Be a Pretty Pedal Pusher

Do you remember what is was like to ride your bike for the first time? Even with training wheels on, you felt free, alive, and suddenly completely in control of your own world. The idea of riding off into the sunset in search of greater adventures was suddenly as appealing as seeing if you could stand up with your feet on the pedals. Back then, we were kids who rode a bike for the sheer enjoyment of pretending it was a pony, or a car. What you wore mattered only if you were cruising next to a cute boy...or girl.

 
But what happens when you grow up? The training wheels come off and instead of a valiant steed braving a dark forest, the steed becomes your car...and only mode of transportation. What you put on suddenly counts but in a different way. Functionality. Now, you have to plan ahead and figure out what to wear because your adventures as a commuter are real and happening beyond the comfort of your driveway.

Who says you can't ride in a professional outfit?! (this gal has a fantastic bike blog!)

A few months ago, I asked friend and bike commuter Kelsey (not the girl pictured above) to give me her opinion on what contemporary bicyclists need their clothing to do and if those needs were being met from the fashion industry. The interview* came right around the same time 7X7 magazine published on article about Levi's announcing the release of a new line of clothing aimed at assisting the very specific market of urban commuters. The one draw back: it's for men only. Though they completely isolated the ladies, Levi's slight improvements to their pieces were something you can easily incorporate into your wardrobe. Go for tops/tunics that run long in the back to make sure you're doing your part to "just say no to crack", and comfy pants that won't pinch as you ride slightly bent forward.
*Kelsey wrote back a gloriously detailed and funny account of what women want. To read her responses, scroll to the jump.

Essentially, Kelsey revealed that ladies riding bikes need something "that is easy to wear, to clean, to pack, and keeps somewhat dry". The biggest hassle wasn't getting dirty (as I had assumed) but sweating. Since you can't really stop yourself from sweating, though I'm sure we've all tried, you can seek out items in fabrics that breath. And if those are few and far between, become a layering a queen. As a stylist, I'd like to tackle this from a style perspective. Active bike rider clothing isn't something I find to have the best aesthetics. So, I put together an outfit based on my method when it comes to layering: start with the bottoms and go from there.


My favorite things about these jeans is they have a 9" rise! (Most denim in general come as low-rise, typically have a 7"- 7 1/2" rise). These are great for flats OR tucking into boots.

Blue Essence, $98

This top is great because it's simple without being boring but it's also part linen so you get excellent wicking qualities from the fabric. Not to mention, it's tunic length which keeps the potential crack exposure down to a minimum. Remember that unless you're like me and constantly freezing in your office, any jacket you're wearing will eventually come off so make sure the top you have on underneath can stand on it's own and create an outfit.

Caslon, $46

This cape cardigan is not only right on trend this winter season but also super easy to style by layering over just about any top.
Stylist tip: try using long sleeve shirts with a print or interesting detail because you'll still see it peaking out from the cape sleeve.

Caslon, $39.90

Quite possibly my favorite shoe brand, Born revamped their "Liddy" flat to have a more tapered and pointed toe, a silhouette flattering on every body type. You can't find flats more comfortable, and durable, than these. They come with extra cushioning on the inside and great arch support, perfect for tromping around the city when you're done biking.

Born, $44.90

And when the whether gets colder and rainier, opt for some boots. They'll keep you warm and dry all the live long day. I just bought these cuties and LOVE them. They have a slight wedge for some added height and a rubber sole, which increases the life of the shoe in general.

BP, $119.95

To take this outfit from day to night, pack a clutch and a statement necklace and you're golden, no change of clothes required.

Hopefully my tips have helped illustrate that you don't necessarily need to buy cycling specific clothing. You can easily look great on a bike with an outfit styled around the idea of ease, comfort, and length. Expect to get dirty and sweaty, that's just a natural occurrence when you're a bike commuter, but at least this way you know you have some options.

Coffee Cup Inspiration

I sometimes find inspiration in the strangest places. In fashion, a designer must often go outside their own mind to find something that strikes them. Something that plucks the right heart strings. Because if you just create strictly from your own head, you run the risk of becoming totally self-involved; no longer in touch with the real world. Even as a stylist- someone who designs "looks"- I must do the same. We both know that fashion is cyclical and if you're not careful, you can become complacent.

I recently came across an ad for Sharpie in my Teen Vogue (still not sure why that was in my mailbox) that I found to be extremely inspirational, and according to this New York Times article, that was the intended message.

peek-a-Boey

Artist Cheeming Boey took unassuming, blank coffee cups and turned them into little objects of art. Some have very elborate images while others are cute and quaint. His skill level clearly runs the gamut but what struck me most was the tagline Sharpie uses now to market themselves. Followed by the question "What are you gonna start?", the ad encourages you to "uncap what's inside". I like that idea, tapping into yourself because you never really know what you're capable of.

click the picture to see how much one of these little vessels will cost ya.

