20 Wardrobe Essentials

Items over which I am currently obsessed with or lust for, various versions of which (together and separately) currently comprise (or will comprise) my spring/summer wardrobe: 

{#1. $10.00 3-packs of Hanes Men's v-neck tees in Small.  What can I say, they are just perfect for lounging, dog-walking, throwing over a glam bandage-style mini-skirt, or sleeping.  Soft and slouchy from Jump Street til the day they retire.}

{#2.  Can't beat Old Navy for sweats ... and I prefer the men's version here, too.}

{#3, #4, #5, & #6. Slouchy, stripy black and white tees; dark skinny jeans; polished pencil skirts; medium-sized girlie clutches that can fit your wallet, phone, lipgloss, and keys.}

{#7. A feminine, moto-style black leather jacket, perfectly worn-in and just snug enough.}

{$8. Perfectly gorgeous, flirtatious, and elegant LBD.  I am currently stalking the Juicy Couture Guipure Lace frock above, equally suited to a wedding, dinner party, or fun evening out - as long as there's champagne involved.}

{#9, 10, 11, 12.  Soft, worn-in thin, drapey tees; saucy denim cut-offs, perfect sleek black pumps, platform shoes in all heights and degrees of chunk.}

{#13. The ultimate blazer, whatever your personal version of that might be.  Mine is black, boyfriend-cut slim, and sharply tailored, in both linen and heavy-duty cotton. The jacket version is the J.Crew gray wool "professor" blazer.}

{14.  Beautiful, functional bags. Obsessed with the M.Z. Wallace "Kate" with its peerless organization, spacious interior, lightweight stain/water-resistant Teflon-coated nylon, and jewel-toned "peacock" color.  Have the "Jane" in cardamom; addiction has set in.}

{#15.  Bright tailored pants to punch up dull work ensembles.}

{#16. Pretty, lady-like, professional nail polishes in blushing nudes.}

{#17.  More nudes ... shoes, that is, in all different styles - wedges, pumps, booties ...}

{#18. A jewel-tone cocktail dress, perfect for warm, balmy summer fetes.}

{#19. A flattering black-and-white "go anywhere" print dress.}

{#20.  An irresistible exclamation point: shiniest and sexiest of red pumps, for cinematic and empowering effect.  Bonus points for wearing them at least 1x a week.}

What are you rocking and loving this season?

-XO

{Photo credits: 1 hanes.com, 2 oldnavy.com, 3 4 5 6 gap.com, cupcakesandcashmere.com, 7 ebay.com, 8 net-a-porter.com, 9 10 11 12 instyle.com, 13 fleeflyflown.wordpress.com, 14 mzwallace.com, 15 thefashionpolice.net, 16 mckenzierenae.tumblr.com, 17 christian louboutin, 18 windsor.com, 19 forever21.com, 20 styleguru.com}

Spring Break: Moments of Zen

It's been a non-stop spring, hence the lack of posts and the temporary demise of my sanity.  However, my spring break was punctuated by a few sunny moments that brought some happiness and calm:

{Visiting beautiful baby Avery and mama Jennie - this little girl is such a smily, funny, cuddly beauty.  Look at her rocking her pastel and polka-dots - so on-trend.}

{I spend an inordinate amount of time on the chaise lounge in our living room next to this built-in bookshelf, and it's been a mess of paper piles and clutter.  Getting it in order was a major accomplishment, with frequently used items on back-to-back book-ends front and center.}

{Prescription glasses for movie-watching, iPad, frequently read books (you can never be too old for Grimm's fairy tales), my college thesis (short story collection).}

{Kindle, Moleskine musings, current reading material.  I read A Tree Grows In Brooklyn a couple of times a year; have done so since I was a kid.  Some books are home.}

{My Little Pony-esque nails - dark lilac with pink glitter.  Inspiration scrapbook and coffee-table fashion books.  Yes, I bought Lauren Conrad's Style.  Girl knows what's up.}

{A dark periwinkle silk blouse from H&M that I find myself reaching for constantly, for both work and play.  The deep jewel tone makes me happy and plays well with a lot of my wardrobe.}

Lots of color, a beautiful baby, spring cleaning, organization, and plenty of reading material are ideal antidotes to a frenetic life-pace.  Breathe, sigh, re-boot.

