A Denim Date with ELLE and Lucky Brand

One look at my Looks to Emulate board on Pinterest, and it’s clear – denim is my go-to wardrobe staple. With the exception of the steamiest summer days, it’s rare that I want to wear much else. So, when Lucky Brand and ELLE invited me to an Exclusive Denim Fitting Party at the brand’s New York showroom, I cancelled all other plans in the books and headed straight into Midtown.

There, I mixed and mingled with fellow bloggers including Wendy of Nitro:licious and Karen of Where Did U Get That? and best of all, the Lucky Brand Design team, including Creative Director Nico Peyrache (below, with moi!) Nico met with each of us individually to help us find the perfect fit in Lucky Brand, and of course, to chat denim needs and desires.

As previously discussed, I’m committed to this all-American fabric (actually – that’s a lie, denim is from de Nîmes, France… #themoreyouknow), so I’ve got a closet full of dark denim and full color silhouettes that range from skinny to flare. BUT, what I don’t have is an amazing boyfriend jean, and that’s where Lucky Brand truly delivered, with the Sienna Cigarette.

Made of the softest denim imaginable, the Sienna Cigarette walks the line between easy Sunday denim, and dressed-up, date night denim. They’re truly the only flattering “boyfriend” style I’ve ever put on my body. I plan to wear cuffed with everything from my Isabel Marant wedges to my studded Christian Louboutins – after all, with denim like this, it’s all about embracing the contrast.

Explore the denim democracy that is Lucky Brand (they’ve got styles for all body types) online at LuckyBrand.com.

While all opinions expressed are my own, this post was produced in collaboration with Lucky Brand, ELLE and Style Coalition.

An ideeli Style Challenge: Desigual's Bold Wedges

It's no surprise to the WORLD, or at least to people who see me on a daily basis, that I love a little color. But when the kind folks at ideeli - one of my FAVORITE online shopping destinations - challenged me with styling these bold and boisterous Desigual wedges, even I took pause.

These babies bring new meaning to the word COLOR, all caps required obvs - they include a bold mix of blue, green, violet and more. Truth be told, I almost took the easy way out and - after all, a bold shoe is the perfect foil to a neutral look. But then, I decided to go for the gold, treat navy as a neutral and make things pop with HUDSON's Nico Mid-Rise Super Skinny Jean in Lavender. If THIS MUCH color isn't isn't for you, take heed, you can absolutely embrace a bright, patterned shoe in a more subtle way. Here are just a few ideas on how to wear Desigual's Celia wedge:

• To add pop to a casual LBD (little black dress, that is!) for a weekend brunch or a stroll on the High Line
• To lend contrast and interest to a slim cropped white jean and navy boatneck tee
• For an unexpected surprise at the foot of a polished black or charcoal short suit
• With a sweet summer sundress - try pattern with pattern or a simple white eyelet

How would you wear the Celia wedge? Tell me more in the comments, and shop Desigual shoes at ideeli tomorrow!

OOTD: DOES ANYONE NEED AN OIL CHANGE?

The end is NEAR, you guys. Know how I know?  I'm wearing a goddamn romper above. Honestly, I know SO LITTLE about rompers, I actually thought this was a JUMPSUIT, but A/X set me straight yesterday, with the Rollup Romper seen above.

Somehow, inexplicably, I became moderately obsessed with this jumpsuit romper after seeing it on an entirely adorable salesgirl in store. Her style was so persuasive that I couldn't resist snagging it for myself despite the fact that I'm NEITHER the average A/X shopper (read: Eurotrash, a guido, an Asian teenager, etc.) NOR Jenny from the block.

Head to toe, here's how I wore it:

• Tom Ford Jennifer Sunglasses
• Bijou Aspen Leather, Wire and Turquoise Cuff (gift, others here)
• Tory Burch Neon Studded Cuff (gift, similar here - layered with various Kenneth Jay Lane & Alexis Bittar bangles)
• A/X Rollup Romper
• Nine West wedges (no longer available, others here)

Have you dared to wear a romper, a jumpsuit, etc? Tell me everything in the comments so that I don't feel so bad about myself.

**UPDATE: A/X has this listed as both a romper and a jumpsuit on site, those total tricksters.

Photo courtesy of Felicia (she's FRESH) Sullivan

Shoe of the Day: ALDO for Julian Louie Sobeslava Wedge

My love of wedges is much like my love of pyramid studs - it's, at this point, expected of me, not a surprise to anyone, etc. etc. But even I didn't expect to fall so madly, deeply and truly in love with the ALDO for Julian Louie Sobeslava Wedge.

