Things I Want Right Now

Back in June or July, I asked Julia to add me to add me to this blog as a contributor. She kindly obliged, and I promptly and epically failed to do anything that could actually be considered "contributing." What I did do, however, was amass a collection of wishlist items that I'd get around to posting someday. Well, it's a new year, and I'm going to be a good little shopper and share my wishlist with all you patient readers.

First, an example of what I consider the perfect dress, from my style icon, Rachel McAdams:

This dress is ideal for flattering curves, or for creating curves where none exist. It's hourglass without being too vampy -- the fullness of the skirt is balanced by the boatneck, and the red sash is perfect for highlighting a tiny waist. I also love that the sash sits a bit above the waist, creating the illusion of a long torso and long legs. It's hard to go wrong with the classic black/white/red color palette, and this is a fresh and clean take on it. I covet this dress -- one in every color, please!

The closest thing I've been able to find online that even comes close to falling into my price range is ModCloth's Best of Both Coasts Dress, $129.99:


How cute is this dress? A lovely, muted nautical palette, a flattering shape, and the same high sash. It's even got pockets! My only complaint is that I find it very hard to accessorize navy clothes. You'd need navy or gray tights to go with this -- maybe ModCloth's Regalia Tights, $13.99?


The other dress I keep revisiting but can't quite convince myself to buy is LuLu's Siren's Net Wrap Around Dress, $63:


I love wrap dresses (accentuate those curves, ladies!), and, like Julia, I have a weakness for nautical details like the net pattern on this dress. The only reasons I haven't ordered it yet are that a) I'm broke, and b) I'm not sure that this wouldn't look a little like a bathrobe on my frame. But I'm sure that could be avoided with a pair of cute heels and some strategic accessorizing.

Is it terribly impractical of me to want to buy ModCloth's Ribbons and Bows Boots, $59.99, and design all my outfits around them from now on?


Julia blogged about fabulous green boots in this post, and I'm totally with her. These are just about the only boots in the world that could make me tuck my jeans in. I mean, how could you wear these without showing them off? I'd love to throw these on with my trusty black H&M wrap dress, some black tights, and green jewelry -- I love a monochromatic outfit with contrasting accents!

Anyone who knows me knows that my true love is jewelry, and I have quite the assortment: $4 H&M brooches, funky statement pieces my dad picks up for me here and there (my favorite being a pair of earrings made of cut-up rulers that say "Beyond Measure"), gold and diamond jewelry from my mom, who gets it on sale at work, and antique bangles inherited from my grandmother. But when I'm shopping for myself I tend towards whimsical and offbeat pieces -- earrings with interesting shapes, my H&M articulated fish necklace, flashy fashion rings, and the like. This Forget Me Knot ring ($54 at Fred Flare) is exactly the type of jewelry I'm drawn to, however impractical it may be:


I know it would get caught on everything, and it'll probably turn my finger green, but it's just so damned fanciful!

Also wonderfully fanciful are these necklaces (Forever, $34, and Spouts, $26) from designer Marc Poulin on Etsy:



All I'm saying is that if anyone happened to be looking for a gift for me... well, subtlety's not really my strong suit. I want these. Badly. That is all.

The Peep-Toe Conundrum

Here's something I've always wondered: is it still tacky to wear tights or stockings with open-toed shoes? I've always been taught that yes, it is, although I have no idea where or when that happened. The only fashion advice I can remember my mother ever giving me is when, in eighth grade, she said, "Are you sure you want to wear that shirt to school today? I can see down your chest." And then I said, "Maaa-ahm!" and stormed off to my room. My sister's fashion advice tended along the lines of "Did you borrow my blue skirt without asking?" (Although I do remember her warning me against the denim tuxedo.) I may have learned this tights=no peeps toes from one of the many teen magazines I read growing up, or maybe Ann Landers did a special column on Fashion Faux pas, in which I also learned the dangers of wearing black with brown. But now I'm thinking that perhaps this fashion maxim needs to be retired, just like the "no white after Labor Day" rule that everyone agrees is pretty silly.

