Summer 2010 Trip: Look 5 I have a serious thing for colors of twilight…gray, dusky purple, hazy rose-toned hues…all the earthy yet otherworldly shades that you see as your eyes adjust from natural daylight to darkness. They’re hard to wear without washing your skin tone out, but the heart wants what the heart wants.
JCrew has a color called orchid shadow and I want to buy all the styles they’ve ever produced in this color. Here is the crinkly cotton buttoned down shirt with a matching scarf over theory black linen pants. I might be able to wear the Eugenia Kim straw cloche with this outfit:
Tags: Eugenia Kim, J Crew
Forgive me for a whole week of silence at my blog. It’s a matter of weeks before a long trip so I’ve been a bit tied up with preparations. But even when I’m not writing I’m thinking about how to keep things fun here for you until I’m on the road and photographing the world again. Speaking of the road, a Little Black Dress (LBD) that I’m FITMSOing today is always on my packing list wherever I go. You know it’s the one item that will get you the most mileage out of your closet. Let’s see what I can do with this particular one.
Test Item: Christian Dior black nubby cotton knit A-line dress with spaghetti straps.
Look 1: When you find the dream LBD that both fits you perfectly and is comfortable to wear, you should buy 3 of them. JK. This dress has a very basic cut that will not go out of style. Granted, the knit can be a bit unforgiving if I go off on an M&Ms binge, but it’s black so I’m relatively safe. I don’t really like to fuss too much with an LBD so the most I’ll do is pair it with a pair of fun shoes, like my dark bronze Prada python platform slingbacks.
But if let’s say I’m at the Hollywood Bowl for a summer concert, I like to add a bit of color with a fuchsia silk scarf from JCrew. I may not be able to pull off wearing shocking pink all the time, but I’m all about the bright accessories (but I’d wear black shoes if I have a loud color on top):
Look 2: Now about fuchsia, I actually took a chance against type by buying this lightweight tweed jacket with detachable camellia pins last summer. I know the color is somewhat trendy but when paired with a classic cut, I think I can wear this jacket now and ten years from now. A subtle LBD that I can wear in Look 1 to a cocktail party makes the perfect silent partner to my office look in Look 2. This is why I usually invest in LBDs that are uncomplicated. The simpler, the better. Black peep-toe pumps are what I’d wear here.
Look 3: Lest you think a classic LBD can only work with “ladylike” looks, how about I take you downtown by throwing a shearling bomber jacket over and a pair of Juicy Couture tall motorcycle boots under it for the cooler days?
I think this Fall I should invest in a pair of tall boots with heels. And preferably a peep-toe. If you run across a pair that fits this description, please drop me a line 
.
Tags: Chanel, Christian Dior, FIMTSO, J Crew, Juicy Couture, LBD, Prada
So I’ve been talking about Bruges the last couple of days but did not mention the look I pulled together for my visit. It’s actually Look 4 built on top of a Jcrew grey tank and Banana Republic camisole…
then layered with the cashmere muffler, ski jacket, and goofy shearling trapper hat:
The fur lined Hogan boots have been my lifesaver against the cold. In my down time here I’ve been googling this slight inflammation (and by slight I mean my right hand is almost double the size of my left hand) I’m suffering from the cold. I think I have something similar to Cold Urticaria but I won’t know for sure till I can see a doctor. I knew I should have gone to med school…well no, med school is dangerous for hypochondriacs so maybe fashion or film school…but I digress.
Anyway, after these few Christmas markets in Belgium, I can say the best thing about them is eating junk food washed down by warm wine. I dare say I am getting a bit complacent with the gaufres so in Bruges I am happy to try a new stand of other sweet fried things:
I’ve long been a fan of the Mexican churros so I figure I have to give the Belgian churros a shot. And here is how they are made fresh upon order:
And here is how they make my day:
That hat is a complete disaster, am I right? But warm ears make a happy head.
Right next door to this stand is a “maxi pita” stand, and out of the corner of my eye I have to take a double take. Look through the small window behind the stack of still steaming fresh baked bread:
and you see the gorgeous building in the Grand Place…
this one, I think…
I’m signing off from Bruges. See you in the next town.
Tags: Belgium, Bruges, Christmas market, churross, gaufres, J Crew
I got schooled today at a local J Crew store by an overly attentive salesperson who told me the monochromatic way of dressing was sooo 2008. While it created a slimming silhouette (isn’t that what we’re all after?), that thinking was fashion backward and it was time to mix things up. It was time, she said breathlessly while grabbing things left and right to show me, to go Spring crazy and pair a “spicy olive” cardigan with a “sweet cantaloupe” tshirt. And if I had it in me, to top off the combination with a clutch in “sour lemon.” I indulged in her euphoria and got a giggle out of looking at the color names on the tags but all that exercise did was give me a sudden craving for a Jamba Juice. So I walked out of the store with a sweater (yes, you should know I cursed at myself as I thought about my last blog and the rainbow of cardigans waiting for me at home while they rang up my stuff) and matching tops, all in the “putty” color. 2008 and I: we’re tight. I’m sooo not 2009.
As much as I love looking at the display windows and magazine spreads where creative geniuses pull together wonderfully vibrant looks/colors that juxtapose in the most impossible harmony, in my world it’s all about the matchy match.
Finding things that were made to go together exactly, whether on purpose or by serendipity, is what makes me a happy girl. Sure, it’s easy enough to find shoes that match a bag made by the same designer, but when the shopping gods allow you to find alligator shoes and bags in the same tone and texture by two different brands, that’s cause for a happy dance:
So when I got home today, I went back inside my closet to take photographic evidence of some of the pairings that thrill me. It’s not just the tone-on-tone pairing necessarily, but I find matching patterns and textures to be just as satisfying.
It’s like finding a perfect mate. For your outfit. I think I’m going to stay 2008 for a while longer.
Tags: J Crew, Jamba Juice, monochromatic
