WEEKEND

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In a perfect world, this would be my uniform for the long weekend. But seeing as it's too muggy for mohair (the thought alone makes me sweat), I think I'll go to the beach instead. Hello, Rockaway Taco.

BASICS

Recently, a reader asked me to share some of my wardrobe staples for both summer and winter. I definitely have an awful lot of riff-raff hanging out in my closet, but there are a few basic things that I rely on and that are pretty integral to my wardrobe. That said, it should be noted that I'm still on the hunt, as I have been for ages now, for a few of these things. The perfect (or even acceptable) camel coat still eludes me, as do a quality pair of black leather flats. And those Acne boots will continue to haunt me for many moons to come, I guarantee it...


Summer: striped top // sisal tote (similar) // silk button-up // simple leather sandals (similar) // jean shorts // watch (similar) // sunglasses
As much as I love a little floral sundress, when it comes to warm weather dressing I invariably fall back on my shorts. Quite simply, they're the best thing for adventuring: for crouching on rooftops or lolling around at backyard BBQs, for running and jumping and climbing. Stripes and cream silk tops, sloppily tucked, and flat sandals that I can walk long and hard in are also in heavy rotation.


Winter: grey sweater // scarf // camel coat // black flats // trousers (similar) // boots
It's not exactly a secret how I feel about Winter. I hate it. Winter is great for about two weeks around Christmas, and otherwise it can go screw itself. I also have a hard time finding winter clothes that I like, seeing as a) they're always too expensive and b) I'm one of about twenty five people who is not REMOTELY excited by the idea of layering, heh. But all pissing and moaning aside, I like to try and keep things relatively simple when the weather allows. Since I have a real aversion to tights, I spend most of winter in trousers and jeans with boots or flats, and a colored scarf breaks up the sea of black and grey that the city becomes in the cold months.


Beauty: lotion // cleanser // mascara // ointment // bright pink polish
I thought I'd throw in a bit about beauty as well just for fun. I don't wear a lot of make-up, but mascara (and blush, though I'm not particular) are absolute necessities. I've used Full 'n Soft since high school and I can attest that it lives up to its name. Aquaphor Healing Ointment is a lifesaver for chapped hands and lips (uuuurrrgh winter!!!) and Cetaphil is gentle but thorough year-round. I'm a bit crazy for bright pink accents at the moment, and I've been wearing Revlon in Sweet Tart on my toes for weeks (though NARS would do nicely too.) Finally, the scent of this lotion always takes me back to a time when I lived in a place where lemons grew on trees. It's sunshine through leaves and grass between your toes--and it makes my skin soft too.

EASY AS ONE TWO THREE

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Today was achingly cold, the kind of day that, when coming in March, tends to quash all hopes of it ever being spring, of the breezes ever being balmy instead of biting, of your bare flesh ever seeing the light of day again. The kind of day that makes it hard to imagine, let alone believe, that some day I might live, day in and day out, in little more than what you see pictured above.

True story: sometimes when it is really frigid out (meaning that our radiators have finally kicked in and are steaming away merrily) I put on my cutoffs and wear them around the house, to do dishes or make dinner or just veg in front of the computer. I also have a painful crush on these sandals, though my Saltwaters will do just as well I suppose. And finally, I already have my sights on some new summer staple t-shirts which aren't so much cropped as just the perfect length on me (black, white, sorbet please.) Maybe if I close my eyes and wish reeeal hard...it'll be June when I wake up in the morning?

TWENTY ELEVEN

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Just another imaginary outfit, this time for New Years. Christmas has left me feeling so completely burnt out that all this week I've been constantly forgetting we've yet another damn holiday left to celebrate. I don't have a gorgeous Giambattista Valli number to step out in, but I did find a really pretty vintage dress in a sort of salmon pink that I'm awfully excited to wear. It was heavily discounted because of a few moth holes and a missing button, but predictably these conditions only make me love it that much more. I promise to convince someone with a decent camera to snap a photo before the Champagne kicks in.

SUCH SHOES AS DREAMS ARE MADE OF

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Forget Miu Miu heels, Giuseppe Zanotti wedges, even Isabel Marant's brilliant boots: If I could choose just one pair of fancy, schmancy, embarrassingly expensive shoes to own, it would be a pair of two-tone, beige and black, cap toed Chanel flats. They are, quite simply, the dreamiest of dream shoes. Today, a wet and grey but surprisingly temperate day, this is what I'd choose to wear with them. Dream baby, dream.

GIVE IT, GIRL

I just put up a little guest post over on Sally Jane Vintage chock full of holiday gifting (and getting!) inspiration. I think I've finally recovered from the insanity that was last week, and I'm ready to get back into the swing of things! Plus I've got some exciting news that I can't wait to share with you dudes...wahoo!

P.S. Thanks for all the kind comments on my last post! Isn't that jacket totally rad? It's actually vintage Ralph Lauren, and sadly it belongs to a friend (a friend who is lucky I didn't abscond over the border into the wilds of Canada with that beauty, never to be heard from again...)

minkette & me, v.3

My third guest post went up over on Minkette today. This time, I decided to put together a few Autumnal inspiration outfits--each of which includes a gorgeous Rebecca Minkoff bag.

