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Friday Frocks: Cheers To That

By |December 5th, 2014|Friday Frocks, Why Did You Wear That?|

champagne toastThere’s lot to celebrate this time of year besides having just celebrated WhyDid.com’s sixth year of publishing as was made painfully clear this afternoon as our email chain grew longer and longer in an attempt to get all of our favorite girls together for a holiday party.  Every time we thought we’d locked down a day to congregate over cooking and cocktails, someone would pipe in with regrets over having obligations to another engagement.  We still haven’t quite nailed down a date for our holiday festivities, but in the meantime, I did nail down some festive frocks to get you through this season’s holiday party.  Cheers!

best party dresses holiday1. Milly Floral Print Satin Twill Mini Dress, $575, 2. Alice + Olivia Princess Layered Tulle Mini Dress, $700, 3. Sass & Bide The Balancing Act Dress, $790, 4. Halston Heritage Paneled Faille Mini Dress, $445, 5. Red Valentino Forest Flare Dress, $895, 6. Grace MMXIII Angelina Faux Leather Trimmed Satin Mini Dress, $385, 7. Victoria Beckham One Shoulder Jacquard Mini Dress, $950, 8. Jonathan Simkhai Metallic Ball Dress, $895, 9. Ohne Titel Jacquard Tank Rayon Blend Dress, $595, 10. Nicholas Window Lace Strapless Ball Dress, $695

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did or Why Don’t: Skort Stop

By |February 27th, 2014|Why Did You Wear That?|

sporkIn the process of rounding up spring’s shoppable trends, I spotted yet another one making an encore performance from the 90’s… get out your Lisa Frank covered Trapper Keeper, kids, ’cause this one is a doozy.  In line with Birkenstocks, but better than scrunchies (definitely better than skeggings), please give a warm welcome back to the clothing equivalent of the spork, the skort.  Yes, that’s right.  No need to choose between a skirt or shorts this spring because you can wear both!  At the same time!  Now, I get it because I do love a flirty little skirt.  And there’s really nothing better than showing off those hard earned gams in short shorts.  I’m also quite indecisive at times, so the appeal should be obvious.  Not to mention, a skort would make having a Marilyn moment atop a subway grate far less likely.  However, since I’ve done this whole “skort” thing once before, I recall them never being quite so flattering as one might hope.  It’s awfully difficult to get the fit of both articles of clothing right in one single garment.  Skorts tend to have the effect of “long ass”  or “elephant butt” on most women who dare to wear them.  So, like I said, I’m undecided.

skort 1. Opening Ceremony Celia Crepe Skort, 2. Rag & Bone Knife Skort, 3. Bec & Bridge Gourami Shorts, 4. Vanessa Bruno Aimy Pleated Crepe Shorts, 5. Sachin + Babi Carmen Silk Short,6. Jonathan Simkhai Leather Shorts, 7. Rachel Comey Textured Stripe Asymmetrical Paneled Denim Shorts, 8. Nanette Lepore Striped Flirty Skort,9. Robert Rodriguez Textured Silk Wrap Shorts, 10. Michael Kors Silk Floral Skort

Will you be wearing this fashion mullet come spring?

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Spring 2014: Style Cheat Sheet

By |February 25th, 2014|Why Did You Wear That?|

snow flowerAlthough it was fifty degrees over the weekend and snow flurrying today, we really are in the home stretch of winter.  Just hang in there, pretty birds, relief is on the way.  While we wait for the last frost of the season to cease, let us refresh ourselves on the clothing that is just waiting to make itself quite comfortable in our closets come spring.  Since each fashion week presents collections a solid six months in advance of when we can actually get our greedy little hands on it, it’s easy to forget what we need to start scoping for and what to relegate to the back of our wardrobes for the time being.  The fashion elite may be a bit clairvoyant perhaps predicting the dreadfully long winter we’ve endured as the spring collections did not shy away from color, bold patterns, and plenty of shiny embellishment.  Though black and white were ever present, it’s time to drop the dull all black uniform and have a little bit of fun.

