SMS: So My Style

Super Soft Tees

2009-12-19T17:47:00.000-08:00

This post has been so long in coming. It's also very long. For the past few months, I have been in *love* with super soft tees. In my own personal fashion quest, the discovery of super soft tees can be described as my Holy Grail, my Dead Sea Scrolls, the lost city of Atlantis.

Well, maybe not quite as dramatic.

But anyone who knows me and my fashion fetishes knows how obsessed I am with the brand LnA. What? A plain deep V-neck t-shirt for $60? Who would pay that?

... well, not me, since I buy on sale from Hautelook.com and ideeli.com and other websites with coupon codes (most of the time), but there IS a reason besides celebrity appeal that these t-shirts are so expensive: they are so amazing. Seasonless, versatile, casual-chic, effortless style.

Also, I have a girl-crush on this LnA model:

I'll start this entry off with a small gallery of ways you can rock a super soft tee, and go into a review of the brands later - though not a huge fan of the guy in the red V. (the first image below I got from http://www.whatswhere.com/)

My favorite for fall (and California winters :) is that last outfit worn by Zoe Saldana.

So as you can see, the super soft tee is an incredibly versatile basic that can create a variety of looks from formal with a casual twist, to casual with a polished twist.

But if it's so basic and simple, why are people charging any more than $10 for this little fashion staple? That's the question I asked myself when I innocently came across LnA at a Hautelook sample sale one fateful day.

LnA T-shirts

I had never heard of LnA before then, and I was shocked that these t-shirts, priced at $16-$19 (which I thought should have been the retail), were originally $60+!! I had to find out why, so I bought the V-neck and the deep-V necks in a couple colors, and also a tank and a couple pencil skirts. I wasn't going near the zipper leggings - I thought they looked weird. (I completely retracted that opinion later when I bought a pair and fell in love... along with the rest of their lines.)

Semi-sheer, super soft, lazy, chic, cute, comfortable, and sexy. I wore the hell out of these t-shirts during summer of 2009, especially the racerback tank I got in Kelly. I compared them to the t-shirts I already had, and I still can't explain exactly what makes them so amazing. The length, the drape, and the fit just make them so perfect with so many outfit combinations: tucked into shorts, skirts, pants; half tucked; loose over leggings, skirts, pants...

And the many many options they give you for accessorizing! Because they're so basic, the possibilities are endless with the right accessories - belts, dramatic necklaces, simple necklaces - all give the t-shirts a different vibe. You can go edgy with the right shoes and jacket, bohemian with the right skirt, and just classic chic with a pair of tailored pants (the contrast between the tailored and the casual semi-sheer of the t-shirt make for such a cute combo).

The cotton tees feel very different from the hemp tees, of which I own a few. The hemp tees are looser and drape more than the cotton ones do - both are SUPER soft and incredibly comfortable and cute. You really have to try them on to really appreciate them; I feel like this blog isn't doing them justice.

As you can see, this is true love. I now own probably well over 25 tops from LnA, plus their zippered leggings (charcoal, white, and HOT pink!), which I'll probably show off later, skinny pant, and pencil skirts. I'm coveting a pair of black licorice zipper leggings and pocket zipper leggings!

American Apparel tees

I have "The Summer Tee" and "The Track Tee," both V-necks. They are not as soft as LnA's cotton - I noticed that AA's cotton is a bit thicker and more coarse than LnA's cotton. But they offer an opaque alternative to LnA's sheer. I like them because they're a little less fashion-y and you don't have to worry about bras or sheerness because they aren't deep-Vs. I call them the "low maintenence" tees. :)

I haven't tried their new V and deep-V sheer jersey tees yet, though I smell knock-off :) If they're comparable to LnA, you can't beat the price - $19 vs. $60

(I have to say, and this might be a completely different entry altogether, I do not think AA is the same as LnA but only cheaper. I own both and while both lines have their merits, I have a strong preference for LnA. I prefer LnA not based on price or brand, but based on quality and the way the line fits me vs. AA, and it took me a little while to come to that conclusion because I didn't just want to go for the brand that was more expensive.)

Vince Tees

The Vince brand beats out even the LnA brand pricewise.

This muscle tee by Vince is $95.00 on Shopbop.com!

I only own one tee from Vince, and it's a black loose-fitting crew neck tee with a seam detail around the neck. I adore it, and I can feel how luxurious the cotton is when I wear it. However, is the markup worth it? I say yes, but only if you can't find the same look AND feel somewhere else, is it really worth it.

Rarity creates value, even if the material costs are in the single-digit-dollar range. However, while I won't say I'm an advocate of knock-offs, if you find a piece of clothing that you adore for a cheaper price that really pulls off the look of a higher-priced item, I say that higher-priced item is... overpriced. Ie., you're REALLY just paying for the brand.

I'm not accusing Vince of this. Just sayin'. :)

Splendid Tees, C&C California

I love Splendid's super soft tees, and the ones I've gotten have always added a little style element to the tee to make them just a little bit more formal (slightly bubble sleeves, more tailored shoulders, etc.) But I think I might be shortchanging Splendid in not doing a direct comparison between their supersoft tees and LnA's. Still expensive, but not quite as expensive as LnA, they have a lot of comparable pieces. For example, I would LOVE to try these on to compare:

Light & Fashionable top, $54; Very Light Jersey V Neck Tee, $48; shopbop.com

I love C&C California's Bold Tank $34.00 (but often on sale for $18-$24). It fits a little loose (looser than on this model) and it's a little bit sheer - such a great beach top to wear half-tucked into shorts or long enough to be a cover-up for a bathing suit. (Yes, I'm already thinking of summer!)

