5 Days, 5 Looks, 1 Girl

As mentioned in my profile, I am a huge Voguephile and have been since I can remember. Not only is the magazine interesting, inspirational and well-written, but their website is chock-full of amazing ideas and pieces. I realize many of their fashion spreads can be a little "out there" and not for everyone, (not to mention the prices of said items), but you have to give them credit for their artistic vision, and if nothing else, appreciate what they do.

One of my all-time favorite features is called 5 Day, 5 Looks, 1 Girl. Basically, in a nutshell, Vogue's amazing photographers follow a Vogue staffer around for a week to see what she (and it is always a she) wears to the office each day. I love, love, LOVE this feature because not only do you get to see what women in a more fashionable part of the country are wearing (sorry, Charm City!) but you also get to see how arguably the most fashionable ladies in the most fashionable city in the world are wearing the current trends. It gives me the guts to try things I might not normally wear outside of my imagination. The feature is also very detailed and provides multiple shots of the outfit and its accessories. Here are a few of my favorites and what each one taught me about being more adventurous with my style. 

Esther Adams

photographed by Marko MacPherson for Vogue

I love the combination of a grey/taupe shirt with a lemon chiffon colored skirt that Fashion Writer Esther Adams put together. Definitely makes me want to experiment with my color palettes.  I actually wore an exact replica of the second outfit to work on a casual Friday to rave reviews.  

Chioma Nnadi

photographed by Marko MacPherson for Vogue

Chioma Nnadi, a Vogue Fashion Writer, inspired me to try color blocking for the first time with this pink and orange combo she wore last summer. I tried my look with a pair of wide-legged, persimmon pants and a cobalt blue tee-shirt. You've got to hand it to this girl - she's not afraid to mix her prints!

Cynthia Smith

photographed by Marko MacPherson

How cute is Cynthia Smith riding her bike to work in NYC? Really, it's this Fashion Assistant's first outfit that does it for me. I love menswear for women and isn't this just the chicest, little ensemble complete with appropriately utilitarian yet elegant and stylish boots? I also love how she works pastels into the look.  Most anyone can pull this off with basics probably handing in the closet right now. 

Jessica Sailer

photographed by Marko MacPherson for Vogue

Each of the outfits worn last August by Marketing Editor Jessica Sailer shows such a different and creative side to her style. It's like five different women! The first look shows that even dressy dresses can work in the office with the right accessories. The second outfit is casual and chic in one fell swoop. Wednesday is fun and polished all at once. Thursday's skirt/sweater combo shows that there is still room for tried and true combos with a little plum accessory, and Friday is simple, comfortable and casual. 

Kelly Connor

photographed by Marko MacPherson for Vogue

I had to include the week spent with Fashion Assistant Kelly Connor. That first outfit puts my color blocking  skills to shame! Of course, it doesn't hurt that she has that amazing jacket (or is it a sweater?) to pull it all together. Reminds me that every now and then I should invest in some interesting, off-the-wall prints and color combinations. Bravo, Kelly!

Selby Drummond

photographed by Marko MacPherson for Vogue

Accessories Editor Selby Drummond sure does know her accessories. The one thing I've learned from scouring all these Voguettes' outfits is that none of them come to the office with minimal jewelry...even the ones who claim to only wear minimal jewelry! I'm not very creative when it comes to pairing jewelry with an outfit, so I tend to not wear much at all, but these ladies sure do inspire me to layer it on. Also, I love the two-toned jean look, the pastel cardigan with the black skirt and neutral shoes and those pajama pants! All still big trends this year. 

Sylvana Ward Durrett

photographed by Marko MacPherson for Vogue

I've stolen that simple, high-waisted jeans look (great for short frames) from this feature, and I'm dying to wear a suit with shorts like Vogue's Director of Special Events, Sylvana Ward Durrett, does in yellow here. If only my boss would relent on the no shorts at work policy. One can dream.... 

Filipa Fino

photographed by Marko MacPherson for Vogue

Putting together different prints has been a trend for a few season now, but I love how Filipa Fino, Vogue's Senior Accessories Editor, puts these two black and while polka dot pieces together and then adds leopard print shoes to top it off. And I don't think I'm alone when I say my heart palpitates when I see that sea of shoes behind her. (Sigh)

Preetma Singh

photographed by Marko MacPherson for Vogue

This look from Vogue Fashion Assistant Preetma Singh reminds me that there are so many great outfits just waiting to be discovered in my closet if all it takes is a dress, a blazer and belt!

So many great trends here also on Preetma Singh from the large coat to the cuffed jeans to the purse on a chain. What especially caught my eye about this look, though, is how casual and effortlessly put together it looks all at the same time. And how about that green nail polish and that killer ponytail? What I wouldn't give to have my ponytail look like that.

