Take my daughter to work OOTD

My commute is long somewhat, so I typically do not bring friends or family to campus unless there are special events occurring (that extend invitations to families of faculty members). Unfortunately when I left campus to begin my Thanksgiving break, I forgot something. I needed my camcorder (sometimes used as back up to record student presentations) for Emilia's birthday party so I knew I had to go back.

I figured Emilia and I could make a day of it. She hadn't been to campus since the summer after she was born. And she could play in my office while I took care of some paperwork that I had been procrastinating. She and I had fun! She found and played with everything remotely toy-like and drew all over my file folders. I took care of some business and retrieved my camcorder. We stopped on the way home to have lunch and pick out some holiday decorations. So although I was annoyed with myself for forgetting something I needed during break, and felt badly to put her in the car for the hour there and hour back, we had a nice morning.  And the bonus is that my file folders now make me smile.

You can see her in the bottom right corner, sitting on the floor "organizing" some ice-breaker cards.

Details:
Gap Camo Shirtdress (on sale) -- and extra 40% off with code "wrap"
Spanx tights (also on sale)
MBMJ flats (also on sale) -- and extra 20% off with code "justintime"
Necklace from Chris

White Linen Dress for a 50th Anniversary Party

I wore this See by Chloé dress to my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party. I remembered vividly their 25th anniversary party. I was only 5 but I know from photos that I wore a plaid peter pan collared dress with a white apron type bib layer and white tights. I didn't mean to evoke the same color palette for their 50th but it happened coincidentally. It was great to visit with family that I usually only see at Christmas! And as we reminisced about previous family gatherings, I became even more excited to host my own this fall.

For those of you who wear linen, what do you do to keep it looking fresh? I immediately soaked and spot cleaned my dress when I got home because I want the white to remain as bright as it is. But I am uncertain about how to handle the wrinkling. These photos were snapped at the end of the day, when it was as wrinkled as it could be.

Outfit notes:
See by Chloé dress from Saks sale (summer 2009) (available via yoox here or on ebay for far less and only a little more than the sale price).  
I paired it with:
Simple Marc by Marc Jacobs pewter pumps (bought in major sale from Footloose) (similar here or here)
Marc Jacobs quilted Blake (via a trade on The Purse Forum) (similar here or here)
Swatch Watch
Linea Pelle double wrap leather bracelet

My favorite unwedding wedding dress is now available

Today, the "contingency plan dress" that I imagined I could wear to my upcoming fall wedding became available to purchase on Net-A-Porter. The astronomical price ensures that in fact only someone named JessRockefeller could afford to marry in it. And forgetting the financial aspects, the small sizes available ensure that only months and months of JessHungry could make it possible for me to whittle my body into it. Oh well!

SALE ALERT! Yoox.com Sample Sale

Sometimes it pays to be scouring shopping websites in the middle of the night. My friend, Blueyesbecky from Fashionism.org discovered (prior to the Daily Candy email, and prior to the publicity it got on Make Up Alley and The Purse Forum), that Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dresses from the last few seasons were selling for as low as $35 on Yoox with most priced around $60!!

So I started to click around to see what else was for sale! A lot of the things I would have bought were sold out by the time I looked, but there are still deals to be found!

Sadly, I was snoozing and lost out on these items:

Balenciaga bag for $130

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Mia lace dress that Blair Waldorf wore on Gossip Girl for $50.

There are mens and children's items included in the sale, too. It can't hurt to look. The only bummer is that the sale pages do not remove items that have sold out, so you are forced to see what you missed when you search by brand or category.

Fussy Details: Consumed by Superfluous Bows

A while ago, when I first made my style diary I was faced with a question about "Style Type." it was so vague and yet so broad that the only thing I could think to include was my love for fussy details. In a way, a superfluous bow is the quintessential fussy detail. And you will find them all over the items I covet, some of which end up in my wardrobe.

