Bottle-Green Bottoms

Things we know: colored pants are still in, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds got married and I STILL can't find any pictures of it, and oxblood is the big color for fall. I don't know who decided to call the hue "oxblood" over "sultry maroon" (or something to that effect), but I wish luck to all of the advertising agencies who have to deal with it. My vegan best friend is probably in tears right now just thinking about all of those oxen. Personally, I just can't bring myself to invest in it, especially seeing as any girl with a magazine subscription will be wearing the same exact pair of fitted oxblood trousers.

The verdict: bottle-green is where it's at.

The color is fall-appropriate but versatile: pair it with lavender, white, or cobalt. Plus, it's subdued enough that you can treat it like a neutral, meaning it works in any number of styles, from legging to skinny jean to high-waisted to ankle-length. I may be as anti-legging as they come, but I love the slim lines of the Sandro. The Opening Ceremony have a retro feel to them, and the J.Crew, a subtle East-meets-West vibe that I want to take to tea and dinner and then drinks.

Which pair would you wear?

A New Workspace

I just found my way into a new cubicle twice the size of my old desk, which was perpetually piled high with binders and papers and perfumes and pencils and lip balm and dust and more papers. I had minimal drawer space, so spillover was inevitable. However, my new workspace is spacious, clean, and a startling bright white—and I'd like to keep it that way despite my hoarding habit. Seeing as I spend eight hours a day there, I'm open to investing a little bit of time and love and money into it. How? With a little help from my friends:

1. This Diane Von Furstenberg tray, on which to keep my millions upon millions of lipsticks and nail lacquers organized (or, at the very least, not strewn across my keyboard). Playing with products helps me write about them, and I need them there to look at and smell and, uh, wear. I've even started a new trend called Painting Over Whatever the Hell Nail Color I Have On at Any Given Moment.

2. Giant Sticky Notes from Poppin, because I'm just not the sort of person who can cover her desk in a sea of little Post-Its. I have a lot to say and just one measly 3"x3" note is not going to cut it.

3. A West Elm task lamp, because there's nothing that can make a workday feel longer than harsh, unflattering florescent light. But let's be real, I mostly want this because it resembles that sassy, hopping Pixar desk lamp.

Photo: Danielle Moss, Breakfast at Toast

Short Cuts and Red Lips

Surprise: I cut my hair short again!

My hair is curly and thick, and, in the summer, often feels like I've wrapped my head in a mohair throw. I couldn't take it any longer. I showed up at the salon for a trim, threw my eight pounds of hair over my shoulder, and eyed the scissors longingly. My stylist (Julien Farel, if you're wondering) promised me he could cut a bob that, despite my hair's texture, would be wash-and-go.

I'm not dumb. I've had bobs before, and I've devoted hundreds of hours to disciplining them all with straightening irons because, left to its own accord, my short hair ends up resembling a yield sign. But I decided to take a leap of faith: A) Julien has done magical things with my hair; B) The combination of heat and humidity was starting to give me impromptu dreadlocks; and C) Dreadlocks can work on some people...but are mostly gross.

So I got this cut, below:

It actually almost kind of looks like the style in the photo, so long as I apply a healthy handful of Fekkai Glossing Cream to it every three hours. It also helps if you, like I, are legally blind in one eye. Nevertheless, success! I just have to keep hair products in my purse and maintain a 10' berth around all hoses and sprinklers and, um, rain. But give me credit: I'm not showing up to work with a topknot. (Don't even get me started on topknots. Nubby little topknots are the sweatpants of the hair world.)

However, I was nervous that, besides a triangular head of hair, a bob would put me in the "matronly" zone. (I'm turning 23 on Friday. Therefore, this is a legitimate fear.) Long hair is more feminine—so feminine, in fact, that my grandmother once said I looked like a "sexy hussy," which she meant as an well-intended insult. Insult or not, I was afraid I'd lose that along with the six inches of split ends. The fix? I took a cue from the same photo above and am now married to a dark red lip; my favorite, for both color and wear, is Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Color in Inimitable. I layer it with balm to dilute the intensity and take the Gaga look down a notch. Note: Don't use lipliner unless you do like the matronly vibe.

Next up: Growing in my eyebrows. Also, posing. And the possibility of rompers. (All inspired by the above photo.)

Photo credit: UFOs Over Baghdad

Dress Up

True confession: I showed up to a spring break trip in Puerto Rico with a suitcase full of pretty sundresses...none of which were suitable for a spring break club scene. I actually don't own anything that qualifies as a party dress, save an American Apparel number-turned-Jigglypuff costume. If you weren't aware, a Pokemon-themed outfit is less welcome at a club than a full-length muumuu.

My birthday is in a week and, in my frenzy to find something besides a drop-waist dress that I've worn for three previous birthdays (...I'm a girl of habit), I've come across the perfect style for Girls Who Only Rage on Rare Occasions—a party dress, not too short and not at all tight, that can nevertheless hold its own on a dance floor. Do you know what's sexier than an up-to-there hemline? An exposed back. Proof:

Is this not the most clever way to get a cheeky look without having to wriggle your dress down every five steps? (Seeing as we're on the topic of cheeky, anyway). An open-back dress is unexpected, and the sexy factor doesn't hit you over the head so much as whisper in your ear. It's gamine, not garish; think Audrey, not Marilyn (modern day translation: Marion Cotillard, not Kim Kardashian). I could go all day with this. The electric-blue hue of the Free People dress ($118; freepeople.com), bottom right, keeps the lace from looking too saccharine.

