cuffington

The Siren Song of the Carven Blouse

2012-02-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

We're barely in to February but I'm thinking about little else but spring fashion these days. Having warm splendid weather here in San Francisco doesn't help things! My mind is on Prada's chrome car prints, this Vogue Russia editorial, and my store is stocked with spring stuff already. Then came this blouse from Carven.

Oh, how lovely.

There aren't a ton of images online at the moment.

The Barneys downtown carries Carven, so I'll for sure have a closer look in person the next time I'm over there, if they have it in stock. Bullocks to the groundhog, I say! Bring on spring.

Images via here here and here

Getting to Feel Free & Easy

2012-02-01T17:40:00.003-08:00

A trend in menswear that I've really been able to get behind is the whole dapper lumberjack look. You know what I'm talking about: crisp Pendleton shirts with a flannel bow tie, fitted tweed vets, pristine raw denim carefully cuffed over dusty boots or Red Tail oxfords. Add a tote bag or leather satchel, Teddy Roosevelt eyeglasses and some well groomed facial hair and you're on the right track. There really are so many different ways to dress as a dandy woodsman, and I recently came across a Japanese magazine called Free & Easy that is utterly devoted to doing so.

Free & Easy actually caters far beyond the tastes of a Christmas tree farmer on school picture day. There are pages and pages devoted to crafting variations of that look, and umbrella terms like "Real Americana" "Neo Trad" "Navy Baseball" and "Rustic New England" have inspired editorials and ads of models in fisherman sweaters, preppy blazers, and suits that a college professor in the 1930s would wear (think Indiana Jones when he wasn't fighting Nazis and snakes). Free & Easy has a lot to look at, but unfortunately (at least for me) most of the text is in Japanese.

I've been on a pants-wearing kick lately and flipping though a recent issue of Free & Easy (you can buy them at Union Made if you live in San Francisco) inspired me to do a toned down version of what they celebrate. I could have gone farther (I've got a great Ralph Lauren tweed vest and other accoutrements) with this look but decided to reel it in a bit since I'd be at my office job today.

Sweater, blouse & trousers - vintage

Ring - family heirloom

Shoes - Pour la Victoire

Bag - Chloe

Cuffington on SF Indie Fashion

2012-01-25T18:00:00.001-08:00

Click here for a quick interview I did over on SF Indie Fashion.

The last time I was on this landmark Bay Area fashion blog, it was for a decidedly different reason. It's so fun to see things come circling around again (as they often do here in SF and online). Enjoy!

photo by Sara Iravani

Walking the Line

2012-01-13T19:52:00.000-08:00

Coat - Burberry

Blouse - vintage { 1960s }

Trousers - vintage { 1980s }

Belt - J. Crew

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

Bag - Chloe

What a Friend We Have in Beatrice

2012-01-09T21:05:00.000-08:00

As you gathered, I've been away for a bit. My little sweetums, Beatrice the cat, fell ill on New Years and died a couple of days later. She would have been ten years old later this year.

Ted adopted Beatrice, and her surviving sister, Ramona, when they were babies.

They never spent a day apart.

I miss my little Bea very much.

Goodbye, Twenty Eleven

2012-01-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

Here are some previously unpublished photos from the past year, including a small peek into last night's New Years festivities.

Ring in the New

2011-12-30T15:39:00.000-08:00

Today I wore a bunch of stuff from earlier this year, and not a stitch of vintage. It's stuff I wouldn't have thought went well together, yet somehow did.

Blouse - Jason Wu

Necklace - Marni

Trousers - Jason Wu

Shoes - Manolo Blahnik

Happy New Year, everyone!

Prada and Ghosts of Flying Toasters Past

2011-12-29T20:31:00.000-08:00

It was a late winter morning in the early nineties. I know for sure it was still technically morning because my seventh grade math class was always before lunch. I had actually got up and walked out of math class a few minutes prior, and was now sitting in the private office of the school guidance counselor. I wasn't in trouble, but I knew I had just done something terrible.

I was a mostly-A's student in every subject, but the one place I always struggled in was math. I had difficulty with it and my math grades were always gaping holes on my otherwise pristine report cards. Nothing about it came naturally and it seemed like I had to try five times as hard to do as well as the kids who never seemed to study at all. Math homework often brought me to tears, I remember dabbing my eyes with Kleenex at the kitchen table as I labored over long division.

That day in the guidance counselor's office, I sat and explained to her why I had abruptly left math class to come and talk to her. Moments earlier our math teacher had given our class a pop quiz, with ten questions. He then had us grade ourselves, and then he went down the list in his grade book and had us tell him out loud how many questions out of ten we got right so he could write it down. "Eight" said one kid. "Five" said another. And on down the list the teacher went, until he reached the middle of the alphabet, where the letter 'N' resides, which is the first letter of my last name and my classmate, Katrina.

Katrina was the best student in class and got A's on almost everything. Katrina was homely and quiet, with the unfortunate kind of prescription glasses that magnified her eyes. She looked like an owl, gawky and awkward in bulky homemade sweaters. Across the aisle from me sat a boy named Mackenzie. Mackenzie often wore Bad Boy Club t-shirts and loafers with no socks. He was the kind of kid who wouldn't listen to you unless you had a weapon. Katrina, with her obvious vulnerable nerdiness, was an easy target for Mackenzie, who had zero shits to give and often berated her when she got a good grade, in a voice that was loud enough for all to hear. Katrina never spoke back to him, instead she turned red and looked down at her desk. It was painful to watch, but since I was an average student Mackenzie left me alone.

So we graded our quizzes and to my complete shock I had got every question right. Ten out of ten. Wow. This would give my math grade a much needed boost. But my fiery pride and elation were quickly doused when I realized that I would have to say my grade aloud. The teacher asked Katrina for her quiz results. "Nine" she said flatly. Across the aisle, Mackenzie snorted. "God," he whispered, "You fucking loser." Then the teacher asked me for my number. I hesitated for half a second.

"Seven," I said.

A wash of acid flushed through my gut. I immediately regretted what I had done. And I had let a boy, a boy who got worse grades than me, intimidate me into selling myself short in a class where I needed every point I could get. I was so angry at myself. When the teacher put away his grade book, I asked to be excused.

So there I sat in the guidance counselor's office, telling her the whole story. I wanted to push a button and go back in time and change what I'd done. I was furious with myself, and also ashamed. She began to speak, to advise me on what my next move should be, but her words faded into the background because it was at this moment that I noticed her computer.

She clearly hadn't used her computer in a while because the screen saver had kicked in. And there across the screen was a flock of round chrome toasters, flapping their wings and zipping across at different speeds. It was on an infinite loop, it seemed, always more toasters and more pieces of toast came into view, only to fly out of sight eventually. I had never seen anything like it. I have no recollection of what she said, or what I told my math teacher later that day. In the midst of a huge seventh grade crisis where my self esteem and identity hung in the balance, were these toasters, shiny and aerodynamic, taking flight. It was as if, suddenly, life wasn't so serious, because I was living in a world where toasters were flying south for the winter. And things would be better.

Prada's spring/summer 2012 collection definitely has a whiff of the jet age in it's influence. Their whimsical prints are buzzing with post-war America's love of all things shiny, rounded and chrome. You see it in the shoes and bags as well, with the automobiles adorned with flames and big fin tail lights. In those days, people were dreaming big in a newfound consumer culture. This spring, Prada gives me a whirly grin, similar to how those flying toasters lifted me out of a shameful moment back in the early nineties. Don't let the Mackenzies of the world put you down, people. Hitch your lasso to your own version of a flying toaster, and rise above.