I started thinking about this while browsing shoes on Anthropologie, a store that I consider to be, if not the authority on fashion, at least a reliable guide to good taste and style. Not everything they sell is exactly my taste, but it's very rare for me to walk in and think, "Oh, yuck! Who would wear this dress, besides a blind trailer trash 14 year old?" They're not selling bedazzled rompers in neon green, is what I'm saying. So I had to stop and think when I saw this photo (the zoomed-in version of the brunettes shoes is above). The Lunar Puzzle Mary-Jane, $99.95 is gorgeous beyond reproach-- I dare you not to fall in love with how the braided silver t-strap looks against the sky blue suede. I think maybe the reason these shoes work with tights is that the peep-toe is pretty small. You catch a glimpse of the first two toes, but the majority of the foot is out of view: there's a little bit of that weird "webbed toes" effect, but it's easily ignored.

My next example are the Buckled T-Straps, $289.95, and this photo also breaks another fashion rule I've clung to: don't wear wear white tights once you're a teenager, because they make you look like a second-grade ballerina. Also, as someone with fair skin, why would I ever want my legs to look paler? On the other hand, they wear white tights all the time on Gossip Girl, and this model looks pretty fetching in her white tights and peep-toe pumps combo. It could just be the dogs, though, spreading their cuteness to her and clouding my judgment.


Perhaps the new rule is to use your common sense: strappy sandals with old-fashioned hose will never work, but some distinctly patterned tights with fairly sturdy peep-toes (I think there's something about the t-straps and mary-janes that help. That extra strip or two of fabric makes the shoes a little more serious, more appropriate for winter and layering) can work. I guess the only fashion rule is, If you can pull it off, go for it.

Or, maybe I just need to watch the shoes on Gossip Girl more closely, and then dress accordingly.

It's still wrong to wear socks with sandals, though.

Thakoon for Target

Every middle class fashionista worth her salt knows about Target's GO International collections, in which some of the world's top designers create limited edition lines at a much lower price point than their regular collections. But they can be inconsistent; sometimes the stuff looks tacky and cheap, with poor fit and construction. But othertimes, they're a veritable jackpot. I got this coat from the Libertine collection a few years ago, and I literally get compliments every time I wear it. From friends, classmates, neighbors-- once I was getting money from an ATM and a stranger stopped to ask me where I got it. A male stranger! You can't see it very well in this photo, because of the strange bow on the shirt underneath the coat, and you may also be distracted by the dorky looking model. But I like the bag! I also rue the day I decided not to buy this white skirt-- it has little embroidered navy whales and skulls! So cute! I remember trying it on and deciding not to buy it because it was see-through, but now I wish I could go back in time and say to myself, "Dude, just wear a tan thong." You can see more of the Libertine collection here.

I also really wish I had gotten my hands on this gorgeous Proenza Schouler dress (and I would obviously accessorize it with yellow pumps and a giant anchor). If it ever shows up on Ebay, I'm clicking Buy It Now faster than you can blink. That's the other thing about these Target collections: they sell out so freaking fast, so by the time I make it to the store there's nothing left but some XXL bikini bottoms (but no tops!). So, knowing that, I made sure to go to Target within days of the new Thakoon collection dropping. Thakoon had a big coup a few months ago when Michelle Obama, the First Lady of Fierce, wore one of his dresses at the Democratic National Convention. I was very excited to check out what he would design for the masses, but when I looked at Target.com I was so disappointed! Everything looked really shapeless and dully colored, totally uninspiring.

I mean, who'd want to wear this?

Wouldn't you much rather wear this?
I'm going to ignore the fact that I don't think this dress actually comes in purple, it's just a misleading photo, to concentrate on how the same Shibori Woven Dress, $39.99, looks about five hundred times better in this promotional photo than it does on the Target website. You can see how the print is more refined than some random splatters, how the belt at the waist helps create a shape, and how it's actually a shirtdress. You can't see the awesome pleats that run down the front and the skirt, or how the sleeves are cuffed with a button, but you can look at the second photo and imagine how you'd look stylish in that dress, too. I bought it, because it looks even better unbuttoned with a solid colored tank top underneath (although I like it as a bathing suit cover-up, too-- the bikini matches the bottom part of the skirt). It's nice enough to wear to work, and it's not every dress that can go from the office to the beach. I should warn all prospective buyers, however, that the sizing is sort of wack. I went a size smaller and it still was very roomy in the hips and waist, and easily buttoned over my chest. The arms were a little bit snug, however. Something I really like about this dress is the length-- it hits above the knee, and if it were any longer the print would be way too overwhelming.

