Snow Creature

Vintage What Comes Around Goes Around coat. Vintage Escada belt. Vintage flower headband. Vintage costume pearl & black/white enamel (a souvenir from my mom’s trip to Martha’s Vineyard) bracelets. Hue cable-knit tights. Vintage Dopp by Buxton kit. Delman boots.

Fantasy vacation time... I'd hop a private plane to St. Moritz (the ski resort town in Switzerland), where I'd bunny hop down the slopes, shop for gossamer gowns & swan about the hotel in my finery - repeat as needed until I float away on a cloud of complacency. Of course I'd need to pack several furs to wage proper snowball fights; I'd make my debut in this one: it's vintage from What Comes Around Goes Around but originated from the defunct furrier, George Strain. Vintage has stood the test of time & as such is intrinsically superior to nouveau - to wit: my flowering/beribboned Maypole-esque headband, a suede Escada belt stamped with xoxo's & my dad's old dopp kit that I carry as a clutch (why not - a bon voyage = a spare change of jewels, a ruby lipstick & a dance card for the beaux).

White Shoulders

Vintage Jonathan Hitchcock for Reuben Thomas dress. 3.1 Phillip Lim vest. Vintage Dior belt. Vintage costume pendant necklace worn as headband. Vintage costume tassel necklace. ‘Love’ bracelet (a souvenir from my trip to St. Thomas). Vintage costume pearl ring. Hue lurex tights. Chanel ruffled ballerinas.
"For age is opportunity no less than youth itself, though in another dress, & as the evening twilight fades away, the sky is filled with stars, invisible by day" - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This magenta frock has magical power shoulders (truly - they strong-arm business tycoons & wayward club kids alike). Its 80's decadence is matched by my belt's loopy seashell clasp, double-breasted vest & a pair of glitzy tights.
They say one can't escape the past... Designers John Galliano at Dior & Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy reveled in it for their spring 2010 haute couture collections: color saturated the old fashioned shapes (ball gowns/equestrienne habits) fit for oil heiresses transplanted to Studio 54. While critic Cathy Horyn gently derided these garments for their irrelevance to modern life in The NY Times' Styles, she praised Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel whose "seamless" dresses lightly dropped from the sky.

Flower Shower

Marc by Marc Jacobs jacket. 3.1 Phillip Lim dress. Vintage woven belt. Vintage costume pearl necklace. Costume moonstone ring. Hue flower tights. Delman ballerinas.
This jacket is my sartorial miracle for the ages... Spring 2004 saw my mom shopping for my 19th birthday; my birthdays tend to be tinged with melancholy, which likely inspired my initial apathy for this Marc by Marc Jacobs blazer (notwithstanding its pale fuzzy flowers blossoming against a field of crisp linen lined in apple green). Our first encounter was at Saks Fifth Ave on a visit home from Boston University & again at the Neiman Marcus in Copley Square a few weeks later. However, I regretfully never tried on the jacket & continued to dream about it until last Dec, when it unexpectedly re-entered my life via a vintage store I've frequented since high school. Sometimes life comes full circle thanks to serendipity/déjà vu: my reunion with this jacket almost six years after its debut was bershet - it's symbolic of beauty bringing happiness.

Ruffled Feathers

Roberto Rodriguez sweater. 3.1 Phillip Lim dress. Vintage Ralph Lauren belt. Tulle bow headband. Vintage costume pearl necklace. Gold (a 14th birthday present) & costume charm bracelets. Knit tights. Chanel ‘2.55’ bag. Miu Miu shoes.
Classic Chanel + red ruffles + leopard = Park Ave Princess turned saucy minx on the prowl... A rouged frock/animal print evokes Mae West, but a bow headband/ruffles recall Shirley Temple (a dichotomy for the ages). My black accessories include a silver-tipped Ralph Lauren belt & a hard-won Chanel bag (apparently the French brand is flouting economic concerns by proceeding with their annual price increase - stock up now if you can).
Last night I went to the Carlyle Hotel's Bemelmans Bar, one of my favorite examples of Art Deco architecture. The bar is named after artist Ludwig Bemelmans, who painted Central Park scenes on the walls in the same style as his Madeline children's books. The piano player sang a medley of Billy Joel & Frank Sinatra tunes that made me nostalgic for a time I never knew (one person's saccharinity is another's classic NY night).

