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Setting the Mood: Go Green

By |March 10th, 2014|Setting the Mood|

green fashionWhile all of us damn near took sledgehammers to our alarm clocks this morning thanks to Daylight Savings, we were stopped only upon realization that this tortuous early wake up call puts us that much closer to spring… and our alarm clocks are more than likely our most prized possessions, our cell phones– and it’s very difficult to choose the right Instagram filter with a cracked screen, not to mention dangerous.

And although we’ve safely guided ourselves through and survived the onslaught of holidays starting in November and ending with the massacre that is Valentines’s Day, there is one more left that I hesitate to actually qualify as a holiday.  The “holiday” to which I’m referring is St. Patrick’s Day and the only thing I despise more than the streets of my beloved city being crammed full of drunken non-Irish leprechauns is that one obnoxious human who will, without fail, attempt to pinch you due to not wearing a speck of green.  My younger self had much stronger feelings as to which green was appropriate (A refresher of NYC on St. Patrick’s Day), my older wiser self is much more lax and think even a green juice should count.  So, let’s play along and get our green on.

green-accessories

Oliver Peoples Daddy B Mirrored Sunglasses3.1 Phillip Lim Iridescent Card CasePour La Victoire Yermak Cutout SandalsChan Luu Gold Plated Chalcedony Earrings

xx,

WhyDid

Setting the Mood: Spring Awakening

By |February 24th, 2014|Setting the Mood|

spring fashion trendsSpring equinox is less than a month away (March 2oth) and even though that sadistic groundhog, Phil, made us wait it out a little longer this year, there is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.  That means, it’s time to shake off that winter way of thinking and dressing… and eating.  Before you know it, it’ll be time to start bitching about how hot it is, but in the meantime let us revel those few pleasant weeks of spring that remind us why we live in the best city in the world.  Judging by this past weekend’s “heatwave” that spawned dozens of pairs of bare legs to make their post polar vortex debut and the crowded streets on Sunday for boozy brunches (not to mention the rooftop at Soho House that resembled that of a Lorde music video shoot), it seems that the natives are restless and ready to shed winter’s layers.

spring-accessories

Dolce & Gabbana Cat Eye Filigree Gold Tone Sunglasses3.1 Phillip Lim 31 Minute Iridescent Textured Leather ClutchJ. Crew Collection Floral Print Cotton and Silk Blend JacketSophia Webster Kiki Lace Print PVC and Leather Sandals

Why Did You Wear That: Hip (Hop) to the Game

By |November 21st, 2013|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smithI’ve always felt a connection to street style, but I’ve certainly come a long way from khaki pants and Tommy Hilfiger polo shirts.  Though the style of 90’s hip hop and R&B  stars has made a comeback, this time around it’s a bit more modern and just as luxurious as its original incarnation.  The pants are more fitted (for both men and women) and there’s a bit more polish than there is posh.  Rap stars are taking styling cues from Vogue more than Vibe and many have become covergirls and trendsetters for all genres of music and social scenes.  Not only are they making hits on the airwaves, many have taken to the runways.  Never has fashion and music been so intertwined.

kirsten smith

knuckle rings watch

wedge sneakers

kirsten smith

kirsten smithhat: custom, top: Truly Madly Deeply, coat: vintage, jeans: 7 for All Mankind, shoes: Nike, bag: Alexander Wang, rings: Erica Anenberg, watch: Michael Kors

xx,

WhyDid

photos by Catherine Sampietro

Why Did You Wear That: I Got the Hook Up

By |September 26th, 2013|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smithI always argue that I live in the West Village, though my address teeters terribly close to the streets that fill with drunken girls in stilettos and inappropriately and unseasonably short bejeweled bandage dresses and the men who love them on the weekends.  Then one day, I noticed the banner (conveniently sponsored by my building’s management company) affixed to the lamppost on my corner welcoming all to the trendy Meatpacking District.  “Live Well!” it decrees.  If you mean paying six dollars for a bag of salt and vinegar potato chips at the corner deli and navigating through fanny pack clad Midwestern tourists while avoiding the stench of street carts, then, why yes, you can live very well in this neighborhood.

…And then I received a packet in my mailbox.  It was officially welcoming me to the Meatpacking District complete with a Hookup Card.  I can’t.  And yet, I do.  When I first came to New York before my senior year of college, the Meatpacking District was exactly what its name suggests.  There was meat on the ground and it smelled and it was not yet infiltrated with Lulu Lemon and the stroller pushing mothers who wear it.  It was gritty and scary and fun.  It was the old New York.  But as much as I complain about it, I love where I live… so long as I always walk south when exiting my building, unless heading to Sephora or Soho House.  I’m glad I’ve lived here long enough to know the difference and to be able to bitch about it.

kirsten smith

kirsten smith

kirsten smith

kirsten smith

over the knee socksdress: American Apparel,  jacket: c/o American Living (similar here), socks: Xhiliration (similar here), boots: Dolce Vita (similar here), bag: Balenciaga

Holla if ya hear me.

xx,

WhyDid

 

Photo Credit: Michael Stiegler

Why Did You Wear That: Take Two, Part Two

By |August 14th, 2013|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smithI was once quoted as saying my ideal outfit is “feminine but tough. (Like a pretty girl on a Harley)…”  For me, it’s awfully difficult to look anything but all American.  Long blonde hair and fairly classic features make it pretty easy for me to be lumped in with your average white chick.  There are times when I don’t feel as if my insides match my outsides.  I remember the first time I sat down in my hairstylist’s chair.  She’s a super cool girl from Brooklyn and I could just tell by the barely noticeable eye roll that she had pegged me as just another girl from the West Side by merely taking in my fresh face, designer bag, and simple tank dress.  After speaking with her for fifteen minutes, her initial impression of me was completely forgotten and I won’t let anyone else touch my hair with his or her scissors.

I like to take something classic and turn it into something unexpected by giving it some edge or “dumbing it down.”  Anything too obvious makes me uncomfortable.  Predictable scares me and boring is the end of my existence.  If it’s too pretty, I add something ugly.  I used to always wear my glasses with anything bodycon… until that became an ironic trend.  Now I just deal with my less than perfect vision by forgoing my spectacles.  Even the prettiest of cocktail dresses can morph like a chameleon by swapping out strappy sandals for rugged boots, fussy hair for wild strands, tasteful jewels for “in your face” bling.  A little black dress that I thought would only come in handy for last minute cocktail party invites has fast become a closet staple.

kirsten smith

cross necklace bracelet

kirsten smith

motorcycle boots

kirsten smith

kirsten smithdress: Nightcap Clothing (long sleeve version), necklace: vintage (similar), bracelet: vintage necklace (similar), boots: Frye, bag: Expressions NYC (similar)

xx,

WhyDid