Showing posts with label winter dressing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter dressing. Show all posts

I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas

I love white.  And I say that white after Labor Day is fine as long as it's style and fabric appropriate.  In other words, summer linen should be shelved for, well... summer.  Try cashmere or wool, angora, mohair or leather instead!

This is my white Christmas wish list and I have been a very good girl this year, so I'm hoping Santa will bring me all of these yummy items...


 Movado watch


Ann Demeulemeester white leather pants Spring 2011 on sale now at Neiman Marcus  for $1118 (from $3195)!!
photo credit Yanis Vlamos/GoRunway.com via Style.com


Max Mara Fall 2011 Alpaca coat with fur collar

 
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leather Barcelona chair

Winter Blues

Ever since NYC had the blizzard in December that grounded planes for days (including MINE!), New Yorkers have been hit hard.  Again and again.  In fact, it is snowing as I'm writing this post.  Enough!  I tend to get the winter blues every year because I am effected so much by the weather and definitely fall victim to SAD.  A few years ago, I invested in one of those light machines that helps to stimulate your retina which triggers the brain to produce serotonin.  It works.  Most offices and inside lighting don't measure much above 300 lux (three times less than an overcast day) while light boxes put out 10,000 lux or the equivalent to actual daylight (direct sunlight is over 30,000 lux).

denim overload!

But, it's not just the grey and gloomy weather that has got me fed up, it's the fact that I cannot find a properly fitting pair of jeans to slip into on these wintry days when I want to be casual, comfy and still somewhat stylish.  Many women struggle with this issue, I know I'm not alone, but it is completely frustrating.  Now, I know all too well how hard it is to make a decent fitting pair of pants and I'm sure my comrade in construction, K-Line will concur.  But, why is every pair of jeans too big on my waist, yet too tight on my legs?  Okay, I am a bit athletic and that causes problems, but still I shouldn't have this much trouble.

 
"Denim Dont's"  NEVER do this!! 
(I don't know why stupid Blogger will not let me import this image vertically -- the way it is actually saved!)
Wouldn't it be great if we could all just customize our jeans?  There have been (and still are) other places who custom make denim trousers, but they come with a hefty price tag.  Well, I recently came across a site called "Make Your Own Jeans."  Um... that pretty much says it all!  Make Your Own Jeans claims to tailor a pair perfect for your shape starting as low as $49.  Pretty great, wouldn't you say?  Levi's offers a similar deal with their Curve ID.  So, I'm giving up on overpriced, ill-fitting brands and giving this a shot.  Well, in all honestly, I will probably just suffer with what I've got already for the rest of the season because I'm being extra frugal these days, but when I'm ready for new jeans I will most definitely go about it a new way.

Winter White

White after Labor Day?  Yes!  I've already made my policy known back in April, and again in June when I was wearing my summer bleaches head to toe.  I'm a fan of white, and worn correctly, there is no reason it can't be carried forward when it gets cold outside.  Of course, there are some general rules to follow in the winter months such as; cotton poplin, eyelet and crochet are not acceptable;  Be careful how pieces are layered -- pay attention to proportion and fabric textures.  And finally, white shoes are almost never a good idea.  Below are some examples of the right way to handle winter white...

Burberry Prorsum, Pre-Fall 2011

Calvin Klein, Pre-Fall 2011

Celine, Fall 2010

Michael Kors, Fall 2010

Max Mara, Fall 2010

Phillip Lim 3.1, Pre-Fall 2011

Above Photos: Style.com

Trapped!

Every winter in NYC, I make a pact with myself to move south -- which I inevitably break after spending a significant period of time there during the Holiday Season.  I know I'd be bored to tears.  The ideal situation would be to have the means to travel to a warm place at the drop of a hat.  Since, unfortunately, that is not my reality and I'm trapped, I just have to tough it out and bundle up!

I won't be taking a trip anytime soon...