Back in Black

3.1 Phillip Lim leather jacket. Juicy Couture skirt. Vintage Makins hat. Vintage Etro scarf. Vintage costume flower & woven bangles. Moschino gloves. American Apparel heart tights. Vintage Domina bag. Miu Miu shoes.
"Perhaps she thinks it matters not / If people frown or smile / Or what they say about her hat / So long as it's in style" - Albert Stroud, Sister's Summer Hat
Winter's redeeming quality is the opportunity for more accessories... I even dressed all in black to set them off: a leather jacket + a cashmere skirt = biker chick pledging a sorority. I found this vintage felt fedora nestled in its original Bonwit Teller hat box (RIP Bonwit - this late, great dept store was akin to B Altman & Co/Saks Fifth Ave). Ambiguous seasons: my cloth scarf's cornucopia of flowers/fruit evokes Thanksgiving, while a pair of budding gloves beckons spring. P.S. Thanks to Trains & Sewing Machines for including me in her Wednesday Weardrobe Inspiration Day!

Ooh La La Lace

See by Chloé dress. Bow belt. Vintage costume pearl necklace. Vintage costume gold & pearl bangles. Ribbed tights. Loeffler Randall buckle boots.
I associate black lace with a Spanish mantilla, which in turn reminds me of Francisco Goya's The Black Duchess; he painted the Duchess of Alba (his rumored lover) several times, including The White Duchess (my favorite). I donned my own lacy bracelet-length sleeve frock with a velvet bow belt, a pearl/painted bead necklace & a wrist full of bangles. A pair of suede ankle boots gives my dress the kick to transcend from mere dinner party lounging to full-on Vespa scooting capabilities.
Chicisimo has been one of my favorite style-sharing sites for awhile; as the arbitraitor behind this real fashion mecca, Maria reviews outfits from girls worldwide & posts her favorite ones. I'm pleased to announce she just featured me in a video interview - check it out to be inspired by international street style jet-setters. Thanks so much for this opportunity Maria!

Floor It

Cashmere cardigan. Vintage Evette dress. Coin belt. Vintage beige/blue beaded, enamel & wooden necklaces. Engraved (a souvenir from my sister’s trip to Israel) & vintage white bangles. Cable-knit tights. Vintage Astatus Colomras bag. Vintage Jcracker’s cowboy boots.

PBS' umpteenth version of Jane Austen's Emma debuted last night - there's nothing like a little Masterpiece Theatre to make a girl long for some ankle-grazing gowns. Romola Garai is a perennial favorite of this series (see Daniel Deronda); she plays our heroine here in homespun linen frocks/coats & beribboned bonnets. Ms. Garai's wardrobe is earthier than Gwyneth Paltrow's in the film version - she's evidently an Emma modernized for our times.
With ball gowns & visions of moors (Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights & Daphne du Maurier's Jamaica Inn) dancing in my head, I robed myself in a vintage organza gown (originally a nightgown) & a long cardi. A bag slung across my chest + a coin belt + a treasure chest's worth of necklaces = wandering-gypsy-princess. This leather messenger bag (circa 1970) is the ultimate in hands-free luggage for traveling light.

Blue Steel

Cashmere sweater. 3.1 Phillip Lim dress. Lake Shore Drive peace belt. Vintage animal & beaded necklaces. Engraved (a souvenir from my sister’s trip to Israel) & wooden bangles. Knit tights. Vintage Etienne Aigner crocodile bag. Delman ballerinas.
"She says, 'But in contentment I still feel / The need of some imperishable bliss. / 'Death is the mother of beauty; hence from her, / Alone, shall come fulfillment to our dreams" - Wallace Stevens, Sunday Morning
Today's outfit inspired the sky... First I drove for a couple of hours beneath heavens that dawned the color of my dress; the triangular layers of chiffon (dotted with muted wildflowers) falling from its neckline remind me of a glamorous Ancient Greek toga. Then the atmosphere faded to white, reflecting my bone colored necklaces/shoes. A peace belt matches both the color of this shiny skin handbag & my inner serenity (courtesy of a weekend out-of-town) - a perfect mindset to begin the week... Namaste.

