about town
Thursday, September 13
It's been non-stop action in New York, hitting shows, going to meetings and, last night, co-hosting a party with my great friend Mary Alice Haney and Lucky's editor in chief Brandon Holley, along with actress Rose Byrne, Lulu Frost, designer Lisa Salzer, Natalie Joos and Alexis Bryan Morgan on a yacht. It was as fab as it sounds! Below are some quick highlights from the last few days. I'll share more later in the week about what I wore.
I did some did some mighty fine people watching outside Lincoln Center -- it looks calm here, but what a scene!
DVF show essentials: my ticket + a suitably glam clutch.
Models get pushed around on carts at Erickson Beamon.
Wearing a vintage blouse, leather jeans, a baroque River Island cardigan and a Clare Vivier clutch to Chris Benz's presentation.
NYFW essentials: Clare Vivier leopard clutch (available here), studded Zara clutch, striped Clare Vivier clutch (available here), and Serpui Marie mother of pearl minaudiere (it's sold out everywhere but this version is equally cool).
A fall chill crept into the air on Monday afternoon, prompting me to bust out my new military-inspired wool and tweed parka from Asos. I got a jillion compliments on it. (Just fyi: it runs large, so I ordered a size down.)
Sparkles, florals, and punchy hues at J. Crew. I MUST have those ankle strap heels!
In remembrance, on September 11 Manhattan's skyline was lit up by twin towers of light emanating from Ground Zero.
Chris Benz
Manhattan, by boat.
Getting my picture taken on the red carpet. I feel as embarrassed as I look!
With my good friends, floating party venue behind us.
different stripes
Wednesday, September 12
Mixed in with the kitschy retro prints, shimmery jacquard, and pops of neon there were some good old stripes at J. Crew's spring 2013 presentation yesterday. Jenna Lyons, the brand's president executive creative director who was at the affair, even sported a striped button-down shirt, herself, with a punchy pair of green floral print high-waisted trousers. To tide us over till next spring, J. Crew is serving up this reinvention of the striped staple, by adding diagonal lines to a freshly modern, graphic effect. Inspired by Jenna, I'd wear this top with...
1. J. Crew striped shirt, $75, jcrew.com
2. Lulu Frost Calypso necklace, $550, charmandchain.com
3. Topshop biker jacket, $500, topshop.com
4. Rebecca Minkoff suede pumps, $295, shopbop.com
5. Elizabeth & James metallic brocade pants, $395, netaporter.com
all-around mvp
Tuesday, September 11
For me, one of the ironies of working at the Conde Nast building in New York was that I would take great pains to get DRESSED every morning and then inevitably I would have to throw a cardigan or even a coat on over my outfit while sitting in my frigid air-conditioned office. If only I had owned this cardigan by Michael Kors. It will work so well as a go-to, throw-it-on-over-everything-and still-look-DRESSED cardigan.
1. J. Crew gingham blouse, $75, jcrew.com
2. Michael Michael Kors cardigan, $150, netaporter.com
3. Pauric by Pauric Sweeney Rio bag, $672, asos.com
4. Elizabeth & James pumps, $325, shopbop.com
5. Warehouse print pants, $75, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
NYFW street style
Monday, September 10
Spending time at NYFW always makes you feel like you're on the front line of fashion, and it's exhilarating. But without a doubt, the outfits outside Lincoln Center are as compelling as the ones inside on the runways. Below are a few of my favorite looks from the NYFW so far, and Lucky has compiled a bunch more here (along with links to where you can buy similar pieces).
Photos: HB Nam of StreetFSN.com
NYFW staple
Monday, September 10
While it's looking like a very white affair on the spring runways (with some railroad stripes thrown in--at least so far), the show goers outside Lincoln Center are showing their allegiance to shorts. Long, short, leather and denim varieties abound. New York is, after all, basking in the throes of Indian Summer. But, of course, this warm weather staple is being accompanied by some fancy bling. Thank goodness I ripped (literally!) this choker off my sister's neck the other day, as I decided it was a NYFW must--and exactly the right touch for a show-bound outfit*.