Prada photos via style.com, Flying Toaster screen capture via Holy Taco

Cozy + Crisp

2011-12-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

Sweater - vintage { 1950s }

Coat - Chanel

Trousers - J. Crew

Belt - J. Crew

Bag - Chloe

Socks - American Apparel

Shoes - Pour la Victoire

Mailbag: Hooking Matt Hooper's Style

2011-12-20T13:52:00.001-08:00

It's been a very long time since anyone wrote me asking for style advice (clearly, you've wised up). So imagine my shock and delight when Australian reader James sent me a message asking how to go about finding clothes similar to what Richard Dreyfuss's character wore in Jaws. Let's have Roy Schneider demonstrate my reaction to James' email.

James came across my story on Richard Dreyfuss's character's style in Jaws and explained his predicament: "I've been attempting to find some Drefussian style garb for my summer on the coastal beach of Wollongong. I've tried searching charity shops, but to no avail. My friend is a semi-Roy Schneider lookalike and I'm (at least in the gut department as well as height and baldness too) semi-Dreyfuss like. Our plan is to don the costumes and take tribute shots down at the local pier."

This is possibly the most amazing email I've ever received from a reader, nay, in my entire life. My five plus years as a fashion blogger have been leading up to this very moment. After all, I've been known to don a costume and pose in front of strategicly scouted locations too. But back to James and his awesome idea. In Jaws, Dreyfuss plays young Matt Hooper, whose wardrobe of coastal graduate student preppiness evokes a certain, as James put it, "nebbish charm." It's well-edited beach town scrappiness. James was looking for things that could be found online. To get in the spirit, I made - what else? - a collage.

Let's start at the top and work our way down. We should also keep in mind that Matt Hooper dresses differently when he's far inland vs. when he is on a boat or near water. So, seeing as James' planned photoshoot is on a pier, we're going for the latter kind of look.

Matt Hooper wears a little knit navy blue beanie when he's on the docks. I'd definitely go with that. Those can be found at military supply stores as well as online. Next, the glasses! It should be noted that both Roy Schneider and Richard Dreyfuss wear glasses in the film, but the main difference is that Scheider's are metal frame double bridge and Dreyfuss's seem to be without frames at all. But if they do exist, they're whisper-thin. Go for the John Lennon style glasses if all else fails. I've been known to find frames in charity shops/thrift stores and simply knock the prescription lenses out with a hammer. Try eBay too, you might find something for a song.

So, you've got your beanie, your glasses, and your scruffy beard (hopefully). Next comes a weathered gray top. A simple sweatshirt will do, or, if you're feeling fancy, a fishermans cable knit sweater. From there, find yourself some well-worn blue jeans. If getting the genuine article on the cheap isn't possible, Levis or Lee would be the most appropriate. Last is footwear. Matt Hooper wears simple, somewhat distressed blue sneakers with white laces, and classic boat shoes are a very safe bet. If that falls through, simple blue Vans would work as well.

So, to recap: beanie, beard, glasses, light gray sweatshirt, old jeans, and dark blue boat shoes. That's your super basic Matt Hooper. Good luck with everything, James!

Slouchyness

2011-12-19T20:19:00.000-08:00

Cardigan - Prada

Tank - H&M

Trousers - Theysken's Theory

Necklace - Marni

Shoes - Lanvin

Wrapped Up

2011-12-16T18:28:00.000-08:00

Nothing takes the chill away like a thick top with knit bell sleeves.

Top -Dries Van Noten

Trousers - vintage { 1980s }

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

Hot Cocoa

2011-12-11T15:43:00.002-08:00

I've never been much of an eyeshadow person. It's been straight up black mascara and black liquid liner for years and years. A few days ago I treated myself to a Tom Ford eye shadow quad to break out of my comfort zone and be a bit more daring around the holidays.

I chose a fairly safe quad called Cocoa Mirage. As the name suggests, it's a palette of soft warm browns and a light beige for the base color.

The design and feel of the quad itself is simple and elegant. It has a nice weight to it, and comes with a special pouch to keep it from getting all scratched up.

I began by sweeping the beige all over my eyelid with a larger brush, then did my crease with the next darker colored shadow with a special angled brush. I finished by giving myself a bit of a cat eye with the darkest of the browns. For this, I used one of the sponge applicators that came with the quad. I did this all with a very light hand, as it was for daytime and I am not very skilled at the smoky effect.

It's funny how different your face looks when you forgo your usual makeup routine. I think I look very different without my black liquid liner.

It's probably time to look at some eye shadow tutorials on ye olde YouTube so I can get a better handle on how to go darker with confidence. I have found over the years that when it comes to makeup, it's all about practice, really. And the best advice in eye makeup of course begins and ends with this lady.

Cat People

2011-11-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

With the sunny skies and warm winds we had today, it certainly didn't feel like December begins in all of a few hours! Maybe that's why I felt compelled to throw some pastels into my color palette. Winter schminter.

Blouse, Sweater and Shoes - Miu Miu

Trousers - J. Crew

Necklace - vintage, from my great grandmother's costume jewelry collection

I don't wear them very often, but I do love these heels. And hey, if you enjoy close-up shots of interesting footwear, take a look at Tuesday's post on The SF Style. I'll bet you recognize that girl.

The Final Frontier

2011-11-22T18:27:00.000-08:00

I really hate it when people post funny little exchanges, screenplay style, between them and their significant other on their blogs. This is especially prevalent on tumblr, where there surely must be a quick and easy template for recreating short conversations (I'm not on tumblr and wouldn't really know). These sorts of posts, which seem to exist only to show the world how witty and wonderful you and your sweetie are, are so masturbatory, because they are never, ever funny to anyone in the reading audience.

Well, grab your Hitachi Magic Wands, because I'm about to join that very same hateful club and post a conversation that just happened about ten minutes ago. Are you ready? For context, all you need to know is that I'm wearing the sweater in the above photo when I walk into the room where Ted is sitting.

Ted: Where's that sweater from, the Starship Enterprise?
Me: (Completely aghast) It's CELINE!
Ted: Celine Dion?

Scene.

Block Party

2011-11-19T18:36:00.000-08:00

In terms of personal style among many folks I know, there's been a bit of color blocking going on this fall, especially the mixing of pastels and primary colors. I found some of that inspiration in the J. Crew catalogue, of all places.

As you know I much prefer prints most of the time, so color blocking is a bit of a challenge for me.

Sweater - vintage { 1960s }

Shirt - American Apparel

Trousers - J. Crew

Shoes - Prada

Log Day Afternoon

2011-10-30T22:57:00.000-07:00

Well hello. I had a marvelous Halloween and chose to dress in one of the easiest and most comfortable costumes of my life. Yep, it's pretty sweet being The Log Lady.

That said, it was a bit unfortunate that at the party of thirty or so adults that I went to, not one person knew who I was. One person thought I was Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf, another ventured a guess of Miss Honey from Matilda, and one fellow declared that I was dressed as a 'sexy librarian.' My immediate thought was, um, you think this is sexy?

My friend Catherine did the makeup of a few ladies pre-party. It was fun to explore her toolbox. The Log Lady doesn't really wear makeup so I was more of an observer.

Catherine showed us her collection of porcelain dolls that she found at an estate sale. The dolls, dressed in 1920s and 30s clothing, lay nestled in a box of antique lace, doilies, and ladies leather gloves.

Amy was a lovely Snow White.

Adam and Molly's party had the most wonderful food, much of which Molly made herself.

Those cinnamon donuts (on witch brooms!) were amazing.

When Indiana Jones and Han Solo are at the same party, who will come out on top? That's what I'd like to know.

That kitty is wearing a tuxedo jacket.

Happy Snap Apple Day to one and all!