So to wrap this novella up, here is another image from whatwear.com that talks about where you can get tees for cheaper. I don't have many of these, so I can't tell you if they will give you the same quality as the ones I've mentioned. But if they work, then save your money!

One final note: I (surprise surprise) LOVE LnA's new tees and I can't wait to get my hands on them. I think while tunic-length tops are universally flattering, that tops are eventually going to get shorter again, but stay loose. That's my forecast.

Up and coming:

The BEST strapless bra for A cup or B cup gals (and it's NOT Victoria's Secret!)

2009-12-18T16:23:00.001-08:00

I can't really speak for the C-cup-and-above women out there, but I can tell you that I just spent the best $10.99 I've ever spent in my life. The Gilligan & O'Malley Strapless Plunge Padded Bra at Target. I might have caught a sale when I bought it because it shows up online as $14.99.

Here are the specs for those of you who are interested:

Sizing and Fit: Women Sizing
Material: 82 % Nylon, 18 % Spandex
Care and Cleaning: Line Dry, Machine Wash Cold
Underwire Type: Underwire
Cup Style: Padded
Closure Style: Hook Back Closure(s)
Garment Detail: Removable Straps

Let me preface this by saying that I have been a Victoria's Secret bra addict for years. Personally, and especially after finding this bra, I think a lot of my brand loyalty has to do with the hype. From the Victoria's Secret fashion show to the gorgeous celebrity models to the ubiquitous mailers, they advertise REALLY well. Which is why, for years, I've been buying $40+ bras that I knew, deep inside, were way too expensive for the quality I was getting.

I've bought a total of three mediocre Victoria's Secret strapless bras. The worst bra I have ever bought from VS is the Very Sexy 100-way Bra. Do not buy this bra. It's $50 of uncomfortable, flimsy ugliness that if you don't see it right when you buy it, you'll feel it a year later. The top edge of the cups showed in almost every top I wore. The band stretched out and lost its elasticity way sooner than I anticipated. And worst of all, the cups actually got lumpy. I don't know why since I usually air-dried the bra after the wash. (Though I'll admit, I didn't do this *every* time.)

The only thing I liked about this bra was the clear plastic plunge in the center. I could wear really low cut tops with this thing, even ones that plunged past the center of this bra. Since the center piece is clear, it's almost invisible. That was a really smart idea. Until, of course, the piece of plastic tore - now I have two separate cups.

Hence the need to go shopping for another strapless bra. I decided to try Target, since the online reviews of some of the Target bras were not bad. When I tried the Gilligan & O'Malley Strapless Bra, I fell in love. The cups felt absolutely perfect. The bra itself was incredibly stiffly constructed which felt a little too hard at first, but when I put it on, it was virtually invisible. It conformed to my body so well I hardly felt it. When I put my top over it, I couldn't see the top edge at all. Plus it's plunge AND padded? What more could I want?

Now, there are caveats to this find. First of all, I can already tell that eventually, the wires may poke out of the bra over time. I'll have to wait to see what the long-term wear on this bra is. Secondly, the cups are a little more of the "full coverage" style, rather than the "demi" style, which, I think, we smaller-busted women prefer.

But really, the best part of this find is the fact that I'm getting much more than I paid for. I would wear this bra as a normal everyday bra, let alone for special strapless occasions. $10.99? I almost bought two! But I stopped myself, because that would have just been unreasonable.

I know y'all have a Target near you. Do yourselves a favor and go to one and just TRY one on. Before they stop making them! And those with C+ cups, if you find this works for you too, let me know :)

Country Boots/Cowboy Boots?

2009-12-11T15:41:00.001-08:00

This is in response to a comment I got yesterday:

I think I've also got some country boots that needs a touch up. Any advice
if this is even worth modernizing.

By country boots I assume you mean cowboy boots? What color are they and what style? I'm picturing something like this:

Cowboy boots are such a great winter-to-spring transition piece. AND, in my personal opinion, they are worn BEST when they are OFF-trend, not on-trend. ie., when no one else is wearing them :) The best kinds are the classic ones that look authentic with real leather and bonus if they have scuff marks. My favorite colors are a rich dark coffee-brown as shown on the right of the link I have there, or RED. I have a pair of red cowboy boots and they always come off as unique when I pull them on.

Cowboy boots over leggings and a long fitted shirt (make sure the hem hits at least mid-thigh) would be a great casual on-the-go look. Paired with a slouchy hobo and, if you have an hourglass figure, a cinched belt that matches the boot color, this look would be great for spring. If you have great legs like the women in the link, you don't need leggings. And the flowy dress makes the outfit cute, but watch out for getting too little dramatic if you get too flowy.

If you want a more subtle "cowboy boot" look, bootcut jeans are your answer! Jeans with just a little flare in them give your body shape. You don't have to show the whole boot to get that "Western" look. Just let the jeans fall over the boot. Try them with a medium-width brown belt and a plaid or checkered shirt that isn't long, not the tunic styles, but slightly shorter to show off glimpses of the belt.

Another suggestion: Boots, bootcut jeans over it, loose fitting vintage-soft worn-in "I don't care" tshirt, maybe black-ish or yellow for a playful statement, or a basic super-soft tee, and an unbuttoned loose fitting button-up over it. Says completely casual with a twist! Accessorize with a funky necklace and oversized sunglasses and you're good to go.

