Fashion Challenge vs The Fashionably Challenged

Challenge: Can I pull off a sequin skirt on a random Thursday evening?

Ummm, no. 

I mean, I guess that in my fabulous mind (where I live in a sex and the city episode), hells yeah! But I’m sure that it was little strange to my five girlfriends and the rest of the patrons at the après work wine bar. I strutted my neon pink sequin pencil skirt, CASUALLY paired with a white tee shirt and bohemian necklaces, down the street in Corn Hill up past the outdoor patio with confidence. I was of course the first to arrive so I kept my big black shades down and started checking emails on my iphone (I’m very busy people!). I sat at a table outside to wait for my friends and ordered up some bubbly. As I do, I glance up at the two women sitting next to me (I like to refer to them as frumpy-cowlneck lady and bra-baring-sundress-tattoo lady) to see them chuckle to one another while glancing in opposite directions trying to avoid eye contact with me. While it’s not that I really care what they think, it was certainly a “I’m-more-fabulous-than-you” moment.

Listen, there is no reason to punish my gorgeous clothes because I have no where glamorous to take them here in Rochester! They want to get out, they need to get their drink on too sometimes…let loose.

So we sat in outside in the warm Spring air, drank flights of French wine, nibbled on cheese and charcuterie, then finished the night with chocolate truffles.  Sounds like a pretty fancy affair, no? Now who’s inappropriately dressed cowlneck and tattoo ladies?

Mirror Mirror on the wall...

Who's the most Fabulous of them all?


I've found my own little fairy tale in these metallic spring goodies! Just the right amount of glitz to add to a floral top, a day glow dress or a pastel pant!

                   

J.Crew Metallic Pewter Penny Loafter

Top Shop Metallic Shift Dress

                                                                 
 
 Marc Jacobs Cosmic Tote at net-a-porter.com, DAY Bangle at matchesfashion.com

There's a party on my pants.

It's a pants party!


I can’t stop ogling over all the patterned pants out there this Spring! Its like I'm walking through Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Candy colors, frosting hues, striped lollipop legs, floral stems, and neon pop rocks!

Like a sweet addiction, one fabulous pair drives me to another. Spring is usually a season of sundresses, but this year the pant has taken over. I love the way it allows me to start the Spring season early by pairing my favorite floral pant with a cashmere sweater and leopard heels...Or layering my silk blouses under a cropped jacket with a tribal print capri.


Here are some fabulous finds from Net-a-porter.com and Matchesfashion.com

Tucker Pant

Dolce and Gabana

Isabel Marant

Rag and Bone

Sportmax

Happy Heart Day

I may not be a huge fan of Valentine's Day, but I am a fan of fabulous jewels that sometimes accompany this strange pink holiday. Then again I am also a fan of pink. So maybe just this year I will embrace the mushy cards (they kinda make me ill), the candy box confections (I'm however still trying to loose these last 5 baby pounds), and find joy in the color of the Holiday.

Jeweler Lyndsay Caleo's lovely line Caleo is just what you need. So either find a hottie to buy it for you, or better yet say Happy Heart Day to yourself and layer up these colorful stones...they're a sure thing. Here are some of my favorite gem picks for the day.

www.CaleoJewelry.com

Abstract Fashion Addiction

Fabulous Technicolor, photo-screened fabrics in classic cuts makes for a very interesting and glamorous conversation piece at dinner. The patterns vary from fish swimming through the sea to fields of flowers to present wrapping.

I am obsessed. I can not wait to get my hands on my pre-ordered Mary Katrantzou jersey print dress. The mix of patterns and fabulous colors has this dress as one of my favs for Spring. I am a huge proponent of buying a fabulous “piece” each season. I would rather spend money on one incredible unique dress or jacket than a bunch of staples. Go out and find yourself something yummy for spring, something bright, sparkly, short, and fun to get you through the rest of the cold winter days.

Shit Park Slope Parents Say

For those of you living in Park Slope you will die laughing.

And those that don't, you might better understand how my blog started...

Fashion Meltdown

3.1 Philip Lim

So we’ve all been there. It starts out with a good intentioned outfit laying on your ottoman. You get out of the shower, put on your undergarments and begin to get dressed. You’re in a perfectly good mood…

Then you realize that the pants aren’t working with the top….you grab another pair of pants. Then you put on the sweater…the sweater doesn’t match with the pants. Then you change the sweater and realize that…yes, the sweater doesn’t fall right with the top. AHHHH!!!

Fashion Meltdown begins.

Instead of just scrapping the whole outfit all together you begin frantic CPR on the ensemble. And it turns into a total disaster. You can’t see past the pants, cause you’ve already changed them twice, you’re determined to make them work so you add jewelry to the outfit to pull it together, inevitably it’s costume crap that you haven’t worn in 10 years. It looks even worse, so you add red lipstick to distract from the mismatched metals hanging from your ears. Now you look like a prostitute. You’re hair is now piled on top of your head in a wet mess because you don’t have time to dry it. Then you here the squawk from the monitor… the baby is now up from her nap and there is no time to repair the damage.

And there you have it, you look like a 4th grader.

In order to prevent this closet chaos, have a few “pre-made” outfits that "hang together." Instead of a panic, scrap everything and go straight to the pre-made. This will relieve your anxiety by giving you plenty of time to do your hair and a few moments to carefully apply a pale peach gloss. Save your creative juices for another day.

Here are few jumpsuits to take the guessing out of the day (top off with a blazer!)

Issa Jumpsuit

Michael by Michael Kors

MOSCHINO CHEAP AND CHIC

Tuxedo Jumpsuit (love this)