Design of a Decade

This is only the third decade I've lived through, and what better reason than that to do a self-indulgent retrospective of personal style. I also threw in some other fun facts as mile markers. It's a long, loving, eye roll of a look back at what I saw in the mirror every morning. But that's kind of what Cuffington has been about from the get-go, so as this guy once said, if you didn't come to party, don't bother knocking on my door.

Year: 2000
Age: 20
Favorite songs: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Daysleeper, Waltz #2
Celebrity crushes: Ewan McGregor, Tobey MacGuire
Personal style: hoodies, messenger bags, boyfriend jeans

Year: 2001
Age: 21
Favorite songs: Idle Hands, Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss, Fairy Tales Tell Tales
Celebrity crushes: Rivers Cuomo, John Cameron Mitchell
Personal style: thrifted mens trousers and sweaters from the J. Crew catalogue

Year: 2002
Age: 22
Favorite songs: It's a Fact, This Train Don't Stop There Anymore, Hotel Yorba
Celebrity crushes: Jonathan Safran Foer, Kathleen Hanna
Personal style: Dickies and Converse

Year: 2003
Age: 23
Favorite songs: Ballroom Blitz, Second Skin, Ready for More
Celebrity crushes: whoever invented Nerd Rope
Personal style: tight slim jeans and slip-on Vans

Year: 2004
Age: 24
Favorite songs: Milkshake, Maps, New Slang
Celebrity crush: Katherine Moenning
Personal style: hankies as neckwear, Pumas, tattoos

Year: 2005
Age: 25
Favorite songs: Toxic, Hey Ya
Celebrity Crush: Joaquin Phoenix
Personal style: black band t-shirts, self-administered haircuts

Year: 2006
Age:26
Favorite Songs: Love Me or Hate Me, Bossy, My Love
Celebrity Crushes: Lazaro Hernandez, Jack McCollough
Personal style: wrap dresses, corporate suits, Jimmy Choos

Year: 2007
Age: 27
Favorite songs: Irreplaceable, All Good Things (Kaskade Remix), Back to Black
Celebrity crushes: Tom Ford, Sigourney Weaver
Personal style: American Apparel deep-v t-shirts

Year: 2008
Age: 28
Favorite songs: Levon, The Promise, Tonight in Bilbao
Celebrity crushes: Rainn Wilson
Personal style: tight black pants, black flats and long drapey tops

Year: 2009
Age: 29
Favorite songs: Bad Romance, Gloria, Private Affair, Fix My Brain
Celebrity crushes: Grace Coddington
Personal style: Missoni in warm weather, vintage tie neck blouses, sky-scraper heels

Happy New Year, everyone! Thanks for reading Cuffington, seriously. Let's totally destroy 2010 and make our dreams come true. And if you see me try and cut my own bangs again, knock those scissors out of my hand and throw them into a fiery pit of lava somewhere in Mordor. I thank you in advance.

A Fable With No Moral

Blouse - Adolfo

Trousers - Banana Republic

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Heirloom Holiday

I received many beautiful things over the weekend and feel blessed and fortunate as a result. It goes without saying that I don't need 'stuff' to make me feel like I am loved, but when someone chooses to take the time to be thoughtful enough to gift me with something, I always feel extra special. One of my aunts (my dad's sister) sent me some peppermint bark, as well as this.
A simple gold clutch laced with metallic thread, with a satin lining the color of egg yolks. It belonged to my grandmother, and it still smells like her: cleanliness, powder, tissue paper, and a soft waft of perfume that has no name. There are no snaps, zippers, or closures. It simply bends over itself, like an empty pillowcase folding in half. There are no labels or tags on the inside. Simplicity. Unpretentious anonymity. Glamour transcending time.
This purse is many things. Gold. Vintage. Fancy. Useful. A family heirloom. All things that I treasure. How lucky for me that it now sits on my shelf, and folds into my hands so perfectly.

Back to the Fuschia

Blouse - Sonia by Sonia Rykiel

Trousers - Banana Republic

Shoes - Missoni

Stanford's in Groundhog Day?