Coming at this from a sartorial perspective, I decided to urge you all to give prints a chance. I really like the black and white contrast in Boey's work and luckily, printed bottoms seem to be the easiest and most flattering way to incorporate my inspiration into your own wardrobe.

Take on two trends- wide leg and print. Winter Kate, Nordstrom, $285

The affordable option, and still in a flattering silhouette. Forever 21, $22.80

And if I haven't convinced you to "uncap what's inside", then at the very least try some color! DvF, Bloomingdales, $298

Have some fun with your clothes and break out of your fashion doldrums. You never know when something will tickle your fancy so why not surprise yourself and enjoy it.

Image(s) courtesy of google image search, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Forever 21

See Beyond Black's Work on The Today Show

Check out my brilliant client Tara Sophia Mohr in her new Beyond Black wardrobe as she shares her expertise on the Today Show.  Tara, you look amazing!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Tara is wearing a turquoise Diane von Furstenberg dress and Jimmy Choo purple suede shoes, both available at Bloomingdale's Union Square.

 

Remember the 90s

I just wanted to share a link with you all. It helps reveal why I love/miss the 90's so much. The style was easy and so wrapped up in nonchalance and comfort that by today's standards it seems sloppy. Nowadays I see immaculate style on girls who are quick to calculate an outfit, so much so I'd say it's become rather formulaic. We've seen this girl or some version thereof a thousand times:

The ubiquitous T-shirt and jeans kind of cool. Been there, seen that.

What I really miss is the slap-dashness of the 90's. I miss the plaid baby-doll dresses with DocMartens, vests, boxy blazers, jeans worn up to your nose, mismatched pieces, and the overall feeling of not caring (too much) about what you're wearing:

One of my fictional heroes: Angela Chase and her bff Rayanne Graff

The good news, it seems the 90s are slowly but surely still making their way into the mainstream, mostly because with all things in fashion, give it 20 years and it will eventually come back as "new". That and Pearl Jam is celebrating the 20 year anniversary release of their monumental album "Ten" this month. We should remember that music and the street were the engines that drove fashion back then and personally, I'm hungry to feel that kind of connection once more...

A more modern approach to a "vintage" style

Image(s) courtesy of google image search

Kate Spade Paper, Something Worth Writing For

Many moons ago, my sister bought me a set of flat cards by Kate Spade. I'm an old soul at heart and prefer to write my thank you notes and most correspondence by hand (I'd say it's a dying practice) so these were the best gift. They arrived in a slim, sturdy, green box and had just the right amount of whimsy to tickle my fancy.

click the picture to open her collection page w/ Crane & Co.

There were two types of cards, both done on white cotton paper by Crane & Co. One set had "How the devil are you?" in a beautiful, embossed, gold script at the top of the card while the back envelope flap had a matching embossed silhouette of a devil, complete with horns and pitchfork. The other set said "See you later, alligator" as a signature and had a cute gold alligator on the envelope. They were absolutely adorable and I'm SO sad I don't have any left but I did find several more that are already on my birthday and Christmas lists :) (ps- the boxes make great stocking stuffers...just saying)...

Wouldn't you love getting this in the mail?! 10 notes/10 lined envelopes $20/box

This confetti design can be an invite or a friendly way to spread some cheer. $20

/box

That tiny print on the card is an embossed name --> personalized note, $4.17 each

One always needs Thank You notes, $30/box

There are several more playful and pretty designs to choose from, many hard to resist. And if nothing in the Kate Spade Collection strikes you (which would truly baffle me), check out Crane & Co.'s other pieces*. Some are truly lovely:

Fern Notes, $14/box

Some are just darn cute:

Birdy notes, $14/box

While others speak to my inner fashionista:

Leopard (rawr!), $19/box

There's something for everyone on Crane & Co.'s website. I can foresee this becoming an addiction in my future- virtual window shopping their store. I hope you all also enjoy it. Happy Writing!

*My personal shopper's tip: 
Go to the website and hold the mouse over 'Stationery'. Look for the category "Boxed Correspondence" and under that click "folded notes". Tell me you don't get sucked in and find yourself yearning for a pen pal!






Image(s) courtesy of Crane & Co.

