{ signature } style

back in september, i had occasion to style LL Bean Signature's spring 2012 look book. it was an exciting opportunity for me, as i grew up with an ardent LL Bean-loving father, and am thus well-versed in the brand's heritage. since the recently-introduced Signature collection is an outlet for the company to speak to a younger, more fashion-informed audience than ever before, it seemed like a dream gig to me: a chance to blend the past with the present.

what i didn't anticipate was the amazing creative bond i quickly formed with the Signature team. they're quite an inspiring set of people, poised to go big with this new brand, an optimistic answer to the great tradition of american sportswear. i loved working with them so much that i found myself on a plane to puerto rico a week later to continue the momentum ~ but that's a story for another day. for now, i wanted to give you a closer look at our first shoot together. i'll show you more from this collaboration as the pieces become available online!!

{ above left: LL bean signature madras shirt, sweatshirt, pants and shoes; dedegumo watch // above right: LL bean signature double-breasted trench, madras dress and shoes; victor osborne hat; corello belt }

{ above: LL bean signature boots and bag }

{ above: LL bean signature cardigan, men's shirt, shorts and shoes; victor osborne hat }

{ above left: LL bean signature wedge sandals // above right: LL bean signature hoodie, sweater, men's shorts and shoes; robert james sunnies; dedegumo watch }

{ above: LL bean signature sandals (coming soon!) }

{ above left: LL bean signature sweater, cardigan, skirt and shoes // above right: LL bean signature dress, skirt, bag and shoes; robert james sunnies }

below, a behind-the-scenes video from the project // CLICK HERE to follow LL Bean Signature on tumblr!

{ photos: denise behrens / video: rainer behrens / styling: kelly framel / model: vanessa cruz / hair: shawn la'yave / makeup: waltaya culmer }

{ gilded } lily

this outfit is what i wore later in the same day i donned THIS ONE; just before dusk it became my evening ensemble:
as you can quite clearly see, i was still inclined to take full advantage of all the gold jewelry at my disposal. even a teeny taste can lead to incurable addiction!!

for nighttime i decided to really gild the lily: in addition to the kim kaufman necklace i'd worn earlier, i layered a coin-style necklace by temple st. clair. since the bangles before weren't nearly enough, i added a hexagonal 'dragonfly' cuff by susan suh. i slipped on temple st. clair hoop earrings, and gold-toed boots by tabitha simmons (a recent score from the bergdorf goodman shoe sale!):

i wore my favorite threadbare rings from catbird, plus a bigger, layered lovely, on loan from david yurman:

i stuck with my current favorite color story, and accessorized my accessories with a paisley brocade dress by tibi:

to all that i added a classic bag with gold hardware, and my favorite subtly-luxe coat:

you all know i'm a gal who goes for gold every day of the year ~ but it's especially fun to layer on around the holidays. thanks again to the world gold council for giving me this opportunity to indulge!!

{ gifted david yurman sunnies, primary coat, temple st. clair and kim kaufman necklaces (previously seen HERE), tibi dress, temple st. clair, bertoni, and susan suh bangles, rings from catbird & david yurman, hue tights, corello bag, tabitha simmons boots }

{ the marble faun }

to cut to the chase: for me, this outfit is all about THE SHOES!!! i'm frenetically obsessed with these works of rodarte art. they originally walked the runway as part of look 3 in the spring 2011 show ~ and recently became mine (for a song!) at the brand's sample sale. swooooon.

{ tiffany & co sunnies-turned-tinted-spectacles (originally introduced in THIS POST), halston heritage trench, white + warren sweater, corello belt, gifted dee & ray skirt, gifted camille zarsky wallet (big enough to also hold keys & phone when i don't want to carry a proper bag), rodarte shoes }

{ cashmere } to share

{ gifted tiffany sunnies (from THIS EVENT) + white and warren cashmere travel wrap, renee c. sweater (also seen HERE), bishop of seventh pants, corello shoes, primary chambray snakeskin clutch (from their just-relaunched e-shop!) }

i'm a big fan of white + warren's cashmere-centric collection (remember the fun summer shoot we collaborated on?!), and i've rhapsodized over my love for their travel wraps several times already. that's why i was so excited when they offered to give one of them away to one of you!!

to enter to win, simply CLICK HERE to fill out an entry form, and you'll be well on your way to sumptuously-soft style. our winner will be announced next thursday, november 3rd. bonne chance!!

