Outfit of the Day: Rachel Zoe Ali Cape

Thank goodness fall is here. I don't think I would be able to simultaneously handle the heat from work and the heat outside. Enough already.

Bring on the fall clothes (capes! faux furs!) and the liquid courage/motivation/will to live, people.

I can't get enough of this Rachel Zoe cape. I'll be rocking it all through the colder months.

Cape: Rachel Zoe Ali Cape

Jeans: AG Jeggings

Shoes: Coach

Outfit of the Weekend: Sparkly Stilettos and a Rendez-vous

As I continue to drink from the fire hose and simultaneously juggle seven flaming torches at work, I'm doing my best to keep a positive attitude. One way to do so? Think about the fantastic rendez-vous: new england mixer this past weekend. I'll post more pictures and details as other attendees post pictures I can steal :)

Another way? Whip out the fierce shoes and wear them again. There's just something about wearing sparkly heels...

Dress: TART

Shoes: Miu Miu (better pictures of them here)

Mantra for the week? Deep breaths and happy thoughts.

Have a good one.

My Two Cents: The Perfect Black Ballet Flat

When it comes to classic black ballet flats, I play the field. There’s a lot of love ‘em and leave ‘em going on but, in true player defense, that’ll happen when you haven’t found “the one” (or when you’re sketchy and have commitment issues).

I’ve gone through a lot of black flats. Like clockwork, the moment my current pair finally gives out from being worn into the ground I’m off to find something better. I keep trying because I believe that the elusive perfect classic black ballet flat exists, kind of like the Pegasus, 100% flattering swimwear and the answer(s) to world peace.

It’s brain dump time.

Here are the ones I’ve loved (or disliked) in my quest for a pair that really works. Keep in mind that I avoid extremely pricey flats.

Banana Republic Black Flats

I dig Banana’s ballet flats. They look great against fall foliage, dontcha think? I haven’t owned a pair in about two years because my size always seems to be out of stock, but the ones I’ve long since tossed were well made and lasted a long time. Be careful with sizing. I never had any issues with my shoes (always purchased TTS), but I’ve heard that sizing is inconsistent these days.

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J Crew Ballet Flats

At over $100 a pop, these were not worth the money. The break in period seemed to last forever, and the support just isn’t there. If you like a dainty ballet flat, these could work. Just don’t do too much walking in them or you’ll have back pains. On a positive note, they’re attractive on your feet.

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Cole Haan Maria Sharapova Ballet Flat

If I hadn’t been the Village Idiot who purchased these a half size too small, we could have a winner. They’re an attractive shoe for one thing (the corset detailing on the back is different in a good way), and the supportive cushioned sole is super comfortable. I might give in and buy another pair in the correct size. These seem like they’d hold up for a more than a year even with continuous wear.

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Bp. Frankie Flat (Nordstrom)

Ah, the economical flat. If you’re on a budget, this is a good pair to consider. I wore mine through the bitter months of unemployment (see picture above). They last forever (forever = one year in ballet flat time), and they’re sturdy. Eh, possibly too sturdy. The stiffness takes some time to get used to and they never really mold to your feet. At around $50, you can afford wear them into the ground without taking great care.

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Tory Burch Reva

I love the cut of the Reva—the shoe simply looks attractive on the foot. I find mine to be comfortable, though I’ve heard less favorable opinions about how the shoes fit and feel. As I slowly evolve and shed bits of logo-whoredness, I’m not too keen on the Revas. They’re kind of like sunglasses with flashy designer logos…not really my thing. They hold up, for sure, but so do flats at half the cost. 

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Frye Carlson Flat

I. Love. This. Shoe.
I may have found “the one.” They’re real leather, and the quality of craftsmanship shows. I broke into these quickly, and they’re comfortable for extensive walking. I’ll probably continue replacing these shoes for the next couple of years. I'll post a real life photo of them soon.


What flats are you wearing these days? Any other recommendations?

Completely Random: Who Wants Bread?

If anything good came from Hurricane Irene, it's the loaves of banana bread I baked to keep from going stir crazy.

Back story: I'm weird about the ripeness level of the bananas I eat. I prefer them bright yellow. Forget it if they're really brown and soft--those suckers go to the freezer for future baked goods.

Well, that's all fine and good if someone (me) didn't completely overestimated my weekly banana consumption each week at the grocery store. Bananas were ripening faster than I could consume them, which resulted in this:

That's 27 accumulated bananas over the past few months, folks. A little insane if you ask me.

Yesterday was as good of a time as any to clear some of these things out of the freezer. Instead of bananas, I now have ample loaves of bread:

Good thing co-workers and office mates love free baked goods. I need to get this out of my house.

Yeah, I know, really random post, but it's a funny and light story for a Monday morning.