Into the Dark

2011-10-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

Sweater - Miu Miu

Skirt - vintage { 1970s }

Necklace - Marni

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

The Mirror Has Two Faces

2011-10-18T18:01:00.001-07:00

“It’s not about what I think. It’s what I see.” So says Bill Cunningham in the first few minutes of Bill Cunningham: New York, a splendid documentary about the eighty-two year old New York Times street style photographer who has been documenting street fashion in New York City for nearly half a century.

I’ve been thinking lately about what the job title of ‘street style photographer’ actually means these days. I’ve observed them photographing others, I’ve been photographed by a small handful, and I even went out on a limb and played the role myself for thirty seconds about a year ago in New York during fashion week. That photo at the top of this story is the result of that singular outing: a guy on his phone, hand on his hip. I used the largest zoom my sad excuse for a point-and-shoot camera could handle; I was about a hundred feet away. He never knew I was there, and I know I certainly preferred it that way.

When it comes to street style photography, it seems as though there are two different approaches. There are those who pursue their point of view by seeking out and showcasing specific pre-selected trends and aesthetics of their own selection. And there are those who take the approach that Bill Cunningham spoke of, maybe having an idea in one’s head, but letting what the people are wearing out on the street dictate what gets photographed.

This dichotomy, although the two easily overlap to some extent, is interesting. Some photographers specifically seek the trendiest of the trendy. Some let whatever they’re feeling that day or week be their guide. Others document in a more historical context. Is one method more true to what street style is than the other? And who gets to decide what ‘true’ means? I know I don't, but if anyone wants to take that on I'd like to see what they have to say.

The public has fairly simple expectations of street style photography, but there doesn’t seem to be a actual consensus. Do you feel as though when you click over to the blogs you have on some level made a kind of invisible handshake with the photographer, creating an understanding that the people photographed were truly found as is, as they are? (I used to think that, I don’t anymore). What if the photographer had approached someone and said, ‘I like your look, but come back with some makeup on/wearing black tights/without that scarf in two hours, and I’ll shoot you.’ Do you feel as though lines are blurred if the photography subject is styled or coached in any way? (Obviously, I'm not saying that every street style photographer operates in this fashion).

Things street style photographers have said to me:

Smile.
Don’t smile.
Relax your mouth.*
Relax your eyes.*
Pretend you’re laughing.
Could you hold your bag in your other hand?
Could you put your bag over to the side?
Could you unbutton your coat?
Could we cross the street where the light is better?
(Also, nothing at all.)

If you’re a street style photographer and candid shots aren’t your thing, chatting with your subject to make them feel comfortable sometimes gets a better picture, and I understand that in order to get hits on your site and build your name, you have to make your reputation on having quality work and quality subjects. Is it therefore out of the question to approach a subject in a stunning ensemble and say – before you start clicking away – ‘Sir, your outfit is smashing, but could we just lose the propeller beanie for a few minutes?’ Are you creating a potentially more popular visual, or are you cheating, just a little bit?

Speaking of blurring lines, I believe that street style blogs should hold up a mirror to society and show us what we’re wearing and who we are. So what happens when people dress in a way to specifically be “discovered” and get photographed? It’s no big secret that this practice has been happening for years, predating blogs and going back to when ‘street style fashion’ offered up for mass consumption was little more than the latest issue of FRUiTS in a specialty magazine store.

I'll be the first to say that dressing up as an exaggerated version of yourself is fun. However, doing it to court photographers and gain those almighty click-click-clicks, makes me wonder. Perhaps it comes down to inner motivation and intent, something an outside observer can’t really discern simply by looking in. Just like I can’t really tell if a subject was styled and coached before being shot. But I can still dislike the notion of it. We are in a new age. The early days of street style photography have morphed into something far more complicated, calculated and, to a certain extent, compromised.

As the credits start to roll at the end of Bill Cunningham: New York, a guitar begins to strum and Nico’s voice softly coos: “I’ll be your mirror, reflect what you are, in case you don’t know.” Street style blogs have been playing an increasingly larger role in how we view ourselves, dress ourselves, and digest the personal aesthetics of people in different cities and countries via this niche form of photography. Do photographs still tell the truth? I suppose that depends upon whether or not you ever thought they did in the first place.

*Way to make a girl feel completely haggard, thanks!

Off and On

2011-10-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

Today's weather was so back and forth my coat was just on and off all day.

Coat - Burberry

Sweater - Madewell

Trousers - Helmut Lang

Bag - Chloe

Shoes - Lanvin

The Sally is Back!

2011-10-09T19:40:00.001-07:00

A couple of years ago you may recall how I attended a lecture-type conversation here in town where Sally Singer, who at the time was Vogue's features director, was interviewed in front of a crowd of about fifty people. So many things were discussed that evening, from the new economic climate to the future of print publishing, but at one point the focus shifted and her shoes became the topic for a brief minute. That night she was wearing new-girl-on-the-block designer Tabitha Simmons, a platform boot called the Sally (named for her).

At the time, it wasn't even available at the retail level, but quickly sold out on Net-a-Porter later that year. Two and a half years later, Sally Singer is now the Editor in Chief at T, Tabitha Simmons is a much more established designer, and that 'Sally' boot is once again available. I love it when old popular designs are revived, like when a record or book that was once out of print is suddenly back on the shelves again. You can get the Sally boot at Barneys this time around, but prepare yourself for the same kind of sticker shock that this boot carried with it the first time around.

Another current Tabitha Simmons design that I really like that is at a far lower price point than the Sally is this black and white flat.

Clean and simple, but not boring. It's similar to a pair of black and white Cole Haan loafers that I already have, but the pointed toe ups the ante in terms of ladylike chicness. And, they'd look equally great with floppy wool trousers or skinny cigarette pants. Price point and versatility are things I always consider when shoe shopping.

Summer's End

2011-09-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

On this last full day of summer I wanted to wear some transitory pieces, things that can ease oneself into the new impending season.

For more of this outfit and the party it went to, go over here. It's where most of the fun is these days anyway!

Sweater - Prada

Necklace - vintage { 1980s }

Brooches - vintage { 1950s }

Skirt - vintage { 1950s }

Belt - vintage { 1950s }

Bag - vintage { 1940s }

Earrings - my godmother

Ring - House of Harlow

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

I Just Can't With The Turtlenecks

2011-09-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

I don't know when the point in time arrived when I couldn't stand to have a turtleneck on my person. I was fairly neutral when it came to how they looked on me, but one day it felt very wrong to have fabric around my neck that wasn't a scarf, that wasn't something I couldn't immediately yank away if necessary. I suddenly felt very claustrophobic having something around my neck like that. Turtlenecks have known that I am not the one ever since and we have kept our distance from one another.

I mean, even when I got this Celine sweater I was not about to do the look from the runway with a white turtleneck underneath. For one thing, I think it's pretty uninteresting to just blindly copy from the runway. And another: it's a turtleneck, and by now you know how I feel about those things.

These bitches! I can feel their judgements regarding my non-turtleneckness. But it's cool. They look really cute and not at all uncomfortably claustrophobic. That's really the key, I think. Comfort for me involves nothing around my neck, unless it's, you know, a necklace.

All photos by me except for the Celine runway photo, which is via style.com

Blending Lipsticks

2011-09-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

I tend to not stray too far from my daily makeup routine. I always wear black liquid liner and mascara. Some days I wear a base/foundation (I didn't today). I have one red lipstick and one bright pink lipstick. The pink is a little too trendy and bright to wear to my office job, and while I love my classic red, it's nice to mix things up now and again.

