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Setting the Mood: Under Covers

By |August 4th, 2014|Setting the Mood|

lingerie fashion editorial I may be appalled at the thought of wearing pearls and Tory Burch ballet flats give me the creeps, but no one who knows me intimately would argue that I’m anything but feminine.  I may have matured from favoring hot pink hues for home and wardrobe, but I will never tire of delicate lace, soft satin, and intricate details that make being a woman worth all of the cramps, bloating, skewed salaries, and cat calls.  When I spent several years in the high end world of lingerie, I acquired new found admiration for all that goes into underpinnings.  Perhaps there will only be a few special someones who are ever fortunate enough to see the contents of your knicker drawer (unless you use your delicates as decor), but the most feminine thing I think a woman can do is dress for herself.

la perla mimi holiday kiki de montparnasse lingerieAgent Provocateur Abbey Lace Trimmed Stretch Silk Satin Robe, La Perla Paisley Lace Appliqued Stretch Tulle Bodysuit, Mimi Holiday by Damaris Banoffee Pie Stretch Silk Satin Lingerie Set, Kiki de Montparnasse Muse Stretch Silk Contour Bra and High Waisted Satin and Lace Corset Briefs

xx, WhyDid

Why Did You Wear That: Washington Park After Dark

By |August 3rd, 2014|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

washington park nycOne of the best things about New York, and there are many, is the street traffic.  Not long ago, I loathed being photographed and what made it even more troublesome for me was having to call attention to myself as I strutted and struck poses in plain view of all pedestrians, taxi cabs, and public transportation.  But alas, I eventually came to terms with this necessary form of showboating and started to embrace the glances, glares, cheers, and jeers of passersby.  As we shot this, a woman stopped to offer her own editorial commentary.  She wanted to let me know that I looked like a witch.  Michael laughed and asked if it was the hat, which he had let me know from moment one he hated.  (Which is ironic since this hat is his and had earned him the very same nickname).  She said it was the whole look, but perhaps if I changed my attitude I could be a good witch like Samantha.  She was then on her way and I checked to see if she, herself, had not been riding a broomstick.  I love this city.

kirsten smith whydid blog

nyc bowler hat

metallic dress hat bolwer nyc

kirsten smith whydid blog nyc copy

whydid blog kirsten smith nychat: similar by Topshop here, dress: similar by One Teaspoon here, shoes: similar by Alice + Olivia here, bag: Helena de Natalio, similar by Alexander Wang here, bracelet: c/o Style Queen, similar by Berry here, necklaces: vintage, similar by Alainn here, nail/toe polish: Deborah Lippmann “Maniac”, lipstick: Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey”

xx,

WhyDid

photos by Michael Stiegler

Why Did You Wear That: Mad Hatter

By |July 29th, 2014|Why Did You Wear That?|

different hats fedora sun bowler clocheRemember when every bro from every bridge or tunnel borough was seen sporting a fedora and clear sunglasses on any given Saturday or Sunday stumbling from a long fist pumping brunch at Bagatelle or Lavo?  If you don’t, God bless you.  You were spared.  Needless to say, for a while, “fedora” had a bit of a negative connotation in my social circle, but fortunately for milliners in Manhattan and beyond, the fedora has been revived along with a few other favored head huggers.  If you’re confused as to what to wear on your dome piece, here is a little guide to headwear.  I haven’t included the beanie on this particular list as I don’t approve of ski gear midsummer.  We’ll get there.

fedora panama bucket hatsI adore a fedora: Eugenia Kim Bianca Grosgrain Trimmed Wool Felt Fedora, Topshop Floral Print Fedora, David & Young Felt Fedora, Ace of baseball caps: Collection XIIX Metallic Baseball Hat, Betsey Johnson Wild Blooms Baseball Hat, House of Holland New Era Velvet Baseball Hat, In the bucket: Nixon Bob Bucket Hat, Eric Javits Rain Bucket Hat, Brixton Tracker II Bucket Hat, Panama Jack: J. Crew Panama Hat, BP. Wool Panama Hat, Michael Stars Well Weathered Straw Panama Hat, Shady lady: Helen Kaminski Provence 12 Raffia Straw Hat, BCBGMAXAZRIA Wide Brim Hat, Eric Javits Squishee Shade Sun Hat, Flop to it: Topshop Floppy Wool Felt Hat, Nordstrom Straw Floppy Hat, Hat Attack Leather Trim Wide Brim Floppy Hat

xx,

WhyDid

 

Setting the Mood: Hats Off

By |July 28th, 2014|Setting the Mood|

hat fashion editorialMy mom looks fantastic in a hat.  Any kind.  You name it- from bonnet to bucket- she works the look.  She probably should have been British or born in the mid 18th century.  Fortunately for me, I inherited that trait along with her side stitch inducing humor (am I right?).  In this sizzling summer heat, you may not intuitively reach for a hat, but they are one more step in the right direction towards sun damage defense (more on that here).  In addition to shielding you from the sun’s UV rays, they also prove to be a fantastic way to hide a bad hair day (as witnessed here).eugenia kim fedora sensi studio(from top down): Rag & Bone Leather Trimmed Wool Felt Fedora, Karl Lagerfeld Number 7 Baseball Cap, Sensi Studio Adrian Toquilla Straw Panama Hat,Eugenia Kim Max Feather Trimmed Rabbit Felt Fedora

xx,

WhyDid

 

Why Did You Wear That: C’est La Vie (Active)

By |July 27th, 2014|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

vie activewearI can’t deny that I have a hard time stomaching dropping hundreds of dollars on pricey activewear, especially when it seems as of late, my entire clothing budget has gone basically to sports bras, compression pants, and sneakers.  You should smell my hamper.  However, fitness has become such a thing (um, been on Instagram lately?) that department stores such as Saks and online retailers like Net-A-Porter have dedicated entire categories to designer activewear.  Long gone are the days of just tossing on your boyfriend’s boxers and a ratty t-shirt to rally at the gym.  When I look around my Pilates class, it’s a full fledged fashion show with one toned body looked more chic than the next.  Fitness is having a serious fashion moment.

There is little else that’s worse than catching a glimpse of yourself in the mirror behind you mid burpee to see that your pants are startlingly sheer (recall lululemon-gate?).  There have been times when I could have told half the women in my classes what color their knickers were because they shone through during downward facing fanny.  Really, the only thing I can think of that’s worse is finding out how many calories I’ve consumed in a day.  Along with tracking my runs with Runkeeper, I downloaded a little iPhone app called My Fitness Pal.  Spoiler alert, ladies: there are a lot of calories in wine.

So, perhaps there is something to spending a little extra when it comes to your workout wear.  When Australian activewear brand, Vie Active, contacted me about testing out their wares, I jumped, literally, at the chance.  In an industry without a ton of room for interpretation, Vie Active has kept things fun and functional combining bold prints with high tech fabrics that will ensure you look nothing remotely close to a gym rat.

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heel stretch vie active

nike flyknit luna vie activewear

dancer pose yog vie activewearvie activewear nike flyknit workoutpants and sports bra c/o Vie Active, shoes: Nike, hair: combination fishtail braid and milkmaid braids

xx,

WhyDid

 

Photos by Michael Stiegler