{outfit post} june gloom...

This week has really been the definition of June gloom here in New York. It's been muggy, dark and rainy. Coming off of a very sunny and summer-y weekend on the ocean, it was enough to drive a girl to drink. Luckily, Sonia was on the same page, so we met for a Thursday afternoon happy hour at one of my favorite little spots in the neighborhood, Corner Bistro. We commiserated over $2.75 mugs of McSorley's beer then skipped down West 4th Street to snap a few pictures.

It was a particularly wet and gloomy day, which influenced my outfit in a couple of ways. On days like this I always want to ere on the side of casual and comfortable, but also infuse a little color into the greyness of the weather. Factor in a dash of humidity, and here's what I ended up with:

Army surplus jacket; American Apparel deep V; vintage Missoni skirt (last worn as a dress here); Steve Madden flats; Prada bag; vintage & Fireworks necklaces; F21 ring; Michael Kors watch; Ray Ban sunglasses.

This skirt is a really strange length, but lucky for us, strange lengths are in these days. It's almost a maxi, not quite a midi, and hangs in this brilliantly swing-y but not too voluminous way. Pairing it with my completely worn in, should-probably-be-replaced white tee made for the perfect "cozy chic" happy hour ensemble. The jacket is one I picked up at the army surplus store on West 8th Street last fall. I haggled with the darling sales guy so he gave me a deal on two of them, the second of which I promptly sent home to my mom. She's obsessed, too. It's lightweight and really easy to play around with because the hood can be zipped in, the sleeves are perfect to scrunch and roll and the drawstring waist lets you totally feminize the shape.

(I feel like I should note that I am smiling in every picture in this post.)

 Yeah, I'm pretty much obsessed with these stripes.

I've started to wear my hair with this front french braid almost everyday. I decided to just let my bangs grow over the summer, since I almost always wear them pinned back this time of year anyway. Let's just say that my bangs and humidity are pretty much sworn enemies. The braid keeps them out of my face and adds a bit of a romantic touch, don't you think?

Now, okay. I realize the following is a bit silly, however I couldn't resist. When you spend as much time browsing both amateur and established fashion blogs as I do, you start to notice, er, similarities. There are a few things that have become completely ubiquitous to personal style blogs, and I noticed that yesterday, I was wearing a lot of them. Behold:

I really, really, like this look, so, what does that say about me? Am I trendy or just totally affected? If I know I'm doing it, is it ok?

If I were carrying a Cambridge Satchel Company bag and wearing a YSL arty ring, oh and perhaps looking a bit more pouty and cool on some traintracks, maybe I could rename my blog something like,

Cupcakes & Atlantic Sea of a Man Reppeller's Late Afternoon Fashion Toast.

No?

I'm sort of curious to know what you guys think. Are all the style bloggers looking the same these days? Do I need to shake it up? How do we stand out if we're all dressed the same? Will someone buy me that arty ring anyway?

can you tell i'm having a thing for tassels?

tassel me softly

I mean, is it obvious? I find tassels to be such a whimsical but rather classic detail on everything from bags to blouses. If your look is more tailored, the DV Dolce Vita tassel flats or Ralph Lauren heels would be a great infusion of attitude in your laced-up wardrobe. If you lean more towards a free-spirited style, well, the rest of it should be right up your alley. Can you imagine those dangling tassel earrings with a top-knot? Crazytown amazing.

The Sunglasses by House of Harlow 1960 are a little much, but still too fun not to post. I would absolutely wear any other of these colorful treats, just probably not all together.

{outfit post} fashion 140...

I feel so overwhelmed with love this week! I got a wonderful shout out (and huge traffic boost) from my menswear-blogging/tumblr-ing friend L.A.S. and about 30 new Twitter followers during the Fashion 140 conference yesterday. I'm so glad people had such a positive response to my Always & Never list. I mean, what can I do next to keep you guys so interested and excited? (Seriously. Suggestions welcome and encouraged.)

I'll post more later about everything amazing that went on at the conference, but for now I figured I could at least give you a little bit of an outfit post. Wednesday started out pretty rainy, and coupled with the fact that I'd be sitting in an auditorium for hours and hours, I aimed for a comfortable-yet-chic look that would hold up all day.

Schott NYC Perfecto lambskin jacket; vintage Missoni for Nordstrom tunic; BP black tank; BDG jeggings; Jessica Simpson ballet flats; c/o Amanda Pearl Gobstopper pearl earrings.

