7 for all Rear-kind...

I could wax-poetic about many denim brands, but there's one tried-and-true that I consistently rank above all others in terms of universally good fit, and flattering rear view, and that's 7 For All Mankind. If for some reason you have yet to discover that this is the jean brand you will reach for day-in and day-out, then now's the time to try them. Listen up ladies, the online boutique Blue Bee that I've mentioned before is offering 30% off all 7's denim... my recommendation is to try the Josefina (pictured here). It's slightly roughed up, with a narrow leg that you can cuff up or wear down, and comes in a nice wash. I've been wearing them for weeks and love them. The fit is true-to-size.

The discount code is 7FAM30B.. The discount code is valid 3/9 - 3/15.

Dean Alan at Planet Blue

Adorable bohemian prints by Dean Alan, an original bohemian hippy of the 60s.

Bee Mine!

Splendid, Ella Moss, Helmut Lang, Carlos Falchi, JBrand, James, Genetic, TLuxury, Clu, Alice & Olivia, 12th Street, Kooba, Burning Torch...some of the many brands this Santa Barbara-based boutique carries. Channeling Cupid, they're currently offering 30% off store-wide (code VAL0930)...the winter wardrobe is feeing a little tired, and Spring is just around the corner...

reTRENCH

In times of economic uncertainty...updated versions of the old classic to help you weather the storm. Luella, Mike & Chris, Nicholas K, Ligne 6 Martin Margiela

Super Love Destroyed, Boyfriend, Slouch, Lazy Boyfriend, Ex-lover...

Whatever you call them, get used to seeing them...EVERY denim brand is on the boyfriend bandwagon. A few examples here from Pratt, Current Elliot, and the original Levi's. Look for more from Genetic Denim, Prps, JBrand, Joes, Citizen, 7s, and others. Or just borrow/steal a pair of your boyfriends and make your own. Dress them up or down.

Flip flop fantasies...

I love tall boots, tights, winter dresses, and soft, bulky cardigans to wrap oneself in, with a passion. For me, the enjoyment I get from Fall and Winter ensembles, lessens the pain and malaise that many others experience and hate about the winter months. But there is a point, that day in mid-January that always strikes, when the leather boots start to constrict too much, and the woolen sweaters that cocooned and comforted start to itch...

On a recent morning while getting dressed, the sandals and flip flops that sit in the storage wrack on the back of my closet door eyed me patiently, daring me to put them on. It was 7 degrees outside, and all I wanted to do was walk to work in my reefs! Alas, it would be a good 5 months before doing so here in the Northeast. I have, however, already begun that slow march back to Spring and Summer, and the many sites and catalogs that I peruse have been taunting with frocks and accessories for warmer months. Tie-dyed-yummy-cotton-baring-shoulder dresses tease and capture my fancy...try Singer 22 for this and other perfect Summer styles from Gypsy 05.

It's staying light out later, and the mercury will slowly make it's way above freezing, so patience dear friends and flip flops, we'll get there soon enough.

Facebook-phobic

A new year means new year's resolutions, and for many - creating a facebook page - was probably at the top of the list of things to accomplish in 2009. For me, it was at the bottom of the list, and therefore has not been accomplished yet.

Now, I embrace technology everday. I blog at work on our company blog, and at home (albeit periodically). I know how to twitter and have posted photos on Flicker. I'm on the computer a good 8 hours of everday, and a blackberry almost as much. I text, ping, a blackberry message others. But for some reason, I cannot bring myself to create a facebook profile. I have, however, joined a new online social knitting community called RAVELRY. In the beta stage, it's a community of knitters, crocheters, and local yarn store owners about 250K strong. I can join forums and learn about technique, ask questions, log in my knitting supplies, keep track of my yarns, and gather inspiration.

Is it a privacy thing? Maybe. Or maybe it's just that I haven't had that overwhelming urge to join the masses - yet. I know I'm not alone. I have plenty of friends and family who are NOT part of the facebook community yet, either. But, the year is young, and things can change.

Anyway, my resolution for 2009, BEFORE launching into facebook, is to post on this blog at least several times per month. And although the focus will most likely remain on fashion, it will expand to include new topics and muses, time-to-time.

Until then, I happily remain part of the dying breed of facebook-profile-less citizens. Happy New Year, and talk to you soon.

Simon Says

It started today. Olympics-shmympics...Phelps who? Today was Day 1 of the Barneys Warehouse Sale! We're talking olympicized shopping where one can experience the Thrill of Victory, or the Agony of Defeat. Or is that Da Feet. No doubt dozens were line up this morning at 7 a.m. waiting for the doors to open on 17th Street between 7th and 8th Aves in NYC. On this evening at 7pm, the line was inside, and modest. In fact, there was no line heading into the men's section, unless you had to wait in line to check an oversized bag like myself, the BWS amateur.

Let me back up a moment and tell you why I was heading into the men's section.

