The A-List

I have closets and drawers stuffed with clothes. Enough things that if I wore a different item every day, I could make it from now until New Years without repeating a one. Why then does it always happen that across the span of a wardrobe's lifetime there's always that one particular piece of clothing, or particular outfit that I love more than all others that if I could, I would wear every day of the week? Everyone has their favorites whether it's a busted up, ripped up, beaten up old pair of jeans being held together by patches of old bandanas, hand-stitched at the crotch; an old t-shirt soft as butter, thread bare at the neck, that never ever gets thrown in with the regular wash; a leather jacket, circa 19--, ripping at the seams, buttons falling off and/or replaced several times.... we all own things like this. It's about how they look on, how they make you feel when you wear them, or better yet, how you felt when wearing them at a particular time in your life. They are the ones we love the most and would cry over longest if anything ever happened to them. They are the A-List.

Those who know me have heard me say that if there was ever a fire in my apartment bulding, god forbid, and I needed to evacuate, the first thing I'd grab and launch out my front window, before myself, is my old pair of flare 7s, blown out at the knee, the ones that fit my butt perfectly. Embedded into the fibers of these jeans is the dust, beer, sweat and peanut shells from dozens of perfect sunny summer saturday afternoons spent at Yankees games with my girlfriends, a couple of years ago. It was perhaps one of the best summer's I've ever spent here in New York. Wrapped up in those jeans are moments of hysterical laughter, cheers, commiseration, support, and bonding. I don't fold them in with the B-list stack of jeans. They hang solitarily on a smooth wooden hanger always at the ready whenever I'm feeling a little nostalgic for the good old days.

Today in Loehmann's, groping my way through the new stacks of JBrand jeans, I overheard a girl say to her friend how she desperately needed to do a Fall closet cleanout -- that it was time to get rid of those old Levi's she had, clogging up valuable closet space. My heart skipped a beat, and I paused, tempted to convince her otherwise, to consider the places and spaces in time those old Levi's had been with her through.

But I didn't. If they're A-list material, they'll make their own case to stay. On my way out I found an Italian wool and mohair cardigan in deep aubergine, with simple little buttons down the front--it'll look adorable with my American Vintage camisole, and 7s. A-list material? Not yet. But with time, experience, and a little seasoning, it just might earn its spot in my closet.

Seasonal crossroads

If you live in the Northeast, or any place that experiences more than one season, you're at that point of the year--that seasonal cusp--that elicits a variety of emotions in people and is reflected in their clothes. On a mid-September day on the sidewalks of New York City you might see outfits that range from light, flirty sundresses and Grecian lace-up sandals, to moleskin a-line skirts, long-sleeved blouses and tall leather boots. It's that time of year that you experience the pang of despair in saying goodbye to summer, yet that rush of adrenaline as the mercury dips below 70'F and clothes you haven't seen in months suddenly start peaking out of your closet and drawers, winking at you.

"Psst....hey, remember me? That long black cardigan that barely left your body last winter?"

"Well hello old friend. Been thinking about you, and to be sure, you'll be back again this winter, as I've been hard at work planning my new Fall and Winter look."

For the past few weeks, all brand-name retailers, and online stores have been rolling out the new season. My virtual shopping cart is overloaded with playful frocks in corduroy and wool, silky tops, cashmere and pima cotton items soft as baby's' bottoms, boots in leather or suede, tall and short, chunky heeled and plain, buckled and unadorned. Over-the-knee socks, ribbed tights, tortoise-shell bracelets with lockets and keys dangling at the close, and coats to top it all off! As far as I'm concerned, there's no harm in looking. For when summer's wardrobe makes one last curtain call, when that last balmy breeze blows off the Hudson and the sun is just warm enough to leave the sweater at home one last time, and the temperatures drop even further, I'll be ready. My cursor, patiently hovering above the "complete purchase" button, will be called to action, and then, oh joy, I wait as the boxes and envelopes arrive, harbingers of the new season.

Back to school variations

YESTERDAY: Plaid skirt. Crisp white button down. Navy blue wool cardigan. Blue knee socks. Sperry Topsider Boat Shoes. Librarian frames. Friendship bracelet. Yellow school bus.

Two back-to-school trends I'm diggin' today:

Labor Day Outlet Shopping Post-Mortem

I don't outlet shop on a regular basis. I consider myself an omnivoric-shopper -- one who shops in boutiques like Olive&Bettes, specialty stores like Verve, department stores like Bloomies, and discount stores like Loehmanns, and of course--online, at my favorite stops listed to the left. But there's something to be said for hauling ones-self to an outlet mall where multiple brands both designer and everyday, abut one another in an outdoor, modern-day agora-like setting.

This past weekend hundreds of thousands of people (mostly women) participated in a shopping holiday frenzy that must be second only to the Christmas holiday season, in terms of volume and spending. Myself, sister, niece, and best friend and co-shopper-in-crime made our pilgrimage to an outlet center to take advantage of deep discounts and sales happening for the Labor Day weekend. Our shopping mecca destination--Wrentham, Massachusetts.

It was a very good day. And a little advanced planning completely paid off. We were fed and hydrated, and arrived at our destination within the first two hours of the stores opening. The evening before, we scanned the list of brands and stores at Wrentham, so when we got there we had a plan of attack--JCrew, the Gap, Ugg, Michael Kors, Banana Republic, Williams&Sonoma, were among the top stores to hit. There was no strolling, no chit chat. And once in a store, we systematically worked the floor, scanning wracks, and checking price tags. When the occasion called for it, we split up, but never for long. We stayed together for moments of approval "that looks adorable on you," moments of disapproval "not crazy about that cut on you, and the fabric feels cheap," and moments of unbridled joy and unconditional support: "OH MY GOD that bag is gorgeous!" Me, "But it's $279..." "Yes, but how much was it originally?" Me, "$389. And I've had my eye on it for weeks." "It is so you. You have to get it." Me--Done.

The trick to outlet shopping is to go in without expectation or low expectations. Keep an open mind. Do not go in looking for that ONE item you saw in the most recent JCrew catalog. There's a good chance you won't find it. Most outlets operate weeks, months, and even seasons behind.

We came, we saw, and we all left with some killer deals. My two finds--a Michael Kors black leather handbag with gold hardware accent that is to-die-for, and a new pair of scrumptious shearling lined leather UGGs that will keep me warm on the many shopping excursions I'll find myself on in the city this winter.