A Bit Dotty

Blouse - vintage

Sweater - Burberry

Trousers - Emanuel Ungaro

Pearls - my godmother

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

I Scream You Scream We All Scream For Her

Dear Early 1990s: You haven't returned. You just never left at all.

At first glance I saw these jeans as something only DJ Tanner and Kimmy Gibbler would love, but now I have to say that I belong in this club as well.


A high-waisted, torn-pocket, super light blue jeans with studs kind of club. I'm not going to lie, I may have had a pair of Bongos that were of this exact cut and hue once upon a time. That said, now that the studs are in place, I'd slide into these pants and dance around to "Cherry Pie" in my bedroom any day of the week.

(Oh, by the way, these are Bess jeans, worn by Hanneli Mustaparta during Paris Fashion Week. Image courtesy of Jak & Jil.)

Suiting Up

I only wear this gray suit to work when I wake up in the morning and find all the creativity has drained out of my body during the night.

Jacket - Emanuel Ungaro

Blouse - 3.1 Phillip Lim 

Pants - Emanuel Ungaro

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

I Want to Go to There

So. What do you think about this?
I mean, okay, try to look past the fact that this girl has absolutely perfect, smooth skin, a killer whirly grin, and is sitting on a sidewalk in New York City in the middle of summer soaking up all that life has to offer, while the rest of us at this point in time still don't dare leave the house without a jacket.  My god, her shoulders!  If I had shoulders like that I don't think I'd ever wear a jacket, ever.

Anyway!  This photo is courtesy of my favorite photoblog that has sadly been defunct for some time now, and the reason why I posted it is because of the combination of a) studded black motorcycle boots and b) gray and navy blue athletic tube socks on bare legs.  Who would have thought?  Whoever this girl is, she sure inspires some great sartorial adventures. 

Tax Man

Sweater- H&M

Shirt - H&M

Necktie - vintage

Pants- Yves Saint Laurent

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Black on Black, Thrifting Edition

Since I can't afford a Balenciaga motorcycle jacket I've been keeping my eye out as of late for a suitable substitute. I found such a notion at a thrift store today.

The shoulders were a little big and slouchy for my tastes so I got inside the lining and pulled out the shoulder pads, which makes for a much better silhouette. They resembled white foam falsies, and were actually glued into the garment. I don't know about you but there's something about glued-in shoulder pads that kind of grosses me out.

Speaking of the creepy-crawlies, something else that I avoid at all costs is used shoes. For a vintage lover like me, it is very difficult to find a pair in a size 10, simply because only a few generations ago, women with feet that large were exceptionally rare because the general population was shorter. But then I saw these modest heels with gold detailing in perfect condition. I'm pretty sure they're only from the eighties, but I felt a great deal better about sliding into them because I'm sure all the icky foot germs are long dead at this point.

Purple Haze

Sweater - Vince

Blouse - See by Chloe

Pants - Helmut Lang

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Three by the Sea

Tonight I met my mother and godmother for dinner. We circled our wagons at the bosom of the Pacific Ocean. What the frak happened to my pupils? They're retreating toward the back of my skull. Say no to drugs, kids.

I suppose it's kind of a cliched place to dine, but we went to the Cliff House and ate and gabbed for close to three hours.

My godmother is seriously the greatest.  She is all Italian, has a heart of solid gold and is far more beautiful in person than what this photo could capture.  Also, if you ever see me wearing a pearl necklace or pearl earrings, you can bet dollars to donuts that it was a gift from her.  This classy lady loves her pearls.

See?

If You Want to Destroy My Sweater(s)

Cardigan - Trovata

V-neck sweater - H&M

Pants - Yves Saint Laurent

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

Making a Mint

And don't lecture me about the bitch-face. It's been one of those days. Mmkthx.

