feeling tomboy

sorry for the lapse in posting lately. I think I felt like no one was reading...but I heard that some are. So I guess I should be more attentive. I am working (mentally) on some new and exciting posts that are yet to come but in the meantime....

I have been inundated with emails from all those lauding their new Fall collections. Since I am knee-deep in a house renovation I have tried to simply window-shop. While window-shopping, I fell hard for all the new tomboy stuff out there, and at affordable places like Urban and J.Crew. The latter is really nailing it lately. So I picked a couple of items from their Fall preview that are very boy and very decidedly not your typical frou-frou J.Crew.

I love this monochromatic look. I have been unconsciously dressing in all one color lately. I thought maybe it was because I have an overabundance of navy and black. Now apparently it's a trend. I love how the manly tie is paired with super tight khaki pants.

While this is a totally weird outfit (and picture), I love the shirt. I love pullover henleys - they are not done more often. This shirt is straight up APC at half the price (and probably better quality - sorry, APC.)

Okay maybe this doesn't fall into the tomboy category, but I really like this dress. You might have to look like a model for it to be flattering but it's really plain while having clean and simple lines at the same time.

And to end, a very cute "accessory" piece as I see it: this grey merino vest. The outfit is no good but styled in a different way, with skinny jeans or the dress above (in black) with Isabel Marant ankle boots or gladiator sandals or clog boots and it's an outfit-making item.

Everything is from jcrew's new fall arrivals.

madewell

So on my recent shopping trip to NYC, I scored at J.Crew's less ruffle-y sister brand, Madewell. My bounty included: perfect-fitting tight black ankle jeans, loose cuffed boyfriend jeans, two great striped tops, a cute plaid button-up and these awesome cropped black leggings with a gold zipper detail at the bottom. And my total was amazingly under $500. At Barneys, it wouldn't have even been under the $1000 mark.

Well I have been a little forlorn wearing any of these great items since there is no Madewell store here in Portland and none of the stuff has been available online (with the exception of a smattering at shopbop). ... Until now! what a nice surprise that Madewell's online store has just opened!

Check it out here: Madewell. And don't be put off by the kind of cheesy black&white photos. I think they are still working out the kinks on their image. Trust me, the clothes are good, both the fit and quality, and not a million dollars.

Here are a couple of my scores:

Zip Leggings (only $35!)

skinny black ankle jeans

boyish but sexy plaid shirt

basic black&white striped tee

another striped tee but I bought it in red

And I love these shorts too. Might have to place a "small" summer order.

denim leggings done well

If you can believe it, these denim leggings are from Urban Outfitters and are only $39. I love how the waistband is like leggings but how they still have back pockets like jeans. And the price is so good, you can afford to buy more than one color. And there are quite a few to choose from. Take a look here.

old school Moss

Before Topshop and Pete Doherty, she was just Kate. The original waif who had amazing style even then, not that anyone noticed. Her haircolor in these shots is her real mousy blond-brown and the style is straight-up early 90s grunge. The outfit while shopping in Camdentown market is also very grunge but still very Kate: loose turtleneck, black wool overcoat and a chunky grey scarf woven around her neck and through her hair.

These pictures brought me back to when off-duty shots of models weren't the norm. And to when designers were designers instead of models as designers. Nevertheless, Kate always had style. Model or not.

In need of a grey hoodie

This is a really great look for many reasons. And one that I'd like to come back to since there are so many things about it that are inspiring.

First let's concentrate on the matter at hand: how the grey hoodie with white trim works so perfectly as a layering piece.

It is probably a men's item because of the length. And the white trim makes is very eighties, keeps it from looking like it came off the shelves at the Gap. Worn with the oversize black wool coat (peacoat?), these same clothes on a mannequin would look mannish, but on this woman they look strikingly feminine. Probably because of her long, flowing hair. The boots are killer too.

