Urban Professional, Feminine Chic
-- The BFF in a colorful printed top and black high-waisted swing skirt (not pictured) - on a date with me at Rickshaw dumpling bar in NYC
Vital Stats
Name: Elizabeth Qi Tien Ong
Age: 28
Occupation: Nurse Practitioner
Habitat: Manhattan
Characteristics: Warmth, elegant/laid-back classic chic, infectious laugh
Hearts: Nanette Lepore, Banana Republic, Diana vonFurstenburg, stand-out dresses with feminine silhouettes, delicate jewels
My beautiful friend Liz Ong has a remarkably intuitive sense of style: she is excellent at zeroing in on absolutely perfect "major" items (handbags, special occasion dresses) and looking put-together, yet she isn't one to follow the herd and looks distinctly more elegant than the average chick. There is a timelessness and innate elegance to her look that transcend the trend-mills. This is because Liz goes for quality over quantity, fit over fits-of-impulsivity, and practicality with feminine lines. You know that feeling you get when you periodically purge your closet of dopey, superfluous purchases you made years ago? That twist of scorn you can feel on your face as you toss scrap after flimsy scrap of faded, shapeless whimsy into another garbage bag for the Salvation Army drop-off? Case in point - given the massive sweep of the current Minnie-Mouse-esque polka-dot trend, I decided to delve into a drawer of my bureau that rarely sees the light. You could call its contents "Cheap, Slutty Tops I Wore in College for 'Going Out.'" I vaguely recalled a top I used to rock. In my mind, it was a sunny yellow delight with black polka-dots and straps that criss-crossed in front, with a big plastic ring joining them at the throat. Hard to picture? Trust me - even harder to get into. Or breathe in. I gazed at my reflection, aghast at the sallow tone my skin took on in the dead-Crayon hue, how the material pulled across my A-cup chest but bulged at my waist; felt a cold trickle of sweat as I realized the plastic piece was choking me, Final Destination style. In spite of my best hopes, the top would never be chic.
Well, my guess is that Liz has very few of those moments.
When I told her I was writing a blog post about her style, she was flattered, but also wondered bemusedly what I meant, exactly, by "her style."
Offhand, I might summarize the equation as something like this: high-quality, well-cut basics (a flattering fit is a must)+ low-key hair and makeup + delicate, personally meaningful jewelry (real as opposed to costume) + comfortable shoes with a pretty shape or detail. Not too flashy for every day; no mess of giant plastic beads or oversized bangles - Liz tends to stick with her favorite pieces. Then really special dresses with a lot of personality for events.
Here's Liz kickin' it at home with her adorable doggy-man, Chopper:
Dress: Nanette Lepore; gold necklaces: Tendenza; gold-and-diamond bracelet, unknown; three-stone oval-cut engagement ring: Tiffany
Even back in college, Liz tended to select her clothes based on three key elements: flattering fit, comfort, and finally that "Ooh, special!" quirk factor that all women have and is totally different for each of is. This sounds like common sense, but as you can glean from my yellow-polka-dotted foray into madness, it wasn't a combination that defined my collegiate style. She always had a strong sense of what was her. Also, Liz's "quirk factor" is both discerning and unique. I specifically remember an awesome brown belt-bag (no, not a fanny-pack), a slinky strapless sheath in robin's egg blue, and a fantastic pinstripe suit-jacket from J. Crew. - all of which are still in rotation today. No random, unevenly seamed bargain tops here! Don't get me wrong - I love the chains. Personally I enjoy tempestuous trend experimentation and the occasional "disposable" fashion item, but as I get older/wiser, I tend to admire women whose aesthetic is more classic. Liz, like Kate Middleton, knows the power of a stunning garment that makes the most of her assets and, more importantly, makes her feel like herself. I've often gotten caught in the cycle of purchasing all-new gear for an event (weddings, birthdays) and then found little use for the outfit because it was either way over-the-top or not quite enough. Liz tends to shop with a sharp eye for "recyclability." Example: the gorgeous dress below with a large poppy print in colors that pop - pun not intended/cute husband not included. Shout-out, Steve! Notice that even though the dress is "fancy," she pairs a striking frock with laid-back flat sandals. The feel is sort of Mad Men's Joan Holloway goes to town, vamping sweetly for an evening of stiff drinks, flirting, and rapier wit. Shout-out #2, Steve!
A habit of sticking to what's pretty and classic is a great way to beat the trend machine. Now that fashion is so incredibly accessible, the trickle-down effect has mall stores slinging weak imitations of Chloe dresses, and our economy continues to be crap, it's smart to invest in pieces like this perfect polka-dot mini, below. Liz styles it differently depending on the occasion - this is from her bridal shower at Pastis - and gets a ton of mileage out of it. That day, she paired it with black tights and vibrant aqua-satin bejeweled heels. How I wish I hadn't jumped the 2004 gun on the ill-fated top but rather had saved my money for a polka-dot piece with staying power!
Here are two other memorable dresses. The first one, a floor-length bamboo-and-blossoms dream, is incredibly versatile - here is Liz wearing it at a wedding (with adorable sister-in-law Jenny and sister-in-law-to-be Lauren - hi girls!), but she also wears it for smaller parties or even to come visit me in Connecticut. Easy, breezy loveliness.
The second is Liz on her honeymoon, wearing a classic red Chinese qi-pao with elan. She also wore it to her rehearsal dinner with black patent Louboutins. Fabulous.
These dresses nicely represent definitive Liz Ong style. You can also find her in great jeans (hemmed to perfection), nice quality T's and blazers, and signature accessories like these:
* Jade Buddha on gold chain - hers is vintage; this is by 6 Lucky Wishes on http://www.sears.com/.
* Cole Haan "Air Talia" patent wedges - unreal. I definitely had to cop these for work once I saw Liz's. They are ridiculously comfortable yet sharp, professional, and gorgeous. The low cut creates the illusion that the 1" wedge is actually a higher heel, and the shiny patent is virtually impossible to ruin, plus they have Nike Air Technology for all-day comfort. Once broken in, these walk like a slipper. http://www.zappos.com/
* M.Z. Wallace "Jane" bag in cardamom: Yup, had to get this too (I'm a biter!) after falling in love with it at Liz's apartment. This bag is literally life-changing and worth its own post. http://www.mzwallace.com/
* Eric Michael sandals: just enough height; straps hold the shoes to your feet for busy city days of walking everywhere.
So there it is. Lusting after Liz's effortless swagger? Here's a recap: How to Dress Like Liz Ong! Go for classic, understated elegance with a decidedly feminine flourish. Keep accessories minimal; shoes should be graceful but have an underlying utilitarian comfort.
1. Casual, city-friendly shoes with just enough polish 2. Work - structured yet comfortable pieces with body-flattering silhouettes 3. Vibrant colors pop against tasteful neutrals 4. Quirk factor is key in accessories - the perfect leather bag, a ribbon headband with tiny rhinestones, a sturdy watch, and jewels with emotional value 5. Flirty, fitted dresses 6. Know how to pick those rare 'signature' dresses you seriously love for special occasions!
How to Know if You've Mastered Liz Ong Style! 1. Get invited to a great party, ideally on a rooftop. 2. Walk there quickly and efficiently because you wore your comfortable yet shiny wedges. No teetering fashion victim here! 3. Show up in a perfectly-cut dress that shows off your fantastic waist/legs/whatever. 4. Wear the clothes instead of letting them wear you. 5. After you finish partying, easily flag a cab with the sparkle from your sexy, understated party bag.
6. Hop in your PJs and get to bed on time.
I love you Fizz - hope you like your post!! xoxo
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