My son started kindergarten this year, and I have to admit, I’m having a lot of fun with all the school stuff.  I wouldn’t say I loved school, but I was quite devoted to it (realizing fairly early on that if I did well, I could open a lot of doors for myself).  And both of my parents were school teachers, so even when I wasn’t in school, I was hanging out in classrooms or at teacher supply stores.  Put another way, there’s something totally comforting to me about sitting in a tiny desk chair staring at chalkboards, helping out with homework assignments, filling in Scholastic book orders and hearing about what it takes to get enough marbles in the jar for the next classroom reward.

The images that I associate most with the start of school are those bulletin boards that depict the start of fall (and thus the start of a new school year) with a giant tree that’s shedding a bunch of leaves (and maybe surrounded by some pumpkins or with a schoolhouse in the background) and that have a snazzy tag line like “Fall into Reading” or “Fall Back to School” or “Fall in Love with Learning.”  In fact, I’ve helped my mom put up this bulletin board in her classroom on a number of occasions.  If you think you have no idea what I’m talking about, see if this triggers a wave of nostalgia:

And this is where fashion inspiration can come from literally anywhere.  I saw this Peter Pilotto dress on MatchesFashion (http://www.matchesfashion.com), and the print reminded of these bulletin boards:

It looked like the MOST PERFECT fall dress I had ever seen, and I had to get it because it felt so right for me and reflective of everything I had been thinking about with my son starting school.

I think we all have pieces in our closets that we reacted to because they triggered some comforting or happy memory.  I love that fashion can be emotional … it’s not just making a statement to the outside world, but it’s about how it makes YOU feel.  And this dress made me feel that my son was really starting his life with so many great things (new friendships, school projects, joining a team) to look forward to.

I’ve written a number of posts about fashion allowing us to express different aspects of our personalities.  Now that it’s October and many of us (myself included) have begun to feel some pressure to come up with a really clever costume for Halloween, I’ve started thinking more about how fashion allows us to TRY ON different personalities.  After all, it’s no coincidence that we sometimes refer to fashion as “playing dress up.”

On Halloween, of course, we can go to extremes, but even on a regular day, there are ways we can have a little fun with fashion by subtly adopting looks from others.  Doing so allows us to step outside our comfort zone, without going too far, to see if something new works.  If it does, great … make it your own.  And if it doesn’t, well … you can always change clothes tomorrow.

For example, today I was feeling in a Top Gun kind of mood.  I know what you’re thinking … whaaaat … where are the aviator sunglasses and bomber jacket (not to mention the Kenny Loggins soundtrack)?!?  It’s a totally fair point, but I was going for subtle.

You see, Top Gun has been in my head all weekend.  On my flight back from New York last Friday, a very kind gentleman helped me put my carry-on suitcase in the overhead bin, and when I looked at him to thank him, I discovered it was none other than Goose himself … Anthony Edwards!  And then the next day I got my hair cut, and my amazing stylist Chris took it shorter, and as soon as I saw it styled (and also because Goose was still in my head), I couldn’t help but notice a Kelly McGillis-Code Name Charlie vibe.

So today I put a little more curl in my hair and used a little more hairspray and then choose an Altuzarra button-down striped shirt (rolling up the sleeves, of course) with the accompanying contrast-striped pencil skirt.  Not a total copy of the professional-but-feminine astrophysicist/civilian with Top Secret clearance Top Gun look (again, it’s not Halloween), but definitely inspired by it:

It was fun to do a little experimenting today.  Sticking with the same tried-and-true looks day-in, day-out can get a little boring.  Not to mention … who isn’t a sucker for Top Gun?

After traveling for about three weeks straight, I finally have a week at home!  I’ve been super-excited to catch up with my son, hang out with my dogs, sit and do a couple of LEGO sets (which is basically my version of meditation).  I didn’t really feel like having any pictures of me taken this weekend, but I still wanted to write a post since I’ve been MIA for a few days.  And after all that travel, what better subject to write about than one that was a big struggle for me (and perhaps for other working women) — TO CHECK OR NOT TO CHECK (a bag, that is).