When this purple Marc by Marc Jacobs bow watch popped up in the Ruelala sale a few weeks ago, I jumped at the chance to use my account credit to fund it.

When I was faced with the opportunity to buy the Alessandra Pussy Bow dress in an additional colorway, the unique superfluous bow proved to be decisive in my justification.

Here are some items with bows that have consumed me even though they are many seasons old!
Erotokritos and Mayle dresses:

And in my opinion, the PERFECT bow pump for a special occasion:
Christian Louboutin Very Noued

One of my favorite qualities about bows are their timelessness. I remember one of my first adult encounters with the most superfluous, fussy, unnecessary bow, adorning a vintage tie-neck blouse. It was a dollar and it was made of the thickest, most oppressive polyester fabric I've ever encountered but I wore it to death in the dead of that summer because it had short sleeves and a bow. I got a thousand compliments on it and would probably wear it today if I didn't become so fussy about fabrics. I am sure if I could write a book length entry on my fashion love affair with the bows I've worn, but I will spare you.

All of this is to say that bows are fancy without pretense. They are whimsical without automatically being infantalistic. Although some of the bow dresses I posted are girlish, bows adorn with sophistication just as often as they adorn with twee. If you haven't already, why not give bows a chance?

I am equally enamored of ruffles, which are essentially the bow's messier cousin. In an upcoming post I will examine the ways in which ruffles have consumed me. My friend over at Style Tribe already talked about these important subjects. Check it out!

Movie March: Stylish Films Make Me Yearn for a More Stylish Life

March weather might offer the hypothetical promise of sunny and warm afternoons, but more often, March delivers the leftover bitter cold of February. For some, this is a problem. For me it means more time to wear my favorite winter coats, thick tights, and warm scarves. It also offers a few more weeks to nest and take in some movies.

Films are often a fantastic source of style inspiration. The streamlined sheath dresses and slick updos of Tippi Hedren in Alfred Hitchcock's classic, The Birds makes me long for platinum blonde hair, the perfect frame shaped handbag, and a mint green dress suit. I often gravitate toward pieces that allow me to recreate or at least pay homage to some of my favorite iconic looks from classic films. But these looks don't always come from the most critically acclaimed, intellectual films. Often they come from the films I adored as a child.

When I was very young, my favorite of the Disney films was Alice in Wonderland. I adored Alice's timeless outfit of the blue fit and flare, peter-pan collared dress with a crisp white apron, tights, and black mary janes. The search for the perfect fit and flare, peter pan collared dress still consumes me, but in the meanwhile, I found this blue A.P.C. pleated number.

In the late 1980s, I became obsessed with the movie, Troop Beverly Hills. In a pivotal scene, Jenny Lewis and her troop gal pals staged a fashion show where they modernized their uniform to great effect. This was only after Shelly Long's character (the troop leader) had her uniform completely redesigned as you can see in the screen cap sequence below:

I think part of why I became consumed by this Marc by Marc Jacobs Geo Gems Shantung dress was that it reminded me of a modernized girl scout uniform.

In the 90s my favorite films also included some of my favorite stylish looks. Specifically: Cameron Crowe's movie, Singles, about twenty-somethings and the grunge scene in Seattle and Amy Heckerling's modernization of the Shakespearean classic, Emma, with Clueless. Those will be tackled in my next Movie March update! Thank you for reading!

Mail Call Makes It Easy To Come Home! Wolfords, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Jack Spade

Whenever I travel I request that the postal carrier (via the USPS website) to hold my mail so I can pick it up all at once when I return. The anticipation of getting a week's mail in one giant stack consumes me during the often bittersweet voyage home. This time was no different. When I got back from NYC I went to the post office eager for what had accumulated, which included a few packages.

Among the items included some discount hosiery. I wore these heart print Wolford tights in Thyme (green) with a Diane von Furstenberg Nadine dress, BCBG ruffled pumps, and a Marc by Marc Jacobs softy max purse to teach my Advertising class at Pitt last Thursday.

