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Why Did You Wear That: If At First You Don’t Succeed…

By |June 5th, 2014|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smith whydidA few weeks ago, the day came that I declared I was finally ready, willing, and able to dip my toes back into the dating pool.  So, I did.  It was funny that once I let it be known I was going back on the market, an interested buyer presented himself.  I had met him before, but because he kept complimenting my hair, I figured he was either gay or a hairdresser, possibly both.  When I ran into him again at a theme party one fateful Friday evening, he let our mutual friend know that he would be holding me captive and we spent the rest of the night attached at the hip… or maybe his hand/my butt… logistical technicalities.  In any case,  we’d spent a fun PG night together and deemed ourselves a perfect fit.  And just like I mentioned, once I started to get exactly what I wanted, I freaked the eff out.  He wanted to hang out that Sunday, but I was busy filming How To Tuesday and being fed hot toddies downstairs at Bakehouse in an attempt to fend off the oncoming and imminent flu.  As expected, I woke up the next morning feeling as though I had swallowed an entire carton of used Bic razors.  After a trip to the doctor (who complimented my dedication to still looking presentable when I felt less than human), I was diagnosed with a case of acute pharyngitis, aka, physical hell.  That benched me for the next week with ten days worth of antibiotics.  I let interested parties (okay, party) know my verdict and though disappointed, I promised I’d be well enough to see him the next Friday.  Like any good nurse, he checked in on his patient every day until then and made me feel slightly less miserable.  When Friday finally rolled around, the anticipation was at an all time high, but most importantly, what would I wear? kirsten smith why did kirsten smith whydid kirsten smith nyc3

kirsten smith nyc7dress: Wilfred Free, jacket: Andrew Marc, similar here, bag: Alexander Wang, boots: Frye, scarf: similar here, ear cuff: similar here, necklace: similar here

To be continued… xx, WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Almost.

By |March 12th, 2014|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smith nycYesterday was the first day in a long time that I didn’t have to wear a coat, but a jacket instead.  The thermostat skyrocketed to an unbelievable sixty one degrees although it still felt a little frosty west by the water.  And while skin started to show and our bodies but not hearts began to thaw, it wasn’t quite warm enough to convince me that spring is really on the way.  Restaurants weren’t the slightest bit hesitant about setting up their outdoor seating to capitalize on the overzealous weather revelers.  I even joined friends for rooftop cocktails at Soho House to celebrate (and photobooth foolery followed).  And while we do have only a week left of winter an entire extra hour of sun,  at some point it still does go down.

kirsten smith

 

kirsten smith

 

kirsten smith

kirsten smithShop the Look:

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Woodgrain and Leather

By |January 22nd, 2014|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

pencil skirt dressed up dressed downIn adventures of “I’ve run out of clothes- what can I find in someone else’s closet?,” I popped into Dick’s closet to grab a jacket and found one which he claims is older than I am- which means it’s probably made out of dinosaur skin. While in the depths of his closet, a baseball cap in the same maroon hue caught my eye. When I reached up and dusted it off, my head nearly exploded as I discovered that the brim was… woodgrain. If I hadn’t had breakfast that morning, I totally would have passed out. Instead I fired off a text to my male bff telling him about the treasure I’d just unearthed. He was beyond stoked and probably a little jealous that he didn’t have his own. Don’t worry, homie, I’m on the hunt for a replica.

Pencil skirts are most often associated with secretaries and desk jobs a la Mad Men -pretty, prim and proper. However, I think they can be a very sexy addition to a dressed down look without losing all femininity. When I mixed a distressed (aka future dishrag) t-shirt that I cropped (obviously) and removed the sleeves from with this basic black skirt and topped it with an oversized leather jacket and baseball hat, I felt I’d created yet another perfect contradiction.

The combination of woodgrain and leather essentially makes me a walking rap song and what could really be better than that?

kirsten catherwood smith

kirsten smith baseball hat

kirsten catherwood smith

kirsten smithhat: brilliant find from dad (similar here), t-shirt: future cleaning rag turned crop top (similar here), skirt: Express, jacket: vintage (similar here), boots: All Saints (similar here), bralette: Victoria’s Secret, dog: Smitty, earrings: (similar here)

xx,

WhyDid

Setting the Mood: Sugar and Spice

By |November 4th, 2013|Setting the Mood|

leather and laceOn more than one occasion I’ve been called a paradox; a walking contradiction.  At first glance you may think you could quickly delegate me to one box, but after a conversation and cocktail, you may be moving me to another.  And just when you think you’ve got me figured out, look out for that curve ball because it’s coming.

I don’t like predictability and following the herd makes me more than uncomfortable.  I think there’s much to be said for mixing things up and keeping people guessing, especially when getting dressed.  This is precisely why leather and lace are the perfect complement to one another.  While lace could be overly feminine or somewhat sexy, leather is tough enough to tip the scales from prissy to powerful.  A head to toe leather look would have you reminiscent of catwoman and all over lace could land you somewhere between a Victorian and 80’s Madonna.  However, when the two are combined, the look is lethal.

DKNY Leather Paneled Lace Top, Saint Laurent Leather Bra Top, Karl Lagerfeld Delphie Coated Leather Mini Skirt, Mason by Michelle Mason Leather Trimmed Lace Dress

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Back to Basics

By |October 23rd, 2013|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smithI like to keep things simple.  (K.I.S.S.).  I find that many women spend  (or waste) a lot of time overcomplicating their outfits.  The fact of the matter is, most women dress for other women.  We think we’re dressing for ourselves, but let’s be honest- we’re really just trying to look badder than the babe next to us.  The thing is, all the hours spent fussing over the latest and greatest trends can’t be taken back.  Sometimes, it’s best to just stick to the basics.

When a friend of mine, who I never get to see– especially when he snags a girlfriend– told me he was nearby and inquired if I was around to grab a drink (when am I not?), I plucked myself from my seat on the couch and promptly closed my computer.  I had to get ready quickly and rather than stand in front of my closet scratching my head and cursing my entire wardrobe, I picked out two items that go together better than Snooki and JWow.  Jeans and a white tank.  There really is no way to go wrong with a perfectly fitting pair of jeans and a basic white top.  Spice up a seemingly boring outfit with a detailed denim and add interest with your shoes and handbag.  There’s a reason some things are called classics.

kirsten smith

kirsten smith

kirsten smith

kirsten smith

jacket: Andrew Marc, tank: Alternative Apparel, jeans: c/o Frankie B., boots: All Saints (similar), bag: Céline (similar)

xx,

WhyDid