Category Archives: Shopping

Packing Right and Light

Posted on September 23, 2010 | 1 comment

Since Mark and I have started traveling together I have never checked a bag, ever.  He thinks of himself as a master packer, and is pretty good at editing my packing list when I come downstairs with piles of clothes.

We have gone to Rome for a week, Hawaii for a week, our wedding and honeymoon and I have still never checked a bag.  
There are a few reasons for this: I don’t like to carry a bag and I don’t like to wait (and now pay) for my checked bag.  I have learned that if you pack smartly you usually won’t need to check a bag, either!

When we went to India for a week we shared a backpack and a carry on duffel bag.  That is it, and I still came home with unworn clothes.

Here is what I packed – or a very close match at least:

The trick for packing light and not feeling like you’re a wandering backpacker is to pick wearable pieces that can be worn in a variety of ways; skinny jeans are perfect day or night, same with the jersey skirt and cardigan.  

As I have mentioned previously I am not a “product girl” so I don’t have a separate caboodle for my makeup supplies.  I brought with me the Laura Mercier bronze/blush duo and cake liner and smashbox lip gloss.  I do not ever travel with a blow dryer – every hotel in a first world country has one, even the hotels in India, and on occasion I will bring a hair straightener.  
I fly in my bulkiest items, and shoes; that means I wear boots on a plane, or in this case my ballerina sneakers.  I always fly with a pashmina, which doubles as a blanket in flight, and if I am bringing a jacket for the trip I usually don’t have it packed so that I can easily access it when I am out of the airport.

Memories from travel are not made in front of the mirror, so I pack light, move quickly and take lots of pictures!

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Friend Friday: Fall Fashion

Posted on August 27, 2010 | 7 comments

I recently discovered a community of bloggers, organized by Katy at Modly Chic, that dedicate a post every Friday to a series of questions.  So far the questions have covered a wide range of issues that all women face – but this week’s is nice and light, and a good place to start.


1. What new fashion trend are you looking forward to sporting this fall?
Trends are always cyclical, and there are a few things that are guaranteed to show up season after season.  For instance, I know in the spring I’m choosing between florals and whimsy, and in the fall I’ll enjoy darker tones, luxe knits and wovens and boots, boots, boots!  A trend that I am excited about for this fall is the military trend that’s been popping up for a little ago.  I am not interested in the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club/Michael Jackson/Balmain style military – I want utilitarian, a little slouchy, but slim cut so I’m not drowning military jacket.

2. Which item in your closet is most likely to be your go-to transition piece?
Scarves!  If I wouldn’t look crazy in 90 degree weather, I would wear scarves all year long.  My wardrobe trends towards a muted palette and a scarf is an instant source for color, sparkle or flair.  Plus, it’s an easy and often inexpensive item that can completely change the look of an outfit.

3. What item from last year are you looking forward to reinventing this fall? 
Boots.  For a few years when the weather has turned I live in a flat boot that is sort of the love child of a motorcycle boot and a riding boot.  The shape is lean enough so that it’s not overly bulky, but tough enough that I wear it with dresses and skirts for an instant edge.


4. What is your favorite part about this time of the year?
There is so much to love about fall, in no particular order, here is my list: Football season, leaves, apples and honey, apple pie, hot chocolate, tail gates, apple cider, Halloween, my anniversary (my husband and I met on Halloween), Thanksgiving, my birthday, family, friends, sweaters, fireplaces, color, cinnamon, escaping to Florida to beat the chill.
 
5. Will you be attending any fashion events this fall? 

In my former job as a creative director for a fashion e-retailer I went to the trade shows every fall.  It is a flurry of fashion and a lot of fun, but for now I’ll keep up with the runway reports online and in the magazines.

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Feeling the Blues…

Posted on August 24, 2010 | 1 comment

As I have mentioned before (here, here, and here) my working life started in denim, and while my career has changed my love for it has not.  I live in jeans and in my experience selling, writing about and modeling them  I have learned a few things along the way.  