I'm attending my friend's wedding on September 6th. I'm all set in terms of what I'm wearing, though I'm just finishing up with the accessories. My boyfriend however, was in need of an outfit. (I could not risk a gold corduroy suit episode the likes of Miranda's experience with Steve in Sex and the City!) I had a distinct vision of what he should wear, but I needed additional support. About two months ago, I concocted a plan: to enlist the help of none other than Barney's own Simon Doonan. I met Simon at a New York Observer party a while back. He was extremely nice, and I thought perhaps if I reached out to him via a mutual connection he might be willing to help. I planned on drafting an email that contained the specs of the day, followed by the simple, yet inevtiable question: what should he wear?

Call it fate, kismet, what have you, but fast forward to three days ago while I'm having lunch with clients at GIORGIONE in SoHo on Spring Street. We're sittting at a back table when in walks a woman dressed in a fabulous little white summer dress with pink embroidery. She looks vaguely familiar and is seated two tables away from us. (I know the dress, but for the life of me cannot remember the name of the designer!) Moments later the hostess walks back in our direction again, followed by two nattily dressed men: Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler. I muffled a screech of joy as I elbowed my colleague in the side and announced the arrival of the pair. There was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to chat with him, even if it meant following him into the men's room.

Like a well-rehearsed scene in a play, we sign our check, they sign their check. We get up to leave, they get up to leave. We start walking out and I embrace the moment and walk right up to Simon and say hello. It was as easy as 1-2-3. I said that I had been meaning to email him with my scenario and question. As I begin telling him the story, he invites Jonathan Adler and Liz Lange over to help. I barely say "I'm attending a wedding and my boyfriend needs a suit..." when he interjects three powerful little words: "Barneys Warehouse Sale." He tells me it starts tomorrow you must go! I describe the location of the wedding, time of day, etc, and his recommendation: dark blue suit in either tropical weight wool or cotton, with pale blue shirt, and NO TIE (which is exactly what I had in mind, but wasn't certain if it would be appropriate!) I was grateful. I thanked him and then let the trio exit.

NEXT DAY: We're in line on the evening of the first day of the sale. I anticipated pandemonium. Women and men ripping clothes out of each others hands and diving into bins of designer labels like wild animals attacking their prey. I was surprised to see instead, a modicum of order and organization. And even better: within the 10 minutes of stepping through the door, my boyfriend tracked a gorgeous Hugo Boss tropical weight wool suit in dark blue. It was a gold medal moment.

Thank you Barney's. Thank you Simon. I'll be forever grateful. Check back in a few weeks for photos from the wedding.

BEACH BAG

Note to self: the following are the only ingredients needed in one's suitcase when embarking upon a beach vacation for one week. I need to write this don't while the list of clothes I actually WORE while out in Montauk is still fresh in my memory.

- Two bikinis (1 bandeau, 1 basic string bikini)
- Two beach skirts
- Two color C&C basic tank tops (one sunshine yellow, one white)
- One pair Lucky brand comfortable cargo pants and beat up pair of 7's
- Two long-sleeved tops for cool nights and A/C (Michael Stars, Alternative Apparel)
- 4 shortsleeve tshirts (Aloha Maui, LNA deep V, Whitehorse Vintage Smiley Face T, old Loomstate Sunshine T)
- One sleeveless LNA tshirt in turquoise
- One Hurley sweatshirt
- One Free People knit sweater
- Two summer dresses: Roxy and Young, Broke & Fabulous
- Two pair of shorts: homemade Levi 501 denim cutoffs, and Danang silk/cotton cargos
- Terry lounging pants
- 3 white Fruit of the Loom wife beaters
- One silk scarf and bandana for hair
- Havaiana flip flops
- 2 pr dressier sandals

Just add a few other essentials, like sunscreen, sunglasses, hat or visor, underwear and toiletries and you're good to go. No need for 3 giant bags of basically everything from your closets and drawers. Remember to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Summer and the beach is about relaxing. About letting your guard down. About BEACHY wild hair, and just going with the flow.

Cut it out..

Cut offs - the new "it" short to be seen in? Please please please promise me that you'll think twice before spending money on pre-fab cutoffs especially ones that cost $175 (like the brand Siwy featured on the girls above)! Even I draw the line at that. Cut-off jean shorts as the moniker implies is a shortened pair of jeans. To get your own pair, here's all you need to do.

Step 1: dig through closet and pull out pair of jeans you haven't worn in ages. Or better yet, if you have a brother-in-law who does construction and wears Levi's to work in everyday, that are banged up, ripped, and broken-in, start with a pair of those.
Step 2: try jeans on and while standing in front of a mirror, use piece of chalk to draw approximate line as to where you want to cut them off.
Step 3: use sharp pair of scissors to cut off the legs.
Step 4: run through wash once to get desired fringing on the edges
Step 5: throw on Havaianas and old boyfriend t-shirt and go