black Archives - Page 50 of 53

My Wardrobe: the curating begins!

So I've decided that I'm going to curate my wardrobe in groupings of eight, in keeping with the plan that seems to be working so well for other wardrobes that I build! And first up, the highly utilitarian work wardrobe for the winter holidays. Cotton turtlenecks from Lands' End, sweatshirts from Lands' End and Adidas, and jeans from NYDJ (stretch jeans are ESSENTIAL if climbing is in your job description). I didn't need a lot of clothes, because I'd have to come home most evenings and immediately launder whatever I'd been wearing... To me, this wardrobe, while not particularly dressy or innovative, is elegant, if you define elegance as simple, timeless, and appropriate to the situation at ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Packing for Uncertain weather, in black & grey

Pearl earrings – Majorica, Gray blazer – Stella McCartney, striped tee shirt – A.L.C., grey trench – Burberry, black cotton pants – Michael Kors, bags – Tumi, shoes – Thierry Rabotin, pearls – Kenneth Jay Lane, scarf - Hermes

Often, I receive questions about what to pack if one is uncertain of the weather at the destination. This is a question I wrestle with often, because my favorite time of year to travel is in those "iffy" months when a lot of families can't travel, because school is in session, and when the weather isn't warm enough to sunbathe, nor cold enough to ski.

Grey cotton cardigan – American Vintage, Striped cardigan – Day Birger et Mikkelsen, black knit skirt – T by Alexander Wang, Fair Isle silk sweater – ... View the Post

Wardrobe: black, brown, with accents of berry

Someone mentioned yesterday that black and brown might be made to work with shades of red - so I made a few alterations to yesterday's wardrobe; the versatility of core neutral garments is truly amazing... All clothes – 3.1 Phillip Lim

Jacket – Vince, Cardigan – Closed, Blouse – Marc by Marc Jacobs, Tee shirt – Michael Stars, dress – Michael by Michael Kors, sweater – Closed, pants – Michael Kors, Skirt – Alberta Ferretti

Tweed coat – Lanvin, striped tee – Vince, black and brown tweed skirt - Carven, cranberry tee – Splendid, cardigan & sweater – Malene Birger, long sleeved tee – Dorothy Perkins, sweater – Miu Miu

1. Pumps – L.K. Bennett, necklace – Heather Moore, bag - ... View the Post

Wardrobe: a base of black and brown

All clothes – 3.1 Phillip Lim

Tweed coat – Lanvin, striped tee – Vince, black and brown tweed skirt - Carven, blue sweater – Alexander Wang, blue cardigan – Vero Moda, blue tee – John Lewis, white tee – Debenhams, white shirt – Helmut Lang

1. Pumps – Bandolino, bracelet – Monica Vinaeder, bag - Fendi

2. Umps - Ferragamo, necklace – Alexis Bittar, earrings – Sahani Azibo

3. Oxford - Anniel, scarf – Hermès, pearl earrings - Majorica

4. Flats – Debenhams, ring & ... View the Post

Wardrobe based on 2 suits: Was Chanel right?

December 23, 2011 One of my favorite Chanel quotes is "One shouldn't spend all one's time dressing. All one needs are two or three suits, as long as they and everything to go with them, are perfect." So I thought about how this quote applies to the wardrobes that I build - let's try on Chanel's advice! First, two suits: one black, one taupe. Now, to me, a suit is a jacket, pants, a skirt AND a dress. (sometimes, nothing looks better than a dress and jacket). Yes, I'm taking the definitions very loosely...

