Catalog Police: J. Crew Nov. 2014 Style Guide

Happy Friday! Welcome to Catalog Police, where I review various catalogs and lookbooks to pinpoint the bad, the mediocre and the over-priced. Today, we’re dissecting J.Crew’s latest style guide, which is awash in a sea of sweaters, scarves and puffer vests in colors spanning oatmeal and cotton candy. The assortment is as exciting as a shot of sodium pentothal […]

Lace and Leather — Without the Sleaze

Lace and leather are a perennial fashion favorite. I first noted the combination during re-runs of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and in the years since, the trend has faithfully cropped up every few seasons. But despite its popularity, leather and lace can seem a bit… tawdry? Cheesy? Cougar-ish? Maybe not. For this outfit, I kept […]

Can I Pull This Off? Socks with Heels

I am highly suspicious any trend that oscillates quickly between “do” and “don’t.” The more divisive the trend, the more likely it will look dated by the time you get your clothes back from the cleaners. That kind of instability spooks my inner-pragmatist — I don’t want to look like a fashion victim 5 years from now just […]

Dressing Up the Statement Sweatshirt

I grew up in Florida, where formalwear is practically extinct. Shorts are worn year-round, and flip flops are donned in the office with impunity. But that 24/7 casual vibe is SO not me. For that reason, I’ve been wary of the sweatshirt trend — I’ve always believed that sweatshirts are for sleeping and Netflix binging — not […]

Non-Basic Basics: Oversized & High-Waisted

It’s no secret that I’m not a huge fan of the recent craze for “basics.” Don’t get me wrong: I believe in the primary tenants of basics-dom. Yes, one should have a perfect white T-shirt, black turtleneck and pair of jeans. But basics are, by their nature, boring. A plain sweater with jeans? Snoozeville. I […]

Catalog Police: Madewell x Sézane Lookbook

Happy Friday! Welcome to Catalog Police, where I review various catalogs and lookbooks to pinpoint the bad, the mediocre and the over-priced. Today, we will be discussing the Madewell x Sézane collaboration. For the uninitiated, Sézane is a French brand that is famous for its relaxed-basics-with-flair. Many style sites have hailed this collection as the best thing since baguettes […]

My History of Ad-Hoc Halloween Costumes

Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year — a sentiment that seems common for millennials. Most of us born in the 80s and afterward still make the annual pilgrimage to the costume pop-up shops and subsequently stay up all night to celebrate the holiday. If this New York Times article is accurate, this kind of […]

My Fall Uniform: Navy & Black

When it gets cooler, New Yorkers’ tend to keep their outfits simple: everything is all-black. Yes, it’s easy. A little TOO easy. This season, I’m challenging myself to mix more colors and textures. Part of my inspiration is Anna Wintour, who famously hates the all-black uniform. In addition, she always wears the same couple of silhouettes: an […]

Fashion Plagiarism Does Not Exist

In many instances, plagiarism is deplorable. There is no greater intellectual crime in graduate school theses, journalism treatises or political speeches. But in other instances, like cooking, the line between inspiration and plagiarism becomes murky. And when it comes to fashion, I would dare say that plagiarism does not exist. (Of course, I am not including counterfeit goods in this […]

The Fringe Jacket Ascends

My mom bought this fringe jacket from an equestrian supply store in Davie, Florida in the late 1970s. In 2001, she offered the jacket to me as a gift. I took one look at the out-of-date fringe — and politely declined. Thirteen years later, fringe has orbited back into fashion’s solar system. I called my […]