Week 39

This is the Trovata dress and Steven oxfords  from Week 9 with the pants from Week 29.  I'm wearing them with a thin brown leather Gap belt.   This is something I can wear all year.  It's really good as a transitional outfit for between seasons.  It's not too warm and not too uncovered.

This is what it looks like with a wider brown leather Banana Republic belt.  I'm not sure which is better.  Lately, I prefer the thinner belt.

Week 38

I'm soliciting opinions about this sweater.  It's a rust merino J. Crew cardigan with a zipper.  I'm wearing it with a black wool Banana Republic skirt, the black patterned Uniqlo tights from Week 9, and rust patent leather MaraisUSA flats.  I really like the design of the sweater, but I don't know if the color is good on me.  

However, it matches my recent shoe purchase perfectly.  My sister turned me onto MaraisUSA.  They're based in my neighborhood and are enjoying quite a bit of success.  I really like the colors they use.  I was able to get this pair for $25 from Gilt.

Here's a photo of the zipper detail.

I'm not usually a big fan of matchy-matchy things, but I do like them when they're an unusual color.  So the pros for the sweater:  I like the design, I like the color, it matches my shoes.  Cons: the color doesn't look great with my skin tone, it was a little pricey, and as seen in the top photo I'm inclined to wear it with black, which is basically my boring daily uniform.  Should I return it?

Week 37

This is something I've thrown on at the last minute in the evening for drinks.  It's the same silk Steven Alan top from Week 32, but in gold, with the black SaltWorks jeans from Week 7, my gray suede J. Crew flats again, and the necklace from Week 36.  The gray and gold don't quite go together, and I like the combination because of it.  I first wore it when I was travelling and I just threw it together from what was in my suitcase.  I wouldn't have worn it if I was home and had other options, but I like the way it's a little off.

I wear it with a black recycled wool Zachary's Smile boyfriend blazer as a jacket, and sometimes a big scarf.  Also, I should note that this photo was taken without a flash.  The necklace looks illuminated, which it certainly is not, in the other photos.

Week 36

This is a teal and aqua pleated silk chiffon Girls from Savoy dress that I love.  It doesn't really work on my body type, though.  It's kind of tenty and frumpy on me.

I love these pleats and the tonality so much, though.

So, I accessorized it until it worked for me.  I'm wearing it with a silver J. Crew belt, pewter crackled leather Sam Edelman peep-toes, and clear beads from Bloomingdale's.  Maybe someday my body will magically transform into a shape that makes this dress fit the way it's supposed to, but until then I'm wearing it belted to weddings, etc.

Week 35

This is actually a completely J. Crew ensemble. It's a navy and cream wool boatneck sweater with a gray cotton skirt and the gray suede flats from Week 10. This isn't really something that I had thought out. It just happened to be clean and convenient, but someone complemented me on the gray skirt/gray shoes combination.  I thought I'd post it and see what people think.

This is what it looks like with the sweater tucked in.  I was on the phone when I took this, hence the weird arm position.  Cute, or just eh?

Week 34

I'm a fan of getting dressed up to go to dinner.  This is something I like to wear for dinner and drinks at a place that I can justify wearing more than jeans to.  It's the gray fringed H&M dress from Week 16 under a black cotton top Banana Republic top, with my gray leather J.Crew belt, an orangy silk Lela Rose jacket, and  my black leather Belle by Sigerson Morrison wedges.  

This is what it looks like without the jacket.  I like the dress, but I think it's more versatile to wear a top with  it and wear it as a skirt.  It's kind of bulky with the fringe so it needs a belt.  A silk top might be less clingy and look better.  I'm also wearing a J.Crew gray bib necklace with this.

Week 33

It’s time to catch up a little and post some late summer/early fall outfits.  This is a plaid silk Steven Alan top with the James jeans from Week 23, a brown leather Gap belt, the Biviel heels from Week 11, and my green leather Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Clutch.  It’s a favored after work dinner or drinks outfit.  I think it’s casual, but pulled together and not too matchy-matchy.