If you're asking about how to modernize the boot itself, I'd have to see what the boot looks like.

DIY Strapped Boots

2009-10-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

This is a post of a tweet I saw (aren't I SO web 3.0?? :) on how to make your own Strapped Boots. I haven't done it yet, but I do have a pair of black basic boots that I want to modernize!

http://caroline.feber.se/art/167081/diy_strapped_boots/

Just like Rodarte's boots!:

Let me know if anyone ends up trying this! I would glue the straps on as I was tying to make it permanent, rather than tie then untie these everytime I want to wear them.

Baby-G!

2009-10-22T06:46:00.001-07:00

So it's been a long time since my last post, and I have but one itty bitty excuse: My CAMERA broke! :(

So until I get another one, I can't really do what I love to do most with this blog, and that's come up with outfits and post them! :)

I'll get one soon, and there's so much going on, and so much I haven't written about yet.

Like today, I was browsing Monica Rose's blog (stylist for Kim Kardashian) and she has a post on the OLD SCHOOL CASIO WATCH!

How many of us rocked these in elementary school or middle school, entertaining thoughts of cheating on that arithmetic test using these oh-so-tiny calculator buttons?

I was very amused to find this item being featured. There comes a time when you get just a little bit tired of hearing what the latest legging or plaid trend is. On TV the other day, I heard, "this Fall's latest trend? Boots!" How are boots, in general, a trend? Not impressed. A segment on how to wear boots, maybe, or the latest boots, sure. But boots in general are not a trend. They're what you wear when it gets cold.

Their one saving grace that prevented me from thinking they were totally clueless is they featured the thigh-high boot trend that's hot right now, although not for my short stature (please think Anne Hathaway in Devil Wears Prada and NOT Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman!).

Love Anne's and Kate's, but Haydn is bordering on PW territory here.

Anyway, back to my point. I always digress! Monica Rose then goes on to talk about the throwback BABY G watch she bought in this fit of retro watches. That was exactly the idea I had when I asked for a Baby-G Casio watch for my birthday this past January! One that I love and have been rocking since, especially since I'm a runner.

Just wanted to put that out there. Oh, retro watches Monica? Totally had that idea first! :)

A look for Heathum

2009-09-30T21:20:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend asked me "what's new in the jean world?" And I instantly got visions in my head of clothes I would love to try on her. Yes, I'm seeking help for these visions in my head... but in the meantime I figure I'll indulge myself by writing a blog post just for her!

Heather is about 5'9", but she's a skinny minnie! With a tiny waist and a lean frame with legs that go on forever, she's definitely a stylist's dream! Even after a baby, to us, her friends, she looks exactly the same as she did pre-preggers (truth!).

So here's a suggested outfit for my Heathum, just a concept of two styles of the same look that I drew:

Starting with the jeans:

National Jean Company - A Pocket Fit Flare Jean in Vintage Allston. $245.00 (but 20% off with the code "grechen")

For the cool, casual, "mom on the go," I would suggest these Seven Fit 'n Flare jeans. Lucky for Heather, who doesn't have a corporate dress code to abide by, she can go with a few stylish tears in her jeans.

My take on tears: I don't like overboard tears for casual wear. Maybe if you're trying to make a statement at a fancy dinner or a casual club, I would wear skinny jeans with crazy tears (best when they're NOT in style - lends more to the rebel vibe :). But little tears like this I think will never go out of style when paired with equally casual top and accessory pieces.

Another thing about these jeans - they look best on women with long legs. On me, the knee on a pair like this would hit my shin! I have a pair of dark wash Seven jeans that are similar, with small knee tears, that I love to run errands in, but I had to hem them. For Heather's slim legs, jeans that "fit" at the thigh and "flare" towards the ankle are best so she doesn't look like she's drowning in the jeans.

Another jean for a more polished look, and a brand I personally ADORE: J Brand.

J Brand - 722 Lightweight Lovestory Bell Bottom ($188), 20% off with "grechen"

Worn by Jessica Alba, Rhianna, etc. etc., these are definitely one of the "celebrity jeans." But seriously, I know why. It's because they fit like a dream!

And to top off the outfit, who styles casual-comfy-chic better than James Perse? Either of these will do:

Not the most economical choices... but we're still in fantasy land aren't we? Brace yourself:
James Perse Oversized Cotton Shirt, $195, net-a-porter.com. James Perse Sheer Cotton Shirt, $195, www.saksfifthavenue.com.

My philosophy on basics: These prices might seem ridiculous, and they probably are for most so I'm not saying buy these specific pieces, but I would definitely call this shirt a basic. And, contrary to intuition, I would invest MORE on basics than on trend pieces. Quality basics go a reeally long way when it comes to both surviving seasons and looking polished.

The flare of the jeans with these tunic styles will really create curves and movement for the very tall and thin. You can even cinch it with a belt if you're feeling fancy. Or throw it on and roll up your sleeves before you run errands. The loose fit keeps it casual and effortless, but you will look great! Sheer is very in right now, and pairing the white shirt with a camisole underneath, experiment with the color :), or even wearing a nude bra and daring to wear it with nothing under (lingerie-inspired) along with a blazer would be SO hot, such as:

Elizabeth and James, Double Breasted Blazer, $395.00, shopbop.com.

Personally, I think if you found a brown jacket, that might go even better. This is definitely an "in your dreams" pricetag, as is everything else in this post, but if you're looking for something different but casual still, this might fit the bill:

Lela Rose Cashmere Safari Jacket, $995, shopbop.com.

