Wherein Style Spy Illustrates the Importance of Prepping an Outfit

Several posts ago, I talked about prepping an outfit. I do this, and I think it's important to do this. A little fashion dress rehearsal can save a lot of time & heartbreak. You don't want to get down to fifteen minutes before you have to leave for a date or a wedding or dinner with friends and look into the mirror and find that those pants are not at all the right length for those shoes, or that a particular blouse when tucked into a particular skirt makes you look like a sausage with a center seam, or that you in no way have the proper underpinnings for a certain dress and you're about to walk out of the house looking like Mrs. Roper on her way to a pole-dancing class.

At any rate, even I don't do this all the time, of course, and while I'm not saying that you have to plan out every outfit you wear to dash up to the grocery store to buy some Swiss cheese and laundry detergent, I'm going to provide you with a little example of why it's often a good idea.

I started off with these



great wide-leg trouser jeans from Goldsign with cute patch pockets and buttoned belt loops. Love these jeans -- they have a sewn crease down the front of the leg and are a super-soft denim. I added this


fuchsia & black striped long-sleeve tee. This is a great stretchy fabric, with a nice wide ballet neck that can actually be tugged down off the shoulder a bit should you so prefer. I got this in Zara in Paris last November when I was freezing to death and needed to come up with a couple more layers.

And over the tee I put this


great little black vest that I just love. This has a very close fit, it comes just to my waist. Look how cute it is from the back --




Love that lacing. I'm still big into the vest thing, or at least I will be again when it's cool enough to wear two layers of fabric. (Which at this rate will apparently be 2012.) Seeing lots of them for fall, which makes me happy.

Finished off the whole shebang with these



black patent Jimmy Choo flats that I love like a boyfriend and should have bought two pairs of. I ADORE these shoes.

Anyway. There I am, dressed in my cute little outfit, feeling comfortable and happy, and off I went to meet some friends. But then I got where I was going and as I was looking at myself in the mirror in the ladies' room, the puzzle pieces fell into place.

Whoops.

Ah, well. Live & learn.



Photos: Style Spy, guardian.co.uk

Happy Early Birthday to Me

Well, I was bad this weekend. Mind you, I did manage to make my way into & out of Neiman's on Saturday without dropping a single dime, and I think I deserve a pat on the head for that because they were in pre-sale for their Last Call markdown and there was aaaaaaaall kinds of fashiony goodness out for the noshing. And then I spent an hour lurking around the Shu Uemura counter while Cici and Carla worked their magic on my friend Miss A in a preliminary scout for potential makup looks for her upcoming wedding in October, and I bought not so much as a lip gloss. (Although I tried on plenty of 'em. 'Cause what else are you going to do while you're standing at the Shu Uemura counter, sing show tunes?) Not only did I not spend any money at Neiman's, I actually returned an unworn dress and managed to, without pain, bring the balance on my NM charge down a considerable amount. Yay for me.

But then Sunday rolled around. And on Sunday I was in the closet facing the fact that it's so hot here in Austin that we're all turning into human tinder and for some unknowable reason I've wound up with a closet full of tops that are mostly long-sleeved. This is ridiculous. I need short-sleeved and sleeveless things that are not t-shirts or tank tops, because I am a grown-up and do occasionally have to leave my home.

So on Sunday I made a deal with myself that I would dash through the Neiman Marcus outlet looking for great buys on a couple of tops, and if I found things that were killer bargains I'd dip into my Luxury Tithe.


So here are my new tops:

Um, yeah... I know.

These are Fendi. And I have beyondloved them for a very long time. I tried them on a couple of times when they were in the store, but I always left them there because even when they were on sale, they were too much. Let's face it, these are not shoes I'm going to get tons of wear out of -- they don't exactly go with everything. A basic black pump they are not. (Although, come to think of it, I cannot remember the last time I wore my basic black pumps. Truth is, I'm just not a basic black pump kind of gal. But you may have deduced this about me already.)