Dress - Marni

Sweater - Vince

Belt- Eugenia Kim

Shoes- Christian Louboutin

Stepping Back, Stepping Forward

Many years ago (years I am increasingly looking back on with rose-colored glasses), when I was living in Portland, decorating cakes for a living and subsisting on a diet of Twizzlers and PBR, I had a co-worker named Patty who had a rock and roll heart and her own clothing line as a side project. Patty was all about tattoos, kohl-lined eyes and obscure teen fashion magazines from Japan, and we bonded over butter cream frosting and hair pomade. Life took us in different directions and I lost track of that girl until one snowy day when I was still living in Chicago and learned she was working in a boutique back in Portland. Patty summed up her current job situation in a dismal tone, and all in one sentence: “I sell LV knock-offs to the jeans-and-heels set.”

It could have been our shared punk rock snobbery talking, but then and there Patty gave a voice and a name to a phenomenon I had witnessed but never been able to articulate so concisely. A gal who looks like she stepped out of a low-rent Daily Candy illustration, with a cosmo in one hand and a microscopic chihuahua in the other. The Scary Sadshaws. The jeans-and-heels set.

This was four or five years ago, when “jeans and heels” meant blue boot-cut denim over black stilettos, with little variation. At that moment I knew I never wanted that to be me, and over the years made the conscious choice to never wear those two things together, ever. As time went on, more opportunities kept presenting themselves where donning such an ensemble really wouldn’t have been the end of the world as we knew it. It may have even looked nice or even appropriate at times, but I had been in the habit for so long that I refused to break this self-imposed rule that I had made for myself. Jeans, yes. Heels, absolutely yes. But together? Not a chance. Why? Because BY GOD I am not just another clone spilling her cosmo all over her jeans and heels. I prefer lemon drops and appletinis, thank you very much. What’s the difference, you ask? Erm...let me get back to you on that one.

Self-deprecation aside, I struck this ridiculous rule from my life the other day, when I laid eyes on this image:

This is Susan Cernek. I believe she works for Glamour. What a fantastic ensemble, non? I think what sold me is the skinny jeans (not flared) with the ripped knee. That I can do. What’s more, a tight leg that stops at the ankle gives plenty of limelight to your adorable shoes. I have a feeling that Patty would agree. And even if she wouldn’t, so what? I am a grown-ass woman who is old enough to dress herself. Call it rule-breaking, call it resignation, call it what you will. Jeans and heels are dead. Long live jeans and heels.

Sunday Brunch

Dress- H&M

Shorts - Lux

Jacket - vintage

Belt - Salvatore Ferrgamo

Neckalce - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Bracelets - family heirloom and H&M

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Minnie Mouse on Top, Duckie on the Bottom

I am going my cousin's baby shower this afternoon.

She's my ANTM-watching partner, so there was really only one way to address the card.

Blouse - vintage

Vest - vintage

Necklaces - Marc by Marc Jacobs and H&M

Jeans - Levis

Shoes - Stuart Weitzman

Clothing Swap!

It's the wee hours of the evening and I am mulling over the clothing swap I went to earlier tonight.  I think that in today's wintery economic climate, an opportunity to gather with friends, strip down to your undies and walk away with new pieces without spending one dollar is something we need more of. 

This one was at my friend Sharon's house in the Mission, where Buffy presided over one of the tables.  This section was just for sweaters!  

There really was a lot of stuff, although I personally didn't walk away with a lot. I am so picky at these things, which I suppose is a good thing - there's no sense in getting rid of your own crap only to haul home someone else's, especially if you never end up wearing it.

This was my favorite piece that I acquired.  A long tuxedo jacket, replete with satin lapels and a single front button.  Once I carefully cut out the shoulder pads it will be even nicer because it will hang on me better and perhaps even resemble an old-fashioned YSL le smoking. Or not. One can dream, non?

Amy found a lot of things, including a French maid outfit and a go-go dress that would look right at home on Laugh In.  That said, this powder-blue suede fringe equestrian flight attendant three-piece midriff suit was the most amazing outfit of the entire night.  Annie, get your gun because my girl Amy is packing heat!