How-To Series: Stay Stylish When Your Weight Fluctuates

There is a never-ending war being waged between women and food. As a result, we bounce between 5 to 10 pound weight gains and loses all the time. Our constant yo-yoing forces us to scold the pastries for being so delicious while we begrudgingly attempt to eat all our greens. Why can't vegetables taste more like cake? I don't think I'm asking too much here!
...but I digress.

Amen Cookie Monster.

With our eternal cycle of being up and down in weight, getting dressed in the morning can be a bit tricky. "Tight" is rarely flattering and jeans are usually the first sign you've added some bulk when you find yourself on your back, lying on the bed armed with pliers so you can get the button buttoned and zipper up. (note for the fellas: there's a reason your girlfriend/wife has a pair of "fat pants" in the closet. We all do! They're our "in case of serious weight gain" emergency pants. Get over it). Just because things are feeling a bit small doesn't mean you need to suffer back-fat and muffin tops. There's not even a need to buy a whole new wardrobe. You probably already own a few of the items that work best (aka still fit) when you seesaw in size.

The Blazer. The structure of the jacket will hide your sides and front (when buttoned) while the overall style keeps you looking sharp and put together. Look for a two-button design whose lowest button meets just underneath your natural waistline. It will bring in your waist to help create an hourglass shape.

Stylist Tip: wear a flowy top underneath. The extra volume will hide your midsection.

The Shirtdress. Always a classic and a wardrobe staple. The length should be at a universally flattering length (at the knee, just above the knee, or just below the knee) and you should be able to create a loose or tight hourglass shape by belting at the waist.

Stylist Tip: don't be afraid to switch out the belt that comes with the dress for one with texture or color or both!

The Legging. The elastic waistband and stretchy materials will conform to your body when you're at your lightest and heaviest but always be super comfy. Keep your upper half in business-appropriate tops and jackets and you're good for work.

Stylist Tip: look for leggings with the construction details of pants (back pockets, fly front, and scoop pockets) and in thicker fabrics- they look more polished than those that you just pull on.

The Jersey Knit Dress. Designer Rachel Pally is known for her high quality fabrics, and beautiful, easy cuts. For our purposes, I choose a printed, empire waist dress because prints are distracting and will keep the eye moving. The empire waist will drape in a way to hide any belly bulge. Both are key elements to derision when you're feeling a little inflated.

Stylist Tip: when it gets colder, throw on your leggings, boots, and a jacket as long as the dress and you're golden!

The Tunic. A perfect topper to complete a look made from leggings and a blazer. The length should hide your bum to keep you decent and the stomach should either be hidden underneath the folds of fabric (like the example below) or be billowy enough to do the same thing. For a voluminous top, use a blazer to control the volume so you don't lose your shape entirely and wind up looking bigger on top than you are. That would be counter productive.

Stylist Tip: avoid tunics in materials that cling to your body instead of drape a/o skim. This example clings in the hips but has enough fabric to create bulge-hiding folds. The folds stack up on top of each other to create the illusion of a flat tummy. 

All these items should be in your closet. If they're not, start a shopping list. Having them means you're prepared (and well armed) should you wake up tomorrow morning feeling...not your best. And on your thinner days, use them as concealers for when you want to really chow down and enjoy some good food. A little visual manipulation goes a long way in war. Now if only someone could force broccoli to surrender and let the desserts take over...

Image(s) courtesy of google image search, nordstrom.com, chicos.com, and nordstrom.com

San Francisco Symphony: Orchestrate Your Outfit

As much as we all say "you couldn't pay me enough to ever go back to high school"- and as much as I completely agree- there is one thing I do miss about it: the dances. When I was a teenager, the thought of billowy dresses with big hair and makeup inflated my spirits and shot me sky high when I slipped on the heels. My every-other-day high school life was spent in flip flops and tank tops. I was an athlete growing up in southern California so reasons to get dressed up were few and far between. But the dances...they were there to give your inner girly girl an night out. Now that I find myself well out of high school and even college, I've discovered "prom" type occasions are even more scarce. Apparently adults no longer want a reason to gallivant throughout the night in a fancy dress and sharp suit...unless of course it comes with a striking orchestration courtesy of the San Francisco Symphony (SFS).

The beautiful exterior of the Davies Symphony Hall, home to the SFS

Like any reasonable stylist out there, I love an excuse to play dress up. The San Francisco Symphony celebrates it's 100th season this year with an opening night fast approaching. You know what that means right? Time to ask your mom to take you shopping because you're going to the gala with the hottest boy at work and you need a new dress and shoes. And bag. Probably hair and makeup too. But it will totally be worth it because not only is your date going to look so cute in a suit, the night has the promise of magic!
But I digress...