I was watching Groundhog Day on Netflix last week. What better time of year to watch a film about a large squirrel predicting the weather than the days leading up to the birth of our Lord. Am I right? Anyway, I noticed that Willie Garson, aka Stanford Blatch from Sex and the City, has a scene in the first five minutes or so. He plays Bill Murray's assistant, Kenny. Since I only know him as Stanford, it was quite odd to see him in any other role but that one.
So naturally, down the rabbit hole of IMDB I went, and it was there I got to see Garson's impressive acting resume. Dude has been in a lot of movies, and even more TV shows. Fun fact: he played Lee Harvey Oswald in that super special two-part episode of Quantum Leap! Aside from being on every TV show ever (including Twin Peaks, Mr. Belvedere, and of course that one that takes place in New York) he's also been in so many films I can't even begin to list them all. But anyone who is among the cast of Being John Malkovich and Troop Beverly Hills gets a tip of my hat for sure.

A Virgin Who Can't Drive

Today I wore my French cuffs down, in a Cher Horowitz kind of way. Basically, if your first name is Cher, you can do no wrong in my book.

Sweater - H&M

Blouse - vintage Escada

Skirt - Kate Spade

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

Oh, fudge.

Every Christmas my mom makes boatloads of fudge and at least an apple pie or two.

This year my nephew helped her with the pie.

And my niece helped Ted clear his sinuses.

There's always toys strewn about when little ones are underfoot.

My mom decided to take her footwear up a notch and accessorize with some leftover ribbon.

My sister and I wish you a Happy Holidays from the kitchen at our mother's house.

Unbelted

Today was different. For the first time ever, I wore this dress without a belt. And you know what? The world didn't end. I don't know why I didn't try this before.

Dress- Marc Jacobs

Sweater - H&M

Stockings - Hue

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Fiestaware

On a day like today, the darkest day of the year, it only makes sense that I sit here and dream about Marni and Prada's 2010 resort collections. The lightweight material, the movement, and the splashy colors sweep me up in a fantasy involving warm breezes and drinks topped with paper umbrellas.
Not to mention these vertiginous offerings from Mr. Louboutin. There's something about the open toe, jaunty knot and color combo that makes me think this is a piñata disguised as a shoe. Hey, I'll go with it. ¡Olé!

Hot Air for a Cool Breeze

Cardigan - Theory

Shirt - Ted's (go Bay Area metal!)

Leggings - Kova & T

Necklace - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

When Worlds Truly Collide

Tonight when I was Christmas shopping for no one in particular (okay, ME) I wandered over to the Marc Jacobs boutique on the third floor of Saks. There and then for a few brief seconds I came face to face with none other than Mr. Lars Ulrich.
In the future, I will also accept a fleeting run-in with Lemmy at Barneys or Slash at Neiman Marcus. I'm just, you know, putting that out there.

Come Sail Away

Sweater- H&M

Blouse - vintage Escada

Trousers - Marc Jacobs

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Christmas Wrappings

When I buy something that goes on my back (or feet) I prefer that it be as seasonless as possible, so that I can wear it all year round and maximize it's potential. The more wear I get out of something, the better I feel about the purchase, and the happier it makes me. I have realized that for me, the same thing applies with present-wrapping supplies.

You'll never find reindeer or candy canes on my wrapping paper. If it's festive but still neutral enough to wrap a birthday present in (like the fake woodgrain paper above), it's a go. I also have a shoebox full of yellow, orange, white, and pink ribbon. I find that I stick to cool colors for wrapping paper and warm colors for the ribbon. Blank paper tags in every hue are also super versatile. Then I just colorblock like a mad fool.
I'm also currently in bed, working on my Christmas cards and watching The Royal Tenenbaums on Netflix. I haven't seen that film in years, and I've noticed that there is a lot of pink in that movie. Pink and brown. I saw that my purdy address book (perhaps the best ten dollars I have ever spent) is quite Tenenbaums-esque.

