style file: a woman is her shoes - and they make her outfit...

when i look at my wall of shoes, it's pretty obvious that i have a thing for black shoes.  i have a lot of pairs of black shoes... flats, heels, boots, booties, sandals, mary-jane pumps, t-strap pumps, TOMS...i mean, the list goes on.  one may ask...what do you do with all those black shoes?  isn't a black heel pretty much..a black heel?  

to that, i say...erroneous.  let me demonstrate....

same Giambattista Valli x Macy's dress - 3 different shoe/leg situations - 3 totally different looks.

Wolford stockings, Christian Louboutin pumps.  the tights add a hint of modesty to a short hemline.  the stockings make you focus on the dress.

same Christian Louboutin pumps, bare legs - SUCH a different look, right?  the short hemline with bare legs and pumps is suddenly ultra sexy & allll about the legs.  you're kind of like ...i'm registering there is a dress there... but it's LEGS.

same dress, same bare legs...but now with peep-toe booties by N.Y.L.A.  this was ultimately the final look that i went out in.  this still draws attention to the legs, but the booties add a little 'downtown edge,' and break up the insane line of the leg that pumps gave.  still sexy, but just a touch more interesting.

see what i'm saying?  same dress, three totally different looks...all because of shoe choice!!

so the next time your mom/boyfriend/husband says "do you REALLY need another pair of black heels?" - remember... yes.  you do. the art of getting dressed is in the details, gals.  and shoes are the most important detail there is!

xx

style file - this week's highlights, what i wore

eek it was birthday week!  i'm officially 25 years old now - and i think it looks good on me!  i had the most wonderful week, truly.  friends and family alike were showering me with love - my work family even made time during our busy morning on my birthday to sit down and have a birthday breakfast with me.  an estranged friend extended an olive branch via INSANELY gorgeous flowers, and i was lucky enough to have a birthday dinner at Barbuto - it was amazing!  i was overwhelmed with all the kindness!

favorite Alex Wang striped sweater.  pants, the gap.  

favorite color combo: navy and black!  top, jcrew.  pants, Zara.

new Celine sunnies!!!  happy birthday me!

trying a new twist on a pencil skirt.  skirt, Express.  top, jcrew. the messy ponytail keeps it from being too formal.

Birthday!!!!  dress, Giambattista Valli for Macys.  tights, Wolford.  pumps, Christian Louboutin.  and a new haircut!  a totally fresh look for the day!

beautiful flowers from aforementioned friend - so gorgeous!

so how great is that Giambattista dress?  yeah, i know.  i wore it again for another dinner later in the weekend, and i'm going to talk about it later because ...the shoes make the woman.  you'll understand in my next post.

also - let's take a minute and obsess over Celine sunglasses...yes!

what i listened to this week....

• birthday song - the shapes
• remain nameless - florence + the machine
• money in the bank - swizz beatz
• heartbeat - childish gambino
• november - lindsey rae spurlock
• the rain - calvin harris

wow ...thanksgiving!  can't even believe it!  the holidays have arrived - my favorite time of year in the city.  lots on the to-do list (first up, Gaga's Workshop at Barneys!).

xx

hot shot of the day

obsessed!


source: planet blue holiday ad campaign.  

2011 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

confession: when i was 15, i taped the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.  on VHS.  and i watched it over and over and over again.  i was completely transfixed with how glamorous the Angels were.  i'm not ashamed of this. i'm proud of this - i kind of view it as one of the defining moments of my young life.  that VHS tape, which is probably long worn out now, made me hyper aware of what it meant to be a "glamazon."  how to walk a runway, how to be sexy.  i used to practice my runway walk down my hallway, using that VHS tape as my guide.

so believe me when i say that when i'm so insanely lucky enough to score a seat at the real deal... it's a surreal dream come true.

(my iPhone view of Doutzen in her huge black wings...so major)

incase you didn't hate yourself enough, Adriana Lima walks out her in superhero lingerie get-up....

and Kanye likes it too.... (my iPhone view!)

Behati Prinsloo is the cutest chick out there!

Karlie Kloss makes her Angel debut!!!!!

Karlie Kloss earns her wings....

(my view of Kloss' enormous pink wings...such a moment!)

