HIGH HEELS AND TAR HEELS...sunny Charlotte

Last year Wells Fargo asked me to conduct a workshop for their Women’s Initiative Seminar. It was an honor. And an excuse to wear my favorite pink dress(!)

The event was co-host by my brilliant friend, Lisa DeCarlo. She’s the one on the mic, looking saucy in her Black Halo dress. Meeeoooooowwwww…..

On my far right is the extraordinary Sherry Wyatt, a guru of Professional Training and Communications. Her book just “dropped” and you can snatch it on Amazon. 

"It Doesn’t Matter What You Know (Unless You Can Communicate What You Know)."

Would I use these techniques in a heated game of Texas Hold ‘em? Prob not. But this tools have been essential in my breezing through the HR interviews to get to the juicy center of Creative Design.

LEGO BOMBING

SO this is a thing now? A great thing, indeed: Lego Bombing. 

I love when people put such extraordinary effort into something beautiful and random at once. Is this the next move in tailoring? The damages those pesky moths cause each season may have inspired a movement, after all. 

#Pre-schoolers-Soon-To-Put-Tailors-Out-Of-Work

BOTTEGA VENATA Spring 2013.

Oh Tomas, you clever little man.

Disguising sultry within the silhouette. Who knew that your sexy mesh cut-outs and your filaments of lace trickling down the body would leave a woman feeling confident? And not scrambling for a robe or a purse behind which she hides her face from shame? 

The 40s cut of this dress and demure sleeves lends not just sophistication but conservatism. The length makes the dress visually Amish-approved. This dress is armor for a woman. Deceptively comfortable. Tina Brown was quoted saying “You go to war with the army you have.”

Line up, soldiers! 

WALK OF SHAME...done proudly

I am a stylist. 

Those of you who know me, know exactly what I do and have been doing for the last 15yrs. Those of you who know me but still haven’t the foggiest…are kind enough to play along.  And wait for an opportunity when Im out of earshot to ask. Maybe when Im at the bar. Or get up to use the bathroom. Opportunities will present themselves. 

Yesterday I interviewed at a famous department store. It rhymes with Tax Fifth Avenue.

I presented myself as a seasoned stylist who has editorial credits, costume credits and a healthy roster of personal clients who request my services every season. However, seasons are far apart and mamas got bills to pay. So I put myself out there to let Tax know I was ready to work as their in-house stylist. 

Mr. Tax looked at me blankly. Then at my resume. Frowned, and looked back up at me. “You don’t have any sales experience.”  True, but Im not here for a sales job. Im a stylist. He laughed and said “All of our sales people are ‘stylists’ you know what I mean?” 

My career had just been air quoted.

In other news, I love the French ensemble above. Why? Because its effortless and not apologetic about it. For instance, she’s not pairing her baggy trousers with spiky heels. She’s wearing them with flats. Its a walk of shame …but chíc shame. 

Gloss up your box.

More GLOSSYBOX!

Enjoy the customized box by The Man Repeller - this month Susan Naci and Leandra Medine are in cahoots and worked together for an AMAZING box of beauty treasures.

Sign up and indulge… 

Hail to the CEO...with fabulous hair!

I LIKE CANDY!

Watch my sister show the gems in this months GLOSSYBOX with DAILY CANDY http://bit.ly/UkxK9h 

Makes me really, really, really want a bestie who works at French VOGUE. Id name her Brigette.

But the GLOSSYBOX is just as good. And doesn’t stink up the clothes she’d borrow with smoke.

(Please, like she’d be borrowing my clothes. You know Id be the one begging to wear her ashtray around my neck like a choker).

STRIKE! A pose....

There’s no crying in styling!

Yes, I’m paraphrasing.

But the message Coach Hanks delivered remains clear: wear it and commit to it.

Don’t second guess the beret you grabbed this morning, Faye Dunaway.  Own it.

Wearing heels? Act like it. Stop slouching and start strutting.

(Bumpy segway into my post with little to no relevance other than the photos above)

20 years ago A League of Their Own was released. Some designers were enthralled by the engineering of the women baseball uniforms. But I couldn’t stop staring at the Geena Davis ensembles. Whether it was the milk-maid pants she wore on the farm, the slip she was wearing as her team member got news of her soldier or the canary yellow hat she had tilted beautifully on her head while standing near the train.  Also have a soft spot for the tight dress Madonna borrowed that “wasn’t going to stay on for long!” 

Gift wrap for your chilly body....

ADDITIONAL 30% OFF…Happy New Year, indeed.

Not sure what’s happening in the delightfully cheeky world of JCrew but it seems they are giving things away at this point. Jenna Lyons, we’ve all learned to never question you. 

So dear reader(s) please type in STYLE2013 at checkout and take advantage of this quickly. Not sure at what point they will come to their senses and realize they are being robbed.

Be a Lover, Not a Haider

Will sleep under the Christmas tree dreaming about this jacket. (Or maybe one of the Christmas tree lots in Tribeca. They are so much more festive than Brooklyn and with that demography, I can surely double down!)

This masterpiece is brought to you by the elves at Haider Ackermann . 

I appreciate the fact that Haider provides both during and après dinner looks.

Pink + Polka Dots = Glee

Holiday parties. The color pink. Inappropriate office behavior.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?…SASS NEW YORK Holiday Giveaway time! 

Book me for some GREAT holiday shopping. Now that Im (ahem) published, retailers having been sharing little secret discounts with me that I can pass on to you.

When you and a friend sign up for an hour of Signature Shopping, you both get an hour….FREE!

