boots and tights

wishlist: madewell

2010-06-11T19:25:00.009-04:00

now that madewell has made their entire collection available online, i have a new appreciation for the j. crew spin-off....

shopping online can be overwhelming: so many websites have reached their saturation point with page upon page of similar, indistinguishable items.

however, madewell's revamped site is kind of refreshing: their collection is really well-edited, the aesthetic is consistent, and most importantly, i don't feel overwhelmed by too many choices. i really think that when consumers are presented with too many choices, they often leave without choosing anything at all.

here's my madewell wishlist:

harem short: silky, slouchy and black - perfect for a night out.

high summer dress: basic cotton sundress with a twist. (i think it just sold out!)

colordrop stone necklace: kind of gaudy, but i like it.
two-tone oxford: a great translation of menswear for summer.

watercolor wash

2010-05-22T10:47:00.009-04:00

floral dress, zara. wedges, target. necklace, soho street vendor.

if you look closely, it looks like the floral print on this dress was painted on in watercolors... perfect for a warm spring day.

with all the recent sex and the city 2 hoopla, i was reminded of the season when carrie, not in the least bit apologetic for it, unveiled the bright straps or band of her bra in nearly every ensemble. people were divided: was sex and the city challenging the norm that underwear should always remain under?

oh, the politics of the bra.

i love this dress, but the cut-outs in the back pose an annoying dilemma. luckily, i own a floral print bra in the same exact color scheme of this dress, and from far away, the band (kind of) seamlessly blends in. the straps, however, scream, "yeah, I'm showing my bra!!"

for those of you who, like me, aren't flat as a board, how do you feel about outfits that complicate what you need to wear underneath? do you avoid them altogether, or do you go to great lengths to find the perfect strapless/backless contraption to keep it all together?

too cool for school

2010-05-19T22:49:00.003-04:00

purple-diary

chloe never ceases to amaze me. the fact that sometimes i hate her outfits and still manage to love her anyway makes her a fashion hero in my book. most of the time, though, i covet everything she wears.

where can i find this belt or something like it?!? i've been obsessed for weeks.

i lost two cities, lovely ones

2010-05-18T19:39:00.001-04:00

jacket, walmart. t-shirt and skirt, vintage. feather cord, forever 21. chain bracelet, ann taylor loft. sheer socks, h&m. heels, born.

i have an awful, awful habit of losing jewelry that holds sentimental value: the watch that was the first gift my dad ever gave my mom (luckily, recovered); the gold snake bracelet i bartered down from $80 to $25 at an NYC flea market; the blue elephant charm i bought in san francisco's china town.

wearing them almost daily, these pieces became my trademarks. i was wracked with guilt when i lost the watch, knowing i had lost a piece of my parents' history together. when i found it buried under the seat of my car five months later, i was elated. i don't wear it anymore out of fear of losing it again. the bracelet and necklace are gone, though, and honestly, whenever i think about them, i feel a little pang of sadness - and guilty for my carelessness.

clothes can tell a story, too, of course, but most of what i own is cheap and replaceable. but this shirt, like the necklace and bracelet, has become a part of me. i've probably worn it once a week for the past six years. i bought it at an amazing, enormous vintage store near my hometown. in high school, i would spend hours scouring their racks for t-shirts, boots, chain necklaces and purses. i remember feeling devastated when i learned that they were downsizing from a warehouse-sized space to a tiny, overstuffed closet a couple of streets over. i'm kind of embarrassed to admit it, but i would cry if i lost this shirt.

i think most people would tell me that it's silly, or even superficial, to get so emotional over pieces of jewelry or clothing... but can't we value a watch or a t-shirt as much as or even more than a photograph?

what a beautiful buzz

2010-05-17T20:46:00.001-04:00

with tomorrow's re-release of exile on main street and jimmy fallon's dedication of an entire week of shows to the stones and their new documentary, it seemed timely to devote a post to my two favorite stones girls: anita pallenberg and bianca jagger.

all pictures, fashionspot.com

both shared a love for quirky headgear and the ultimate cool girl's uniform: a menswear suit. what i love about anita and bianca was their ability to seamlessly shift between the masculine and feminine. they were equally at home in a suit with hats and boots as they were in sheer dresses with glamorous furs and feathers.

