Charlotte Olympia- Once Upon a Shoe

OMG CAN WE TALK ABOUT THESE SHOES?!

Is anyone else feeling like there's a "face on my shoes" kind of thing going on right now? Or is it just me? Whatever the case may be, these shoes are cray, and I love them!

Charlotte Olympia "Sleeping Beauty Court" & "The Bear Necessities", Moda Operandi, $995 and $785 respectively.

Image(s) courtesy of Moda Operandi

Another H&M Collaboration!

Just in time to spice up your wardrobe!  Don’t miss your chance to grab some goods with another H&M collaboration, this time between the retail giant and “style maniac” Anna Dello Russo. If you haven’t heard of her yet, then you will. She’s probably the most fearless fashionista working the streets today.

Image(s) courtesy of  http://www.hm.com/us/

New Kid on the Block: Lydali

Part home decor store and part boutique, Lydali is a collection of artisans from around the world who create unique items and then sell them through Lydali. I first heard about them through a Refinery29 article that caught my eye. I thought I should share some of their super cute wares so the next time you're killing time in the office, treat your eyes to some virtual window shopping candy!

A beautiful scarf hand-made in Ghana, Lydali, $66

Lovely colors and a leathery texture makes this a double win. Snakeskin Wristlet, Lydali, $32

Dusty agate ring, cut from the stone. Agate Ring, Lydali, $42. One more view below:

A beautiful dress with subtle and bold color. Very nice detail. Dress, Lydali, $178.

It's easier than you thought to become a citizen of the world. It's as easy as wearing items from artisans local to the countries you've always wanted to visit.

Image(s) courtesy of www.lydali.com

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.

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

Movies That Inspired Fashion- Or is it the other way around?

A fellow fashion blogger posted a great top ten list of fashionable movies.  I have loved many of these films (especially anything with Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe).  I previously blogged about how much I loved watching the 40's fashion in the movie Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.  Dare I add it to the list at #11?

1. Sabrina (1954) Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden

2. Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961) Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard

3. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) Jane Russel, Marilyn Monroe

4. Rear Window (1954) Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly

5. Annie Hall (1977) Dianne Keaton, Woody Allen

6. Saturday Night Fever (1977) John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney

7. Grease (1978) John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John

8. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow

9. Devil Wears Prada (2006) Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway

10. Sex and the City (2008) Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall

Side note: In case you love Audrey as much as I do, you can now own a piece of history.  Three years ago Audrey's Breakfast at Tiffany's gown (below) sold for a whopping £410,000.  Now more iconic pieces from Audrey Hepburn's amazing wardrobe are up on the block.  Fifty per cent of the proceeds will be donated go to The Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund. Highlights from the sale will be show at Sotheby's New York, November 21-22 and at Sotheby's Paris, December 1-2. Visit Kerry Taylor Auctions for more information: http://www.kerrytaylorauctions.com.

Bottom image and auction info courtesy of http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/2009/11/audrey_hepburns_1.html

Pics from the Verrieres and Sako trunk show 10/09

The Verrieres & Sako trunk show was so much fun last night.  It was a barrage of designer duds left and right.  And for a fraction of the cost of some of the handbags being worn by the beautiful ladies, my entire outfit cost less than $700 (accessories included).

 Left- Stephanie Verrieres     Right- Me

 

 Left- Me      Right- Diana Todd

What I wore:

• animal print cropped jacket I bought on sale from Guess a couple of years ago
• pearl necklace from Banana Republic 
• black Prada dress circa late 2007 with enough stretch in it to look amazing on me :)
• gold stretch bracelet and Michael Kors chained handbag in purple suede
• Jeffrey Campbell shoes (the best part!!!)

Since the shoes were the most amazing part of the outfit (not sure why they didn't make it into any of the photos), here they are :)

What I bought:

Get one for yourself... http://verrieres-sako.com/vs/

Thank you to Drew Altizer Photography for being so quick to post the pics.











Image(s) courtesy of Drew Altizer Photography
http://www.drewaltizer.com/album.php

Guess and GQ - Exclusive Cocktail Reception

In Support Of
Kids On The Move America

Shop the Holiday 2009 Guess Collections For Men And Women
While Enjoying Cocktails and Music By Dj Solomon

Thursday, October 15
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Guess
865 Market Street
San Francisco Center
San Francisco

Please reply by Tuesday, October 13 to info@bigpicpr.com


A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit Kids on the Move America, a non-profit youth impact project that develops, evaluates and disseminates programs that support health, social, and intellectual development in low-income children in Alameda County.

Receive 20% off of your purchase with a $5.00 minimum donation
to Kids on the Move America during the event hours.

Receive an exclusive gift in the Guess green re-usable tote
bag, including products from Guess, GQ, Bed Head,
Every Man Jack, Kiss My Face, Patron and more, with any
purchase and sign up to the Guess list loyalty program.*

*gift with purchase available while supplies last.

Image and information courtesy of Charleston Pierce Presents

Bad Style Choices- An Epidemic

Chanel chain strap bag, check. Black boyfriend jacket, check. Patent ballet flats, check. Skinny jeans, check. A walking talking example of how to wear the trends?

A major STYLE NO NO in the flesh... I couldn't take a picture of it... Scott thought it was rude, but it was so perfect of an example I would have given into inappropriate social behavior just to share it with you...

Believe it or not, there is a difference between style and fashion. Just because a trend is in fashion, doesn't mean it's stylish. Do you hear me loud and clear?

I love a good trend as much as the next fashionista. But let's be realistic, not every body type can sport the current trends, whatever that might be at the time. One of those is skinny jeans. Being a curvy girl myself, I don't like to think of fashion being something unattainable. But that's where curvy girls fall short. Just because the skinny runway models and celebs wear a particular look and it looks good, doesn't mean everyone can or should dress that way.

