If you read this blog enough, you will recognize that I am steeped in American pop culture.  There aren’t many situations that don’t remind me of some movie line or song lyric or book I’ve read.  And that’s particularly true with fashion.  We get so many of our looks from what we see in media that it’s hard not make connections.  When I wear an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt, I tell people I’m doing a Flashdance, and most of them know exactly what I mean even though that movie came out 33 years ago.  I have this white blouse with long cuffs and puffy sleeves, and whenever I wear it, I reference either Prince or a Jerry Seinfeld episode, and generally people get it.  I think it’s great that we have these collective images in our minds that are tied so much to what we wear.

So what do I think of when I wear leather?  Working Girl with Melanie Griffith.  There’s this great scene where  Melanie Griffith and Joan Cusack are going through Sigourney Weaver’s wardrobe and they find a dress that costs $6,000 and Joan Cusack says, “Six thousand dollars?!?!  It’s not even leather!”

And THAT captures my views on leather.  It makes me feel cool and edgy and sexy and is something I will ALWAYS be willing to splurge on.  You can blame it on my Texas roots, but it probably has more to do with the fact that I would secretly give anything to be a rock star, and even though I can’t carry a tune, I can certainly try to dress the part … even when I’m going to my day job.

Here, I’m wearing a Jonathan Simkhai crop top and skirt combo in white and black leather with grey and white fabric accents that I got off of The Outnet (http://www.theoutnet.com).  I love having the white and black leather paired side-by-side — it’s like Whitesnake meets Guns ‘n Roses — and I paired the outfit with these super-cool cage booties from Miu Miu.

Look, I get that I’m no rock star, but I went through today kind of feeling like one.  And that, at least for me, is why leather will always command a premium … just like it did in Working Girl.

 

There’s this great scene in the movie Old School where Will Ferrell’s character, Frank the Tank, explains to a college student what he has planned for his “big” weekend day:  “Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we’re going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath & Beyond, I don’t know, I don’t know if we’ll have enough time!”

I love the enthusiasm Frank has for a mundane, errand-filled Saturday.  It’s easy to get excited about an overnight trip to the beach or a fabulous dinner in the city, but for most of us, not every weekend is going to be like that.  We have shopping to do, dry cleaning to pick up, kids’ soccer games to attend — not necessarily the stuff that fashion blogs are made out of.  But I think the everyday weekends get a bad rap.  To me, they can be just as fun as the glamorous weekends (after all, I’ve walked out of Bed, Bath & Beyond many times with some sort of space-saving contraption that I just knew was going to change my life), and with not much effort, they can be just as fashionable.

This weekend I ended up running all over Pasadena with my son, including a stop by the Lego fan convention.  It would have been easy to throw on a pair of jeans and some tennis shoes, but I thought I could find something a little different without sacrificing a lot of comfort.  I ended up wearing a Christopher Kane midi-length sundress that I got from MatchesFashion (http://www.matchesfashion.com) and Manolo Blahnik kitten heels.  Sundresses are always easy to wear, and the midi-length is even more forgiving.  Kitten heels are starting to be my go-to casual shoe.  They’re as comfortable as flip-flops, but they add a little bit of height, which is something I always like if I’m going to be in crowds.

I had a great time this weekend.  True, I ate at Pizza Hut instead of Pizzaria Mozza, but it was relaxed and fun and, most importantly, still stylish.

 

My two favorite sayings are (1) there’s no accounting for taste and (2) one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  They both reflect the fact that we all view the world through vastly different eyes, so something I find absolutely beautiful, you may find hideous.  It’s what keeps life interesting.  I mean, how boring would this world be if there wasn’t someone out there who actually bought velvet paintings of dogs playing poker?

Nowhere do these two sayings seem to apply more readily than in fashion.  We have to clothe ourselves every day, and with all the choices available, it’s inevitable that there will be a significant divergence of opinion.  Fortunately, this divergence often results in what could possibly be my favorite word in the entire English language:  SALE!

Let’s face it, what goes on sale are those items at the outer ends of the bell curve.  They are not the things that appeal to almost everyone; they haven’t been scooped up yet because they are waiting to be appreciated by that special someone with a discerning eye for that color or pattern or cut.  But when you find something you really appreciate that you’re able to get for a bargain because not many others do, well … it’s magical.

That’s exactly what happened with this Peter Pilotto dress.  I love these guys, but they do a lot of funky patterns that a lot of people don’t feel too comfortable wearing.  I thought the colors of this dress were amazing, but women clearly shied away from the pattern — it was a least 50% off of every Website that carried it come sales time.  So even though I had my eye on it from the moment I saw it posted, I was able to wait and get it at a price that made me love it even more.