While florals are really nothing new for spring, this season’s are a bit bolder and less feminine incorporating the trend of black and white as well as darker tones as opposed to the predictable pastel colorways.  Speaking of which, Easter egg colors abound and are best done head to toe, but if that has you feeling apprehensive of emulating Great Aunt Ida, the presence of a pastel leather jacket or clutch will do the trick.

Along with bold graphics that will have even the biggest globetrotters giddy, art aficionados rejoice.  Patterns for spring give a nod to pop art using brights that make them downright framable.  Wearable art, if you will.

Embellishment was big and came in the form of fringe, 3D embellishments and gilded golds, bronze, and silver.  An alternative to shine in the form of straightforward metallics is presented in the option of iridescence.

And to those who attempted a croptop intervention on me… bad news: the croptop (which will live on through Fall 2014) is stronger than ever for spring.  Might I suggest enrolling in a Pilates class, like last week?  Though tops are shrinking bottoms get a bit of volume in the form of wide leg trousers and full skirts seen prevalently in the midi length.

Most notably to me was that all of the various trends seem to work together quite seamlessly and in some cases there’s quite a bit of overlap.  Full metallic skirts, crop tops with sheer panels, and boldy printed wide leg trousers make hitting a few trends at once a spring breeze.

spring 2014 fashion trends

  1. Fresh Blooms: Rebecca Taylor Sweet William DressJoie Talina B PantsElizabeth and James Klaus Floral Print Silk and Mesh Dress
  2. Go Wide: by Malene Birger Cosyna High Waited Silk-Satin PantsDiane von Furstenberg Salma Wide Leg Silk Pantsalice + olivia Pleated Eric Pants
  3. Dirty Pop: Paul Smith Black Label Maxi SkirtLisa Perry Patchwork SkirtM Missoni Neon Crochet Knit Mini Dress
  4. Heavy Metals: Rachel Zoe Pearl Sequin Fishtail SkirtDAY Birger et Mikkelsen Metallic Chiffon Wrap Dress3.1 Phillip Lim Crossover Biker Skirt
  5. Peekaboo Panels: Yigal Azrouel Scuba Waterprint Mesh SkirtRag & Bone Molly SkirtRebecca Minkoff Antoni Silk Top
  6. Full Circle…Skirts: JOA Striped SkirtTOME Taffeta Skirt, Tibi Full Pleated Skirt
  7. Team Spirit: SEA Cotton-Blend Tweed ShortsSacai Luck Striped Cotton and Taffeta Dress, Equipment Abbot Silk Bomber Blouson Jacket
  8. On the Fringe: alice + olivia Caitlin Fringe Maxi SkirtHaute Hippie Fringe Pencil SkirtJason Wu Cropped Fringed Crepe Top
  9. Buttoned Up: Diane von Furstenberg Trudy BlouseMiH The Oversize Shirt, Carven Silk Floral Print Collared Cotton Shirt
  10. Perfect Pastels: Halston Heritage Asymmetric Satin Twill Peplum Dress, J Brand Ready To Wear Durham Oversized Leather Biker Jacket, Lotusgrace Polka Dot Sheath Dress
  11. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Croptops: Tibi Cropped Embellished Cotton Blend TopJonathan Simkhai Cropped Intarsia Jersey TopBCBGMAXAZRIA Kaja Harness Top
  12. Black (and White) to Basics: A.L.C. Harrison SkirtDonna Karan Printed Silk Wide Leg PantsMcQ Alexander McQueen Slash Effect Stretch Knit Dress
  13. Iridescent Does It: Acne Tine Sequined Silk Georgette ShortsRoksanda Ilincic Oriel Colorblock Wool Crepe Dress, 3.1 Phillip Lim Colorblock Suede A-Line Skirt
  14. Global Graphics Clover Canyon Diamond Quilt Printed Cropped Track Pants, Diane von Furstenberg Phaedra Jacquard Skirt, Line & Dot Silk Palm Tree Print Dress

