Easy Does It

Definitely feeling the ease of lazier warm weather dressing. Not a big fan of spring/summer fashion but I welcome the cheerier, laid back inspiration. 

I tend to wear dark colors year around, its just a matter of material composition changes for me. Fall/Winter its all about merino wool and cashmere. Spring/Summer ushers in linen and cotton. I suppose I’m drawn to the duality of seasonal dressing. Sorta like witnessing the coupling of a luxe, carefree bohemian and a sleek, monochrome minimalist? Sounds cool.

(T-shirt: R13, Pants: Isabel Marant Sid trousers - similar in black/white silk, Sandals: Givenchy)

(T-shirt: Nordstrom Rack, Pants: Vince linen beach pants, Sandals: Birkenstock Gizeh)

What have you been wearing lately?

Spring Stirrings

Hello, I’m still here. With spring making its way into our days, I’m reminded that this year is flying by. Not a bad thing, but it has not been my best year. Death in the family, a precarious employment situation, and physical injuries have left me raw and roughed up.

But, with Spring I’m also reminded that perseverance is a fundamentally important quality to cultivate. I’m continuously working on staying positive through life’s challenges but allowing myself to express myself as I subjectively need in order to heal and grow.

Well, at least I still find inspiration in personal style and I believe it can also express how you feel through life’s journey. Here’s what I’ve been wearing the last few weeks.

 (scarf - Chan Luu, sweatshirt - HELMUT by Helmut Lang, leather sweats - Vince, slip ons - Kenzo X Vans)

 (necklaces - Vintage and Chan Luu, t-shirt - Nordstrom Rack, cardigan - Patagonia, jeans - Citizen of Humanity, sandals - Givenchy)

(jacket - Isabel Marant Gunay, sweater - J.Crew, jeans - Current/Elliott, shoes - Isabel Marant Dicker

Notice the tiger print shoes (remind me so much of this Dali painting which I love). And my IM silver brocade jacket feels (and sorta looks) like some special armor providing me with encouragement to take on the world.

Any life challenges your working through? How have your wardrobe staples provided comfort in the process?

Blue Suede Shoes

Elvis was on to something. 

I purchased these awesome and comfortable Acne booties in blue suede a few months ago. The weather is getting cooler (and soggy, natch) making it a great time to take my favorite of all shoes out of summer hibernation – the ankle boot.

After I’ve heavily treated them with waterproofing spray, of course.

Do you wear ankle boots? If so, which are your favorites?

Leopard Love

It can be the tackiest or the utmost standard of style and sophistication. It’s risky, bold, and often just plain wrong. However, I have a strong love of leopard print. Part of me shudders when I see how horrible it can look (I’m looking at you, Jersey Shore guidettes) and then I swoon when I see fashion royalty nailing it so impeccably (hello Kate Moss!).

Here are a few of my favorite leopard pieces:

(j.crew belt, j.crew scarf, j.crew snowcat chinos, dieppa restrepo loafers, j.crew sweater, current/elliott trousers) 

I don’t claim to wear this print flawlessly, but I do feel pretty comfortable wearing various versions of leopard.  Some things I universally consider when evaluating a leo piece are:

• Texture – Does it feel like a kitchen sponge? I want something soft and non-shedding.

• Color – Does it look too orange, green, or yellow? I look for more understated neutral tones such as camel, khaki, and grey. More flattering for my skin tone at least. I also try and stay away from leo prints that look too cartoony. Being a vertically challenged lady, I also tend to stick to smaller scale prints.

• Garment structure – For top/jackets/coats I’m looking for more drape and less structure. For pants/skirts, I prefer more fitted looks but comfort is important so some stretch is appreciated.

I’ve also acquired some new spotted treasures that are awesome!

(fabulous faux fur coat at a steal of a price! Check out miss sophie rockin' it here. She gives great recommendations ;) )

(Nike free run grey leopard trainers. These are fun and pretty comfy, though they run slightly small and narrow.)

