If fashion were a religion, the little black dress would be pope. It intrigues me that the simple concept has inspired such cult-like devotion. I suppose this fanaticism stems from black’s pure simplicity — like a self-flushing toilet, a LBD does most of the work for you. I have fallen prey all too often — I have three black […]
Work
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 […]
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 […]
- Consignment
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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 […]
Can I Pull This Off? A Shirtdress Over Pants
Today’s outfit is one of those “keep scrolling down” looks. It starts off normal… and then POW. See what I mean? This is my attempt to nail the LAYER EVERYTHING YOU OWN trend. For this iteration, I wore my Derek Lam shirtdress (last seen here) over wide-legged pants, with an extra swaddling of cashmere for good measure. This […]
- Consignment
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A Sartorial Salute to Madonna
It is with sadness that I confirm that fall has officially begun. Yes, we are about to free-fall into a 7-month stretch of darkness and despair. But while my Miami-native blood curdles at the sight of anything below 75, these brisk temperatures have a silver lining: Finally — FINALLY! — I got to wear this Stella McCartney silk […]
- Alterations
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#TBT: My Homecoming Dress, Part 2
Last week, I introduced the first of a three-part Throwback Thursday series. My goal? To reinvent the homecoming dress — the lowliest of formalwear and the outfit voted “Most Likely to Make Us Cringe” as adults. When I recently unearthed my three homecoming dresses (from 1997, 1998 and 2000), my first instinct was to Google […]
Altering A Blazer: The No-Sew Solution
Roughly 60% of my wardrobe is second-hand, hunted in the wilds of consignment and thrift stores. And there are many instances when I find something I love… but it isn’t my size. If something is too small, it’s a done deal — nearly nothing can save it. But if the potential purchase is too big, I start rationalizing, […]
- What to Pack
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Lucky 13: My Office Make-Up Essentials
On any given weekday, I only have a few minutes for make-up before I fly out the door. That’s fine for a starter spackle, but around lunchtime, I need a refresh. For years, I skipped the mid-day touch-up, thanks to my aversion for carrying a cosmetics case clattering with brushes and full-size products. But as work-life demands became […]
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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 […]