In this case, less is not more, but just enough.

Photo credits: Blair Edie/Atlantic-Pacific and La Lune

Classic Twist on Colorblock

There's Eastern Standard Time and then there's the little-known Magazine Standard Time, which is four months plus whatever the hell time it is in New York. This means that lately, I've been swilling peppermint drinks and celebrating fake New Year's Eve countdowns and listening to Bing Crosby.

Naturally, I've been going through my drawers to look at my neatly-stacked jeans and weep as I sweat in the sticky, relentless heat. I can't even LOOK at my sweaters (but only because the last time I did, I found a cockroach hanging on one. Is that gross? Sorry. New York and stuff). But whatever, I'm going to start early. My thoughts are halfway through November, and if Boy Scouts can prepare, why can't I?

Colorblock is big. Bright colors, try pairing hot pink and red like Sarah Jessica Parker did that one time (you know which outfit I'm talking about), blah blah blah yawn sneeze yawn. While splashes of fuchsia and coral and Kelly green will fly in the summer, fall is a different story. You just don't want to wrap yourself up in a cozy neon-orange sweater. (Trust me.) The fix? Take a note from Stella McCartney's Fall 2012 RTW show and try colorblock with a twist: neutrals.

Black and white. Camel. Maybe navy, if you really feel like pushing the envelope. I love how a simpler palette emphasizes the geometric foundation of colorblock; instead of focusing on the colors and how they work together, these pieces show off the shapes and illusions that can be so flattering. I'd wear the Rag & Bone blouse (top, click to buy) with skinny jeans and boots (boots!), or tuck it into a pleated skirt for an unexpected pairing. The Trina Turk dress (bottom, click to buy) would be perfect for the office and for happy hour afterwards. Plus, when the weather gets chilly, a cropped leather jacket would give it a little kick.

Neutral colorblock? Wear it now. Wear it later. Scout's honor, it'll work.

Hi There

I accidentally took a month-long hiatus from blogging. In between working and baking countless loaves of zucchini bread and attempting to revive my social life, my reasons for blogging slipped through the cracks. I only realized this last week; an intern asked me about the edit test I took for my job at More. I explained that I'd felt overwhelmed when I first received the test, and then realized that it wasn't entirely different from the writing I did every day (okay, every few days) here on the blog. Then I remembered that I had a semi-defunct blog.

I've been struggling to find a balance. I love to write, clearly, but I don't have the time for a long-form sort of blog that goes on for pages and pages; plus, as reader, I find that that's a lot of text to wade through when I only have a few minutes here and there to spare. This is my long-winded way of saying that I'll be trying to figure out a good, satisfying routine in the new few weeks, one that gives fair effort to each bit of my life, from my social interactions to my job to vacuuming my apartment. Maybe I'll even post Instagram photos of my baking endeavors on here!

Just kidding. This isn't going to turn into a baking-slash-feelings-slash-photos-of-myself blog. I'm just going to write about shoes and how much I like polka dots and why I can't wait for peplum to get off the racks and out of my life.

Good talk? Good talk.

Photo courtesy of: Leslie M K

Confessions On Chambray

After much thought and deliberation, I've decided that I hate chambray.

It reminds me of denim, and though I love my Rag & Bone jeans as much as the next girl, there is no way that I'll ever be on board with denim shirts and jackets. I understand that chambray isn't denim, but the color and texture are enough of a reminder to keep me far, far away. I can sum it up like this: I dislike chambray as much as I dislike gingham.

But not polka-dot chambray.

If you ever need to convert me to something, just pop some polka dots on it and call it a day. The polka dots and playful jewelry add some whimsy and femininity to chambray, which, depending on styling, can seem a little utilitarian and stiff. This J.Crew blouse ($78; jcrew.com) is the perfect shape, too: fitted at the waist, but just slouchy enough to layer.

Don't worry, though. The day a jean jacket appears on this blog is the day you know girlfriend has been hacked.

Photos courtesy of: Gitman Brothers via Have Less Be More and J.Crew.

Summer Sweater

 Guys, the temperatures in New York are supposed to reach 90 degrees this week.

That is SWELTERING, sticky, sweat-down-your-back status, and about the moment that I desperately wish for fall: crunchy leaves underfoot, creamy lattes topped with cinnamon, and most importantly, sweater weather. Seeing as how much I like to wear jeans and indulge in my lazy-casual style, sweaters  are an obvious staple in my closet.

An oversized, cozy sweater just won't do in this heat (unless I want to shrivel up somewhere between my apartment and the 59th St bridge), but I've discovered the next best thing: sheer knit sweaters, also know as The Summer Sweater. See here:

The loose weave keeps it lightweight, breathable, and a touch see-through (come on, live a little!). Plus, the bright colorblock makes it season-appropriate—there's a right time and place for charcoal and navy, and mid-July is just not it. I love the punchy coral hue of the Knitted Kid top ($179; etsy.com) on the left. For a nicer price, scoop up J. Crew's fitted version ($80; jcrew.com). Pair it with denim shorts (or, for the brave at heart, a contrasting color like cobalt blue). Wear everywhere. Rinse, wash, repeat all summer long.

Top photo courtesy of: Sluchevskaya.

All About Ombré

The other day, I went ombré.