I recently started doing something really simple. See, I'm pretty much at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to beauty/makeup skills. When I want to add a little variation to my lippie, I put red on my top lip and pink on the bottom, smoosh them together, and end up with a new color. Here's me with red on my top lip and no lipstick at all on the bottom:

When I was an undergraduate I took a figure drawing class. The best thing I learned the whole semester was this trick with a human's upper and lower lip: the upper lip always exists in shadow. Go on and look at famous portraits - whether it's a charcoal sketch or enormous oil painting, the upper lip enshrouded in darkness is something you can count on. This is why, if you play around with this lipstick idea that I'm postulating, you should put your darker color on your upper lip.

Maybe you don't even have to blend it. Maybe you could walk around all two-toned and see where that gets you.

I opted for smooshing them together, of course. Here's me and my best sessy face.

Et voila! Just in time for school picture day.

Wrapped Up

2011-09-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

All this hoopla about Missoni and Target reminded me of this scarf that I have not worn in quite a long time. Today was the day to pull it out of hibernation.

Sweater - vintage { 1950s }

Trousers - Theyskens Theory

Scarf - Missoni

Bag - Chloe

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

It's Storytime with the Bergdorf Catalogue!

2011-09-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

Gather round, childrens. Yesterday the mailman left me a special treat. It's Bergdorf Goodman's Fall/Winter 2011 shoe catalogue, and it tells many beautiful tales. Would you like to join me on a magical journey before bedtime?

I won't spoil you with every single thing, so here's a Cliff's notes version with my own personal highlight reel of deep, moody color, opulent textures and heels of all heights.

Were truer words ever spoken?

A is for Alaïa. Crimson suede and nail head studs!

Kate Spade bronze satin with sparkly heels and bows.

These Ash boots have faux shearling and chocolate brown leather.

Pretty Oscar de la Renta suede party shoe with a lower heel than most you see these days.

Two-tone Chloé snakeskin pumps with a sturdy heel. Goodnight and sweet dreams!

I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues

2011-09-13T19:43:00.000-07:00

Sweater - Prada

Necklace - Marni

Skirt - vintage Levi's { 1970s orange tab }

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

Fashion's (Afternoon & Night) Out, Twenty-Eleven

2011-09-12T21:46:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday was the third annual (I think we can call it annual at this point) Fashion's Night Out, an evening dedicated to injecting extra doses of mirth and merriment into what might have otherwise been average retail experiences. There are no hard-and-fast rules in which things work, which is part of what makes it so fun.

I came directly from my day job (no, not my store, my other other job) so I loafed around all late afternoon and night in what I had worn all damn day. It was wonderfully comfortable, a far cry from the get-up I wore at the first Fashion's Night Out in 2009 but a bit more chic than last year's ensemble.

{Theyskens Theory trousers, Miu Miu sweater, Marni necklace, Jimmy Choo flats, Chloe bag}

The evening kicked off with a private champagne reception up in the Rotunda at Neiman Marcus. It was lovely to see familiar faces as well as meet new folks, something I am sometimes shy about doing. Thanks so much to Lindsay Stevens and Caitlin Flemming for making that happen!

Camel capes are everywhere this season, everywhere, I tell you! Quick, look in your sock drawer, there's probably one lurking about right now, waiting to pounce.

After the bubbly and good times at Neiman Marcus, I hoofed it across the square for um, bubbly and good times at Saks.

That deep-in-my-gut feeling of pride and a desire to support American designers that was so present when I was at NYFW last year came flooding back to me. So much in fact that I felt compelled to photograph this table of Rag & Bone jeans for that very reason. It was either that or begin singing My Country 'Tis of Thee right there on the fifth floor of Saks.

By the way, Tom Ford's new fragrance, Violet Blonde? Thumbs up. The photos directly above and below were plucked from my Instagram account. Yeah, I finally got one, at long last. My name on there is Dronning - come at me, bro!

I then journeyed back to my old neighborhood, Pacific Heights. My friend Annie was hosting an event at Jonathan Adler. I plopped down on a footstool with a little, uh, to-go cup that I acquired at some point during that voyage out of downtown.

Being in Jonathan Adler always puts me in the best of spirits.

It's kind of like being in Willy Wonka's factory - everything is bright, colorful, cheeky, and good enough to eat. It was great to chat with Annie, her cool boss Jamie, and everyone else who made their way through the door. I concluded my evening by hopping into a taxi with a new squirrel friend similar to the candleholder in the above photo. I'll get a photo of that little guy up here soon.

Seattle Photos

2011-09-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Ted and I took a long jaunt up to the Seattle area. Below are a few photos, but you can see a whole lot more here.

Simplicity

2011-09-06T17:30:00.000-07:00

Sweater - Celine

Trousers - Helmut Lang

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

The Meanest Thing I've Ever Said*

2011-08-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

I am not one to chat up strangers in public, but a few days ago I found myself standing in line at the grocery store next to an kindly Orville Redenbacher-type gentleman. This bespecled, bow-tied fellow felt compelled to pick up the above issue of US Weekly and cluck his tongue at the whippersnappers on the cover. "She's smiling," he observed. "She doesn't look very 'tortured' to me." I must have been having a very Real Talk moment and my inner monolgue switch was flipped to the 'off' position, because I found myself saying, "Actually, her nasty-ass jeans are kind of torturing me right now." The gentleman placed the magazine back on the rack and we stood in silence until it was my turn to pay for my groceries.

* No, it's not

Acorn Necklace

2011-08-24T20:34:00.000-07:00

I've had a subscription to Vogue for years, and the big old September issue finally arrived in the mail today. Yeah, today! It totally bums me out to see that magazine on the racks in Target nearly a week before it gets to my door. Part of the reason I have a subscription is to feel a sense of having my I'm-a-special-snowflake feelings validated by getting it delivered days and days before all the regular folks get to see it. Way to kill my buzz, Vogue. Nevertheless, the arrival of the September issue of Vogue reminds me that fall is basically here. Which, naturally, causes my thoughts to turn to acorn necklaces.

I've been looking for something big and yellow-gold to add to my fairly small jewelry collection. And although I firmly believe in seasonless accessories, I thought that something with a subtle whiff of fall would be a welcome addition. This 1940s-era necklace was at Ver Unica, and the easy-to-recognize hanging leaves helped me to see that the dangling bits between them were acorn tops. Perfect.

I tend to prefer metals and wood in my fall jewelry, and this necklace will mesh nicely with pieces I already have on hand, which is something I gladly welcome.

All those bracelets are about three years old and from H&M. They've been for a dip in the Caribbean sea and are a bit tarnished in places. That's fine by me, it gives them a bit of personality and helps them get along with the vintage jewelry even better.

J. Crew x Lula Frost Bracelets

2011-08-23T09:30:00.001-07:00

J. Crew and Lula Frost have collaborated on a line of jewelry for fall. I rarely wear bracelets because I don't like how they slide all over the place. However, when I do, I tend to prefer a thicker bangle that stays put, and these pieces - which definitely have a whiff of deco glamour about them! - are eye catching statements but still very classic.

From the selection of skinnier ones, this cream colored one is my favorite. It would go with a lot of what is already in my closet, which I something I really try and think about ahead of time before buying jewelry.

I love this caramel-y brown one too. Great for easing in to fall.

My favorite is probably the black one. J. Crew's website indicates that the inner diameter of each bracelet is two and a half inches. This means that I'll have to measure a bracelet I already have to see if it would fit the way I'd want it to. (These pieces are only sold online, so it's unfortunate that I couldn't just walk into a store and try them on.)