sometimes you have to go the originators for real inspiration... the kind of inspiration that makes you want to wear a glittery turban out to a bar, a suit and hat on your wedding day or shorts so short they should be illegal.

leather and lace

2010-05-12T21:43:00.001-04:00

leather skirt, vintage. tank, paul and joe for target. bra, urban outfitters. necklace, vintage.

my recent leather fixation was spurred by the discovery of this skirt at a local vintage/consignment shop. part biker, part dominatrix, part ridiculously eighties, i tried to temper the severity of the skirt with this delicate sea foam green camisole... then, i got carried away with the addition of my beloved strappy bra, which kind of brought me back to square one.

i'll save my vintage leather mini skirt for another post. currently on the hunt for a pair of buttery taupe or tan leather shorts...

update: http://www.whowhatwear.com/website/full-article/go-buy-now-all-weather-leather/

^^yeah, pretty much everything i could ever want but not afford^^

wasteland

2010-05-11T08:12:00.000-04:00

tank, thrifted. necklace, forever 21. skirt, forever 21. wedges, cynthia vincent for target. scarf, urban outfitters.

glorified scrubbing

2010-05-08T12:25:00.000-04:00

style.com

25% of alexander wang's spring collection could be described as glorified "scrubbing," as we used to call it back in the day when you wore a hoodie sweatshirt and gym pants to school. at first, i wasn't really sure that i could get behind the idea of designer sweatshirts with voluminous sleeves and leather accents. but then, my persistent desire to be comfortable (yes, i repeatedly commit the sin of letting my ass hang out in leggings while wearing crappy old t-shirts and boots to the supermarket) got the better of me.

sweatshirt poncho, target. white tee, gap. tangled cross necklace, forever 21. jeans, target. bag, old navy. motorcycle boots, vintage.

i'm kind of obsessed with this hoodie/poncho hybrid right now. it's just too damn comfortable to take off. even if i had the money, i don't think i'd spend $400 on an a.wang sweatshirt. $400 on one his body-con cut out dresses? different story. but this $20 "thing" from target satisfies that lazy, "i don't want to get dressed" feeling i always get on the weekends.

i also scored the bag for $6 bucks from old navy without realizing how evocative it is of the handbags in his S/S 2010 collection, chunky silver trim and all. yes, alexander wang has certainly hit the mainstream.

nights in pink satin

2010-05-06T20:20:00.000-04:00

shirt, bcbg. shorts and ankle boots, urban outfitters. necklace, vintage. studded cuff, express. men's nail bracelet, aubaine.

never, ever did i think i would say this, but lately, i've been really into pale pink. my wardrobe is pretty much a monochromatic wash of black and gray, and i've always loathed pink in all its inherent girly-ness. now, i find myself scanning the racks for neutral shades of pink, taupe and tan, eschewing my usual black and gray. and if it's lingerie-inspired or lace-covered, then i'm buying it.

i found this $200 bcbg max azria top at tj maxx for $40. it was one of those brilliant shopping moments when your boyfriend is dragging you out of the store (because the only reason you were there in the first place was to buy him shorts) and you're telling him "just one more minute, i swear!" and then some gleaming, beautiful, misplaced satin thing catches your eye. i think this was hanging off the end of the women's plus-size pants rack. i really love this shirt. it encapsulates everything i want for spring right now: neutral, lacy, and lingerie-inspired with corset-like detail. and, it goes perfectly with my fake-chloe scalloped shorts and painful chunky pink wedges that i can't wear for more than five minutes at a time.

le smoking, le sigh.

2010-05-05T20:40:00.008-04:00

helmut lang's inconic photo / stylefrizz.com

currently loving anything menswear- or tuxedo- inspired. since pure and unadulterated le smoking is pretty severe, i've been looking for other ways to channel the look (and because really, i have no place to go that would warrant wearing a sharply tailored suit.)

blazer, banana republic. vest, target. satin cummerbund belt and shorts, express. oxfords, aerosoles.*

bodysuit, zac posen for target.

long vest, forever 21. lace-up boots, urban outfitters.

give me pretty florals and subtle nudes, but i'll always love black menswear silhouettes with a feminine twist.

