{outfit post} savage beauty...

Not me, McQueen! On a deliciously sunny and warm late Sunday morning, Meghan and I met on the steps of The Met to see the exhibit the fashion world has been buzzing about for months - Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty.

Believe the hype, give in to the excitement, and get yourself to this wonderful feast for your couture-loving senses. There are over 150 examples of the late designer's work, from gowns made of clam shells to a headpiece of butterflies. Not to mention that mesmerizing hologram of Kate Moss. I found the exhibit to be vastly superior than last year's efforts of the Costume Institute, so don't be thrown off if you were disappointed by their retrospective of American fashion.

Meghan and I drifted slowly from room to room, absolutely bug-eyed over the creations from McQueen's time at Givenchy and his eponymous label, some on loan from the design houses, and many from the personal collection of Isabella Blow, now looked after by Daphne Guinness.

Per usual for a Sunday in New York City, I woke feeling under-rested but overly-excited to get going and get an iced coffee in my veins. After seeing that the forecast promised sunny skies and pleasing temperatures, I opted for my spring go-to of shorts and close-toed shoes - oh, and a turband, obviously.

Gap sweater and (Tully's) Gap shorts; vintage belt; DV Dolce Vita tassel flats; American Apparel carry all; Anthropologie scarf; Ray Ban Avaitors; vintage necklaces; Michael Kors watch; Marc by Marc Jacobs bangle.

 (Oops, I forgot to take my little museum "M" pin off my necklace. And also apparently needed at least six bobbi pins to wrangle my bangs.)

The roof of The Metropolitan Museum of Art has to be one of my favorite places in the city. The views are incredible. You can look out to the high rises, the hotels, the ridiculous apartments of the Upper East Side, and over all the lush and crazily green trees of Central Park. The current installation up there is a sort of bizarre smattering of huge metal shapes, and it's not nearly as fun as the insane bamboo structure that towered over the museum last season. Bonus? There's a bar. Even if you aren't into art (or awesome Egyptian temples) it's worth paying a few dollars to bypass all that and spend some time up there drinking in how handsome Midtown can look from a comfortable distance.

I'm sorry I'm wearing sunglasses again, and I'm sorry that they're the same ones I always wear. This is annoying, even to me. If I'm being completely honest though, the whole turband thing looks a lot better with the shades. While indoors I was feeling totally self conscious about my eyebrows and how kooky the back of my hair starts to look if I move my head around too much. That being said, I do what I want (even if it looks less than perfect) and I want to rock a turband when my outfit needs a little zha zha zhu. This one did.

This easy, over-sized gray sweater got me through the winter - paired with (ugh) leggings and boots - but it feels fresh again with Tully's crisp, pleated white shorts and a woven belt. I played off the green in the scarf with my AA clutch, and then tried to perfect my no-teeth-smile-with-your-eyes face. How am I doing?

Don't answer that.

(Despite teasing myself for my own facial expressions, Meghan really did a great job taking these photos and I thank her for it! You can check out my pictures of her over on Wit & Whimsy.)

{outfit post} all white everything...

Labor Day is really one of the most bittersweet days on the calendar. It awards us a three day weekend during the most gorgeous time of year, but it also signifies the end of summer. The end of weekends in the Hamptons (or in my case, weekdays), the end of wearing sandals everyday, and if you're a rules girl, the end of wearing white.

Personally, I think this is a rule that should be put on the shelves to gather dust for all eternity. White is amazing. It looks good on everyone and it goes with everything. Especially more white.

My second Labor Day Eve in Manhattan was a bit like an anniversary celebration of the first one. Last summer, it marked the beginning of our friendship with all our neighbors, and we took most of the same crowd to the same bar (Bar 196) and celebrated - well - everything and nothing I suppose. I awoke on Monday laughing to myself about what an excellent night we had, put on an all white ensemble in honor of the day, and headed off to Soho for a full day of work.

I labored on Labor Day, but so what? I must say I am just thrilled to be full-time laboring at all.

H&M men's button down shirt; Gap skirt; vintage belt; Ray Ban aviators.

 I am just so obsessed with this skirt. It went through hell over the 4th of July in Kiawah (dancing on a dirt dance floor at an oyster bake apparently isn't good for floor-length white clothing...) but I finally took it to the dry cleaner /tailor so it could get a few more wears this summer. I have a hard time finding maxi skirts that fit me the right way, and I think the key with this one is that it sits a bit lower on my waist than most, which works for my figure.

This shirt is a favorite too; I just really can't say enough about the mens shirts at H&M. The price is right and fit is perfect. It alarms me slightly that this one is so sheer and meant for a man, but all the better for me, I guess! I'm also wearing some beat up gold sandals from Urban Outfitters, but they're not really worth mentioning.

Quick post, and no detail shots, I do apologize. Oh, and why so serious, Taylor? Jeeze.

Anyway, as I mentioned above, I just started a new job, so I've been a crazed and excited human for the past two weeks. Now The IFB conference is just two days away, fashion week is looming, and I'm still trying to figure out how to time manage my life.

Bare with me my most treasured readers, I won't abandon you!

{outfit post} the nylite project...

About a month ago, I was invited to participate in a collaborative project with Swedish brand Tretorn. Myself and 34 other style bloggers were asked to take a pair of their classic Nylite sneakers and style them up our way.