-xo

I've Got the Green Light

Coming up on the end of March has come to mean several things for me over the past few years: my first "official" anniversary with my husband (we became "boyfriend and girlfriend" on St. Patrick's Day five years ago ... potato chips and Jameson were involved, and the rest is history ...), I start running (thinking about running?..) outside again, and I read/teach The Great Gatsby with my 8th grade students.  Gatsby then naturally colors my days, I start listening to The Killers non-stop, and every other song I hear or poem I read reminds me of the green light from the novel.  I feel re-awakened, passionate, invigorated.  What can I say?  I'm a hopeless romantic.  Always have been.
This past weekend, we went to the city for unbelievable meals with friends and a great engagement party.  The days were full of spring-is-here and incidental green (light) moments:

{This coconut water: Delicious.  Refreshing.  Addicted.}

{Forever21 nail polish in "Jade."  This color makes me happy and reminds me of Chanel's, for a fraction of the price.  Madewell rings.  Vintage "birthday bangle" from parents.}

{What a nerd.  Had to get this nails picture with the sticky-rice-discount-and-other-fun-pastel-block-letter-words sign.}

{Marina's engagement party!  Good times, great people, Dinosaur barbecue, and a radiant bride-to-be.  Liz and I can't wait to b-maid it up.  I love my best friends.  And spilling beer on my clothes, apparently.}

{Ninja-photographed this adorable love note from Ariel to his new fiancee.  Never seen her happier.}

{Random blurry pic taken driving on the West Side Highway - I actually like how it came out.  Perfect after a weekend of celebrating romance, true love, and dream-chasing.}

Isn't it weird how you start to associate a certain band/album with a season, book, or mood?  The Killers, blasted at top volume with the sun-roof open while driving on a fresh, balmy day, always make me feel like myself when spring begins.  And they make me think of Gatsby.  Don't know why.  I guess just the perfect synergy of fitting lyrics, the corny major-third melodies, and epic choruses I tend to go for when it's warm out.  Especially "All These Things That I've Done," "Mr. Brightside," and "Read My Mind:"

"I never really gave up on /
breakin' out of this two-star town /
I've got the green light / I've got a little fight /
I'm gonna turn this thing around / Can you read my mind? /
The good old days, the honest man / the restless heart, the Promised Land /
a subtle kiss that no one sees / a broken wrist and a big trapeze /
Well I don't mind if you don't mind, 'cause I don't shine if you don't shine /
Before you go / can you read my mind?...."

Here's to hope, beauty, and wonder this spring.  No matter that we might come off like creepy psychos staring all night at a single green light.  I'm all in; it's all right.  ---xo

Leap Day Musings

It's Leap Day, and as we catapult into March, I feel an increasing urge to manage minor panic attacks on a near-daily basis - this is almost always a trying time of year, with high-stakes standardized tests looming large, raw weather (I know, I know, we NorthEasterners have been spoiled this year ...), and the sort of general malaise that results from exhaustion and mid-school-year burn-out.  One of my super-motivated 7th graders recently had a mini-melt-down due to academic stress.  I tried to remind him to find balance and seek the little things in daily life that make him happy, and promptly had one of those lightbulb-over-head moments in which one realizes that one's own trite advice is actually relatively sound.  While I'm drowning in paper and the excessive grading/frustration that comes with assigning an offensive amount of work to lackadaiscal tweens, I do have an extremely organized and satisfying system for my closet.  Last summer I took on the task of compartmentalizing my wardrobe in the most functional, efficient way I could.  This involved some painfully amateur sketches that showcased my poor sense of spatial relations, a trip to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and a frustrating week or two - but the result has been so worth the hassle.

