Posts tagged ‘carrie bradshaw’
(Im)Practical Fashion
I am not the most practical person when it comes to fashion. I wear high heels in NYC and take the subway almost exclusively. I’ve also been known to wear suede in the rain. Neither of these habits are practical and that doesn’t bother me. But today I pose a question of practicality regarding the white shoe.
We all remember that scene in Sex and the City when Carrie is wandering around Paris in her fabulous white Manolo Blahnik’s and then squish! she steps in a fresh pile of dog crap. I cringe every time I watch this scene and to be honest I don’t think it’s because it’s dog shit, though that doesn’t help. It’s that here are these dazzling white heels that are just destined to get scuffed and dirty and watching it happen is like watching someone throw out a fresh pie of pizza. Stop! There was something good there!
White heels are a one-way ticket to making an outfit effortlessly chic, but they’re also a one-way ticket to Dirtville; especially if you live in a filthy metropolitan city like New York. How do I know this? Because I have the hardest time keeping my whites white in this city. My white jeans have little grey spots on them (probably from wearing them while it was raining — hashtag not practical), and my white Alexander Wang bag has dark smudges all over it because I idiotically wore it out on New Year’s Eve. So, as much as I love the idea of a white pump, you can understand my hesitation. But that’s the practical side of my brain talking. The impractical side says to hell with dog feces, bubble gum, and any other delicacies found on the sidewalk. Be bold. Take a risk! BUY AND WEAR THE WHITE PUMPS.
So what say you? Do you think white heels are a smart purchase or completely stupid? There’s no doubt that they’re a staple, but a staple can only go so far until it’s ruined, right? What do you think? I really want to know.
Photo by Garance Doré
On Walking in Heels
This past Saturday my friends and I were getting dressed to go out for a night on the town; the perennial question of the evening was, “are you wearing heels?” For me, the answer is always yes. I pride myself on being good in heels. Maybe it’s because of all my years as a tippy toe pointe shoe dancing ballerina, but I’m able to get over the whole “ouch my feet hurt” thing pretty quickly.
It wasn’t until we were walking to a bar and I looked over at my friend (she shall remain nameless), that I realized how much she was struggling in heels. Each step was a big balancing act, keeping her knees bent while taking the biggest strides I’d ever seen her take. Upon seeing this I didn’t hesitate to say “how on earth are you walking!?”
The next block turned into my friend and I trying to teach the uncertain walker how to strut in her stilettos. “Straighten your leg!” “Try going heel toe!” “Take smaller steps!”
She eventually got the hang of it, but I thought I’d share a few key pointers to walking in 4 inches and up.
- Swing those mother f*ckin’ arms! They help you balance and take better strides!
- Straighten your leg with each step. I’ve never understood the need to bend your knees while you walk in heels — it looks like you’re a grandma with a dirty diaper. This is probably a good thing to practice at home, but you really want to extend your front leg with each stride.
- Start thicker: thicker heels are much easier to walk in, no matter the height. Start with a chunky heel and gradually make your way to the stiletto. I find that Marni heels are a good middle ground.
- OWN YOUR WALK! If you feel awkward about walking in heels you’re going to look it. I don’t care if you need to turn the sidewalk into your own personal catwalk; if Carrie Bradshaw can do it so can you.
- Practice. The more you wear heels the easier they’ll be to walk in. They’ll also become more comfortable as your feet will get used to being pinched and blistered.
A Week in Review
{ Paris day dreaming… }
I’m in love with my new apartment. In love. We’re getting married. I can’t even begin to explain how wonderful it is to wake up in the morning on a cute quiet street and go to bed at night with a view of the Empire State Building. So maybe I’m still living out of boxes, but each day my new place feels more and more like home.
As you can imagine, a significant portion of this week was spent attending to my new place, moving furniture around and making sure everything feels juuust right, kind of like Goldie Locks. This weekend I’m hoping to paint my living room and spend some quality time wandering around my new neighborhood. How many restaurants can I fit in my stomach in one weekend? I’ll let you know come Monday…
{ First look at my bedroom/unmade bed }
{ Ready for Miami thanks to Samudra and Paige Denim }
{ Having a Carrie Bradshaw moment at my new desk }
{ This time next week this mess will be a glorious walk-in closet! }
Carrie’s Apartment
I think I’ve made it pretty clear how much I love all things Sex & the City and have no shame in admitting that I idolize Carrie Bradshaw – minus the whole single at 35 thing. As I prep for my big move to Brooklyn* and start finalizing my decorating ideas (you can see all my ideas/inspiration on my Pinterest board “Apartment Approved“) I keep thinking about Carrie’s apartment and how positively perfect it is. From the color of her walls to the leather chair Aiden made for her to that closet (duh), her apartment is the pinnacle of what I want my apartment to look like – and I know I don’t stand alone here. I get the keys to my new place this weekend and can’t wait to use these images as inspiration for my new interior decor.
* I recognize that Carrie would never move to Brooklyn.
// all photos via
Dress Me, Please!
In exactly one month I will be in Miami for a friend’s wedding and I have no idea what to wear. Ok, lies. I have some ideas, but I’d love your input! While I should could go the economical route and wear something I already have, that’s far too boring for me and the likes of Miami, not to mention that half the fun of such an event is having something new to wear!
I’ve narrowed down my disgustingly large wishlist of dresses to six pieces, and it’s from here that I’d like to leave the final selection in your hands. Seriously, if you don’t start barking out some choices I’m going to show up at the wedding in a paper bag that says “My Readers Made Me Wear This.” Just kidding, I’m already weird enough I don’t need to draw that kind of attention…
…moving forward, here are a few key notes to keep in mind: 1) Much against my will, I’m sure I’ll be hitting the dance floor so the ability to throw a high kick and do a back flip are a must. 2) Fingers crossed I’ll be able to apply enough self-tanner in time for the wedding, but in the likely chance that I won’t please remember my Casper resemblance. 3) There is no number three, but things sound better in threes so just go with it.
And now I ask you to pretty, pretty please tell me, which of these dresses should I wear!?
- Diane Von Furstenberg Crochet-Paneled Halterneck Dress – $425
- Tibi Pleated Silk Chiffon Dress – $550
- Vanessa Bruno Silk Appliquéd Dress – $484
- Halston Heritage Waterfall Silk-Chiffon Dress – $365
- Proenza Schouler Full Halter Dress – $1450 or $175 via Rent the Runway
- Helmut Lang Tetra Silk Printed Dress – $530
