New Blog Alert!

Make sure to check out my friend's new blog Shanghai Vaquera! One of my food and fashion mentors, Julia takes a logical approach to the study of food, fashion, and travel. And she can peel a crawfish faster than anyone I know!

She's Baaaa-aaack!

Well, after a near- 2 month hiatus, I am back in the blogosphere.

Changing jobs from fashion to banking really makes for an interesting transition. It's been a challenge figuring out how to keep my unique style while working within the conservative constraints of the suit-and-tie set.

Something that has been very surprising: the number of badly-dressed bankers is astounding. I truly do understand working your wardrobe on a budget, but your clothes still have to fit you.

Take Chase, for example. Men are expected to wear black slacks, black shoes, black belt, Chase blue shirt, Chase tie and an optional black blazer. Women wear all black and have a choice of various Chase-logo'ed blue cardigans and tops.

That's got to be one of the easiest 'uniforms' I've ever heard of. Which is why I find it particularly puzzling when I see bankers whose pants are too short or sleeves too long. It's particularly annoying because a hem is typically one of the easiest and cheapest fixes to execute.

Banking is all about numbers: everyone wants the big money accounts. So, do you think a millionaire who wears custom Italian suits is going to trust his money to a man whose blazer is over large or a woman who doesn't know to remove the tacking from the kick pleat in her skirt. I doubt it.

Like it or not, the way in which we present ourselves can have a marked effect on our success in business.

The Duchess Does Citrus

Looks like Miss Catherine's been at it again. With her hubby off in the Falklands, she's keeping busy by hanging out with the in-laws. Stylishly, bien sur!

What Kate Wore

What Kate Wore

For a visit to Great Britain's Men's and Women's Olympic Field Hockey Teams, she wore a navy Pucci blazer, official London 2012 scarf, white tee and navy L.K. Bennett 'Art' pumps.

The jeans were a smidgen too tight for my taste- she is a Princess after all...

But, I adored the color. Way to look youthful and trend-appropriate, Kate! "The Today show" called her as-yet-unidentified jeans "tangerine", though I would definitely err on the side of coral or, perhaps, bittersweet.

Wikipedia

Kate's look may be easily adapted for daily wear:

1) Classic Preppy

Boat shoes /Sperry Top-Sider @ Nordstrom

Joe's Jeans @ Nordstrom

Boyfriend belt /Asos

Man's faux ostrich watch /Asos

Ikat printed scarf /Asos

Washed chambray shirt /J. Crew

2) Romantic

Dainty earrings /anthropologie

Girly ring /kate spade

Bow clutch /Ted Baker

Ladylike heels /Nordstrom

Lace Tee Shirt /J. Crew

J.Crew

3) Modern

Cobalt pumps /Aldo

Printed silk blouse /Theory

Joe's Jeans @ Nordstrom

Buttercream bag /Asos

Statement cuff /Asos

Dita Von Teese Wants Natural Beauty

So, I don't really know all that much about Dita Von Teese. Probably more than the average person, but that's just because I pay attention to stuff. To me, she is an embodiment of Dolly Parton's famous quip: "Find out who you are and then do it on purpose." She has her styling down to a tee and truly commits to her look.

Take off all her makeup and she's probably a very pretty woman, but lacquer her up and she is a bombshell. This is one thing I love so much about styling: that every woman, no matter how 'average' can find what really works for her and shows her to her best advantage.

This woman is almost 40.

Dita here has her own line of lingerie which goes into the plus sizes and up to a G cup. The little I know about lingerie tells me that going to G is not very extraordinary, but for a celebrity line I think it's pretty decent. She had women of all sizes walk the runway at her show and tweeted: "To set the record straight, my Von Follies lingerie show 'no spray tan policy' means NATURAL skin tones will be represented, pale & dark.''

Fabulous. Severely. I really, really love it. Pale =/= Ugly (or 'pasty').

Beautiful skin and she definitely has lines around her eyes and on her forehead. Awesome. She doesn't appear to be injected with fillers or paralyzers, either.

She's got a sort of Ava Gardner thing happening, and I adore the sharp red nails with half-moon mani. "I've had 2 years to sharpen my claws, mother; Jungle Red!"

Check it: 3 different-sized women wearing very similar garments (i.e. the 'plus size' one is not covered head to toe) and all of them look sexy, confident, and real.

The blonde in the back on the left? A bit heavy in the middle. The brunette next to Dita? Thick thighs. The lady on the right? Hips, baby, hips. Figure flaws? Oh heck no. They all look luscious.

Photos courtesy of JustJared.

Mmmm... Fresh!

I am loving this mint green trend. It's like the refreshing, cold sweetness of a Melona bar on a summer day.

If you haven't had one, you really need to look into it. They are South Korean honeydew melon creme bars and are delightful. Get them at your local Asian market (they are worth the $10 a box).

I'm also loving the return of super lady-like pieces mixed with menswear. So you can imagine my glee at seeing still from the Jonathan Saunders show.

Nothing creates an hourglass figure better than a structured shirt tucked into an a-line skirt. This is my summer uniform- ask anyone. I also adore those sandals with the wee bows. Tres adorable!

Sadly, I haven't yet put my hands on any minty fresh pieces that are perfect for me. So, I am looking forward to adding  splashes with accessories. First on my list:

 Essie 'Mint Candy Apple'. Just the right amount of blue to tone down the yellow in my skin and the perfect touch of green to make it fresh and young.*

Asos belt

Minty penny loafers

Mint looks great with lilac

Wear your mint with:

All of your neutrals, especially: khaki, white, grey, navy
Other tertiary colors like: turquoise, coral, orange, fuchsia




*a full-size bottle of Flowerbomb Bombilicious lotion to the person who sends me this color.

Spring/Summer Wardrobe Spruce-Up

All Black's Recycled Newspaper Flat

A cream open-weave top like this one.

Blue and white sailboat skirt similar to this guy from Anthropologie.

A vintage silk satin button down in cream like this one.

An a.n.a. western denim shirt (with pearl snaps!).

A navy single button blazer from Lafayette 148 in a shape similar to this one.

 

Ralph Lauren silver teardrop earrings

dv by Dolce Vita wedges ($15!!)

Add these great items to my wardrobe from last year...

Calvin Klein belt

Asos peach dress

Asos orange skirt

Lafayette 148 white blazer

...and I've got a pretty sturdy wardrobe.

Now, if I could just find a decent pair of leather-soled sandals...