Have you pulled anything off recently as daring as these looks?

Hall of Fame Finds - Banana Republic Shoes

Every now and then I come across a steal so incredible I can't help but tell everyone how much I paid for it. A little crass, I know, but you'll understand when you hear about these three great steals I got at Banana Republic.

Banana Republic does not have a huge shoe section and depending on which stores you frequent there might not be a shoe section at all.  But that doesn't mean they don't know how to deep discount what shoe section they do have.

I found these fun ballet flats about a year ago. They are maroon and black tweed with black and gold beads that jingle a little when I walk. Too cute! Original price - $110. I got them for $18 after they had been marked down and I bought them on a day when there was an additional 30% off sale items.

 
A few months ago I attended a work holiday party with my boyfriend at a downtown hotel and at the last minute I decided that the shoes I brought to go with my dress didn't work for me. Luckily, the event was in the hotel attached to The Gallery on Pratt street. So, I popped over to Banana Republic and - low and behold - they had not one, but two pairs of shoes on sale I couldn't resist!

The first pair is a classic, black suede bootie with an open toe.  I've only recently come over to the bootie camp. Being 5'2, I'm extremely conscience of what cuts my me down and makes me appear shorter. Still, booties appear to be here to stay, and when worn with the right outfit and colors, I've discovered that booties can work for just about anyone.  This pair was originally $140 and I paid only $40 after they had been marked down with an additional mark down on sale items that day. 

Although I ended up eventually wearing the above pair of booties to the event that evening, I simply couldn't pass up these next pair of lovelies. Priced exactly the same as the booties, (originally $140, purchased for $40), they were just too much fun to leave behind. Open toe, strappy heels with decorative scraps of chiffon down the top. Could you have passed these up?

Just goes to show that you can get quality pieces without paying full price!

Good Form

People are always asking me where I get my clothes and, I have to say, it is one of the nicest compliments that one never tires of hearing.  I pride myself on supporting locally owned businesses whether shopping for food or fashion, and often it is in these little, local shops where you find not only one-of-a-kind pieces that not everyone at the next party will be wearing, but some great steals as well. 

One of my favorite “discoveries” in the past few years is a fantastic place called Form Boutique.  Formerly located right on the south-western side of The Avenue in Hampden near Mud & Metal and 13.5%, Form relocated a few years ago to the fashionable Woodberry neighborhood in the Clipper Mill Complex right next-door to Woodberry Kitchen.  (On a side note, how the owner stays slim working next-door to such gourmet hot-spots, I’ll never know.  Also, is there a fashion rule about proximity to foodie hot spots and good style?)

Form Boutique opened in April 2007 offering very lovely, relatively pricey designer pieces by Diane Von Furstenberg, Milly, JBrand, Shoshanna, and Alexis Bittar.  I would describe the pieces they carry as modern, feminine, and trendy with beautiful craftsmanship in gorgeous fabrics.  Their website says they “carry a finely edited yet wide selection of contemporary lines.”  Nicely stated.  The very stylish and extremely helpful (yet not pushy) owner, Aimee, also makes her own delicate, feminine jewelry as well as carrying some very nice purchased pieces.

I became a fan back when they were on the avenue by scouring their sale room in the back and occasionally stalking a few full-priced items until they went on sale.   You’ll remember I mentioned a few months back a beautiful, white, strapless, embroidered, eyelet dress I bought here a few years ago.  I also scored a classic grey pencil skirt with an adorable, quirky ruffle in the back instead of a kick pleat.


White, strapless, embroidered dress by To The Max, $135

 When Form moved to its currently location, though, it took on a new role – stylish, trendy, new pieces as well as a very select assortment of consignment offerings…which I LOVE!   Now, I give props to some of Baltimore’s venerable consignment stores, but to be honest, they either fall in one of two categories (or both) – not the highest quality or not the most current styles.  When Form Boutique began taking consignment (for store credit only) it filled the niche for high-quality and modern and trendy consignment in Baltimore.  (If you know of others out there, don’t be shy – let me know).

Since then, I’ve acquired quite a few steals from classic, work staples like this khaki, short-sleeved, pant suit by BCBG.

This photo makes the pants look a little like culottes, but if you look closely you can see that the pants start right under the label inside the jacket.  The pants are actually very long and leg-lengthening on my 5'2 frame.


These maroon, wide-legged, wool-crepe slacks from Miu Miu, which look great with navys and purples...


Miu Miu Originally $325, Purchased for $84

This fantastic tweedy skirt suit from Banana Republic with an asymmetrical jacket...