Why I even allow myself to go into the shoe department is a problem for me & a shrink at some time in the future ( and by "the future" I mean, "when I stop spending so much money on fashion & save up enough for therapy"), but go I did and when I saw them there my heart gave a little sigh. There have been a few pairs at the outlet for a few weeks now, but they still weren't marked down enough to consider them. Out of habit I picked them up and turned them over to look at the price tag and --

Hey, hang on a minute!

They were down to about half the price they'd been last time I'd seen them. Which amounted to something like 80% off. So I found another pair and picked them up to compare. Illegible price tag. Hmmmm. I flagged down an SA and she gave me the low-down: the shoes had been returned because they were damaged. There is a little nick in them on the platform. If you look closely at the photo you can see it, just in front of the highlight on the platform of the left foot. But it is a very small nick. It is certainly not so large that it stops me from buying these shoes at this price. 'Cause that would be crazy.

And best of all, the very sweet SA (whose name I've forgotten, shame on me) went and scrounged around in the back to find me not one but two Fendi dustbags for them. (At the outlet, the shoes are not usually in their original boxes -- although these were, for some reason -- and don't usually have their dustbags with them.)

So here's me working my new Fendis:

new favorite outfit

These little cropped chinos are another thing I got this weekend that was not a top. (I actually scored three pairs of pants for under 100 bucks, and I'm not apologizing for that, because due to the weight loss I had exactly one pair of pants that fit me that were not jeans. One. A gal can't live in jeans, especially when it's so hot even the crickets are bitching and the squirrels are knocking at the door asking if they can come in & hang out in the a/c, just for a little while.) This is my very first pair of cropped pants. I've never been a fan of the cropped pant, because too often it winds up looking like this:

If I go to Hell, it's this and Crocs for eternity.

However, lately I've discovered the skinny, ankle-length jean and am really loving it with a big chunky shoe and I thought I could get the same vibe with these. These pants are by Vince, and are a great soft cotton chino that I couldn't resist; and I think I'm tall enough (especially in these shoes, which make me a cool 6 feet) not to look dumpy in them. Besides, no one could wear these shoes and look dumpy. Queen Elizabeth, if she put on these bad boys, would look chic & willowy. They're those kind of shoes.

Yeah. Sometimes it's good to be bad.



Photos: Style Spy, dillards.com

Heels in their Native Habitat

Plumcake shared this photo with me, and I wanted to share it with you.


These are my rose-gold glitter Pedro Garcia Noa pumps (spoken of in my last post), nestled comfortably on Plumcake's fabulous Caddy convertible. I'd first spotted these shoes in the Neiman Marcus here in Austin and while I loved them very, very much, I was trying to be good and I walked away from them. They haunted me, though, and I regretted leaving them behind. Not long after that, the Neiman Marcus outlet here had a pre-sale of their new arrivals and lo and behold! There they were! Even more on sale! A reward from the Shoeniverse for being responsible. Naturally, this time I snapped 'em up like a hungry shark. Because I'm no fool. I bought them on the pre-sale, and Plumcake retrieved them for me when she picked up some things for herself. Before she handed them over she created this little piece of art, inspired by their delicious Shirley-MacLaine-in-Vegas contours.

Oh, they're so yummy. I haven't worn these in a while, I need to come up with an excuse to trot these babies out...


Photo: Plumcake

Mad About "Men"

Everyone loves "Mad Men." We love it because it's a great show filled with compelling characters, terrific acting and snappy dialogue. We love it because it reassures us that whatever craziness we might wrestle with in our lives, there was someone else wrestling with the same thing 40-plus years ago, which means we can probably survive it, too. We love it because it's a painstakingly truthful reproduction of a specific point in the past, so accurate that it's like time travel.

And. We love it for the clothes.

Oh, the cloooooooooothes!!!