See! Look! I did it!

I also spent two days trying to decide how I feel about it. I'd never gotten highlights or done anything besides dump a box of red hair dye on my head in college, so it was a bit of a shock. The wonderful Aura Friedman at the Serge Normant at John Frieda salon started the color higher up (just about even with my eye line) to accentuate the layers I hadn't previously appreciated or even really noticed. I love that the effect is really subtle, as we went with a chocolate-toned caramel color. Good to know: if you have dark hair and eyes as well as a warm skin tone, it's a safe rule of thumb to avoid going any lighter than the color of your eyes. Who knew?

What do you think? Would you go ombré? I'm just EXTREMELY relieved that it did not turn out looking like Miley Cyrus's dip-dye job..

After Hours

What do you do when you get home from work?

I always have high hopes for some sort of productivity, but these usually devolve into a grainy portrait of myself on the couch, where I cradle a pint of raspberry sorbet and think out loud in French between commercial breaks. And then it gets dark and I realize that I haven't turned on a single light. Obviously, I'm far too comfortable to rise and slap the light switch, so I sit in the dark until my stomach growls loudly enough to distract my attention from whatever I'm reading or watching. I then spend two hours cooking dinner and fifteen minutes eating it before I look up and realize that I'm pretty much ready for bed.

EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. Mostly.

Is this normal? Am I a hermit in the making? Is life eight hours of work and sometimes happy hour but mostly a steady, unadulterated sugar coma punctuated by the occasional sitcom marathon? Share your best piece of advice on how to spend after-work hours and I'll tell you where to find the best pint of chocolate gelato in NYC.

The Perfect Pout

What's your favorite shade of lipstick?

Lipstick is, by far, my favorite product to try; it has an immediate effect that brightens and energizes the entire face. Plus, since I dress fairly casually (read: like a schlub) most of the time, a swipe of lipstick is the easiest way to look pulled together and somewhat polished in less than five seconds.

As much as I would love to love pink lipstick, it just isn't happening. I'm so obsessed with the neon-bright hue of Giorgio Armani Sheer Lipstick in Pink 8 that I just keep it on my desk and play with it a few times a day. And then I cry. But orange-red shades just flatter my skin tone more, and because Tangerine Tango is Pantone's much-publicized Color of the Year for 2012, orange-red lipsticks keep rolling across my desk (and incidentally, into my purse)(and my desk drawers)(beauty editors are the original hoarders). All I wear is FACE Stockholm Cream Lipstick in Gladje and Laura Mercier Crème Lip Colour in Tangerine. Both are hydrating, flattering, and saturated with color.

I think a staple lipstick shade is so telling about one's personality, almost like how your favorite kind of chocolate reveals something about you (mine is milk with almonds, for the record). I found a deep purple lipstick by Dior that I just KNEW had to go to my best hipster friend, because she's the only one cool enough to pull it off. So which is your go-to shade? Pale pink? Dark, classic red? 

Photo courtesy of: Eva Green Love

In the Summer Sun

Do you tan?

This weekend, I read this article in Self magazine about three women who give up the tanning bed. I've always been fairly consistent with wearing sunscreen in the summer, but thanks to my job, I'm now positively manic about it. One woman in the article said that she would "reconsider salons" after learning about alternative ways to reap the (few) benefits of UV light, such as vitamin D and serotonin boosts. Yes, reconsidering the tanning salon might be a good idea.

I'm vigilant about slathering sunscreen on my face and neck every single morning (I like Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 30 and SkinCeuticals Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30), but I do admit that I'm not as careful about the rest of my body—specifically arms, legs, and ears. Do you use sunscreen every single day? I'm always tempted to skip when it's cloudy, but I have it so grounded in my routine that I rarely do so.

But to be perfectly honest, the best part of wearing sunscreen? Smelling like you're at the beach when you're (sadly) nowhere near it.

Photos courtesy of: Maudelynn's Menagerie and Sun Dance, both via Modern Hepburn

A Toast to Lunch

I brown-bag my lunch to work every day; in the land of $10 salads, it's the most economical option. However, my daily tuna sandwiches have begun to taste like refrigerator—you know, that cold, one-dimensional flavor of absolutely nothing. 

Therefore, I love the idea of repurposing open-faced toasts as lunch sandwiches (after topping it with another slice of bread, of course). I want to try every single one of these:

I think the salmon toast and I would have a grand old time on my lunch hour. (Although Nutella and pear...that is just a work of genius.) Which is your favorite?

Photo courtesy of: Wit & Delight

New Space

I've been MIA, but not without a fairly good excuse: I've moved on short notice from a dark first-floor apartment to a little studio above Manhattan. The view is nice and all (also qualifies as fantastic), but it is nothing compared to finding the holy grail of NYC apartments: an ensuite washer and dryer. I used to drag my laundry upstate because I hated paying so much for it; I'm so excited about this that I've been doing laundry two, three times a week, full load or not.

However, I was a little apprehensive about living alone. This post from Joanna at Cup of Jo was so comforting (and fascinating), and to be honest, I'm already enjoying the abundance of alone time amid my books and magazines. Do you, or have you, ever lived alone? Did you like it?

From Madrid to Manhattan

I'm back!

And I have news. It's not the groundbreaking kind, don't worry. It's more of the I-didn't-buy-any-clothes-while-I-was-in-Spain kind, the not-even-from-Zara variety. I know. I'll give you a moment to collect yourself off the floor and settle back in your desk chair.