{Top shelf: sewing kit, clutches, free perfumes from my jobs at Sephora and Nordstrom Cosmetics.  Bar: Work blouses and tops, belt ring, and rotating tie rack for easy necklace display.}

{More work tops, work bottoms (skirts and pants), large bags/totes on wall hooks.}

{Neurotically labeled shoes in their original boxes for neat storage.  I rue the day I gave my awesome Staples label-maker away.}

{Handbags, dresses, and jackets live together, perpendicular to work clothes.  Dude, I am such a girly girl - strikingly apparent when viewing the physical evidence.}

{Boots and wedges nestle along the floor; stackable shoe-bins house warm-weather shoes.}

{Various cheap-thrill scarves hang on wall-hooks next door to dresses.}

Getting myself dressed and put together for the work day helps me center myself and start the morning off in a positive, energized way. What may seem superficial or like sheer vanity to some actually helps me to be effective in my life, and serves as a creative outlet when all I want to do is crawl back under the covers and throw my alarm clock across the room. The personal style blogs I most enjoy following are those where readers can see a glimpse of "regular girls in real life" presenting themselves with vitality and joy. As Audrey Lorde has said, "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare."

How do you organize aspects of your daily life that could otherwise get out of control quickly?  Before I overhauled my closet, I was a chronic clothing-piler.  Piles accumulated everywhere like February snow ... hmm, I suppose we really have been spoiled this year. 

Nevertheless, I can't wait for spring.

-xo

February Obsessions

(Immensely satisfying chunky, sparkly blue statement necklace and delicately dotted blouse, Forever21; old Limited cardigan in sapphire with feminine ribbon-flower detail.}

{Baubles!  Something old (and borrowed), something new, something blue, no nuptials required ... a vintage two-tone bracelet-style watch with ebony face, on permanent loan from Mom; F21 bronze pyramid-stud earrings; Madewell gold "nautical" ring.}

{These shoes - some of which are current staples, others just dying to be broken out again for warm weather.  From top left, clockwise: F21 leopard wedge booties, Target gold platform wedges, J. Crew "Billies," Nine West suede heels, F21 nude "shootie" platform wedges, Tahari ballet flats, ancient high-school-era wooden platforms (cannot get rid of these, ever!), H&M fawn heels, beat-up and perfect brown triple-buckle motorcycle boots.}

{Still grappling with post-holiday house chaos  (take-out menus, Christmas cards, piles of mail) and living on my chaise lounge with these supplies on hand: Marc Jacobs "Rio" studded satchel; Kindle currently loaded with The Night Circus and a Mary Higgins Clark murder mystery or two; a fall In-Style so good that I'm still leafing through it months later; various pretty journals for assorted neurotic scribblings.}

{Polishing off the last of the Ghirardelli holiday chocolates.  M.Z. Wallace "Jane" bag in cardamom, aka one of the single best purchases I've ever made (thanks for the discovery Liz!), and the best work bag on the planet.  With its many compartments, highly efficient design, lightweight stain-resistant water-proof nylon, and pretty leather trim, it fits everything a Type A , crazy-ass teacher could desire ... even a leopard-print umbrella. Wish I could find that panda calendar...}

{This puppy, decked out in her "tutti frutti" sweater with huge brown eyes and her haircut looking fresh.}

{...And more baubles: Claire's "nerd" glasses; Target chain-and-crystal wanna-be J.Crew necklace; Kenneth Cole for Macy's multi- chain necklace; vintage bracelet.

In summation: mix of old trinkets, accessories that toe the line between delicate and clunky and back again, hyper-functional bags,the last of the holiday mint chocolate and tinsel, relaxing reading, a mess of paper, and a very sweet little dog.