1. 3.1 Phillip Lim blouse, $550, netaporter.com
2. Forever 21 necklace, $12, forever21.com
3. Asos clutch, $43, asos.com
4. KORS Michael Kors booties, $375, shopbop.com
5. 3.1 Phillip Lim leather shorts, $675, netaporter.com
*Addendum: Strange but meaningful coincidence--I spotted Garance Dore in this blouse at the Diane Von Furstenberg show on Sunday!
new york bound
Friday, September 7
I am heading to New York Fashion Week tomorrow, so expect posts about the highlights, shows, my outfits, trends, and other fun details in the next few days. I am excited to be back in the city, but it will be a completely different experience than the one I had last month, when I was vacationing there with my family. Here are some snaps of our late summer fun, out in the Hamptons, with a quick visit downtown (the Freedom Tower above). Have a good weekend and talk to you from the Big Apple!
Heading to the beach.
Cool in the shade--our backyard.
On the bay.
Alfresco dining at Sunset Beach Hotel on Shelter Island. The action starts apres-beach.
Of course, I checked out the hotel's chic boutique.
The breakfast menu. Yum!
Summer love.
Fall is here.
shake your bootie
Friday, September 7
My current default shoe is a black ankle bootie. It works with just about everything and it's all day- (or night) long comfortable. The cut-out lace and scallop detailing got me hooked on this pair. And, of course, the giddily affordable price tag. I'd wear them with*...
1. Derek Lam dress, $432, theoutnet.com
2. Joseph shearling coat, $1051, theoutnet.com
3. 3.1 Phillip Lim clutch, $575, shopbop.com
4. Modcloth bootie, $57, modcloth.com
* Can you tell I'm thinking about what to wear to New York Fashion Week?
the winter coat
Thursday, September 6
As an LA resident, I own more winter coats than I should. It's sort of bordering on insane, but I am intrigued by the power of a coat because even though you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, the cover matters, and it's your coat. It defines your style, and any editor will tell you that it's the most important buy of the season, because a coat is something you wear day in and day out (in my case, it's more days than you'd think, as it really does get (relatively) chilly in LA). Every year I like to invest in a new one, while keeping my old ones in rotation, too, just to mix things up. This season's trendiest coats are trimmed with leather and fur, or both. Some feature military accents, contrasting sleeves, vivid color blocking, sleek mannish tailoring, along with countryside-inspired tweed and checks. Here are some of my top picks for the imminent deep freeze: an endlessly versatile zipper-trimmed convertible navy coat by J Brand; a swingy, easy leather-trimmed Porter Grey; an officer overcoat-like Asos (bought it, love the Chloe-inspired quilting); a sleek black leather-sleeved River Island (similar to the one pictured above) or BCBG's version in always-elegant camel; an off-duty fur-trimmed parka by Three Floor, a tweedy cocoon-like Topshop, and, the ultimate, Preen's shearling and color-blocked statement maker (pant, pant!). And some inspiration below to get stylishly warm!
back to work
Thursday, September 6
A pretty blouse that will work overtime at the office? Check. And stand up to post-work drinks as well as off-duty? Check and check. I'd employ it with...
1. Club Monaco lace-trimmed blouse, $149, clubmonaco.com
2. Bauble Bar drop earrings, $48, baublebar.com
3. Reed Krakoff leather tote, $1590, netaporter.com
4. Alexander Wang ankle-strap heels, $485, shopbop.com
5. Topshop quilted A-line skirt, $90, topshop.com
a touch of fur
Wednesday, September 5
One of my key winter accessories is a mink fur stole, which my mother gave me many years ago. (PETA don't hate me--it was a hand-me-down!) I wear it with light jackets, blazers, and my heaviest dead-of-January coats, and like Taylor Tomasi Hill (pictured above), I also wear it on its own, like a scarf. Topped over a filmy cocktail dress it looks especially luxe. With fur huge (again!) this coming season, I think a little bit goes a long way. Here are some furry accents to check out--all faux, of course: a (very this-season) patchwork snood from Asos (which I recently bought and love), another from Asos and Rachel Zoe.