I also bought this navy pleated skirt, $24.99. The tie on the waistband is nice and flirty, and the full skirt gives it a wholesome 50's spin. I want to wear this high on the waist, with maybe a brightly patterned top tucked in. It'll be a nice basic to help me with my New Year's Resolution to wear more skirts!

I also tried on the Canvas Floral Trench, $44.99 (see both the awful website photo and the good model photo, which actually isn't that great, but at least she isn't wearing cropped pants from 2002). The print is really pretty, but the cut isn't anything special and I don't want to look like a block of wallpaper. If it goes on sale at the end of Thakoon's run at Target, I might pick it up.





Moving on from Thakoon, I want to mention the other big designer collection Target is featuring: the Hayden-Harnett handbags. They look very luxe and stylish, in my opinion. I particularly like this Double-Flap bag, $29.99. The oversized gold square is very sophisticated, and I love how the overlapping layers of leather look. Bonus: the strap is detachable, so you can also wear it as a clutch.



I also really like the print on the Flight tote, $49.99, not to mention its roomy size and many pockets. It comes with a long strap so you can wear it across the body as a messenger bag, as well. It reminds me of this Gap tote, $39.50, in the bodega bay print. The design is way more simple-- it's a pretty basic tote-- but I'm digging the shiny blue leather pouch that's included with the bag.

Inspired by Miss Dior Cherie

A few weeks ago, one Miss Alexandra Hepburn brought the below video into my life, a commercial for the Miss Dior Cherie perfume, directed by Sofia Coppola. I've been pretty much obsessed with it ever since.



Why, oh, why is this not my life? Why am I not the one skipping around Paris, eating delicate fruit pastries and going in for dress fittings and flirting with cute boys while riding a bike, all before floating away with a bunch of balloons?

But besides the charming vibe of the commercial, I'm also obsessed with the model's dress. I couldn't dig up a great picture of it, but here are some shots to get a better look at that dreamy pink dress:
And here's the Dior Cherie print ad, with another great pink dress (although the model looks really uncomfortable in that pose):
Naturally, I am now on the hunt for a pink dress of my own. Here's the one I would buy if I was Little Miss Moneybags, gold-digging girlfriend of Scrooge McDuck. From Lela Rose, the silk faille dress is so so pretty, but way out of my league at $1,095. The cap sleeves, rounded neckline, and full skirt are very, "I am French and I don't need to show ze skin!", and the pale blush color is perfect for those who think only little girls can pull off pink. I think the mannequin is doing this dress a disservice, though-- she doesn't seem to be quite filling out the top. I really dislike Net-a-Porter's mannequins; it's like, you're one of the top online retailers of designer goods, everything on your site is at least a grand, can you not afford some cute models to make your clothes look appealing? Everything on Net-a-Porter looks so lifeless, because of these sad mannequins.


See, this J.Crew dress is on a mannequin, but since it's just a plain dress form, not a shiny faux-model, it's way less creepy. Anyway, thesilk chiffon Sophia dress, $49.99, in tulip, has all the delicate and feminine qualities required in a good pink dress. I like how the subtle overlap detail on the front bodice is replicated in the v-back opening, and how the length of the skirt exactly walks the line between "young and fun" and "demure and appropriate." Also, I'm guessing here, but I think the fabric and chiffon overlay would prevent those unsightly wrinkles on your lap that show so clearly when you sit down in lighter color fabrics.

If you're a little gun-shy about wearing pink, then this J.Crew cotton cady Lydia dress, $89.99, might be a better choice. It's just about the lightest shade of pink possible-- if you weren't paying attention, you'd think it was white. The pleated full skirt, however, is perfect for flouncing around Paris running glamorous errands.


Look, a real live model! I want to buy this dress so much more now that I've seen how great it'll look when I take an intriguing train trip with my alligator suitcase and a chivalrous stranger. Nice going, Anthropologie. The Purling Steam Dress, $298, features a whimsical curlicue print, which I think is within the spirit of Miss Dior Cherie, if not the letter. The ruffles around the neckline are a little Victorian, but combined with the sheath shape, the dress has a retro yet un-costumey effect.