I've seen some discussions on these bracelets and folks mentioning that they may opt for vintage versions for budgetary reasons. While I'm sure vintage pieces that resemble these would be fairly easy to come by, I'm not certain they would be significantly less expensive. Of the J. Crew items above, the skinny bracelets (which come in a rainbow of colors) are $45 each, the brown one is $58 and the black one tops out at $118. Vintage jewelry that is of good quality, especially if it is of a design that is seeing a resurgence in popularity, doesn't come cheap. Buying vintage from a small business rather than a from a huge company who mass-manufactures their pieces is something I would never discourage, but it's just some food for thought.

Images via the J. Crew Tumblr and J. Crew.com

I Totally Paused

2011-08-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

For my generation, Clueless was a very influential film. I recall so clearly how much of an effect it had on the style of the girls at my high school. One of the many things I remember was that suddenly it was okay to let the tails of your blouse hang out past the hem of your sweater. And, if your sweater was slightly cropped, that was even better. I harkened back to that while getting dressed this morning.

Blouse and Sweater - Miu Miu

Jeans - Acne

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Perhaps I Spoke Too Soon

2011-08-12T20:10:00.001-07:00

Earlier this summer I wrote about how I had found the one new shoe to add to my collection for the coming fall. I do this every season - pick one thing that really speaks to me and make it mine. I was sure i had found it, but nothing is set in stone. I feel that is especially true after seeing these.

This top pair is from Lanvin. The one below is Alexander Wang.

There's still time to deliberate.

Rock-a-Hula

2011-08-08T18:59:00.001-07:00

I love this blouse. It has tiny little surfers and hula dancers on it.

Blouse - vintage { 1940s }

Skirt - vintage { 1980s }

Belt - vintage { 1950s }

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Workplace Solutions: 10 Steps to a Cuter Desk

2011-08-08T14:04:00.001-07:00

I've had a variety of jobs in my lifetime, and most of them have given me very little autonomy over my workplace environment. I've worked retail, in a fancy bakery, a couple of video stores* and a slew of offices, with my current gig at four years (and counting) being my longest one yet. Because I've earned my living in such a variety of work environs, I've come to appreciate how fortunate I am to have a little bit of wiggle room when it comes to the decor of the workspace.

First off, I hang on to a general rule about desk accoutrements. A long time ago I came across a piece of advice that said to keep the amount of plastic items on your desk to a minimum. The impetus behind this rationale was to lessen the feeling of working in a cold, artificial environment. Now, some things almost have to be made of plastic, but I welcome opportunities to incorporate other materials into my work world, like glass, ceramics, wood, metals, paper, and natural vegetation. That gray Jonanthan Adler head vase was a gift from my friend Annie. Every Monday morning I buy some cheap fresh flowers and plop them in.

The little ceramic ox was a gift from a coworker for Chinese New Year a few years ago, and the little glass fish bowl is from Venice, a place I went to many years ago. In the background there is an old Valentine's Day card from Ted. The design is a replica of a vintage Valentine wherein a frosting tube is talking to a cake. It's absurdly charming, and makes me smile every time I look at it.

The Dia de los Muertos tableau in the wood and glass box was a gift from a friend traveling through Mexico. The bright blue paint on the sides is very similar to the color of the Rolodex about twelve inches away, which strikes a nice balance and creates an unexpected bright blue color story. The ceramic mug bearing my initial ($6 at Anthropologie) serves as a cup holder for my afternoon iced lattes - I hate the condensation accumulation but am not about to have a coaster on my desk.

Having a single framed photo on your desk is another more obvious way of lending a personal touch, but it can also serve a dual purpose. Where I currently work I do not have any issues with unwelcome workplace flirtatiousness, but I sure did at some previous jobs. If you are coupled, a framed photo of you and your sweetie sends a strong message. It's much easier than wearing a fake engagement ring (which I will admit to having done in my younger days). I got that black frame for about two dollars at a thrift store. I wanted something basic and professional and this works nicely. I'm not really a fan of going nuts with a million framed photos on your desk because that can look cluttered very quickly.

That pen cup is actually a large drinking glass I got at a thrift store for a dollar. I got tired of looking at the perforated plastic cup that had been passed down to me and took the long-ago heard advice of lessening the plastic. The transparency of the clear glass also lets me find what I'm looking for a lot quicker rather than just relying on what I can see poking out of the top. That large Post It Note holder actually is plastic, but looks like glass. About nine years ago I started working at my first real office job. I had no idea which end was up and really bumbled through my first few weeks there. The office manager, Gayle, was a great mentor to me. She had this exact holder on her desk and I really liked how it looked. Four years ago when I began my current job I learned that the exact same holder was still being made, so I ordered one for myself. It's functional, of course, but also a bit aspirational, a reminder of the kindness she bestowed upon me as I was still getting my water wings.

We'll end with the day planners. That is plural on purpose. My job situation is as such that I don't have to take my work home with me, ever. I figured out a while back that keeping my big boring work day planner for work and my "me" day planner separate was good, uh, planning. So, the work planner is all business, and the Kate Spade one is fun, punchy, and small enough to tote around with me as I live my life outside of the workplace.

* I can't wait to regale my little niece and nephew with stories about what video stores were back in the olden days.

Saturday Photo Stroll

2011-08-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

I finally saw Midnight in Paris earlier today. Oh, how I loved that film. Feeling overwhelmed with inspiration, I went for a long walk when it was over.

Then I came home.

I'm This Many

2011-08-05T16:43:00.001-07:00

Oh brother. Today marks five years of me running my mouth on this website.

Thanks for sticking around. I love you all.

Army Surplus

2011-08-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

I've got my military-issue sailor jeans on, watch out.

Jeans - vintage { 1950s }

Sweater - Givenchy { 1980s }

Bag - Chloe

Shoes - Converse

Rosehip Tea

2011-08-04T19:18:00.000-07:00

Dress - vintage { 1940s }

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Pour la Victoire

The Blue Period

2011-08-02T19:50:00.000-07:00

Dress - vintage { 1950s }

Sweater - vintage { 1950s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

In Praise of 'Of Another Fashion'

2011-08-01T18:03:00.002-07:00

The internet is awash in scans of sepia-toned photographs and daguerreotypes showcasing regular folks in the clothing they wore from the Civil War era through the 1950s. For those who love vintage, we study and swoon over their clothes and maybe wonder who they are. I've done so on this website and elsewhere, mostly with family (go here and here for those) but also with those 1920s Australian mug shots and those rare color photos from the Great Depression.

Through all this reminiscing about fashion that I'm at least two generations too young to have appreciated first-hand, I felt like something was missing, and there was a slightly ahistoric air about things. Having stumbled upon Of Another Fashion today, I feel like a gap has been filled.

Of Another Fashion is an photo archive that showcases fashion from roughly the Edwardian era up to the early 1970s. Their focus is the stories women of color and the clothes they lived their lives in. Of Another Fashion describes themselves as 'a crowd-sourced project that depends on the public to help co-create the archive on women of color’s fashion history.' I also really like the body diversity and diversity in presentation of femininity and sexuality, too.

For me, some of the most striking photos are those of Japanese American ladies. Many of their photos were taken at internment camps. Quite a difference from the photos of my family in the 1940s, or that sailor and nurse kissing on the cover of Life. There is so much more out there to learn than what we think we already know.

Head on over to Of Another Fashion. I'm so glad a place like it exists.

A New Month, An Old Skirt

2011-08-01T16:33:00.001-07:00

Hello, August.

Sweater - vintage { 1980s }

Skirt - vintage { 1950s }

Belt - J. Crew

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Lanvin

City Steps

2011-07-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

Dress- vintage { 1940s }

Sweater - vintage { 1950s }

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Roberto Clergerie for Barney's

Walk On By

2011-07-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

Top - Moschino Cheap & Chic

Skirt - vintage { 1950s }

Earrings - my godmother

Necklace - vintage

Shoes - Lanvin

Blown Away

2011-07-27T22:12:00.000-07:00

Funny what little gusts of wind can do.