Britney and Justin: I did not learn this, this should be immediately unlearned
Let me get this out of the way right now, I know premium denim is expensive.  I did not grow up buying them, or having them bought for me.  Getting a pair was truly a special occasion. In college, or the lull between retail experiences, I did not buy premium denim.  I went to the GAP.  Post college when I was modeling denim, I was paid in jeans and so the hurt of the premium price tag was avoided.  

This weekend I fell back into the GAP. I admit I was lured in by their 1969 promotion of buy 1 pair, get the 2nd pair for $20.  I haven’t purchased jeans for a long time, but I have a pretty specific idea of what I like.  My tips for tackling a wall of denim:
  • If you’re unsure about the fit, which I was – as a I know they have been updated overtime, start with the wash.  What often separates the premium from the basic is the quality and color of the wash.  You’ll see the difference in the details and the finishes.  Well done GAP so far we’re off to a great start.
  • Next, look for the fit.  I know the fits that I like and I gravitate towards a skinny jean for everyday wear and bit of a retro flared look for night and the fall.  
Real Straight
Long & Lean Boot Cut
  • Remember sizes vary by brand and by store.  In most premium brands I am a size 27, some brands run slightly smaller, and some practice vanity sizing (ie: call a size 6 a 4 and everyone feels good, win-win).  At the GAP they seem to practice vanity size.  Try multiple sizes to find the right fit.
  • Denim is made from cotton and it stretches.  If the size six is comfortable in the store, please, please, please try on the size 4.  It might feel a little snug at first and you have to do the denim dance to wiggle in, but when you buy jeans they should feel snug, and should fit your body.  They will give to your curves, I promise.
  • When you find the right pair, don’t let it go.  Similar to the perfect bra or swimsuit, finding a great fitting pair of jeans can be a struggle, so if you find a pair you love and your body loves, buy it twice.  Maybe in different washes, maybe one pair you hem for flats and other you leave long for heels.

Long live denim, that’s how I’ll be living.  And to my new GAP jeans, please make friends with J and Paige, and Earnest in the back – they’ve been go to me, too!

P.s. wondering why so expensive?  It’s because when they came on the scene (7 for All Mankind was first) they used Italian and Japanese woven fabrics, the cuts are often better, but not always, and the fabric is treated, typically by hand, for that perfectly sleek/perfectly vintage/perfectly rugged/etc look.  

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Singing in the Rain, in Style

Posted on August 13, 2010 | Leave a comment

Yesterday morning I woke up to a thunder and rain storm.  By the time I left for work the rain had stopped and the streets were no longer flooded.  Leaving work I was confident that the rain would be over.  I was wrong.  I own an umbrella, it was at home.  I own a rain jacket too, it was hanging out with my umbrella.

So, as I walked/ran in the rain from my bus stop to my house I thought of the ways to brighten up an other otherwise dark and dreary day.  These might do the trick:
3.1 Phillip Lim, Tretorn, Tretorn, Chooka

I love how each piece is a great shot of color.  In DC, color can go a long way amidst a sea of gray and black especially on a rainy day.  

Here’s hoping for a bright, colorful and wonderful weekend!

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A Few of My Favorite Things

Posted on August 10, 2010 | 1 comment

It’s probably clear by now where on the fashion spectrum I fall.  I think of myself as a real “classic” kind of a girl.  I live in neutrals, love my denim, and keep my makeup and jewelry on the simple, and of course classic side.

These are my favorites, some are aspirational (ahem, custom DVF), and some are within reach with a visit to the makeup store.
Laura Mercier Cake Liner in Black Ebony
I don’t wear makeup everyday, and even less in the summer.  While, I have never been and don’t foresee becoming a total face makeup wearer, I can never go wrong with the Cake Liner.  The girls got it for me for my birthday, and after it met and untimely death by falling in a toilet – tragic – I treated myself to it.  It’s an instant glamour pick me up.
Essie Mademoiselle

It might be because I am not a risk taker, but I can never pick up the hot picks, purples, blacks when that was current.  No matter the season or the event I go for Essie Mademoiselle, or Sugar Daddy.  It’s seen me through my first manicure to my wedding day.  No sense in changing up a good thing.

