Posts tagged ‘image’
The Beauty of the Suit Part II: Wearing It
Last week I stressed the importance of owning a suit, showcasing four wearable outfit variations for a range of gal pals. Today, as promised, I present you with photos me (duh) wearing four different looks inspired by those shown last week. Each outfit includes the same suit, a ton of Zara, and hopefully an embodiment of the type of women I described.
I expected this post to be somewhat of a challenge, but the truth of the matter is that I have worn some kind of variation on each of these looks before. And what’s more is that a plaid suit isn’t nearly as versatile as a light blue suit, which let’s be honest, isn’t exactly “traditional,” and yet I was able to put each of these looks together with as much ease as jeans and a white t-shirt. Now, I understand that a plaid suit may not be “work appropriate” for many of you, but hopefully this post will still give you inspiration to wear your 9-5 suits outside of the cubicle.
The Work-Focused Lady
Zara suit | Zara shirt | Chloe bag | Manolo Blahnik heels | H&M necklace | La Mer watch
Last week I said that this work-focused girl “could easily be going to the office or attending happy hour with friends; my guess is she’s the white wine type.” A couple of factoids here: I do like white wine (had some Monday night). I have worn this to both work and happy hour. And I have been known to make that face in both business and boozy scenarios. The key to making this “work appro” is the pointy-toe pumps. Nothing says you’re more focused and business savvy than a pointy closed-toe shoe. Kind of like nothing says party quite like a cheese plate.
The Cool Downtown/Brooklyn Girl
Zara suit | vintage shirt | Converse shoes | Zara bag | Knockaround sunglasses | BaubleBar bracelet
I said that this girl was the type who “works at a creative ad agency, has a lot of guy friends, and has one of those sexy raspy voices because she likes to smoke Parliament Lights in between glasses of Jameson on the rocks.” While I was not drunk or smoking during this post, I can attest that this is the type of outfit I would wear if I was going to hang out, drink a few beers and maybe shovel in a hotdog or two. The mens t-shirt and Converse add that extra level of comfort, while the blazer and pants keep things a bit more polished.
Zara jacket | Topshop dress | Zara boots | Zara shirt | Chloe bag | Knockaround sunglasses
I described this girl as the California transplant who’s “never one to let go of her easy breezy Pacific lifestyle.” Thanks to the excess of wind yesterday, the breezy was really emphasized here (this was about the only shot where my hair wasn’t either in my face or my dress up around my shoulders). But just as I would were I back in my hometown of San Francisco, I warded off the wind chills with tights and an extra layer in the form of a red flannel. (Note: this flannel could also be worn in the above outfit making you that much more of the Hipster Brooklyn girl).
Zara suit | vintage shirt | Zara shirt | Converse shoes | Zara bag | BaubleBar bracelet | La Mer watch | Knockaround sunglasses
And then we have our mix-master, who will essentially wear anything, even if it means multiple forms of plaid in the same outfit. What I found surprising was that the plaid shirt tied around my waist actually made the look feel more put-together than if I wore it as another layer underneath my blazer. Feel free to agree or disagree.
//photos by Emily Malan
Productive Procrastination
I have a habit of slipping into books. Be it a trash novel, a collection of essays, or a book filled with pretty pictures, I tend to procrastinate on things by telling myself I’m being productive with a book in my hand. Sometimes this “productive procrastination” does nothing for me; see the two weeks I spent reading all four Twilight books. Other times however, this welcomed idle time inspires me, and we all know that inspiration can only lead to productivity.
I’ve been in a bit of a rut with my wardrobe lately. I hate being repetitive, but the comfort of the same pair of jeans, boots, and sweater were starting to become all too appealing. On one of those more frustrating mornings where I stand in a towel with wet hair staring at my closet ready to burst into tears because I have “nothing to wear,” I flopped onto my bed and picked up a book stashed in a pile on my bedside table. The book was Gypset Style, a gift I received a few years ago but hadn’t flipped through since the first time I opened it. An hour later, not only was my hair dry, but I felt like I was as cool as Jade Jagger in all her kaftan and embroidered jacket glory. Reality check: I am nowhere near as cool as her, I was still in my towel, and my closet is a joke in comparison, but the idea lightbulb was there.
With a little help from my relatively new moroccan-inspired jacket, a new light was shed on my closet and I slipped into a pair of old palazzo pants as if they were the latest addition to my wardrobe. It’s not that I hadn’t thought of wearing them, it’s just that I couldn’t get previous palazzo pant outfits out of my head. Just like a chef looks through different cookbooks for new ways to prepare chicken, I look to picture-filled books for new ways to style my palazzos (among other things).
This is me having fun in my pants that are too long.
I can be serious too.
Chin dimples are also a great source of inspiration, just ask Rubens.
And I’m done.
Zara jacket | Vintage camisole | Elizabeth & James pants (these are also awesome) | Coach bag (she’s pretty too) | Proenza Schouler heelz | Ray-Ban sunglasses
// photos by Emily Malan
I ♥ Duane Reade
The drug store is one of my favorite places on earth. Whether I’m going in to refill a prescription or buying a new batch of toilet paper, I inevitably walk out with a plastic bag full of extra unnecessary goodies. And it’s never a “quick trip”. I can spend hours in Duane Reade, meandering through every aisle from lotions to bandaids, excited at the prospect of filling my medicine, beauty, and cleaning cabinets with more more more!
There’s something thrilling about testing new products, especially when they’re sold at moderate prices. I don’t think I’ve ever purchased the same toothbrush twice in a row (I like to change up the bristles and colors!), and discovering new cleaning products gets me as excited as the house wife I have yet to become.
