Dressing Room Outfit

I've been wearing variations of this favorite ensemble from summer 2011 with some frequency of late. It's just so easy and comfortable. Tights are optional, depending on the weather and whether I'll be hanging out in sunshine or in extreme climate control. I also realized I haven't worn my contacts lately, on the blog or otherwise. But with summer around the bend, I'm sure they'll be a go-to.

Details:
Forever 21 top (current version on sale here and here; similar here)
Anthropologie skirt (similar here; midi length here; midi plus here)
Burberry flats (similar here and here)
Spanx tights
Balenciaga bag in the background

Knock Off News and Ethics

I spotted these See by Chloé-mirrored prints at a fast fashion boutique on Haight St. in San Fransisco. Imagine the price points and stock of a mom and pop version of Forever 21. It is possible that they use similar supply chains so maybe they will end up there or at Francesca's Collections or one of the other similar spots?

Above are See by Chloé pieces featuring the prints. The poly-blend of the knock off dresses make them markedly different from silk and wool fabrications. But still. And yesterday reader Maggie May alerted me to Forever 21's Trompe L'oeil knock off of the Marc by Marc Jacobs cardigan I posted (from the Spring 2010 collection).

The Forever 21 version is on the left with MBMJ on the right.

It got me thinking again about the ethics of inspiration. I can't deny that it bums me out to find knock offs of pieces I e-stalked and bought (usually at a significant discount). On some level it makes the time I spent tracking something down feel wasteful. But I also realize it isn't simple or cut and dry. References and inspired pieces are everywhere. Keeping up on who referenced who can be daunting and time-consuming. It'd be one thing if fashion was my job, but it will always be my silly hobby.  I also don't have the finances to buy every original piece I covet. Knowing where to draw the line becomes even more challenging when so many brands create their own cheaper, "diffusion line" versions of expensive, coveted pieces (Mulberry for Target is one example). Where do you draw the line? Do you draw a line or think about knock offs?

For example, last season I almost bought the Brief Meeting Blazer from Anthropologie which was a pretty direct Elizabeth and James knock off. When I found the Elizabeth and James original in a Nordstrom Rack for about the price of the Anthro version, I passed again. When something I want is knocked off at a mass retailer it kind of kills my desire for the original (along with my desire for the cheaper version, Two Paths Trench coat notwithstanding).What are your thoughts on buying obviously inspired pieces?

WHY are Forever 21 dresses so SHORT?!

I tried on so many cute things after a doctor's appointment this week, including the above but passed because someone as far away from 21 as me can't feel comfortable in things this revealing. This dark fall-hued print is so me and it comes with its own belt. I wonder if tights could save it?

Forever 21 Dress as a Top

I lamented the shorter length of this Forever 21 dress the other day when I first wore it. I tried to remedy the problem (all too common with skirts/dresses from F21) by layering a slip underneath. And that was fine. But I wanted to try it another way to visit a friend downtown for happy hour. We met up in Saks to check out the 70% off sales. So I decided to style it as a top. I think it works particularly well with this high waisted skirt by Lauren Moffatt from Anthropologie. I paired it with a vintage necklace, some teal suede Chloé flats, and a Longchamp Le Pliage tote.

You can see the details better here. I liked how the skirt highlighted the mustard yellow accents of the top. The Saks sales associate was also wearing Forever 21 (unless this is a very literal knock off of something else). Tomorrow if I have time before my first wedding dress fitting, I'll post a few fitting room reviews from the 70% off rack.

Forever 21 Find and Pittsburgh Tailor Tip

I bought this dress yesterday from Forever 21 while out and about with my mom and sister. We were shopping for an outfit for my mom to wear to the wedding and made a pit stop in Forever 21 where my sis wanted to hopefully find something for the shower. Although she didn't have any shower luck, she found some wedding shoes at Marshalls. I grabbed this cheap little number from F21 because I loved the touches of color (mustard yellow, steel gray, seafoam, and muted teal) and the simple shape.
Dress from Forever 21
Hanky Panky slip underneath
Jimmy Choo Morse flats in purple
Balenciaga City
Vintage necklace

I wore it today to visit my tailor Geno in Oakland. He's excellent and I am having a few frocks taken in or shortened. He altered Chris's wedding suit and countless other pieces of his and his mom's (who told me to go there). He's a consummate pro and very personable! I hope to have some of my dresses back before he leaves to visit his brother in Italy. We'll see. But if any of you Pittsburghers are in need of a great tailor, The New Oakland Tailor on Meyran is the tops.