DVF Sketch for First Lady Michelle Obama

If I could start collecting any premium designer it would be Diane Von Furstenberg.  I think her designs exemplify the modern woman, how she works, how she celebrates and how she travels.  It’s timeless, and she’s classic.

Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses

I can’t wear the traditional aviator sunglasses, they interfere with my cheekbones and segment my face in a weird way.  But, it doesn’t mean I don’t love them.  This modified shape is perfection.

Burberry Double Breasted Trench Coat
To me, nothing says classic outerwear like a Burberry trench.  Other than updates on fit, the silhouette and style have remained the same for years – it’s a timeless must have.  Don’t believe me, it ranks up there with the classic white shirt, red lipstick, and a well fitting pair of jeans as seen in every style guide from In Style to Nina Garcia.
Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the Yard – Tiffany & Co

This is the true aspirational piece.  I have loved the look of Diamonds by the Yard since I was a little girl.  It looks like raindrops, snowflakes, a smattering of sparkle.  One day…

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Fancy in the Daytime

Posted on August 5, 2010 | 1 comment

I have always had a thing for a white button down shirt. It seems classic, always in season, stately and sometimes regal if you have that kind of neck, that’s long and statuesque.  My dad’s mom has that kind of neck.

What I really love is the pairing of the classic, menswear piece with feminine standards. 

For the longest time the outfit Sharon Stone wore to the 1997 Academy Awards was the vision of pairing daytime with evening, and working with the unexpected.  She did it again with a GAP t-shirt at a different Oscar ceremony.

Sharon Stone, 2007 Academy Awards

While, I do not currently have in invitation to an award show, I do think that the pairing of a formal skirt can be transformed into the maxi skirt and evening wear can become street wear, as evidenced by Michael Kors – the master of American day wear.

Michael Kors for Fall 2010, Saks
Michael Kors

It’s feminine, it is cut to flatter the curves, but it’s surprising.  It is cashmere, ultimate luxe, but it’s ribbed for a more casual finish. I love, love, love this skirt  – but not the price.

The idea behind this look is clean, modern, neutral, tailored and crisp.  It is not bohemian, tiered, ruffled, bright, or too sunny.  I think for Summer it’s perfect with a basic tank and bold silver/modern jewelry, and for fall the options are limitless – but keep it neat, and not overly heavy or loose with fabrics, so you don’t get lost.

Bassike, Alexander Wang, Warehouse, Only Hearts Club

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Peaches and Cream: Summer’s New Neutral

Posted on July 30, 2010 | 4 comments

If you’ve been following the blog you’re pretty familiar with my summer obsession with peaches, (as illustrated here and here and with a recipe that is soon to be shared from earlier this week!)  

So far, I had only been thinking of peaches for the kitchen and how they could be incorporated into recipes, until I saw a woman walking to work – on another humid day in DC – in two different shade of peach/coral.  
That’s when it clicked; peaches and corals aren’t only meant for bridesmaids dresses and Easter Egg Rolls!  With some sun on your cheeks (or bronzer 🙂 the color combination is flattering for all skin tones.  The bright color plays beautifully with white, cream, blues, teal and navy, and depending on how it’s styled it could apply to nearly any aesthetic.

Here is what I am craving on this hot, but sunny Summer Friday!

Pour La Victoire, Tory Burch, Forever 21, Forever 21
Top Row (L-R): Hoss Intropia Coral Embroidered Dress, Corey Lynn Calter coral stripe cotton ‘Michelle’ belted strapless dress, Peach Sunrise Tunic, Jeweled Damsel Necklace
Middle Row (L-R): Tory Burch – Emmy Thong Gold Mirror Leather, Pour La Victoire Women’s Agatha Ballet Flat, Butter Women’s Satin Platform Pump
BottomRow (L-R): Lily Pulitzer Whitley Skirt Mini Printed, Bahia Watercolor Print Slim Skirt, J Brand Mid Rise 16″ Straight Leg Jeans, Bead Balance Necklace

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Come Sale Away

Posted on July 16, 2010 | 2 comments

My friend Jaci, of EverydaySassypants.com fame, and I often talk shop in our gchats throughout the week. This week we stumbled across the Nordstrom Annual Sale, we played what I like to call “What would I like on this page?” and what she and her sisters called “that’s me”. The point of the game is that you shop with a friend/sister and know so clearly what matches their personal style that you could pick it out for them.