When I wasn't dropping euros on queso y jamon y calamari y the cheapest wine ever, I was spending them on hand-painted ceramic plates (and matching bowls). And serving spoons made of olive wood. It feels so nice to be buying things that I'll have forever and ever for my apartment, or until, at least, I break them. I have officially turned into my parents.

But it's so refreshing to be back in New York, the land of scallion cream cheese and That 70s Show. Photos from Madrid and Barcelona will definitely arrive shortly!

Photo courtesy of: Anthony Limas

Adios! (Para La Semana)

I'll be taking next week off from posting so that I can romp around Spain and drink good red wine in little street-side cafés. Au revoir! (They understand French in Spain, right? Because that's what replaced my five years of Spanish classes.)

See you in a bit with updates and photos and stories!

Photo courtesy of: That's Chic and Patterson Maker

Vintage Finds

Years ago, when we were children, my parents would lock me and my siblings in the car while they went antiquing. It seems cruel now, but we brought it upon ourselves by wreaking havoc in many an Oriental rug warehouse. (Listen, it's extremely fun to play tag on five-foot high stacks of Oriental carpets). Also, they'd come back at intervals, give us ice cream, and break up fights. It happened. Now, my parents' house is like a gold mine of interesting little artifacts.

I thought antiquing was stupid until I grew up and realized that having an urn from 40 BC in your formal dining room is pretty stellar, even if no one else notices it (ever). And then I realized that I'd inherited the antiquing gene. Why? Because I found this couch and I want it:

It's located in a shop called El Changuito in Barcelona, and honest to God, how cool are those built-in arm...tables? (Please note that I'm not even close to Barcelona yet and I'm already shopping). I also really like the lamp on the right, so if the couch proves to be out of my souvenir spending-budget (it will) or if my parents call to remind me that I have nowhere to put a couch, I'll settle for just that.

Do you antique? Do you refuse to use "antique" as a verb? I just remembered that I had a thing for miniature tea sets when I was younger, the ones so small that they could fit in the palm of my hand. I guess those would be easier to fit in my apartment than a couch..


Photo courtesy of: Patterson Maker

Style Set to Jet

Usually, I'm a lazy traveler. I sit around and think about what I'd like to eat (mostly anything of the cheese variety) and drink (mostly anything of the red wine variety). I did a complete reversal this time, and this weekend, I turned into a trip-planning monster. I'm set for my flight on Friday, and with to-do lists and packing lists and planning lists coming out of my ears, it's no surprise that I even have my NYC-to-Madrid ensemble picked out.

1. J.Crew sweater ($65; jcrew.com): The mint-green hue is perfect for spring, and the cotton blend will take care of chilly plane cabins.
2. See by Chloé tote ($195; zappos.com): I don't actually own this bag, but I'd like to. I'm not usually one for label-flashing, but the transparent bag is so damn cute and punny that I'll let it slide. Onto my shoulder, to be exact.
3. Bensimon sneakers ($65; jildorshoes.com): I will wax poetic about Bensimon sneakers until the day I die (incidentally, I will still be wearing Bensimon sneakers when that happens). Comfortable, versatile, and chic, they're the perfect shoe for roaming around European cities.
4. Rag & Bone jeans, ($187; rag-bone.com): These are form-fitting jeans (and not denim leggings), but they are hands-down the most comfortable jeans I've ever shimmied my butt into. The denim is structured and substantial but has the right amount of stretch. The wash is flattering. My best friend and I had a long discussion about what we're looking for in a pair of jeans, and I think this makes the cut.
5. Michael Kors watch ($225; neimanmarcus.com): A chunky silver watch lends a touch of menswear. Plus, I'm kind of over rose gold trend. For the time being.


What are your in-flight essentials? I feel like I should have included slippers, because I refuse to be one of those people who wanders to the bathroom in socks (ick!).

Madrid in the Springtime

I've been researching Madrid and Barcelona for the past few days in preparation for my trip (next week!), and I have something to admit: I'm scared. Does it make me a huge baby to be frightened by beautiful European cities? Probably. I've been to at least thirty-odd beautiful European cities, but this is the first time I won't be able to wedge myself between my dad and my older brother whenever I feel unsafe, like that time we got lost in the red light district in Amsterdam. (The red light district of Amsterdam is no fun when you're a thirteen year old girl). (Or ever).

But I've found a solution: going onto Pinterest, searching for "Madrid," and seeing everything that appears before me. BAM. Currently thinking of hidden plazas and ice cream.

When I'm knee-deep in travel guides, I forget that there's more to a city than petty crime and seedy neighborhoods. Plus, I live in New York City. (Granted, I'm in the safest zip code available, but that doesn't mean that something bad can't ever happen). Still, from now on, I'm going to focus on the great things about Spain: the parks. The wine. The tapas. The museums. The outdoor markets. The dining al fresco.

Have you been to Madrid or Barcelona? Are there any can't-miss spots? I'm already looking forward to the croquettes, the hole-in-the-wall wine bars, and exploring ruins.

Photos courtesy of: Gilmar Mattos and Jou Jou Villeroy

Kicking It with Marc by Marc

I missed the Isabel Marant sneaker-wedge boat (below, left). That's okay. Why? Because these Marc by Marc Jacobs kicks (right, $320; marcjacobs.com) are fresh out of the oven (circa today) and haven't yet been splashed all over the blogosphere. We are in love.

