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Why Did You Wear That: When Life Hands You Lemons…

By |December 21st, 2016|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

whydid-for-love-and-lemons2It’s no secret that I work from home.  And while most of my photos portray me as pulled together, a majority of the time, I’m either barely clothed or clothed in a manner not suitable for public consumption.  Then there come those times where I’m beckoned in for a face to face with a client or colleague.  All hell breaks loose and the cold sweats start.  I haven’t worked in a proper office environment in several (six) years.  And even when I did, they were hardly the corporate type.

There have been times where I just said, “F&ck it,” and shown up in a crop top with slacks.  Other times I have skewed to the other side channeling my inner Amish.  The fact of the matter is, the last time I owned or wore a blazer was when I attended private school and was forced to wear one (along with a tie) on a daily basis.  Maybe it’s the type of thing like when your parents forbid you from wearing makeup only to later rebel by looking like Mimi Bobek.

Then along came this little number from For Love and Lemons and all my memories of cafeterias and study hall vanished.  The Bianca Blazer Dress is what all those schoolgirl fantasies are made of.  Implied but innocent.  Provocative yet prude.  What’s under that blazer?  The world may never know– just like I never will know why we had study hall.

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Photos by Michael Stiegler

Why Did You Wear That: Patent Pending

By |October 24th, 2016|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

gempicket-patent-leather-pantsNever did I ever think I’d see the day I’d be sliding myself into a pair of patent leather pants, let alone the matching patent leather bralette.  But the moment I did, I felt like a whole new woman.  Gone was the mild mannered, happy little wallflower, and here emerged someone looking to stir up a little controversy.

Gempicket‘s Audrey Sleepless Bra and Pants somehow make wearing manmade material seem elegant and even sophisticated.  Sure, these pieces have the potential to take a totally wrong turn and should be handled with caution– much like a semi automatic weapon.  The contrast of delicate lace against patent leather and the high neckline countering the near nudity create a perfect paradox.

On my way to the shoot location, I wore a pair of Adidas Stan Smith sneakers to avoid injury and eliminate extra time spent teetering along the cobblestones of the far West Village and realized how cool these pants would also look in a very laid back setting- dare I say Saturday brunch with a vintage t-shirt and denim jacket?  Upside?  Spilled mimosas wipe right off.

Patent leather is having a moment this season, which is ironic as my first tantrum was thrown over the very same material and the only shoes (I had from shoe hero) Smitty ever chewed were also patent leather.  Fits of rage and oral fixations aside, find a way to incorporate it into your closet whether full pants, mini skirt, or even a Julia Roberts boot, you can wear a special jewelry piece, from this large selection of antique jewellery.

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Photos by Michael Stiegler

Why Did You Wear That: Under the Boardwalk

By |September 3rd, 2016|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

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Ah, where were we?  Oh, that’s right.  Dissecting summer’s sweat stains and cynicism,  When I realized that I might be a little overdressed for housing hot dogs and giving the Tilt O Whirl a spin, I swapped my bodycon two piece for something a lot softer and a bit breezier: TOBI’s Desert Dreaming Dress Set.  There are days when it’s so steamy you can’t stand the thought of anything touching you, not even Ryan Gosling with a puppy and plate of freshly baked gluten free chocolate chip cookies.  Rather than give up on life by throwing on an oversized dashiki, find something in a natural (aka not synthetic) fabric that’s got some room to breathe and bonus points for clever ventilation design details.

Now, I realize the title of this entry may be a bit misleading.  I did do a serious stroll down the boardwalk by the sea taking in all the scents and the scenery, but I did not find myself at any point in a place where I might be able to sneak off with some handsome surfer for canoodling beneath the pier (and not just because there were no handsome surfers anywhere to be found).  Turns out, this boardwalk is exactly that– a walkway made from, you guessed it, boards.  On one side, you’ve got candy apple carts, frozen beverages and burgers, and every carnival ride your mother wouldn’t allow you to embark upon for fear of a fate worse than Fabio’s.  On the other side, there is a very impressive stretch of sand, way wider than many of the shorelines that have slowly eroded over the years.