This graphic, structured wedge is nothing short of an architectural marvel, with a towering 5-inch wedge, including a 1-inch platform. Surprisingly, the shoe stays walkable, though I did insert a Killer Kushionz insert from Foot Petals to add some comfort to what would otherwise be an entirely unforgiving insole.

The African-inspired print on the Sobeslava wedge is SUPER fierce, and garners a TON of attention on the street. Warning: this shoe is NOT for wallflowers.

Snag the Sobeslava wedge at an Aldo store near you (but move fast, I snagged the last pair in store!) or online for $125.

Photo snapped by Danny Chung of The Modman. Danny, thanks for crawling on the floor to capture this magic moment in footwear.

OOTD: Crouching Dina

This season, my perennial fashion quest was for the perfect white jean.  High and low I searched, resulting in countless hours wasted in dressing rooms across the city.

Along the way, I learned a thing or two.  Firstly and most importantly, white jeans are IMPOSSIBLE. Most are insanely unflattering, in part due to the lighter fabric used by so many brands.  Gap (a store I never, ever shop, to be clear) is the one exception I've discovered to date; their white denim is thick enough and opaque enough to disguise the majority of my (notable!) flaws. In short, WELL DONE Gap!

In honor of the gorgeous weather in New York today (the humidity of the weekend has broken), I built a neutral look around them, with a single pop of color:

• Tory Burch sunglasses (no longer available)
• Elizabeth Cole Dagger Necklace via Gilt Groupe (no longer available)
• J.Crew Eliza Camisole (no longer available)
• Martin & Osa Cashmere Cardigan (no longer available)
• Gap Cropped Skinny Jean in White Wash
• Balenciaga Giant City in Outremer (no longer available)
• Cynthia Vincent Mason Wedge

 

Do tell...have you discovered the perfect white jean for Summer 2010?  I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

OOTD: Woman in Black

Steamy weather has certainly arrived, but despite the fact, yesterday felt like a day for embracing black. Before you ask, no, I'm not in mourning, but black is a power color and one with a perennial place in my wardrobe (seasonality be damned!)

Yesterday was particularly notable as it marked my acquisition of my second Coach piece - the gorgeous leather satchel shown above. It will hold a place of honor in my closet, along with the amazing Sara boots.

Head to toe deets:

• Catherine Malandrino top, via Rue La La (not as faux-pregnancy inducing IRL, one would hope?)
• J Brand Lowrise Pencil Leg Jean in Jett (available in Ink here)
• Cynthia Vincent Mason Wedges
• Coach Sydney Satchel
• Dannijo, Forever 21 and Monica Rich Kosann silver necklaces (layered)

 

Photo credit: Felicia Sullivan, international woman of mystery & lenswoman extraordinaire.

Why I Don't Wear Pleather: Cynthia Vincent for Target

It's not often that I'm tempted by Target's designer collaborations. You see, I've been disappointed too many times in the past - by ill-fitting juniors cuts, poor quality and terrifying, unnatural materials.

But apparel and shoe designer Cynthia Vincent is one of my very favorites (see me in her Luella wedges here) and since I had already added a pair of her black wedges to my Fashion Bucket List (yes, I really have one. It's housed on my iPhone), I decided to place an order from her recent Target collaboration, released last Sunday.

My black wedges arrived yesterday and I was so excited at first glance, I put them on immediately.

The good news? The shoes look AMAZING. Though they're made of manmade materials, the texture makes them look like real leather. They're also markedly comfortable for their height (4+ inches), just as Cynthia Vincent's namesake collection is.

The bad news? Even on a mild, Spring day, my feet could not tolerate being encased in pleather. They felt stifled and sweaty; my skin was irritated in a matter of an hour - a marked difference from a day spent in leather platforms. I can only imagine the blisters these babies will bring on when the heat and humidity really kick in.

While this is a great looking shoe for $30, natural materials are a must in my world. I'll be indulging in another pair of wedges from Cynthia Vincent's signature collection this season.

That said, if pleather's okay in your book, shop Cynthia Vincent for Target online here. While the wedges above are sold out, you can find them on eBay.

OOTD: Almost SPRING!

Even though it's a bit gray and still chilly in New York today, I'm ready for Spring! In honor of the new season, I've taken the liberty of retiring my closed toe shoes, neutral bag and winter coat, in favor of a lighter look. Top to bottom, here's what I'm wearing today:

• Diane von Furstenberg sunglasses
• Banana Republic trench
• Old Navy Linen Blend Crochet Trim Tunic
• Forever 21 scarf
• Old Navy Diva skinny jeans in Gray
• Cynthia Vincent Luella zip wedges
• Balenciaga Giant City in Outremer

 

What closet items are you breaking out this month? Do tell!