Life is a Cabaret

Is it me or are these Prima Donna High Heels, $149.99 at Modcloth, the most fabulous shoes in the world? The combination of black sequins, red suede, and gold leather could be horribly tacky, but instead they're glamorous in an "I am big, it's the pictures that got small!" sort of way. I want to wear them with Modcloth's Lovely Liza dress, $79.99 and then perform some sort of one-woman show that ends with the audience showering me with roses. Is that too much to ask?

Fashion Resolutions

I'm a huge fan of resolutions. Every year I make about 20 or 30, and try to avoid generalities like "Stop being such a bitch," in favor of a something that's more of a year-long To Do list, with "Take a yoga class" and "Don't get into credit card debt." This year, I'm making fashion resolutions as well, because one can always be more stylish and chic. Here's what I hope to accomplish in 2009:

1. Wear heels regularly
One of my resolutions for 2005 was to learn how to walk in heels (I remember, because I wanted to learn before prom). I did a decent job, but since then I think I've gotten worse at keeping my ankles steady and my heels inside the shoe. Despite owning plenty of heels of different heights, colors and styles, I can most often be found wearing ballet flats or my riding boots. These are fine for my happy-go-lucky college girl persona, but once I graduate and enter the dreary corporate world, I'm going to need to step up my game, footwear wise. So this year I'm really going to try and toughen up my feet so I can wear stylish pumps to work all day and then slip into some open-toe stilettos before walking to a bar at night. Pain be damned! I think these will help me ease into it: from Nine West, a company known for their comfortable and practical heels, these Jade heels, $29.99, have an unintimidating 3 1/2 inch heel and criss-cross straps to keep your foot in place. Plus, the dark red suede and leather straps are so fun that I'd look forward to putting these on every morning.

2. Wear More Skirts
I wear dresses near constantly, but for some reason I'm not terribly into skirts. I think there are two reasons for this: my high waist and wide hips create a proportion that makes most skirts fit oddly, and skirts involve much more complicated matching than dresses or pants. There's the question of whether to tuck in or not, belt issues, length concerns-- I find skirts a bit stressful. But if I'm going to grow stylistically I must confront my fears! Maybe I'll start with a simple, go-with-everything black pencil skirt, like this one from the Gap on sale for $23.99. Then I can transition into more daring skirts, like this sophisticated bronze asymmetrical tiered skirt from Banana Republic, $125, or flirty Forever 21 Colorblock satin skirt, $19.80.








3. Buy a great interview suit and build a decent work wardrobe
While I'm terrified to enter the workforce, I am psyched to do some parent-sponsored shopping and buy an outfit that says, "Hire me! Love me! Pay me!" I think I want to go for lightweight fabrics, since I'll probably be job-searching in the spring (if I'm unemployed by the time it gets cold again, then I'll be wearing a burlap sack to my interviews), and since I feel sort of funereal when wearing all black, I'm leaning towards grey or at some subtle pinstripes. I like this Super 120s pinstripe three-button jacket, $240, and city-fit classic trouser, $140. (If anyone has any advice on three versus two-button jackets, I'd love to hear it! I have no idea why one would be preferable to the other.) And after I (hopefully) get hired, I'm going to need some quality professional pieces-- but I'd like to try and avoid looking boring. I'm a fan of this Banana Republic printed wrap dress, $130-- the demure hemline and sleeves make it very office appropriate even as the print and silk-cotton fabric keep it from being overly serious. The Detour Dress by Maeve, available for $148 from Anthropologie, has a classy shirtdress feel and a go-anywhere navy color, plus a great diamond pattern on the skirt and some very useful pockets. Also, machine washable-- a big plus when all my money will be going towards rent, Cherrios, and gin.








4. Every time I buy a bra, get the matching underwear
To be honest, since I just bought two bras at the end of December and I already own more than enough, it's very possible that I'll go all of 2009 without buying any bras. But if I do, I want to spend the extra $12 or whatever and get the set. While wearing matching lingerie everyday is not practical at all, doing it occasionally (even if there's no one who's going to see it) makes you feel a little bit special for having a sexy secret under your clothes. I really like the Sailor Stripe boyshorts, $9.99, that match the demi bra, $19.99. Even sexier? The ruffled bikini, $6.99, with the balconet demi bra, $19.99, from the Intimissi line.