The Opening Night Gala (held this season on September 7th) is the only night guests wear formal attire. Every other show you can wear business or cocktail clothing; however, for the opening show of a centennial season I think that throwing on a little extra shellack is called for. This then begs the question of: what am I going to wear? Lucky for you, Bloomingdale's has some pieces that are sure to be music to your...ears?

You can go bold...

Aidan Maddox, $440 (Go for an up-do to soften the impact of this dress)

You can go clean and classic...

BCBGMaxAzria, on sale for $104! (it has a beautiful cut-out back)

And if you're pregnant...

Halston Heritage, $495. (For this look, add a long earring to accentuate the neck)

For the hot date you're sure to be taking...

Theory, ~$700. There is nothing like a man in a suit...too bad this fine gent isn't free

Tickets to the symphony are more than affordable (they start at $15!) but if attire and ticket cost are still a concern, you're in luck. There will be a FREE concert the night after the Opening Gala in honor of the symphony's triple digit birthday. Festivities begin at 1130am but the concert starts at noon. September 8th is a Thursday but on the chance of a clear, SF summer day with free music, you might just find yourself skipping there.

Image(s) courtesy of bloomingdales.com

Mad Men Style Sweeps the Nation: Are you a Betty or a Joan? A Pete or a Don?

With the 4th season of AMC's hit TV show Mad Men airing soon, they're doing a recap of all of the previous episodes to catch people up.  It's one of those shows my husband and I were never interested in until everyone starting raving about it, then we never started because we were behind.  Even if the show turned out to be crap (which it isn't), I would have loved it anyway due to the set and costume designs.

Now I've officially jumped on the Mad Men bandwagon.  (1) In my house- mid century modern is the one design style my husband and I can agree upon- and (2) in my closet because my curves love 1940-1950's era styles.  And I know I'm not the only one....

Banana Republic is showing their love by releasing a limited edition Mad Men collection in time for the fall season.  August 11th at 6:00PM (in select stores) you can shop the collection and drink a free "Mad-tini".  Receive a gift with purchase if you use your Banana Republic card.

Guys, they didn't forget about you...  "Are you MAD enough?"


Want something a little more literal?  Check out this Etsy shop for curvaceous creations that look like they came straight out of the show.

Image(s) courtesy of Google search. Quote from Banana Republic marketing.

"Honey Don't"- Men, What Not to Wear This Summer

In the article "Honey Don't: Menswear Faux-pas", Women's Wear Daily (WWD) asked some of their favorite fashionable ladies what their take on bad men's summer fashion looked like.  Some of the answers varied from obvious...

"...I don’t like that Speedos thing. I see it in France and Brazil all the time. In Brazil, it’s different, I think, because there that doesn’t count, it’s fine. But here…no." - Doutzen Kroes

 

...to equally obvious but pretty darn funny...

"A rhinestone T-shirt. You don’t look like a man. You look like an idiot." - Sophia Bush

I read this and had to add my two cents on the topic.  Living in the San Francisco Bay Area where tech is king, I've seen plenty of this "uniform"...

"Pleated khakis and short sleeved button-down shirts for work. Don't forget multiple cell phones attached to belt."- Jennifer @ Beyond Black

So I ask you, if you had the chance to ask your man "Honey, don't..." in regards to his wardrobe, what would you tell him not to wear this summer?

 

Fabulous Florals

I think several of you are aware of my love for all things 90's. (and if you're not, then I'm not talking about it enough) Sure the 80's were great, the time of my childhood, and seem to be everlasting with several styles still sticking around today. But, the 90s are where it's at, and I can prove it!

Who What Wear recently published a post on looks they love. The subject? Florals! And not just any florals, LARGE PRINT florals! I know you know that's a 90s thing. Needless to say, I had to share it with you here.

I'm mildly obsessed with Ashlee Simpson's jumpsuit...

If you want to stand out from the crowd with this trend, keep things contemporary by finding floral designs in modern silhouettes:

Lauren by Ralph Lauren dress, $134

A flirty top would be super cute with jeans or under a blazer for work:

Free People top, $47

Floral skirts are always sweet and keep you looking feminine and fresh:

Leifsdottir, $123

And if you've got a baby blossom, let them bloom in this sweet little dress!

SO CUTE! Ralph Lauren, $39.50

Since San Francisco summer days tend to show up around September, you've got some time to get your floral on. Don't forget you can add some edge to this uber sweet style by throwing on a motorcycle jacket or some combat boots...You'll be a gal after my own 90s-loving heart.

Image(s) courtesy of whowhatwear.com & Bloomingdales.com