{ graphic goodness }

living in the over-the-top sensory experience that is new york city makes me appreciate coming home to a calming palette of black and white. but just because i like to keep the spectrum simple, doesn't mean i want it minimal. au contraire! bold, graphic pattern radiates energy ~ and i love the verve this new houndstooth rug from nuLOOM has injected into my living space. i've also bought a few more striped poufs since THIS POST ~ they're like little candies scattered all about my place! super handy for impromptu entertaining, plus i figure a gal can never have too much of a fun thing.



{ helmut lang jacket (worn in top pic ~ find a more affordable version of it HERE), gifted victoria's secret dress (similar option HERE), zara shoes // striped moroccan pouf, nuLOOM rug }

{ all } you need

{ above: taken last week at the standard hotel // photo by billy farrell agency // wearing: helmut lang blazer, joseph blouse, ferragamo bag (better seen in THIS POST), vintage sequin pants. manolo blahnik shoes (also seen HERE) }

my younger sister will soon be graduating college and embarking on the job interview process. she recently asked me what three pieces she should buy to ready her wardrobe for that endeavor, and it's a question i've also frequently received from readers. i'll give you all the same advice i gave her. instead of purchasing several items, pool your funds together and get the one thing that will prepare you for anything: helmut lang's wool tuxedo blazer (i'm wearing it in the above image):

jackets are easily my favorite clothing item, and i've bought countless basic black blazers before. but i've never found one that's as radically reinvigorating for your wardrobe as this. its unique, sculpted shape makes it invariably versatile; the raised back works with nearly every silhouette. it can go quite casual, or super-suited. it works with skirts; it works with pants. it'll make whatever dresses you already own instantly interview-appropriate. it'll make a very 'day' ensemble look cocktail-appropriate (and we all know that's when the best networking opportunities arise!). i've even worn mine to black tie affairs. at $575, it's not exactly cheap, but after having seen how useful it's been in my own wardrobe, i'd happily pay double!!

UPDATE: can't afford to invest in the real thing? an eagle-eyed reader tipped me off to this more affordable facsimile!

{ more } black + white

after yesterday's post, i feel like i owe you guys something a bit more colorful. but i've been living in black and white lately! i'm sure it has something to do with being obsessed with THIS BAG and wanting to wear it everyday.



{ lanvin for h+m sunnies, helmut lang jacket, rag + bone blouse, vintage moschino skirt (recently seen HERE), camille zarsky clutch, gifted ash shoes }

{ one look } four lenses

my last day in milan, as seen through four different photographers' lenses:






image 1: via mr. newton, image 2: via catching moments, image 3: via the photodiarist, images 4 & 5: via cafe mode, image 6: via the photodiarist in color

{ wearing: lanvin for h+m sunnies, rachel rachel roy earrings, helmut lang jacket, madewell blouse, kelly framel necklace, bordelle bra, dedegumo watch + gifted khirma eliazov and bulgari bracelets, camille zarsky clutch (recently seen HERE), missoni pants, stuart weitzman shoes }

{ the very next day }

{ forever21 sunnies (last seen HERE), helmut lang jacket, marni knit top, forever21 pleather skirt (i picked it up in their times square store last week), dedegumo watch, coach classic duffle, j.crew sandals }

ran around in this comfy costumery last friday; i haven't had a day off since fashion week ended on thursday, but have at least been giving my feet a break with flat sandals. i have a huge project currently on my plate ~ as soon as it's cleared i'll get to work on a big fashion week photo diary for you all. fingers crossed that happens before i head to milan!!

{ little tramp }

{ vintage ray-ban sunnies, kelly framel necklace, helmut lang blazer, forever21 tank, alice+olivia pants, primary clutch, prada shoes }

this is one of my favorite outfits lately; the way that it sits at the intersection of layered-but-subtle, tailored-but-easy, and dressed-up-but-dressed-down is so my speed. also, i think these shoes really need to come out more often.

{ after } the storm

{ vintage umbrella, kelly framel necklace, helmut lang blazer (last seen HERE), rachel rachel roy blouse, alexander wang shorts (last seen HERE), kelly framel wrap bracelets (coming soon), dedegumo watch, gifted tiffany tiger's eye clutch, chloe sevigny for opening ceremony boots }

in the end, hurricane irene passed rather uneventfully through new york ~ for which i am quite grateful (so many other cities were less lucky). also feeling pretty giddy about: this so-gorgeous silk clutch, scoring 3 great pairs of shoes at the barneys sale (these boots included!), and the fact that today is my birthday!! and my blog's almost-anniversary ~ you see, three years ago today, at my 25th birthday celebration, my friends dubbed me 'the glamourai' (they all got party names too), and the basis for this whole blog project accidentally began. who'd have thought we'd all be here today?! what a ride.

{ kelly-o }

{ elizabeth + james 'monroe' sunnies, helmut lang jacket (also seen in this recent post), kelly framel jet teardrop necklace, gifted bird by juicy couture washed linen dress, gifted coach classics bag }

semi-embarrassing but totally true: i watched every episode of 'the kennedys' miniseries on netflix recently (it's addictively soapy + it was a rainy weekend!), and this outfit was my natural reaction to the late-night jackie-o googling that ensued. i'm not claiming to be nearly as chic as she ~ just understandably inspired by. one could do a lot worse as far as fashion role models go!!

{ summertime } and the livin's easy

{ karen walker sunnies, helmut lang jacket (seen with the same shorts HERE), banana republic heritage vest (last seen HERE), kelly framel tangerine tiki necklace & hot pink skull necklace, ya tank courtesy of modcloth, alexander wang shorts, christian louboutin shoes, bag courtesy of coach }

my favorite days are when i feel at once comfortable and chic ~ so i'm really loving all my easy summer separates. something's just clicking this season! speaking of, i finally took these shorts to the cleaners, and it was embarrassingly hard to do. if i can't go a week without them in my wardrobe, how did i ever survive before?! #creatureofhabit

---
PS: who's planning to come out to juicy couture for tomorrow's party? i hope i get to meet a lot of you there!! i've got a cute outfit picked out and everything.

{ that dress }

{ karen walker sunnies, kelly framel jewelry (the tangerine tiki necklace is available now!), helmut lang jacket (last seen HERE), alythea bra courtesy of modcloth, chloe sevigny x opening ceremony dress, rebecca minkoff clutch (last seen HERE), alexander wang shoes (recently seen HERE and HERE) }

remember that dress i mentioned yesterday? well here it is, in one of the many, many ways i've worn it so far this summer. incidentally, this ensemble simultaneously features the same sunnies, blazer and shoes i wore HERE ~ as i get older (and more assured of my own style) i feel like i'm getting better at predicting which pieces i'll get a ton of wear out of, and are therefore worth investing in. this outfit's full of them!!

{ everything }

{ karen walker sunnies, kelly framel elephant necklace, helmut lang blazer (it's nearly identical to THIS ONE, but in linen!), maddy ...k blouse courtesy of modcloth (favorite thing ever from them?), chan luu wrap bracelet, alexander wang shorts and shoes, rebecca minkoff clutch }

do you think it would be acceptable for me to wear this outfit every day for the rest of my life? because it's already been three times this week. it's essentially the summerized version of THIS ONE, but even more comfortable. #seriousfave