Have a great week, everyone :)

Outfit of the Day: Rockin' the Zara Blazer

There are certain unfortunate situations we should just come to expect in life: breaking an all day healthy eating streak when (surprise!) someone brings in brownies, coming down with a cold right before vacation, and being held up in an impromptu end-of-the-day meeting when there's somewhere you need to be the minute the clock strikes five.

Today it was the impromptu meeting. I was scheduled to preview ASOS's Fall and Holiday 2011 collections in downtown Boston right after work, but life had other plans. I ended up getting caught in a meeting and missed my appointment. I feel like a turd for missing it, but it is what it is. I just hate being unreliable.

Anyway. this is what I wore today. I'm loving the Zara blazer. It's my souvenir from Spain :)

Dress: Tinley Road (from Piperlime)

Blazer: Zara

Shoes: DV by Dolce Vita

Matters of Style: Do You Shop for "Real" Life or for Your Imaginary Life?

 

You look fabulous, Darling.
(image taken from random google search. I think the photo is vintage Dior)

This topic came up on an online community I frequent, so I thought I’d explore it in more depth.

Fantasy land is a remarkable place. In it, I work out six days a week, blow dry my hair every morning before work, keep a spotless apartment and enjoy wine with girlfriends every weekend. Oh, and I wear fabulous ensembles 24/7.

In reality, I generally miss at least one work out, I normally opt for the au natural air dried hair look (sleeping in is king), my apartment is in shambles and my girlfriends and I keep busy schedules that prevent regular get-togethers. Oh, and I sometimes schlepp up to the grocery store in yoga pants.

Generally, I recognize where reality ends and fantasy land begins (I proudly admit that I’m no wonder woman). When it comes to shopping, though, this isn’t always true. I’m fairly certain anyone who has every purchased something impulsive—and outrageous—that was seen in a magazine, in a movie or on the runway and later asked her/himself, “how, or when, am I actually going to wear this?” has crossed that faulty fantasy/reality line, too. I know I have…again and again.

It’s easy to fall victim to imaginary-life dressing. Heck, just this week I was looking through the Nordstrom catalogue that arrived in the mail and began dog-earring pages with crazy faux fur vests and platform heels. I work in a super-casual office where people wear jeans half of the time. I walk everywhere (heels are only worn every so often). I have a cute faux fur jacket hanging in my closet (never worn). Do I need to be buying faux fur vests and platform heels? Hell to the no.

I think when I see things online, in stores or in catalogues that I’m looking through the eyes of the me that I want to be wearing those clothes (you know, the one who wears fabulous ensembles 24/7) and not the me here in good ole’ reality: the ordinary little me who braves the awful city humidity in wash-and-wear dresses and ballet flats.

A couple of years ago I had quite the collection of cocktail dresses accumulating (rough estimate, 25 +). Sure, I had work functions that warranted such attire, and I did go out on Saturday nights, but not enough to justify owning 25 plus dresses worth several hundred dollars each. I was delusional. Even now I have to fight the urge to purchase new cocktail dresses. They’re just so pretty. And glamorous…and not my reality. Can I please be a fabulous jet-setter just for one week?

Sure, we all have to dip into a little fantasy every now and again (see exhibit a), but not so much that it borders being excessive. Beautiful things are meant to be worn, not left hanging with tags in the closet because there’s no place realistically to go.

So now I’m asking you…
Do you shop for your real life or your imaginary one? What was your most fantastical purchase? Did you end up wearing it?

NYC Weekend in Photos

Up until this past weekend, I'd never been to New York City before. I feel so backwoods admitting that! I live so close now that it borders silly/ridiculous that I've never visited.

Yeah, so I dragged my backwoods butt but onto a bus on Friday and headed to NYC for one of my best friend's bachelorette party. Though she isn't tying the not until late October, our schedules are all going to be so crazy come fall that it made sense to party it up now.

The weekend did not disappoint. The bride-to-be is a *tad* obsessed with the 80's, so Friday night we dressed up and went out to rock out to some 80's tunes. God love New York. No matter how dumb or questionable your choice in clothing, there is always going to be someone in the city who will outdo you. We definitely stood out, but people seemed receptive and were very kind to the bride-to-be.

Your Type, no? (Picked that shirt up for $11 out of some trashy side street shop after getting off the bus)

The BTB looks like she stepped off of Madonna's "Like a Virgin" video

The couple's toast

Pretty woman walking down the street...

Lookin' all sorts of classy (or all sorts of something).

The next night was dress like a normal person and go out night. I didn't get an outfit photo, but I wanted to show the sparkly top I wore. Unfortunately, it's a photo with me holding a beer (which I swear I never ever drink)...

With the lovely lady of the evening...

Last but not least, I leave you with a creeper. Every bar/club has them, but this guy makes some of the shady folk I've encountered seem like the boy next door. He literally just stood in front of the stage where girls were dancing and snapped pictures of them on his phone. No shame whatsoever. I don't even want to know what he does with them. Ick. I caught him in the act.

Good times all around. Now I'm looking forward to the wedding :)