wardrobe woes: topping it off

I always find myself stocking up on skirts, pants, dresses, and little jackets. My closets are overflowing with them, my drawers packed to the brim. But... uh, I seem to be missing something...

What top do I wear with those awesome new pants? What do I slip on under my new jacket?

the perfect top! ...but where'd she get it? via street peeper

It seems I have trouble topping it off, so to speak. Tops are the hardest thing for me to buy--whether they just don't fit my petite chest in the right way or I simply can't justify spending nearly the cash on a silk top when a dress is slightly more. My major Christmas wish? A new, effortlessly cool, super-versatile collection of wear-forever blouses.

The question is... where can I find them? I'd love your tips and tricks!

blogger authority: welcome to 2010, retailers

Last week, this quote in a WWD feature really jumped out at me:

“The fact that...[bloggers] are not experts is misleading and their blogging isn’t accurate. It dilutes the message of the store or the designer. Some bloggers are really credible and good. My issue with the bloggers is that they don’t have the authority.” 

Stephanie Solomon, vice president of fashion direction at Bloomingdale’s

I wondered, who does Ms. Solomon think has the authority? Especially coming from someone who works at such a huge retail company, I found myself thinking she was crazy. Who has the authority if not the wearers/consumers themselves? If a trend doesn't fly for the "real people" of this world, it's not going to sell, and Bloomingdale's will suffer--no matter if their fashion director, who, I presume, has this elusive authority, endorsed such trend.

a stylista captured by both mr newton and the sartorialist,
helping to propel the return of 70s wideleg trousers

Fashion has always been a balance of looking at what is happening on the street and wanting to push things forward.  In the day and age of blogs and sites like Chictopia, the not-often-talked-about influence of REAL people is finally coming to light. Anyone who doesn't recognize it is quickly being left in the dust!

Even Bloomingdale's slightly-less-stylish sister, Macy's, has an open mind...

“There’s something to say about celebrity power and blogger power. It influences businesses. It’s not just who designs [the clothes], it’s who wears them.

Nicole Fischelis, group vice president and fashion director at Macy’s Inc.

Not only are bloggers helping to propel trends, they're also influencing how current trends are executed. As Barbara Atkin, VP of fashion direction at Holt Renfrew, Canada, put it, "People are adapting a look and seeing how to wear it immediately...social media will affect how we buy and it will affect our deliveries." This idea of the fashion industry being "swallowed up by social media" is quickly becoming unavoidable, but, if used correctly, it offers an extraordinary way for retailers and designers themselves to learn how to make their items more appealing to the "real world," even continuing to interpret them after creation by altering merchandising to speak to shoppers' desires.

So, who do you think should, or does, have the authority in fashion? Are bloggers taking away power from designers and retailers, or helping to advance fashion itself? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

tuesday snoozeday: comfort food

I don't know if it's the surprise of summer's steamy return, or if I'm just recuperating after waking up at 4am yesterday for my flight, but these days I am lazylazylazy and playing it safe. I'm finding myself drawn to easy, subtle-but-chic styles and soothing, easy-on-the-eye tones.

Like this fluid, casual but sophisticated Vera Wang resort look

and this modern yet traditional home...

Or this easily perfect Malandrino jumpsuit

and an effortlessly ornate sitting area.

Do your tastes change as often as mine, or am I uniquely fickle?

* all home photos from realsimple

summer friday: memorial day weekend in NYC

A three-day weekend is upon us, hallelujah!!!! I'm definitely going to savor this--next week is going to be a long one.

Unlike most New Yorkers, we're spending Memorial Day in the city--my parents decided on a whim to come visit us for a change. That means a weekend of acting like tourists and eating good food. I'm thrilled!

Other than restaurants, we haven't planned too much to do. I'm planning on picking up the latest Timeout NY and NYMag today to figure it out tonight. So far this is what we're thinking...

1. A tour of the apartment [dad has never seen it!] and lunch on our roof

2. Checking out the Eco-Fashion exhibit at the FIT museum [best part? FREE!]

3. Dinner at Chinatown Brasserie

4. Sunday brunch, somewhere sunny and fabulous

5. An afternoon showing of 39 Steps

6. Dinner at Balaboosta

7. Getting a glimpse of the sailors

8. Checking out street fairs--maybe the Greenflea on the UWS

Anyone else have any tips??