When I first started to travel for work, it was inconceivable that I wouldn’t check a bag.  I had face lotions, body lotion, perfume, eye solution, color-safe shampoo and conditioner, hair spray, teeth whitening rinse and various other liquids that were difficult to size down to 3.4 ounces and stuff into a Ziploc baggie.  But then I discovered two things.  First, if you’re traveling with co-workers, it can be considered bad form to check a bag and keep everyone waiting at baggage claim for an additional 45 minutes.  Second, even if you’re traveling by yourself, 45 minutes can be the difference between squeezing in a good nap once you get off the LA-to-NYC redeye or having to get ready and go straight to meetings.

What to do?  What to do?  What to do?

Some of these items have readily available travel-size options (e.g., eye solution and hair spray), and I ended up ordering those off of Amazon or Sephora in bulk.  Why in bulk?  Because travel-size items run out four times as fast and inevitably you’ll forget you’re almost out the night before your next trip when it’s too late to make a run to the store.

For the other items, I could painstakingly transfer small portions of product to travel-size containers that I get from the drug store, but have you ever tried doing that?  It’s a tedious process that needs to be repeated frequently, and more product seems to spill outside the container than it.  There are some products I can’t even figure out how to open (because they say that exposure to air degrades the product … hmmm), so I couldn’t transfer them even if I wanted to.

Instead, I’ve started packing samples of different beauty products.  They may not be the same brands that I regularly use, but they are of similar quality and do much of the same thing.  Sometimes I even like them better than my usual product and end up ordering the full size for use at home.  And thankfully, it’s pretty easy to collect great samples nowadays using these three techniques:

1.  Subscribe to a monthly beauty box that delivers large-size samples of skin care, hair care and cosmetics directly to your door.  My favorite is Glossybox (pictured above) (http://www.glossybox.com).  For between $17.50 to $21.00 per box, you get five beauty products every month that are tailored to your skin type/tone and preferences.  Birchbox (http://www.birchbox.com) is another option that’s a little cheaper ($10 per box).
2. Maximize the samples you receive with your regular beauty purchases.  Sure, sites like Sephora (http://www.sephora.com) and Nordstrom (http://www.nordstrom.com) always offer three to five samples with every purchase, but almost all department-store sites have various times during the year when you can receive a gift bag with 15 or more samples with a minimum purchase.  I try to time my big beauty purchases with these promotions and just hang on to the samples for my next trips.  I think Neiman Marcus (http://www.neimanmarcus.com) offers some of the best quality samples for the amount you’re required to spend.
3. Make the effort to get to know someone at the beauty counter and actually go into the store.  I know it’s a hassle, but this can often be the best way to get a ton of samples of the products you actually use at home.  So many people have started ordering online that you really are rewarded for seeking out a personal touch.

So now I don’t check a bag, and even though people think I’ve become low-maintenance, I haven’t sacrificed any of my beauty routine.

I have a friend who says he collects experiences.  Rather than saddle himself with an expensive mortgage or a hefty car note, he uses that money to pay for exotic vacations or tickets to once-in-a-lifetime events.  Of course, I have a little boy to raise, so I have some responsibilities that are part of the package (529 Plan, anyone?), but I try to replicate my friend’s philosophy as much as possible by saying “yes” to almost all invitations to events that are offered to me (other than concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, where I really struggle with that stacked parking situation or else taking a shuttle).

Tonight I was offered tickets to the Adele concert at Madison Square Garden, and I had to say “yes” even though I know only two of Adele’s songs … “Hello” and “Rolling in the Deep” (no surprise there).  I had heard that Adele puts on an amazing show … not only is she a singer of pop ballads that kind of make you want to cry your eyes out, but ironically, she’s something of a comedienne too.  More importantly, I had never been to Madison Square Garden, which bills itself as “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”  The Roman Colosseum might beg to differ, but the point is still taken … I totally needed to see a show there.