So, this was my haul.  In addition to the tuxedo jacket, I got that blue dress, a pink and white pinstripe vest, an old black vintage wallet,  a charming pocket square, and that white lace bustier.  When I saw the bustier I exclaimed, "Wow, this is totally Madonna in the Like a Virgin years."  And Sharon said, "Yeah, I got it for a costume party where I went as Madonna and that's the only time I've ever worn it."  Well, now I can breathe new life into it when I wear it to my niece's Christening.  I'm kidding!  Or am I?

Here's a close-up of the pocket square.  I can't wait to stuff it into a blazer pocket in a careful yet haphazard way. 

When the swap was over Amy and I got burritos.  I also got a Jarritos, which was absolutely delicious and reminded me that summer is approaching our lives at a rapid clip.

On my way home I passed by the mythic Castro Theater, where some friends and I saw a special showing of Milk a couple weeks ago.  Passing by the theater even when I don't go inside makes me happy.

And hey, speaking of warm fuzzies, I also passed by this window display at a consignment store on the way home. Nothing like a free-standing, empty Easter bunny outfit staring down at you through his vacant, soul-less eye sockets to sing you a sweet lullaby. Well, all the excitement tonight sure made me tired! I'm glad this could be the last image we look at before we fall asleep, aren't you?  Goodnight, lovies.

The World's a Mess It's in My Kiss

Top - James Perse

Tanks - James Perse

Jeans - J Brand

Necklace - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Shoes - Lanvin

I Didn't Forget!

Exactly one year ago I was really, really sick. Super bad case of the flu with a mean fever for almost three days. I remember this only because Day Two of the awful sickness happened to fall upon Liza Minneli's birthday, which is today. She turns 63.

I did just a few things during the duration of my sickness. Moaned and groaned, listened to talk radio in the middle of the day, drifted in and out of fever dreams, and drank gallons of Gatorade only to promptly sweat it all back out again.

I also - foolishly - deluded myself into thinking that I was "okay" enough to get out of bed at 7PM and attend an event at Saks Fifth Avenue. I remember that night in brief flashes. There was blue champagne, and a DJ, and an a crowd of kids wearing all black surrounding the Yohji Yamamoto display.

But at least I remembered my precious Liza. Happy birthday, darling!

Michelle Obama and The New Yorker

I saw this peeking out of my neighbor's mailbox this afternoon and had to grab a quick photo.
I think it's a great commentary on her emergence as a public figure with an accessible, approachable sense of style that people have hitched their fashion wagons to.  Also, the covers of The New Yorker during or right around the approximate time of New York Fashion Week are generally pretty on-target with their wry commentary on the biz.

Gray Gardens

I'm feeling staunch today. S-T-A-U-N-C-H.

Blouse - vintage

Skirt - Banana Republic

Belt - vintage

Tights - DKNY

Shoes - Manolo Blahnik

Press Gang

Sweater - Vince

Shirtdress - Piazza Sempione

Tights - Hue

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Yee-haw!

I am quite fortunate in that I get to travel so much. I have whiled away many an hour in airports, passing the time waiting for planes by watching the crowd go by, perusing magazines and library books, and ingesting a mostly liquid diet (air travel dehydrates your skin).

Sometimes I travel to distant tropical islands, or brightly-lit, break-neck metropolises. Other times I travel to regions of the United States where it is not at all uncommon to encounter street signs like this:

And hey, speaking of beguiling little critters, I was lucky enough during this trip to Austin to be steered in the direction of my absolute favorite animal, real or imaginary:

It's true what they say about everything being bigger in Texas.

Giddyup!

Woman on Wire

Sweater - Givenchy

Pants - Helmut Lang

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

It's Nice Work, If You Can Get It

A little Carine worship this afternoon. Ahem.
Riddle me this. You are Carine Roitfeld, high priestess of all things ferosh, Editor-in-Chief at French Vogue, and have been trotting all over the globe inhaling one glorious fashion week after the next like a gold-plated Marlboro Light for more days than you have fingers and toes. Finally, you return to your beloved City of Light for the final act: Paris Fashion Week. Outside of a show, photogs snap your picture. This is how it always is. Week after week. You are perhaps a bit tired, jet lagged, and craving a croissant and espresso. So. You are outside the Balenciaga show, bedecked in a Balenciaga coat and Balmain blouse, and the shutters begin to snap once more. What do you do?