Sure, they seem a little clunky at first glance. But then you remember the wedge, and the subsequent extra height that makes your legs seem a touch longer. One point. And then there's the calf leather. Two points for that. And then there's the part where it's a calf-leather HIGH TOP SNEAKER. Eight points right there. Unlike every other pair of sneakers that I own (all Bensimon, save for one pair of limited edition Nike Dunks), these don't look better the more worn and dirty they become. But paired with skinny jeans and an oversized sweater (and kept nice and clean, of course), these could become a part of the greatest weekend uniform I've ever owned.

Photo courtesy of: The Blonde Salad

Painting the Blues

Within the next few months, I'm moving into an apartment that I'll likely be in for a good number of years. Do you know what this means? PAINT. PAINT. PAINTING. COLORS. I'll no longer rely on curtains and a duvet to provide character and personality.

However, my parents think that beige is a nice, sensible color for a small New York apartment. What this means to me: I can pick any color I want as long as its muted, light, and not cherry red. I fought very hard for a red foyer and was shot down. And then I found this photo, in which my affection for grey was usurped by a newfound love for the palest blue:

I imagine that Marie Antoinette would've insisted her walls be painted this color. Isn't it so feminine and light in the most subtle way possible? It has a hint of mint within the blue, which really brightens it up. Luckily, it happens to be similar to Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year, Wythe Blue. Paired with pops of dark pink (flowers, lacquer boxes, etc), it would look so gorgeous.

Photo courtesy of: Patterson Maker

Style Set for Spring

This cool, cloudy, and hovering-in-the-50s weather isn't exactly my ideal, but here's the perk: it's perfect for wearing a leather jacket. I have a cropped, black leather jacket that I adore, but Chicago weather was never in-between enough (while I was there, at least) to really use it. It's the Goldilocks of fabric: leather doesn't provide enough warmth for chilly weather, and in anything above 70 degrees, it becomes your personal sauna of sweltering, sticky PAIN. (That's not hyperbolic). Therefore, the past few days in New York have brought glorious moments of just me in my leather jacket.

But let's be real, I'm looking forward to days with my leather jacket and ombré hair. That's right. It's been fashion editor-approved and happening soon. (Actually, my fashion editor is coming with me). (I have severe separation anxiety from which my bosses are not excluded). I've only colored my hair once and accidentally turned it a dark plum shade, so I'm a little apprehensive. However, I love ombré in all of its manifestations, so I figure I should try it out before I'm too old to play with my hair. Are you yay or nay for ombré?

Photo courtesy of: Dulceida, via From Paris to London

Addicted to Adler

The other weekend, I decided to take break from HGTV (Property Virgins, anyone?) and switched the channel to E!. I never watch E! besides the occasional Sex & the City rerun, and Sex & the City reruns trump everything, even Frasier. So there you have it, an inside look into the shows that still have me paying for cable.

I caught an episode of Fashion Police, during which I remembered how I feel about Kelly Osbourne's grey and/or mauve hair. (I loathe it). Fortunately, I was able to distract myself by ogling the set, which has Jonathan Adler splashed all over it. See here:

Chartreuse drapes? Chandeliers? Black walls? I want them all. But what stole my heart were the black and white armchairs. The shape is classic Louis, but the glossy white lacquer (lacquer!) and charcoal upholstery update it to fit the eclectic-chic vibe.

The thing is, I'm so cheap that I make two trips around the supermarket: the first to put things in my cart, and the second to take out everything that isn't absolutely necessary, like meat tenderizers and boxes upon boxes of apple turnovers. Therefore, I will not (and really, cannot) drop $1,300 on an armchair. Plus, I've always had a crush on everything in Roxy Te's (of the fabulous blog My Cup of Te) home line, Society Social. Naturally, something like this was bound to happen:

Compared to the Jonathan Adler version (left, $1,295; Click to Buy), the Society Social Duchess Chair ($395; Click to Buy) has the same traditional-goes-rogue feel and a similar color scheme, both for a fraction of the cost.

Consider me sold.

Sandal Season

Now that the weather is cooperating and I'm considering a badly-needed pedicure, a new pair of sandals are in order. I tore last year's pair to shreds, so I'm looking for something a little less wimpy this time around. The issue: I have...shapely legs, which means that with the wrong pair of shoes, my legs can resemble Christmas hams. Trying to avoid ankle straps on sandals leads me into the flimsy V straps of flip flops, which are neither comfortable nor stylish whatsoever. Alber Elbaz can't even make flip flops look cute. And if you cite Tory Burch's number with her little medallion on them, those do not count particularly because they have that little medallion on them.

The solution: nude sandals. Just as nude heels elongate the leg because they create an illusion of length, a similar hue on an ankle strap doesn't break (and thus shorten) the line of the leg. If the shade of the sandal is close enough to your skin tone, it works. Here are a few versatile options that would look just as cute with shorts as they would with a sundress:

1. These KORS Michael Kors leather sandals ($125; Click to Buy) have a more substantial sole than what you'd find on a typical flat sandal, and I love love love the look of the double ankle-strap. It lends a touch of the gladiator look without going all Russel Crowe on your footwear. The shade's a little dark, but it's not a jarring contrast.