Step Lively

Fur vest. Anna Sui dress. Turtle belt. Vintage costume pearl necklace worn as headband. Vintage pearl drop earrings. Moss agate (a souvenir from my trip to St. Thomas) & vintage costume animal/moonstone rings. Emilio Cavallini tights. Salvatore Ferragamo ‘Varina’ shoes.
"The young girl stood beside me. I / Saw not what her young eyes could see: / - A light, she said, not of the sky / Lives somewhere in the Orange Tree" - John Shaw Neilson, The Orange Tree
This darkly shimmering dress was made for midnight strolls through orange groves & spinning through the candlelit halls of an abandoned manse. There's an animal jamboree happening all over me: a ram's head ring, a tortoise belt & a faux furry beast of a vest. Color me happy in a pair of pink patent leather slippers - they escorted me around town while I crossed some errands off my list & will partner well with tonight's party dress.

Fleur Delacour

Ralph Lauren cardigan. 3.1 Phillip Lim dress. Vintage Calvin Klein belt with flower pin. Vintage costume pearl earrings. Les Néréides crystal (a souvenir from my trip to Paris) & costume charm bracelets. Hue cable-knit tights. Bally embroidered bag. Loeffler Randall ‘Riley’ boots.
I may not have been around for Truman Capote's Black & White Ball (author of Breakfast of Tiffany's, whose Holly Golightly Audrey Hepburn made her own in the film adaptation), but here's my blue interpretation... A cream cardigan buttoned over a Phillip Lim holiday 2009 navy studded dress is like a breath of fresh air for a season slipping slowly toward spring. Flowers are an evergreen motif: here a rose blooms magically from the gold tinged woven belt at my waist. I'm more of a bag lady than a shoe woman; this shapeless suede bag is embroidered with a medley of meadow blossoms - if it could time travel, it might transport me to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury or London's Portobello Road circa 1969.

Smockdown

Ralph Lauren sweater. Vintage Albert Nipon dress. Vintage Saks Fifth Ave belt. Flower duo headband. Vintage charm necklace. Vintage costume feather & diamond rings. Tintoretta knit tights. Roger Vivier shoes.
"Water, water, everywhere, / & all the boards did shrink; / Water, water, everywhere, / Nor any drop to drink" - Samuel Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Here I cozied up to a cable-knit sweater under a vintage smocked dress that belonged to my mom: its delicate floral pattern mimics wan wintery sunshine reflecting off water & the puffed sleeves tend to slip demurely from my shoulders. Today I became acquainted with a department store located a few dozen blocks from my apartment; it's been there for over 100 years, but I didn't explore it until now & was delighted to discover a little piece of Paris: its interior is reminiscent of the Galeries Lafayette. I navigated the trolleys of garments with my pocketbook intact until... An Anna Sui lavender flower frock conquered my heart & soul.

Who Wears the Pants?

Catherine Malandrino top. See by Chloé pants. Vintage leather belt. Fur scarf. Vintage costume ball necklace. Vintage costume diamond & gold bracelets. Miu Miu embellished shoes.

I rarely wear pants, so the ones I wear have to be superlative - Katharine Hepburn would've worn these skinny trousers in the movie Desk Set if it was shot in 1985. They're black (natch), have a buttoned back pocket & are tapered to collapse perfectly at the ankles. A bluebell/carnation floral top is the yin to my pants' yang: it's pleasingly blousy, buttons up in turquoise fabric & is scalloped along the top/bottom with a border of petals. My supple leather belt can tie into a knot or bow & a fur scarf decorates my shoulders. The finishing touch on my outfit was a little blazer, making my ensemble worthy of Bunny Watson (aka Ms. Hepburn's character in the abovementioned office farce).