They were custom purchased for me by Clara on Fashionism from TJ Maxx. She shipped them swiftly and included a sweet note. I was so excited to get them when I got home from New York. I love them and have worn them a bunch already! They are pretty versatile for a printed style in a unique color.

I also came home to an "extra 50% off sale" Eluxury.com order in which I bought this Marc by Marc Jacobs Dita Lace Dress.

I love the layers of pleated lace at the collar, cuffs, and hem. I've already worn it a few times, usually with colored tights, and double strap mary janes. It was my OOTN to Chris's birthday party, and for my Tuesday classes, and it has elicited many compliments.

I wasn't the only one who came home to packages. Chris's order from the online sample sale website, Gilt Groupe (click for an invite), arrived. He got an incredible deal on a Jack Spade tech bag.

He hasn't used it yet because he also got a Fred Perry messenger bag for his birthday. But it will be a great option in his growing manbag collection. :)

To come home to these packages in addition to the stacks of magazines and mail and can be exhilarating. But I am going to need to curb my consumption to make up for a rather spendy February and early March!

NYC haulage: Barneys Warehouse Sale, Century 21, Barney's Coop, Buffalo Exchange, Street Vendors

Though I probably only visit NYC about once or twice a year, I've developed a pattern of sorts in my consumption. I try to have at least two very memorable meals. I stock up on street pashminas to give as gifts or to add to my stockpile.

And I try to locate staple pieces that wouldn't be easily accessible through Pittsburgh area shopping but would be difficult to purchase online (like shoes in brands unfamiliar to me, clothing in fabrics that I'd want to feel before buying, jeans, coats, etc.).

I realized at the end of January that the Barney's Warehouse Sale was going to occur during my time in NYC for Chris's conference. Since we usually try to fit in some shopping when we travel, I knew Chris would be just as excited as I was to attend this famous event. And he quickly added it to the agenda, especially since Pittsburgh is not the most diverse shopping landscape for discount luxury menswear. With the closure of Filene's Basement there are even fewer options around here for him. The Pittsburgh Saks has a very limited selection of men's contemporary clothing and most of it is fashion victim-y designer denim lines that don't interest him at all. Moda is great but often priced out of Chris's budget.

So during these trips he makes the most of the diverse options and I relish in having a partner who will accompany me on destination shopping trips.

We both did well in NYC, though we've never been able to have the same magical Century 21 experience as we did on our first trip there together in 2006 (during which Chris bought outerwear from Prada and Paul Smith and I bought my first designer handbag). This time, we walked out empty handed, though their women's designer shoe selection was fairly extensive. We also struck out at Bloomingdales and Saks. But Barney's Coop was lucky for Chris and the Warehouse Sale had great pieces for me.

Chris got this beautiful Fiorentini + Baker boots with a cap toe. While the jury was still out, I told him that they looked like boots that a Depression-era orphaned boy would wear. That sealed their fate. The leather is so nice and I hope I can find a deal on a pair of their fantastic women's boots someday.

At the Warehouse Sale, Chris struck out but I got the Marc by Marc Jacobs Alessandra dress in a different colorway.

And a pair of Stella McCartney Jeans. It was intimidating trying on jeans in front of uninhibited European tourists and the models circulating the sale but Chris shielded me and I worked quickly to try them on without the privacy of a formal dressing room.

After eating a memorable and delicious lunch at Momofuku Noodle Bar, we stopped at the East Village Buffalo Exchange where we both found great, gently used pieces.

Chris got a tweed Paul Smith sportcoat. It is very professorial.

I got a mbmj sweater top and an Owl flap clutch bag for insanely cheap.

As much as I love Pittsburgh, I've never found anything like that at our Avalon Exchange. Though, they do always provide an avenue through which to get quick cash for unwanted clothing.