5. Buy a pair of jeans that isn't from the Gap
I love the Gap, but it never hurts to branch out, right? There are two problems with this resolution, however: I have sadly short legs, so I need a line of jeans that comes with special lengths for us stumpy girls. I go to Nordstrom mall and try on Sevens, and it's like, "Where the hell did my feet go?" And sure, I could get them hemmed, but if I'm paying over $80 for jeans then they sure as hell better already be perfect. My second problem is that I only know my regular American size (you know: 4, 6, 8) and not the fancy pants European sizes (26, 27, etc.). This is why I stick to the Gap! But I want a pair of jeans that I feel fantastic in, not ones that are fine and comfortable enough. Any suggestions on labels I should check out? One that I've been hearing a lot about is Rich and Skinny, and I'm intrigued despite being neither of those things. I'm liking their classic bootcut jean, called Rich in Mystic, $191. It's not available in a shorter length, and it's in the scary sizes, but there's no better time than the New Year to be brave.

6. Buy a new watch
This is very simple-- I need a watch, and I've needed one for months. I want something simple, classy, fairly small, with an easy to read face. It would also be great if it was water resistant, since I can see myself forgetting to take it off before getting in the shower. Maybe something like this Kenneth Cole black strap watch, $85.

7. Convince at least one boy to wear a cardigan, sweatervest, or a shorts suit
I will wear them down eventually! Mark my words, I will wear them down eventually!
J.Crew Cashmere Argyle sweatervest, $99.99:

Gap rugby stripe cardigan, $59.50:











Street fashion from the NY Times:












Tentative 8. Try to be brave enough to take some street fashion photos
I'm no Sartorialist or Bill Cunningham, and neither my photography skills or my camera are top of the line. But I do have the ability to spot a woman and say, "Whoa, I love her dress!" and I do it about eight time a day. Would it be so difficult to catch up to that well-dressed woman and say, "You have great style, would you mind if I take your picture for my blog?" Ok, yes, it would be pretty difficult. I'm rather shy and I tend to racewalk my city's streets with my iPod blaring and my eyes straight ahead, giving a curt "No thanks" to anyone who addresses me. But maybe it's time to get out of that bubble, for the good of the blog.

Also, I feel like the Sartorialist has grown too "high style" and it's getting rarer for a photo to really catch my eye and inspire my own sense of fashion. First, he's practically never in New York, and I'm less interested in what stylish people in Moscow or Paris are wearing. Second, I'm not a fan of menswear unless it involves that one J.Crew model that I want to marry (points if you know which one I'm talking about-- it's not the one wearing the sweatervest abovee). Third, I feel like every other female subject is model thin, wearing black leggings and some designer architectural coat that would look insane on most people.

I guess I forgot my "be less bitchy" resolution as I slagged off the Sartorialist. Good thing that was a pretend resolution! Anyway, I will keep this street style idea in mind when I return to New York and see how it goes. Do you guys know any NY-based street style blogs that might help inspire me?

A to Z Fashion Survey

I'm working on my New Year's fashion resolutions, but in the meantime, here's an end of the year fashion survey, from A to Z (taken from here):

A: What accessories do you wear everyday?
Just my beloved flattened freshwater pearl necklace from Anthropologie.

B: What is your beauty routine?
I'm a devoted Cetaphil gentle cleanser user, with St. Eve's apricot scrub in the shower and Elta MD UV Facial SPF 30 Moisturizing Lotion in the morning.

C: What was the last item of clothing (for yourself) that you purchased?
Those black Banana Republic mary-jane pumps I posted about a few days ago. I am very excited for them to arrive in the mail! And if shoes don't count as clothing, then two Victoria's Secret Dream Angel Ipex Demi Bras, $23.99 in stores and $33.50 online, one dark purple and the other a bluish grey. I think I'm going to need go back to VS in the next few days and see if I can find some underwear to match.

D: Do you use a dresser, closet, or both?
Both. I am a very spoiled girl and have two closets in my bedroom in NY, and in between is a massive Ikea dresser. I like having the dresser, because when I'm too lazy to hang up my clothes I can throw them in any open drawer, leaving the clean-up for later.


