April 23, 2009 • 7:07 am 2
Gap (mama of Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Piperlime) has just opened up a new sub-brand: Athleta (http://athleta.gap.com/). It seems like Athleta is basically a female sports gear brand designed to compete with the likes of Champion and Lululemon Athletica. Personally, I would like to see a store-version, but so far it seems to be online-only.
My Athleta pick: The Damask yoga mat from Gaiam for $22.
April 17, 2009 • 7:09 pm 1
VSA Antigua Cuff – Silver Plate
Really gorgeous silver work. This looks almost more like lace than metal.
VSA Archangel Cuff – Gold Vermeil
Love the dangling crown in the middle of this baroque-style cuff. Would be a fantastic accessory for a night out.
Filed under: Fashion
April 9, 2009 • 4:50 pm 0
After much ranting about the lack of petite pants for those in the 5ft 1 in 0-2P set, I have now found that a few of Anthropologie’s regular pants tend to run on the small side, enough to flatter petites!
Andover Pants – Paperboy by G1
These are soft-brushed cotton (feels like a dream!) and the pink is such a pretty color..will require hemming if you’re petite though. Fortunately the back doesn’t gap the way many low-rise jeans do. Nor do you get the baggy granny butt look.
Rittenhouse Pants – Cartonnier
Hah! Ankle-length pants short enough that I don’t even need to hem! These come in a 26″L and rise a bit higher in the back with a cute little v-shaped notch in the back.
Filed under: Fashion , Anthropologie, pants
March 29, 2009 • 4:48 am 0
It’s no secret manufacturer’s like to unneccessarily put “Dry Clean” on practically everything they make, even items that can do just as well wet cleaned at home. However, nobody likes second guessing what they ought to be doing with that perfect outfit.
Personally my general perception of dry-cleaning is not only is it expensive, sometimes it doesn’t even clean the garment! Literally once I brought a suit home and it looked pressed, but didn’t smell fresh at all. I ended up hand laundering in cold water and realizd that was much more effective and have been bucking dry cleaning ever since. Not to mention having my stuff thrown in with goodness-knows who else’s dirty laundry isn’t terribly appealing.
Thankfully the Laundress has just put up an comprehensive guide to cleaning, drying, ironing and even storing your precious garments. All well-organized by fabric type and in a printer-friendly version. Tack this one up next to your washing machine, girls!
Because spending less on dry cleaning means more clothes in your closet!
March 6, 2009 • 6:40 pm 0
I absolutely hate spending money on clothing that ends up pilling, hardening, or otherwise ending up in my charity donation bin over time. So here’s a few pointers:
1) Always check the tag so you know what the content of the fabric is.
2) Fabrics from nature are worthwhile, manmade (blends or otherwise) are usually not.
Items to spend good money on:
100% Cashmere – must be amazingly soft to the touch. High quality cashmere does not pill and can be handwashed. See The Laundress website for full instructional video. I’m obsessed with their Wool and Cashmere Shampoo.
100% Merino Wool – unlike plain “wool,” merino wool is typically of higher quality and does not itch. If it feels scratchy, do NOT buy it.
100% Cotton – Nothing breathes like cotton and has so much versatility. Cold water wash only! Mercerized or Pima cotton is even better. If you want stretch, get cotton blended with at least 5% Spandex/Lycra.
Cotton/Cashmere Blends or Cotton/Silk Blends- typically are lower on the cashmere or silk side of things, but feel fabulous.
100% Silk - Should feel super smooth to the touch and have a bit of a sheen to it. Watch for snags before you bring it home.
Items to avoid or spend only loose change on:
Wool/Acrylic Blends – will pill after time with washing and start looking old.
Angora Blends – Cheap way for manufacturer to create a “fluffy” looking sweater. Bad ones will shed like animal hair on you in the store. Good ones will pill slightly.
100% Acrylic - hardens over time with washing.
Silk/Nylon Blends – easily pills and snags. Buy 100% silk or silk/cotton blend instead if possible.
Polyester/Rayon/I don’t even know what this ?!@ is - Then why are you buying it?
Filed under: Fashion, Shopping Tip
February 22, 2009 • 5:26 pm 1
I’m doing this while watching TV live, but *gasp* WHAT was Vanessa Hudgens thinking? Not to mention I was shocked that Marchesa would design something like this.
It looks as though she killed a bird and stuck its remains onto her bosom. *sigh* Gorgeous girl… wrong dress.
Taraji P. Henson (Curious Case of Benjamin Button) made a much better choice in Roberto Cavalli with Fred Leighton jewels
Penelope Cruz’s Balmain vintage gown is just so fab with the Chopard choker
Biggest disappointment of the night? Sophia Loren. Girls, when you see an otherwise fashionable girl wearing a dress that makes her look ridiculous, you should lock her in her closet until she comes to her senses!
February 20, 2009 • 7:40 pm 0
Apparently Bluefly.com has done the genius, creating an entire subsite dedicated to the Gossip Girl obsessed. So you can channel your inner Blair, Serena, or even Chuck for that matter.
