{ black } and yellow

a nod to yesterday's color story, in the form of a few things i'd love to see under my tree this year:

{ clockwise from top left: asos boots ($52), j.crew bag ($448), falke stockings ($36), j.crew iphone case ($25), gretchen jones necklace ($98), bodum coffee press ($50), dannijo collar ($172), michael michael kors skirt ($270), kate spade earrings ($38), oliver peoples sunnies ($375 ~ i used them in THIS SHOOT! }

{ mixology }

my style is forever evolving, but in a way this outfit felt like a throwback to what i was wearing back when this blog first began. i guess big gold jewelry, paired with possibly-too-many prints (never!) is always going to be my safe place.

it started with this padlock-spots-plus-snakeskin-print sachin + babi blouse, which encouraged me to keep piling on the patterns. polka dots and leopard have always seemed like neutrals to me, and it just made sense to finish it all off with richly colored leather accessories, to highlight the blouse's singular, emerald leather stripe.

{ tiffany aviators, zara coat (previously seen HERE and HERE // similar style available HERE), necklace and blouse courtesy of sachin + babi, michael kors watch, vintage skirt (also worn HERE and HERE // similar style available HERE), rebecca minkoff bag, bottega veneta boots }

PS: don't forget i'm hosting a giveaway with sachin + babi (designers of this subtly-intricate top) ~ CLICK HERE to enter!!

{ 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!!

{ leopard lady }

{ karen walker sunnies, primary 'kelly' dress (you've seen me wear the exact same print HERE and HERE), rachel rachel roy clutch, sergio rossi shoes }

wore my namesake dress (double-wrapped and tied in the back this time) in its newest iteration (leopard print!), for a recent night out with my best friends and siblings at the darby ~ our current favorite spot for dinner and dancing in the city. the dress twisted and twirled in the most delightful way, and these tassel-trimmed shoes felt like just the right finish.

{ fizzy lizzy }

{ vintage ray-ban sunnies, kelly framel agate bauble necklace (similar HERE!), primary leopard tank (last seen HERE) and snakeskin clutch, corello belt, prada pants, alexander wang shoes + 3D glitter nail polish from my trip to brazil }
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see the head-to-toe over on my facebook page.

{ current } favorite

i'd like to strongly suggest that any of you who love leopard print and/or easy dresses as much as i do should immediately order up this chloe sevigny for opening ceremony frock, before they're all sold out and it's simply too late. i snagged it in its already-gone polka dot iteration, and it's quickly proven to be such a wardrobe workhorse: something you can wear to work, the laundromat, a cocktail party, and even to bed. i ordered mine an extra size up for increased slouchiness, and other than my helmut lang blazers and j.f + son shorts (oh, and maybe my wang wedges), it's the best money i've spent this season.

while we're on the topic, check out THIS ARTICLE from the weekend's new york times, which examines the enduring allure of the always-lovely ms. sevigny.

{ the new leisure suit }

{ lanvin for h+m sunnies, kelly framel jet leaf earrings and crystal meridian ring, helmut lang blazer, primary | new york silk t-shirt, alexander wang shorts (now on sale!) }

this may simply be a part of getting older, but more and more i feel most comfortable in clothes that are at once perfectly pulled-together and still totally relaxed. for instance, a great tailored jacket feels casual-as-can-be (but still appropriate anywhere), when paired with slouchy, statement-making shorts (instead of the more-expected skirt or pants). it feels grown-up but not uptight; therefore, just right.

{ repeat anew }

i ordered the blouse below around the time of my recent quintessentially post, and linked to it therein ~ siting it as a more understated way to wear the featured ensemble. more recently, unintentionally, i finished that thought:

i didn't realize until after shooting these photos how similar this look was to the latter example. if i had, i might not have shot it ~ but the truth is in real life we all wear our favorite pieces and silhouettes over and over, all the time. and this turned out to be a good example of how to wear the same look in a different (one month closer to summer) sort of way!


{ karen walker sunnies, vintage anne klein earrings, coach moto jacket, TOV blouse, courtesy of modcloth, kelly framel ring, primary | new york clutch, zara skirt (last seen HERE), juicy couture leather shorts, dries van noten shoes }

{ slick city }

{ leopard-lined umbrella from nordstrom rack, house of harlow sunnies (originally in THIS POST), vintage anne klein earrings, vintage trench (i recently replaced its originally too-matchy mustard buttons, which made a world of difference), banana republic heritage vest (recently seen HERE and HERE), vintage chanel belt (i bought it on my last trip to austin, and introduced in THIS POST), juicy couture cuff (last seen HERE), vintage 50's skirt (i discovered in on this day in las vegas), hue socks, stuart weitzman boots (also seen HERE) }

while i've been dreaming about sandals and swimsuits, the weather has actually stayed pretty nasty in new york (it's slowly warming up slightly, but those famed april showers are in full effect!). good thing there's costumery for all occasions! to check out more of my rain day duds, click HERE and HERE.

