leather and jeans...

Garage glamorous embodied by Dree Hemingway...

uniform...

I attended a Catholic school with a crazy strict dress code for 9 years. Sadly, it was pre-Gossip Girl uniform dressing. I really, really hated the fuss of trying to look like everyone else and would routinely get in trouble for wearing ice blue nail polish (it was the 90s OK?!!) or earrings that were too dangle-y. I always found there was a lot more effort in wearing my uniform (making sure it was clean, ironed, etc).


There is another uniform that I do believe in-- that failproof formula of getting dressed that looks put together and effortless. The perfect example of uniform dressing is Emmanuelle Alt. She always nails it in her uniform of amazing jackets from Balmain to Rick Owens, skinny pants, and tough chick booties. The texture of a super soft drapey jacket with fur trim balanced by the skinniest of skinny jeans and the sharp angles of her boots are EPIC.

let's do the math...

oversized striped sweater-pants+6 inch platforms=perfection

dessert or disaster...

Every fall, I become obsessed with finding the perfect ankle boot. Being 5'2, it's hard to find an ankle boot that doesn't bring me into stumpy territory. This season's platform booties are just dee-lish and give the perfect amount of added height to make up the difference. Just watch out for cracks in the sidewalk...

Platform Booties:
1. Gucci
2. Dior
3. YSL
4. Christian Louboutin
5. Miu Miu

Images via Barneys, Neiman Marcus

quintessential fall 2009

Yes, it is mid-July.

Hello. That means it's time to start thinking fall/winter! Chloe Sevigny recently did an amazing spread in Elle magazine. This photo embodies my quintessential fall look: leather, tight tweed pencil skirt, blazer, sheer tights, sexed up booties.

Not so mellow...

Worst blogger ever. Yadda yadda. No excuses. Just laziness and work overload.

I unabashedly love color. Yellow being my most favoritest. When I saw this yellow side zip skirt at H&M, my eyeballs almost fell out of my head. After smooshing my eyes back into their sockets I bought it. Usually I will do a blinding mix of yellow with more color but I am trying to be more subdued (if you can be subdued while wearing a bright yellow skirt). I'm wearing it with my new Aldo wedges (lace up sandals: CHECK!) and the gray leather jacket (CHECK!) that I bought at Zara when I was in Toronto.

sheer ambition...

leather jacket: h&m
sheer t-shirt: american apparel
silk tank: forever 21
pants: h&m
shoes (not shown): aldo

Yes. That is correct. Those are pants I'm wearing, boys and girls.

It is Chicago. It is June. It is 40 degrees. Therefore, I wear pants.

Wore this out to eat sushi. YUM. During dinner, we got to talking about vices and such and such. My number one vice has gotta be shoes. When I got home from work today, there was a package waiting for me and I just about squealed. My new lace up sandals from Aldo (which I will try and get some shots of tomorrow)!!!!

Obvs, the shoe ban is wayyyy over (especially since I bought those flat studded sandals... oops) but I will be restraining myself until I go to Toronto in two weeks. Oh vacation why are thou so far away?!?!

Purple Reign

Dress: Target
Belt: Forever21
Shoes: Aldo

My favorite color combo has to be yellow+gray. I saw this purple shift dress and knew it would be perfect to pair with my favorite colors. I wore a variation of this with a gray cropped wool jacket and my nude Pour la Victoire heels for Adam's graduation last week. I am wearing it sans jacket and with my gray Aldo platform heels that I bought because of those vertiginous (Spellchecked--I hope that's the word) YSL platform pumps. I haven't worn them outside yet because one step in a crack and I would snap my ankle. I do like how tall they make me...

Spring has sprung!! And now the downpour...

I'm all for spring florals. But geez, do you know how hard it is to find the perfect bustier floral print dress??!!? Is that too much to ask for??

Anyways.

Since I am on a self-imposed shoe buying ban (*hyperventilates into a paper bag*), I have been sprucing up my wardrobe. Obviously, I'm a girly girl. You can't not wear pants year round and not be girly. But... I bought this sheer, ruffly, butterfly print top from Target the other day. I paired it with a side ruffle/architectural pencil skirt. And I kinda love it. Maybe I'm watching too much Gossip Girl.


Shirt: Target
Skirt: Target
Shoes: Nine West

Coming soon...

