BLISTER-FREE FLATS (man, i need a sexier headline)

Prada's being a little lenient this season and offering them in a neutral too. Studs and all!

When the commute has taken a toll on your beloved Tom's, there's always Tory (not Spelling)

You got your d'Orsay, your hot color for summer, your comfy heel…all in all, the perfect flat!

What? Im going to find a nude patent leather Miu Miu flat with a bow and not post it?

Subway platform, to playground, to party. Not necessarily in that order. But Kudos to Kooba! We're all been anticipating your expansion to shoes.

Because they barely go with anything, wear them with EVERYTHING.

Pardon moí...My Francophile needs to be fed and these Repettos will do nicely, mercí.

So there you have it. A little variety for your usual go to commuter footwear choice of Tom's, flip-flopsand / or Chuck Taylors. They need a break. Thanks, Julianna, for the great post suggestion!

BROWSE SUMMER BROWS

Summer is here. You feel it waiting for the train. You feel it down the back of your non-iron shirt. You feel it when your foundation trickles down jawline. Admit it: you despise wearing make-up in the summer. Here are my 2 tricks for a fresh face this umber:

1) tinted moisturizer

2) eyebrows

A tinted moisturizer smooths out the nooks and crannies with a light touch. Whilst eyebrows - free from tweezing, plucking, threading and waxing - become a frame for your pretty l'il face. Minimal effort. Maximum result. 

THE ONLY SKIRT YOU NEED

It's arrived! My new favorite skirt by the Girls from Savoy came on Friday. So my weekend was spent frolicking about in the park.  Anna Campanelli, my talented photographer friend, ensured my every frolic was strategized and lit well.

This skirt is super stretchy and sits perfectly at the waist - which looks like it shrunk about 2 sizes in this sneaky little number. So flattering for the tush, too. Wear it with any of the crop tops your girlfriends insisted you buy. Come Fall, pair it with tights, a knit sweater and a hot toddy.

Grab it today. If hot pink isn't buttering your biscuit, also avail in navy.....

Shirt: Rag & Bone (similar men's only) / Shoes: Coclico (similar) / Lipstick: Shisedo

COLOR ME...

(How many of you wanted to end the text above with "…BAD"?)

This summer Im challenging myself: One week without wearing a stitch of black. Do shoes count? Fortunately, no. But listen ladies, this is not gluten-free. Its much, much easier. 

My secret to conquering this mission? Pam and Melissa. You may know them as The Girls From Savoy. They make it easy. A sensible skirt for daytime. Cute accessories to "snack" on all day and a fabulous frock for your summer night. I couldnt decide which color to snatch of the Melissa Skirt by Mender, so I let the savvy Savoy girls pick for me. (psst…its the one on the far right!) 

Stay tuned...

CURIOUS?

Honored to join such a spectacular crew at Vanity Fair's "Born Curious" project. 

Despite the prep time, I panicked and think I went too deep. Its my natural response when faced with fight or flight. After college I interviewed for a sales position at Rolling Stone magazine. Completely losing any cool I thought to have possessed, I began talking about my period. He passed. 

MR. ROGERS: FASHION RENEGADE

The common denominators here:

1) Beckham, McQueen and Craig are inarguable bad asses.

2) Beckham, McQueen and Craig all look bad ass...wearing cardigans.

I think the fear men have developed about looking "too grandpa" in this delightfully hybrid garment should be laid to rest.  See my faves here.

The iconic bad boy.

WEEKLY FORECAST

Its a common mistake we all make. Whenever ts raining, we to bundle up. The end result? We show up at our office sweating, cursing and throwing our useless umbrella in the trash.

What to wear when its HOT and RAINY:

* Bare legs with a trench are great. A nice mixture of warm and breezy.

* A sleeveless top so you stay cool within your heat-trapping weatherproof jacket.

* Sunglasses. What? Your make-up never runs???

Enjoy my favorites below...

My favorite thing about wearing taupe / beige / stone / sand trenchcoats are how easily they lend themselves to a green shoe.

BRAG AND BONE

Wait.

That's not where I wanted that title to land. It seemed like a fairly innocent evolution in my head: Rag and Bone + Brooklyn = "Brag and Bone"

Speaking of evolving, its time we acknowledge the (smoky grey deconstructed) elephant in the room. Brooklyn is a Stylist's DREAM. For the next 2 weeks I will feature chitty chats with both upcoming and long in the tooth boutiques in the 'hood.

YOU DIDN'T…DID YOU?

You believed her when she said she didn't want anything for Mother's Day? When she tossed in an "I don't know why people succumb to pressure from advertisers. It's so silly." What did she do when you said "Happy Mother's Day" and followed it with a sip of coffee? Your own coffee, to boot. Always the diplomatic one, Im sure she just smiled that radiant smile of hers.

First, we stop the bleeding: tell her its Happy Mother's Week, not day! Or some bullshit like that.

Get her a travel sized version of her favorite toiletry. Cute? Yes. Enough? No. Wrap it up with an airline ticket. Bon voyage!

She'll want to pack in style. Book me and surprise her with one of my newest services: Style: The Vacation Version.

I JUST MET A GIRL NAMED MARIA!