I really am glad that things are cooling down a bit (well actually, it's supposed to be in the 80's for the next few days...but we're reaching the end, I can feel it!) It's nice to be able to wear pants and long sleeves and not wanna punch something. Bye-bye heat rage!

teddy girls in hot weather

Pheeew. I'm starting to feel like all I do these days is sweat and scoop cat poo (pet sitting is not a particularly glam occupation...) Thankfully, starting the 20th I'll be escaping for four weeks to my island homeland in Washington!! It's high time for a seaside retreat, and these gorgeous photos by Liz Ham for Oyster Magazine have got me dreaming about worn-in denim, stripes, flats, and maybe a bit of red lip (though I'll just end up having to reapply after that ginormous ice cream cone I've got my mind's eye on...) So of course, I made a polyvore set to go with!

Ok, so: all I need to do now is find someone willing to pay me for dicking around on polyvore all day, and I'll be set for life!

(photo by Liz Ham for Oyster Magazine #85 found here)

get dressed fest

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As anyone who follows Anywho, Spotding, or just generally has eyes, ears and a brain can tell: it's festival season in Europe! And, while I must admit I've never really been to a proper festival myself (though I do recall petitioning numerous relatives to take me to Lilith Fair in Vancouver when I was thirteen), I like to imagine myself swanning about (in the VIP section, like a true wanker, but of course) in something like this. Easy, breezy, Chanel-peesy.

birthday outfit

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Try and deny it as I might, today is in fact my birthday (and I know it's terribly cliché to be sensitive about birthdays, but it's just not a fun one for me, bleh.) In a perfect world, I'd be wearing something akin to this combo to dinner with the bf--even though a white blouse and red lipstick would be completely and totally impractical seeing as I'm planning on stuffing my face with pizza and bosc pear salad at Roberta's tonight! Guess I'll just have to be sure and pack my chicest bib...

I beg your pardon...

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Being as my birthday is in June, roses have always held a dear place in my heart. They are my birth flower not only in name but in practice, as witnessed by the beautiful birthday bouquets my mom would always pick for me on the morning of the 22nd, carefully selecting a few heavy-headed blossoms from her bushes to tuck in amongst peonies, pink poppies and canterbury bells.

Today, though I've still got a good month to go before I turn a year older, I would very much like to take a stroll through a rose garden, stopping to sniff every last one. They all smell so different, some very rose-y and some more like fruit or even licorice sometimes! And, in this candy-colored fantasy land, I would be wearing this outfit. And would escape without a single grass stain on my ass. Likely story.

Springtime in New York

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Right now it's pouring rain outside--good for the flowers, not so much for moving furniture--but the weather forecast is calling for one hell of a nice weekend. A high of 75º on Saturday and Girls at Webster Hall? Don't mind if I do.

Reality is, I'll probably be wearing something a lot more conducive to playing frisbee and maybe a bit of light scavenging for some kitchen chairs, but in a perfect world, I'd be strolling around the West Village in this getup, taking photos of the first blossoming trees of the season, Mr. Softee vanilla cone with rainbow sprinkles in one hand and a basketfull of kittens in the other...or something like that.

In all seriousness though: does anyone actually own those Jeffrey Campbell heels? They're on sale at Urban right now, and I'm pretty darn tempted, but they've been getting some mixed reviews. Any insights would be much appreciated!

spring shopping

• There's so many books and magazines on my wishlist right now! Lula, The Selby, The Facehunter...wouldn't even mind The Sartorialist while we're at it.
• I'm really looking forward to wearing some khakis this spring and summer! Not so much looking forward to the fact that they'll be covered in spaghetti sauce/bird poop/chocolate by fall.
• Still got my eye on you, Nixon...
• I think I've finally decided on the style of Swedish Hasbeens I'm gonna save up for. Now I just have to decide on the color. Red? Black? Natural? HELP A GIRL OUT!!
• I definitely need more stripes in my life, but that's pretty much a constant given. I'd love to finally get my hands on a top from St. James this year. Pricey, but I hear they're kinda the best.

take me away...

With the wind whistling frightfully outside my window, I spent tonight playing dress-up in my southern hemisphere wardrobe. Don't get me wrong--I'm crazy excited for Japan! But I'm absolutely aching for bare legs and a Bondi Summer, in February at that. Wish I could show you photos, but this is a pretty good approximation of some of the stuff I'm looking forward to wearing on the Australia/New Zealand leg of our trip:

• My big old cream silk blouse, tucked into anything and everything.
• Finally got a pair of Saltwater Sandals (only took me 10 months!)
• Rayban (cough...knockoffs...cough...) Clubmasters.
• Shooorts! But ok, tonight I discovered that one of the pairs I wanted to take gives me a camel toe, and the other pair a wedgie?! Life is sincerely not fair.
• My favorite shade of polish, though maybe I shouldn't take it on the plane since it'll probably explode??
• Trusty skinny leopard belt, it's even soft like fuuur.

Also: hooooly crap I am looking forward to stocking up on Aussie/Kiwi mags at normal prices (just don't tell me how much they actually cost once you factor in my airfare hrrrrmmm...)

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what I wore...in my dreams

Here's hoping that when I wake up, my throat isn't sore anymore, my nose isn't sniffly, and all this stuff is stowed away safely in my closet. (Actually, while we're at it, can I add "a closet" to this wishlist??)

P.S. You can click the sets to see where it's all from...if you really wanna know ;n )