Style Inspiration: The Sartorialist

A fantastic new picture from the Sartorialist always seems to make my day! I can never seem to pull off head-to-toe black without looking washed out, but this stylish girl has definitely succeeded. I love the way she combined different textures in the gloves, bag, and jacket to add some dimension to an all-black look. Just to highlight some details, the bow in the hair is adorable (and so easy to incorporate into your own ensembles!) and the gloves are to-die-for!

Bloch Now Available at Shopbop?

Luxury Ballet Flat, $170 at shopbop.com

As I was browsing Shopbop yesterday, I happened to notice the name of a designer I had never seen before on the website's comprehensive listing. Of course, I recognized the name Bloch as one of my favorite dancewear brands, but I didn't really think that the maker of my humble canvas slippers was really selling its wares on Shopbop. Sure enough, however, the $170 "Luxury Ballet Flats" seen above were produced by the same designer who supplies me with my $14 canvas ballet slippers. To be honest, I'm still just a little confused. Aiming high, Bloch?


Round Toe Ballet Slipper, $14.05 at discountdance.com

Style Inspiration: Margherita Missoni

What's not to love about Margherita Missoni? Of course, she just happens to be the heir to the Missoni fashion house, but she is also a natural beauty with a unique style in her own right. Not to mention that she is intelligent (she studied philosophy at Columbia), ambitious (she is training to be an actress), and generally regarded as level-headed, given her family's fame and fortune.

I think that what makes Margherita so magnetic is her confidence and poise. So often, we see young celebrities and socialites attempting to pull off ultra fashion-forward looks who just end up being worn by their clothes instead. In Margherita's case, however, here is a girl with natural presence who is able to pull off even the loudest Missoni print dress with ease. Maybe it's in her genes?

New Outfits from Anthropologie

For those of you who don't compulsively check Anthropologie's website for updates on a daily basis, don't worry - I can do that for you! I was delighted to see a selection of adorable and stylish new outfits for the spring when I logged on. It could just be that I'm getting tired of putting on a winter coat, scarf, and gloves every time I want to go outside, but I am really craving spring weather right about now. Browsing the new outfits at Anthropologie, along with some beautiful new items based around the theme of primary colors, certainly put me in a springtime mood!Garibaldi Cardigan, $228 at Anthropologie

Nocturne Wrap, $58

Browsing through all of the outfits, these two items really jumped out at me as pieces that could easily be incorporated into just about any wardrobe. The grey cashmere sweater is a great, flattering basic with a girly twist in the ruffly trim, while the wrap has a really exotic vibe but looks perfectly sophisticated paired with dark jeans, not to mention it's a steal (in Anthropologie terms) at only $58.

Welly Socks

Just a quick post today, since the reading and coursework is already piling up very quickly! I got an email from ShopBop this morning (as usual - I am bombarded with emails from ShopBop) advertising their newest promotion - a free pair of welly socks with a pair of Hunter boots. I'm not in the market for new rain boots and I'm not necessarily a huge fan of Hunter boots, but I thought the idea of special welly socks was pretty ingenious! I don't know about the rest of you, but I never know what kind of socks to wear under my wellies, plus this pair looks particularly toasty for a cold, rainy, well-appropriate day.

So what do all of you think? Marketing ploy or best thing since sliced bread?

Straight from Paris - The Sartorialist

Spring semester just started this week, and somehow I am already buried under a pile of work! Not to mention that I have been rushing from classes to extracurriculars to work - my Metrocard is definitely getting some exercise this week!

Anyway, I was very excited (as I'm sure all of you will be) to see that the Sartorialist has been posting street style photographs from Paris. I'm already feeling nostalgic about my trip last month - I'm craving French style and attitude! Even if I can't jet over to Paris right now, I can at least admire some fashionable French ladies from the comfort of my own dorm room, right?

As a side note, I do think it is refreshing to see the young, quirky side of Parisian style (mainly in that last photo but to some degree also in the third picture). We are so used to seeing neutrals/black in classic, sophisticated shapes that it is rewarding to finally see a fuller picture of the range of styles found in this fashion capital. And while I will always adore the chic side of Paris and the iconic French woman dressed in head-to-toe black, there is something thrilling about seeing someone break out of that mold and try something completely different and even somewhat shocking.

Project Runway Part II

As a follow-up to my last post about Project Runway, I thought I would post an interesting photo to compare with Chris and Christian's avant-garde creation. Alison Kelly from Season 3 mentioned in her blog that the dress reminded her of a piece by Alexander McQueen. As we all know, Christian did work for Alexander McQueen, so some have suggested that Christian may have taken his "inspiration" from the designer piece. I posted the two photographs so that you can compare and contrast and then form your own opinions. So what do you think?

Project Runway

Winter break is quickly drawing to a close, and I find myself scrambling to fit everything in before I have to head back to school for the start of the spring semester. In particular, I made sure to find time to catch up on episodes of Project Runway that I missed while at college.

I remember making a comment on here after the very first episode of the season that my favorite designer was Christian, and I am still completely behind him! With his snarky commentary on the other designers, I can't help but be reminded of Jeffrey from Season 3! Of course, Jeffrey's blend of talent and wit (plus a good dose of sarcasm) brought him all the way to the end, so maybe that combination will work for Christian too!?

I also remember admiring Rami for his elegant sense of style and ability to drape fabric, but the repetitive nature of his designs seems to be getting him in trouble with the judges! I was reading a blog on the Bravo TV website written by Alison from Season 3, and here's what she had to say about Rami.