While I miss the far away friends and the limitless shopping possibilities in NYC, I am glad to be home. I came home to three packages (one for chris, two for me) and got to fully celebrate his birthday. Next post will document the these recent acquisitions. Thanks for reading!

Harnessing a Trend: Exposed Slips and My Own Abaete Nancie Skirt

A few epals had great luck during some of the recent sales! They were able to score this romantic, whimsical, divinely feminine Abaete "Nancie" skirt which features a detached, exposed petticoat.

The sizing for this skirt ran notoriously small (size 0's needing size 6's, etc.) so I didn't work too hard to locate one. I heard rumblings about an H&M knockoff but then learned that the exposed slip matched the skirt, which seemed too monotonous to emulate such a uniquely feminine, exposed slip effect, as shown above. So I set out on a mission: To find and acquire a suitable approximation of that petticoat and then locate a topskirt of appropriate length.

Well, part 1 of that mission is complete as of today.

I purchased this scalloped petticoat off Ebay (thanks to a clutch tip from epal, Najeema) and I will keep it handy for part 2. It will be necessary that I have the petticoat with me to ensure the proper length of a black, grey, brown, or navy flouncy, natural-waisted skirt. My quest to adopt the exposed slip began earlier.

I don't quite recall when I first noticed this emerging trend. I do remember vividly that I was extremely happy this summer when I acquired this Marc by Marc Jacobs Mochachino velvet dress with attached lace petticoat from Barneys Coop in Georgetown for 75% off retail.

It was great for fall and I hope to wear it a few more times before the end of winter! The other week I purchased a vintage-inspired piece from Anthropologie with the intent to build outfits around the pretty, pleated hemline. I displayed it in my last post, paired with a Manoush ruffle bib dress.

With these key pieces in tact, project exposed slips will continue to be successful in 2k9 thanks to the additions the topskirt (readers, please let me know if you spot anything) and my new scalloped petticoat!

Legendary Fall 08 Discounts: The Economic Aftermath for Designers

Recent articles in the Wall Street Journal and New York Magazine quote various prominent mid-level designers lamenting the horrors of their items being marked down early in the holiday shopping season, to cope with waning retail sales amid the economic downturn.

From Nymag.com:
---
Diane Von Furstenberg told The Wall Street Journal, that those kinds of sales "cannot happen again." And (designers are) going to make sure of it. Derek Lam and Marc Jacobs are considering carrying exclusive collections in their own stores to protect their labels against sales. Also, some designers might only offer retailers their pre-fall collections, rather than their runway collections, which they'd save for their own stores. Saks chief executive Stephen I. Sadove said he wouldn't want that to happen, because the runway collection sets the image and tone of each label.
---

EXCEPT you cannot move the volume of merchandise in your boutiques that you can in department stores. Department stores have a geographical reach that boutiques cannot match, even with comprehensive online shop outposts, like DVF.com. Marc Jacobs and DVF are not going to open boutique here in rustbelt cities like Pittsburgh, or even in larger, more affluent cities like DC. Popular mid-level designers simply cannot opt to hold their pieces hostage, refusing to distribute to Saks or Neiman Marcus unless they plan on moving WAY less merch than previous years. That move that would only lead to investors (already dwindling in the recession) withdrawing their support and patronage from said angry designers.

Small boutiques, connected or unconnected with a specific designer name, are going facing tougher challenges than ever, struggling to compete with the deep discounts of larger luxury department stores' aggressive sale schedules and volume discounts:

From WSJ.com:
That, in turn, clobbered smaller boutiques. "It didn't seem logical to continue," says Linda Dresner, owner of a Park Avenue shop that for a quarter-century specialized in procuring unusual items favored by the fashion cognoscenti, like $1,000 dresses by Japanese label Comme des Garçons. She closed her doors in December, unable to keep up with the price-cutting.
--

I am dismayed to think of the broader effects from losing boutiques who provide higher levels of service to loyal customers, and who might more willingly take chances on carrying or consigning the pieces of emerging designers.