-xo

(I Spy) Inspiration: When In Doubt, Look to Audrey

{The incomparable Audrey Hepburn in her signature ballet flats ... with a Yorkie!! Source: www.hpvf.com}

 What are the odds that I can a) maintain my balance (I'm notoriously clumsy to the point of absurdity) and b) look that serene for a bicycle photo and c) coax my independent-minded pup to pose for something this adorable!?

Of course, it would be utterly redundant to write the 320-millionth ode to this incredibly lovely, graceful woman, so my focus is the classic footwear that the dancer/actress/humanitarian championed so delightfully: the simple, elegantly chic ballerina flat.  Lately I (and many of my friends) have felt worn down, down and out, overwhelmed, and stressed, and this weekend I've been asking myself, WWAD? As a screen icon whose feminine charisma and beauty are undeniable, Audrey was also known for her deep sincerity, intelligence, and altruism.  Those who knew her write and reminisce about her alacrity and positivity toward others, about her lightness of spirit in spite of the world's darkness - I think these qualities are perfectly embodied by this shoe style.  What a great way to literally walk lighter and get a lift - what they lack in height, they've got in charm and easy comfort.  Some days are more Holly Golightly (perfectly fierce pumps, shades, and LBDs), while others are just so Jo Stockton (flats, slim capris, graceful ease).

Sources: www.puretrend.com; www.behindballet.com

Both these pairs of Lucky Brand ballets were marked down to less than $30.00 at T.J. Maxx, and they are perfect.  (Very picky about this style.)  I'm a recent flat convert, and they are truly like walking on air.  (The red ones I bought are more orangey/poppy-red; post coming soon.)

{Tahari tweed-and-patent ballet flats, also found at T.J. Maxx, that served me well this past fall; I love the Chanel aesthetic they've got going on.  The tweed has a super-faint sparkle to it.}

My current mantra: comfort, lightness, ease.Everyone loves the following heart-lightening Audrey quote, and I could personally use it these days:

I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.

 

-xo

Winter Uniform

{Right hand, thin gold bands: Madewell. Sally Hansen Complete Manicure nail polish in Commander in Chic.  Wrap sweater: F21; T.J. Maxx skinny cords.}

When the weather outside is frightful, I definitely gravitate toward this uniform - somewhat sloppy/ snuggly knits, minimal gold jewelry, and skinny pants tucked into boots.  Back in my youth (which apparently is over, judging from how long it now takes me to recover from a night out), I could manage to skip socks (!!!) on cold days and just shiver a little in ballet flats and pumps.  I could also survive in a skimpy dress and open-toed shoes (!!!) for nights out in 20-degree weather ... but these days, total physical comfort is of the utmost importance to me at all times.  I wore a variation of this for drinks and live-band karaoke with my school crew last night and had a total blast being warm/taking shots/screaming at the top of my lungs for a major portion of the evening.  (One of our friends actually holds the title of "CT Karaoke Champion."  Absolutely well-deserved - his rendition of "Like a Stone" was Chris Cornell!)  I really love these subtle Madewell rings - great little details that make me happy whenever I look down at them.

{Can't seem to get enough of this F21 sweater-tunic, with its warm, soft coziness, slight slouch, and nice details like a scooped neck and front pockets.  I keep wearing it for work on particularly chilled, cranky Mondays/Fridays as it's basically a glorified blankie - a friend at work, Cassie, whose style I really like, owns it too.  We both wore it last week and freaked out some of the students, the ones who believe that teachers sleep at their desks at night and have no contact with the outside world.  Top picture: Ann Taylor jodphurs, Target motorcycle wedge boots.  Bottom picture: Target jodphurs, J.Crew "Billie" boots.  I look rather dazed.}

I'm not yet maddened by the cold weather (it's been a very mild winter) to the point of craving sleeveless dresses, pastels, and espadrilles (although on second thought, even that colored font makes me think wistfully of spring); the above uniform has been serving me pretty well, along with a life-changing NorthFace parka.  Still, I look forward to forsaking socks.  Stay warm!

-xo