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Why Did You WearThat: The Best pLaid Plans

By |December 29th, 2013|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

Kirsten smith californiaMixing patterns is tough enough, but would one dare to mix plaid on plaid on plaid?  I would.  Especially since I’ve begun to run out of options in my suitcase and I’ve either gotten incredibly creative or undeniably delusional.  Perhaps both.

I can’t count the number of times in the last month when my father has asked, “That’s what you’re wearing?”  Well, yes, dad, it is.  It’s more evident than ever that my father raised two wild wolves as sons and I had the pleasure of being pampered by my very feminine mother.  He thought I was kidding when I told him a pedicure was a near emergency yesterday and pretty much laughed in my face when I told him I was going to need to go shopping for an evening specific outfit for New Year’s Eve.  He’s a dude’s dude and I’m slowly breaking him back into what it means to have a woman around.  Poor guy.

Needless to say, he gets a kick out of being my personal paparazzi and has been nothing less than accommodating.  I had originally scouted a location to shoot close to his house where the leaves had just begun to fall in the most magnificent display of ombre glory.  The deepest shades of red to the warmest yellow, it was a Pantone wet dream.  However, I waited a day or two before scheduling the shoot and by the time we headed out, someone with a leafblower and disdain for mother nature had ruined my set.  A true lesson that there is no time like the present.  Being a good sport, Dick, Smitty, and I hopped in the car to look for new location inspiration.  Just as we were about to call it a day- and a loss- we passed the Spreckels Post Office which is nestled next to the Spreckels Emporium emblazoned with an old fashioned Coca Cola ad.  It’s like stepping back in time.  I asked Dick to stop and we proceeded to shoot and see what we came up with…

kirsten smith

kirsten smith

kirsten smith whydid

kirsten smith

kirsten smithhat: H&M, scarf: PerryEllis (similar here), flannel shirt: Wrangler (similar here), t-shirt: American Apparel, slip: (similar here), tights: who knows? (similar here), boots: Dolce Vita, bag: Amrita Singh, jacket: Andrew Marc (similar here)

And yes, dad, my tights are shredded, but that’s life.  You’ve gotta embrace the snags.

xx,

WhyDid

WhyDid or WhyDon’t: Granola Bears Need to Birkenstop

By |November 26th, 2013|Why Did or Why Don't?|

birenstocks-socksSeeing as I’ve finally made my way across the country and up the coast to what is known as Northern California, I figured this might be the appropriate time to address the footwear trend trying to make a comeback.  The hippies’ Havaianas, the tree huggers’ Tevas, the Birkenstock.  Now, I realize I’m really pigeon holing the fine folks north of San Luis Obispo, but let’s not forget that I spent a sufficient amount of time surrounded by more North Face and Patagonia than my eyes and closet could handle.  Dare I remind you of a birthday spent at Palo Alto’s Il Fornaio where I was stared at like a freak for wearing something other than polar fleece?

birkenstockBirkenstock Gizeh Birko-Flor Thong

Popular since the 1980’s these practical over fashionable sandals really had their hey day back in the early 90’s.  But just like all that is old, they have become new again.  Isabel Marant made a designer version and we all know what Isabel Marant did for the wedge sneaker (not to mention the mayhem that ensued for the H&M capsule collection).  Even Phoebe Philo of Celine sent them down the runway

birkenstock isabel marantDoc Martens have already made a comeback (as seen in the Wrecking Ball video) as well as Timberland boots (they’ve even got a collaboration with throwback brand Stussy), but are all of the 90’s footwear fads ready for a resurgence?  And will you be hugging trees in your Birks?

xx,

WhyDid

 

image via

WhyDid or WhyDon’t?: Cut the Cord…

By |October 3rd, 2012|Why Did or Why Don't?|

corduroy bearWhen I think about corduroy, typically Birkenstocks and granola bars come to mind.  It’s been a while since corduroy has been en vogue (though that hasn’t stopped the fine folks of Northern California), but it would seem this fall, the textured textile has made its way back into top boutiques and fashion forward brands fall offerings.

And while wide wale cords sound anything but appealing, I’ve gotta admit… this season’s versions have really grown on me.  In slim cuts and updated colors they look more modern than those of our American Eagle wide legged past.  And what’s better than finally being able to combine fashion and function when the fahrenheit starts to dip?

corduroy pants1. Blank Denim Corduroy Leggings, $88, 2. Forever 21 Skinny Corduroy Pants, $19.80, 3. BDG Twig High-Rise Corduroy Pant, $59, 4. J Brand 511 Mid-Rise Corduroy Skinny Jeans, $175, 5. Current/Elliot Zip Stiletto Corduroy Pants, $255, 6. Gap 1969 Legging Cords, $59.95, 7. Rag & Bone The Skinny Mid-Rise Corduroy Jeans, $175, 8. By Zoe Riri Corduroy Pants, $201, 9. 7 for All Mankind Luxe Corduroy Skinny Jeans, $178, 10. Citizens of Humanity Avedon Luxury Corduroy, $198

So what’s your take on the reinvention of corduroy for fall?

 

 

Why Did You Wear That: Pick of the Patch

By |October 18th, 2011|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

As mentioned, this past weekend, we made the trek to Half Moon Bay for their annual pumpkin festival.  We considered pulling a U-turn looking down the hill at the bumper to bumper traffic,  but hung in there, because really… going to a pumpkin festival is the right thing to do, right?  Maybe not.  This promised pumpkin fest wasn’t quite the vision I’d conjured up in my head while sitting in two hours of traffic.  But with all things in life, you must take the bad and learn from it.  So, here are a few things I learned:

  1. I’m not really a “festival” type of girl.
  2. They’ll charge you four times as much for a pumpkin in the “country” as you’d pay for it at Safeway.
  3. I do love a good petting zoo and still want that pony I yearned for as a little girl.
  4. And I still remember all the words to Kenny Chesney’s She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy (you can take the girl out of West Virginia…).

Luckily, on the road to (and from) the festival, there were several roadside stands with their own pumpkin patches (and petting zoos), where we stopped.  It probably would’ve been prudent to have just gone to the pumpkin patches in the first place and skipped the festival altogether.  Again, we live and we learn. At least I was dressed for the occasion.  Without fail, it is always 15+ degrees colder near the beach in Northern California… and always grey (way to go marine layer).  Wearing a transitional chiffon dress with a cashmere grandfather cardigan was the perfect way to look pumpkin picking chic.  Paired with flat lace up boots and tote, those pumpkins didn’t stand a chance.  Had my tote been any bigger, you bet your ass I would have smuggled a potbelly pig home.

 1. J. Crew Maisie Floral Print Silk Chiffon Dress, $395, 2. C by Bloomingdale’s Cashmere Grandfather Cardigan, $118.50, 3. Seychelles Jungle Lace-Up Short Boot, $165, 4. Rebecca Minkoff Dear Tote Bag, $330

In the end, we opted not to pay the $20 they were charging for a subpar pumpkin.

xx,

WhyDid