from WSJ.com:
Saks's maneuver marked an open abandonment of the longstanding unwritten pact between retailers and designers over when, and to what extent, to cut prices. Those old rules boiled down to this: Leave the goods at full price at least two months, and don't do markdowns until the very end of the season.
---

As much as I value the presence of boutiques in the marketplace, I don't have the disposable income to "vote with my dollar" and buy from them on principle when it comes to mid-level, popular designer clothing. Even if my size is out of stock in the department store company system, the knowledge that something has been deeply discounted will prevent me from spending a dime over that price. Although I recognize the profound loss of stores like Karma from the Pittsburgh shopping landscape, I could not afford Nanette Lepore or Tibi at boutique prices. As sad as I am for the loss, retail Darwinism will prevail in a capitalist society.

Consumed by Coats! The New Addition to my Outerwear Collection

Every year, in the bitter cold of Pittsburgh's late fall/early winter I convince myself that none of the already perfectly acceptable, and even arguably fantastic coats in my closet will be enough to carry me into spring. I started to get the bug in October, when I promptly staged a "shop my closet" style intervention, trying on all of my coats, which subsequently forced me to acknowledge my wealth of outerwear. This practice facilitated a short-lived but practical approach to the impending coat season. When out shopping, or looking at magazines, I could encounter the finest cashmere topcoat, the warmest duffle or puffer jacket, the quirkiest-classiest peacoat, etc. without even blinking in their direction. But around late-November my sensibility snapped.

(3.1 Phillip Lim, Zara)

I revisited the closet, and suddenly nothing was right. The black Mackage topcoat was too long to wear with flats and too dressy to fit my lifestyle. How did I not notice this last year? My red funnelneck jacket was starting to pill and one of the buttons would not stay fastened. I should have known better than to trust the quality of fast-fashion retailer, Zara. I swam in my formerly beloved reversible tweed number by Phillip Lim. And even my See by Chloé and Marc by Marc suddenly felt average rather than extraordinary. While a few of my vintage coats looked beautiful on the outside, their linings were torn and their pockets had holes. They hardly made a persuasive case in defense of my closet when they were in such poor condition.

(MBMJ, See by Chloe, Mackage)

So began another hunt. A quest for the one coat I permited myself to buy per season. Of course, I have bought more than that per year. But after amassing a collection of versatile, unique, and stylish pieces that suited a range of social circumstances, there became little reason (other than self indulgence) to buy more. Knowing that I didn't have any gaps to fill and that I didn't want to buy something that was just a new version of what I already had, the task became daunting. I went to all of my favorite etailers, department stores, and local boutiques to scope outer-wares. I established a price point I was comfortable spending while balancing the demands of holiday shopping. And I came up with a few contenders. That is, until impulse (and the super sales of late-aught-8) took over and I saw this insanely loud, 70% off, harlequin print "clown coat" as I have dubbed it.

It is officially called the Domino coat and it comes in two colorways (one of which is slightly more muted than mine). It is from Marc by Marc Jacobs. And I am not surprised it went on sale. It is awfully bright. Not for a wallflower. And sort of hard to match. If I match it exactly, (and I have a pair of blue J Crew cords that do match exactly, so I speak from experience), I end up looking like a reject from a Joker lookalike contest at a Batman convention. And if I bring in other bright colors, it feels like I am seeking attention in a bad way.

But having said all that, I kind of love it. I think the shape suits me and the pyramid stud button snaps are an exciting subtle detail that keeps the coat from being too twee or prim. It is plenty warm and the length is just right. I can wear it with dresses or pants, flats or heels. And it certainly fills a unique niche in my coat collection (some of which wasn't even pictured here). I am not sure it was the most practical purchase, but with a collection full of already-practical coats I had room for something a little more daring. And so long as I remember to pair the matchy matchy cords with another coat in my closet, I am sure it will get a lot of wear this winter!