Next, you need the things that go with the 2 suits. One twinset that matches a suit, and another twinset in an accent color. One turtleneck that matches one of the suits, and a ... View the Post

Michigan Avenue Style Lab: camel & black, twice

Black pants – Michael Kors, sweater – Miu Miu, belted wool coat – Vanessa Bruno, plaid gloves – Burberry, red scarf – Joseph, red penny loafers – Bass, quilted jacket – Dorothy Perkins, lime green scarf – Michael Kors, green gloves – Magaschoni, lime green beret – Philip Treacy, black short boots – Rochas ... View the Post

The shopping fast: Month 3

This has in many ways been the easiest month so far. Day to day, I'm only wearing a variety of gray or black tee shirts, jeans, and my work shoes. (and of course, my apron, which is NOT pictured here...) If anything, December might prove to be even more dull fashion-wise than November!

Working in retail is a great way to condition yourself away from constant shopping; the endless glut of unnecessary stuff that we have to handle every day makes the idea of actually buying something and taking it home absolutely repulsive. What an insane frenzy of over-consumption the holidays are in the United States...

And I must give a warm, grateful shout out to my work shoes - Camper Pelotas. They are durable, ... View the Post

Customizing the Classics: the black turtleneck

Black turtleneck - Dear

Brown turtleneck – Chloe, Gray turtleneck – Barney’s, navy turtleneck - Woolrich

crew – Diane von Furstenberg, cowl – Oasis, v-neck – Vanessa Bruno

Silk – Barney’s, Linen– Kain Frances, Cotton – Kelly Hoppen

Tweed skirt – Lanvin, Camel jeans – Moto, Brown silk pants – 3.1 Phillip Lim ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Packing the Last-Minute Suitcase

Someday, the call will come:

Your Aunt Trudi is in the hospital, and nobody else can get there to be with her! or The data servers are all down in Edinburgh - get there NOW and fix them, or The Excel trainer broke her leg - you've got to go to New York tonight to teach the seminar, or Honey! We're going to Paris TONIGHT for a long weekend! (this is a dream we share, eh?)

So somewhere in the back of my mind, every three or four months, I consider what I would do if I got this call. The best defense, of course, is to have a carefully curated and deliberately distilled wardrobe, so that you just just stick your hand in the closet and grab a handful of things and you'll probably be okay. And if ... View the Post

Not so Crazy Eights: black for parties/holidays

Black velvet jacket – Alberta Ferretti, Sequined tee shirt – Oasis, Black silk chiffon top – 3.1 Phillip Lim, Black embellished dress – 3.1 Phillip Lim, Black washed silk pants – 3.1 Phillip Lim, Embroidered skirt – 3.1 Phillip Lim, Silk tank top – 3.1 Phillip Lim, Black velvet skirt – John Lewis

1. Pumps – Christian Louboutin, earrings – Kenneth Jay Lane, clutch bag – Marc Jacobs

2. Brogues – Miss Selfridge, bracelet and earrings – Monica Vinaeder

3. Pumps – Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, necklace and earrings – Alexis Bittar

4. Flats – Giuseppe Zanotti, ring – Alexis Bittar, bracelet – Alexis Bittar

5. Mules – Sonia Rykiel, earrings – Alexis ... View the Post

The shopping fast: Month 2

Truly, I think I'm happier without shopping! The mental space that I have available, now that I'm not always keeping, in the back of my mind, that "well, I'm going to need new gray cords, maybe they're on sale at Levi's" dialog, is wonderfully freeing.

And I still have STACKS of unworn winter clothes...

... View the Post

L’Armoire Idéale: jeans – seven ways

Jeans - Levi’s, blouse - Gianbaptiste Valli, woven bracelet – Roberto Coin, bangles – Citrine by the Stones

Sweater – Acrobat, bag – Debenhams, boots – Humanoid, tunic – Theyskens’ Theory, cardigan – Surface to Air, silver sneakers - Vans

Wrap top – DVF, black tank – Dorothy Perkins, jacket – l’Agence, white tee – Paul Smith, pocket square – Paul Stuart, shoes - Naya

Halter – Warehouse.co.uk, clutch – mstylelab, sandals – Born, silk top – Antik Batik, ivory turtleneck – Derek Lam, boots - Frye ... View the Post