With the slightest chill in the air, I’m thinking hard about what I want to add to my wardrobe for the upcoming season. Fall is my favorite, by far, so I’ve got a tightly edited list together already.
Details of the actual items pictured here.
This fall I want…
- A navy schoolboy blazer. This is one of those how do I not own this moments. It made it on last year’s list so clearly it would go to good use!
- Bean boots. Tommy Hilfiger sent OTK, heeled duck boots down his AW10 runway, but I’m lusting after the original. Perfect with an oversized cableknit sweater on snowy days, lasting long into the rainy season.
- A polka dot top. To wear with…
- Leopard flats & a matching belt, a la Dolce & Gabbana’s AW10 masterpiece of mixed patterns. Ann Taylor’s versions in haircalf are looking good to me if I can snatch them up on sale.
- A red scarf. Because this color palette was looking a bit dark and depressing. I already picked one up from a street vendor for a whopping $2.
- A Louis Vuitton-like full flannel skirt. Give me glamour! If I can’t thrift one, these two at Zara are big contenders.
- Long leather gloves. Adding to the retro vibe. Prada and Louis Vuitton pulled at my heartstrings with their AW10 collections—I want to wear clothes like that every day.
- Tights. Replacement black ones, gray cable knit ones, navy, maroon.
I’m hoping that writing up a shopping list will help me keep my purchases within reason so I can continue to siphon my money away from clothes shopping to apartment decorating. Things are coming together - will share some photos soon!
What’s on your shopping list this fall?
A Saturday trip to Salvos yielded a new addition to my collection of fashion books… a little hardback textbook from 1955 called How You Look and Dress.
I’ve had luck in the fashion book department at this particular Salvation Army before, but I really fell hard for this little gem. Part of a Home Economics series of textbooks, it starts with a chapter on posture and hygiene, but then goes on to the good stuff - how to pick the best colors for you, how to shop for quality clothing, and the intricacies of creating and recreating your own wardrobe.
As a lover of all things old-fashioned, I can’t wait to read about the prescribed methods of dress for a midcentury woman. Not only that, but it will be a great sewing reference manual for the time when I am eventually reunited with my beloved Singer.
Added bonus: The full color photo section in the center is ridiculous eye candy. LOVE that coat on the right! I need it!
I’ll be sure to share some of my favorite tips (possibly via Twitter) as I make my way through this little beauty!
megburns asked: so! I've been invited to a housewarming party at a FASHION BLOGGER'S HOUSE. (!! I know !!) I'm really a mess about what to wear. I have to look cool, effortless, and super sophisticated (I'm from Connecticut! We've never met before! SUCH EXPECTATIONS!)
What do you think? S.O.S.!
Well, I feel rather silly answering this question since the party Meg is invited to is at chez moi and it’s quite strange to propose outfit guidelines for your own guests, isn’t it? But Meg’s question gave me a good laugh so I thought I’d give it a go.
full details of the items pictured here
Here are four outfits for inspiration - and whether you go for the bold & gold look, edgy stripes, glam casual, an ever ladylike look, or something entirely off the map, I’m sure you will look fabulous!
Just for fun, I thought I’d show you guys my inspiration scrapbook and how these cut-and-pasted pages, which organize my favorites from magazines, catalogs, celebrity style, street style blogs, and whatever else I like, have already influenced my spring wardrobe.
My obsession with stripes is so strong that I’ve dedicated four whole pages to them.
So far I’ve done all over stripes, a navy striped jacket (similar to the Tory Burch one I clipped for that first page) and stripes with florals. I’m aiming for the colorful stripes a la Paul Smith next!
One could argue that bold colors in delightful shades are a constant in my wardrobe, but I’ve organized a specific palette of mostly magenta, orange, and yellow here.
Look at those in-your-face hues! Bam, bam, bam! The last one was directly inspired by the Rochas runway look I stuck into my scrapbook.
Somehow my pastels all gravitated toward this lovely pink-beige-neon scheme that I am LOVING! This inspiration hasn’t quite been incorporated into my wardrobe, mostly because it isn’t warm enough to bust out the lighter weight items from my closet yet.
I suppose I have an affinity for that particular shade of light pink. Strangely enough, the pastel pages of my scrapbook make me want to go out and buy khakis — I’m thinking an a-line miniskirt and a pair of straight leg pants. How have I not owned either of these before?
So there you have it - a glimpse into my mind and how I pick out clothes. What inspires you? How do you organize it?