Originally $150, Purchased for $58

 And who isn’t crazy about these tan leather Kate Spade sling backs with the little red, leather flower on each shoe!  (These are a perfect example of something that, although a tad pricey when I first saw them at $84, kept popping up every time I went to Aimee’s boutique, so finally I knew they just must be waiting for me to scoop them up.)

Kate Spade Leather sling backs, Originally $325, Purchased for $84

I’ve also uncovered a few fun treats as well, like these green, sequined Guess heels for $18!!!  Wouldn’t these be great with a short, black dress and a messy up do with a night of dancing with your girlfriends?

And this timeless, paisley/floral-print sun dress, which reminds me of what you would wear to say goodbye to a lover before he departs to fight in WWII.


Max Studio Dress, Originally $175, Purchased for $28



I will admit that not everything there is for me as the cuts and styles do lean very much toward the modern.  Most of the new pieces Form orders also tend to run very petite (like the owner, Aimee, herself) but whether looking for a steal or ready to splurge, from clothes to accessories, you’re guaranteed to find something one-of-a-kind at Form Boutique.

**Update**

I finally got around to wearing my dresses and taking pictures.  Here they are on.

 

Paint Your Pants Red

As my neighbor and good friend (and blogging inspiration - Sorry! I couldn't resist a shameless plug.  http://www.thrillofthepurchase.com/) Randi can tell you, I've been on the hunt for a nice pair of red pants long before the red pants craze started last year.

This seems to be the way of the world for me.  I get an idea about something I want to wear, but have the most difficult time finding it in stores because it's not yet in vogue until, low and behold! it is in vogue.  Then it's not just me wearing the "new" trends, but every other stylish fashionista, corporate mogul and plain-jane soccer mom.  This most famously happened to me during the pointy-toe boot phenomenon that most of you will recall from about 2003-2007.  For years, the only boot one could find was pointy-toe and I began to have pointy-toe backlash and longed for an adorable round-toe boot, preferably in brown leather, please, with about a 3 1/2 inch heel, but to no avail.  For two and half years I searched for round-toe boots, until about 2008 when all of a sudden round-toe boots started coming back into style, but by then everyone wanted and was wearing the round-toe boot and my chance to get in front of the trend was gone.  *sniffsniff*

But I digress. Back to what will hereto forth be known as The Red Pant Trend.  Not nearly as pervasive as round-toe shoes...yet.  We'll wait and see where this one goes, but my guess is the red pant trend will not stick around nearly as long nor be as prevalent as the round-toe boot trend.  So, back about two years ago I decided that the range of colors in my pant collection ran the gamut of white to grey to black with a navy thrown in there.  As you'll discover about me, I love color and I wanted more color in my pants.  I decided red was a good place to start.  First of all, I love red!  I have no problem standing out in a crowd and what better way than in red.  Red connotes confidence and if you don't have it, what better way to fake it than in red.  Plus, red is a great staple color one can wear year round (granted it's the right material) and red goes with so much from white to black to navy - just about anything really especially if you're color blocking.

I started my hunt for red pants, but found nothing.  I even enlisted my friend, Randi, an avid shopper, in the quest with me.  I caught a break in the beginning on last year when red jeans started popping up in a few places, but really I've had to wait until this past fall/winter season to really start seeing red pants in a lot of places.  The following are a few I've seen and I'm watching.

The first pair I spotted were at South Moon Under at The Shops at Kenilworth.  These pair retailed at the time for $98, a little much for me mostly because they are made from a somewhat cheapy, polyester fabric, the kind that feels too hot in the summer and not warm enough in the winter.  Plus, I really have a hard time paying a lot of money for something that is not quality.  Oh, who am I kidding - I won't pay a lot of money for something that is not good quality, which is my main beef with South Moon Under.  Great for those trendy pieces that come and go and are difficult to find, especially here in good ol' Charm City, but unless you have virtually unlimited resources to spend on clothes that will go in and out  of style in one season and not last that long anyway, I especially try to only purchase things on sale there.  These pants were also cropped, which might be another drawback for anyone else, but I'm short so this almost works in my favor.
According to SMU's website, the pants are currently on sale for $69.95.

I also spotted these White House/Black Market (and apparently, red now, too) pants in the window at the Harbor East location.  At $98, still expensive but a little better of an investment considering they are fully lined, a classic cut that will be in style now and 20 years from now, and they are made from crepe material, although still polyester.

Finally, I settled on these almost orangey/red pants from Ann Taylor Loft, mostly because, not only were they on sale, but I also had a coupon.  Originally $79.50, they were marked down to $64.99 and I bought them on a day that Loft was offering an additional 30% off sale items (don't you just love when they do that?), so I paid a total of $45.49 for them.  Not too shabby if I do say so myself.  I'll update when and how I wear them.