Monday, August 30, 2010

24 Hours and Counting

Till September 1, 2010 and the 4th incarnation of 30 Dresses in 30 Days.

For those of you who aren't quite sure how my blog happened, you can read the backstory here. The long and the short of it is that in 2007 I realized I had a lot of dresses so I tried to see if I could wear a different one every day for a month. Well, it turned out it wasn't a problem at all. So I tried again in 2008 and 2009 as well. 3 Septembers, 90 dresses, no repeats.

It shocks me to say this, but I'm giving it another go. I'm not sure if I'll have enough dresses this time around (although I think I do) and some of them will have never been worn during a September challenge, but have been worn on the blog, so I will try my best to remix them so they look a little different. Also, I have tendonitis in my right foot so I'm stuck wearing tevas a lot these days so you have to promise not to judge me for that. Please dear readers, please don't judge.

Until tomorrow here's a quick little outfit that I wore last week. I hadn't worn jeans in months, but with September coming round the corner I knew I should wear pants again at least once before I couldn't for a whole month.


I'm wearing an all Ross outfit. The jeans are Z Cavaricci and the top is some brand that I've never heard of. I purchased the top back in May but I haven't managed to wear it yet. I kept thinking it was a bit much for the office, but then I thought if sequins were ok for the office, why aren't other sparkles.

I kept the accessories simple with some earrings I picked up in India


And my Bottega Veneta inspired (but actually came from Daffy's) shoes

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Cashmere, Cashmere Everywhere

Even thought just yesterday I was complaining about the heat, we're having a bit of a cold spell in NYC (it's going to be in the 80's and rising as of tomorrow) and it got me thinking about fall. Lovely, colorful, beautiful fall.

Fall clothing is filled with tights and boots and my favorite type of clothing - cashmere. I only started investing in cashmere cardigans in the last year or two and I am a convert. Wrapping yourself up in a cashmere cardigan is one of life's pleasures. I always seem to hem and haw over spending the money on a new cardigan before giving in halfway through the season and splurging. This year I'm determined to purchase my cashmere early and wear it for 6 months straight.

I'm a fan of Bloomingdale's in-house line of cashmere cardigans. I love the styles, price point and they have both a straight and plus size line - yay! Here are my 3 favorites. If I can only buy one, which one should I go for?

Option 1 is the ruffle trim duster. I don't have any cardigans with ruffles like this and it comes in 4 different colors. Yet I can't decide if I like the ruffles or hate them. What say you?

Cashmere Exclusively by Bloomingdale's Plus Size Ruffle-Trim Duster

Option 2 is a poncho. I like the idea behind it and it seems like the perfect piece to leave at my office if I'm cold, but I'm not too sure that it's very practical. In my long history of poncho's they usually work better in theory than practice.

Cashmere Exclusively by Bloomingdale's Plus Size <span class=Ruana Poncho">

Option 3 is a simple duster. It's simple and straightforward but I'm afraid the lack of buttons might drive me crazy. On the plus side, it comes in purple and there is a big gaping hole in my closet where some purple cashmere should live.

Cashmere Exclusively by Bloomingdale's Plus Size Duster

So what say you? And please if you have any suggestions for other places to buy myself some long, cozy, cashmere cardigans for less than $250 please let me know. Bloomingdale's has been my go to for the past few seasons but I have no problem stepping out on them.



Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Flowers and Freezing Cold Offices

This has been one of the worst summers in NYC. It has been H-O-T hot. Sticky, humid, 90+ degree, constant heat waves. It has been, in a word, disgusting.

The unrelenting heat outside, combined with the crazy air conditioning in my office and the 110 degree heat in the subway station while I'm waiting for the train makes dressing a complicated affair. I'm shvitzing up until I get to the office at which point I begin to freeze at which point I pull on the same, old Alaska hoodie I've kept at my desk for the past year which is in desperate need of a good washing.

But I digress, back to the outfit at hand. This was a good combination because my legs were covered. As you know I've been wearing a lot of short, summer dresses and since my office is perpetually 55 degrees I'm freezing once I've made it to the office. After I've thrown on my dirty hoodie to warm up my top half I take the other ugly layer I keep at my office - an old Delia's cable cardigan - and use it as a blanket on my bare legs. With this outfit I was able to be be sweater/blanket free (although not hoodie free).

Writing this post makes it abundantly clear that I really need to get it together and bring some nicer layers to keep at my desk.


My leggings are from Danskin and the top is from New Look, a British store that I don't shop at too frequently but that I do have a few great pieces from. I love this top because I can very comfortably wear it without a bra on the weekend and...

it has pockets! And I think I've already blogged plenty on my love of pockets.

The rest of my outfit consists of yellow sandals from Old Navy.


And these cute earrings that Karen got me one year for my birthday.





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Monday, August 16, 2010

The Best Black Skirt




As is very apparent to even the most casual of readers, I am dress lady. Sometimes I stray and cheat and wear leggings, skirts and even {gasp} pants but I am most loyal to dresses. There is however a huge exception to that rule and it is the American Apparel Interlock Pencil Skirt. Its' versatility is huge - you can dress it up, dress it down, tuck your top in, pull it out, wear it high-waisted or down low, miniskirt or to the knee. Plus it is SO COMFORTABLE! Can you tell that I'm a woman obsessed?

Here is one version of my beloved black skirt. I'm wearing my skirt (in an xl) with a Torrid cherry boob tube tucked in and my favoritest red belt from Ross and wedges from Office. Sorry for the lack of close-ups but my friend Raren was a blog photo taking virgin and didn't quite take all the close-up shots I like to have. I think part of that may have to do with the fact that we were in Bloomingdales (attempting to find me the perfect new pair of sunglasses to make prescription - I think we failed) so we didn't want to be taking too many photos and get kicked out by security.

I really liked this combination. To me it looks like a retro, slightly special dress, when in reality it's all a bunch of very simple, cotton separates.

My second version of my beloved skirt is a much simpler version of the outfit. Here I've paired it with the best ACLU t-shirt ever which reads "Safe, Free and LGBT" which is also American Apparel (women 2xl). I'm wearing a green belt that I got in a Friday fats sale and slip on plimsoles from Dorothy Perkins that I loved to death. I really need another pair of slip-on sneakers. Anyone have any suggestions?

I paired my low key look with a vintage green and white check jacket that I got in San Francisco. Photo credit here goes to Selene.

Looking at these pictures I'm realizing that at least in the first outfit my skirt really looks like a dress. Is maybe that why I love it so much, because it can pass as a dress? God, I may need to reevaluate my love.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Human Grass

Hi everyone, sorry I've been so MIA as of late. Work has been crazy and at night I'm always off to a fun summer event so I haven't been keeping up with my blogging. I really should be getting better considering September will soon be upon us and I'll have to be posting daily.

Hopefully I'll make it up to you with today's slightly ridiculous outfit. It's my closest approximation to a human version of grass. You've actually seen some of these pieces before, but never in this combination. Remixing at its best!


The top is Splendid and is a hand-me-down from Jamie. Splendid makes the loveliest, softest (and expensive) cotton and jersey basics. Take my word, their products are worth the splurge. The skirt is from New York & Company which if you've never checked it out is a great store for inbetweenies.

The piece de resistance of the outfit is my headband. I got it several months ago and could never figure out how to wear it, which is sad because I love it so much. I just decided to embrace the grass feeling of it and go for it.


And finally I'm wearing sandals that I picked up when I was in India at a market in the Bandra section of Mumbai. I have to say they've held up a lot better than the other sandals I bought that night which ironically cost 6 times the amount of money.