random rambling: resort 2011 favorites

I love the resort shows. It's really the only time you can imagine putting on the things you see on the runways RIGHT NOW and enjoying it. I had a great time looking through everything and imagining what I'd want to pack for my Barcelona trip--among other things. Here are my favorites:

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

Diane always says in interviews that she creates for the girl who flies... and I can definitely imagine shoving every single piece into my suitcase for an effortlessly chic get away.

JASON WU

If I was going back to Paris this summer, this is what I'd want to wear.

PROENZA SCHOULER

If I WAS going to Copenhagen [tear!], or, hell, nowhere at all.. I'd love to be frolicking around in these looks. By the way... what about those amazing, huge, rainbow-colored bags? Yes, please.

By the looks of things, stripes, shorts, and sex-ed up menswear aren't going anywhere. I need to start a petition to get shorts allowed in the office! ;)

Right now, I'm on the hunt for perfect-summer-weight-pants. Anyone have any tips for a petite girl?

tuesday snoozeday: time for a wake-me-up

Oh, you know how I get on Tuesdays... I really think it's the toughest day of the week. I'm extra tired and cranky! So I figured I'd do a total-out-of-the-ordinary-pick-me-up-post--and is there anything happier than salmon pink and coral-y orange?

Well, yes, actually.. Mixing the two together.

I'm loving this color combination in homes, in nature, and in the wardrobe. I've been testing it out with my plentiful collection of scarves, but I think it's time to go all out and hunt down some bright pink tops to pair with the orange-y origami skirt hiding in my closet.

What do you think? Is it too creamsicle for your taste [yum!], or just right for the season?

1. the versicle

2. apartment therapy

3. fleason

4. apartment therapy

5. carmen

monday funday: peekaboo!

I have a new addiction brewing after stumbling across Trendy Crew last night [eek!], but what I really wanted to talk about is a new trend I've been eyeing. The beginning of summer is prompting lots of playful peekaboos. I see it as an evolution of the playful bare/not-bare sock/stocking trend:

It's actually something I started to think about a few weeks ago when I saw this photo on Chictopia:

And the evidence is quickly mounting...

I particularly like the mesh bottom of the skirt, or the long-sleeved T under a blazer--what a way to sneak in some almost-too-naughty-peeks at work!

1. nicolewarne

2. kellyshoestring

3. secondskin

4. troprouge

5. & on. trendycrew

workwear wednesday: fail safe

OK, I know this post isn't, like, groundbreaking--forgive me, I'm trying to catch up on all my favorite bloggers and Chictopians! Besides, it really was exciting when I noticed the other morning that the official NYC-working-girl-uniform has been hiding right under my nose.

workwear wednesday: fail safe by nyclu featuring Diane Von Furstenberg dresses

Slinky Piquet Goddess mini dress, $417

Liddie knot-front jersey dress, $213

Pink Fleur 3 Button Cardigan by Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, 234 GBP

East Linen Knit Swathe Wrap Cardigan, Blue, 14, 67 GBP

Royal Blue Cardigan Lisa, 198 EUR

Colorful Fashion - Bright Clothing - Marie Claire

On one of my walks to work last week, I noticed a pattern. Almost every other girl I passed was wearing a LBD [generally t-shirt or sheath style] and a technicolor cardigan--like they'd taken serious cues from Kelly Cutrone's DKNY cozy campaign. I realized, this IS the NYC-working-girl uniform. It goes from finance to fashion with a change of hue and it's the chicest, easiest thing to pull on when you've had one too many margaritas the night before.

Not to mention, the shoes. At least for the walk over [though for me, it's the entire day] the outfit is topped off with flat, gold sandals and little else. In fact, at a girls' night out a few weeks ago, we realized that all 5 of us girls, on accident, arrived wearing gold sandals... ummm.

What's your fail-safe work uniform?

WTF thursday: why is it so hard...

...to find the perfect striped shirt?

I went on a mission today, and failed.

American Apparel's was too stiff and heavy...

Gap's too missy and blousy...

and J.Crew's too in-demand.

Any tips? I'm losing hope.

workwear wednesday: back to classic

Lately I've been into more traditional-looking work clothes [with a bit of a twist]. I just love the classic look a blazer lends any outfit, whether it's in an unusual color or paired with pleated khakis or a mini skirt.