E: What type of earrings are in your ears right now?
None. I really only wear earrings when I'm getting really dressed up. I'm lucky, I think, because I got my ears pierced when I was around 7 or 8--long ago enough that I can go six months without wearing earrings and the holes won't close up.

F: What type of figure do you have (measurements)?
I hope to look like an hourglass but, realistically, I may be more of a pear.

G: Do you wear glasses?
I own a pair that I could five years ago, when my vision first started going down the drain, but I wear contacts instead.

H: What type of handbag do you carry?
I just switched to Urban Outfitters' Sadderly Buckle Bag, $58, which I've blogged about before and got for Christmas. At first I was horribly disappointed because they sold out of the darker brown color I originally wanted, and I had to settle for a less exciting "tan." But it's still a nice bag and a big improvement over my thoroughly beat-up handbag from some H&M rip-off in Poland.

I: What is your ideal style?
The unfailingly classy look of Charlotte York (from whom I take my blogging name), mixed with the younger, slightly deranged look but always impeccably put-together look of Blair Waldorf, with a hint of Lauren Conrad's not-trying-too-hard cool. Anything and everything Mad Men is perfection, too.








J: What is your favorite brand of jeans?
I wear Gap pretty much exclusively, but in 2009 I'm hoping to branch out and find a hotter brand.

K: Do you wear knee-high stockings?
Nope. Sometimes knee-high socks under boots, and sometimes thigh-high stockings under dresses, but never knee-high stocking.

L: Do you *have* to wear matching lingerie?
I have maybe two or three pairs of underwear that match a bra, and since I usually don't go commando: no.

M: Do you wear makeup?
Oh, yes. Clinque foundation, Covergirl powder, Almay mascara, and eyeliner if I'm feeling fancy.

N: Do you wear nightgowns?
Occasionally. Also, sometimes I fall asleep wearing a dress.

O: What outerwear do you put on when going out on a typical winter's day?
If it's bone-chillingly cold, my dark green Andrew Marc wool-cashmere coat. If it's in the 40's or higher, I like to wear my navy blue puffer jacket from American Eagle, which has a huge furry hood that makes me feel extra cozy.

P: What is your favorite perfume?
I'm not really a perfume girl, but when I remember to spritz it on: Falling in Love, by Philosophy.

Q: Is your motto "quality over quantity" when it comes to clothing and accessories?
I wish I could say yes, but the truth is that I'm way more likely to buy a cheap dress from H&M than anything with a designer label. I know that you're never too young to start building a high-quality wardrobe, but as a college student and unpaid intern, I'm forced to stick to what's on sale at the Gap.

R: Do you wear rain boots?
Yes! And I got them on sale at the Gap for $7! I'm not crazy about them because they're so heavy that they're not easy to walk in, but I adore splashing through puddles and maintaining my dry socks.

S: Do you wear socks or slippers when your feet get cold?
Socks, sure. (This is a weird question. Who's going to answer, "No, I don't own any socks because I believe in toughing it out.")

T: Do you have a set of travel luggage?
Sigh, I wish. I dream of having a set like the Louis Vuitton luggage in The Darjeeling Limited. For now, though, I'm just happy that my Land's End suitcase holds a ton of clothes and is easy to spot on the airport baggage carousal.

U: What is your daily uniform?
When it's not freezing, J.Crew boots, jersey dress in a solid color with empire waist, and a cardigan. When it's colder or I'm lazy, ballet flats with jeans and a sweater.

V: If you are married, did you wear a veil with your wedding dress?
Not married, but I don't think I'm a veil sort of girl.

W: Do you wear a watch?
For most of my life I always had a digital Timex on my wrist, but it broke over the summer and I haven't gotten around to replacing it (another resolution!).

X: What item of clothing always makes you feel beautiful?
Why is this X? Anyway, anything with a V-neck and sort of emphasis on my waist.

Y: What is your favorite type of yarn?
Is modal a type of yarn? I'm a fan of any sort of soft jersey.

Z: Do you prefer zippers or buttons?
Zippers on jeans, buttons on cardigans, and snaps on men's shirts (for purposes of ripping open dramatically).

I hope this wasn't too boring! If you decide to fill this out, too, let me know so I can read it!