When I was growing up, nail polish was a privilege, not a right. Manicures were only allowed if I took out the trash and walked the dogs. (Needless to say, my nails were bare until I hit high school.) While my folks were rather draconian in the nail department, they had zero problem with me watching The Yellow Submarine every single […]
Month: August 2014
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See My Vest
Typically, I do not wear a suit to the office. Why would I? Today’s corporate culture is more creative and flexible than ever. Doesn’t a drab blazer and slacks signal a regression to the shoulder pads and gender inequality in “Working Girl?” Wouldn’t retreating to the suit be shackling oneself to an unnecessary uniform? (I’ve obviously given this a lot of […]
Can I Pull This Off? The SJP Edition
When it comes to style icons, I have my share of favorites: Patsy Stone (her Chanel cardigan!), Pablo Picasso (his polo shirts!), Emma Watson (her YSL smoking suit!). But like every woman over the age of 30, I have a particularly soft spot for Sarah Jessica Parker. SJP epitomizes the style pragmatist ethos: she’s fabulous, but […]
Work It: Three Outfits in One
Clothing should never intimidate you. Think of your closet as an office, and you’re the domineering boss. Every article of clothing is one of your employees. (You paid for THEM, after all.) You should crack the whip to ensure each item works hard for you — but each employee should work well with the others, too. Here’s how: This first look reminds me […]
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Thrift vs. Consignment vs. Vintage
This outfit is an interesting intersection of consignment, thrift and vintage. (I often get asked about the difference between the three, and this dress serves as a nifty visual.) Here is a quick-and-dirty guide: Consignment vs. Thrift // Location, Location: Where did you buy it? If the store was in a strip mall, littered with flickering […]
Catalog Police: Free People August 2015 Edition
It’s time to unleash a new series of snark on the latest catalog to land on my doorstep. This week’s victim is Free People — a brand I actually love. (I wore their clothes almost exclusively for my Moroccan honeymoon.) But lately, the assortment has been hit-or-miss, mostly because the brand can’t decide who actually buys […]
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The 90s Trend Meets Its Maker
The emergence of 90s nostalgia was mildly tolerable when it first reappeared: The 2012 Urban Outfitters x Lisa Frank collabo was cute enough, and I was delighted with the resurgence of “every day” leather pants. Then… things got weird. Anything with a sniff of 90s sentiment was suddenly hotter than a Ricky Martin single. Prices rocketed for the […]
Making a Summer Dress Work for Fall
This creamy eyelet dress was one of the smarter purchases I made in 2012, thanks to its reasonable price tag (well under $100) and its versatility in straddling two summertime trends: the lace dress and the long-sleeved shirt-dress. Typically, I interpret this as a casual dress, pairing it with nude ballet flats, a cognac belt and a […]
The Fallacy of the “Investment Piece”
Let’s get this right out of the way – I hate the term “investment piece” and want everyone to cease and desist the term’s usage immediately. Whenever someone calls their latest purchase an “investment piece,” all I’m hearing is a flimsy defense for financial over-exertion. That’s because every single item of clothing you buy, from couture to consignment, IS an investment. The key […]
Reinventing the Button-Up Shirt: A No Sew Solution
A few days ago, I took stock of my entire wardrobe, culling items for donation and color-coding the rest. During my closet clean-out, I realized I had managed to acquire at least a dozen button-ups in varying shades of plaid, polka dot and chambray. The vast collection irked my frugal side: aside from my solid white and black […]