I. Could. Just. Die. Seriously, almost nothing on this beautiful Earth makes me happier than a crinoline.

The second season of the show premiered this past Sunday and it's set in 1962, two years after the first season. This period in fashion is positively brilliant. The enormous skirts and wasp waists begat by the post-war New Look and iconic of the 50's are still with us, along with a narrower, more body-conscious shape perfectly embodied by Jackie Kennedy in her Oleg Cassini shift dresses. There is a neatness, a put-together-ness about these clothes that I think most of us are finding really appealing right now. They look sophisticated and adult, and after the last few years of having babydoll-shaped minidresses and navel-revealing blue jeans meant for pre-adolescents stuffed down our throats, we're really longing for The Grown-Up.

Like this lovely thing. Great body-conscious shape without being skin-tight, flattering wrap bodice with straps wide enough to wear a bra under it -- what else could you want? Wear it with these

for a great pop of color. If that look is too literal for you -- too perfectly 60s and you feel it's a little costume-y -- how about these?

(The more I look at this shoe, the more I like it. That is great-looking! I'm still having my big chunky heel thing, so these are really appealing.)

Much more modern. Definitely not something you would have spotted in the steno pool at Sterling-Cooper.

The sheath dress has never gone out of style, nor will it ever go out of style. This is because it's easy, it's classic, it's dead useful. Get one in a good neutral color in a good neutral fabric (a nice silk twill, for example, or a high-quality gabardine) and you can do a million things with it. Fancy jewelry and sparkly shoes for cocktails. Under a blazer with your best career-gal pumps for work. Boots and a cardigan for meeting a friend for lunch. Depending on the fit, it can be even more versatile by wearing it over a turtleneck or a blouse. Funerals, wedding, graduations, job interviews, tea with Her Majesty -- a sheath is never wrong. Best of all, if it fits properly, it's one of the most flattering things you can have in your closet. A sheath creates a nice long line, skimming over the body -- it gestures toward sexiness, but it doesn't scream about it. There are many, many variations on the theme, depending on how your curves actually work.

Feeling a little less sleek than you'd like? The gentle gathers in the skirt here help to disguise a tummy or hips that you're not feeling perfectly confident about, and the wide belt emphasizes your waist. Also -- what a wonderful color.

A bit pear-shaped? This bold abstract print will help to disguise that, and the wide-set straps draw the eye upward and help to balance the hips.

Classic. Straps nice & wide for a good supportive underpinning, and the belt can be moved up & down to sit at your actual waist, wherever that might be.

Need a little help creating an hourglass shape? Then you need something like this. Extra emphasis on the slimmest part of you comes from the gathered waistband, and the gathers under the bust and at the hip will help create curves where you don't have them. (Or, conversely, ease the dress gently over curves you do have.)

Slightly more modern, but still a great shape. I lovelovelove the graphic element of this dress. Do note, however, that the white trim provides emphasis and where that emphasis falls. If you want to create more of a waist, this is a great dress. If you are trying to disguise hips that you're less than thrilled with, this is not.

Very nearly perfect. Love that cowl collar, it's so ladylike and such a great detail.


With a sheath dress, I like a heel. It doesn't have to be a sky-high heel,

but I think a heel looks best with this shape. Classic pointed-toed pumps are a great match.

Meow.

Gold brocade -- so beautiful.

Fantastic deep blue patent.

Pedro Garcia Frayed Satin Pump

I have these shoes in another color and they are beyond. An unbelievably sexy iteration of the pump -- it's amazing how just a few small tweaks, like the depth of the scoop at the side, and the curve of the heel, can take a shoe from basic to Katiebarthedoor. You will not walk in these shoes, you will sashay. Trust me.

I've found lots & lots of other wonderful ways to get that "Mad Men" look, but I'll bring you the rest of them next week. Until then, put on some sexy shoes, go have a martini or a champagne cocktail and flirt with someone you probably shouldn't. It'll do you good.


Photo: amctv.com

Oh, Poo!

Here's a new favorite thing I wanted to share with you.