You hand your Birkin to your Designated Birkin Holder and WORK. Work, Carine, work!

I swear, if Carine ever needs someone to hold her Birkin while she poses, I am probably just as qualified as that guy. But in the grand scheme of things, I'd love to have my own Designated Birkin Holder someday as well. Which would first and foremost necessitate ownership of a Birkin. Well. Baby steps.

photo via Jak & Jil

Attack of the Cones

Cones heels are the new leggings, at least in my book.

A few year ago when leggings started to return I swore I'd never wear them because they reminded me of when I'd awkwardly rocked them as a tween with oversized sweaters and big t-shirts. (This was also when I was still trying to find my voice as a fashawn bloggah and was writing in what I now see as a cringe-inducing 'editorial we' - click here for that story). Well, when I started seeing cone heels stalking the runways and sitting pretty in shoe salons I made the same promise. In fact, I found them kind of repulsive, and didn't really understand how people could embrace such a hideous trend. Like, what other 80s trend is going to be revisited that I can gagulate about? Exaggerated shoulders? Then came Balmain's amazing jackets and I had to sit down and shut it.

Anyway, I came around to leggings eventually, by way of some some shiny black Kova & T concoctions. And now the same can be said for the once-dreaded cone heel. Actually, the two morsels shown above (Proenza Schouler on the left, Lanvin on the right) maybe are not cone heels in the true sense of the word. Upside-down pyramids, perhaps? Shoes are so much more sculptural than they were a few years ago, so maybe my resolve has just been worn down over time. Be that as it may, the Lanvin ones especially have such a deliciously 80s vibe to them (chalk it up to the gold cone heel and black patent, methinks) that I just love more and more. Can't you picture them on the feet of Jackie Collins and Ivana Trump as they ate caviar and watched Dallas on a yacht? I'd totally wear them. Unironically, even! Irony was for the 90s anyway.

Of Course It Did

Determined to evoke spring-time weather, I wore this colorful ensemble. It hailed for part of the day, and rained the rest. Fail!

Sweater - H&M

Skirt - Marni

Belt- Missoni

Necklace - vintage

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

Tell Me About It, Stud

It's 11:35PM and I just got home from meeting my friends at a bar in the Mission. Two and a half lemon drops later, my ass is ready for bed.

Cardigan - Theory

Sweater - H&M

Leggings - Kova & T 

Necklace - Marc by Marc Jacobs

belt - thrifted

Shoes - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Pray For Us Sinners

I walked behind this gray acid-washed jeans-wearing girl with cobalt blue bangs for blocks and blocks just to get a photo of her amazing backpack. 

It looked like she did it herself but I was too shy to ask.  Seriously.  The Virgin of Guadalupe on an army surplus backpack?  Amen.

Free Stuff!

I love getting something for nothing. It doesn't happen very often, but on a day when the Dow drops below 7,000 retail therapy that costs me absolutely nothing is something I'll never turn away.

First off I went to Nordstrom, where I glided in on the tail end of a cosmetics promotion they are having.  I received a handful of fragrance samples, as well as some mascara and other treats. 

I love taking sample-sized perfume on trips because the amount of liquid is totally miniscule, which means no hang-ups at security check points, and no worries about a glass bottle getting smashed, either. 

Next was a quick peek in Barneys.  I finally got my Free Stuff card in the mail last week (it's a gift card they give you based on how much you spend) and I think I'm going to wait awhile and put my card toward a pair of shoes later in the year, like maybe these amazing Balenciaga gladiator sandals.

No new clothes for me for a while.  I'd rather save up and make it count.