Shift Dresses

I absolutely adore the look of a short shift dress paired with black opaque tights. First of all, this combination offer endless options for layering (cropped cardigan, turtleneck) and shoe choice (ballet flats, knee-high boots). Secondly, it is perfectly chic and classic while remaining "on trend" by channeling mod 60's-era vibes reminiscent of Edie Sedgwick and Twiggy. Classic black wins extra fashion points, but embellishment at the neckline or unique structural details only adds to the sophisticated-chic look.



Alice + Olivia Beaded Yoke Dress, $385
Milly Dot Wool Jacquard Colorblock Dress, $356



Milly Loop Shift Dress, $377

Plus, free shipping at Shopbop, and you know what that means - extra reason to go (online) shopping!

More Cozy Sweaters Plus an Update

To follow up on my previous post about cozy sweaters for winter, I decided to purchase the lovely Anthropologie sweater that all of you loved so much for myself! I also ordered the Theory sweater in the dark charcoal color as a Christmas present for a close friend. I think that they are both perfect wardrobe additions, because they are great winter basics that can be layered over tanks or tees, but at the same time they have interesting details all on their own.

I also continued my sweater kick over at J.Crew. Lately, I have been really into the bright, cheerful colors and patterns of their preppy sweaters and cardigans. Not to mention that college students get an extra 10% off in all J.Crew stores by showing their schools IDs! Extra incentive to shop!! (Not that I/we really need it though.

Wool cashmere argyle cardigan, $88 from $98


Striped Cambridge cable crewneck sweater, $80


Glimmer-dot merino cardigan, $95



By the way, does the last cardigan remind anyone else of this Marc by Marc Jacobs cardigan? (Of course, the price-tag is a bit more forgiving!)

Kristi sweater cardigan, Shopbop, $258

Style Inspiration

Lately, I have been trying to be more creative with my wardrobe as far as mixing shapes and playing with proportions. I feel that my own personal style tends toward the "classic" end of the spectrum (i.e. I love the sophisticated-chic look of a great trench coat or the perfect pair of black ballet flats), but this does not mean that I do not also like to experiment with my outfits.

I happened to stumble upon this quote on the Shopbop website last night, and I think that it perfectly captures my prerogative on fashion.

Classic is no longer synonymous with boring. Tailored style has taken new shape in daring silhouettes and a fresh look at the suit. Trust in simply chic accessories. They last a lifetime.

With that said, here are some interesting outfit combinations that I find inspirational at the moment. Although I might not necessarily wear these exact combinations, I can definitely see myself picking and choosing certain elements in these outfits to highlight my own style.

Winter Fashion Necessity: Cozy Sweaters

Anthropologie, Wrapped Up Cardigan, $168



Theory, Verdana Sweater Coat, $295




J.Crew, Lofy Alpaca Shawl-collar Sweater, $88

Fashion Obsession: Riding Boots

I have been searching for the perfect pair of riding boots for quite some time now, and I believe that this stunning pair is the culmination of my search! Even though they constitute a major trend in fall/winter fashion, riding boots are truly a very versatile footwear style. Besides pairing them with skinny or straight-leg jeans, I love the look of riding boots with a shift dress or skirt layered with thick tights in grey or black. Not to mention that this pair from J.Crew is currently on sale, so be sure to order them ASAP if you're interested! (Tenley low-heel boots, $214.40 from $268)

By the way, please share your own ideas for working riding boots or other low-heel boots into your wardrobe this season. I am looking forward to putting together some interesting and creative outfit combinations incorporating these boots!

Theory

So, I confess to being a Theory addict. I can rattle off the names of the various styles of pants. I am familiar with the slight differences between the many shades of grey available. I have an entire section of my closet devoted to my collection of Theory. My newest addition is the Steffen W Dress ($285), which I am planning to "winterize" by layering it over a long-sleeve top and thick opaque tights, paired with knee-high boots.

After-Thanksgiving Sales/The Gap

Sorry for the lack of updates over the long weekend - I was home from college and spent the time visiting family and friends. However, I certainly did make time for shopping (!), and I'm very excited to share some of my finds.

I have to admit that I usually bypass the Gap in favor of various other stores, but I'm glad that I decided to have a look yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised to find a selection of chic shift dresses that I can definitely see paired with some stylish low-heeled riding boots. Not to mention that both of these lovely pieces were on sale, so I got some great bargains!



Colorblock shift dress, $64.99; Navy wool henley dress, $49.99

Trend Watch: Bold Necklaces

I love the idea of pairing a solid-colored top with a really bold, bright-colored necklace. When the two tones are from opposing color families, the contrast really brings out the full strength and intensity of each of the colors, as in this perfect example from J.Crew.