Dress - vintage { 1940s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

And the Oscar Goes To...

2011-07-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

Me! Kind of. Ok, not in the literal sense, but in the inspirational sense. I got an eyeful of a sumptuous Oscar de la Renta frock in a Neiman Marcus catalogue that recently came through the mail slot.

It reminded me of something I wrote a little over a year ago about how a certain de la Renta dress (among others) gave me the courage to try a new silhouette, something that (if you've been paying attention) I have been rocking for the better part of twelve months. It's funny how the one-off experiments are the ones that end up sticking around.

A nipped waist, a full skirt, and a fitted bodice. It's my go-to these days.

In the Pink

2011-07-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

Dress - vintage { 1950s }

Sweater - vintage { 1960s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Miu Miu

A Bit of Brightness

2011-07-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Dress - vintage { 1940s }

Sweater - vintage { 1950s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Cole Haan

Gimme Five!

2011-07-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the five year anniversary party of the blog of one of my dearest friends, Annie. Poetic and Chic has been her love and joy for half a decade, so she threw a sweet soiree at La Boutique to celebrate.

So many of my favorite locals came out.

Little extra touches of Annie were everywhere, if you knew where to look for them.

I found myself taking notice of the hot pink worn by some of the guests...

I could have stood around sipping bubbly and gabbing all night.

But as dusk fell, I had to jet.

I also finally got to wear my Ceil Chapman dress out in the wild! It was an exciting night indeed.

Apple Custard

2011-07-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

My apple blouse was built for summer days like these.

Blouse - vintage { 1950s }

Skirt - vintage { 1980s }

Belt - J. Crew

Shoes - Roberto Clergerie for Barney's

A Summer Place

2011-07-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

Blouse - vintage { 1980s }

Skirt - vintage { 1950s }

Belt - J. Crew

Shoes - Pour la Victoire

Brown Bagging It

2011-07-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

Dress- vintage { 1950s }

Necklace and Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Chloe

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Bubble Up

2011-07-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

Suit - vintage { 1950s }

Brooch - vintage Ceil Chapman { 1950s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

I Have Found My Shoe!

2011-07-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

Every season I hem and haw for what seems like a good long while, trying to decide on the one shoe I will buy new and add to the family. Well, for this coming fall, I think I have my answer.

There's a lot going on with these Miu Miu booties. And, a lot of it is stuff that I usually hate when it comes to footwear! Case in point: the sparkliness, the inside zipper, and the fact that it is a boot with an open toe! Everything wrong is right again. It will be interesting to see which color combinations (see below) actually make it into stores/online for the regular consumer to have. I hope they don't water it down too much. Don't you hate it when that happens? So much magic can get lost in the shuffle to make things approachable and safe.

Top photo via the August issue of US Vogue

All other photos via style.com

Optic Nerve

2011-07-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

Cape - Isabella Tonchi

Trousers - Helmut Lang

Bag - Elliot Lucca

Shoes - Lanvin

Vintage Drawstring Handle Purse Hack

2011-07-12T20:28:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I acquired this purse at the Vintage Expo.

I never liked the drawstring handles, they were plastic twine with metal clamps that felt awkward to hold and their stiffness looked very out of place with the soft body of the bag.

So, I went to Britex Fabrics and got some fabric cord as a replacement.

When I snipped the twine, I saw that the handles were actually comprised of two individual loops. I re-created those two loops with the fabric cord and threaded them through the purse one at a time.

I tied each of the ends in a simple loop, then quickly applied clear nail polish to all four of the ends to keep the fraying to a minimum.

I couldn't singe the ends and melt them shut; this is the wrong kind of cord for that trick.

I wound clear packing tape around the edges to keep everything tight, then let it dry for a day.

I can't wait to take it out on the town - no more tacky plastic handles on this purse!

Buttoned Up

2011-07-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

Dress - vintage { 1940s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Manolo Blahnik

Let's Try This Again

2011-07-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

I wore a similar outfit over the weekend, and felt the need to tweak the color scheme a bit. Sometimes I don't get things right (in my eyes) the first time, and that's okay. One of the purposes this website serves is to keep a log of what works and what doesn't.

Here's some close uppiness...

Dress - vintage { 1940s }

Sweater - vintage { 1950s }

Sweater clip - vintage { 1950s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

Four Photos

2011-07-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

1. Five of my vintage hats

2. Bee houses at Hayes Valley Farm

3. Reader board outside adult video store

4. Photographer and ballerina on the roof of a parking garage

Pieces of Sparkle

2011-07-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

You'll have to look close to see them.

Oh, okay, here's some help....

Dress - vintage { 1940s }

Sweater - vintage { 1960s }

Rings - heirloom and House of Harlow 1960

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Kate Spade

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

Green Lantern

2011-07-09T15:29:00.000-07:00

Sweater - vintage { 1980s }

Trousers - Isabel Marant

Ring - Burberry

Belt - J. Crew

Bag - Chloe

Shoes - Celine

The Great Mannequin Misconception Strikes Again!

2011-07-08T20:25:00.003-07:00

A few years ago I had an unexpected yet completely hilarious encounter in a fancy store downtown.

I was standing next to a marble pillar checking my phone when I felt the slightest, faintest tug on my tote bag. I thought nothing of it until another tug came a few seconds later, this time with a little more force. I turned my head and looked down to find a very short teenage girl meticulously inspecting my bag. When I moved my arm, she jumped a foot, screamed and, well, it's become one of my favorite stories to tell.

Well, lightning has struck twice for me on this one. Earlier this week I was in the complete opposite location of a big fancy store (a Goodwill!) standing still and staring off into space. A voice piped up behind me.

"Oh wow, I LOVE your dress!"
I turned around and saw two ladies, and one of them immediately shrieked.
"Oh my GOD!" the shrieker said. "I thought my friend was talking to a mannequin. And then you...turned around!"
I thanked the non-shrieker for her kind comment.

For me, this whole exchange begs the question: What did the shrieking woman think her friend was doing, exactly? I mean, what is the point of complimenting a mannequin's outfit? So she can magically come alive and say thank you? Oh, wait.

Later, when I relayed this story to my friend Greg, he suggested that the next time this happens (who am I to say it won't?) I should say 'Only you can see me like this' and then stop moving when anyone else walks by. Maybe it can be a new thing.

Somber Fiesta

2011-07-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

Sweater - Miu Miu

Skirt - vintage { 1950s }

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Prada

Who's Going to Ride Your Wild Horses?

2011-07-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

Dress - vintage { 1950s }

Sweater - vintage { 1960s }

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Kate Spade

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

Boardwalk Photo Diary

2011-07-04T20:32:00.000-07:00

Flag Cake

2011-07-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

In the near five-year history (yikes!) of this website, I do not believe I have ever posted a recipe. It just wasn't my thing. Well, today is special because today I get to tell you about Flag Cake.

Flag Cake was a creation of my beloved The Moms, and she baked one every year around the Fourth of July. Yesterday, I made one too. It's simple, really. All you need are a box of chocolate cake mix (I am partial to Devil's Food), some strawberries, some blueberries, and white frosting.

So, you do what the cake mix box tells you to do, stir everything together, and pour it into a rectangular baking pan.

When the cake is in the oven, chop the tops off your strawberries and slice them from top to bottom. You're going to want to look for smaller strawberries that are more on the flat side.

When the cake is done, let it cool for a long time. Stick it in the refrigerator to speed things along, if you must. Don't frost it until the cake has cooled all the way, or else stuff is going to slip and slide all over the place. I used pre-made vanilla frosting from a container. The Moms always used Cool Whip, and that was delicious.