I surfed the web for some great examples of bad skinny jeans to make up for not having a pic of the girl from Saturday. I kept running into curvy/real women blogs swearing "you too can wear skinny jeans."  Please understand, I don't disagree with them.  But the way they are styled (as pictured above), just makes their hips/thighs look larger.  Had they worn shirts that fell below their crotch line, their hips would have appeared to be smaller.  By having a visual line cut across the widest parts of their bodies, they actually look heavier.  Skinny jeans are tricky, even on a skinny woman.  There are other cuts of denim far easier to style flawlessly.

Pictures like above (top left) beg the question, "Why would you purposefully wear something that wasn't very flattering, when you know there are many other better option out there?" I have to assume it's because either the stylist for that pic was trying to showcase just the jeans (in which case would you want your hips looking like that?), or their client's desire to look like a celebrity overtook their sense of reason.

Forgive me for sounding harsh, but these bad style choices, in favor of following the trends, are an epidemic.

My solution for women who's hip/thigh ratio is large enough to warrant being considered "curvy", is to try straight leg denim instead. The wider-than-skinny leg of a straight leg jean will help keep you looking long and lean instead of having been stuffed into a sausage casing. America is doing it right (see far right photo).

For less than $60, you can try this skinny jean-alternative from the Gap.


Straight Leg denim picture courtesy of Gap.com

If I Had a Million Dollars...

... my closet would be stuffed full with everything from the Net-A-Porter.com (pronounced net-a-portay) website. I love this site because you can buy MANY hard to find runway items not found anywhere else. Admittedly, the site is very expensive. But that's the thing about runway clothing- there is a trickle-down effect that stems from the runways into mainstream fashion. So go ahead, eyeball that $6000 outfit with the Christian Louboutin shoes. When you do so, remember that you don't have to spend a million bucks to look like one. Print out that page and take it shopping with you. You can recreate similar outfits with a little know-how and some shoe leather. Take friends or a personal shopper along with you (had to throw a little plug in there for myself) for advice.
Here are three great style tips for fall fashion:

(1) Try Separates = blouses + skirts + bags
(2) Dress Up = jackets + dresses + boots
(3)Wear The Pants = knitwear + pants + belts

Images courtesy of Net-A-Porter.com

"The Meaning of Sunglasses And a Guide to Almost All Things Fashionable"

I can't get enough of Vogue and InStyle Magazine. I gleefully flip through each glossy page, drooling over the designer wares and dreaming of the outfits I could create if I only had that $3,000 blouse on page 147. How does anyone stay on top of it all? I was asked yesterday how I stayed up-to-date on all the trends and fashions for the next season. There is no definitive one source for all things fashion. It is a combination of trend agencies who monitor and decide the trends years in advance, being a part of organizations like Fashion International Group, industry publications like WWD, newsstand fashion magazines and a good eye for what looks good.

There are other sources you can find to satisfy your hunger for more style savvy tips. Many self-professed style gurus and celebrity-turned-authors alike have tried putting their words of wisdom on style into print. I find many of these books very interesting. But there is a maze of titles to choose from. I am currently reading this great book called, "The Meaning of Sunglasses And a Guide to Almost All Things Fashionable," by Hadley Freeman. This book poses some interesting questions/points: (1) "Is fashion one big, nasty, and anachronistic, and misogynistic conspiracy to make women feel inadequate, or is it a means for self-expression that actually brings a lot of gratification?" xiii (2) "Thanks largely to the rise of mass market fashion... fashion is more than ever for the women themselves, not the men who look at them... In regard to the impact of mass market fashion, never before have so many good clothes been so readily available so cheaply, and never before have so many women been in the position to buy them with their own money." xv (3) "But I just do not see that having a sharp brain and strong self-esteem is incompatible with caring about how you look, and deriving pleasure from it." xv

This isn't a how-to book. More so, it takes the reader down a long path to enlightenment as to why fashion is what it is, and the statements we make with what we choose to wear. "It is a real blinking shame that fashion, which exists ostensibly to give women self-confidence, has become something that many people see as precisely the opposite." xvi

"From Publishers Weekly:
Belts aren't meant to hold up pants, according to Freeman, deputy fashion editor at the British newspaper the Guardian; belts are superfluous additions to outfits that help cinch a waist or make one appear thinner. In her witty and acerbic debut book, Freeman notes what designer bags say about their owner (Fendi is for the well-groomed lady); the messages different hemlines can send (super short miniskirts will have men whistling Roy Orbison's greatest hit at you); and the trouble with the unnecessary distraction patterns provide. Her short chapters come at random as Freeman takes a haphazard approach to the fashion world by organizing her book alphabetically—which leads to some confusion as there are six separate chapters dealing with footwear. Her most convincing chapters expose the problems with the fashion industry, such as the unrealistic body image models like Kate Moss present. Readers plagued with indecision concerning what blouse is best or what jean style fits their body type can turn to Freeman, who doesn't pull her punches (ethnic clothes, like a pastel beach caftan, are offensive; mittens are childlike; and animal prints embarrassingly obvious). (Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

Photo and book description from Amazon.com

Must Have For Fall 2008

Mark Twain was once quoted as saying, "the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." Anyone celebrating the 4th of July in The City knows how true this statement is. The summer being what it is here, it's hard for me to want to shop the neon colors so popular this summer.

Every summer I highly anticipate the warmer hues of fall, lavish textures, subdued elegance and layers, layers, layers. The layer of choice this fall-- colored tights. This ad from Neiman Marcus shows Vera Wang's take on the trend. I love the violet tights mixed with the mustard yellow skirt and blue blouse... amazing!

Photo courtesy of NeimanMarcus.com