Since NYC can't decide if it's spring or fall, this look is really perfect. The only problem is... jackets take up lots of valuable closet space.

P.S. Check out an awesome giveaway from KELLYSHOESTRINGS!

1. ksunderbruch

2. adenorah

3. highstreet cardigans

4. andy

summer friday: chanel resort 2011

I'm sure you fashionistas have seen the amazing looks from Chanel's Resort 2011 collection, but I thought I'd share some of my favorites. I'm in love with the perfect prints, the perfect stripes, the perfect white shirts, the perfect short-shorts... and on, and on.

*all photos from style.com

WTF thursday: the denim on denim trend part 2

I see lots of interesting things on my walks to and from work, like the dude who sits outside of FedEx deep in conversation with a new neighborhoodie each day [why is he always there?] and the ridiculously huge neopolitan mastiff that takes his morning walk down 7th avenue. It's a great time for people-watching and fashion note-taking, too. I pass many stylish Chelsea men (checked shirts tucked into cropped skinny pants) and women (traditional trench paired with short washed-silk dresses).

But, of course, there's lots of second-glance-inducing dressers, too. The thing that caught my eye yesterday? A woman wearing.... a chambray shirt, jeans, AND a denim jacket. Looked a little something like this:

denim-on-denim by nyclu featuring GAP jackets

This is a seriously extreme take on the trend--three denim pieces all in one and not an ounce of color!? The most shocking thing was, while I thought it needed work, I wasn't completely horrified.

So, I got to thinking how I might rock the trend. This is what I came up with...

denim-on-denim by nyclu featuring Old Navy tops

Items in this set:

Old Navy Womens Chambray Boyfriend Shirts, $20

Free People Destroyed Skinny Jeans, $97

Cynthia Vincent for Target® Cognac Wedge Sandal - 7.5 : Target, $30

Byron patent-leather clutch, $650

Paloma's Marrakesh earrings, $1,475

I think the key is to make sure the denims are distinctly different hues. The second step is having lots of fun with accessories! It needs to be made more feminine with bright colors and fun jewelry. I'm obsessed with those Cynthia Vincent for Target wedges [they're the perfect color brown] and my Florida/California roots always come out in my jewelry and printed scarves.

Can you believe the attitude change I've had since my last post on the subject? Are you warming up to the idea at all?

workwear wednesday: lusting for leather

In my office, almost anything goes. Our environment is casual, and obsessed with following trend, so in the same week I might wear a tailored black dress, leggings and an uneven hem tank, and, on Fridays, jeggings with a tunic button down. But there is one thing we simply can't wear: shorts. [Rumor has it when one assistant tried, the VP called her out on it.]

I just can't believe that rule still stands, when shorts are sooo right right now! I'm dying to try the leather short look in particular.

Somehow it's sleek, polished, and effortlessly cool.

(I'm also digging this girl's lipstick!)

Plus it looks so cute with a little top and blazer!

Maybe when the head honcho is out of town, I'll try and sneak it past--but something tells me this is one thing that wouldn't go unnoticed.

1. jak & jil

2. playing with fire / late afternoon

3. linhdao

4. fashion chalet / fashion chalet blog

WTF thursday: fur tail accessories

While walking home from work this evening--enjoying the rare experience of before-6pm-air--I noticed a girl pass me with a large, fluffy fur tail dangling from her purse. She was so nonchalantly laughing and chatting with the friend beside her, while all I could think was WHAT is that poor animal doing stuck inside your handbag?!

Of course, we really have Louis Vuitton to blame. I know I was in a just-starting-work flurry when the spring/summer shows were going on, but, honestly, I can't believe I missed this. Check out the 'fros and technicolor fox tails dangling from fringed it-bags! They're such a steal at $1200 a pop.

The most disturbing thing I found while researching the phenomenon was an Etsy sellers way of advertising her "coon" tail (that has been for sale since 2008). Look at the multiple uses she chooses to highlight, pictured to the right! And she also so graciously notes that this authentic tail was "humanely removed"--how might that be exactly?!

I think if you want to follow this bizarre trend, you should have no choice but to rock the ginormous 'fro, too. At the very least--go faux!

1. fashion zen

2. shabooya

3. style

4. etsy