*confession: i have grandma feet that hurt like hell in heels. i'd totally wear orthopedic shoes if they were stylish. aerosoles are the only three to four inch heels that i can tolerate for more than an hour at a time.

if i could wear pajamas every day i would

2010-05-05T19:29:00.000-04:00

romper, charlotte russe ($12). beaded necklace, forever 21. bracelets, vintage.

summer stopped by for the weekend: it was almost 90 degrees on saturday and sunday, and not without the gross and oppressive jersey humidity that tortures us every year (ok, i'm sure people in florida would tell me to shut up and stop complaining)... perfect weather to run around the park in my cheap new romper and mess around with my expensive new camera!

so it's not the black one-shouldered debbie-inspired number i've been coveting and which i have yet to find. however, during one of my usual lunch-break power-shopping trips, charlotte russe lured me off the beaten path at woodbridge mall with the promise of $12 rompers. hoping for black, tiny and one-shouldered (nope!), i settled for black, button-down and scoop-necked instead.

the minute i tried the thing on, i didn't want to take it off. soft, comfortable cotton + swingy, loose shorts = pajamas that are permissible for day-time wear.

gladiator sandals, vintage target (yeah, these are the infamous 4-year old "hermes" sandals).

in pursuit of cooler boots

2010-04-28T22:17:00.000-04:00

is there anything more moronic looking than a girl wearing fuzzy uggs with a mini skirt and bare legs? (maybe girls walking around in uggs and terry track suits with the words "pink" or "juice couture" emblazoned on their asses.) i always thought summer boots were an oxymoron, but my love for boots has sent me on a quest for warm weather-appropriate versions.

it's been particularly cold here in new jersey this week, so even though it's almost may, i'm still wearing leather booties and long pants. what i really want, though, is a pair of transitional boots made of canvas or linen to take me through spring and right into summer.

bootsaholic.com

since these isabel marant spring 2010's are out of the question...

i'm considering some far cheaper options.

for me, all roads seem to lead back to urban outfitters. i'm trying to expand my budget-shopping horizons, but it's hard when there's an urban store right five minutes down the road from my office! i've become an expert at scouring their $10 and $20 dollar sale racks.

i see these boots paired with an old, vintage slip of a dress, or an old ratty tee and perfectly worn in denim or leather shorts. more on my new leather fixation for another post...

blondie is the name of a band

2010-04-25T22:25:00.001-04:00

rateyourmusic.com

i need a tiny, black one-shoulder romper to complete my life.

ebay. com

deborah-harry.com

if i could have any face in the world, it would be debbie harry's. her beauty is unreal, all razor-sharp cheekbones and cupid-bow lips. the men behind the front woman may have insisted "blondie is the name of a band," but it was all about the inimitable debbie.

i think that many times, when i'm getting ready to go out on weekends, i'm subconsciously trying to replicate her look. platinum hair, dark cat-eye eyeliner, sky-high hemlines, black one-shoulder dresses...

dress, urban outfitters. chain necklace, vintage. wedges, faryl by farylrobin

i'm pretty sure the only reason i go out anymore is so i can wear all the things i can't wear to work, which is like 80% of my wardrobe.

for the birds

2010-04-22T18:27:00.000-04:00

i can't help but love anything bird-related. but in recent years, bird motifs have been exhausted as an interior design trend, with cute little birds flying on everything from pillows to curtains to wallpaper (anthropologie, anyone?)

however, it seems like the trend has been re-invigorated through fashion with miu miu's spring 2010 collection. overall, the collection, which was kind of chaotic, didn't really do it for me. the collision of clashing animal prints (cats with birds), colors (navy with black), sequins (splattered on top of prints) and shapes (collars, ruffles and cut-outs) seemed contrived and disjointed, like "let's see how many random/quirky/kitschy things we can slap on a pants suit!"

thefashionpolice.net

style.com

the stand-out items in the collection were the much-blogged about satin bird platforms. scanning through images of the collection, i was instantly drawn to the shoes and reminded of the beautiful, dreamy bird-appliqued sky-blue rochas dress that kirsten dunst wore to cannes a few years ago. i remember a lot of critics hated that dress!

played out or not, i still love birds. some recent bird-related online scores:

bird cage jewelry stand, urban outfitters ($10)

owl jewelry tree stand, urban outfitters ($5). dollar store elephant figurine.*

*i may love elephants more than i love birds!

i tend to neglect a lot of my jewelry by leaving it tangled up and out of sight in dusty old jewelry boxes. these jewelry holders offer the perfect solution: visibility, with cute bird themes to boot.

glitter shoulders

2010-04-21T20:59:00.000-04:00

if you can't get your shoulder-sequin fix at balmain...

dress, h&m. turquoise cross studs, san francisco street vendor.