Another Patriotic Look: Anthropologie OOTD

I managed to visit the new Pittsburgh Anthropologie at Bakery Square when I returned from Chicago this week. My full review will be up on Effortless Anthropologie on Monday afternoon, so look for that. I will be posting some additional reviews here that day. But I happened to wear an outfit fitting for this weekend so I wanted to share.
Grommeted tshirt from Forever 21
Daisy Quarters skirt by Lauren Moffatt from Anthropologie (similar here and here)
Salvatore Ferragamo Varina bow flats in oxblood red
Cynthia Rowley bag (similar here, here, and here)
Vintage necklace

Ok so this outfit is a little more blue, ivory, and pink than it is blue, white, and red but taking liberties is part of the American way. Happy weekend!

Dinner outfit: After a long day of moving

I spent all day Saturday helping Chris's family move things. Furniture, boxes of books, photos, artwork. All of it felt much heavier thanks to the thick humidity and heat. Afterwards I was starving and filthy. A quick shower and some thrown on duds later, we went to dinner at J'eet which helped me feel totally refreshed. Speck hates a move and a thunderstorm so her clingy-ness can be explained because yesterday had both.
Forever 21 grommet top (similar fancy here; similar budget here)
Odille peplum skirt from Anthropologie in 2009 (similar here, here, and here)
Vintage Coach bag (similar here)
Miu Miu jeweled flats (similar here and here)

closeup of shoes:

Speck being a ham:

Shorts on Short Curvy me

This running around weekend outfit has also been a running around weekday outfit for me, of late. I am wearing it to my parents' house where I will celebrate my dad's birthday. I wore it to accompany Chris to his Apple Store appointment in Shadyside. I wore it on many dogwalks, one of which involved straying too far from home knowing it was going to storm. Speck and I got DRENCHED only minutes after the above photo was taken. For so long I refused to wear shorts for fear of how unflattering and stumpy they made me appear. But the practical has overtaken my desire for stylishness. And I finally bought some proper shorts this week for the first time in years.

Forever 21 grommeted heather blue shirt (from the sale rack) (similar here, here, and here)
Old Navy Bermuda shorts (similar here and here)
Tory Burch Orchid Pink Patent Revas (similar here and here)
Anthropologie crystal initial necklace

It is fitting that the week of my dad's birthday also marked a few former Beatles-related announcements. I am going to try my best to get my parents great presale seats for the Pittsburgh concert of Paul McCartney. And my dad implored me yesterday on the phone to seek out youtube videos of Paul McCartney's serenade of Michelle Obama with the song, "Michelle." My dad's enthusiasm, love, and knowledge of music have inspired me my whole life and given us so many moments through which to bond and make memories. My parents tell me he would dance around their bedroom, serenading Beatles songs and post-Beatles songs when I would fuss as an infant. My dad has also said that having his first born child in 1980 brought him comfort through the deaths of both his mother and his idol, John Lennon. So many of my fondest feelings about family connect deeply to music, thanks mostly to my father who eventually followed in the footsteps of his own father before him and became a music teacher.  For all of the above reasons, the McCartney concert announcement feels, in a solipsistic way, like a gift to our family in addition to a boon for the city of Pittsburgh!

BTW, a new very stylish and coincidentally curvy blogger, Pearls Lace, and Ruffles is hosting a giveaway on her blog! Check it out here.

Forever 21 Finds complete this Nautical Memorial Day Outfit

This Memorial Day weekend I did a lot of running around. I saw tons of family and friends. I played with lots of dogs. I went swimming. I splashed around in Mingo Creek and hiked the park's beautiful grounds.

