I know, it's terrible; we've hardly even touched September, and yours truly is already dreaming of dull Fall days filled with ominous skies and rolling dark clouds. I just can't help myself.
It's especially a difficult task not to wish cool temperatures and brisk winds when you see J.Crew's fabulous selection of tights for Fall 2010. That exquisite made in Italy quality, and all their delightful motifs for this autumn season — I'm stocking up now and you should, too!
One thing I absolutely love about the accessories lineup at J.Crew — as if there's only one, ha! — is the pricing. J.Crew tights cost, on average, about $24. Think even that's expensive? Consider this: One pair of tights from a big brand name like Falke or Wolford will run you about $120. Reality check, people. The Every Girl isn't about to spend that much cash on an item she might get three to four wears out of in one season. It's just not realistic. And so, I present to you my top 3 pairs of J.Crew tights in the basic but beautiful grey (designer colour: Heather carbon).
First, we've got classic, no frills, wear-with-everything, super stretchy tights. They fit perfect and won't misshape. Then, there are these J.Crew herringbone tights in heather carbon. I love how even such a subtle texture will add depth to any ensemble. Finally, leg-lengthening long ribbing makes these J.Crew wool-blend tights a worthy wardrobe accoutrement. The urban grey colour is a definite must, and I'm picking up these gems in dark charcoal, too. You can't go wrong with ribbing, and when you're wearing shorts or a mini skirt, these tights will add instant height to your frame.
Heather Carbon Tights, $24.50, J.Crew
Herringbone Tights, $22.50, J.Crew
Wool-blend Ribbed Tights, $26.50, J.Crew
Anyone who knows me knows what a huge fan I am of leather driving gloves. A quick check of my collection would easily yield at least six or seven pairs, and it seems that with each passing season I acquire several new sets.
So check these Miu Miu studded leather gloves. A subtle nod to biker chic, I'm loving the luxurious glamour of these leather driving gloves and how they're splattered with silver studs. Miu Miu's leather driving gloves will add instant edge to pretty much any Fall 2010 look, and I think the silver studs will especially stand out when worn with an all-black ensemble.
This pair of Miu Miu studded gloves is fully lined in silk, so they'd probably wear warmest in early Fall (not exactly a practical pick for the cold of winter). The fronts of the gloves are sprayed in studs, and the backs of the glove are the softest leather. The opening of these Miu Miu gloves is curved for a perfect fit and the gloves hit right at the wrist when you pull them on. The leather is supple, so my suggestion is to order these gloves a size smaller than you would normally, since with time the leather will give.
Love!
Miu Miu Studded Leather Gloves, $595, Net-A-Porter
Since her debut shoe collection in 2006, Danish shoe designer Camilla Skovgaard has built a reputation for fancy footwear that's daring and dramatic. Her use of geometric shapes in cut-out leather sandals and architectural platforms makes her shoes look like they could just as easily find a home in an art gallery as they could in a shoe lover's closet.
Check these Camilla Skovgaard tassel heel suede ankle boots. The bones of the boots themselves are amazing; all that black suede and contrasting leather back finish topping off a round toe and serrated front platform. But the heel? I'm not crazy over anything that looks like long hair on a shoe (remember).
The editors at Net-A-Porter seem to think Camilla Skovgaard's tassel heel ankle boots would transform your look, and I agree —
If the look you're going for is biker-inspired, buy these today.
Camilla Skovgaard tassel heel suede ankle boots, $565, Net-A-Porter
Before the crazy madness that is NYFW begins, I was able to catch up with my sweet friend, StyleIT's Sarah Conley, for a little chit chat. The social media maven is busy preparing for what could be perhaps the busiest time of her entire year, but she took some time to answer a few key questions I hope will help any of you aspiring to do great things via your own blogs, Twitter, Tumblr, and the like. If you haven't already, check Sarah out at StyleITOnline.
1. For those living under a rock who aren't familiar with StyleIT, what exactly is your profession?
These days, I'm what I like to call full time fabulous - I recently left a day job to pursue writing Style IT full time and taking a few consultant roles with brands.
2. What's a typical day-in-the-office like for Sarah Conley?
Since my office is now my apartment, it definitely consists of a fresh pot of coffee, a few conference calls and focusing on publishing great content. I can find leads in my inbox, from friends or even inspiration in my apartment. You never know where you will be when a great idea strikes!