The details here are so unique! From the shoulder panels to the cinch-me or don't cinch-me belt, to the collar that can be worn up or down to the hint of metal in the button and belt details... And this jacket will contrast well with the simplified elements of the rest of your outfit. You can throw this on over just about anything and look very sophisticated. This is definitely an investment piece, and the idea here isn't to buy these specific products, but that classics/quality basics + one investment piece = very polished.

Since Heather is tall, she doesn't wear heels very often. I would suggest any of these very cute flats (to go with her Coach baby bag!):

Coach Skyla Flat, $158.00, coach.com. Coach Honor Flat, $158.00, coach.com.

BUT... I will say - wearing heels with these flare jeans will definitely make you not just very tall, but very hot:

Christian Louboutins, Round-Toe Pump, $625, Neiman Marcus

Of course Love Quotes, go with everything - Love Quotes Linen/Viscose, $79, Singer22.com
I would pick the Bali or Cobalt color (deep blue) with jeans, white or black shirt and pink flats. I would pick cocoshell (brown) or really any color to go with the white shirt and brown flats.

But SERIOUSLY - red scarf with the red shoes, white shirt, either of the jeans, plus blazer? YESSS! :)

So, these are of course not practical suggestions due to the prices. But it's fun to look, isn't it! And hopefully it gave you a style idea or two that maybe you can find in a store at a more reasonable price :)

Gorgeous in YELLOW... Spring 2010?

2009-09-15T18:55:00.001-07:00

I've always been interested in clothes, but only recently can I say I've been interested in fashion. And when I say fashion, italics included, I mean not only fashion-as-art, fashion-as-expression, but also fashion-as-buzz. There are so many fashion blogs out there! Is this a big "duh" or what?

Ever since I opened this can of extravagant worms, it became addicting. One blog led to another, one comment led to another blog, and in some cases, links to clothing led to purchase! But don't worry, I'm not in too deep yet. I did notice, however, that I love looking at the fashion shows.

Spring 2010 seems like a long way off, but believe it or not, that's where the buzz is. For those of you that may not follow fashion, the shows feature clothes for the next season. So we saw Fall 2009 back in February (in New York anyway), and Spring 2010 now. And I'm seeing whether the buzz is right: Is yellow going to be the hot color in Spring 2010, just because it's all over the runways now?

I guess we'll wait and see.

In the meantime though, half of me is sold already with Charlize Theron:

What a gorgeous outfit! The gold and even the subtle white on the purse really complements the yellow, and nothing on her looks too gaudy even though you wouldn't think, without looking at this, that gold, yellow and white would go too well together. Just stunning!

Here's a peek at other "yellows" featured on the runway:

Diane von Furstenberg, Spring 2010 RTW

Brian Reyes, Spring 2010 RTW (more greenish than yellow, but I love the structured rouching!)

Zac Posen, Spring 2010 RTW

I actually have a yellow shirtdress that I rocked this past summer, sometimes to work :), and I always got comments on it. Mostly because the yellow was so bright (think Tide bright :) and not muted like Charleze's. I feel so fashion-forward! :)

(dress: From Amsterdam in New York, cardigan: Abercrombie and Fitch [really old but stays in my rotation :)], belt: patent black belt that came from a dress at Ambiance)

I love this dress because I always like unexpected colors that momst people would shy away from. Like this yellow, or when Carrie from Sex and the City would pair rich saturated pink and blue together. (of COURSE I'm a Sex and the City fan...! :)

By the way, the above pic took FOREVER to find. I couldn't find it anywhere until I finally got the right Google phrase: "carrie bradshaw pink knit hat" haha.

I paired this today to go run some errands after work:

(hoodie: Juicy Couture, tee: LnA, pants: HardTail black foldover stretch pants)

So comfortable. And I just loved how I felt in the colors.

Colors make a difference - I wonder if yellow has anything to do with trying to cheer ourselves up given the economic situation? Hmmmm...

80s is back with a vengeance! My lazy-chic shouldered blazer look :)

2009-09-12T14:23:00.001-07:00

What was it about 80s and early 90s fashion that made us cringe so much? For me, it was the haircuts. Not that I really remember all that - I was but a toddler :) But still... shudder:

All I know is spandex no longer invokes jokes about Richard Simmons, exaggerated shoulders are no longer for the moms who had shoulder pads in their dresses and suits, and bleached and acid wash and ripped holes and plaid and Raybans are back! Are we seeing something this second go-round that we didn't see the first time, or are we just running out of original ideas?

In an article I read about how to dress for fashion week, the author made a very interesting point - just because you're wearing what's in now, doesn't mean you're being fashion forward.

5. Don’t slave the trends.

Just because something is in when fashion week rolls around doesn’t mean you should devote your entire look to it. Remember, once a trend ships to stores it has been wholesaleing for over 6 months and was designed several months before that. So maybe lace is huge right now, maybe you’ve seen it all over Barney’s Co-op and in the Bloomies catalogue and The View talked about it in their ‘hot trends for Fall’ feature but that doesn’t make it fresh to anyone in the industry. We’ve all been looking at it for the past year!

I’m not saying don’t wear it, I’m saying don’t wear too much of it, i.e. a lace dress with lace fingerless gloves and lace half socks under your open toe booties with a jacket covered in zippers on top (because zippers are everywhere too so you thought it would look totally trendy!). Like most things, a little bit goes a long way.