 

Two of the many dogs with whom I hung this weekend (Charlie, the puggle and Speck). 

And I went shopping with my friend Elaina. We hit up Ross Park Mall and went into their overwhelming, massive Forever 21. Although I had imposed a moratorium on shopping fast fashion from them, I caved because I needed tops. And for some reason, although I am comfortable shelling out funds for dresses and skirts, I have an irrational inability to spend any significant funds on shirts. While there I grabbed four tops and the above tote bag.
Striped shirt from Forever 21 (similar here, here, and here)
Button skirt by A.P.C. (similar by A.P.C. here, and here; others here, and here)
Trompe L'oeil tote bag with quilted Chanel-style bag printed on it from Forever 21 (similar here and here)
Salvatore Ferragamo Varina flats in blood red

I also need shorts since I have decided to be rational and wear shorts this year. Skirts are not conducive to hanging out in creeks and what not. 

 

I found some cute ones at Old Navy. I've been wearing men's shorts and cut offs when the occasion has required running around clothes. But it is time to buy some proper shorts. 

BTW, Anthrosdottir is hosting a giveaway! Check it out for sure. 

Chilly again! OOTD

I wore this outfit to teach this week when it became chilly again.

The bubble hem dress is a few years old from Forever 21. I pulled it out because it reminded me of this far fancier Y-3 Yohji Yamamoto for Adidas dress I saw recently:


I paired with it:
Cece cashmere boyfriend cardigan in eggplant
Wolford Heart Tights (similar but sheer here)
Burberry Jeweled flats
Vintage pewter cameo necklace
Shoshanna coat on top

Fast Fashion Frenzy: Breaking My Moratorium on F21 for Headbands

A while ago, when I had to make an unexpected move out of my rental home and eventually into the home I own, I was confronted with a mountain of fast fashion regret. I had piles of barely worn clothes from Forever 21, H&M, Delias, and Gabriel Brothers (which regularly gets overstock from Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, etc.) that seemed hardly worth my time, trouble, and soon-to-be very limited closet space. Instead, I sorted out the garbage, the stuff worthy of donating, and the few pieces worth selling to Avalon (the local Buffalo Exchange type store), and made myself vow to avoid the lure of cheap but short-lived fast fashion thrills.

I rationalized that there were many reasons to make this change. The quality is often lacking in the fabrics, the seaming, the longevity of the silhouettes, etc. The labor practices are dubious at best and downright inhumane at worst. And the stores are so ubiquitous that the pieces are usually instantly recognizable to other fast fashion shoppers.

Still, I occasionally allowed myself to indulge. When I had a gift card or when I found something really interesting, but too trendy to be worth a more significant financial commitment I would turn to fast fashion in a pinch. And I have a few pieces that continue to serve me well. A coat from Zara. A few necklaces from Forever 21. A couple of easy dresses from H&M. I am not opposed to these stores, per se. I just needed to cut down on the volume in my life and in my closet. The fastest way was to cut myself off from these places that encourage gluttonous hording through their reasonable price points.

Until this past weekend I was doing well. It had been almost a year since my self-imposed fast fashion ban. It became surprisingly easy to avoid shopping these stores since I rarely go to malls.

That ended at least in terms of accessory shopping, after deciding I needed to up the level of ridiculous in my everyday outfits. I opted to incorporate Blair Waldorf style headbands into my repertoire after admiring them from afar for a while.

For such a silly, trendy item, I needed to get an inexpensive fast fashion fix. Headbands aren't the place to invest in fine, natural fabrics and high quality. I was surprised by the range of choices available in the store and on the Forever 21 website. Head pieces were in stock for those who wished to only moderately adopt an undeniably silly trend, featuring a tiny barrette-sized bow and for the very bold who, naysayers be damned, happily channel Izzy Blow in their day to day life.

The above are two of the boldest of my five new head pieces. So far the two times I've worn the more modest of the crop (as I need to ease my way into such fussily detailed dressing) they've yielded many compliments and only a handful of strange looks. They aren't for nights when I want to be a wallflower, but they kick up the fun for semi-special and special occasions.