And what else to wear to “The Garden” except green!  And that brings me to my second observation of “Just say yes,” which is that if you wear leather, you should give a nod to pieces other than black.  Black is a classic, but colored leather can be unique and eye-catching, with tones that seem to be enhanced by the material.  For example, I love this emerald leather jacket by Ann Demeulemeester that I got from Forward by Elyse Walker (http://www.fwrd.com).  The emerald color seems richer since it’s done in leather … it’s definitely a shade I’ve never seen in cotton or silk or any of the synthetics.

So whether it be experiences or fashion, there’s always an adventure to be had by saying “yes” to something new.  And now I REALLY wish I knew more Adele songs because she put on a fantastic show in an unbelievable venue, and it would be great to end this post with an apropros lyric.  Instead, I’ll just leave you with a pic:

I spent a semester at University College London when I was in my third year of law school. It was a TOTAL boondoggle.  We transfer students had classes only two days a week in subjects like air law, and all of them were Pass/NC (which officially stood for “No Credit,” but unofficially for “No Clue” … because that’s what it took not to pass).  With this kind of schedule, we could use the bulk of the semester traveling all over Europe, visiting a city or two every week for something like £1 (plus £50 in fees, thanks to the fine print) on RyanAir or EasyJet.

But I never made it to Venice!  I went to Rome and Florence, and people convinced me to spend more time in those cities instead of trying to fit Venice in as well.  So I took a rain check on Venice and didn’t cash it in until 17 years later.

What a mistake.  Venice is like no other city in the world, and no matter how much time you spend in the Canal Shoppes at The Venetian in Las Vegas, it’s obviously not the same. ‎ I was totally enchanted with St. Mark’s Square, the canals, the architecture, the gondolas, the water taxis, the Murano glass, the gelato … and I wanted some vacation looks that fit right in.

Venice is a city built for walking, and when I know I’m going to be walking around a lot, I tend to build my outfits around a really good pair of walking shoes. These closed-toe espadrilles by Andre Assous ‎that I got from Nordstrom (http://www.nordstrom.com) were such an amazing find.  They’re so comfortable with a perfect amount of height to help navigate in crowds, and the elastic ankle strap adds style and support without chafing the way leather can.  The first day I wore them with a navy blue linen dress and matching cardigan from Altuzarra that I got from Neiman Marcus (http://www.neimanmarcus.com), and the next day I wore them with a sundress that I got off of Shopbop (http://www.shopbop.com).  I think Shopbop is great for vacation clothes … lots of easy dresses and separates that are stylish but reasonably priced (so if you drip a bunch of pizza sauce on your dress like I did, it’s not the end of the world):

And then for dinner at Cip’s Club at the Hotel Cipriani, I wore the above red lace dress from Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, which I paired with black, ankle-strap stilettos from Christian Louboutin, both of which ‎I got from Net-a-Porter (http://www.net-a-porter.com).  This is a great dinner dress, but the lace makes it terrific for packing because it doesn’t wrinkle.

BUT let’s get back to the real point of this post, which is that you should NEVER wait this long to collect on a rain check!  I can’t remember how many times I’ve asked someone to drinks or tried to schedule something fun and been told “rain check” because people are busy and there are never enough hours in the day.  But then we both forget to reschedule. This Venice trip proves that I’m missing out on something great if I don’t follow up.  So those of you who have rain checks out there (and you know who you are), just a heads-up to clear your schedules …

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Based on a survey of the kids in my son’s kindergarten class, I’d ‎guess it was something like an astronaut, a ballerina, a police officer or the President of the United States … a job that was exciting or glamorous, usually involving bold adventures, daring rescues or being the boss of everyone.

I’m sure one of those jobs was my first answer … I don’t really remember … but what I do remember is that my second or third answer, at least the one I gave when I was old enough to beg my parents for a subscription to Vogue, was fashion (editor, designer, writer … I wasn’t specific).   I would stack all those back issues in my closet and then pour over them on the weekends, wishing I could live in a world with all that style.