Ooh Child

Vintage suede coat. Costume amethyst ring. Nicole Miller windowpane tights. Straw bag. Delman boots.
"When we go to Morocco, I think we should have completely different names & be completely different people" - Penny Lane, Almost Famous

A snowy landscape is the perfect backdrop for a winter coat; this boxy straw bag is a surprising choice for the season, but mixing tactile materials builds a richer outfit. Penny Lane from the movie Almost Famous often sparks my imagination - here it was her green velvet jacket with a white collar. I've had this suede overcoat trimmed in shaggy fur since high school & the intervening years served to further endear it to me. The more I shop vintage, the more I realize how lucky I was to find this coat in such excellent condition... The opportunities of youth & beginner's luck shouldn't be taken for granted; sometimes what comes easiest is what's meant to be.

Heaven Tonight

Diane von Furstenberg jacket. 3.1 Phillip Lim skirt. Kenneth Jay Lane belt. Chanel earrings & shoes. Vintage bracelets.
Happy is the girl who loves an item in her wardrobe as much as I love this Diane von Furstenberg sequined jacket... It reminds me of a bed jacket or a kimono: a little oversized, no closures & 3/4 length ruched sleeves. Floral sequins pebble the jacket's glamorous shell, while champagne silk trims its lapels & culminates in a flower on one side. It's even famous, having appeared in both print (Jessica Alba wore it on the March 2009 cover of Elle magazine) & on TV (The City). Laundry Day inspired me to wear the jacket as a top - I belted it over a Phillip Lim ruffled skirt from his holiday 2009 collection.

Never Land

Milly blouse & camisole. Betsey Johnson skirt. Vintage flower headband. Vintage costume yellow pearl & tusk necklaces. Vintage costume cage, diamond & feather rings. Emilio Cavallini tights. Chanel ballerinas.
Today I tucked a swiss dot blouse into a tattered hem skirt & splashed down the flooded sidewalks in a pair of ruby red slippers. The skirt's shredding is cunningly constructed: it drapes over my legs while I'm at rest, but one good twirl spurs the fabric to dance with me. My elementary school uniform fostered a dislike of collared shirts; however, this Peter Pan collared top is unlike a regular button-down blouse - it's more suggestive of a 1970's schoolgirl than of a corporate climber. On the subject of academia, a recent article in The NY Times' Art section reviewed two Boston museums: the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston & the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. As an English/Art History graduate from Boston University, I'm quite familiar with both of them, but Ms. Stewart's former home was my favorite during those years away - it reminded me of my beloved Frick Collection in NYC.

Red Leather, Yellow Leather

Elizabeth and James leather jacket. Joie polka dot dress. Waisted polka dot belt. Flower duo headband. Vintage costume gold necklace. Nicole Miller windowpane tights. Marc Jacobs ‘Stam’ bag. Lanvin bow shoes.
"As to me I know of nothing else but miracles, / Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan, / Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky, / Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water, / Or stand under trees in the woods" - Walt Whitman, Miracles
A preview of spring spurred me to stroll the outskirts of woods peppered with the withered leaves leftover from fall. I wore a short sleeve polka dot jersey dress & a ribbon belt whose brown/white pattern sweetly complements the frock's. This large caramel leather jacket appeals to me in a borrowed-from-the-boys way: the motorcycle style is scattered with zippers at the cuffs, side pockets & ruched hem. Elizabeth and James (designed by Renaissance women Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen) is a clothing line emblematic of modern dressing albeit with a more feminine touch than The Row (the Olsen's other fashion label). My large change purse might not seem practical for the woods, but I used it as a basket to gather some pine cones for a fire.

Owl City

Anna Sui top. 3.1 Phillip Lim lace skirt. Vintage costume vase & owl necklaces. ‘Love’ (a souvenir from my trip to St. Thomas) & vintage woven bracelets. Vintage costume feather & diamond rings. Brown knit tights. Chanel ballerinas.
I love lace ergo I love Phillip Lim's resort 2009 collection... There are several lacy pieces I'm dreaming of in a refreshing palette of white & black/gold: a 3/4 sleeve minidress & skirt; a cropped short sleeve top; & a vest. So far I secured the handkerchief hem skirt I'm wearing here - this lace isn't for shrinking violets: the traditional delicate weave is magnified to aggressive doily proportions. I tucked a batik patchwork blouse into the skirt's unexpected black cummerbund & decorated my neck with an enamel owl necklace (I share Jane from Sea of Shoes' fetish for animal jewelry).