 

xx,

WhyDid

Friday Frocks: 2013- Fun While It Lasted

By |December 20th, 2013|Friday Frocks|

nye partyThe hardest decision you will be forced to make in 2013 is probably what to wear while bidding it adieu.  Oh?  You spent 2013 choosing a graduate school, getting engaged, and curing cancer?  Well, the last eleven months have been slightly less impressive for me.  I still have two halfway written novels collecting dust, a never ending to-do list, and a closet that’s needed to be cleaned out since 2011.  We’ll chock this one up to reacclimating to the East Coast.  Writing this post has actually just sent me into a miniature shame spiral much like when Facebook keeps asking if I’d like to see my year in review.  No.  Absolutely not.  I lived it.  No need to do it again.

But back to what really matters in the grand scheme of life and what will be posted all over your Facebook timeline come January 1st… your party dress!  While some still feel that the last night of the year is the best and most appropriate time to wear a dress strictly constructed of sequins, others feel the onslaught of nausea and would prefer the “anti-sparkle dress.”   I straddle the middle, but am more likely to wear sequins to Duane Reade on a random Tuesday to buy toilet paper than for a specific occasion that calls for them.  That said, there is a happy ending in all of this and its name is metallics.  I think a metallic frock is a much more modern take on shine than the oh so standard sequins.  So, look for something laced with lurex or punched up with patent to get the look sans gagging.

Hm… now that I’ve taken all the trouble out of finding something to wear, now you’ve got an even harder decision?  Who will you plant those luscious lips on at the stroke of midnight?

metallic gatsby dresses nye

1. Jonathan Simkhai Colorblock Boucle Dress, 2. Capitol Couture by Trish Summerville Laser Cut Patent Leather Dress, 3. Oh My Love Metallic Surplice Dress, 4. Opening Ceremony Hope Deep V Dress, 5. Roland Mouret Malha Lamé TTD, 6. KNT by Kova & T Backless Metallic Halter Dress, 7.Milly Laminated Flare Dress, 8. Sass & Bide Here & Now Beaded Silk Minidress, 9. Free People Golden Chalice Maxi Dress, 10. Motel Cherry Pie Metallic Mesh Top Dress

On to the next.

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: That’s a Rap

By |November 19th, 2013|Why Did You Wear That?|

mixtapeMuch to the chagrin of my mother, I grew up loving rap music.  I’m not sure I can explain exactly why, but there’s something about the way you feel when the beat drops and I have a deep appreciation for anyone who can find a way to rhyme words that have absolutely no business being rhymed, let alone combined. I can still recite every lyric to “Regulate” and “Shoop” will forever and always be my go to karaoke song.  As a true style schizophrenic, there was a period of time when I was known to wear oversized polos and adidas sneakers with my hair slicked back like a white boricua.  There are photos… somewhere… and they need to be burned…

But alas, perhaps I should have held onto some of my street style essentials as they are making quite the comeback along with the rest of the 90’s.  Not only have Doc Martens regained popularity, so have Timberland boots.  I had the coolest pink pair in middle school… which would have been worth bringing out of the archives.  But since they’ve long been retired, there are plenty of ways to recreate the look of street chic without looking like a bad remix.

1. Married to the Mob x UO Ride or Die Beanie, 2. adidas Back Zip Zigzag Dress, 3. Supra Society Paisley Pattern High Top Sneaker, 4. Forever 21 Street Chic Bad Hoops, 5. The Mountain Rottweiler Face Sweatshirt, 6. Mason by Michelle Mason Houndstooth Sweatpants, 7. adidas Heritage Snapback Hat, 8. BDG Denim Overall, 9. Timberland Premium Booties, 10. Sara Designs All Chain Wrap Watch, 11. Jonathan Simkhai Leather Check Sweatshirt, 12. Skaist Taylor Leopard Knit Miniskirt, 13.Puma Sky High Wedge Scaled Animal High Top 

And ya don’t stop.

xx,

WhyDid

 

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