Do your blueberry "stars" first. Then line up your strawberry slices. My advice is to not put the fruit on the frosting until you are going to serve it immediately, as the natural juices from the fruit will "bleed" into the frosting and make it look a little messy, as well as cause the strawberries to lose their footing on the cake.

Ta-da! Flag Cake. Boom.

Not Your Typical Summer Outfit

2011-06-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

Head to toe gray and black, and bulky, heavy textures? Maybe I'm taking a quick break from the punchy colorful vintage I've been wearing as of late.

Sweater - Barney's

Trousers - Helmut Lang

Bangles - H&M

Bag - Chloe

Shoes - Lanvin

Buttoned Up

2011-06-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

Dress- vintage { 1940s }

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

Watermelon Taffy

2011-06-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

Dress - vintage { late 1950s/early 1960s }

Cardigan - vintage { 1960s }

Bracelet - vintage { 1940s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

For a Rainy Day

2011-06-25T21:49:00.000-07:00

I love this dress - it has tiny umbrellas all over it.

Cardigan, Dress, Sweater Clip, Bag - vintage { 1950s }

Earrings - my godmother

Ring - House of Harlow 1960

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

Dead to Me: A Wee Obsession with Deadstock

2011-06-25T21:39:00.001-07:00

A common term in the vintage world used to describe clothing that still has the original hang tags attached is "dead stock." Some other oft-used terms and their corresponding abbreviations are new old stock (NOS), new with tags (NWT) and NIB (new in box).

I have two pieces that fit this description. One is a bed jacket that is in the shop. The other is a bright cotton dress that I bought from Dear Golden. In fact, I will be ceremoniously cutting the tags off the dress soon because I seriously cannot wait to wear it.

How does deadstock happen? Sometimes, a person really does buy something, never take it off the hanger, and there it stays as the decades roll by. Other times a store will box up unsold merchandise and it will go into storage until it is unearthed years later. This happened once at my very first job. I was still in high school and worked at an indie video store and one day we found a never-opened cardboard box filled with promotional t-shirts for the movie Dick Tracy. This was only eight years after the film had been released, but it felt like the archeological find of the century. What can I say, it was a pretty mellow place to work.

If you like playing detective, hang tags can come in handy if you're not sure how old a garment is by studying it. The style of the designa nd lettering can be clues, as their often reflect the aesthetic of the time the clothes were made. An address of a store can help too - look for the presence of a zip code (those didn't exist in the USA until 1962) and how a state might be abbreviated - PA vs. Penna. and so forth.

That tag cracks me up. Oh, how many more days than just three have passed since this dress was bought and put away! Not like I'd take anyone up on their return policy anyway - it's totally a keeper!

A Little Bit of Hardware

2011-06-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

Friday means casual dress at work. I played things more laid back than I usually do, and found that coincidentally I had a bit of metal on me, particularly my trousers and shoes.

Not an outfit I'd recommend to wear while passing through airport security.

Sweater - Barney's

Trousers - Isabel Marant

Shoes - Celine

Alaskan Artifacts

2011-06-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

Most of you may not know this: when I was a little girl, our family lived in Alaska for about five years.

This was in the late eighties and early nineties. Although indigenous peoples native to the region had lived there for thousands of years, western settlers didn't make their way up until the latter half of the nineteenth century, and Alaska didn't even become a State until 1949.

Tourism in The Last Frontier boomed after statehood was reached. Remember that insane haul of 1950s movie star magazines that Ted found for me? Tucked into a few of them were brochures on visiting Alaska and Western Canada from the early 1960s. A random and fantastic surprise.

Seeing these images from another time reminded me that I have a funny little object whose age I am unsure of. It's a child's wallet, made of some stiff plasticky material that doesn't resemble leather in the slightest.

The tallest mountain in the United States (and North America) is Denali, which of course resides in Denali National Park. A little over 20,000 feet tall, 'Denali' roughly translates to 'the high one' or 'the great one' in Athabaskan, but in the 1890s an unknown gold prospector called it Mt. McKinley (after President McKinley) and that name really caught on, shoving the original name from the indigenous folks aside. It seemed as though Mt. McKinley was what many people called this mountain until around the time when we lived up there, when an effort to return to the original name seemed to be gaining momentum. Little tchotchkes with 'Mt. McKinley' on them are a bit harder to come by these days.

In Bloom

2011-06-22T18:40:00.000-07:00

Dress - Dries Van Noten

Necklace - vintage { 1980s }

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

Summer is Here

2011-06-21T19:39:00.000-07:00

Aren't you excited? I know I am.

Sweater & Skirt - vintage { 1980s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Standing Tall

2011-06-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

Sunglasses - Ray Ban

T-shirt - American Apparel

Trousers - Isabel Marant

Necklace - Fenton/Fallon

Bag - Chloe

Shoes - Celine

Mama Tried: My DIY Moon Manicure

2011-06-18T20:13:00.001-07:00

For a long while now I've thought moon manicures, common in the 1930s and 40s, were quite pretty and a classic twist on a traditional plane jane set of ten red nails.

Also known as "half moon" and "crescent moon," these manicures traditionally have a solid color polish (usually a shade of red) with an empty area (or filled in with a very light color) around the moon area of your nail.

I really wanted to give it a shot, and from what I'd read, you need reinforcements to do it up right. I had to go to about five different drugstores because those things are not as common as they used to be! The CVS on Market St. eventually came through in the clutch. So I set up my little manicure station at home. I advise shaping your nails into more of an almond shape than you are used too; that shape really works well with the moon look.

It was messy. And I am a bit of a perfectionist, so I grew quite frustrated fairly early on.

(Keep some Q-tips and nail polish remover on hand for clean up.)

The reinforcements did not peel off easily, and they left jagged edges. I can't believe I'm showing you these close-ups. I think, ultimately, it will just take practice and better timing in the peeling-off process.

Vintage nail polish ad via Elegant Musings

Primary Colors

2011-06-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

Blazer - vintage { 1950s }

T-shirt - The Seventh Heart

Shorts - 3.1 Phillip Lim

Necklaces - Fenton/Fallon

Bag - Balenciaga

Shoes Roberto Clergerie for Barney's

You've Got the Touch

2011-06-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

Dress- vintage { 1940s }

Belt - vintage { 1980s }

Necklace - vintage Bakelite

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

Hold On Tight

2011-06-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

Dress - vintage { 1940s }

Belt - vintage { 1980s }

Brooch - vintage { 1960s? }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Prada

1950s Movie Star Magazines + New Swimsuit

2011-06-14T18:13:00.001-07:00

A while back, Ted was at work and came across a stack of movie fan magazines from 1951 and 1952. His supervisor was going to throw them away, but because Ted 1) knows me and 2) knows what's good for him, he saved them and brought them home.

I've gone through a couple so far (they smell musty and I've been kind of busy these days) but all in all he rescued about a dozen and they are all shades of vapid, cheesy and absolutely fascinating.

The content consists of equal parts gossip and super-staged "interviews" and photo ops. The paparazzi existed in America in those days but it was not as common as it is today, and usually those photos were published in magazines of a more pulp-y caliber. Of the magazines that Ted salvaged, Doris Day is the cover girl more often than anyone else. Other ladies of note that grace the covers are Lana Turner, Elizabeth Taylor, and Esther Williams. Of course, the clothes and hairdos are something to behold.

The advertisements are just as great. These magazines are such amazing snapshots of pop culture from a specific moment in time. Once I go through all of them, maybe I'll post some highlights.