Studded blazer.
Bondage dress.

modeled by my sister.

color story: coral

1. Stella McCartney
2.Kenneth Jay Lane
3. BCBG.
4.Victoria's Secret
5. Maharishi


My trendwhoring is not limited to cuts and styles, but colors as well. I love coral cause its that perfect mix of pinky-red-orange. I don't do flat out orange. It looks good on about 1.2% of the population. Coral on the other hand... I like coral cause it'll go nicely with my pale-ish tan during spring. Coral will also go well when I forget to wear sunscreen to a noon baseball game and end up looking like burnt toast with really horrible tan lines. Not that it's ever happened *whistles*

For the bolder gals, I recommend a coral blazer. The shade of the Stella McCartney blazer looks so amazing with gray. The looser boyfriend cut (especially paired with something skintight and/or mini...) keeps it from looking to matronly. For us gals on a budget, I'd go for a coral accessory. Its all about proportion when it comes to loud colored accessories. And for the less bold, a lighter almost more salmon color works well too. I love that blouse from VS (can you believe it's VS??)




Kicking it off with my OPI nail polish in Most Honorable Red. Dipping my toes before I jump in...

Trailblazing...

Blazer: Vintage Ralph Lauren (ahh can't bear to part with it...)
Dress: H&M
Belt: Forever21
Shoes: Colin Stuart via my sister


I don't have enough shoes so I borrowed these from my sister. They were actually comfortable. When she says shoes are comfortable, you can wear them for a couple hours. When I say a shoe is comfortable it means your feet aren't bleeding (yet) and you're still standing after an hour.

Wore this to go see Wolverine...

Hugh Jackman with his clothes off > Bad plotline > Spending $10 for a movie

lust list: spring outerwear edition

Since I am on a shoe ban, I figured I'd look into other areas of my closet that need a little TLC. Chicago weather is schizo--warm-and-sunny-to-windy-and-snowing-in-the-same-day schizo. Therefore, I am always in search of the perfect little coat. This spring, I'll be looking for two styles.

1. A classic trench style coat in forest/army green nylon with big tough hardware and lots of straps. I'm avoiding khaki cause I don't want it to be too stuffy.

2. A band jacket, preferably in red with lots of gold piping. Think more Phillip Lim and less Balmain (I don't think I'm cool enough). I love bright colored outwear because everyone does the same boring black and it makes me easy to spot when I get lost (hiiii Adam!!).

Am I black with white stripes or white with black stripes?!

You can always count on cartoons to dispense some great quotes...

Anyways... Earlier this week, a shoemergency (which roughly means: I will die if I do not get these shoes) was declared and I bought the Bebe shoes.

I am officially on a shoe buying ban until August. I lack self-control so I must write it down so that it's enforceable by others!!


dress: H&M
belt: H&M
shoes: Pour la Victoire

These shoes are the most universally flattering nude color I've seen. They were forced upon me against my will by my friend Jesse (damn him...). Clearly, he strong armed me cause I have sooo much willpower otherwise!! What?! I have shoemergencies often.
Love these shoes. They are comfy, just don't forget the sunscreen on your feet!

Exhibitionist....

Continuing with the mesh theme...
The first time I saw Mary Kate Olsen wearing these Stella McCartney sandals, I died a little inside.



They are beautiful. Breathtaking. Heartbreaking.

Since I do not have a MKO sized budget... I have been doing some shoe stalking.





1. Report
2. Aldo
3. Nine West

And possibly the holy grail! Guess whose going to Bebe?



I must be becoming an exhibitionist.

Or at the very least a shoe fetishist (is that a word?)

and we're all getting hosed tonight...

1. American Apparel
2. Rory Beca

I love the whole mesh/see-thru look but I don't know if I have the chutzpa to pull it off with just a bra underneath. Actually on second thought... I do know. I would probably wear it with a tank underneath or wear it under a strapless dress. Or layer upon sheer layer like this 3 layer sheer H Eich top:



Gorgeous.

it has arrived...

pantsareforboys.com

Riding Jacket...

Ever since those Balenciaga Fall 2007 blazers, I have been on a quest to find the perfect blazer that is a mix of riding jacket+school boy charm+amazing fit. While shopping for my store, I found this absolutely gorgeous vintage Ralph Lauren blazer that would fit so so so perfectly into my wardrobe. Seriously. I don't know if I can let it go!! Its a gray tweed-y material with the most amazing silver buttons with a horse head emblem on it. It looks absolutely amazing paired with something dressy and even a casual tank and skirt combo. *Dies a little inside* If you are interested, please contact me at shoppantsareforboys@gmail.com. Otherwise this baby might have to stay right here....