In the music industry, a one-hit wonder is an artist generally known for only
one hit single. In the fashion world we call it "Rami."

I see what she means, but then again Uli went pretty far with her flowy silk dresses in colorful prints, even after the judges continually asked her to bring more to the table. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what next week brings!

Style Inspiration: Anthropologie

Without a doubt, my fellow Anthro addicts will understand my obsession with the outfits section of the website. I always love to see the stylish, quirky, and girly combinations the fashionable people at Anthropologie always manage to come up with. What I find so interesting is that you don't necessarily need to buy the specific items featured in the outfits (although the pieces are so beautiful I usually find myself rushing to the store to get my hands on them!). Typically, I can find items in my closet to layer or mix in the same way the pieces in the outfit are combined to get the same feeling.

And I just had to add this last picture, because it combines two of my favorite things - shoes and books! Plus I love the vibrant colors and vintage feeling.

Trend: Chain-Link Prints

Silk chainlink wrap dress, $148
Silk chainlink skirt, $78Links-print merino cardigan, $110
Links-print silk tank dress, $140

It's 50 degrees and sunny outside in New York today, and this beautiful weather has put me in the mood to shop for spring clothing! As I was browsing the spring collections over at Banana Republic and J. Crew earlier, I couldn't help but notice one particular print that kept popping up - chain links!

What was interesting to me was how this same pattern worked so perfectly for two compeltely different styles and sensibilities. Banana Republic's classic, work-friendly wrap dresses and tailored skirts looked chic and sophisticated in this modern print. On the other hand J. Crew's cardigan and silk tank dress looked preppy and quirky in this print when casually styled with cute shorts and flats.

Observations on French Style

I'm back from Paris and already missing all things French! I successfully navigated the metro system and was even able to put years of French classes into practical use. Visiting the amazing art museums located within the city was certainly one of the highlights of my trip - from the Pompidou Centre to the Musee d'Orsay to the Louvre (of course!) - I was able to see in person all of the stunning works of art that I had previously only seen in textbooks.

Needless to say, seeing French fashion up close and personal was also an exciting aspect of my stay. I am always impressed by the impeccable style of Parisians young and old. Essential components of the "French look," if you can call it that, include knee-high leather boots, black opaque tights, casually draped scarves, and yes, lots and lots of black and dark grey, along with small bursts of accent colors. Layering is key, especially in cold weather.





Just an interesting observation - I found it so refreshing to see girls with "natural" looking hairstyles in Paris. In the U.S., the popular look seems to be either stick straight or perfectly styled, whereas the standard in France is long and wavy, deliberately unstyled.

By the way, thanks to everyone who commented on my last post with advice and suggestions on my scrapbooking venture! I have finally gotten together all of my photos, maps, and various other papers and will officially start my project tomorrow. I will be sure to let all of you know how it goes! Plus, you can expect to see more regular posting now that I am back home for the rest of winter break. Thanks for visiting!

Bon Annee!

Winter Coats from j. Crew

I am officially home on winter break and getting excited to celebrate Christmas and enjoy some time off from school. That means that I am writing from the comfort of my own (very large!) bedroom at home, rather than a (cramped) college dorm room!

I recently bought a new winter coat from j. Crew, so I wanted to share with you some of the beautiful and classic coats from their selection. If you are planning on purchasing a coat from j. Crew, I highly recommend choosing one that can be customized by adding a thinsulate layer. When I visited the j. Crew store, I was disappointed to see that their coats were extremely thin and not suited to the New York cold. However, when I got home and went online, I discovered that several of the coats (including the two pictured below) come with the option of thinsulate, which provides an extra layer of warmth. I purchased the double-cloth lady day coat pictured below with thinsulate, and I can vouch for the fact that it really does add warmth without adding any bulkiness.
Double-cloth lady day coat, $298 (with thinsulate, $318)

Double-cloth sybil coat, $298 (with thinsulate, $318)

By the way, I absolutely love the dark poppy color pictured above. So perfect for the holidays, but very classic at the same time!

The Sartorialist

I am absolutely loving the latest street style pictures on the Sartorialist! These photographs seem to not only capture the unique style of individuals but also to unite far-flung cities in their common appreciation of fashion and creativity. I love to see how each person photographed interprets "trends" and incorporates fashion into his/her own daily lifestyle. And as much as we all love the glamour of high-fashion, I find it so much easier to identify with a "real" person exhibiting a day-to-day style as it relates to the atmosphere of the city.

With that said, I found this photograph particularly memorable. Besides the stunning background of Christmas trees and holiday lights, I love how this girl has put together a practical (read: warm!) outfit that also embodies the festive holiday spirit. Makes me want to grab a thick woolen scarf and cozy peacoat!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Resort

It might be cold and rainy outside, but that hasn't stopped me from browsing the resort collections on Shopbop in my spare time (i.e. during "study breaks"). After a thorough perusal of all the options, I have to say that Marc by Marc Jacobs stood out to me the most for its bright colors and fresh attitude. The shapes and color combinations may not be ground-breaking, but that doesn't stop this collection from being quirky and adorable. Staying true to form, M by MJ offers pieces with youthful energy and thoughtful, feminine details. Not to mention that the hair tie is completely charming and manages to turn a little-girl necessity into a fashion statement.

Solid Silk CDC Top, $228; Raquel Faille Short, $198

Sailboat Print Top, $228; Slubby Chambray Short, $168

Wave Print Halter Dress, $198

Neon Marc Bobble Hair Tie, $28