2. This pair of J.Crew leather sandals ($118; Click to Buy) is the trifecta: made in Italy (read: better quality than most at this price point), the perfect shade of nude, and has a padded sole for comfort. These would look great with shorts, or a maxidress, or a skirt, or a sundress. Do you see where I'm going with this?

3. If you need a little lift, Marais suede wedges ($160; Click to Buy) are a sophisticated option. They're not exactly nude (the height of the wedge excuses the grey shade)(I make the rules)(this is an autocratic blog!)(just kidding)(kind of) but I love Marais shoes for the focus on comfort and urban designs. That T-strap just kills me. Come to mama.

4. Coral counts as a nude if you have VERY pink undertones or didn't slap on enough sunscreen before hitting the beach. (Doesn't it?) I understand that I'm taking a lot of liberties with the definition of "nude" here, but if you think about, the color nude for a Swedish girl isn't exactly nude for Eurasian me. Anyway, these Delman calfskin sandals ($195; Click to Buy) are simple and pared-down without looking stark. I love the small details on the sides; they're a great option for the more feminine of ladies.

Current status: team J.Crew. You?

The Signature Look

I'm a huge fan of Garance Doré; I think she's witty, personable, and unbelievably charming. I'd like to make her my best friend at some point. One can usually spot her signature topknot hairstyle, and when I saw the above street-style photos, I got to thinking about signature touches, whether they be Alexa Chung's shoulder-length hair or Freja Beha Erichsen's (guys, you knew it was going to head in this direction) leather jackets.

I don't have a signature touch. Sometimes, I straighten my hair before work. When I remember to do so, I'll swipe on Nars lipstick in Casablanca. Mostly, I just let all of my makeup fall off before going home and washing off the remnants before bed. I feel like I should implement a signature something, but the intent to do so seems fraudulent and a little forced. One of my bosses has a perfectly frizz-free bob regardless of rain, shine, or monsoon, and the other wears bright red lipstick on the regular. One fashion editor likes to wear ankle boots with opaque black tights and flowing, floaty minidresses. I doubt any of them set off with the motivation of making each her signature look.

I can let nature run its course, but I don't want my signature look to be dark skinny jeans and chapped knuckles. Should I just let a "signature" happen or try to influence it with purposeful applications of mascara (for doll-like lashes) or orange lipstick (à la J.Crew catalogues)? Is a signature even a signature if you've lifted it from the pages of popular clothing store ad? Probably not. Earnest Sewn and a perpetual need for hand cream it is.

Do you have a signature look? I'm just going to wait for mine to develop on its own. Currently, I'm crossing my fingers and hoping to God that frizz-free, humidity-immune hair somehow happens.

Photos courtesy of: Chicago Street Style and The Photodiarist.

Good Morning Mug

I love mornings. My undying love for breakfast food notwithstanding, my parents trained us to wake up at the crack of dawn to get a head-start on the weekends. To this day, sleeping past 9 AM causes an existential crisis about how I'm wasting my life. The downside is that I usually nod off by 11 PM and rarely partake in fun social activities. I'm nearly certain that my parents planned this in advance.

This Morning Mug ($29; Click to Buy) is such a cute illustration of the night-to-day transition.

The mug is "asleep" when cold, and as fresh coffee or tea is poured in, the heat "wakes" the mug. Is this not adorable? (Yes. Yes, it is.) It would make such a great hostess gift, or a present for that friend who has everything except a cheeky little mug.

Keeping in Touch

I took the leap and bought an iPhone. I'm still barely over my Razr, so this was obviously not an easy transition. I set it on my desk (carefully) and stared at it for an hour, too nervous to touch it. What if I drop it? What if it rolls out of my hand through no fault of my own? What if someone snatches it out of my hand and runs? This thing is like a newborn baby. I'm half surprised it doesn't wake me up and cry in the middle of the night.

The obvious first step was to get a case for it. I decided on a simple black-and-white chevron pattern for the time being, because the idea of holding out for a great, creative case and leaving my iPhone vulnerable for more than a few days was beyond me. But I've been on the look-out for something better. I know what I want in a case: something simple, French-inspired without being obviously so (no tours d'Eiffel), and cheeky.

Et voilà, I've found my technological soulmate. Check out this gem from Society6 ($35; Click to Buy):

J'adore quand ils m'appellent Big Poppa! God rest your soul, Biggie. If this doesn't make springing for an iPhone a good decision, I don't know what would.

Style Icon

The other day, I was chatting with my boss about how she's influenced my personal style. So far, she's inadvertently shamed me out of wearing denim leggings (but they're Madewell! Almost real jeans!) and chipped nail polish. She also owns (and I've been keeping count): a pair of leather shorts, a leather maxi skirt, a leather jacket, and a leather tunic. Clearly, her own personal style is down pat: edgy but appropriate, and definitely cooler than me.

Besides my bosses, I develop style crushes on semi-celebs with ensembles that just pluck my little pants-and-tee-loving heartstrings. The evidence:

1. Freja? Check. I cut my hair into a pixie because of Freja. Then I grew it into a bob because of Freja. Then I grew it out to shoulder-length, thanks to Freja. Wash, rinse, repeat. In addition to her many hairstyles, Freja may be the reason that I have a black leather jacket. And why I wear dark colors so often. And why I wake up at 6:10 AM every morning to go to the gym.

