When I saw a preview of Sea NY’s spring collection on Barneys’ Instagram, I was delighted. The Sea NY tunic (left) was an exact replica of one I had purchased during my recent road trip across Morocco. That trip was aesthetically inspiring – as evidenced by my writings here and here – but the experience was also immersive. […]
Consignment
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Fashion’s Inside Joke: Trompe-l’œil
Today’s outfit is all about optical illusions, or what the French call trompe-l’œil. It’s a design technique that doubles as an inside joke for the fashion crowd — which may explain why I can’t pronounce it. (Someone really oughta burn my French minor.) A trompe-l’œil is the art of “perspectival illusionism” — i.e., making something flat appear […]
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The Foolproof Work Outfit
First, let me apologize for the fuzziness of today’s photographs. Summer is fading quickly — and shaving precious minutes off the “magic hour” that’s so critical for photos. I’ll have a new system in place before we plunge completely into fall. (Sadly, I think it involves photos at 6:45 a.m., in which case I’ll be apologizing for the […]
Carbon-Dating Your Consignment Purchase
When you shop luxury consignment, knowledge is power. Many shoppers fall victim to the assumption that if an item “designer,” it automatically is tasteful, classic and worth the splurge. This is untrue. Despite the millions of marketing dollars spent to convince us otherwise, high-end brands can churn out garbage, just like every other company on the […]
My First Time: The Barneys Warehouse Sale
I’ve lived in New York for more than five years — but until this week, I never braved the crowds at the Barneys Warehouse Sale. This sale is legendary among New Yorkers; Many of my girlfriends would call in sick JUST to be the first in line. But I still was not convinced. My reasons for avoiding the […]
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Remix, Recycle, Rinse, Repeat
Whenever I shop, I catch myself oscillating between romance and practicality. I get dressed to dream, to transform, to audition a new identity. But when it comes to retail reality, the bulk of my purchases are workwear — and blazers, blouses and briefcases aren’t the stuff of dreams. (Just TRY making “slacks” sound appealing.) I prefer to save my purchasing power […]
Summer’s Swan Song & the Ultimate Layering Piece
It’s the end of summer, and New York City is bordering on hysteria. Labor Day signifies the end of Summer Fridays and a seasonal slope into what’s shaping up to be the worst winter since… last winter. I’ve already air vacuumed half of my summer wardrobe to free up closet space for coats and jackets, […]
What to Pack: Sag Harbor in the Hamptons
The Hamptons have a certain patina to non-native New Yorkers. Before my first trip, I envisioned it as a big hedonistic party, snob central for Page Six fixtures, and prohibitively expensive for anyone without a Maybach at their disposal. My first weekend in the Hamptons was in 2009, the summer I moved to New York from […]
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Decoding the Country Club Dress Code
In a world where 7-11 patrons need reminding that shoes and shirts are required for entry, it’s no surprise that most strict dress codes are relics of the past. But in certain situations, protocol trumps comfort, and codes of closet conduct still rule. There will always be hats at royal weddings. Shoes will always be removed before entering a mosque […]
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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 […]