This reminds me that I need to update my jewelry collection with some really fun, statement-making necklaces. I tend to buy lots of delicate, dangly earrings while neglecting more dramatic pieces like over-sized necklaces.

Even better, I would love to learn how to design and make my own jewelry. It seems as if I am constantly commenting, "I could make that myself" whenever I see especially overpriced jewelry pieces, but I have never taken the initiative to actually do just that. Does anyone have any advice on jewelry-making? Motivational photos of creative jewelry projects? Fabulous bead/jewelry supply stores in New York?

Close-Up on Color: Marni Spring 2008

Style Inspiration: Anthropologie

1. Layered Mist Tunic, $98; 2. Looking Glass Tee, $168; 3. Pretty as a Picture Tee, $98; 4. Midnight Hour Dress, $218; 5. Colonnade Trousers, $158; 6. Le Monde Drops, $58; 7. Clock Strikes Top, $228; 8. Fumoso Necklace, $148; 9. Flowered Sky Shift, $158

Paris Street Style

In anticipation of my upcoming trip to Paris, I have been spending my time browsing photos of Parisian street style. Let me just say that this little hobby is highly addictive; I don't believe that I will ever get tired of admiring the natural elegance and sophistication of French fashionistas. It seems that each and every girl has an easy, natural, and totally unique fashion sensibility that avoids the danger of seeming contrived.

Houndstooth

My latest fashion obsession? ">Houndstooth. The bold, graphic print is completely modern, but it still manages to incorporate elements of classic chic, making for the perfection combination.

I remember spotting a few items in a Banana Republic store earlier in the season, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they are now on sale! Extra motivation to add some houndstooth to your winter wardrobe.

More Rainy Day Fashion

Sigh. It's another rainy day in New York, so time to pull out the rainboots and trench coat yet again.

In terms of shopping, this rain has me craving this ">Magritte-inspired umbrella. It has the perfect balance of practical functionality and fashion-forward wittiness.

Plus, it beats the 5 euro umbrella I'm currently using, which was bought on the street in Florence during a downpour.

Discount Dance Supply

As both a ballet dancer and a fashionista, shopping for new dancewear is the perfect combination of two of my biggest passions. And while ballet class is about much more than what you're wearing, a cute leotard/skirt/legwarmers ensemble can brighten up your daily class!


P.S. I do all of my dance-related shopping at ">Discount Dance Supply
. Local dance stores tend to be very overpriced, and I can testify that the exact same items are available online for a fraction of the price.

Tomas Maier of Bottega Veneta

Hide and Chic

I just finished reading an interesting and refreshing interview with Tomas Maier, creative director of Bottega Veneta, that appeared in the New York Times Style Magazine on November 4th. For the head of an internationally recognized fashion house, Maier has a surprisingly down-to-earth perspective on the concept of luxury and how it relates to fashion. To give you an idea, here is a short excerpt from the article, but I really do suggest that you check it out for yourselves. He presents some interesting ideas that I think we could all afford to keep in mind, since it is all too easy to be swept up in the world of high fashion.

Used is good. A bag always looks best when a woman has carried it for years and it’s broken in. A jacket that you’ve had for a while is much more pleasant than when you just bought it, because it takes the shape of your body and has much more character.

And let me just say that this next line is an absolute gem. It goes so much deeper than the trite axiom "quality over quantity" and makes you really think about what can give you a sense of contentment.

I prefer to have very little, but it has to be exactly the right thing.

Longchamp Le Pliage

OK, so I understand that the Longchamp Le Pliage is ubiquitous. Which means that fashionistas around the world will look on this bag with scorn and seek something more "exclusive." At the same time, it's a chic and simple every-day bag that is roomy enough for all the essential but still lightweight.

The solution -- a customized Le Pliage! Honestly, I feel like I'm giving away a secret here; of the thousands of bags I've seen, I have only spotted 2 customized ones besides my own.

The only downside is that the bag will cost you a bit more, not to mention shipping and handling direct from Paris, but I think that the wide array of choices more than makes up for the price markup! And even if you don't end up ordering one (or three), it's still fun to come up with interesting color combinations on the Longchamp website! You have the option of changing the strap length, choosing the hardware, and pairing any two base colors and stripe colors.

RedEnvelope

Whenever I'm looking for a gift that is sweet, thoughtful, and a little different, I immediately head on over to RedEnvelope. The catalog/website has a huge selection of delicate jewelry, luxurious pajamas and robes, and unique decorative pieces for the home. As a bonus, your gift purchases come in a gorgeous red leather case with your own customized message to the receiver.