Karlie Kloss closes the show in a disco ball skirt & neon wings...

(my iPhone view of Kloss' disco ball and neon wings)

(my view of the finale, Nicki Minaj is in there somehwere)

sooo the dirt.

• yes, these women are perfect.  not like the models i see during fashion week who are so thin it's sad.  the angels are actually perfect.  
• Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj, and Kanye West (w surprise guest Jay-Z) performed.  Jigga was the only highlight of that.
• so much glitter, you guys.  so. much. glitter.
• this is the most fun fashion show ever.  it's not really fashion, because no one would wear this stuff, but it's fun.  the girls smile, have fun, and interact with the crowd.  They have a good time, and it's infectious!
• a few runway themes this year: ballet, underwater, superhero, and of course...VS PINK.
• Adriana Lima's body humbles me and reminds me that brownies, even gluten free ones, are NOT OKAY.
• the Angels are some of the most impressive girls out there.  they dance, jump, and strut down a runway wearing six inch heels with wings strapped to them, some of which weight up to 40 pounds are were up to 9 feet tall.  those wings are no joke.
• Karlie Kloss is the new Gisele.  yeah, i said it.

all right - that's enough torture for one morning.  if you're like me, i know where you're headed now.  to the gym.  and also to the iPad to look up the basics of the raw food diet.  right?  yeah, i know.


(photos via fashionologie & my iPhone)

style file - this week's highlights, what i wore

this was a big week - not only was a lucky enough to attend the 2011 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - my early birthday present from Gentleman X arrived.... but more to come on that!  on to the outfits....

striped tank, Alex Wang. pink cardigan with tie, jcrew. jeans, jbrand. leopard flats, Banana Republic, circa 2007.

shirt dress, jcrew. maroon long sleeve cotton tee, Madwell. stockings, Wolford. leopard booties, a random pop-up shop from Fashion's Night Out, 2010.

on my way to the VS Fashion Show!!   dress, H&M.  shoes, Miu Miu.  lipstick, Cherry Lush by Tom Ford Beaute.

 and now....the early birthday gift from the very generous Gentleman X...... a Proenza Schouler PS1!!!

beautiful black leather, black hardware....

and it's perfection.  i'm openly obsessed with it!

work from home Friday, and headed out for coffee in my favorite Free City t-shirt (grey tank underneath, Nike. leggings, Lululemon).  Free City makes the best lounge clothes known to man.  expensive, yes ($150 for a tshirt), but well worth it.  their tshirts and sweatpants are the kind that feel like you've had them for 5 years from day 1!

like i said - a week full of excitement.  i'm about to recap the Victoria's Secret show in a separate post...so i'll tell you all about that later.  but the highlight of my week was definitely getting my very first PS1 bag!  my birthday isn't until this upcoming Thursday but that's quite all right - my bag will continue to make me giddy for many many months to come.  Gentleman X had it delivered to my office (he knows how much i LOVE to get packages!) and as i was opening it, one of my close co-workers said to me... "I have literally never seen you this happy."  indeed.

so this upcoming week should be exciting!  it's my birthday week so i will, no doubt, be breaking out my best outfits to date.  i love birthdays!

what's invading my iPod this week....

• Make Me Proud - Drake ft. Nicki Minaj
• Monster - Kanye West ft. Jay-Z &  Nicki Minaj
• Hello - Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette
• Shake a Fist - Hot Chip
• Fashion - David Bowie
• Bedroom Hymns - Florence + the Machine

enjoy what's left of your weekend!  xx

make me proud - dress out loud!