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Brunello Cucinelli fair isle sweater. Anna Sui dress. Calvin Klein belt. Vintage costume pendant necklace worn as headband. Vintage costume feather & diamond rings. Black ribbed tights. Chanel ruffled ballerinas.
"Someday we'll find it / The Rainbow Connection / The lovers, the dreamers & me" - Kermit Frog, The Rainbow Connection
I've never seen a rainbow in real life before (except for the hazy reflection in a summer sprinkler), but one stretches across this frock's midnight blue background: it's studded with sequined stars & fields of flowers growing in A Wrinkle in Time phantasmagorical land. The belt's buckle is an amalgam of the Tiffany bean & a spaceship; if it could fly me to the moon, I'd look down to see a strand of pearls in my hair & a pair of ballerinas on my feet - Hermes (the Greek messenger god) may have had wings on his shoes, but mine have ruffles & the Chanel insignia.

Chanel Change

Ralph Lauren sweater. 3.1 Phillip Lim dress. Vintage gold belt. Vintage costume pendant necklace worn as headband. Vintage costume Art Deco necklace. Satellite bracelet. Moss agate (a souvenir from my trip to St. Thomas) & vintage stone rings. Brown tights. Chanel ‘Maxi’ bag. Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse shoes.
Only Phillip Lim could cut a pink brocade dress with such panache - its elegant shift shape & foppish bow is a far cry from Palm Beach window dressing. Winter sweaters are reborn when I wear pullovers under my frocks instead of the more traditional cardigans over them; this not only showcases my dresses better (the best part of an outfit) but also imparts a slight edge to a girlie look. Accessories roll call: a skinny belt + a pair of ponyhair mouse shoes = Mod Squad goes to Disney World. Finally I packed all of my secrets inside my tawny Chanel purse (it's a rare constant in the world of fashion) & headed out the frontdoor.

Fine Feathered Friend

Ralph Lauren sweater. 3.1 Phillip Lim feather skirt. Pearl (a 13th birthday present) & vintage costume pendant necklaces. Costume jeweled garland & shadow facet bracelets. Black tights. Loeffler Randall ‘Matilde’ boots.
Phillip Lim calls this his bumblebee skirt (model Giedre Dukavskaite walked it down the runway for look #48 of his fall 2009 RTW fashion show), but I feel more like a baby bird. The skirt's cummerbund waistband sprouts stripes of champagne & black marabou feathers like a mobile nest; it literally stands out against a sea of black (a cashmere v-neck & a pair of knee-high boots) & some glass jewelry.
I wore this outfit last week when Jason of Citizen Couture & I explored the Met Museum - check out our collaboration. I've long admired his street style photography & was delighted to find him to be as charming/serene as his art. Jason's carefully constructed pictures transcend ubiquitous street style images: they're modern portraits comparable to works by Romantic painters Thomas Gainsborough & Sir Joshua Reynolds. Thanks for a lovely experience Jason!

Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Bear

Vintage What Comes Around Goes Around (The Hurtigs of Vaughan St) trench. Agatha jeweled earrings. Vintage costume filigree & beribboned pearl bracelets. Hue cable-knit tights. Vintage needlepoint bag. Vintage Jcracker’s cowboy boots.
Fur + leather on 1 garment = the best way to be warm during winter. Usually I go straight to the source for vintage, but I cut to the chase with this double-breasted coat by The Hurtigs of Vaughan St: it was resurrected by the brand What Comes Around Goes Around & bought by me at Bergdorf Goodman. I was pleased to discover my fellow Bergdorf Blondes desire upscale vintage as much as I do. I was looking for a tie leather belt for awhile; little did I know I would find one wrapped like a ribbon around my furry dreamcoat.
Most of us have a colorful dating history - the authors of Lifebytes... Real Stories Blog write about & encourage their readers to share their experiences (chicken soup for the dating soul). They just posted some thoughts on date-dressing & cited my blog as a source of inspiration for when women want to look their best. I'm so flattered - thanks ladies!