Week 32

This is what I wore recently to a rehearsal dinner.  It was at a museum and the dress code was business casual to California casual.  I had a hard time envisioning what I would wear, but I was comfortable wearing this to it.  It's a printed silk Cynthia Steffe dress with the gray suede J. Crew flats from Week 10.  It was chilly so I wore a black wool boyfriend blazer with it.  I also wore a gray beaded necklace and a silver cuff with a burgundy clutch.  

This is a detail of the print.  It's layered leaves in blues, greens, grays, and tan.  The dress cinches and ties at the waist.  It was a recent Housing Works find.  It still had tags on it and it was a third of the normal price.  I like it more the more I wear it.  I can dress it up or down, and it's a really good transitional summer to fall piece.

Week 31

This is an outfit that I wear when skulking around my parents' garage.  Or just what I wear on weekends at the beach.  This is a cotton H&M ikat-ish print dress, with Banana Republic sandals, and a gray leather belt and pink beads from J. Crew. 

You can see the print of the dress better in this photo.  The dress is kind of tenty and is great to throw on over a bathing suit, but it needs a belt to wear anywhere else. 

The necklace is just kind of silly, but it balances everything and I'm into pinks lately.

Photos courtesy of Lysee...

Week 30

This is a work outfit.  It's a chartreuse silk J. Crew top, a cotton ikat print J Crew pencil skirt, and the Belle by Sigerson Morrison flats from Week 15.  I was trying to play with color a little bit here.  The skirt is blue, navy blue, and mushroom on a cream background.  I feel like the mushroom and the acid green of the top go together somehow and the yellow stitching on the shoes contrasts with the blues in the skirt and picks up the yellow undertone of the green top. 

This is a detail of the shirt.  I've resisted these ruffly silk blouses for a long time because I feel like every woman in New York who ever has to set foot in an office has one.  I got one recently because I really needed some shirts for work and I was surprised by how comfortable I felt in it.  It's the type of top that finishes an outfit with minimal effort.  This look wouldn't be the same with a chartreuse crew neck t-shirt.

Week 29

Every once in a while I buy things on sale at Urban Outfitters.  For example, these green Silence + Noise twill chinos and this gray and white BDG silk top.  I'm wearing them with my Theory cardigan and the J. Crew flats from Week 10.  The tricky part about buying clothing from retailers like Urban Outfitters is finding things that aren't made of synthetic fabrics.  It's going to disintegrate immediately and sit in a landfill forever, aside from the fact that it's probably hot or scratchy.  Urban Outfitters is often worth a look, though.  They always have great shoes and there are some decent finds to be had on the sale rack.

Anyway, here's what this looks like without the sweater.  I wear this to work sometimes, usually with the sweater.

Week 28

This is a striped cotton Steven Alan dress with cotton rope straps, red suede Gap sandals, and an H&M rope belt.  I've wanted to put this dress on here for a while, but it's quite tenty.  I wanted to show it belted, but the pockets make that awkward.  Fortunately, this weekend Cori lent me this rope belt that works perfectly.  I like that this has rope details, but isn't too nautical.  It's really easy to throw on and walk out the door in during the summer.

Week 27

This is a Lela Rose cream silk twill dress with ribbon detailing and black leather Belle by Sigerson Morrison wedges.  The dress is a sample from the Spring 2009 collection that I got at Housing Works recently for $45.  Here is a link to the entire collection so that you can see what it's actually supposed to look like on someone six feet tall.  I really like the drop waist and the pockets.  Hooray for Housing Works!

Here is a better photo of the detail at the skirt.  I love thick black lines on white, but the colorful details and silver thread make it more playful.  I've been wearing this outfit to birthdays and restaurants this summer with a dark green Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Clutch and a red lip stain.