And today, I think I got the closest I ever have gotten to my childhood dream job!  I woke up in Milan during Fashion Week after having had dinner with the entire design team behind the new collection from Karen Ruimy called Kalmar. It was fascinating to hear about everything that is required to take a line from sketches to market.  I stopped by Kalmar’s presentation at Palazzo Castiglioni in the morning (where I saw some of the best beach cover-ups EVER):

Then I headed to Luisa Beccaria’s show at the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia. It was an amazing show with dreamy, pastel pieces:

After a quick lunch of pasta (I’m in Italy, after all), I checked out the showroom of a top designer representative. Finally, it was back to Kalmar’s presentation to meet two of the top fashion bloggers … Marta Pozzan and Negin Mirsalehi … and talk about the Kalmar line, as well as get some tips from the experts for MY blog:

And I did it all in the unbelievable Christopher Kane dress with lace and faux leather panels pictured above that I got from Nordstrom (www.nordstrom.com).  If I was going to live a day like this, I knew I wanted it to be in something edgy and different that would make me feel super-cool.

Look, I’m not quitting my day job, but today (and, frankly, the four weeks that have passed since I started this blog) have shown me that it’s never too late to try to make your dreams come true … even if in a slightly different form than originally imagined.

I think we can all agree that there’s something fascinating about the color purple. It’s the color of royalty. ‎ The color of extravagant and flowery prose.   And, perhaps most importantly, the color of rain in one of the best rock ballads of the 1980s.

Purple is also a color that I think flatters almost everyone, both men and women. A lot of people seem to shy away from it, however. So this post will be short and to-the-point (both because I feel strongly about this subject and because I’m sitting in an airport lounge trying to beat the clock before I have to board my flight) … do NOT be afraid to embrace purple!  It doesn’t have to be in an over-the-top, long, shimmery jacket kind of way (although my child of the 80s heart has a soft spot for that look). Any splash of purple can enhance your skin tone and make you look just a little more vibrant and alive. I think it’s a great alternative to blue (which, let’s face it, can get a little ubiquitous in the men’s button-down), but not as flashy a red.

Here, I’m wearing one of my favorite purple pieces… a Peter Pilotto purple sheath dress that I got from MatchesFashion (http://www.matchesfashion.com). ‎ The deep purple contouring is broken by an interesting pattern of complementary colors. And, as I do with most of my dresses that I want to stand on their own, I paired it with nude heels (in this case from Manolo Blahnik).

I always feel great when I wear this dress. Like I’m wearing a raspberry beret … but better.

 

I have always loved conventions (or “cons,” as people in the know sometimes call them).  I can’t possibly name all the conventions I’ve been to in my life, but they include Comic-Con, Star Trek conventions, Star Wars conventions, a Buffy the Vampire Slayer convention, a LEGO convention … even a quilting convention once with my grandmother.  I just really like being around people who feel passionately about something, and that’s what you find at conventions.  In other words, you don’t have to do much arm twisting to convince me to go to them.

If I already love conventions in general, imagine how I feel about fashion conventions!  It’s not just that you don’t have to do much arm twisting to convince me to go; I’m WRANGLING to go.  But let’s face it, the word “convention” connotes something slightly geeky and uncool (something fashionistas generally like to avoid).  So instead of fashion conventions, there are Fashion Weeks — super-cool gatherings of designers, who show off their new looks, and of people who love fashion.

Thanks to my friends Erica, My Chi and Katrina, I got an invite to the Marchesa show at New York Fashion Week this year, including a meet-and-greet with Georgina Chapman herself.  The show was amazing.  The gowns were so ethereal and romantic, almost princess-like (and who doesn’t want to feel like a princess on the red carpet)?

But even more fun than the show was choosing what to wear to the show.  Why?  Because there are always photographers surrounding the entrance to Fashion Week looking to snap pics of the best street style they see, and as someone who loves fashion, it’s an honor to get that stamp of approval.