2. An important lesson for which I have Audrey Tautou to thank: throwing a blazer over a rumpled t-shirt makes it look instantly polished. I have a go-to fitted grey number from J. Crew that I can wear over anything and—ta-da! I'm ready for work.

3. Chanel Iman is just cute. Also, I wouldn't EVER say no to a slouchy grey purse and black stiletto boots. Big smiles!


Whose style do you take note of? It's Freja, isn't it? I knew it.

Photo credits, from left: Pinterest, Cognac and Coffee, The Petite Brunette.

Burch Versus Burch

(Tory Burch's home in Southampton, courtesy of Vogue via This Is Glamorous)

On my lunch break, I read a NYMag article about preppy designer Tory Burch and her ex-husband, C. Wonder founder Christopher Burch. The similarities of their brands are uncanny and pretty obvious, but to be honest, I feel that I know neither person well enough to make a call on who is right. This is my public and diplomatic declaration. (Personally, I'm Team Tory. Tell no one.)

I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of the C. Wonder store, which is a kind of like a bright, colorful zoo of weird knick knacks, tourists who are NOT afraid to knock you down, and clothes that just cannot be of very good quality. And, if you read the article, you know that they're absolutely not great quality. Then again, you don't go to C. Wonder for the decent quality of the clothing. Save the ready-to-wear for Tory.

You go to C. Wonder for the affordable and cheeky housewares...especially those made of lacquer. Lacquer boxes, lacquer trays, lacquer everything. I love lacquer. I love lacquer more than I love petting strangers' puppies on street corners. And, maybe it's because I'm half Chinese, but I would love to see these little guys ($58; cwonder.com) on my bookshelf:

Team cute, quirky bookends.

Looking Forward

I've been on a hiatus lately. Oh, did I say hiatus? I mean Fashion Week happened.

 In other news, I booked a spring trip to Madrid with two of my very best college friends. One lives in Chicago, and the other has been in the heart of Tanzania since August. We're going in late April, so I'm hoping everything will be bursting with flowers and the weather, warm enough to day-trip to a beach town. (Valencia? Barcelona? Something tiny along the coast? Suggestions welcome and/or desperately needed!) I want to wear skirts and tan my legs and carry around open bottles of wine. That's allowed in Spain, right?

Have a wonderful and relaxing holiday weekend!


Photo credit: That's Chic and here. 

Got Gucci?

Last week, I was sprinting down Fifth Ave and came to a sliding stop right in front of the Gucci store. I usually don't pay attention to the ready-to-wear collections of in-my-dreams labels like that (a pair of wedges are as crazy as I'll get), but I have this newfound affection for mixing prints and not-so-newfound affection for color-blocking. So I stood outside and threw a temper tantrum to my wallet and we both agreed that I would like to be able to pay for my kids' college educations one day. I want three kids. That's going to be somewhere around $600K, not counting for inflation and whatnot, and a $3,000 silk t-shirt dress will not pay for their meal plans. Unfortunately. So this happened:

 Gucci silk dress, $1,990; gucci.com. Madewell silk dress, $168; madewell.com

 Gucci silk dress, $2,995; gucci.com. Diane Von Furstenberg dress, $375; dvf.com 

Gucci silk dress, $1,700; gucci.com. DKNY silk crepe de chine dress, $345; dkny.com

Which is your favorite look-a-like? Lucky for my savings account, I'm hankering for that little Madewell number...

Say Yes...

...to jumping for joy—literally.

Yes to rainy days.

Yes to the Giants...

...and definitely not the Patriots. No yes for you, Brady.

WHAT ABOUT BRIDGET?

Yes to Bridget Moynahan.

Yes to this not being my job.

Yes to the weekend!

Photo credit: Louvve

Come to Light

This week, I read a semi-helpful article in the NY Times about how to create natural light in an apartment where there is, well, none. Semi-helpful because a) I already do everything it advised, and b) it basically squashed my dream of lacquered walls in a New York City apartment ("Avoid glossy finishes," the article cautions). I guess I should have made that "Not-very-helpful."

Then I read another NY Times article, this time about buyers who search specifically for dark apartments. Though many have schedules that suit a constant lack of light, there are a few that claim that bright artificial lights are enough. Plus, darker apartments tend to be set in the rear of buildings. Read: they're quieter. Quieter, unless you have a very bitter little cat that sits outside your window and cries all night. Did you know that a wailing cat sounds unnervingly like a screaming woman? As someone who can't watch Dexter without locking all of the doors and windows first, that's one harrowing sound to wake up to at 4 AM.

What's your take? Thanks to this apartment, I've realized that natural light is a nonnegotiable for me. I can't wait for the day I wake up to sunlight...or a thunderstorm...or anything but the sounds of pigeons getting to "know" one another in the Biblical sense. It's the little things, after all. Right?

Photo credit: Charles Spada and 79 Ideas.