(this aint the shot that fell into my latte this morning talking’… this is real and won’t last forever)

So check Plus 1 on your Evites, your Paperless Posts or any other invitation the lazy-ass hosts emailed you instead of springing for stamps. We’ve got work to do!

www.SassNewYork.com

FAST FOOD

Do I need a bike for this?

Or can I just use it as my kitchen table?

TRUNK MAGAZINE. (swoon)

My friend David Cicconi’s gorgeous magazine TRUNK just launched its third issue. The photography is hauntingly beautiful. You’ll sleep with a guilty conscience having cut out the pictures and hung them in IKEA frames, telling people you took them during your “last trip to Gambia”, charmingly forgetting which year it took place.

I won’t tell. After all, we split the package of frames, didnt we?

Rebecca Taylor Fashion Event

"Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match!….(find me a dress, a love to profess!)

Last night I was asked to co-host an evening of “Date Night: What to wear” with Match.com and Style For Hire at the posh Rebecca Taylor in the Meatpacking district.

If you couldnt make the event, here’s a cheat sheet of Dating Style Secrets the lovely Samantha Brown and I provided to Match.com

STACY LONDON tells you to shut up

In April I was asked by Stacy London to join her army of Stylists for her company, Style For Hire.

That means I get to do cool stuff like curate looks for different body types on Gilt Group (everyones favorite distraction during office hours).

Poise your fingers… 

Putting the Bee in his Bonnet

Am I doing this right?

Non-celebs rejoice, the cold weather is here. You can wear your knit cap, beanies, hats (whatever Taylor Swift is calling them now in yet another song about a guy she sleep with) without fear of sweating and ruining the look you’ve assembled. 

When selecting the perfect knit c/b/h to compliment your formalwear you’ve undoubtedly selected (a nod, Mr. Kutcher) its important to place emphasis on just how much you don’t place emphasis on your appearance. Be strategic. Make sure the c/b/h is pushed far enough towards the back of your head to not interfere with your attire, but present enough to let the world know. “hey, fame doesn’t change me. Its freezing in LA and sometimes I need a hat.”

(oh yeah, ducked into LOFT when it began to rain and found this scarf. cute color)

The real Olsen Twins. Show 'em how its done, Wheelers....

Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. The quasi-heroines of the series Sweet Valley High. Elizabeth was praised as the honor student, the prudish one and - the ultimate 80s fail - the one who wore sunscreen.

Her twin sister Jessica, as evident by her choice of “I make my own rules” denim jacket, snuck out, kissed boys with mustaches and liked to tan. 

Francine Pascal enabled created these characters for the Young Adult reader. Opening a new world to young, ambitious woman. Or aspiring reality tv stars. In the same vain, Stefani Greenfield opened up Scoop NYC. Taking all the coveted pieces from the runway and bringing them together in a beautiful and demure manner. Heavenly cashmeres, impeccable tailoring and pricing that makes you think the purchaser could feasibly bring a country out of debt. Very classy. Very Elizabeth.

Then theres Jessica, or in this (getting weaker by the line) analogy: Scoop SALE. A store that is home to exclusively Scoop merchandise on Sale. There are no round tables of cleverly displayed panties. Only bins. Look! A cap-sleeve Missoni knit dress in gorgeous fall colors, with a giant hole in collar.

So? Whadda you gonna do about it? This is Scoop SALE, bitch!  

Shrinkage.

Sometimes an image moves you so forcefully. 

You cannot help but copy / paste / upload.

Two words that should never have been used together: CAPRI PALAZZO. 

Worse idea. Ever.

Sure, theres the “secretive culty christian" thing, but for THIS, the Changs must pay.

Fall's here. Sharpen your Pencil skirts.

This morning I had a Closet Cleanout appointment with a new client who moved her from Seattle. Separating her Spring/Summer from her Fall/Winter was exhausting (Don’t you West Coasters understand storage? Welcome to New York. We have seasons. And Suris. And part-time Kardashians). After an hour of sorting thru linens and washable silks, I touched something familiar. And found an old friend.

Hello Cashmere. Its me, Kim.

And so begins our love affairs with layers, tweeds and corduroys. All of this beautifully executed in Burberry Prorsums collection. Fall in love over, and over, and over again. Until they ask you- quite curtly! - to leave the dressing room, if you have no intention of buying. And mutter something about security cameras.

http://bit.ly/OMqTBq

Round-toe, Cap-toe, T-strap...oh my!

A bit incoherent, but cute!

The Fall shoes have arrived at J.Crew and seem to be all grown up. Is it just me, or do the patterned pair 3rd from right seem a little awkward - like they’re trying unsuccessfully to make an exit. 

Similar to how I felt after asking for some cream in my coffee at a recent “cupping” event at Stumptown roastery. The one day I didnt pack my Coffeemate. Ah, hazelnut! 

(An avid reader of this blog, Oliver Strand just threw his laptop out the window). 

Mall Chick - Fil - A

Am I holding up a bustle in this photo?

Or trying to conceal a drink that was served on the earlier side of happy hour? Either way, enjoy this sugar sweet photo from the launch party of Style For Hire

The Style For Hire team has been sending in their armies into the malls across America. Walk into the Style Lounge and Zing! Zap! Zoom!…instant makeover!

Read about the experience and stop by next time you want to:

a) shop for back to school clothes

b) get that “double piercing” in your ear, already. you’ve talked about it since Wham

c)  address that void that can only be filled with the unnatural taste of a delicious Orange Julius. 

15 minutes. Thats less time than getting a manicure. And it won’t even chip!