Just an interesting tidbit that I'd never thought about. Not that I've ever been to a fashion show period (though, duh, I want to go so bad! :), but I'm definitely more interested in how fashion-as-art translates to and inspires fashion-as-expression in the real world. Wear what makes you feel good!

The impetus for this post comes from something that happened to me last night. I was sorting out clothes to hand down to my sister when I came across a suit jacket that I never ever wore because it was slightly too big, and the shoulders had pads in them that I've been too lazy to cut out and alter to fit me. Besides, the suit jacket was $30 and I bought it over a year and a half ago for work.

But when I took it down from the hanger and was about to throw it in the pile, something compelled me to stop and put it on. At the time, I was wearing a pink backless LnA spaghetti strap top and leggings. I loved it! I loved the look! I added my Coach black heels and accessories (my Cobalt Love Quotes scarf or my fake pearl necklace), and tried both long and cropped leggings, and came up with this:

My shoulders in the second set of pictures, plus the leggings - so 80s! I could totally see myself going to a casual gathering or even out somewhere like a museum party. I could even see myself putting on a pair of RayBans!

To give this formal piece (a suit jacket no less!!) that casual vibe, wear it with a tee and a lazy-chic (i coined that term :) accessory underneath. The final touch? Cuff the sleeve!

I can't help it. Maybe I am a slave to trends sometimes.

Maybe I really need to get a real room lamp so everything doesn't come out so blurry!

Love Quotes Look Number... 3?

2009-09-11T02:55:00.000-07:00

I've already used my Love Quotes scarves in other posts (SF Outfit, Grey dress), so I'm just going to post one look at a time when I come up with them.

This is the color I haven't yet posted - the Cocoshell Love Quotes scarf.

The tunic/dress is something I picked up at Ambiance San Francisco. I love it because of the texture that the beading creates on the front. So unique! I haven't yet decided what necklace I would pair this with, if any at all! Here is the look with the Love Quotes scarf and my Dolce Vita thong bootie sandals.

I wore this with leggings on a fairly chilly night in Santa Monica this past weekend on a date at the 3rd Street promenade with my boyfriend. I was so comfortable and it was such a perfect outfit for the weather. Don't the folds in the scarf look soo comfortable? Well they are! :)

LnA Skinny Pant, and LnA everything else

2009-09-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

I love LnA. Maybe it's because I'm getting into LA fashion right now. Or maybe it's because I'm just craving basics that aren't boring. But I'll get into that in a later post.

I bought the LnA Skinny Pant today at Boutiquetoyou.com. Originally $138, I got it at 20% off using the code "grechen." (By the way, I don't know WHY, but I'm seeing this "grechen" code everywhere! It gives you 20% off at nationaljeancompany.com too!)

But for the life of me, I couldn't find a single search result on Google that reviewed this pair of pants, nor of anyone who owns it! I haven't tried it on myself, so I'm a little worried. And I don't think Boutiquetoyou.com does returns on sale items. We'll see.

Anyway, my motivation was I'm looking for something that looks/feels like a legging, but can be worn as pants. There are a lot of debates out there on whether leggings are tasteful period, but especially on whether leggings can be worn "as pants." My rule is, if it looks good, do it. There are no rules that apply to absolutely everyone because everyone is different. Except for one rule: Camel-toe is ALWAYS a no-go! :) Sorry, that's never going to be in style.

Along this line of thought, I noticed J Brand coming out with "lightweight" legging jeans (Hussein Chalayan for J Brand). I LOVE. And I'm starting to see "legging jeans" everywhere! I know skinny jeans don't fit every body type, but I can't help it - I love the look! By the way, this is a really nice article that talks about skinny, cigarette, and straight jeans and how to wear them with your body type. I'm still a little wary on straight-up leggings that are just printed like jeans. I own a few J Brand and Seven skinny jeans that kind of fit like leggings, and I'd love to try these new ones, but gotta make sure there's frontal coverage. Again, trying to avoid the Camel-toe effect! :)

Another aside: I am not a proponent of "ripped leggings," like LnA Ripped Zipper leggings. I might be able to pull them off; I don't know. And if you can pull it off, good for you. Do it. By all means. I just think it's misleading when they advertise with a model and the "look" is this:

But can you imagine this same pair of hole-y leggings on an average set of legs? hehe

So I figured this LnA Pant would do the trick. I always look for a bit of "classic" in what I buy, rather than JUST following trends. They're pants, not jeans; they're made of 70% Polyester, 22% Rayon, 8% Spandex. And a 28" inseam for a shorty like me (5'1") is music to my ears - this is easily an ankle pant or scrunched up to resemble leggings! Before today, I kept fantasizing about it, and obsessively checking whether it went on sale somewhere. ShopBop and Singer22 were the only places that carried it besides LNAclothing.com, and they didn't have any promotions going on. I missed Singer22's labor day "KEEP25" code. But when I found it at 20% off at Boutiquetoyou.com, I had to have it.

I'll let you know how it fits when it arrives. I may be the only one on the Internet who's bought these pants!

(...okay... admission... I bought a lot of other LnA stuff too. I mean, a lot. Hautelook had a sale today, but the selection was pretty disappointing. I was hoping there would be good stuff and no one would talk about it so I could get first dibs :) Anyway, so yes. Today was shopping day, and I'm not proud of it. I just love LnA's racerback tanks, their pencil skirts, their deep-v tees... I'm enrolling in some kind of 12-step program soon, I swear. The only thing that partially redeems me is I bought everything on sale using relentlessly sought-after coupons and comparing merchants endlessly.)

