensemble. Nowadays, I find myself reliant on quick finishes, like:
* a red lip
I come from a long line of natural-faced women, have zero makeup skills and even less product knowledge. So I jumped all over my friend when she pulled out a matte lipstick that looked like a giant crayon:
One quick stop into Sephora, and I am now a big fan of the Tarte LipSurgence Natural Matte Lip Tint.
* a good coat
A girl just wants to feel cute when she runs out to Union Market, know what I’m saying? And even though Spring is supposedly on its way, I’m big into my fur collar coat. It’s not as I-dare-you-to-throw-red-paint-on-me as a full fur, but manifests the cozy-luxe a mama like me craves.
So even in leggings and a tee, maybe haggard and definitely harried, a scarlet pucker and beautiful coat can make me feel almost human, and maybe even like a force to be reckoned with.