And that brings me to my final observation here.  If you see something you like that’s a little less run-of-the-mill, try to take advantage of the possibility that others may not appreciate it the way you do.  Put it on your wish list and monitor it to make sure stock isn’t running low.  Assuming it isn’t, you’ll end up with a unique piece that works just for you at an amazing price.  As good as finding treasure.

Do you remember the 2012 Academy Awards when Angelina Jolie wore that black dress with the unbelievably high slit and then spent the whole night with her right leg on prominent display?  If not, I’ve included a picture below to jog your memory.  Her desire to get the most out of that slit inspired countless memes (my favorite being her right leg photoshopped onto the Statute of Liberty), but our desire to poke a little fun at one of the most beautiful women in the world shouldn’t obscure a very simple fact — it can be empowering to show a little leg in an outfit that may otherwise be fairly conservative.

If there’s anything in my closet that’s conservative, it’s my business attire.  Just like Hillary Clinton, I’ve got the pantsuits — they DEFINITELY have their place.  But sometimes I want to send a message that even though I may be tough as nails, I’m totally confident with being a woman.  I think the slit sends that message, like here, in this light grey Donna Karan skirt suit, which I paired with slightly darker grey Gucci heels.  I wore this outfit to a meeting in New York earlier this week  where I knew I was going to be one of the only women in a room of 20 or so men, and I wanted to own that, not hide from it.

I love fashion because it allows us to express who we are notwithstanding what we do.  Sometimes at work I argue, I curse, I pound on tables, but I am still feminine.  And if I need to show a little leg to make that clear, well then, give me the skirt with the thigh-high slit.

 

There’s this feature in US Weekly magazine called “Who Wore It Best” that shows two celebrities side-by-side in the same outfit.  Readers are supposed to vote on who they think looks best in that outfit.  To me, it’s kind of like the ultimate celebrity death-match — a zero-sum game of image in an industry where image is everything.

Thankfully, we mortals are not subject to the same standards, and sometimes we can benefit from fashion inspiration from celebrities.  After all, celebrities have access to awesome stylists and looks right off the runway, so a little copy-catting can offer a power up to your everyday wardrobe.  I’ve definitely taken advantage of it, like here in this Temperley London sea foam green dress that Kate Middleton wore in April during her trip to India (see below).  She looked *amazing* in it, and I wanted it for myself.  So, without any fear of ending up in a “Who Wore It Best” feature, I reached out directly through the Temperley London Website and pre-ordered it.  About two months later — bam — I’m wearing it to drop off my son at his first day of school.

And that brings me to my other point.  There’s this great line in “The Devil Wears Prada” that fashion is “greater than art because you live your life in it.”  Totally true, and that is why, no matter how amazing a celebrity looks in something you decide to wear, you will ALWAYS look better.  Kate Middleton went to India, but I took a five-year old to his first day of kindergarten, a day neither one of us will ever forget (okay, he may forget, but I definitely won’t).  I lived MY life in this outfit and made it my own, which every one of us will do in what we decide to wear … no matter where the inspiration comes from.

I have found that dressing for a night out in Las Vegas is a lot like dressing for Halloween — just add “sexy” to whatever you’re thinking of wearing, and you’re good to go.  It is Sin City, after all, so why not dress the part (especially since what happens in Vegas allegedly stays in Vegas)?  Usually “sexy” means showing a little skin, but if that’s outside your comfort zone, I think you can still hit the jackpot by adding something unexpected and eye-catching to a simple dress.

Here, I’m wearing a Vivienne Westwood Anglomania navy dress.  It’s fairly simple (although Vivienne Westwood does some amazing draping that provides shape without being too tight in the wrong places), but what I think makes this outfit work in Vegas are the neon orange McQ by Alexander McQueen shoes.  I think they’re impossible not to notice, even when standing next to Bumblebee from the Transformers.  And they suggest a sense of fun and a willingness to take risks, which I think is always sexy.

So next time you’re in Vegas, remember you have options besides the tried-and-true micro-mini or slip dress.  Most of us go there looking for the right amount of wrong (in the “I want to be a little bad” sense, of course), so let that be your guide and go ahead and roll the dice!  (Sorry, I had to say it.)

 

Remember that group from the 90s called Color Me Badd?  They had hits like “All 4 Love” and “I Wanna Sex You Up” (because, let’s be honest, what gal can’t resist that come-on line).  Those guys weren’t afraid of color, and if they can wear rainbow leather or chartreuse suits, we gals can certainly carry off a bold dash of color every now and then.  The key is just to own it.  This Roksanda dress that I got off of MatchesFashion (http://www.matchesfashion.com) is PINK — not soft pink or blush, but in-your-face, almost neon pink.  But it’s so much fun to wear.  I feel like it brightens every room and leaves me in a positive frame of mind all day.