Casual outfit I wore to work, Day to Night

2009-09-10T00:18:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick post on an outfit I wore to work yesterday that easily went from day to night. It's the same green outfit mentioned in my animal print post :)

I seem to recycle these photos often!

Day (office - well, casual office, which is what mine is :) :
(White knit hoodie, DKNY)

Night (happy hour):

Dress: Ella Moss, brown and white shoes: Preview, brown shoes: Nine West, belt: Old Navy, jeans: Seven

It's not always the big brands that make the best looks (but I'll be the first to admit that sometimes they help ;)

To animal or not to animal?

2009-09-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

I've heard it said that "every year, the fashion industry tries to convince people that animal prints are wearable, when they're absolutely not."

Whoever said this is absolutely wrong.

Actually, I take that back. Whoever said this is almost absolutely wrong. To me, personality has a lot to do with how wearable animal prints are to each individual. Think Janice from Friends or Fran from The Nanny.

Right, I Googled both of these ladies and for each, the first page of images showed them in animal print. And what are their personalities? Loud, bold, potentially obnoxious, definitely conspicuous women. The kind of women you wouldn't be too surprised to see in head-to-toe animal print.

This is why most people, most people who don't have personalities like these women, steer clear.

Having said that, I agree - head-to-toe print is just too much. But just as you wouldn't want to put too much hot sauce on your buffalo wings (and just as there are people who would), there is a certain amount of animal print that can give your outfit just the right amount of wild.

Even and maybe especially for the more conservative dressers out there, animal print in small doses can give your look an unexpected and bold edge. I tend to stick with the black-and-white variety. The trick is to know how much, where, and when to wear it.

Exhibit A:

This is an example of a nice outfit that doesn't seem outlandish. But, did you know, there's an animal print lurking? Can you find it?

BOOM. It's my necklace!

This is one of my favorite necklaces. I got it an Nordstrom Rack for only $30-something dollars, I believe. It really is seasonless, and a wonderful way to add just a little bit of edge to your ensemble! I have on a green dress by Ella Moss over a pair of worn Seven jeans, slight stretch bootcut (not sure of the kind), I belted my dress at the hip with a basic brown belt from Old Navy, and I have on Preview two-toned belt-buckle shoes from, again, the Rack. They were quite cheap, probably around $70, but they're surprisingly comfortable and cute!

For the slightly more adventurous, let's move on to animal print footwear. While platform animal print shoes may be edging a little too close to Fran-territory for comfort, there is a cute and wonderful compromise that can be found in animal print flats. Case in point, Exhibit B:

(Dress: from Ambiance, comes with belt; Zebra shoes: from Ross, Scarf: Love Quotes in Cobalt)

This LoveQuotes look is going to be featured in my post on the scarves, but I decided to use it here too. (By the way notice the blue that's similar to the Jessica Stroup outfit in my previous post? :)

These adorable little zebra flats were spotted at Ross for a measly $20, on clearance. They're not the best quality, but they've actually lasted me for OVER A YEAR now. I've thrown them on with a basic black dress, or with skinny jeans, just to give my outfit a little bit of punch. In general, if you're going to have one statement animal print piece in black and white, go with a grayscale color scheme and choose ONE color to pop. In the case above, the dress and black patent belt are the grays, the blue is the pop. Instead of blue, imagine pink plus the greyscale. Or red!

If you're doing a colored animal print piece, or leopard/tiger print (brave soul, you!), stick with one other solid color. An all-black outfit - perhaps black skinnies, black crew tee, black flats (or maybe red flats or pumps if you're trying to make a statement) with a leopard or tiger print scarf - would be very cute and reminiscent of old Hollywood.

Here's a practical reason to get into animal print: You'll never mistake your luggage for someone else's at the airport! Exhibit C:

I love wheeling around this Betseyville by Betsey Johnson luggage bag. I make sure NOT to wear my Zebra flats while sporting this bag though:

Too much! Notice how I changed the shoes to patent Via Spiga kitten heels (bonus points for matching the belt :) You rarely want to mix prints unless you really know what you're doing. I am amazed when I see people mixing patterns and pulling it off. It's a fashion risk, but sometimes, just sometimes, it's worth it. It's not always comfortable on the edge, is it? :)

My last exhibit doesn't have any animal print visible at all. Exhibit D:

For those of you who still say, "I want to wear it so bad, but I'm just not an animal print kind of person!" here is your solution: Animal print lining. I don't know if it's just me or what, but sometimes even the things we're wearing that people don't see make us feel a certain way. Cute shoe lining, cute underwear, and jacket linings are just a few examples. This non-leather jacket is so chic, and the animal print definitely helps, even if no one can see it.

There you have it! My thoughts on animal print and how to wear it. I do have an actual animal print dress from one of my previous posts, for those of you who want to see more animal than I've given you here :)

Wow, who knew I could go on so long about this topic... :)

Jessicas are so hot

2009-08-24T11:04:00.001-07:00

I love this outfit from InStyle.com. I subscribe to Instyle's Look of the Day emails, so every day I get to burn 5 minutes looking at what celebrities are wearing. Like this one of Jessica Stroup. What a great ensemble!

Other notable Jessica's: Jessica Rabbit, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel... am I forgetting anyone?

