You tell Jenna Lyons she's wrong. Go on, tell her.....

I imagine its hard saying "no" to Jenna (In fact, Im almost certain Courtney Crangi is straight).

But I will admit it seems Jcrew pairs for shock value over style lately. Maybe Im wrong. Maybe looking shorter and wider is the hot new trend thats just lost on me.  My foolish insistence flattering looks would be a big ol' jiggly bowl of mockery at those meetings with the creative team. Im so chicken shit I would probably just laugh along with them and squeeze out a few nervous rounds of "Ha, ha…J/K Jenna!"

This woman probably never reheats her latte in a microwave.

"Mon dieu! 

How can I choose between the almond croissant soaked in butter with a blanket of snowy sugar... and the oh-so cripsy Monte Cristo, which creates the most beautiful harmony between cheese and a fried egg? Its très hard being an impossibly chic Parisian woman with low blood sugar."

My favorite spring awakening (aka don't need a bra!) dress from Steven Alan so far this season.

The best thing about the Scoop Warehouse Sale...

….is this Helmut Lang top. The color blocking is engineered so beautifully, its tragic to even pair with a bottom. But, alas, society squelches our appreciation for the (nekkid) Arts. 

Your sexy French Dry Cleaner...

French Garment Cleaners are having their annual (dare I say, arousing?) sample sale.

Located in my nabe, Fort Greene, I feel very protective over these kids.

So stomp out your cigarette, slap your lover across the face, swear your undying loyalty to Serge Gainsbourg and buy yourself some sexy.

Empty Stomach, Full Wallet, Can't Lose. 

The ugly side of being your own boss.

Ugh. Sorry you have to endure this picture. All I could do on such a dreary day to drag myself out of bed was remind myself: "you wanted this." Throwing on whatever was closest to my outstretched arm from the bed, I hiked over the muddy mountains of snowbanks pushed aside with the force of Sean Penn in a room full of photographers. Finally made it to my office / cafe. 

SPRING STEPS

A nice transition into Spring. No timid toes thrusting through a peep-toe. Just a beautiful color - the harbinger of the season! - in a solid stiletto with a gentle rounded toe.

Come in, Lion….the Lamb awaits.

What it is about the love between Tita and Pedro, (the Latino Ron Livingston) in Like Water For Chocolate, that makes me feel like I can pull off bangs?  I think the character TIta and I shared the same look during my junior year of high school. My time was spent trying use "assuage" convincingly in a sentence.  She passed the time tending the ranch, upholding the tradition of the youngest girl not marrying, fighting off Mexican rebels and enduring life under the same roof as her true love who humbled himself to marry her sister just so he could be closer to Tita while the spirit her spiteful dead mother hung around and sporadically set people on fire.

Thats how she signed my yearbook.  

Modern Fiction...The Italian's French Repetto?

We love a filthy Frenchman. One who stubs outs a ciggy in his not-yet-empty plate. Or the Italian who exudes sexual dominance every time he runs his hand through his messy hair. 

Which, as always, leads to footwear. Has anyone tried Modern Fiction? They look like a poor man's Repetto, but look closer. He's aint so poor. Pretty comfortable, actually.  

Feels like Fall

Scarves have been carrying the team all though September. 'Bout time cardigans got off the bench and provided some heat. 

Isabel.

You will never be as cool as Isabel Marant. That's ok. None of us will.  

And the kicker? The outfit aint even cute. She's wearing overall culottes, for the love of Betsy. An old football tee and a puka shell necklace. This SHOULD NOT WORK but its Isabel Marant, so theory does not prevail. 

MARNI or Barney?

Time to play... 

Is it Marni? Or is it Barney? 

Love them both.

Oh RiRi....

Rihanna's collection River Island debuted at London's Fashion Week. I applaud any artist moving out of their comfort zone. But this is less a collection of clothing and more like something you'd wear to help your friend move. RiRi, you are amazing. And pretty! Why tire yourself with fashion design? Just say something snarky while sporting a tank top  by some indie designer in Brooklyn and pride yourself on your altruism. 

REAL SIMPLE...and really cute pants!

Two to Tango

Two for One drinks

My Two cents

One for my baby and One for the road…..(makes two!)

Just saying, things are better in twos. Ask Noah.

Or ask Kristin Van Ogtrop, the editor of Real Simple who allowed me to stand on my soapbox for the second time in her magazine.  Had a few things to say about to keeping it classy with cleavage and almost getting it kind of together at work.

My favorite tips…..

* twist a scarf around your neck and use a a filler (like baby’s breath for your boobs!)

* wear a bib necklace in lieu of a cami

* if you’re maniacally insistent about the cami, wear a jewel tone. universally flattering

…ended up on the cutting floor. But here’s the final edit!

KITTEN HEELS...prrrrrrrr

Walking the walk…in kitten heels!

Here is part 2 of Melissa’s Closet Cleanout featured on her blog Speaking Of Fashion.

You can exhale now.

ZEN ZEN WINS!

My latest and greatest client is a woman named Melissa.

As I tweeted / facebook-ed(?) earlier, Melissa found me through Style For Hire and interviewed me for her blog Speaking Of Fashion.

The second part of her post included her putting her money where her mouth is. Or, her belt where her waist is (does that even translate?)

Possibly one of the most even-keeled women Ive met, Melissa lit a candle and had me chanting to myself as I struggled over whether to pair a gorgeous Prabal Gurung with booties or nude pumps?

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