{ waist down }

{ cuffs: bulgari, khirma eliazov, juicy couture // zara vest (similar HERE), TOV dress (remember it from WAY BACK WHEN?!), rue de jeans, corello bag + boots }

{ versioning } black skirt / white shirt

as i get a little older (and a LOT busier), my style seems to be getting more streamlined and defined. along the way, i've come to understand the value of truly great basics, and on mornings when i'm pressed for time, a black skirt + white shirt combo never fails me. i love that the look can be taken in so many different directions! here are a few iterations that i hope might inspire you to think of ways to elevate your own plain jane faves:

VERSION I // ruffled blouse + leather skirt
{ elizabeth + james sunnies, self-made necklace, theory blouse, h+m skirt (recently seen HERE), marc by marc jacobs clutch, stuart weitzman shoes }




VERSION II // man's shirt + fringed skirt
{ lanvin for h+m sunnies, american apparel shirt, (borrowed from the boys), vintage embroidery-turned-brooch, coach classics bag, primary skirt, banana republic socks, corello shoes }



VERSION III // polo shirt + knit skirt
{ vintage yves saint laurent sunnies from ebay, american apparel polo shirt (as above, it's from the men's department), zara skirt (i'm also lusting after THIS SIMILAR STYLE), vintage studio ferre belt, michael kors watch, banana republic socks, loeffler randall boots }

{ lag time }

{ lanvin for h+m sunnies (i recently put lighter lenses in them & now love them MORE THAN EVER!), gifted ralph lauren denim + supply jacket, cecico top courtesy of modcloth, dedegumo watch, alexander wang shorts (no, your eyes do not deceive you; i love my black pair so much i just bought this second set in olive green), corello bag & shoes }

i ducked out of milan a day early, rushing back to new york for a styling gig. since arriving i've been running around prepping for that ~ and let me tell you, jet lag is for real. also lagging? the arrival of fall!! i've been wearing sweaters and jackets anyway, even though it's officially 5 degrees too hot to do so. oh well, FASHION FIRST.

{ the duomo }

{ lanvin for h+m sunnies, club monaco jacket, kelly framel jewelry, gifted kimberly taylor blouse, forever21 skirt (recently seen HERE), corello bag, alexander wang shoes }

shot in front of the duomo on day 1 of milan fashion week ~ tourist alert!!

{ grazia }

i'm currently writing to you from milan, where i am honored to be a guest of grazia magazine for fashion week. before coming over, they asked me to shoot a story and share a few words for their website on the topic of grace ('grazia' is the italian word for this). it's a trait i certainly aspire to exude, albeit one i don't always achieve. anyway, in case you don't speak italian (me neither!), i've included excerpts from the piece i wrote below:



{ karen walker sunnies, primary blouse and skirt, forever21 cropped cami, gifted corello bag, alexander wang shoes }

GRACE. Grace is a virtue that’s far-too-infrequently celebrated these days. It’s not about stature or prominence or even glamour. Grace is elegance. It is deference and authority in equal measure. It is good manners, it is kindness and it is a sense of propriety.

But grace is not stuffy. It is being comfortable in one’s own skin, while conscientiously allowing others to feel equally at ease around you. In fashion, this means dressing in a way that is appropriate to your lifestyle and surroundings. That is, embracing your age (at any age!) by combining femininity with a dose of mystery, plus a necessary nod to functionality.



{ nine west sunnies, club monaco jacket, kelly framel necklace, vintage dress (last seen HERE), corello belt, yves saint laurent shoes }

Happily, graceful is the perfect word to describe this season’s long-skirted look. Full and pleated, or languidly bias-cut, it matters not. Either way, the look is simultaneously timeless and contemporary. It harkens back to the silhouettes of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, but can be paired just as easily with a utility jacket and wedges as a trench coat and pumps. Modern mid-length skirts can veer fairly formal or incredibly casual – this is not a 1950’s sort of femininity. It’s current in that it’s comfortable and it’s elegant because it works in nearly any situation. You’ll rarely feel under-dressed...



{ juicy couture sunnies, halston heritage trench, meg dress, gifted corello clutch, lamb shoes }

please CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article and see many more pictures of these looks on grazia.it. then, CLICK HERE to check out my up-to-the-minute updates from milano!!

{ the fashion ranger }

{ i wore: primary blouse, zara skirt, camille zarsky clutch (my wardrobe's fashion week MVP!), corello shoes }

getting a cab when you need one is among the hardest parts of fashion week (that and the lack of sleep), so i was happy to team up with mercedes benz's fashion ranger on saturday. they drove me around to shows, and in between i prowled the town, scouting for the fiercest leopard-spot-sporters on the scene (including superstar stylist june ambrose, below):



you all probably know that leopard is by far my favorite print, so this was a fun project to be a part of. click over to my facebook page for TONS more street style snaps!!