Anchors Away

D&G dress. Costume pearl, orange enamel (a souvenir from my mom’s trip to Martha’s Vineyard) & blue beaded bracelets. Red ribbed tights. Loeffler Randall buckle boots.
This silk shirtdress is printed with a nautical motif of anchors, life preserver rings & ship steering wheels; a pussycat bow peeps from a Peter Pan collar while a pleated skirt swirls demurely with my every step. I winterized the spring frock with some suede buckle boots: they have a low wedge heel & reach to mid-calf, exposing a pair of red tights. I'm costumed for a leisurely Sunday - brunch & a quick stroll down the Ave before the wind blew me into a dept store. True to the lipstick effect, all I bought was a new red one... The perfect rouge paints the lady-who-lunches, Lolita & everyone in between.

Velvet Goldmine

Vintage Gloria Sachs jacket. Anna Sui dress. Nicole & Co bow headband. Vintage painted pocket watch & owl necklaces. Costume shadow facet & diamond bracelets. Turquoise ring (a souvenir from my trip to St. Thomas). Hue lurex tights. Chanel oxfords.
Velvet is the quintessential winter fabric: it's old-fashioned (like an English gentleman's smoking jacket), party-appropriate & warmly tactile. Velvet reminds me of Santa Claus' red suit, Scarlett O'Hara's green dress (craftily sewn from some curtains) & one of my childhood holiday dresses (cranberry with a lace collar, embroidered fruit across the bodice & a taffeta waist sash). I was lucky to find this vintage single-breasted jacket in excellent condition; none of the velvet is worn in patches as this material is wont to do. I layered it over a ruffled paisley dress: a woven necklace is attached to its collar, but I added two more chains for a richer look. I try to sparkle a little bit everyday - here a pair of dark gold tights emphasizes the glitter scattered across my dress.

Little Darlings

Sonia by Sonia Rykiel darling top. D&G skirt. Vintage flower headband. Pearl necklace (a 13th birthday present). Costume jeweled garland & shadow facet bracelets. Hot Sox lace tights. Miu Miu embellished ballerinas.
"Oh my darlin / knock three times on the ceiling if you want me" - Orlando, Tony & Daw, Knock Three Times
Little Darlings refers to the great late-70's movie (starring a young Tatum O'Neal, Matt Dillon & Cynthia Nixon) about a group of girls at a summer camp. It inspired me to attend three sleepaway camps in as many years but to no avail - apparently I prefer a more luxurious country experience.
Who says flowers can't thrive in the snow? My velvet floral headband sailed through some flurries with its head held high. This short-sleeved sweater (featured in a recent Teen Vogue fashion story) is unabashedly darling; I wore it with a lace skirt & a pair of tights that matches the top's purple faux Peter Pan collar. A good-girl pearl choker + a duo of paste bracelets = holiday party throwdown.

Grayhound

Vintage W.H. Harris fur coat. Vintage Dior belt. Vintage Bloomingdales hat. Chanel snowflake earrings. Vintage pearl necklace worn as bracelet. Chloé ‘Paraty Capsule’ bag. Loeffler Randall ‘Matilde’ boots.
"It's very difficult to keep the line between the past & the present. You know what I mean? It's awfully difficult" - Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale, Grey Gardens

Little Edie's penchant for pottering around her East Hampton estate in oversized furs inspired me to try on a coat emblematic of the '80s: its beaver pelts shield me almost to my ankles while the fox fur sleeves peak at the shoulders. The overcoat's silk lining is embroidered with the initials of its original owner: O.M.R. (my best conjecture is Ophelia Madeline Reitkopf); I discovered it at a CT estate sale in a closet (perhaps she wore it to Narnia). I cinched the fur closed with a suede belt that serendipitously matches a vintage velvet hat that used to belong to my mom.

Finally, check out weardrobe's recent feature of my Dec 27 outfit below - the great part about this site is users' capability to purchase items of apparel similar to what's posted.