Roksanda does a lot of interesting things with color and color-blocking.  She’s one of my favorite designers, so you’ll definitely be seeing her referenced here again … unlike Color Me Badd.

Not to get too crazy with the acronyms, but the LBD is the MVP of the wardrobe game.  The Little Black Dress is timeless, versatile and forgiving.  What can go wrong?  Not much, really.  But I do think there are some especially great LBDs, including this one from Burberry.  What I really like is the tailoring … the longer sleeves are especially forgiving on the upper arms, the knee length is flattering for almost anyone, the V-neck adds a little sex appeal and the cinched waist gives it shape.

One thing I really love about wearing LBDs is that you pretty much have carte blanche on the shoes.  If you’re not adding a little edge to your look by pulling out those super-cool stilettos that have been gathering dust in the back of your closet, then I think you’re missing a great opportunity.  I use my LBDs to cycle through the shoes I just HAD to buy because they were so hot, even if a little impractical.  Here, I’m wearing Saint Laurent stilettos that are covered in tiny silver studs.  I love these because they make me feel a little punk rock even when I’m dressed in a timeless classic.

I don’t know about you, but I always struggle over what to wear to an indoor concert (not that I don’t struggle with outdoor concerts too, but we’ll save them for a different post).  A few factors go into this.  First, temperature.  In order to account for all those people packed into one venue dancing or otherwise rocking out, the temperature is set to something like 60 degrees.  There is no amount of activity that I’m going to do that I won’t feel a little chilly without wearing something a bit more substantial.  Second, inevitable obstacle courses.  From the trek from the parking lot to climbing all those stadium steps (sometimes with a drink in your hand) to crossing over the legs of your neighbors who are already seated to surviving bathroom or refreshment lines — it all seems designed to be a test of whether you’re a big enough fan to deserve this, and as with all tests, being prepared is 90% of whether you pass (luck being the other 10%).  Comfort WILL BE important.  Third, vibe.  This a rock concert, after all, so I want to dress the part, but be a little unique.  Jeans and black t-shirts are great, but there are going to be a lot of those, and I want to stand out.

Soooo … I go for leather pants, which I can pair with comfortable, closed-toe shoes, a t-shirt and a jacket that I can take off if I end up getting too hot.  These silver leather pants from Beau Souci, a Paris-based label that I found on Farfetch (http://www.farfetch.com), were a great alternative to black, although black works great to mask accidental spills from getting too into the music.  The jacket is from Rag & Bone, which I think does a fantastic, tailored, mix-and-match jacket in a variety of colors that you can grab on your way out the door in case you get chilly or just want to dress something up a little.

I had a great time seeing Billy Idol and Steve Stevens perform at the House of Blues that night, and after landing on an indoor concert look I loved, felt like I was playing the part of a rock star when I got to snap this pic!

For my inaugural blog post, I thought I’d write about a subject that is very near and dear to my heart … online shopping.  It goes without saying that the Internet has transformed fashion.  No more trips to the mall where you’re limited by what’s on offer.  There are so many great designs from all over the world that are now available with the click of a button!  And with free shipping and free returns for a number of sites, it’s easy to order multiple sizes and options to find what works best for you (of course, it’s crucial you make sure you send back what you don’t like; otherwise, shopping online can be a financial disaster).

Almost all of what I buy I get online.  In fact, I have three computer screens in my office, one of which I turn away from my office door (a privacy screen works too) and use liberally for keeping up-to-date on new arrivals and sales at my favorite Websites.  A lot of my friends have asked me about the Websites I love, so here are a list of the top five sites I visit (with one honorable mention) and some tips for navigating them.

1.  http://www.net-a-porter.com.  Net-a-Porter is probably the 400 lb. gorilla of online high fashion.  I think it was the first Website (besides the online versions of luxury department stores) that offered premier designers over the Internet.  And if you build it, they will come.  Net-a-Porter now seems to be doing so well that most sizes of the most popular styles are often sold out by the end of the day they are posted, so … definitely log on and browse through new arrivals when they are posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  The site offers free shipping and free returns (28 days to return, but you should request the return in 14 days) and, unless you’re located in New York, does not charge sales tax for purchases from the US.  Sales take place only twice a year — in November around Thanksgiving and at the end of May around Memorial Day — and are discontinued after a couple of months or so.  Perks are offered to frequent buyers on the site, including early previews of new arrivals, early access to sales and use of an assigned personal shopper.