In the Bag

I love a good leather purse, and the trapeze tote is all the rage right now. I'm kind of an extremist when it comes to bags: I like either tiny ones that you don't notice while you're dancing (small cross-body styles, I'm looking at you), or gigantic ones that will fit two magazines, a book, and a teacup pig. These fall into the latter category, and after years and years of buying perfectly rectangular totes (I'm a girl of habit, apparently), I am craving an interesting, off-kilter shape. Seriously. This is what happens when you write about fashion for a living: you begin to slip things like "crave" and "need" and "Come to mama" into daily conversation. The trapeze tote is perfectly slouchy (all the better to pair with rumpled tees and skinny jeans) yet unexpected. Plus, it's so versatile. Here are my favorite styles:

Clockwise from top: J.Crew leather tote, $328; jcrew.com, Alexander Wang leather tote, $975; alexanderwang.com, Céline calfskin purse, $OutOfMyPriceRange; celine.com

Lacquer Up

One of my bosses went to a get-together at her daughter's classmate's apartment. This wasn't just any apartment—it was a sprawling, 5000+ square foot expanse (in New York City) (IN NEW YORK CITY) on Park Avenue with freshly lacquered walls. Naturally, my boss took pictures and shared them with me. We cried a little. Since then, I've been OBSESSED with lacquered walls and ceilings in the most saturated colors. Sunny yellow, navy blue, chartreuse green...I can't get enough. I think it looks especially gorgeous on the ceiling, but if you don't have enormous rooms, a coating or three on the walls will do.

Filing this under "Things to do by the time I'm 35 and when I get my own home and/or marry rich."

Photo credits: Apartment Therapy and Patterson Maker

Happy Chinese New Year!

Gong xi fat coi! (I say it "Ghun-hay-faht-choy," the Cantonese pronunciation). It's one of the eight phrases I know in Chinese, along with "More water, please" and "Good friend." You know, the really integral things.

To celebrate, I went out to Queens to have lunch with my extended Chinese family. Then I continued the celebration in similar fashion with a batch of brownies. (Obviously.) I decided to take the healthy leap and swap oil for unsweetened applesauce and eggs, for egg whites. The verdict? Brownies that were perfectly crumbly and light, chewy but not at all dense. I was most worried about the flavor, as I'm not a fan of applesauce in general. However, that was completely overtaken by all of the chocolate-y goodness, and now, I don't have to feel guilty when I eat two, three, or eight little brownies.

Have you ever used a healthier substitute in baking? I've heard nonfat Greek yogurt can also be subbed for oil, but I read that it's tangy and therefore works better in white-flour foods, like vanilla cake.

Photo credit: Vincent Van Gogh

Sheer Genius

I love a good pair of opaque tights—Wolford is my brand of choice, and though their tights are pricey, they're built like tanks and will hold up through an apocalypse. But aren't Clémence Poésy's sheer polka-dot tights so darn cute? They add such a fun, whimsical vibe to the rest of her outfit. Are you a fan of the patterned tights? I think this style is all I could pull off...

[Photo cred here]

Lazy Monday

Well. On that note, good morning and good night.

[photo cred here and there]

Pants on Fire

I received a pair of red J. Brand jeans for Christmas, waxed to look like leather (thanks, mom!). At first, I was perplexed. Then I got to work brainstorming.

VOILA.

Colored, leather-waxed pants (J Brand, $300) + neutral blouse (Kenny, $127) + statement wedges (Lanvin, $599) + delicate, feminine jewelry (Finn ring, $650; Alexis Bittar earrings, $345)  = YES.

I didn't use the exact style, as they've been long gone (my mom snapped them up in August after I stared lovingly at them and drooled on the floor of Intermix), but these can work with any colored denim. Navy blue would look awesome. Obviously, this is a pipe dream of an outfit, although those Lanvin wedges are shrieking my name. Come to mama, little wedges. I will love you and polish you and keep you clean forever. (Purring ensues).

How would you wear a pair of red nearly-leather pants?

Blue Morning

I love how New York City is cast in shades of navy in the early morning when I wake up and walk to the gym. I always imagine the city as a gritty steel color in my mind, but when it's 6 AM and the lights are still winking, it's something altogether a little lighter and fresh.

How was your weekend? I went upstate to the Hudson Valley, which manages to be pretty even in the dead of winter (if you consider 50 degrees to count as winter). I don't mean Poughkeepsie so much as the woods and hills and creeks around it. I figured everyone would be confused if I used the modifier "pretty" for Poughkeepsie. I've been reading The Marriage Plot lately. Has anyone else started reading it? I'm halfway through, but the references and obscure quotes make me feel so unread (and I was an English major) that I can't decide how I feel about it. There's also the part where I'm obsessed with an entirely different genre and set of writers (dirty realism from the 80s; Raymond Carver, Amy Hempel, Richard Ford, Flannery O'Connor). Are you thinking of reading it? I know it received a lot of hype.

[photo cred here and there]

Midwinter Style

Chilly weather can be the fast-track to a fashion rut. Cozy boots, long coats and dark colors galore define winter style, but lately, they seem like external manifestations of severe seasonal affective disorder. That's no fun. I stumbled across two options for spicing up cold weather wear:

1. High-top sneakers: I could probably get away with wearing these to the office. For those who don't work in an environment where things like snakeskin-print trousers are acceptable, they're ideal for running weekend errands. Why? High-top sneakers are surprisingly great at enduring all sorts of precipitation. My Nike Dunks made it through three Chicago winters. Just add luxe touches like fur and leather to keep them from looking too grungy.

2. Khakis: If winter's mild (read: not Chicago, but maybe New York), khakis are such a cute and unexpected alternative to denim and knit tights. Pair them with a short wool jacket and booties. Plus, I feel like so much winter style has a black or navy palette—brown's a little more fresh. To avoid looking like you're confused and think it's still October, make sure everything else is a warmer, darker tone.

Which look do you like best? (I'm all about #1 myself).


[photo cred here and there]