Oh yes, me! Jessica! :)

Anyway, I think what I love most about this outfit is not only its simplicity, its versatility (I can see this over jeans, leggings, unbelted with flared jeans for a more hippy-ish look, etc.), and the fact that I love belted dresses, but also the COLOR! I'm still waiting on my Bali colored Love Quotes scarf (which is a similar blue to this), but once I get it I hope to use this blue as a pop of color to any outfit based in the blacks, greys and whites.

This blue reallly goes well against a canvas of greyscale.

I went shoe shopping yesterday...

2009-08-21T16:50:00.000-07:00

I was at lunch with coworkers yesterday and there was a DSW right outside of the restaurant. Of course the ladies wanted to take just a peek, and I'm saving up for some Louboutins (one day), so I figured I could look but not buy.

I was so wrong.

I browsed with them, and then I said my goodbyes and left the store, proud of myself for holding back. But as I got into my car and drove to the driveway, I began to feel tiny pangs of longing for the few shoes I picked up and put back down.

I ended up back at the DSW to my coworkers' surprise and amusement, and I left the store with three shoeboxes and about $250 poorer.

I didn't just want to buy another pair of pumps, so I was drawn to the shape of these cutout bootie-pumps. They look so fall! And very fashion-forward. I was unsure about how my legs would look in these, but they ended up looking fine and the loose fit at the top is actually very flattering. These are Steve Madden Luxe and went for about $80.

These are the shoes I mentioned in my last post. Let me just say, these make you look very tall! I don't know if it's the hit at the angle or the cross straps, but Guess did right on this one! And my favorite thing about these shoes is the black heel contrast with the purple color. I had a choice between patent black or purple, but I already have black cutout heels and this purple color was just so pretty. These ran me about $70 I think.

So these are the ones none of my coworkers liked, but probably because they are definitely different. :) These are Dolce Vita Adam thong booties. They're originally about $130, but on sale for $99, but double on sale for $60. They were apparently seen on Rhianna but personally I think how she wore them is pretty ugly.

I like to style this shoe to the likes of Free People which I adore! I used to see this shoe the way I would wear it ALL over shopbop when it was still Spring/Summer, but I can't find it anywhere anymore. The adjectives I would use to describe that style is edgy, pretty, and somewhat hippie. This is how Free People styles a similar shoe:

The concern I had with this is: will they make my legs look stumpy? My answer to this was folding down the top a little bit. See the difference in height? By folding down the top, the shoe hits my leg nearer to where my ankle is rather than the fatter part of my calf. For taller girls, this isn't a problem. But I'm 5'1! I'm proportional, but sometimes I need to watch these bootie styles to make sure that they don't make me look like a little shrimp. :)

I would wear these sandals with leggings just like in the picture above, and in my post that lists all the stuff I got from Ambiance, I'll be showing pictures of the tank dress that go PERFECTLY with this shoe and leggings. To top it off with an accessory, I would also add my Love Quotes scarf in Love/Peace because it matches perfectly with this shoe.

The most I've ever spent on a pair of shoes I think is about $300-something. They were a pair of Miu Miu's from a Barney's Warehouse sale in New York City. One of my favorite places to shop for shoes is actually NOT DSW, but Nordstrom Rack.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up spending more at some point, but seeing how happy I am with these sub-$100 purchases, I don't see myself stopping anytime soon.

My outfit tonight for going out in SF!

2009-08-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

Here is one other outfit I put together featuring some purchases from my so-far-favorite store Ambiance in SF! I'm wearing this tonight to go see my friend DJ in the city, so I'm excited!

It features

a tube dress with a silhouette that looks almost structured, with the pockets, but it's not really "structured" - the pockets are actually fake! The fit is form-fitting but there is an extra layer that make it look like there's pockets. I love this shape!

(Also, my opinion on animal-print: I love it. It's definitely not for everyone, and it DEFINITELY has gotten a bad reputation because when people do it wrong, they REALLY do it wrong (ie. too much, too much!!) But I think animal print is such a bold and LIBERATING statement feature if done right. And it's going to be so in for fall, so don't be surprised if you see animal prints spotting outfits left and right :)
brand new Guess shoes that are part of my shoe purchase YESTERDAY (my savings plan isn't really working) that I will have a separate blog post about
the scarf is by Love Quotes and I got them from Singer22.com buy 2 get 1 free. They cost about $85 each which is a LOT for scarves :( but I am in love with them. I returned two of my three because I didn't like the colors (I got jeep and graylange). I exchanged them for "bali" and "cocoshell." I'll be writing a separate post on these scarves as soon as I get them in on how to style them
leggings - I'm not sure if I'm going to wear them or not. They look hot either way, but I feel like this outfit can be summer-night-in-SF with them off, and more fall-ish with them on
and of course, the crop faux-leather jacket I got from Ambiance. Perfect for chilly SF night weather and preparing for the fall season :)

Faux Fall: My Two (non)Leather Jackets!

2009-08-13T00:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know what the two leather jackets I bought at Ambiance in SF are made of, and I don't care. They look amazing!

One person who would especially appreciate this post is my girlfriend, who is not only vegetarian, but doesn't purchase any accessory or piece of clothing made from an animal.

I'll be adding more photos to this post, but I took a couple of outfits from my last post and added my non-leather leather jackets to them, paired them with shoes, and voila! Looks that are very me :)

The crop black jacket was only $65 at Ambiance, and I have to say I was again inspired by Shopbop's "pretty tough" lookbook. I'm in love with the blue jacket, $75, because not only is it an incredibly flattering fitted shape, but the color is SO unique! I was torn between getting this one or the grey one I saw, but this blue just popped!