Week 26

I started this blog because I thought I was going to need something to occupy a lot of free time.  Instead, now that it's halfway through the year I don't have any time to post.  In light of my craziness, this is a throw on in the morning and run around all day outfit.  It's the J. Crew striped cotton tank from Week 21, with a chambray Gap skirt, and my tan suede Minnetonka moccasins.

I love chambray again for summer.  My sister wears a cute oversized chambray shirt that just looks so effortless and comfortable.  I nearly bought this skirt full price, but stalked it and got it for $15 recently.  It goes with everything and is comfortable in all of the crazy heat we've been having in New York as of late.

Week 25

I purchased this Marc by Marc Jacobs white cotton eyelet top with a lavender underlayer on sale recently.  I'm wearing it here with skinny black Saltworks jeans and black patent leather Belle by Sigerson Morrison ballet flats.

This is a detail of the top.  It's very crisp and cool in hot weather.  I bought it online and didn't realize that the lining was lavender.  I thought it was white on white.  It also comes in black and I probably would have preferred that had I known it was with purple.  I bought it as something to dress up or down.  I will probably wear skinny black dress pants with it to work most of the time.  Here I like how the jeans are a little severe compared to the girly eyelet and the faux-tie at the neck.

Week 24

This is a blue mercerized cotton Theory t-shirt with a cotton voile Anna Sui for Anthropologie skirt and green leather TopShop sandals.  It's a casual work outfit that I don't feel uncomfortable wearing on weekends. 

The print of the skirt is a planter shaped like a donkey with cacti growing in it. 

Week 23

The saga of my not having internet at my apartment continues...  This is what I wore last week.  A white cotton smocked top from Anthropologie, James jeans, and my yellow Dolce Vita flats that you're probably sick of seeing by now.  I tend to cuff my jeans with flats because decent denim does not come in petite lengths, also I grew up in New Jersey at the height of the emo trend so it was a pretty normal thing to do when I started getting interested in nice jeans.

Here's a detail of the top.  I'm also planning on wearing this with my coral Topsiders.  My cousin Jessie has the same top and she wears it with skinny jeans and oxfords, which is very cute.

Week 22

No internet at my apartment again!  Hence the Monday post.  It’s felt like the middle of August in New York this week. In humid weather I just want to throw on one item of lightweight clothing. This blue and white cotton Steven Alan dress and these coral patent leather Sperry Topsiders, plus a straw fedora are my summer weekend uniform this year.

This is a detail of the dress fabric. I love the pockets it has and the fact that it’s not too fitted, but not a sack either.

I’ve been wearing my ubiquitous gray Theory sweater with the dress, too. Any thoughts on the Topsiders? I just got them even though I really don’t need them. Marc by Marc Jacobs had little green satin topsiders a few years ago, and I’ve always regretted not getting a pair. When I saw these on sale I had to buy them.

Week 21

I was away again this weekend.  I went outlet shopping with Cori, and this striped blue and white cotton tank and dark rinse ankle length jeans are some of what I ended up with from J. Crew.  The shoes are the same as last week.  It's just a very simple summer look. 

I've always loved mariniere shirts.  I'm having mixed feelings about how popular they are right now.  I'm getting sick of seeing them on everyone, but I'm also loving how readily available they are.  For now I think I'm just going to wear this tank top.  I'm planning on buying either a Petit Bateau or a Saint James long sleeved version and then not wearing it until the trend has passed.  I think they're something that always looks fresh, and I'll wear them forever.  Here's an interesting article about the current resurgence.

Week 20

I have been having computer problems over the past few days, but I was wearing this.  It's a Twinkle by Wenlan black wool coat with the same Dolce Vita flats from Week 18.  I didn't realize that this was intended to be a coat when I bought it.  I've always pinned it toward the bottom and worn it as a dress.

The eyelet fabric is somehow executed in a tropical weight wool.  I love the mod circular pockets with the fussy eyelet.

This is a detail of the shoes because you couldn't really see them last time.