 

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Desert Dreaming Dress Set, c/o TOBI

 

Photography by Michael Stiegler

Why Did You Wear That: Put a Ring on It

By |August 26th, 2016|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

by-breanne-candy-rungsSomeone once said, “If you liked it then you should’ve put a ring on it.”  Was it Confucius or Beyonce?  I always get those two mixed up.  In any case, a few years ago, someone did actually like it enough to put a ring on it.  Sadly, he didn’t like it enough to keep his hands off of his boss’s secretary.  No harm, no foul– saved me from a life in the suburbs drinking  wine by the liter (and I don’t mean Santa Margherita) while coming up with new reasons to run errands at Target (the only entertainment in town besides Bert’s Stadium Sports Bar, formerly known as Blue Bonnet, RIP).

Sure, that experience may have made me a bit gun shy when it comes to relationships with men, but it did nothing to deter my interest in jewelry.  Until it started giving me a rash, I even continued to wear my rings on the opposite hand simply because I liked the way it sparkled.  But what if you don’t happen to have your own sparkler sitting around for days when you need a little bit of bling to brighten your mood?

ByBreanne to the rescue.  Remember back in grade school the only thing better than making paperclip retainers or letting Elmer’s glue dry on your hand only to peel it off?  You know, those cavity causing candy delights called Ring Pops?  Fast forward to present day where Miss Butler has cleverly come up with a way to bring back that childhood nostalgia, while keeping things fashion forward.  Custom Engagement Rings sweet as sugar, literally, these candy rings provide functionality and fun for only an evening.  Perfect for party favors or even moonlighting as napkin rings at dinner parties, they are a serious step up from penis straws at bachelorette parties.

They say diamonds are forever, but some things are only meant to be temporary.  Have your fun and eat it too- not something you can do with diamonds. A cracked tooth?  Now that is forever.

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Camisole and Panties by Gempicket, Ring by ByBreanne

Why Did You Wear That: Escape from New York City

By |August 15th, 2016|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

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Ah, summer in the city.  It wasn’t until just this past week that we were reminded exactly what it might feel like to wade through a crock pot of steamy, stewing, week old garbage.  This is that special time of year when we trade in bitching about blizzards for raising all hell over heatwaves.  Your weather app may say it’s a balmy 93 degrees but keep scrolling down to “real feel” and don’t forget to check the humidity while you’re at it.

The back of cabs transform into Slip N’ Slides of our own sweat.  Sidewalks double as hot plates.  The drips of overhead window air conditioners become welcome reprieves from the heat.  I’ve all but given up on a “good hair day” and relegated my wardrobe to basic black or any pattern that might disguise the sweat stains acquired merely walking the five blocks to the A train where I can’t decide whether the weather above or below ground is more oppressive.  Most of us look like human versions of Salvador Dali’s Persistence of Memory and for whatever reason- perhaps the overwhelming waft of “pheromones” or all around “wet” look- cat calling reaches its peak.  How E E Cummings couldn’t capture this in one single sonnet, I’ll never know.

The only way one might manage to survive a New York City summer is by getting out of town.  Having lived in Manhattan for a combined total of ten years and forgetting that West Coast blunder, I’ve sunned myself from Southampton to Montauk.  Slathered on sunscreen in the Rockaways and caught the Seastreak to Sandy Hook.  Yet, I had never made my way to one of the most exotic and the last stops on the F train.  You don’t need a passport, but may want to make sure your vaccinations are up to date.  A boardwalk by the beach complete with cotton candy, bumper cars, and locals who could be considered its carneys- there lies the coastal gem called Coney Island.

As it was my first time to this foreign land, I wasn’t sure what to wear.  Fortunately, TOBI was kind enough to send me some summer essentials perfect for those days when it’s so hot even your brain begins to fry and you need the guesswork taken out of dress work.  The Love Buzz Strappy Bodycon Set seemed like the obvious choice for perusing the Coney Art Walls.  While Coney Island, itself, is quite colorful, what better backdrop for a photoshoot than commissioned graffiti by prominent street artists?  This little two piece wonder looks good with just about anything from cartoon ice cream cones to causing a riot… something sure to happen had I spent one more sticky second in the city.

To be continued…

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kirsten smith why did blog nycLove Buzz Strappy Bodycon Set, c/o TOBI

Photos by Michael Stiegler