I've always been a fan of a clean white tennis shoe, from the Rod Lavers I wore in middle school to the Converse All Stars I replaced year after year in high school and college. I had never worn Nylites before, and since moving to New York I've all but abandoned the casual ease of sneakers. When I started dreaming up ideas for how to style these sneaks with an intensely preppy heritage, I wanted to find a way to mix their traditional and sporty look with an outfit that fits into the life of a busy city girl.

The look I ended up with was highly influenced by a recent purchase (and a total steal) from Gap. After seeing Sonia on her blog in this phenomenal floor-length white skirt, I was a woman possessed. I bee-lined for the Gap on 5th Avenue the next day, and to my delight found the object of my affections - at an additional 40% off! I love the weight of the fabric and it's simple cut. Need I mention that it has pockets?

 Banana Republic tee; Gap skirt; Tretorn sneakers; Ray Ban aviators; vintage necklace.

The black and white striped shirt is one you've seen before (here) and the necklace is a vintage chain of coins and pearls that's very special to me. I think the canvas sneakers take away some of the stiffness of such a dramatic skirt, while maintaining some playful elegance. This is something I'd wear for an afternoon beer at The Standard or a barbecue with friends in Brooklyn (yes, I sometimes dress borough-specific). (It also came in handy for the ultra-southern-prep oyster bake I attended in Kiawah.)

 

Until I put this whole ensemble together, I never would have dreamed of pairing a maxi skirt with tennies. However, I think the heaviness of this particular skirt grounds the look enough so I don't look off balance. Truthfully it's probably more practical to pair them with shorts and mini dresses in the future, but it was fun to play with proportions and imagination for this project.

 (all photos thanks to Gina)

{outfit post} snow day lunch break...

One of the best parts of my new internship is that its only a few blocks from Tully's office (Time Square - hooray)! So once or twice a week we meet for lunch, usually at Guy & Gallard in the thick of the Garment District on 40th. We sip soup and Diet Coke, and talk about... Whatever we talk about. Usually the stressful and/or interesting things we've been doing all day.

Yesterday we changed it up - it was a snow day after all - and got a couple slices on Broadway then tromped over to Bryant Park to see the ice skaters, the snow-covered little tables and chairs, and snap a few pictures of our "above the knee chic" outfits.

 

Tully: Roxy hat; Tucker blouse; khaki military surplus store jacket (borrowed from moi); The North Face puffy duster jacket; Urban Outfitters skirt; Express tights; Sorel (mens) boots; Roxy bag.

Moi: Ray Ban aviators; Gap boyfriend shirt; random lace t-shirt from San Francsisco boutique; BDG black jeggings; vintage mink; vintage Missoni scarf; mom's equestrian-style rubber weillies; Prada handbag (circa early 2000's, hand-me-down from mom).

So brrr, but you get the idea.

Don't mind the tail... It's my scarf, tied to my bag. Special.

{outfit post} Sun Valley, then & now...

Sometimes, I'm really thankful I didn't have a blog four years ago. Strange to think, but there are some sartorial choices I made then that I just absolutely wouldn't make now. That's just a product of the ebb and flow of fashion, but it's interesting to look back at from time to time. In this glorious winter wonderland of Sun Valley, there are certain pairings that have stood the test of time and trends; down jackets and designer sunglasses being one of them. So how different could my look really be this time around?

Roll with me on this, and lets just take a little stroll down memory lane (thanks, Facebook) and see what's changed from 2007 to 2010:

2007: no label vintage hat; Christian Dior sunglasses; Cashmere Wrappings pashmina; The North Face jacket; American Apparel deep V; Abercrombie & Fitch cardigan; J Brand black jeans; Ugg Ausralia boots; Louis Vuitton bag; Betsey Johnson scarf; faux pearls.

2010: Slouchy hat and infinity scarf c/o D&Y Accessories; Ray Ban aviators; Gap turtleneck sweater; American Apparel deep V; ski leggings; Kristen Blake down jacket; Ugg Austraila boots; Zoe the dog.

Oh hey 2007  girl, aren't you trendy! The thing that strikes me right away about look number one here is that I am actively trying to wear as many noticable labels at one time as I can. From the uber-trendy Uggs to my classic but obvious Louis Vuitton Speedy to the comically huge Dior shades, It's just too, too, you know? I still own all these things; I love them and I wear them. But my style now, comparitively, is like going from being a gluttonous eater to a normal, healthy person: it's all about moderation.

So at the core, my Sun Valley style hasn't really changed that much. Those are the same Ugg boots. I also know I'm wearing an American Apparel deep V in both outfits, and a sweater I bought on sale from (wince) Abercrombie and Gap, respectively. Clearly, I still really love layering and black skinny pants, as well as a good contrasting scarf-and-hat combo with my designer shades. In my outfit from yesterday though, the only brand that's easily distinguishable is - drum roll please - my new, polarized Ray Ban aviators.

Editor's note: I know, I know, the Ugg boots. I spoke so judgily of them here, and posted alternative options here. Yet I am there, wearing the darn things. With toasty warm and comfy feat, I hang my head in shame. I'm still planning on getting these, but bare with me (and my budget).