2.  http://www.theoutnet.com.  Since Net-a-Porter has sales only twice a year and then discontinues them, it has a partner year-round discount site called The Outnet (so if you didn’t scoop something up during the Net-a-Porter sale, it will likely end up here).  You can get some great bargains on this site, especially during clearance times, although items are usually heavily picked through by then, so if you really love something, you should probably pull the trigger immediately and not wait for the super-bargain.  The Outnet also has a proprietary brand called Iris & Ink that offers a designer look at more reasonable prices.  The site offers free shipping and $7.95 returns (same return times as Net-a-Porter) and the same sales tax policy as Net-a-Porter.  New arrivals are posted every weekday except Wednesday, although Friday new arrivals are relatively new, so there might not be as much inventory posted as earlier in the week.

3.  http://www.matchesfashion.com.  MatchesFashion is operated out of the UK and carries many of the same brands as Net-a-Porter BUT usually does not sell out of popular styles as quickly and can be a little less expensive at times (presumably due to currency exchange calculations).  The site offers free shipping to the US (duties are included in the price of the item and refunded if you return the item) and free returns (same return times as Net-a-Porter).  Returns are with DHL, however, which is a little harder to arrange than UPS, FedEx or USPS.  New arrivals are posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and sales take place only twice a year around the same times as the Net-a-Porter sales.  Unlike Net-a-Porter, MatchesFashion keeps its unsold sales merchandise available for purchase year-round.  Perks to frequent buyers of the site include a pre-sale discount if you don’t want to worry about availability when the sale starts and access to a personal shopper.

4.  http://www.farfetch.com.  Farfetch is essentially a clearinghouse for boutiques from all of the world.  Rather than ordering directly from the boutique, shoppers purchase through Farfetch, which coordinates shipping and returns.  Because so many local boutiques are on the site, you can find some really interesting designers and styles that are not available on the larger sites, and you can also do some price comparison since different boutiques will have different prices or mark their sale items at different discounts.  Returns have always been free; shipping has been costly at times, especially if you’re ordering from a non-US boutique, but Farfetch has had more free global shipping promotions and seems to be moving towards free or flat shipping rates that are very reasonable.  As with MatchesFashion, returns are with DHL.  Duties for non-US purchases are included in the price.  New arrivals are generally posted every weekday, and sales take place only twice a year around the same times as the Net-a-Porter sales, but like MatchesFashion, unsold sales merchandise is available for purchase on the site year-round.  Perks to frequent buyers of the site include early previews of new arrivals, early access to sales and use of an assigned personal shopper.

5.  http://www.modaoperandi.com. Moda Operandi gives shoppers access to trunk shows from various designers so that you can order styles right off the runway and not worry about whether a store’s buyer will choose to carry them.  Because you’re ordering merchandise before it’s gone into production, you’ll have to wait sometimes four or five months for your order to be filled, but it’s worth it if you see something on the runway you just fall in love with.  A 50% deposit is required at the time you pre-order the style, and the remainder is due when the item ships.  Shipping is free, and sales tax is charged in most locations.  Most items are returnable at no charge (15 days to return).  Moda Operandi also has a boutique with items you can buy today, and sales take place only twice a year around the same times as the Net-a-Porter sales.  That being said, I’ve found that Moda Operandi’s sales start a little earlier with bigger discounts, so it’s always a good site to monitor during sale time.  New arrivals are posted once a week on Wednesday or Thursday.

Honorable Mention — http://www.fwrd.com.  Forward by Elyse Walker is an LA-based site that combines the high-end of a Net-a-Porter or MatchesFashion with some of the “hipper” designers you may see from a Shopbop (http://www.shopbop.com, which may be the honorable mention to the honorable mention).  They do a great job of showing off the clothes, so I always check the site for styling ideas, although I also double-check an item I like on another site to make sure it’s really great and not just being shown off really well (which, frankly, I recommend for any online purchase … I think the online site for Saks Fifth Avenue is a pretty good baseline test).  New arrivals are posted every Wednesday and Thursday, and the site offers free shipping and free returns (30 days to return).  Sales are staged a little more than the other sites, although you can expect the most sales inventory twice a year, a little after the Net-a-Porter sales.  Perks for frequent buyers include early previews of new arrivals (which are probably the most sophisticated of anything I’ve seen since you just click on a link and reserve an item with the click of a button, instead of having to email a personal shopper directly), early access to sales and the use of a personal shopper.

Of course there are a ton of other sites out there.  I’ve focused here on the sites that offer a variety of designers because they’re the best for giving me an overview of where fashion is headed that season and ideas for what I want to buy.  I haven’t focused on the online department store sites, but they’re great, as are the direct sites from the designers themselves (which are always the place to follow up if what I want is sold out on the broader sites).  There’s only so much time in the day, of course!  My recommendation if you want to be a success at online shopping is to find a handful of sites that work for you and get to know them, maybe build some loyalty so you get some of the perks, which really pay off at sale time.

Happy shopping!