How To Do Haute Looks for Less

2009-08-09T20:49:00.000-07:00

Browsing Shopbop.com is probably one of my favorite things to do when I have absolutely nothing else to do, and it's not necessarily because I can afford everything that's on there.

I think marketing counts when it comes to online fashion stores, and Shopbop-- with their Lookbooks, their blog posts, and the way they stylishly present their clothes-- is a pleasure to navigate, even if the credit card stays resolutely in the wallet.

One of the best things about browsing Shopbop is getting style inspiration. A few of my favorite past lookbooks are the "ballet-inspired lookbook" (taking the graceful style of a ballerina and making it so chic and comfortable looking!), "pretty tough" (leather and pretty making the perfect pair :), and this season's summer lookbook.

"On Pointe" lookbook (had me wanting Elizabeth and James' Harlem pants for awhile!)

"Pretty Tough"

Shopbop's Summer 2009 lookbook

But even better than browsing (and coveting) these looks is using the power of inspiration to create the same look for substantially less money! Which I found myself doing eventually. I have a couple case studies to illustrate my point.

Let's take a look at these two styles:

This is the "Pretty Pearl Tee" by Alice and Olivia. I was in New York for the first time at a Nordstrom with my friend Wei and I saw this and wanted it pretty much immediately. I probably wouldn't style it the same way, but it really didn't matter how I would or could style it once I saw the price tag: $195.00.

No matter how rich I ever eventually get, I'm not sure if I'm willing to dish out that much money for such a simple concept - the classic elegance that pearls are automatically associated with contrasted with the simple casualness of the t-shirt.

Walking out of the store though, the idea of long strings of pearls stuck with me, evoking images of a young girl playfully experimenting with her mother's old castoffs in the attic in front of a full-length mirror.

The black dresses below are another couple of gems that I became drawn to the more times I found myself navigating to their links throughout the day. However, it wasn't so much the brands or even the craftsmanship I was impressed with-- it was the idea of mixing that casual tee or top with that funky skirt!

The prices on these two dresses are gawk-worthy as well. The one on the right is the hooded ruffle dress by Young Fabulous and Broke at $176.00. The one on the left is the Haute Hippie Tutu dress at a whopping $495.00! (It's on sale now for $247.50. I adore Haute Hippie's style, but really. Really?)

I was going through my wardrobe and I noticed that on some level, sub-consciously, these ideas were swirling around in my head when I was shopping. I found myself not only finding pieces that recreate these looks, but in a way, my versions were more.. me. Which made them better, more original, and most importantly, a heck of a lot less expensive. I also stopped coveting these things that I couldn't afford.

Starting from the pink tee with the ruffle skirt, there's a punk-y pretty influence

I bought the t-shirt at a Buffalo Exchange in Berkeley, CA for about $4.00 (I swear), and the CHIFFON ruffle skirt comes from www.jstyleshopper.com for about $20 (this will work for you if you are a size 2-4/xs-s). I LOVE the feel of this skirt - it seems solidly made.

A side note about www.jstyleshopper.com: No tax and free shipping if you spend over $100, but I find their clothes hit or miss and the quality of *most*, not all, but *most* of their stuff is lacking. I think they source from Asia. I had to return a bunch of things I ordered from their website. Also, warning: there is only one size for most of their things.

This skirt is an exception though - it's very solid.

Anyway, I personally like the idea of having the ruffles be a skirt as opposed to a dress because you can pair it with whatever you want! Instead of being stuck with the same top because it's attached. Also, I think just pairing it with a black top is boring! There, I said it. :)

If you really want to recreate the look from Shopbop, you can pair the ruffle skirt with a black tee or tank and voila-- you have yourself a $200-$400 look for less than $30. I've personally preferred to pair the skirt with a white tee with a simple design, or a loose tank top, or one of those vintage soft "broken in" feeling t-shirts. Such a great casual-but-different look!

As for Alice and Olivia's Pretty Pearl tee, what I did with that concept was find a "boyfriend tee" in that beige color (about $15 at Nordstrom Rack, by Trouve), and I bought two strings of pearls (fake) from Nordstrom Rack. I believe they were $14 each. I also made sure the pearls were of two different pearl sizes.

I like the bigger tee better than A&O's shorter tee because I can pair this with long ankle-length leggings and high heels. So much more the "playing with mom's clothes" look that I was going for as opposed to the slightly short length of the more expensive version!

I also found my new wardrobe staple: this beige tank dress (sorry for the foot haha)! I bought it at a boutique in SoHo, New York City, called Amersterdam (which I am in love with!) for I think $27. Pairing it with the pearls, or even knotting one of the strings of pearls (as shown), gives me a variation on this same look.

The great thing about this dress is shorter girls can wear it as a dress, or you can also pair it with leggings for a different look. The leggings do a great job transitioning this piece into fall. Also, belting this dress creates the very forgiving babydoll shape. But again, I'm digressing.

If you take anything away from this article it's this: I'm all for looking to the haute brands and expensive lines and drooling over the models that work those cameras and make it look sooo good - BUT! in my opinion, fashion is as individual a journey as religion is, and everyone is going to have their own ideas about the rules. Go ahead and splurge every now and then on something you love, but in my opinion, the concept of your look is worth much more than the pieces that make it happen.

Next up: Two leather jackets, stockings and a belt make me look forward to the fall...