According to Bluefly’s blog, Flypaper, Blair’s super cute cardigan in the pic below shall soon be available:
Unfortunately, having Blair or Serena’s trust fund is not currently an option.
Filed under: Fashion , bluefly, gossip girl
February 16, 2009 • 8:50 pm 0
It’s that time of the year. When bathing suits come out into stores, winter gear goes on heavy clearance. It’s a great time to bargain hunt for cashmere, wool, winter layering pieces and other such items.
I found the cute Free People top below at the Rack for $16, as opposed to the regular price of $98 (or the online sales price of $69).
Free People Diamonds and Lace Turtleneck
Also it’s a great time to check out all the Spring collections to decide which new items you want. Currently on my list:
1) Oversized leather clutch, preferably in a rich candy colour with faux snakeskin texture.
2) Fitted long-sleeve blazer a la Serena visits Yale. Why Ralph Lauren has not reproduced this blazer I have still yet to understand. Does Mr. Ralph not understand the Gossip Girl fangirl needs?
3) A casual white cotton/denim/corduroy pant. Still debating the “sailor” pant look. Definitely not going for the dropped crotch, slouchy, or volume pants. Not looks for the petite types like me.
4) J. Crew cardigan in a gorgeous aqua blue (because you cannot have one too many)
Filed under: Fashion, Shopping Tip , free people, winter
February 13, 2009 • 5:04 pm 3
As a petite 5 ft 1 in, I’ve learned that buying pants is always the toughest. Hemming is not so much an issue as much as just finding the right fit.
Some things I’ve learned
1) Merely buying a smaller size in regular pants results in the “saggy butt” look which will not flatter you at all. This is because the pant was just not cut for little girls.
2) On the rack, if the waistline of the pant is cut very straight across rather than in a gentle curve, this tends to result in gaps. Visible undies is not a look, it’s a faux pas.
3) Believe it or not, petite girls with short legs but long torsos can wear high rise pants. In fact it can actually help balance your proportions out. Obviously, try to pick a high rise pant that looks retro, not granny.
4) Stay away from cropped lengths as they just make your legs look shorter. In fact, walk around the mall and just watch what looks more flattering on other women and you will see that cropped pants and pants that “float” above the shoes are not flattering.
5) Before hemming pants, decide what type of shoes (heels? flats?) you are going to wear with those pants. Then decide how short they need to be hemmed. Ideally, for longer looking legs, they should cover the top part of your shoe and even better, nearly reach the floor. I’m not into pants that touch the floor, but it is an option to go for with denim.
6) As counterintuitive as it sounds, pants with wide legs do not make your bottom look bigger. Tapered legs do because the biggest thing left on you is your bottom. Try a wide leg, see if you like it.
So far my major sources for petite pants have been the ones below. However, I will note that all of them require hemming after I buy:
1) Ann Taylor (in regular, Loft, and Outlet flavors) – reliably stocks 0 and 00 petite work trousers. Sizing tends to run a bit on the roomier end of the scale so consider sizing down. Not a good source for denim. Tends to be classic rather than trendy. Good fabrics.
2) New York and Company – website reliably stocks 0 petites, but you’re less likely to find a full range of petite items in-store. Sizing tends to run a bit smaller so you may want to consider sizing up. Has slightly trendier styles, but colours are limited to black, brown, navy, grey, khaki, and white. Any fabrics with manmade blends tend to pill after time so don’t bother splurging on them. Good denim selection.
3) American Apparel – I love their Cotton Spandex Jersey Yoga Pant. Haven’t tried their other styles.
4) Pathetic as it sounds, digging around the children’s sections of places like Nordstroms for size 14-16 girls pants that can pass off as adult pants. Occasionally, items can be found.
Most recently I came across a site called 5ft2in which specializes in pants for women 5 ft 2 inches and below so you can finally quit hemming them, damnit. I have not ordered as so far the selection is rather skimpy and not cheap, but it will be interesting to see if additional styles are added.
Finally, when will someone open a store with trendier pants for petite women?
Filed under: Fashion, Shopping Tip , pants, petites
February 2, 2009 • 8:07 pm 0
Get thee browser to the J. Crew Spring Collection Lookbook at once I say! Full online lookbook is also available here. How I anticipate the March releases…
In addition I would check out the February catalog. It is too divine and color palette is to die for! Lots of soft colors with pops of brightness.
J. Crew Tissue Rolling Ruffles Tank
Unfortunately, the Anthropologie February catalog was not quite so to my liking. Don’t get me wrong. I love pink on nearly everything (heck, I even think guys look lovely in pink), but the cover dress used below was plain fugly.
Anthropologie February Catalog
I was quite pleased however, with the Leifsdottir releases:
Leifsdottir ‘Cloud’ Organdy Skirt
I’m still waiting to see if Nordstrom will release another catalog as well…
Filed under: Fashion , Anthropologie, jcrew, leifsdottir