How do you feel about leopard print?

Breakfast

I’ve been eating breakfast for as long as I can remember. Before I cooked for myself, I remember my mom would always make us kids breakfast before school. She was great at making sure we had options – cereal, cream of wheat, toast etc.

As I can no longer rely on good ‘ol mama for making me meals (though there are plenty of times she still cooks amazing eats when I’m over and that’s usually once a week) I still keep the breakfast routine going. In fact, if I could, I would luxuriate in breakfast all morning. I’d take my time, surf the web, sipping good espresso…oh, wait that’s most Saturdays.  Why can’t everyday begin like a Saturday?

During the workweek I still make time for breakfast every morning. My typical breakfasts include – Greek yogurt with honey, toast with cinnamon, PB toast, cereal, and when I have more time (usually the weekends) I make a one-egg scramble with cheese and veggies. The common factor in all my breakfasts is a cup of K-cup coffee (or two if it’s one of those mornings) and some type of fruit. I usually stick to berries that are in season but occasionally its grapefruit, bananas, mangoes, or kiwis.

What about you? Do you eat breakfast regularly?

Reading Material

(my personal pic)

After being gifted with an Amazon card for xmas, I swiftly ordered a few books I’ve been interested in reading (or just knew I wanted some inspirational pics, ha).  Here’s what I’ll be reading this month – descriptions are from amazon.com:

1. Deluxe: How Luxury lost its Luster. Dana Thomas

Once luxury was available only to the rarefied and aristocratic world of old money and royalty. It offered a history of tradition, superior quality, and a pampered buying experience. Today, however, luxury is simply a product packaged and sold by multibillion-dollar global corporations focused on growth, visibility, brand awareness, advertising, and, above all, profits. Award-winning journalist Dana Thomas digs deep into the dark side of the luxury industry to uncover all the secrets that Prada, Gucci, and Burberry don?t want us to know. Deluxe is an uncompromising look behind the glossy façade that will enthrall anyone interested in fashion, finance, or culture.

2. Vogue: The Editor’s Eye. Conde Nast.

Vogue: The Editor’s Eye celebrates the pivotal role the fashion editor has played in shaping America’s sense of style since the magazine’s launch 120 years ago. Drawing on Vogue’s exceptional archive, this book focuses on the work of eight of the magazine’s legendary fashion editors (including Polly Mellen, Babs Simpson, and Grace Coddington) who collaborated with photographers, stylists, and designers to create the images that have had an indelible impact on the fashion world and beyond. Featuring the work of world-renowned photographers such as Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Annie Leibovitz and model/muses, including Marilyn Monroe, Verushka, and Linda Evangelista, The Editor’s Eye is a lavishly illustrated look at the visionary editors whose works continue to reverberate in the culture today.

3. Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent. Carine Roitfeld.

"Carine, and her vision of French Vogue, embodies all that the world likes to think of as Parisian style: a sense of chic that's impeccable and sometimes idiosyncratic and which forever lives on a moonlit street as seen through the lens of Helmut Newton."--Anna Wintour. Karl Lagerfeld once said that if you close your eyes and imagine the ideal French woman, it would be Carine Roitfeld. She is a fashion visionary and a muse. Since the start of her career in the early 1990s, through her collaborations with the legendary photographer Mario Testino, Roitfeld has been credited with launching Tom Ford's career at Gucci, as well as turning French Vogue into one of the industry's most worshipped magazines.

This elegant volume is a visual history of Roitfeld's fearless career. A daring instigator, she is known for pushing the limits with her subversive styling ideas. Featuring a selection of 250 magazine tear sheets and covers from pivotal editorial shoots and advertising campaigns, as well as intimate visual ephemera, this book gives an inside view into Roitfeld's creative thought process and sensibility. A must-have for those interested in cutting-edge fashion and femininity, this book will empower women to follow Roitfeld's lead and take risks with their personal style.

What are you reading in the New Year?