Steven Meisel - the man, the genius - shot Raquel Zimmerman taking the A train and making a statement for Vogue Italia.  every fashionista who takes public transportation can relate to this sartorial take on riding the subway....surrounded by everyone wearing black coats and drab suits...and you're wearing a leopard fur coat and red lipstick and 5 inch heels and leather pants.  everyone is staring at you, and you're just like....yeah.

so - how to stand out in a crowd?  maybe you're not ready to take the plunge and spend $8600 on a fox fur coat or $1500 on a custom studded leather jacket?  yeah, me neither.  but that doesn't mean you can't make heads turn!  a few suggestions..if i may....

from top left...
1. Faux Fur Panel Coat, $225, topshop.com
2. Rachel Zoe Leather & Faux Fur jacket, $425, piperlime.com
3.Alice + Olivia Barret sequin top, $395, net-a-porter.com
4. DAY Birger et Mikkelson leather pencil skirt, $350, net-a-porter.com
5. R13 skinny patched jeans, $285, barneys (i'm obsessed, OBSESSED with R13 denim...)
6. Michael Michael Kors sequin pants, $355, michaelkors.com
7. Stereo Suede studded boots, $185, topshop.com
8. Steve Madden Whisttle wedge, $90, stevemadden.com
9. Tom Ford lipstick in Cherry Lush, $48, bergdorfgoodman.com
10. Tom Ford nail lacquer in Bitter Bitch, $30, bergdorfgoodman.com
11. DVF Cat-Eye Sunnies, $150, nordstrom.com
12. leopard print ankle sock, $7, target
13. tights (various colors), $12, topshop.com
14. Alice + Olivia Mei tulle/sequin cocktail dress, $675, neimanmarcus.com
15. Fenton gold antler cuff, $475, barneys.com (this is MAJOR).
16. Pamela Love tribal cuff in black, $250, barneys.com
17. Dannijo gold-plated bib necklace, $400 (but on sale at theoutnet.com !!)
18. Dannijo Lucas ring, $166
19. Flower Feather and Horse Hair cocktail hat, patriciafield.com
19. Steven Alan leopard print silk top, $225, net-a-porter.com
20. Sass & Bide 'Times Like This' sequined jacket, $705 net-a-porter.com
21.Rag & Bone striped tee, $95, stylebop.com

(pictures via fashiongonerogue)

style file - this week's highlights, what i wore

Happy November!!  Halloween flew by us this week faster than those Northern Lights did (those of us in New York City can't even see the stars (our city twinkles in a different kind of way!)...so we're all totally jeal of everyone who got to see the Northern Lights a few weeks ago!) and now we're five days into November and the holiday season is upon us.... yeah.. how did this happen?

however, i'm not holiday-minded yet.  my birthday comes first - so i'm a little more preoccupied with that (duh!)

like i said...the week started off with Halloween, and i loved my Black Swan look so much, i went for it and dressed up for work!

dress(the top half of the look), Marchesa.  tulle skirt, randon halloween shop.  tights, Capezio.  black ankle-tie flats, Steve Madden.

crown, given to me during college.  lipstick & nailpolish, Chanel.  eye makeup, MAC fluidline in Blacktrack

(just so we're all on the same page, this fulfilled my fantasy of wearing a Marchesa dress to work.  i did it!  and yeah, i literally sat in meetings all day in this look.  i think a few people were a little distracted...)

chambray tunic & printed art deco skirt, jcrew.  tights, Wolford.  boots, frye.

black trousers, The Row. striped oxford tied up, jcrew. i love the retro sexiness of a tied-up oxford.  it's so much more interesting than just wearing it plain.

whoa, out to dinner at Ma Peche to celebrate Gentleman X's birthday!  dress, American Apparel. shoes, Christian Louboutin.  red lipstick, Chantecaille. 

running errands on a very very chilly Saturday in SoHo...i really should have brought my mittens!  ponte pixie pants, jcrew.  silk tank top, Club Monaco. long sleeve cotton shirt, Madewell. leather bomber jacket, Banana Republic. fur infinity scarf, Juicy Couture (unashamed!). flats, Tory Burch.  sunnies, The Row.

Dominating my iPod this week...

• the new Florence + the Machine album, Ceremonials. (i'm obviously OBSESSED.)
• Bloodsport - Sneaker Pimps
• Popular - Nada Surf (this song is in my all time top 5, no contest)
• Fashion - David Bowie
• Attaboy - Stuart Duncan, Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer, Yo-Yo Ma (thanks for sending this to me, Aaron!)
• Lost Cause - Beck

what's up to ponder this week...  will i remember my mittens?  will the weather stay this chilly?  will i only remember my mittens on the days i don't need them?  and what shall i wear to dinner tonight at Indochine?  

always BIG decisions... 

xx