After many years of shopping at Loehmann’s throughout college and then on Shopstyle together, Jaci and I know each other’s style. I was inspired by her own virtual fall sale shopping spree and decided to share my own for the Nordstrom sale.

What I love about Jaci’s style is her ability to play with a variety of textures and materials and unique hardware to create a look that is playful, colorful, but always really well put together and sophisticated. We’ve determined, my style is “classic”, and there’s no denying that here.Calvin Klein Split Neck Knit Sheath – I am liking this because the fit looks fantastic (the knit fabric is going to continue to hold it’s shape) and because I feel like it could easily be dressed up for a day to night piece.

Halogen Draped Dolman Sweater –So, this is something I would wear anywhere. I’d wear it with leggings and boots, jeans, with a black pencil skirt for a playful twist on workwear. I think this might be a winner.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Quilted Knit Jacket I see this jacket and think I should find a way to wear this in the fall to pick apples, drink cider and sit by the fire… and probably should wear it with the Vince Ponte Knit Riding Pant.


Having a glamorous moment? These sunglasses might do the trick. Check out the
Burberry Oversized Sunglasses.
So I really don’t wear a watch, but if I was this would be it, Michael Kors Runway Watch . It’s a great play on the men’s watch and fairly affordable for a watch (sale or not.)

Fall is all about the boot. As I have become a more practiced city commuter I have grown more aware of the need for practical, comfortable, flat boots and these are a favorite for fall, Stuart Weitzman Hammer Boot.

The Valentino ‘Small’ Nappa Leather Satchel is not on sale. But, Mr. Valentino if you want to become friends/family and do a special, I’m all for this number.

Happy Shopping! Fall will be here before you know it!

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It’s in her Jeans

Posted on July 12, 2010 | 2 comments

My first job and first love was fashion. I modeled as a kid, sketched dresses as a pre-teen, and worked retail throughout high school. Shortly after graduating college I joined an online retail company and contemporary boutique (National Jean Company/ NationalJeanCompany.com) in the DC Metro area to provide the creative direction for their first of many websites.

This was a great opportunity for me to see the inner workings of a start-up, a fashion company and a tech company all in one day – not too many jobs give you that opportunity!

One highlight of my time was to run and style the photo shoots for our various websites, and when we were a model short I eventually stepped in as the denim/pants model. Handling and wearing the denim and many of the other items really gave me the best kind of knowledge (*first hand) to write descriptions for all of these items and also an in depth fit guide.

On him: Diesel Viker, on Me: J Brand Love Story in Dark Vintage Image by Ashley Colhouer Photography


It is a conservative guess to say I have tried on hundreds of pairs of jeans. I know jeans and I know them well. How does a J Brand differ from a Joe’s? What’s the difference in the denim weave on a pair of 7 for all Mankind vs. Citizen’s of Humanity? What if I am looking for a pair of jeans that knocks ’em dead? I know what pair that is, and by extension I know the answers to those questions.

One of the biggest hurdles for an online shopper is being able to take that leap of faith on an item without trying it on, the fit guide does a really fantastic job of alleviating that denim anxiety. That’s why I am especially proud that the site I worked the hardest on, was recently recognized by People Style Watch as a website to bookmark because of their exceptional denim selection (great job, buying team!) and the amazing fit guide, (if People Magazine [and I] say so, it must be true)! Congratulations to the entire NationalJeanCompany.com team!

I’ll be dispensing more denim buying tips in the future, because really, truly, I swear, there is a perfect pair of jeans for everyone – no matter your genes.

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Satisfy your fashion sweet tooth

Posted on July 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

>My niece Isabella loves the “gummies.” They could be jelly beans, gumdrops, worms of any kind, but she likes them sweet and she likes them colorful, and who could really blame her?

If you’re not five years old, or if you’re desire for style matches your need for sugar this might hit the spot.

I am loving the sweet and really playful nature of this necklace and it’s “wear anywhere, with anything sensibility.” It’s all the delicious fun without the cavities!

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