Deva Curl Deva Care No Poo

This is my new favorite shampoo. Actually, it's a no-poo, which means it doesn't have the sulfates that are usually added to shampoos in order to make them lather. Apparently, if I'm getting my information right, lathering agents aren't actually necessary to clean the hair, they're just something added in because we as a culture are trained to associate suds with cleanliness. Those sulfates are actually pretty hard on the hair, especially curly hair (like mine), and especially color-treated hair (again, like mine). Red is the single hardest color to hang on to, and when your hair is curly (which means it's extra porous) it's even harder to keep the color from fading. Until recently I've been devoted to a color-depositing shampoo made by Wella, but like seemingly all the good stuff in my life, it has been discontinued. (Isn't that always the way?) So since my last visit to the salon, I've been using this product, and I have to tell you, I really, really like it. My hair is feeling very healthy and the color has held up really well, much better than usual.

Now. It is not easy to get used to this stuff. Basically, it's like washing your hair with conditioner -- there are no suds. There is a little peppermint in the formula, so you can feel it on your scalp and that feeling helps make up for the lack of suds. I find I'm using a little more more of than I ordinarily would, and I have to work a little harder at it, to get the stuff down into my roots at my scalp. Also, I'm washing my hair every other day instead of every third day. Part of this is that it's hot outside and I'm running almost every day, so my head is just skanky (Style Spy is not a pretty sight when she gets back from her three-mile run. How not pretty? The words "drowned rat" come to mind.), and some of it is that currently I'm using a silicone product to smooth my hair, which according to my current research, is also a no-no because the silicones are stubborn little critters that require strong measures to wash them out. (I'm on the lookout for a styling product that will replace my silicone goo.)

But all things considered, I highly recommend this stuff. If you have curly hair, if you have dry hair, if you have color-treated hair or just any kind of hair that needs a little bit of babying, I'd say give it a try. Deva Curl also makes a product called Low-Poo, which might be easier for some to transition with rather than going cold turkey on the suds. Deva also makes color-specific products, which I will be looking into, and I know there are other no- and low-poo products out there.

So how about you guys? Anyone use this stuff, or something like it? What do you think about it?

Shopportunity -- July 26

Woo-hoo!! For a limited time, eLuxury is offering an additional 25% off their already-marked-down sale items! (This is going on until August 1.)

Many wonderful things, including this really adorable t-shirt:

D&G Dolce & Gabbana Striped Bead Tee

Click on the link to check out the back of this, it's darling. (Note: I own this shirt and it's itty. Order a size up from your usual -- I should have gone with the medium.)

L.A.M.B. Triangle Sweater

I love this sweater. So retro-sexy. Put it on with a pencil skirt and pretend you're a character on Mad Men (which returns this Sunday -- hooray!!). These kinds of looks are going to be HUGE and EVERYWHERE this year, because this show is a monster hit and has been nominated for a squillion Emmys, including one for Best Costumes. (I started harping about how influential this show was going to be last winter, and I still think I'm right.)



Also available is this wonderful, wonderful dress:

Narciso Rodriguez Runway Shirt Dress

Its a pale lilac color, and you should really click on the link to get more photos of the detailing on this dress. It doesn't look like much in the picture above, but when you get a closer look at it you realize how lovely it is. That color is not the easiest for everyone to wear, but that's why the Fashion Gods gave us Hermés scarves -- to wrap around our necks and bring color close to our faces. Or, you could wear it with the neck opened further and a colorful t-shirt or cami underneath it. Put a bright belt around the waist for contrast, if you'd like. Wear it over a turtleneck once it gets cooler. This dress is not cheap, but it's a bargain for what it is and I promise if you invested in it you would not be sorry, because it's wearable in a lot of ways and for years to come.

Wear that dress with these shoes:

Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti Patent Mary Jane Wedge

Which also come in red, by the way, and are delicious either way. We're still not done with platforms and wedges, I don't think, so enjoy them.


There's tons more stuff on the site to make you swoony. Boy, I really hate my No Buy right now...


So, go!! Shop!!!!