This is that amazing Missoni tunic I wore to NYFW earlier this year but was totally hidden by my fur coat. It's incredibly fragile and a treasured piece inherited from my mom. It has those distinctive Missoni stripes - and in perfect-for-spring colors. I have no idea what year it's from, and I'm sure if she could figure out how, Mrs. Davies would leave a comment letting us all know. (The 90's, Mom?) Anyway, after a Tweet-spiration from my friends at Schott, I knew my Perfecto had to come out for the conference as well. 

The rest of my look just sort of fell into place. My Amanda Pearl earrings have become a staple with my top-knot, though I'll be the first to admit that after looking at these pictures I'm really peeved that it was so smooshed on one side. Ugh, #whitegirlproblems. Additionally, I'm hyper-aware that jeggings are on their way out, but they are so incredibly comfortable I may never give them up. (Breaking my own rules, 'cause that's how I roll.) As for the ballet flats, did you expect anything else?

 Oh, and in case you were worried - don't be. I wore seven bracelets.

Various baubles from Marc by Marc Jacobs; J. Crew; Tiffany & Co.; Kenneth Jay Lane; vintage; that Michael Kors watch and F21 owl ring.

It's like I pulled up my sleeve and surprised even myself at how many of them I was wearing!

{reader request} lucky girl getaway...

My friend Michelle is taking a vacation to Costa Rica and asked me to dream up some ideas for what to wear while she's there. Needless to say, once I got over my jealousy I was more than happy to take a break from this pretty chilly New York spring and envision an escape to a more tropical location. For her look I tried to fuse classics, current cool and some beach-appropriate glamor.

Missoni Mare bandeau bathing suit, $465, Thom browne, $195, Sam edelman shoes, $60, By Malene Birger striped tote, $140,

Linda Lee Johnson beaded jewelry, $6,550, Layered necklace, $368, Stone ring, $50, BCBG Max Azria straw beach hat, $58,
Very vintage sunglasses accessories RED, 208 GBP.

Michelle has fantastic style and taste - she rather seamlessly mixes her Arizona roots with her current West Coast address and a dash of New York sophistication. I see her in a sort of preppy-meets-retro-meets-California look. I imagine her in an classic Missoni print bandeau bikini, a men's oxford she can wear unbuttoned with a cool panama hat and some funky accessories and tortoise glasses. Her sandals would be simple and comfortable, ones she can wear in the sand and on quiet coastal streets. I love the idea of wearing a couple mixed chains to the beach, provided you take them off before you get lines.

(I'm not going to lie, if you guys know my taste at all, you can tell this is also exactly what I myself would hope to wear on such a fantastic trip.)

Have a blast Michelle, send me a some pictures!

{quick outfit post} Porter Grey presentation...

On Thursday morning before heading into my internship, I made a brief pit-stop at Lincoln Center to check out the Porter Grey presentation. It was a chilly morning so I opted for my super-indulgent go-to vintage fur, plus a few other new gems I have yet to post here on the ol' blog.

I didn't take any photos of the look myself, but I was stopped just outside the presentation and snapped by a really sweet girl from 80%20 shoes because I just happened to be wearing a pair at the moment. (I'm on their blog here! (That's where these images are from.))

[The full disclosure here is that when I attended the Blue Stripe PR party two weeks ago, part of our parting gifts was a pair of fabulous 80%20 shoes, as well as a bauble from Amanda Pearl, and some other really choice goodies. Porter Grey is also repped by Blue Stripe, so now you seen the connection. Ta da! How lucky am I?]

I  love all the elements of this outfit, but I don't know how I feel about the final outcome here. I was in a bit of a hurry that morning and making rash decisions. I wish I had a picture sans jacket, the top is a vintage Missoni tunic of my mom's, and it's perfection. Another time though, I promise.

Also, these little shoes are my new obsession. They've got a cool dessert boot look with toggle closures, but the best part is the hidden wedge that adds a little covert height and a more feminine feel. You will be seeing them again, I can guarantee it.

Vintage fur coat; vintage pashmina; vintage Missoni tunic; Paige Verdugo jegging; 80%20 Eliotte shoes; Amanda Pearl earrings; Les Petites handbag.

*Pictures from the Porter Grey presentation are forthcoming!