Leopard Jeans

Last year’s leopard jeans trend is one that I thought would haunt me: I obsessed over these leopard jeans, and as I ordered them I reflected on many of my father’s lectures on the difference between want and need and thought to myself, “These beautiful pants will be the source of buyer’s regret this time next year” but I entered my MasterCard information regardless.

Yet a year later, these sassy pants are still earning their keep in my closet. Even if my boyfriend won’t be seen with me in public while I wear them. When everything else in your outfit is simple, refined, and classic, loud leopard pants go a long way.

Vince silk dolman sleeve blouse, Current and Elliott The Stiletto jeans in Leopard, Tahari heels, Hobo wallet.

Mini bar

While researching for a story about buying a home in D.C., I came across pictures of a beautiful condo in Arlington. I emailed the owner, Appollina, to see if we could interview her but she moved out!

Her antique buffet-turned-bar has been inspiring me to make a mini bar for my mini studio – I have a tray that I plan to paint hot pink and fill with glass tumblers, a monogrammed ice bucket (genius idea from my friend Lauren), and lots o’ liquors – I just need a cart to set it on, and a few extra chairs in my place so I won’t have to hit the bar alone!

Photo via Appollinas

Photo via Appollinas

Bar Tray by collabunga on Polyvore

Chakor change tray GM / Lenox Lenox Tuscany Classics Stainless Ice Bucket / Ethan Allen Oval Scallop Decorative Tray / Diptyque Roses Candle / Soho Wine Carafe / Michael Aram ‘Molten’ Martini Shaker / Simon Pearce Woodstock Tumbler

Power suit

This lady is making me think about my navy Anne Klein suit in a whole new way. Bold coral necklaces, piles of bracelets, pink nails, rolled sleeves, crisp stripes, wild hair, and some serious sunglasses make this a non-frumpy-but-still-technically-business-formal outfit. I will be following suit. Pun intended.

Photo via Harpers Bazaar

Leather skirt and tee

Leather skirts used to scare me for a few reasons, number one being that they remind me of Pamela Anderson, number two being that they remind me of pleather, which reminds me of Wet Seal.

That being said, I got over my stereotype after seeing black leather skirts worn as a basic. You can’t go wrong pairing one a with plain tee shirt or a simple sweater (like Alexa Chung’s outfit here). It’s an upgrade from the standard black skirt and leather adds some biker babe je ne sais quois. I finally found one with a high waist and the right length (and a great price: I picked this up at a North Carolina thrift store). Worn with a James Perse white tee shirt, Banana Republic booties, stubbly legs, and Coach bag.

Pleated dress

Loving things to death is how you truly get your money’s worth – and shamelessly repeating an outfit like it’s the only one you’ve got. I’ve worn this dress so much that it basically cost me nothing – it’s covered in holes and snags, and every time I try to donate it to Goodwill it never makes it (as in, I pull it out of the bag at the last possible second. While the Goodwill volunteer is holding the bag). I just want to make sure it’s really ready to go – give it a few more snags, stretch it out a little more, etc.

 

The sparkly navy knit, the pleats, the librarian length – it’s the stuff dress dreams are made of. And how it keeps holding on by a thread. Iisli dress, Madewell sheer silk blouse, Falorni bag, Cooperative suede brogue wedges. 

 



Simple stripes

What I love most about this look is that I already have all of these items in my closet: oversize cuffed jeans, a simple striped tee, classic black pumps. It looks effortlessly cool, especially with messy hair (but then again, what doesn’t look cool with messy hair? Thank you Alexa Chung for making hair-doing a thing of the past). It’s the perfect outfit to wear out on a chilly weekend. Can’t wait to copy this!

Photo via MiH Jeans

Floral Jeans

When I found these faded floral jeans on clearance at H&M (similar ones here), I was almost as excited as I’d be if I found a hundred bucks on the sidewalk. That day, I felt like karma was rewarding me for not buying them two months ago for $200. I wore these with an oversize J.Crew gray tee, Daniblack sandals and an olive green military jacket (mine is Aryn K from Piperlime but similar here).

Photos by Lauren Altmin

Outfits For Fall

Ah, it’s 80 degrees and I am wearing a sweater, silk pants, and boots. Mother Nature is so stubborn. What to do with temperature predictions that have a 25 degree margin of error? Dress in layers, of course – and crack out the ankle boots that look good in everything! Read my Washingtonian post with more ideas on wearing summer dresses in the fall. (I just bought the black suede ankle boots in the floral dress roundup – they are going to be a fall staple)

For my fellow fleabags

I took a trip to the Virginia Bazaar last weekend to do a little research for a story, and found the WEIRDEST stuff (think wolf tee shirts, wigs, and every Barbie ever created). 

Thanks to my friend Lauren for keeping me company on the long drive… and for discovering the world’s largest collection of Furbees. Below are some pictures I took of the better picks from this market – vintage glassware, cast iron pans, vintage jewelry, and some amazing spreads from McCutcheon’s (and by amazing, I mean that they were all delicious – and trust me, we tried every single sample… a few times… ) We left with a few jars of Chipotle Mustard and Honey Mustard and I am already running out!

Click to read my Refinery 29 roundup of the best flea markets in the area!

Cable Knit and leather

Love this look – cable knit sweater with leather shorts and some cool boots. Actually, a cable knit sweater + anything leather I’ll take. So perfect for fall.



Image via Zara

Cable Knit + Leather by collabunga featuring long sleeve crew neck shirts

A.P.C. long sleeve crew neck shirt / Leather shorts / Wallis black leather booties