Again modeled by my sister-in-law.

pantsareforboys.com

Dress: pr4b
Belt: unknown
Shoes: Miss Sixty
(Obviously this is not me... Modeled by my sister-in-law)

pantareforboys.com coming soon...

I'm working on a really exciting project that will be up soon at pantsareforboys.com. I graduated with a degree in fashion design last May. I had planned on moving to New York to pursue my career but as we all know the economy was imploding. Long story short, I stayed in Chicago, got a full-time job, got laid off, spent long months trying to find a suitable replacement job, etc.

pantsareforboys.com concept:

Recycling vintage men's clothing into wearable pieces for women. I want to take the idea of wearing a shapeless, oversized men's shirt with tights/leggings and putting a feminine touch to it. Any suggestions, comments, ideas will be greatly appreciated! More pictures to come...

All Tied Up...

1. Givenchy
2. Aldo
3. Aldo
4. Asos
5. Topshop

As every gal knows, a shoe collection can never be complete. And I LOVE shoes. I used to sell shoes at two different retailers. I would literally look at shoes all day and still come home and look at shoes online. As I sit here wearing my new nude Calvin Kleins, I can't help but feel my shoe collection is not complete. It is always the shoe I want the MOST for the season that is hardest for me to find. I am probably a shoe salesperson's nightmare because I will start off with an image in my head (the Givenchy Resort 09 lace up sandals in hot pink) and a price point (not Givenchy Resort 09). I've tried on the lace up offerings at Aldo (though not #2). The black suede wedge ones that are on all the blogs are super light but make my legs look stumpalicious. #3 is SUPER HOT on the foot but the inset platform make them extremely hard to walk in. Plus I already have 2 pairs of nude sandals for summer... The last two options are probably my faves because they bring me back to those Givenchy lace ups. I love the bright colors and let's face it, we all have enough black shoes.

Coco Rocha

Credit: teenvogue.com

Spring/summer is absolutely my favorite season for dressing. I am pantless year round and I stick out less during the summer cause people do not like skirts in 30 below weather... They're called leggings people.

I DIGRESS.

As my fellow Midwesterners know... Spring here lasts approximately 3.56 seconds. Sure it might be 70 degrees today, but next week it will probably snow. This winter has been especially brutal in Chicago and has me absolutely DYING for some good weather. I have these new (open-toe) shoes I wanna wear. And all my beautiful suede!! I lurve suede. Anyway. I got to let my toes out for a little bit today but alas rain in the forecast tomorrow... Which is why I love this look Coco Rocha is rocking. It's the perfect combo for the schizo weather.

Look of the Moment: Coco Rocha (I love Coco Rocha as a redhead!)

I love everything about this picture. The slouchy olive-y, taupe-y jacket with some awesome hardware, a black mini dress with zipper detailing, the open toe Givenchy booties with tights, her purple accessories against her red hair, her smile!!! It makes me want to go to France and frolic in a pair of 4 inch heels! Why isn't the sky that blue here? Oh right pollution.

Stud Magnet

UGH!!

I know. They're everywhere. But the resurfacing of all the Balmain pieces on fashion editors and celebrities has made me break out the studs again. I am surprisingly good at doing monotonous activities with my hands (studding, knitting, drawing, etc). I have been working crazily on my store (the soon to be pantsareforboys.com) and will hopefully post some pictures and items this week... Here is a sneak preview of some of the studded pieces I've been working on.

Pants are for boys.

I love fashion. I love looking at fashion, reading about fashion, thinking about fashion, etc. I love it. I can entertain myself for hours with fashion. I love shoes, I love bags, I love dresses, I love skirts, I love belts. I hate pants.

Fun fact: pants or trousers (as we know and loathe them today) came into vogue because working class men wore them during the French Revolution era.

Thank you, moderately priced fashion design education.

Pants are enemy numero uno in my book. I have tried probably every style that has come into style and they just don't work on me.

Low rise skinnies? Booty crack.
Drop crotch? Poopie diaper.
Dress pants? VPL (and who can wear dress pants everyday??).
Sweatpants? Don't get me started...

Inseams are too long, rises are too low, and finding the perfect pair of pants is like... is like a lot of work.

So my solution?

I gave up to the institution as a whole. Pants are for boys.

P.S. In the eternally wise words of one Blair Waldorf: Leggings are not pants.