Sister Golden Hair

Cardigan - Burberry

Blouse - vintage

Trousers - Theory

Necklace and Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

Rose Parade

Won't you follow me down?

Cardigan - Theory

Blouse - H&M

Trousers - Banana Republic

Belt - Salvatore Ferragamo

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Christmas Blackout + Boots Break-In

The other day I got my Christmas tree at Fort Mason. I have no car and decided to slum it and lug the tree home on the bus instead of getting a cab. This is San Francisco - you can wear a Barbie-pink fishnet bodysuit to church and no one bats a single eyelash. A bit of pine tree scent on a bus never hurt anyone.I set out all the garland and ornaments, had the hot cocoa and peppermint Schnapps within easy reach, and right when I was all set to decorate, the power went out! Being a former Girl Scout (and not just on Halloween) I found my emergency tin filled with candles and jerry-rigged a lighting concept.
It's kind of weird...pretty much anything can take on a sinister quality when cast in candlelight, especially random stuff on your dresser.

I even put some tea lights in the bathroom. Safety first in this house.

Amy had come over to help decorate, but not to sit around waiting for the lights (and heat) to magically work again. So we ventured out to part of the neighborhood that still had power.
After some window shopping and soup at The Grove, we went back home. Thankfully, the lights were back on at that point and decorating was a go!
I took this portion of the evening to break in my new Proenza Schouler boots as I strung the garland and hung the ornaments.

Multitasking, you know?

Happy Holidays, everyone. Thanks for reading Cuffington!

Betsey Johnson Christmas Socks

I was gifted with this two-pack of socks at a recent holiday fête. I wasn't sure what to do with them. If I didn't wear them, who would? Finally, I think I have some answers.

Here's Avril Lavigne at her office's Christmas party.

Here's Peg Bundy after she married The Grinch.

You Hope, And I'll Hurry

Dress - Marni

Cardigan - James Perse

Belt - Salvatore Ferragamo

Stockings - Hue

Booties - Manolo Blahnik

Three Bags Full

During this time of year when one's calendar abounds with winter wonderland festivities and sparkly nights out, my mind often turns toward that evening essential, the clutch. Fortunately, this is also a time of year when the winter sales are in full effect. Here are three clutches that dazzled me earlier in the year, and continue to dazzle (and tempt) me even more, because their prices have been significantly slashed.

A woven satin number from Lanvin with a cheerful bow.

The embroidery detail on this Nina Ricci is just heaven.

Marni's take on classic white is chic, a little off kilter, and kind of reminds me of an upside-down shower cap, which honestly is something I've come to expect from them over the years.

I think my favorite thing about all of these bags is that they don't necessarily scream "holiday!" or any other time of year for that matter. I try to have as many seasonless items as possible, and that includes accessories too. As my collection of clutches slowly grows, I try to be very thoughtful and methodical about what gets added in. Any of these clutches (especially the Lanvin or the Ricci) would be an amazing addition.

Miserable Cold Weather = Aspirational Missoni Swimwear

I shouldn't really be complaining. Sure, it may be in the lower thirties outside, but I've endured worse. Booger-freezing, butt-clenching, esophagus-seizing, waiting for the bus during a snowstorm in Alaska worse. Maybe you're having days like that where you live too. When I'm experiencing cold weather so blindingly hateful that I want to drop-kick a baby moose (No! I wouldn't really do that) I center myself by escaping into the world of Missoni swimwear! Imagine yourself in these rainbow triangles of knitted perfection, in a place so warm you don't want to wear anything but.

I like this one piece because the cut and material have a great vintage vibe, plus it offers nice coverage.
When I find myself slipping into a Missoni swimwear-induced warm weather fantasy coma, I return in time to the month of May, earlier this year when Ted and I were in Las Vegas, lounging poolside in our swimsuits, doing absolutely nothing.

And just so you know that I'm not lie-telling about living through Alaskan snowstorms, allow me to submit this:

(I'm the one in pink. Of course.)