For Mother's Day last year, I bought my mom this beautiful "pea in a pod" necklace. You have the option of one, two, three, or four pearls to symbolize the mother's children. How adorable is that?



I am a huge fan of Murano glass, and RedEnvelope never fails to have several stunning pieces. I also spotted this precious baby elephant ring holder -- could be a cute stocking stuffer! (Not to mention, it's a bargain at only $38.)




I almost forgot one of my favorite little details about RedEnvelope. Each item you buy comes with a charming story to explain the thought behind the creation. For example, here's the elephant's story:

They say an elephant never forgets, which makes this adorable silver-plated baby elephant the perfect partner for helping you remember where you put your rings. A delightful addition to your sink or bedside table, his elongated trunk safely holds your rings when not in use.

Rainy Day Fashion

It's another cold, rainy, and dreary day in New York -- the kind of day when you would love to stay in bed and read, not get up and go to a lecture. Sound familiar?

At the very least, I can cheer myself up by remembering the cute and cheerful options for rainy day fashion! Whenever it looks like it's going to rain, I pull out my chic Kenneth Cole trench coat (I'm usually against "must-haves," but I really do believe that every girl needs a great, classic trench coat in her wardrobe).



I also love seeing the array of colorful rainboots that crop up in New York when it rains. I searched out this particular Pucci pair for weeks with no luck, but I always spot at least one fashionable lady wearing them whenever it rains. Do you think it would be awkward to attempt buying them off some girl's feet?! Well, I guess that I will have to content myself with my own cute pair from Urban Outfitters.

PBteen

I have always been fascinated and inspired by the concept of the college dorm room. Sure, they are typically cramped, badly air-conditioned, and often in less-than-perfect condition. But to me, a dorm room signifies a blank canvas, a chance to exercise those interior design skills (and shopping skills, too!). It seems like a fitting challenge for one of those reality TV shows (design a 100 square foot dorm room without painting).

So, I spent much of my summer purchasing bedding and pillows, comparing mini fridges, and planning out every last detail of my ideal dorm room. Since I have to give credit where credit is due, PBteen was a huge inspiration to me in sorting out my "design." In the end, 90% of the items in my room were ordered off of the PBteen website.

And yes, I absolutely love my dorm room, in spite of all its "flaws"!

Anthropologie

Sure, we all look forward to Thanksgiving every year as a day to celebrate food, family, and friends. But let's be honest here - we also look forward to Thanksgiving as the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Can you say Black Friday?

In the spirit of the holiday, I have been perusing Anthropologie's website over the last few days. As always, I am completely in love with not only their clothing but also their unique aesthetic and viewpoint. It makes me wonder whether the world of Anthropologie actually exists outside of their (perfectly charming and endearingly quirky) stores.

For your enjoyment, here's an excerpt from their website:

Step into a candyland of grandeur, where the air is aromatic with the scents of sabarina and creme brulee.

A girl can dream, right? Sigh.

Pinkberry

Earlier today, I finally made a trip to Pinkberry to sample their much-debated frozen yogurt for myself. Now, I am not going to address whether it is or isn't yogurt. Likewise, I am not going to question what exactly is in it. I'm not even going to touch the issue of the lengths some people will go to in order to get their hands on these stuff.

From a perfectly superficial perspective, Pinkberry is young and stylish (even if it edges dangerously close to the realm of cutesy). I tested the original, and sadly it's not the best-tasting frozen yogurt I've ever had. The point is, it's not even really about the taste.

Anyway, I admit that I do like the design aesthetic of their stores however, and the concise menu is refreshingly simple. Just enough choices, but not too many to bewilder you.

Project Runway

I am always so busy Monday-Friday that I am forced to relegate TV-watching to the weekends. That's why I just finished watching the premiere of Season 4 of Project Runway, even though it aired on Wednesday night! I think it's safe to say that I am hooked. The only minor inconvenience is that I have to watch episodes in 10-minute clips on Youtube, since I don't have a cable TV in my dorm.

Getting to the actual show, I was relieved to see that the producers avoided a "gimmicky" first project this season. I always sensed some sort of injustice in eliminating talented designers based on problems working with garbage and gardening supplies. It makes infinitely more sense to establish the designers' relative skill in working with real fabric from the outset.

With that said, I honestly was impressed by Rami's dress. It was the epitome of simplicity and elegance, and it brought to mind images of a classical Greek goddess (I am choosing to overlook the rosette detail). However, my favorite to win is without a doubt Christian. I felt that his look embodied an international, high-fashion sensibility and delivered a fresh, modern, and young perspective.