Hope you all have an amazing long weekend!!

jcpenney...i'm on your side

If you're in NYC, you've undoubtedly seen the JCPenny ads flanking every subway station and street corner in the last couple weeks. The grand opening of the store in Herald Square has been a long time coming--but apparently not anticipated by all. NYTimes critical shopper Cintra Wilson went to the newly opened "dowdy Middle American entity" and basically ripped it a new one. She says:

"J. C. Penney...was never 'get the look for less' so much as 'get something vaguely shaped like the designer thing...made in all-petroleum materials, and with a too-similar wannabe logo that announces your inferiority...'"

She also laments the lack of smaller sizes, saying, "There are, however, abundant size 10’s, 12’s and 16’s...it has the most obese mannequins I have ever seen.

"It’s like a headless wax museum devoted entirely to the cast of 'Roseanne.'"

Goodness, a bit harsh, no? This is a prime example of an upper class New Yorker as referred to in my earlier blog. How dare the American public not all be designer-clad New Yorkers! Plus, if she has never had to dip so low as to purchase any mass-produced knock-offs, she must not be relying much on her journalist income, which makes her and her opinions all the more irritating. Not to mention her blatant oversight of American weight/size demographics. I know firsthand it's frustrating not to find smaller sizes, but some things you're just supposed to think, not say...especially in that way.

Her article has prompted an angry outcry from Midwesterners and non-size-zeros alike. In a way, I'll admit I can see where she's coming from. I too once avoided JCPenney like the plague. It just felt...dirty. The lights were dingy, the aisles sad, and the mannequins often clothed in those too-short, too-wide shirts that middle-aged moms love for some reason. (Of course, Whitney Port has single-handedly brought those back in style thoroughly complicating the matter..)

I heart Ronson dress, on sale for $24.99

Still, I think she's overlooking major JCPenney milestones. In the past few months, I've actually made mental notes to go to their stores and/or look online. Why? Because they've made awesome, smart partnerships with designers like Charlotte Ronson, Nicole Miller, and Ralph Lauren (under the guise of American Living).

Nicole by Nicole Miller dress, on sale for $47.99

These are things consumers want, need, have to have, and can AFFORD--so what if it's polyester, Ms. Wilson? I've gotten nice, expensive shit that was polyester. And believe me, I watch What Not to Wear just as much as you--even Stacey would approve.

what NOT to wear

I think this is probably Stacy and Clinton's worst nightmare...

The RACKTRAP?

"If you wear a bra, or know someone who does," says their slogan, "you need The Racktrap!"

The Racktrap™ is an undetectable personal bra pocket that holds everyday essentials including license, cash and credit cards conveniently inyour bra.

What?? First thought--lumpy boobs. Second--sweaty cash. (oh, nevermind... PHEW! They have a sports version!)

Come on. Anyone who's sticking cash down their front probably doesn't need to spend $20 for a pack of four weird lacy things to do so.

HOW TO: fight the recession

with multiple excuses, of course! such as:

but, it's my birthday!

but, i can wear it tucked in, or out!

but...it's vera wang!

& if all else fails, blame it on me.

Go forth.. and shop.

shoe mission = fail

Everywhere I looked, the heels were too pointy and the uppers too synthetic...

Still, all was not lost. Look above!

on the lookout: summer footwear

I feel like I spend every summer looking for the same two types of footwear: teeteringly tall nude sandals (a la Vanessa Hudgens here) and everyday flat, mostly-black sandals (like those Gryson ones above).

Last summer, I found those awesomely versatile to-die-for flat sandals on Gilt.com by Gryson for cheap. Sadly, my laziness in taking them on and off (ie: stretching the straps rather than unclasping them each time) has resulted in the beautiful little straps tearing.

I'm off to find replacements (or maybe just new straps?) and happy-birthday-to-me tall nude ones. Wish me luck! I'll post pictures as I hunt...

do you know what season it is?

Why in the world are you wearing opaque black tights and boots when it's 90 degrees by 9am?!

flip flops reincarnated

delman serena-t sandals

I saw a girl on the subway wearing grey silk versions of sandals like these. As I'm on the hunt for a new pair of sandals (my favorite pair from Gilt Group have been worn to death) I was intrigued by their unusual sillhouette. It's kind of like a tease (party in the front, business in the back?). But these things are way too expensive (on sale from $260 to $190 on Zappos).
Another popular style, especially in Paris right now, are these "Harem" sandals (perhaps to go with their huge selection of drop-crotch harem pants--those things aren't dying anytime soon over there):
mia harem sandals

The price point is definitely better ($64 on Zappos), but it's also a little more expected... and harder to wear with jeans and things.
What do you think?