LOVE these leggings

These leggings are AMAZING! They are by Future Classics and have a buttoned placket all the way down the front. Unfortunately they are $350. I am sure H&M will be doing the knock-off version soon. In the meantime I will continue to sweat these. See below for them styled in a look.

They are available at totokaelo. Although the grey is already sold out (!) but you can still buy them in black.

tried and true: part two

As a continuation of the series started with L.L.Bean, now I've been looking much more closely at the J.Crew catalog lately. Who hasn't of course? Their look is amazing right now and just the right combination of old Marc by Marc Jacobs, preppy Americana (pick your brand) and super-feminine high fashion niche brands like Nanette Lepore or Mayle. Each piece is effortlessly feminine. Ruffles, sequins, pearls, satin trim are dripping off everything. These looks are great and have been extremely successful for them (double digit Q3 increases). However I'm much more interested in the other random items lurking under all the fluff. Takes this one-piece "union suit" in red-stripe. An adorable night-time look...or a great layering piece for day. Especially on those very cold days. It was available in navy and white as well but it has since sold out. It is only $69.50.

Another great piece I found instead in the men's department. The men's shirts come in a variety of plaids (lumberjack and otherwise) and are a lot less expensive than the women's fitted shirts. And it is much more chic to wear a loose men's shirt with the cuffs rolled up. This one is $59.50.

This adorable oxford is actually from the women's department, even though it looks like men's. And is very cute in brown especially once it's scuffed up a bit but would also be cute if it were offered in black, which it's not. There are very few sizes left, so this one might be on its way toward being sold out. Also affordable (for shoes) at $225. These are also a much better buy than any of their countless varieties of ballet flats, which sadly are definitely on the way out on the trend cycle. (More on this to follow in a later post.)

Personally I am feeling these skinny, stretch cords. The ankle-length keeps them from being too high-school or granola. Corduroy has had a hard time of late, really falling off the pant radar in women's (and in men's, unless you're a professor). It is slowly making a comeback. The black and the dark charcoal are definitely the best colors although I also think the soft ochre is very striking and could work with the right outfit (grey large-plaid men's shirt, simple black cardigan, black ankle boots, done.) They are $59.50 but I would imagine they will go on sale relatively soon.

And lastly, I just love this laptop case. It comes in 3 colors (red, black and navy) and 3 different sizes (13", 15" or 17") . It is a collaboration called "Want Organic for J.Crew" with a leather goods company out of Montreal called Want Les Essentiels de la Vie. I saw some of their stuff at Opening Ceremony in New York. Beautiful quality and unisex styling. The price is a little high at $285 but it is such a unique piece and sure to be sold out soon. Also, there is room for storage inside the case too, which is a bonus.

While J.Crew is presenting one look, there is much more to be had than face value if you are willing to dig for it. All items available at j.crew.com.

big-a** scarves

Scarves are all over the place. I can't seem to feel comfortable without one, Summer or Winter. But perusing copenhagenstreetstyle today I couldn't help but be overcome by the sheer volume, and not to mention coziness, of the scarves being sported.
Furthermore, it seems like the scarf is much more than just an accessory in these outfits but instead the anchor of the entire outfit. The sweater, jacket and/or dress is there to complement the enormous scarf and not the other way around. In fact the scarves almost look like a soft, malleable sweater that has been stretched and wrapped snugly around the neck. Leave it to the Danes to take it to the extreme.

the universal tri-blend

Normally I prefer 100% cotton when it comes to t-shirts. However the tri-blend from American Apparel - a blend of cotton, polyester and rayon - has the best drape of any t-shirt I've ever worn. The unisex tank is super nice, so are the summer v-necks and the racerback tank (although it is very low).

The colors are all heather. The grey is BY-FAR the best. I think I have four or five versions in the heather grey. The tri-black is great too and so are some of the pop colors as well (indigo, evergreen, coffee).

It works as a great layering piece with any outfit - or more like a great base from which to build upon. And it has such a nice, simple feel to it that it can stand alone as well, making a look complete.