Week 19

I'm in need of t-shirts right now and bought this one the other day.  Now I'm not sure what to wear it with.  This is a black and off-white cotton Madewell t-shirt, a pale gray denim Gap skirt, and the Sam Edelman flats I've worn in a few posts from previous weeks.  Jeans or a black skirt are the obvious pairings and I think this skirt works, too.  Those options aren't all that interesting, though.  Anyone have any fun ideas for me to wear this with for summer?

Week 18

Ok, I'm back.  This is what I wore one day last week in Guatemala.  It's a white cotton J. Crew v-neck t-shirt, a Liberty print cotton Steven Alan skirt, yellow faux-python peep toe Dolce Vita flats, and coral beads from H&M.

I've loved Liberty prints since high school.  Liberty of London has been around for ages and their prints become popular again every few years.  Check out their website, which explains some of the recent reissues of archived prints: http://blog.liberty.co.uk/131/the-new-liberty-prints-explained/.  The small floral prints became popular in the 1960s, and still hold a lot of appeal as evidenced by the recent Target collection.  Steven Alan used this Liberty print last year and I think it's adorable.  The skirt also has white buttons up the front that I think also contribute to the slightly retro feel.

Week 17

I'm flying to Guatemala today which means a comfy t-shirt, a cashmere sweater and socks, moccasins, and a giant scarf.  More later-I literally have a plane to catch!

Continued... I was wearing the Theory sweater from Week 8, a peach cotton American Apparel t-shirt, Paper Denim & Cloth jeans, an off-white washed wool Madewell scarf, cashmere socks, and gray Minnetonka moccasins.  I'm always cold on flights so I layer things and try to wear a lot of cashmere.  I ended up wearing moccasin booties at the last minute even though regular moccasins are easier to slip off and on at airport security.  I think I'm exchanging these Minnetonkas for new tan ones instead.  And for the record, I actually hate how socks look with moccasins, but my feet get too cold without them.

Week 16

I had a rather swanky affair to attend last weekend to celebrate the birthday of my rather swanky friend Anna from iwanttowearit.blogspot.com.  I wore this H&M gray fringed dress and these taupe suede Butter heels.  I bought this dress a long time ago because my closet was missing a flapper dress, and everyone needs to have a flapper dress for emergencies.  Also, it was $15 and I could not help myself.

These are my new favorite shoes.  I wasn't all that familiar with Butter when I purchased them, but I'm a huge fan now.  They're made really well (supposedly by hand), and they are dangerously comfortable.  Dangerously comfortable as in, "I think I'll go walk 30 blocks after wearing them for 6 hours," which is in fact a horrible idea if you're not used to walking miles in heels and then wake up the next day with calf muscles that don't move.  They're a grayish taupe color that matches more than you would expect it to.

Prior to Anna's celebration I had a dinner party to go to and didn't have time to change in between.  Wearing this black wool J. Crew sweater and gray leather J. Crew belt over the flapper dress was my attempt to dress it down.

I don't really show purses on this blog, and if you didn't know me personally you might be fooled into thinking that I don't have storage bins full of bags.  I happen to have a photo of the dress with the burgundy leather Lauren Merkin clutch I wore that night, though.  I'm not going to admit how many different colors I own this clutch in.  I'm just going to say it's a really great bag, and I highly recommend getting at least one.

Week 15

I wore this to work this week.  It's a gray cotton Gap sweater vest, white cotton J. Crew tank top, yellow herringbone cotton Banana Republic skirt, and taupe patent leather Belle by Sigerson Morrison flats.  I really love yellow, but it makes me look like a red blotchy monster if it's near my face.  I can't think of any situation in which I would be able to pull of yellow pants, so I'm relegated to yellow skirts.  I've had this one since I was a junior in college, and I still love wearing it every Spring.  The sweater vest is also really old.  They're both things that I think I'll wear for a very long time.

I wore it with a black recycled wool Zachary's Smile boyfriend blazer earlier in the day when it was chilly.

Belle by Sigerson Morrison makes very pretty flats.  These were my birthday present to myself last year. 

The stitching makes them look like patent leather espadrilles.