I guess I will ice skate at Rockefeller Center

An appropriate coat is key and of course, gloves.  Being that we lose a lot of heat (80% is a myth) through our head, it's really important to cover it in some way.  I've said before that I do not have a "hat head," so I have tried hoods, earmuffs and fleece headbands.  Not my style.  I've been kind of obsessed with trapper hats for a long time now, but I see very few people who actually look good in these functional and fashionable head ornaments.  I'm not one of them.  I have, what I like to call, a "pinhead" therefore, most hats just swallow me up and hang down over my eyes.  The trapper hat is no exception.  And with it's massive top and giant ear flaps, I look even more ridiculous.

gorgeous model "working" the trapper hat
Source: Fur Hat World

Joey Ramone is a pinhead too!!

Still, I won't give up.  One day, I will find the perfect trapper hat and I'll be thrilled.  I may have to shop in the children's section, but I'll never tell.  Although, that wouldn't be as embarrassing as Samantha's "mini boyfriend" she had for a couple of weeks who shopped in the boys department -- talk about a deal breaker!

Dialog from Sex And The City -- Season 3 Episode 2 "Politically Erect"

Samantha: I'm not feeling very well. I've got to go. Goodnight.

Jeff: Wait, I'll take you.

Samantha: I'm not really sick. Look, Jeff. I can’t do this. It's not a very good idea. I don’t want to lead you on.

Jeff: Lead me on? You came five times the other night.

Samantha: It's not really that...

Jeff: Then, what? What happened in the past five minutes?

Samantha: You shop at the boy's department.

Jeff: So, what? The clothes fit me better, plus they're cheaper. Where do you shop, the big and tall whore store?

Samantha: You're nothing but a big dick with a little man attached.

Jeff: You're nothing but a big pair of tits with too much extra leg room.

Surprisingly, Samantha had found what she was really looking for. And it had nothing to do with size.

Somebody get me a booster chair.

She'd found a man who made her laugh. They dated for two weeks. Though he was short, it was a long relationship for Samantha.
 
So, now that I've gotten completely off the subject... where were we?  Ah, trapper hats.  Not only do you have to worry about the fit, but quality is another issue.  I'm not exactly pro-fur since I am an animal lover and member of several animal protection foundations, but I have to say that real fur looks the best when it comes to these hats.  Just be sure that it's not rat fur a la George Costanza's Russian "sable-esque" hat he purchased on the street.  OK... I'm clearly watching too much TV!
 
George rocks his Russian "rat hat"

"ratty" looking faux fur trapper hat - maybe it had previously been road kill?
Source: Zappos

Tacky!

As many of you know I am not a cold weather girl, but one positive point these chilly months provide is the opportunity to wear more clothes.  Leather pants, cashmere sweaters, a variety of boots and outerwear are key components of winter dressing.  Every year I notice a couple of tiny issues that really get under my skin -- little pet peeves, I suppose.  I see so many people (men and women) wearing coats with the label still tacked to the sleeve.  There is a reason it is tacked rather than topstitched all around -- because it is meant to be removed.  I don't see the point in advertising that you're wearing 100% Wool.  I don't even care if it's 100% Cashmere, it's 100% stupid to leave the label on the sleeve!  I'm so tempted to enlighten these people, but it just seems mean.


this label is barely attached with two loose tacks on either side -- clearly it is not permanent



My other little annoyance has to do with tacking as well.  Inverted pleats and back vents are usually loosely tacked with a large "X" stitch when the garments are shipped as this keeps them looking nice and prevents folding and creasing.  However, this stitch is meant to be removed after the item is purchased because when a jacket is on an actual body, it fills out and therefore needs room to move as we move.  Also, when the "X" stitch is not released the pleat pulls open in the center which looks especially unflattering across someones backside!

Jacket by Gryphon -- notice how the vent is no longer tacked shut at the bottom?

So let me hear it!  What are some of your pet peeves when it comes to fashion faux pas??