{ fragments of light }

{ lanvin for h+m sunnies, kelly framel leather loop earrings, vintage metallic blouse, vintage leopard pleated skirt, vintage clutch, HUE tights, lanvin for h+m shoes }

leaving 'look who got dressed in the dark!' jokes aside, this is the sort of outfit that i feel so completely comfortable in that putting it together is almost involuntary. give me a metallic blouse, knotted + leopard skit + similarly printed shoes and i'm good to go any day.

{ quintessentially }

usually i don't like to get terribly gabby about my get-ups. they're just things i wear (then share) ~ not too much to wax poetic about. but you guys i just HAVE to talk about this one! it is a compilation of so many of my favorite things:
let's start with the jacket. it's the same one i wore HERE, this time with the bouclé bottom-half zipped off. who doesn't love pieces that can be worn in multitudinous ways?! it's another lovely from primary | new york ~ a line i collaborate with my friend cleo on (she does the real work, i just pop in and out to provide occasional creative consulting and styling services. it's a fun gig!). the collection is all about offering those perfect building blocks for your wardrobe, and as i've been unable to stop wearing the living out of all my primary pieces this season (as proven by many, many costume posts), methinks it achieves its aim.
and the blouse below? oh, the blouse below! also infinitely transformable.

it's meant to be worn long and tunic-like ~ when done so it makes a lovely shape, like sails floating behind you. these can be tamed by utilizing the hidden keyholes, which allow you to loop a belt through. however, i like it best buttoned twice, with the remaining front-length scooped into an enormous knot. this brings all the back-draping forward, achieving a stouty trapeze silhouette. for a more understated iteration of the idea, i just put in a polite plea for THIS PIECE.

the skirt was last seen HERE. it would not be an exaggeration to say it's my favorite thing in my closet right now. it's got everything: a tight, high waist (cinched with a cool, super-wide, black elastic band), fantastically full volume, LEOPARD PRINT, and pockets!! if i didn't feel compelled to keep things interesting around here, i might just don it every day.

the boots i used to wear constantly, but until today they've remained untouched for nearly two years. pulling them out again made me thankful for well-made shoes ~ the kind you can wear every day of every east coast winter for a while, give a small sabbatical to, then return to seasons later and they're still as good as new (albeit with one or two re-soles along the way). the more clothes i see, the more i appreciate pieces like these.

{ lanvin for h+m sunnies, vintage anne klein earrings, primary | new york jacket, TOV blouse (courtesy of modcloth), bulgari bracelet, michael kors watch, zara skirt, HUE tights, loeffler randall boots (last seen LONG AGO) }

{ the streets }

captured at nyfw { above left via refinery29 // wearing: lanvin for h+m sunnies, coach leather bomber (seen HERE), elizabeth & james shirt, c. renee sweater (also worn HERE), vintage skirt & clutch, stuart weitzman boots // above right via nymag // wearing: gifted elizabeth & james sunnies, zara coat, gifted modcloth blouse, miu miu pants & brooch (on vintage bag), lanvin for h+m shoes }

{ money shot }

got streetstyled by geri 'g.money' hirsch at milk studios, during the debut of erin fetherston's new ERIN line.
{ wearing: zara shirt & skirt, renee c. sweater (i have the same piece in grey, which i wore HERE and HERE), vintage clutch, stuart weitzman boots }

{ the winter sun }

{ wearing: lanvin for h+m sunnies, vintage earrings, michael kors watch, forever21 t-shirt, vintage skirt, clutch & boy's blazer, badgley mischka shoes }

if you follow me on twitter, you may know that i've just returned home from las vegas, nevada (i went for ENKWSA ~ a trade show devoted to SHOES! endless pictures coming soon), ready to continue the stylistic-sensory-blitz with tomorrow's fashion week commencement. just wish i could have brought a little bit of that glorious desert sun back with me!! it sure would make outfit planning infinitely easier.

{ cool cat }

this weekend: wear, wear, re-wear. { versace sunnies, kelly framel earrings (NEW!), h+m scarf, zara leopard coat & snakeskin blouse, michael kors watch, vintage ring, gifted kate spade broome street jeans, pour la victoire boots }