Aww, look at me and Maria Cornejo. Standing together like we are equals. She's a woman. I'm a woman. She's a mother. I'm a mother. She's successfully captured the hearts and loyalty of working women throughout the world with her diaphanous designs that evoke strength and sultriness all at once. And I…well, I bring these women to her shops.

And say what they're thinking once they look in the mirror: "Damn girl, you look great!"

Rolling in the dough?…Or Bisquick?

You asked. I answered (after several voicemails that went unheard, and a few "I don't know why I didnt see your text?" …I answered).

Starting today I am launching my official Splurge vs. Steal vs. Borrow From Your Sister's Closet.

Kicking it off are these two stunners: on the left we have Sandro weighing in at  $245. Her competitor in the lightweight category is Loft, barely moving the needle at $49.

Haven't booked the Summer pedi, yet?

No worries.

Here are flats cute enough to show your judgmental crowd you are well aware of the swinging weather conditions (sorry, Earth!).

You aren't quite ready to paraffin your dogs, but happy to let your ankles go on deck and enjoy the warm breeze.

Meet me in your underpants.

We are live, kids!

That means we can have sessions via Skype or FaceTime.

No looking for a bra that doesn't poke. No digging around for your Metrocard.

Just you + me + wifi.

Here's how it works: you take me on a "tour" of your closet. We treasure, toss or tailor just like the previous sessions. Next, I shop for you online and have things delivered straight to your home or office.

Easy. Sleazy. And in jammies.

New client? Sign up and get 10% off ANY service.

x

CORPORATE CASUAL

Id like to imagine a workplace where this is worn on a simple Tuesday.

Tell me what you dream of wearing of to work. Simmer down, ladies of finance…we know your answer would be "open-toe shoes and to NOT wear nylons."

#beyourownboss #tuesdayshild

APRIL 23rd: Part II

GO GREEN. OR GO (to your massive carbon-footprint covered) HOME!

These designers make it okay for us to eat at Shake Shack.

My adorable friend  Stephanie Hoberman runs the show at Melissa shoes. These eco-kicks are not the jelly shoes you wore listening to Like A Prayer, my little boy toy. Impressive collabs with Vivienne Westwood and Zaha Hadid might make this your new flip flop! Give them a try and remember the words of Wham! - guilty feet have no rhythm.

Stella McCartney always keeps it classy. Even if it ain't leatha'.

And she's a mother too, so...hooray for pockets!

Don't compare yourself to these superheroes and get all mopey. Just go out a recycle something today. Guilt be gone!

APRIL 23rd: Part I

The day glamour was redefined. Füsun Naci was born.

Its my mama's birthday today. She's in Istanbul right now at a class reunion. Its late, maybe 8pm. By now she's swiped most of her classmates lips with a bold red. Turned their modest crewnecks into v-necks with a yank of a few buttons. Swept one gals hair up while insisting upon the release of the mane of another.  Welcome to my destiny. 

Gems Ive learned from my mother:

*   velvet worn during the day creates ambiance and livens up a stagnant second grade.

*  everyone can be distracted by an open shoulder. use it wisely.

*  have the balls to wear a hat. the bigger. the better.

*  smile on the phone. people can hear it.

I love you, Annecim!

Shamefully belated birthday wishes for Beckham

She was probably worried sick when I didn't show up for her party. Note to self: have stern words with the postman for continually losing my mail.

"Vicky, darling...Im okay! These restraining orders take time to expunge." 

.

THE COATS

Coats about which I've had vivid dreams...and got really angry when woken up.

THE COLORS

Bright and bold...But not as chubby as a crayon.

THE WHITES

Perfect for the playground with the kids!

THE LITTLE BLACK-ISH DRESS

She shocked us all by opting for a black shoe over her signature nude. You know what? Im still in.

THE DRESSES

Well, not much to say here. Except I would throw myself into traffic for any of these dresses.

(except maybe the heather grey. no one wants a heather grey-related injury. that's absurd)

THE PANTS

Ths is how VB does sweatpants and sneakers.

Enjoy the world of VB here. And here. And here.

Saturday. Now open on Tuesday from 10 - 5.

As a typical New Yorker, Im skeptical.

So when I walked into Kate Spade's new shop called Saturday I anticipated overstock from the namesake store and a big fat eye roll.

Loved it. All of it. The people. The ideas (design your own weekend bag!). And the clothing answers the question that plagues anyone without kids: what to wear to Brunch??? 

Embrace the florals, petal by petal

My oh-so-stylish friend Samantha Brown once commented that my palette revolves around greens, greys and blues. "What? Crazy talk…" I said, as I wrapped my scarf around my body in this endless winter. It was green. The trousers? Navy. The warm coat in the middle of April? You guessed it…grey. So, Im a creature of habit and loves me some solids. Until now.

Here are a few ways to inject florals into your wardrobe. Petal by minimal petal:

Out, damned [stain]!….

I see bare legs! I see spring colors! I see people smiling at their iPhones and playfully refreshing their Weather Apps…..SPRING HAS ARRIVED!

Before we shove it on stage with sandals and toe-rings(!), lets get a grip on Spring.

Handle it delicately. Begin with a shoe that doesn't use words like "shearling-lined",  or "Made in Scotland". Something colorful. Next, try a lip stain. A sexy alternative that a bold red lip, without the commitment. Or the fasting.

Favorites: YSL Rebel Nudes Glossy Stain,  Rimmell Stay Glossy