...there's always h&m.

sock it to 'em

2010-04-20T19:30:00.000-04:00

recently, i've been feeling conflicted about socks. yeah, these are the silly kinds of things i worry about in my free time.

usually they're relegated to the confines of boots and long pants, but lately, designers, bloggers and the odd celebrity have unabashedly displayed them for all to see.

burberry spring 2010 showed ribbed, scrunched socks with beautifully twisted and knotted heels. (god, i would kill for that entire collection!)

jcrew.com

jcrew.com

j. crew infused its spring 2010 catalog with shots of neon color, courtesy of sheer anklets. their fall 2010 collection features nubby tweed shorts with heathered thigh-highs.

thefashionspot

chloe's been rocking the socks for years, some times more successfully than other.

here's my burberry interpretation for $30:

wedge sandals, sheer socks, target.

dress, forever 21. cuff, express.

*please excuse the quality of my photos... i'm working on getting a better camera ASAP!

i don't know, sometimes visible socks just look... gimmicky. they work best when they complement an outfit, as in the case of burberry's muted sock n' shoe tones, not distract (chloe, i love you, but white socks with black clogs?)

(speaking of j. crew, how great is their collaboration with fenton/fallon? i would order one of the necklaces, but i determined they're not worth the $200/avg. price tag due to the trendiness factor (chains? check. spikes? check. tangles? check.) if i'm going to invest in jewelry, i'll stick to more classic pieces.

inspiration: roman holiday

2010-04-19T22:30:00.000-04:00

a little inspiration for spring...

"american girl in italy" by ruth orkin, stuck in the corner of my mirror.

i love this photo, which graced the cover that i tore off from a thank-you note. don't we all want this reaction when we walk down the street? the shawl, the bucket bag, the gladiator sandals... so effortless, even though her beautiful face is harried. a year ago, i was traipsing around rome in the cold, early-spring rains that alternated with warm sunshine. yeah, it was difficult to dress accordingly. we've gotten over the cold hump of winter, and now i'm craving the ease and simplicity of summer dressing... but light jackets, thin sweaters and flats will have to suffice for now.

actually, i think orkin took that photo in florence... but i made it there, too.

p.s. yeah, i know my bra is showing.

crazy strappy bra, urban outfitters. tank, american apparel. lipstick, revlon matte in really red.

a proper introduction post

2010-04-18T18:15:00.000-04:00

first things first. welcome to "boots and tights," a lifestyle blog where i'll be documenting my personal style and thoughts on fashion, design, beauty, food, fitness, and the other things i love. throw in a healthy dose of narcissism in the form of personal style photos - because when it comes down to it, isn't that what a personal style blog is all about? - and we'll see how this thing evolves!

so why the name "boots and tights"? it's a nickname i earned during sophomore year of college because of my penchant for black boots, tight tight pants and short short skirts, items that have come to form the foundation of my wardrobe. come spring of that year, my then-crush (and present boyfriend) would call me "hermes" because of the now-ubiquitous gladiator sandals i wore to class everyday. people around me didn't always seem to "get" my outfits, but i never balked at the nicknames or took offense. instead, i embraced them. to me, these names not only symbolized the individuality in how i choose to dress, but also the freedom in not caring about what others think.

for now, i'm in central jersey working professionally as a grant writer, devouring as many fashion, health and lifestyle magazines and blogs as i possibly can in my free time. i tell myself that someday, scott schuman or garance dore will snap a photo of me walking down the street, and the selby will immortalize my amazing soho apartment and the beautiful, over-flowing contents of my closet. but until then, i'll survive on my less than modest income with a wardrobe cobbled together from urban outfitters, thrift and vintage stores, and wal-mart (yeah, wal-mart! and i'm not ashamed to admit it.)

please comment, link, suggest to others, etc. i'd love to hear from you!