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Why Did You Wear That: Transitional Period

By |September 4th, 2012|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

how to transition a summer dressAnd welcome back.  I hope your Labor Day was just that… laborless.  Seeing as Labor Day is often considered the end of summer, you may be wondering what the heck you are going to do with all of your fabulous summer frocks.  Unless you live in some type of glorious tropical climate, you are aware that for the next couple of months, the weather will be like a mature woman going through menopause.  One minute it’s pleasant, next it’s hot, next all hell breaks loose.  That is precisely why it is imperative to understand the importance of layering and how to transition your lighter pieces straight into fall.  Not sure how to do that?  Don’t you worry, I’ve gone ahead and taken the liberty of showing you just how to do so with a lovely striped maxi dress courtesy of Sugar Lips.striped maxi dress blimp

necklaces t strap sandalsIt’s all fun and games during the sweltering summer.  The sun is shining.  Blimps are flying overhead.  Add some sexy t-straps and sunglasses and you’re good to go. You may even layer on a pile of bangles and several necklaces (which I must warn you turned into a tangle and call to a plumber for me) to complete your carefree fitted frock.

But alas, not all good things last forever and before you know it, there’s a nip in the air and the only things up in the sky are falling leaves.  Swap out your sandals for wedge boots, layer on a jacket and don’t forget to keep your dome warm with a knit hat.  Perhaps instead of necklaces you substitute a scarf.

fall maxi dress

So don’t let the nip in the air take the pep out of your step.  Look on the bright side: you’ve still got a couple more months before we need to discuss snowboots.

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Coach at LensCrafters

By |July 19th, 2012|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smith lenscrafters coachYou know one thing that I love to do is read.  As a little girl the library and the book store were two of my favorite places to get lost in.  Yes, I was that kid who was excited for library class.  Dewey decimal system, what?  Well, as I got older, I found that I had an astigmatism and was going to need to wear glasses.  I tried wearing contacts, but the thought of touching my eyeballs freaked me out, so fantastic frames it was!

reading at the library

kirsten smith glassesOver the past couple of years, the stigma of eyeglasses has gone right out the window.  As a matter of fact, glasses have become downright trendy.  Non vision impaired ladies have started sporting eyewear and even celebrities have been seen walking the red carpet in their glasses.  Perhaps it’s due to designers creating styles that are not only comfortable, but totally chic.  Enter Coach at LensCrafters.  Talk about a perfect pairing!  Now you can get the best in eye care along with the best in fashion.  I love the look of the Cecilia frames in tortoise.  The slight cat eye shape gives just the right amount of retro feel for my reading and the pop of green inside makes them anything but boring.

glasses at the libraryskirt: H&M, shirt: The Limited (circa 8th grade), boots: Minnetonka, glasses: Coach the Cecilia gifted by LensCrafters, bag: Coach (my first Coach bag ever!), nail polish: Essie Peach Daiquri

Who says men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses?

xx,

WhyDid

 

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by LensCrafters via AOL Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of LensCrafters

Why Did You Wear That: Tell Me the Truth

By |July 10th, 2012|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?, WhyDid Wisdom|

kirsten smith not photoshoppedThe rampant use of Photoshop has stirred up quite a bit of controversy in the fashion and advertising worlds.  While it may come in handy in some instances, there is a huge difference between removing a blemish or brightening up a photo and giving a woman a total digital diet.  Seeing advertisements, magazine covers, and commercials showing already beautiful women Photoshopped to within an inch of their lives is disheartening to say the least.  Uh, that Adele Vogue cover?  At times, I can’t even tell who this month’s covergirl is.  Is that Kim K or Jessica Alba?  It frustrates me to hear friends talk about their children or nephews/nieces already dealing with body image issues due to the unrealistic pressures that society has put on them to be “perfect.”

That said, when Feel More Better asked me if I’d like to join 50 other influential bloggers to promote the Truth in Advertising message with their “Not Photoshopped” Story Tees, I was more than happy to be a part of it.

 

not photoshopped kirsten smith

For a chance to win a black “Not Photoshopped” Story Tee (like the one I’m wearing), Tweet me using the hashtag #FeelMoreBetter and tell me what you think makes a woman most beautiful.  I will pick one winner next week.  P.S. If you don’t win, you should still head on over and buy one yourself.  For each purchase made, a book will be given to an underprivileged girl! 

shirt: c/o Feel More Better, skirt/tube top: Express, booties: Members Only, bracelets: Alex and Ani, clutch: Expressions

Now remember what makes you beautiful.

xx,

WhyDid

 

Why Did You Wear That: Stop Traffic

By |July 5th, 2012|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smith nycOkay, let’s be serious, I’ve never been accused of being the type of beauty who could stop traffic, but it was fun to pretend.  And sometimes, a pair of fabulous shoes and leather shorts are all it really takes to get the brakes pumping.   I love the contrast of pairing rocker like leather shorts with a clean tailored white blouse.  The contradictions continue with the styling of hair in a tousled top knot and strapping on studded sandals.  You may not stop traffic, per se, but you’re sure to turn a few heads.

studded sandals top knot

new york city graffiti

whydid 8th avenue graffiti

nyc street artsunglasses: Ray Ban Wayfarer, shirt: American Apparel, shorts: (similar here), sandals: (similar pricey, similar purse friendly), bag: Balenciaga

 Remember to look both ways before crossing the street.

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Laundry Day

By |June 27th, 2012|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smith doing laundry

There are so many things I love about living in Manhattan: grocery delivery, all night diners, cabs on every corner.  Things that make life so much more convenient that at times you begin to wonder how you ever lived without them.  However, there is one small thing that isn’t always such a cinch.  That dreaded thing happens to be laundry.  Granted, no one enjoys doing laundry, but in New York, if you aren’t fortunate enough to have an in apartment washer and dryer, you are left with one of two choices.  Send your laundry out and allow a stranger to manhandle your unmentionables (not to mention allowing said stranger to discern what does and does not belong in the dryer) or do your laundry yourself.  The latter would require you to sit and sweat while your socks hit the spin cycle.  It’s not like you could leave your beloved laundry in fear of someone stealing it… or dumping it out to access the dryer for themselves.  So, this past weekend, I chose the somewhat lesser of two evils (I needed my underwear STAT and Little J’s couldn’t launder me til Monday).  Making the best of things and not having anything left to wear, I played a little game of dress up and sported my very last pair of striped socks with a floral frock and floral sandals.  Hey, you never know what kind of cutie might be sudsing up his stuff in the next machine…

washing machines

doing laundry

folding laundry

floral dress and shoesdress: Forever21 (similar here), shoes: Nordstrom Rack (similar here), socks: your guess is as good as mine (try these)

Fluff n’ fold.

xx,

WhyDid