3. How do you prepare for NYFW?
Lots and lots of planning! I feel like I prepare all year for NYFW! Not only does it take a lot of organizing and strategizing, but it takes a village. From prepping the team on what to expect and making sure the shows and backstage are covered to really taking care of yourself, I honestly feel like preparing for NYFW is like preparing for your wedding, twice a year.
4. What is your "team" and how did you decide who plays on it?
I'm really fortunate to have found a great team of super talented writers and photographers who have an amazing passion for fashion and social media. They've been so supportive of me throughout the years - we're like family!
5. What's your schedule like for fashion week? Does your job description change during this period? What are some extra tasks you'll take on?
My job description during NYFW might as well say "crazy person". I'm so fortunate this season to have a really strong team in place, so in addition to writing content for Style IT and securing all angles of coverage, I also have a few other outlets that I will be covering for. We also have a few sponsors this season, so I need to make sure that we fulfill all our commitments to those brands.
6. What are your 3 must-see shows this Fall?
L.A.M.B., forever and always; The Blonds, there is no better scene; G-Star, their show is always a symphony.
7. How do you decide which shows you will attend?
With so many shows being split between MAC & Milk and Lincoln Center, it is all going to come down to scheduling and timing. But there are certainly MUST SEE shows.
8. Do you spend lots of time backstage?
Absolutely! It's so fun to see how the magic happens, and its a lot easier to cover the shows that way
9. How do you dress during NYFW? Do you amp up the style factor more than usual?
I like to tell my team to dress like they're going into a fashion war. Of course you're going to have crazy 14 hour days, and sure, you want to be comfortable, but at the end of the day you are there to represent yourself in the best possible way, so armor up!
10. You're a maven of social media, and pretty much an icon. How did you get here?
Thank you, Hope! It's pretty crazy to think that I started as a girl from Arkansas, just chasing my dreams. To some extent, I am still very much that girl, but each day, I am just me. I'm 100% me on Twitter, 100% me on my site and that is all I could ever hope to be!
BONUS. What are your top 3 pieces of advice for someone aspiring to grow their online audience?
1: Be yourself. 2: If you don't find it interesting, that probably means no one else will. 3: Find a way to make it your own.
The final, fleeting days of summer are upon us; I'm already seeing change on the morning horizon and falling leaves whilst driving to work. And with a change in season, comes a change in clothing — though you might be fighting it, the time to store summer clothing and pull out your heavier fall fare has arrived. While some of us more organized than others and have a system in place for storing summer clothes in a spare closet or an unused set of drawers, others have no extra space in which to store their clothing. No matter what your lot, I hope that each of us can take something from the following suggestions on clothing storage and use it in our own wardrobes. With proper organization, you can fully utilize even the smallest of storage spaces!
Whether a go-to piece in your everyday wardrobe or an article of clothing you're putting away for the off-season, clothing needs proper air circulation and space. When you try to squeeze too many pieces into a small space for a long period of time, chances are that your clothes will come out of the drawer or off the shelf permanently damaged and misshaped. Also, when storage space is too tight, you'll find you have trouble getting to your everyday clothes, which is another reason why proper organization is the key to a fully functional closet and wardrobe.
The solution for maximizing use of space is simple, really: Take an inventory of the clothing you plan to style during the coming season (in this case, Fall/Winter), and organize the clothes you plan to put in storage by sorting it accordingly. Blouses, sweaters, lingerie, and fine garments; pants, skirts, dresses, and shorts. Once you've done this, decide which pieces will be most frequently used over the next few months, and which you might not wear at all. Then, dedicate at least one drawer (or shelf) to your tops and bottoms, and everything in between. Store less worn clothing in the back of your closet, and in your lowest drawer.
In the closet, cothing can be hung on either silk or cedar hangers. I find silk hangers work best for hanging delicate fabrics like silk and cashmere, whereas cedar hangers are favourable for hanging more heavy fabrics and bottoms. Cedar also imparts a refreshing fragrance and is a natural safeguard against moths. Clothing you plan to store in drawers or on shelves can be sorted according to material — silks and linens; light knits and summer-weight cashmere; cottons and polyblends. California Closets makes a fantastic multi-functional plastic divider, that can adapt to either a drawer or a closet shelf. This will ease the often daunting task of sorting and storing your clothing, and it will also provide easy access and visibility to your clothes.
Shop these suggestions:
Whitmor Covered Hangers, $12.99 for a set of 10, Target
Cedar Hangers (assorted styles), $8.99-$9.99, Bed Bath & Beyond
Custom Closet Accessories, call for consult, California Closets
What's Your Take On This Trend?
Will You Wear Cropped Pants This Fall?
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