All this talk about Esther Williams reminds me that I got a new swim suit this weekend. I haven't bought one in about three years, so it was certainly time for it. Best of all, it was on sale at Anthropologie, (a place I rarely visit) and the last size hanging on the rack in this lovely peachy-pink color. It has a vintage-ish vibe to it and is very flattering. I couldn't really say no.

Chocolate Orange

2011-06-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

Dress - vintage { 1950s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Seeing Red

2011-06-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

Dress- vintage { 1950s Suzy Perette }

Hat - vintage { 1960s }

Brooch - vintage { 1950s Ceil Chapman }

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo

Blushing

2011-06-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

Dress- vintage { 1940s }

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Chloe

Shoes - Pour la Victoire

Shoes on the Chaise

2011-06-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

At Barneys earlier this afternoon, this completely accidental yet perfectly lovely chartreuse and purple color story caught my eye.

And that, my friends, is what cameras on your phones are for: those in-case-of-emergency situations.

On Urban Weeds!

2011-06-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

Last month during my trip to Portland I happened to run into Lisa Waringer, who helms Urban Weeds, Stumptown's premier streetstyle blog. I have been a fan Urban Weeds for years now and was delighted when she took my picture.

Click on over here for the full photos.

Red Pepper

2011-06-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

Sweater and Skirt - vintage { 1950s }

Earrings - my godmother

Purse - Elliott Lucca

Sunglasses - Tom Ford

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

Blue Bubbles

2011-06-08T17:09:00.000-07:00

Suit - vintage {1950s }

Brooch - Ceil Chapman { 1950s }

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

Back in Business

2011-06-07T17:03:00.000-07:00

I had to have a small hole in this dress fixed. It has finally been returned to me and I couldn't be happier.

Dress - vintage { 1940s }

Necklace - vintage { 1940s }

Belt - vintage { 1980s }

Shoes - Miu Miu

Thrifting and Vintage Shopping in San Francisco

2011-06-07T14:54:00.000-07:00

Although I get my clothes and accessories from a variety of places (online retailers, local boutiques, big department stores) I often get asked by readers who are visiting from out of town about vintage and thrift shopping in San Francisco specifically.

So, a while back I decided to make an actual mini-guide here on Cuffington for anyone who cares to take a peek. This is by no means an exhaustive, be-all, end-all list; it's just what I have found to be my favorite places over the years. As far as where to go during your visit to San Francisco, it pretty much comes down to how much time you have to travel (neighborhood-wise) and price points.

Mission District
Here you will find the highest concentration of thrift and vintage stores, and you will also encounter the lowest price points. The thing is, it can be very hit-or-miss. If all you want to do is dig around, have fun, and get a bargain, this is the place to go. It’s kind of a big neighborhood, so things can be a bit spread out. It’s super easy to get a cheap lunch in this neighborhood too. Also, most thrift stores in SF have caught on that vintage is sought-after, so don’t be surprised to find stuff from the 80s or older at not-so-thrift prices. But sometimes they miss a few garments, so look for deals.

Thrift:
Thrift Town – Good prices. Weed through the roughage to find deals. Decent and very cheap shoe collection too.
Goodwill Flagship – Some SF Goodwills specifically weed out all vintage, but this one does not. They have a section that is marked up somewhat but still within reason. That said – what they label as “vintage” is laughable at times. Totally decent shoe and bag section as well. Best to go early in the day – it tends to get ransacked and fall into chaos with each passing hour.

Vintage:
Idol – Can have a costume-shop-type vibe but worth checking out. Weed through the double-knits and 80s prom dresses and you might find a gem. Medium price range.
Painted Bird – Cute stuff. Very affordable; almost nothing in this store is over $30. Vintage mixed with modern stuff that is vintage-inspired, don’t be surprised to see H&M and F21 in the mix. Time period mostly 1970s to present, and vintage that is on trend for urban twentysomethings.

Haight-Ashbury
I don't often come to this part of town, but when I do, it is to visit these three vintage places.

Wasteland – Wasteland is actually a small national chain. They have a mix of old and new. If you like to mix and match vintage with modern, this is your place. Major hipster vibe. It’s the kind of place where they buy most of their stock over the counter from customers, but they are very picky so their stock is excellent. Medium to high pricing. There's also a photobooth in the back - fun!

La Rosa – Oh gracious. My favorite vintage place in the city. Very small boutique, very friendly and knowledgeable staff, absolutely gorgeous and hard to find clothing. Their time period is very specific – nothing is more recent than the early 1960s or so, with the bulk of their garments from the 1930s-1950s. Their garments are in premium condition, and a premium price is charged, for example, it’s rare to find a skirt for less than $50, and most dresses are around $100 or more.

Dollhouse Bettie – Vintage lingerie, most of it new old stock (never worn). Also a selection of lingerie made today that has a subtle retro feel. No real clothing though, so if you’re on a time crunch, best to skip it.

Elsewhere
Ver Unica (vintage) – Two locations a block away from each other in Hayes Valley. Very solid selection all around of jewelry, clothing, shoes and accessories. Smaller store has a more youthful vibe, larger store is where things can get fancy. Time period generally 1950s-70s, although they do have some pieces from the 1920s-40s too. I really like the clothes at Ver Unica, but be advised - prices can be up there. There is a vibe of relaxed glamour and boho chic. Plus, they always play great music and the friendliness of the staff can't be beat.

Out of the Closet (thrift) – Far and away, I prefer their location in the Castro. Their stock can be a total toss up, and very hit and miss, but if you do find something you won’t believe what a great deal you got. Shoe, bag and jewelry selection is weak, go there for the clothes only. Oddly, they often have a decent selection of barely worn workwear (like Banana Republic, J. Crew and sometimes even Miu Miu and Jil Sander) and I have found many nice sweaters and pencil skirts there

Be advised…..as of this writing, sales tax in San Francsico is 9.5%. However, if you buy from a thrift store, you are not charged any sales tax, because the items are sourced from donations.

Apple Dumpling Gang

2011-06-03T22:22:00.000-07:00

Blouse - vintage { 1950s }

Jeans - old Wranglers

Belt - vintage buckle, Levi's belt

Necklace - family heirloom ring on a gold chain

Bag - Chloe

Boots - Frye

Spring Fling

2011-06-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

Sweater- vintage

Skirt - vintage { 1980s }

Earrings - my godmother

Shoes - Pour la Victoire

Keeping it Simple

2011-06-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

Sweater - Miu Miu

Skirt - vintage { 1940s }

Shoes - Prada

At Home She's a Tourist

2011-05-31T21:28:00.000-07:00

Oh em gee, it's my photo diary from my visit to Portland this past weekend.

I hardly took any photos at all - actually reveling in all the wonderful moments got in the way of documenting them on my little Canon. This was the best trip I've ever taken there for sure.

I stayed at the same place I always do.

It made me happy to see Second Avenue Records is still open for business.

Outside of Eugene as the sun went down.

Unconventional brunch.

Erin.

Thai iced tea.

Then suddenly, I was back.

San Francisco is my home, but Portland is my hometown.

Black Widow

2011-05-31T20:49:00.000-07:00

Dress - vintage { 1940s }

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Prada

Tally Ho!

2011-05-26T20:19:00.001-07:00

I'm packing for a trip again. I haven't been to this place in almost two years! The time to return is way past due.

Posting will be light until the beginning of next week.

The Green Party

2011-05-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

Blouse - Roberto Cavalli

Skirt - the Gap

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Christian Louboutin

True Blue

2011-05-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

Sweater - vintage { 1950s Elsa Schiaparelli }

Blouse - thrifted

Skirt - vintage { 1950s }

Sweater clip - vintage { 1950s }

Earrings - my godmother

Bag - Elliott Lucca

Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo