Dresses and more from American Eagle

I feel a little bad about ragging on American Eagle, because the clothes are made for teenagers. It's not one of those stores like Gap or H&M or even Forever 21, where both 13 year olds and 31 year olds can shop (with the right discretion). No, once you become old enough to drink, you can't go into an AE store without feeling like a dinosaur, and what does a dinosaur need a graphic hoodie for?

And yet... I used to be a huge AE fan when I was in high school, and I still get their emails with ridiculous coupon codes (judging by how desperate they seem to give their clothes away, I'm a bit worried about AE's business future). I couldn't help checking out their online store a few days ago, and I was happily shocked to find some adorable pieces. I might just have to put my hair in pigtail braids and sneak into the store to try them on.

First, their dresses are all the best, prettiest parts of spring distilled into a piece of cotton. I think I'm especially appreciative of AE dresses because Gap has apparently given up trying to design any dresses I'd want to wear. Such epic fail in the cute dresses category, Gap. Sigh. Anyway, this Flirty Striped Dress, $44.50, has that nautical look I never get sick of. A white/blue stripe is one of those classic prints that always look fresh, and the button-up bustier top is sexy in a really unself-conscious way. I like how there's a bit of a menswear vibe in this dress, but it's also completely girly. I want to be wearing this dress everyday from April to September. It also comes in a great checked white, although I worry about the see-through factor (you can tell it's getting warmer when I have to start thinking about clothes being see-through).


When it's 80 degrees and you can't stand the thought of getting dressed in actual jeans, this Knit Party Dress, $34.50, will be your savior. Few things are as easy to wear as a jersey tank dress, and the fun color and print gives it enough style for a night out. I have an AE dress with these shoulder ties, and I honestly find it sort of annoying. I'm always feeling them on my shoulder and thinking something's crawling on my skin, and they look pretty awkward under cardigans. One of these days I'm going to get my mom to just sew the straps together.


This One-Shoulder Ruffle Dress, $34.50, reminds me of something Alice + Olivia would sell. It maybe not have their impeccable fit or quality fabric, but it's also 120% cheaper and just as adorable. I can't decide whether I like the berry or the pearl grey version better: my head tells me the berry is way more fun and vibrant, but my heart is drawn to the sophistication of the grey. Who knew AE could be so chic? The drawback to this dress is that the sexy single strap and the rather low back leaves no hope for wearing a bra. Sigh.


I'm a bit in love with the Floral Vines Halter Cami, $24.50-- it's so artful and lovely. The cut is a nice deviation from a plain tank or an overly revealing halter, and I like the subtle keyhole opening in the back. And the print! It was so smart to have the florals hanging down into the white bottom, since having a whole shirt in that print would be headache-inducing. Instead, it's a nice compromise and a great look. Makes me want to throw a garden party, even though I don't have a garden.

I've had a few pieces of AE jewelry that I bought in high school and wore for years, until they fell apart. I could see this Gold Pendant Necklace. $15.50, being a semi-permanent addition to my jewelry box, especially when I want to dress up solid-colored dresses or black tops. The long chain and embellished pendant gives off a Kate Moss, bohemian sort of vibe-- I'd maybe wear it with cut-off jean shorts and some suede boots.


Or, maybe I'd wear that necklace with these Sunrise Sandals, $29.50. The leather cut-out sun pattern is a nice alternative to last summer's played-out gladiator trend, and it's an obvious upgrade from Old Navy's 2 for $5 rubber flip flops (which are awesome and essential, but don't do justice to your cute summer dresses).

Cute clutch alert! The Envelope Clutch is on sale for $9.99, which is perfect for some faux-leather and an oversized gold AE logo (luckily, you can't really make out what it says unless it's right in front of your face). At 9"x5", it's roomy enough to hold all your essentials, but still small enough to tuck under your arm and dance. It also comes in black and tan, but I think the gun metal grey is the more versatile color-- I could use it right now, and it goes with everything.

Inaugural Fashion

I have to confess: I love Michelle Obama. I love everything she wears. She can go no wrong in my eyes. She could wear Bjork's swan dress and I'd blog about it, all, "OMG SO CHIC I LOVE HERRRRR!" I feel towards her the way a lot of people feel towards Cate Blanchett, where Cate can wear some crazy metallic alien outfit and her fans proclaim her the hottest woman on the planet, while everyone else scratches her head and thinks, "I don't get it, but I guess she's sort of pulling the 'hot mess' look off." Basically, even if I don't love Michelle Obama's outfit, I love Michelle Obama in the outfit.

By now, I'm sure you've all seen the Toledo yellow coat and dress she wore to the inauguration, and the white Jason Wu gown she wore to the inaugural balls. But just to refresh your memories:



What's to say that hasn't already been said? She turned two lesser-known designers into household names, she made unexpected choices, she opted for her own original look instead of something bland and dull, and she put to shame all the First Ladies that've come before her. Barack is a lucky man, indeed.

One of the reasons I love Michelle is that she makes it OK to love fashion. She is certainly not a frivolous woman, but she has an obvious knowledge of design, trends, and the fashion industry, and you can tell she enjoys playing with clothes and using her outfits to express herself. But she's no Sarah Palin, spending exorbitant amounts of money on attractive but dull clothes-- she knows how to bargain shop, and looks just as good in J.Crew as she does in Narcisco Rodriguez. And she doesn't tsk-tsk those who are as fascinated by her clothes as she is. Notice how she wore her inauguration coat open to reveal the dress underneath, even though it was something like 25 degrees in D.C. She knows that we've been waiting for months to see what she'll wear (and that Isabel Toledo deserves to have her dress shown off as well as the coat), and she's willing to suffer a little bit to give the public what they want. I don't remember where I read this, and it could be untrue, but I've heard that Jackie Kennedy tried to discourage Oleg Cassini from reproducing her looks on a mass-market scale, because she disliked the idea that any American housewife could imitate her couture looks. That's not our Michelle-- Mrs. O is a woman of the people.

So, in honor of our new First Lady and her love for J.Crew (her inauguration gloves and, I believe, shoes were from the Crew, as were Sasha and Malia's adorable outfits), here are a few pieces I could see her wearing around the White House in the near future.

I'm expecting to see a lot of women wearing lemongrass in the future, and this Double-cloth Madeline Coat, $129.99, is a great way to combine a classic coat with a distinct color. If you're looking to invest in a special occasion jacket (because Michelle Obama is certainly not afraid of a little bling), try this metallic jacquard jacket, $89.99.










Boucle fabric is quintessentially Ladies Who Lunch, and no lady lunches better than the First Lady. So I can see our Mrs. President putting her own spin on it with the Astrid Boucle Jacket, $49.99. The bright berry color would look fantastic with her skin tone, and I can see her removing the flower pin and using a vintage pin of her own.





It's perfectly fitting that this silk clutch, $88, is called the "gala clutch," because it would be the perfect accessory for a presidential ball. It comes in a few other colors, including a lovely winter white, but I'm a fan of this optimistic yellow. The big swooping bow is a nice combination of classy and playful-- perfect for complimenting a fancy gown but not competing with it.


Michelle rocked some lovely green heels on inauguration day. These Gayle patent-leather heels, $119.99, are definite showstoppers. The patent leather, suede, and gold buckle are office friendly, but with a lot of personality.


Michelle knows the power of a great printed dress. I think she'd look fantastic in this Grenada palm pleated halter dress, $198, probably dressed down with a matching cardigan. The halterneck would show off her buff shoulders (did I already mention how much I love how she has such a strong, athletic body and she knows how to work it?), and the fuschia against mocha is totally original. I only wish that I had the sort of skintone that would let me look good in this dress, too.

This final dress is a little more restrained, but the shimmery fabric and lovely fabric makes it far from boring. The Watercolor silk taffeta Mcloed dress, $199.99, has cute cap sleeves and a faux-wrap bodice, highlighting her fabulous waist. I could see her wearing this to a afternoon charity tea or something.

Banana Republic Mary-Jane Pumps

Besides the J.Crew boots I got as a gift, almost all of the shoes I own are worth around $20. Lots of Payless, Famous Footwear, DSW, Old Navy, Target, etc. So that might be why I'm being gunshy about these Banana Republic Shirley Open-Toe pumps, $49.99. They used to be $130, and with a 20% promotion BR is running (enter EXTRA20 at checkout, valid until New Year's Day) they go down to 40 bucks. That's a good deal for some well made leather mary janes, right? Especially since I don't already have a good pair of practical, serious black pumps. I think I need to just buy these already before they sell out of my size.



In other news, related only by the fact that I saw both these things at the mall today, The Limited is doing a spot-on knockoff of the Marc by Marc Jacobs gold quilted clutch that I blogged about after Thanksgiving. I was so, so tempted to buy their Quilted Satin Purse/Clutch since it was only $9.99 and came in an adorable shade of purple, but resisted. While I love purple, it goes with a lot less colors than gold (is there a color gold looks bad with, besides perhaps orange?), so I would chose it over the MJ one maybe 1 in 10 times.

I saw this at J.Crew and totally thought it was a clutch, but it makes a bit more sense now that I see it's a "jewelry traveler." On sale for $24.99, it's only available in black and spearmint online, but in the store they had a lovely pink and light blue. The satin fabric is so luxurious looking that you could definitely get away with shoving your cash and ID in the zippered pockets and carrying it as a clutch. Sure, it would be a pain in the ass to untie it and roll it open every time you want to check your cell phone, but otherwise it's adorable. Oh, and you can get it monogrammed for just $10! I was going to do a pre-Christmas post on really thoughtful, personal gifts, like custom stationary or made-to-measure dresses from the Etsy seller Miss Brache, but then by the time I got my act together it was 3 days before Christmas--way too late to order something specially made. But if you know someone with a January birthday, or if you're a freakishly incredible boyfriend who's already thinking about Valentine's Day, then I think this clutch, specially monogrammed with your loved one's initials, would make a fantastic gift. And if you also put a few necklaces and bracelets in the pockets? Holy shit, she would freak! Even if they were cheap, from Forever 21 or whatever, she'd find it adorable you went to the effort.

A sidenote on J.Crew: what is with their war on the waistline? I swear, every top and dress in that store is baggy beyond belief. I'm all for size inflation, but why is their medium loose enough to fit a woman pregnant with triplets? Tailor, J.Crew, tailor! The hourglass is classic and flattering; the balloon is not.

A few final things: I covet Daisy Lowe's vintage polka-dot dress, as modeled in her recent profile in the NYT style section. Based just on this dress, I'm excited to see the cute nighties and kimonas she claims to be designing as part of an upcoming line of pajamas.

Bill Cunningham is, I believe, the street style photographer for the NYT Styles section, and he's this adorable 80-year-old man with silver hair and a Brooklyn accent. He sometimes narrates audio slideshows of his work for the site, and his latest is Frosted, about Christmas style on Fifth Avenue and the Bergdorf Goodman windows in particular. They really are incredibly beautiful and intricate; if you're in New York right now, run, don't walk, to Fifth Avenue to see them before they are taken down! If you aren't in New York, watch the audio slideshow-- Cunningham's enthusiasm is enchanting and contagious. I want him to be my style godfather.

Black Friday Loot

I was not planning on shopping on Black Friday. I had friends in town, so I figured we would hang out, see some sights, maybe do some ice skating. But then we decided to go check out the store windows on Fifth Avenue, and we kept passing stores, and before I knew it I had a haul of cute things, bought on sale.

First, we started outside of Bloomingdale's, so I had to hop across the street and get myself some more Clodhoppers from Dylan's Candy Bar. While we were there, we saw David Beckham! He's rather petite in person, surprisingly, but was pretty good natured about having his photo taken by a bunch of scary paparazzi.

The next place we stopped was H&M, and unsurprisingly, I was unable to stop myself from purchasing a few accessories with $5 price tags. I got a scarf with a cool geometric light green and brown print, which matches my boots but nothing else I wear (excuse the amateur photography). I'm going to have to wait until it gets warmer to wear it, since it definitely doesn't match any of my coats. I also bought a white wool beret, which my friends assured me makes me adorable and Parisian and not ridiculous and pretentious. It's a bit itchy on my forehead, but I'm hoping to get used to it.

The girls I was with couldn't resist the sparkly allure of the Juicy Couture store, but it was one of the boys who bought something. My friend who goes to a super preppy Ivy League school got this 1964 argyle sweater, $126 (but I believe it was more on sale in the store). He looked so cute in this maroon and red cashmere sweater, and it actually made him look more intelligent--quite an achievement for someone who hasn't read a book for fun since high school English class.



If you have friends who enjoy shopping and designer names but are sort of cheap, definitely take them to the Marc by Marc Jacobs accessory store in the West Village. There was a line out the door on Friday, and it's a tiny, claustrophobic space, but it is SO worth the hassle. It's basically a candy store: all sorts of goodies for not a lot of money. Three of my friends bought the faux-leather hobo bag on sale for $10, and stocked up on some presents for their friends and family. I got this cute heart compact, $5 in store but $7.99 on Ebay. It would be the perfect stocking stuffer for the girly girl in your life.

But my favorite thing that I bought was this Quilted Satin Evening Bag Coco Clutch, $35 in stores and $59.99 on Ebay. It is pure loveliness: a subtle gold color (apparently my late 2008 obsessions are gold and plaid) with a quilting reminiscent of Chanel, plenty of pockets and slips inside to put your ID and money, and a heavy silver chain that's detachable. I have a feeling that this is going to become my go-to clutch for special occasions, because it makes me feel effortlessly stylish. It's of-the-moment yet classic, and I am patting myself on the back for deciding to buy it. Hopefully it won't become as popular as the last thing I bought from the Marc store: the navy canvas tote bag with "Jacobs by Marc Jacobs for Marc in collaboration with Marc Jacobs", etc. written all over that. I got mine about two years ago, and was in love with its cheeky style and utilitarian shape (I could fit my humongous Riverside Complete Works of Shakespeare textbook in it, along with a notebook and whatever book I was reading for fun!). But then I started seeing it on the arm of every other girl, and more than a few boys, and then I brought it to Poland and my passport fell out of the top when I was visiting Auschwitz, and I had to retire it. I still grab it to take to the gym or grocery store, but it's just too trendy for everyday use. I do look forward to bringing it back in five to ten years, though!

Across from the Marc store is Olive + Bette's, a cute boutique with brands like Splendid and Seven. In the window was this Cashmere Argyle Rhinestone Cardigan, $297, by Autumn Cashmere. I instantly fell in love, but the price tag... sigh, too much to even bother trying on. But I adore the cropped sleeves and shorter cut--it would look fantastic over a simple navy or white dress. The rhinestones, which comprise the diamond outlines, add a bit of fanciness and fun to the argyle, which can be a bit staid if not done right. O+B had a bunch more cute sweaters from Autumn Cashmere, so imagine my joy when I got home and saw them included in Daily Candy's sample sale email! I plan to check it out this week; if you're interested too, here's the write-up from New York Magazine:

12/2–12/5 and 12/8–12/12 Oversize cashmere ruffle wraps are $150 (originally $330), striped crewnecks are $89 (originally $245), and cashmere toggle coats are $185 (originally $540) at Autumn Cashmere's sample sale, where all other men's and women's fall merchandise is 75 percent off. 231 W. 39th St., nr. Seventh Ave., Ste. 924 (212-398-2244); 12/2–12/5 (9–7), 12/8–12/12 (9:30–6).



I wrapped up Black Friday with a little online shopping (oh, and side note, how crazy is it about the Wal-Mart worker trampled to death in Long Island and the two killed in a shoot-out in a California Toys R' Us? Bad shoppers!) at ModCloth. I got this Old Time Pocket Watch Necklace, $12.99, which I've been eyeing for freaking forever. I've posted about it twice before, I believe, so when I saw that it was on sale (from $24.99), I knew it was time to take the plunge. I'm still planning on asking for a real watch for Christmas, but this'll keep me going until then.

I also bought the Cleopatra flats, $13.00. I have a pair of gold flats from Target that are falling apart because I wear them constantly, so these are a nice upgrade. First, gold flats are the perfect way to finish off an otherwise boring black office outfit. Second, the polka dots (eyelets?) add more depth to the shimmery gold, and the knot over the top is a fun touch. I also like the mini-heel, because completely flat shoes are not good for your arches. Hopefully they'll fit when they arrive!


So that's what I bought for myself. I guess it's time to start thinking about presents for others...

Clutch Purses

I don't remember exactly how the topic came up, but last night I had a conversation with one of my guy friends about clutch purses:

Me: "Do you know what a clutch is?"
Him: "Yeah."
Me: "What is it?"
Him: "A purse made by a designer named Clutch?"
Me: "Aw, that's cute. But no."

So in honor of that poor, ill-informed boy, here are some clutch purses I'm eyeing.

From J.Crew, the Satin Fleur Clutch, $98, is the perfect mix of impractical and adorable, which is exactly what a good clutch should be. I love the satin fabric in a vibrant azul color (it also comes in a great yellow or fuchsia), since it would really pop against a simple dress or jeans. And the soft flower in the center adds a romantic touch. The only drawback is, obviously, the price. Clutches will never be your everyday purse; you really have to remind yourself to use it, to take the time to move your wallet and keys from your overstuffed tote to a delicate little clutch. So I can't justify dropping a C-note on something I'll use, at maximum, twice a week.

Which is why Old Navy is my savior, since they have the cutest pleated clutches on sale for $4.99. You know that I have a weakness for anything preppy, and the thin blue and white stripes are perfectly nautical combined with country club. And this clutch is so understated that you could grab it both when going out to the new Thai restaurant in your neighborhood on Friday night or running out to get coffee on Saturday morning. I would even be tempted to throw it inside my regular purse, both to prevent my keys from getting lost at the tangle of hairbands and receipts at the bottom and so I could enjoy the clutches cuteness every day.

But really, clutches are better for special occasions. I'd love to bring this Merona Framed Satin Ruched Clutch, $14.99, along on the sort of night where I'm drinking overpriced cocktails, ideally paid for by someone else. Technically, the strap on this bag makes it not a clutch, but I'm including it here because A: you could probably tuck the strap inside and no one would know the difference, and B: I'm a sucker for ruching and a crimson red.

If I was feeling a bit more demure, I'd want this Isaac Mizrahi Lack Hinge Clutch, $16.99. It's actually part of his bridal collection, and you can sort of tell because it's tiny and impractical, like all good wedding accessories. But even if you're not the bride, this clutch will make you feel like a sweet and old-fashioned girl whose beau will ask her father for her hand in marriage. Aw. I also think the light pink underneath the lace prevents this from being full-on wedding wear, although there's probably a "blushing bride" reference to be made.

This Nine West Finaldi Turquoise Clutch, $19.99, is what you need to be carrying on the night you'll rock the local karaoke bar with "Heart of Glass," by Blondie. This minimalist, tough clutch is a little bit 80's, without being at all dated. Bonus: at 14 x 6 inches, you'll have enough space for the essentials plus all the eyeliner you could want.

From the LABANG store on Etsy, this Yellow Fabric Clutch, $55, screams vintage, and every girl will be wondering what consignment stores and thrift marts you've hit the jackpot at. This clutch is constructed from an upholstery sample from the 1970's, accented with a blue and white flower pin on the front. It's very Joan from Mad Men (an obsession of mine that has yet to fade), but the lining-- a fun cartoon print of frolicking lions-- is straight from the playful seventies. I love fun linings; it's like having a secret just between you and your purse, and every time you open it up, you have a reason to smile.