Since I discuss a lot of my pricier beauty products on here, I thought I’d share with you some of my latest discoveries and staples that can be purchased at your closest Walgreens, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, CVS, and if you’re lucky, grocery store.
From left to right: Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch, Cherry Me, & Grape Vine; Revlon lipstick in Sultry Sable, Wink For Pink, & Kiss Me Coral
I buy a significant amount of my lipstick from Duane Reade. My favorite brand is Revlon as I find it lasts the longest, has the largest variety of colors, and offers a number of different finishes from matte to shiny. I’ve also recently become obsessed with Maybelline “Baby Lips”. I have them in every color and find that they’re perfect for when I want something a bit more subtle. They also smell and taste good…
From left to right: L’Oreal Power Volume Mascara, Revlon Color Stay Eyeliner, Covergirl eyeshadow, Revlon eyeshadow
Even though DiorShow Mascara is my #1 go-to, I like to switch up brands every once in awhile. L’Oreal’s Power Volume Collagen mascara coats the lashes evenly while still giving a touch of clump for that extra full look. I’m still mastering the art of the cat eye, but have found the angular brush and dense color in Revlon’s Color Stay eyeliner to yield the best results. Now it’s all about steadying my hands. And while I’m not big on eyeshadow, I love the color variety in these CoverGirl and Revlon palettes.
From left to right: Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion, Garnier Moisturizing Gel, Aquaphor
The lotion aisle may be my biggest time waster, which is kind of silly since I really don’t moisturize my body enough. I’ve tried a number of different brands but Cetaphil remains the winner for least greasy application. I go through face lotion by the month and sometimes it’s just not worth spending a fortune on. So I alternate each month using either Dr. Jart’s Water Sure Gel from Sephora or Garnier’s Moisturizing Gel (they’re both ridiculously refreshing). I cannot praise Aquaphor enough. From nurturing my chapped lips to hydrating dry skin on the go, these tubes can be found in every single one of my handbags.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks
Since I wear mascara and eyeliner on a daily basis, finding a good eye makeup remover is crucial for the cleanliness of my white pillow cases. I use Dove Cold Cream for the initial removal and then follow up with Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. I like to keep Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks with me for days when my liner or mascara get a little too smudgy.
Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorizer, Simple Soothing Facial Toner, Burt’s Bees Sugar Scrub
I used to use Dove’s deodorant religiously. But then my friend introduced me to a natural deodorizer that works as well as an antiperspirant and smells divine. Arm & Hammer’s Natural Deodorizer feels like butter when I put it on and lasts me throughout the day unlike many of the other natural deodorants I’ve tried. After washing my face at night, I like to use a light toner to wipe off any extra dirt or makeup. Simple’s Soothing Facial Toner is alcohol free and leaves my skin looking as refreshed as it could look at the end of the day. And lastly, I’m all for weekly exfoliation. Since I go through these pretty quickly, I try not to spend too much money on them. Burt’s Bees Honey & Shea Sugar Scrub is moderately priced, smells like candy, and does a heavy duty job on scrubbing away any excess skin.
Do you have any drug store favorites? If you do tell me so I can go waste some more time in my favorite store.
A Week in Review
New commute due to Hurricane Sandy
This has been an exciting and strange week. I’m thrilled that President Obama was re-elected (yay for vagina freedom!), ecstatic that I got to see Rihanna perform at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and irritated that New York City got hit with another (colder) storm. Thankfully the snow is melting away, but my heart goes out to those who suffered the impacts of Hurricane Sandy, and then had to experience a snowstorm.*
The majority of this week was focused around commuting into Manhattan since my normal subway was still flooded (a small price to pay from such a severe storm). As much as I hated walking an extra 20 minutes in the freezing cold, I admit it was refreshing to change things up a bit and notice certain streets and areas that I’ve otherwise neglected. I think the highlight of this week though (aside from Obama’s re-election!) was meeting fellow San Franciscan and jewelry designer of my dreams, Tamar Wider of The 2 Bandits!
This weekend I’m doing the necessary switch of my summer to winter wardrobe accompanied by many glasses of wine.
This weekend’s project: Clean and organize my accessories bureau
Major fan freak out moment seeing Rihanna at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Vintage Bottega Veneta bag I scored for $25 at a thrift store in Brooklyn
Unexpected November snow storm melting away
Meeting Tamar from The 2Bandits and previewing her latest collection at The Reformation
*Help those who have suffered from Hurricane Sandy by giving a donation to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief fund. Every bit counts!
The List
About six years ago I thought about getting a star tattooed on my foot (how original, I know). My brother looked at me and said “Before you do something stupid, why don’t you write that down. If you decide in 6 months to a year that you still want it, then get it.” I followed instructions, and low and behold, six months down the line I had absolutely no interest in getting a star on my foot. Phew!
Since half of my job is exploring new collections and testing out trends, my “must have” list grows like nobody’s business. To avoid impulsive purchases, I’ve decided to take my approach to shopping much like the way my brother told me to handle the star tattoo. Every time I think of something I want to buy — which is pretty much every 5 seconds…kind of like the way men always think of sex — I jot it down on my iPhone and if I decide that in a couple of weeks or days I’ll buy it (given that I have sufficient funds in the bank…).
I’ve only just started this new approach so we’ll see how I do, but I’m hoping it will prevent me from having those moments where I look in my closet and think “why the hell did I buy this fun fur green romper with nipple tassels?” Not that I ever owned something like that…