I must admit, it was a little challenging to decide what to wear this year because my visit to Fashion Week was sandwiched between a four-hour board meeting and a board dinner.  I needed something unique but professional.  I ended up choosing an outfit by Sophie Theallet that I got straight off the runway from Moda Operandi (http://www.modaoperandi.com).  The blouse is olive green lace, and the skirt is beige linen with a matching lace inset on one side.  I completed the look with cork Manolo Blahnik heels that I got from Neiman Marcus (http://www.neimanmarcus.com).

And guess what!?!  I DID get photographed by a ton of photographers.  It was a great feeling and proof that even if you’re a working woman (AND love conventions), you can still be stylish.

Here are some pics from the Marchesa show:

My ex-husband used to say that I dress very futuristically.  Well, no surprise there — I’m a huge sci-fi fan. As I’ve said before, what I love about fashion is that it allows us to communicate different aspects of our personalities without saying a word.  Sometimes a fashion choice becomes so associated with a personality trait that it becomes a stereotype –teenagers who want to say, “I’m a rebel,” for example, so they dye their hair purple, pile on the black eyeliner and don ripped stockings.  But other times it’s more subtle.  Even just throwing something on because you don’t care about fashion communicates something about you (which is the basis for a great speech by Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada).  Not even a uniform can avoid this unspoken glimpse into our lives (unless, I suppose, the whole world wears the same one).

So, returning to my love of sci-fi … I’m a total sucker for it.  Star Wars, Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Fifth Element.  I love seeing what comes out of other people’s minds when they imagine the future, whether that be technical advances (usually with a lot of metallics and clean lines/minimalism) or social changes (and the endless different species and ways to communicate/dress that come with them).

And what can convey this aspect of my personality better than this Christopher Kane ensemble that I got on MatchesFashion (http://www.matchesfashion.com) about a month and a half ago?  The cut of both pieces is very simple … a square blouse and tapered pant … but the simplicity is contrasted with shocking silver cut-outs on the chest and pocket.  To me, it looks like Han Solo took a blaster right to my outfit (and DEFINITELY shot first).  And I added the silver Saint Laurent heels to play up the cut-outs.

Everyone who knows me and saw me today knew exactly why I loved these pieces, and I’m sure those who didn’t know me could’ve guessed.  And I didn’t even have to say “May the Force Be with You” or “Live Long and Prosper.”  Of course, I still might have flashed the hand sign …

As many of you know, New York Fashion Week is going on right now.  I’ll be there on Wednesday (which I’m TOTALLY excited for), but in the meantime, I’ve had to follow the shows from here in Los Angeles on the Internet and social media.  And when I saw the pics from Joseph Altuzarra’s show yesterday, I was totally blown away … so much so that I knew that today I had to do a Wayne’s World-style “We’re Not Worthy” post in praise of him.

Altuzarra’s clothes are classy but with a little bit of sensuality, whether it be from a thigh-high slit or immaculate tailoring that accentuates a woman’s curves.  I can wear them to work, but rather than feeling swallowed (like I do with typical business attire that can be so boxy that it seems like I’m embarrassed by my femininity), I feel like a really great version of myself, totally confident in my role as a woman in business.  Plus, the colors or prints are usually so amazing.  I’ve heard that Altuzarra is just a really nice, happy guy, and I think that’s reflected in his clothes.

Here, for example, I’m wearing his canary yellow button-down dress that I got last season from MatchesFashion (http://www.matchesfashion.com) (the sleeveless version of this dress and the skirt are still available on sale).  It’s so vibrant that it literally brightens a room when I walk in, and then there’s this great fringe detailing, both of which combine to make wearing it a lot of fun — even (or perhaps ESPECIALLY) at the office.  I couldn’t take away from the dress, so I paired it with these great nude Christian Louboutin ankle-strap heels that I got from Saks Fifth Avenue (http://www.saks.com).

Altuzarra based his latest collection on David Lynch’s 1990 movie Wild at Heart, which I REALLY love since I too am influenced by pop culture.  Set forth below are some of my favorite looks from the show, all courtesy of Imaxtree.  (FYI — I cannot WAIT to get that snakeskin shirt dress.)