District of Chic

I said, "howdy." He said, "hi."

2010-03-09T21:04:00.000-05:00

K and I have been discussing for some time now the necessity of finding a good plaid flannel shirt, though neither of us had succeeded until the other day, when I was half-heartedly looking for some sort of warm covering to wear with my loungewear. The light bulb went off that I had seen a few plaid pieces in B's closet. Yoink! K liked the pearl buttons. Also recently decided that layered knee/over-the-knee socks are a great alternative to tights when padding around the kitchen and such. And yes, still loving the clogs.

B's flannel pearl snap shirt
Young, Fabulous and Broke t-shirt
Hue over-the-knee socks
Nine West knee socks
Jeffrey Campbell clogs
vintage jewelry

PS I was so pleased to read how many of you are fans of The Wire! Omar is one of my favorite characters on a television show in a long while.

Roly Poly

2010-03-07T23:08:00.001-05:00

Like many people, I was inspired by the Bonnie and Clyde editorial in March's issue of Bazaar. I especially loved the use of scarves and sweaters, thus, this outfit was spawned.

B and I had an action-packed weekend, which was exhausting (in a good way). Today was one of those perfect lazy days, spent lying around like total degenerates, watching movies and grazing on Popeye's and Z Burger. I'm totally behind on all my favorite blogs, but for now, I think I'm finish this day properly by watching the Oscars, munching on some Whole Foods delicacies and maybe a few episodes of The Wire if I play my cards right.

H&M jacket
Ralph Lauren scarf
Banana Republic sweater
Mango trousers
vintage YSL belt
Balenciaga boots
KMRii bag

Shabby Apple Ingrid dress

2010-03-05T11:24:00.001-05:00

Shabby Apple was so kind to let me give their beautiful Ingrid dress a spin. I'm getting tired of the whole layering/tights thing, so this dress had to stay inside, at least for now. I'm pretty sure it's going to get a fair amount of wear as soon as the weather warms up. At first, I questioned whether the ruffles around the collar were almost too voluminous, but, let's be honest, I'm not exactly drama-averse. B. wanted me to tell you that the belt was his idea, which is partially true. I put it on and he said it liked it. Baby steps.

Shabby Apple Ingrid dress
Alice Temperley for Target belt
Hermes bangle
Finsk shoes

PS Major thanks to Maria for featuring my look on Chicisimo!

pretty N.E.E.T. indeed

2010-03-02T09:41:00.001-05:00

N.E.E.T. Magazine thought that one of my looks was worthy enough to grace their Global Fashion section this month and I could not be more thrilled. In my ideal world, all fashion magazines would be like N.E.E.T. - independent, online (less clutter in my already-cluttered apartment), and dedicated to grassroots creativity. The pages ooze with inspiration, so to be a small (small) part of it makes me smile.

done too much of both types of w(h)ining

2010-02-28T23:26:00.002-05:00

Visiting wineries is fast becoming a theme on this blog. This time we visited La Grange (our favorite of the day), Barrel Oak, Philip Carter, and Aspen Dale Winery at the Barn. All were picturesque and the weather could not have been better (for this time of year). Pastels seemed appropriate.

Caught a photo of the elusive B. I actually take about as many photos of him as he does of me, but he likes to keep his internet presence to a minimum.

H&M sweater
vintage dress
American Apparel tights
Kors boots
Bally bag

Dare Wright, the Lonely Doll

2010-02-26T21:20:00.001-05:00

A couple years ago, my mom received the book, "The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll" as a Christmas gift from my grandmother. "The Lonely Doll" is a children's book that was very popular with my mom's generation and "The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll" chronicles the intriguing and tragic life of the author, Dare Wright. Dare was a deeply imaginative and talented photographer that I believe, if she had lived during this generation, could have been a fashion blogger that would have rivaled the best. She wasn't wealthy, so she and her mother created their own magnificent wardrobes inspired by the most fashionable styles of the time. Many of her photos were the results of "dress-up" sessions. Isn't she gorgeous? I could look at photos of her all day long.

I wasn't thrilled with the selection of images online so I photographed my favorite pictures in the book. One of these days I'll get around to getting a scanner.

City Girl Chicago was so sweet to give me an award. Once again, it really warms the cockles of my cold, materialistic heart to have found such wonderful and interesting people like her through the fashion blog community.

I also really appreciate that Sal of Already Pretty liked my long skirt look :-).

I just wanna be your Steve McQueen

2010-02-24T18:42:00.002-05:00

I will always love the over-the-top tackiness of this leopard print robe thing. If I were a pop star (or superhero, for that matter), I would make my costume out of this fabric.

I loved reading your comments and thoughts on "the great clog" debate - we seem so evenly divided! To each his or her own. I'm terribly hypocritical when it comes to trends. I'll see something worn a certain way (socks with heels, for example) and think, "no way! Not for me." Then I'll see it in a different context (*cough*cough* Spring Dior/Burberry Prorsum) and totally flip-flop.

So the clever creators behind Weardrobe sent me an invite to their new site Couturious the other day and I've already wasted much too much time playing around making fantasy outfits! I like to make little random notes in magazines and on receipts about outfits I want to try and I have to say this method seems a lot more productive (and dangerous with the shopping options!). Anyway, I encourage you all to check it out. You can view my looks here.

H&M t-shirt
vintage robe
vintage locket
Hermes bangles
vintage garnet and pearl ring
vintage opal ring
Ferragamo belt
Costume Dept leggings
Proenza Schouler heels
KMRii bag

PS I finally made a Facebook page for those of you Facebookers. I'm hoping to use it to share more of the other sites and links I waste my time trolling on the Internet. ...And...sigh, have finally broken down and started twittering. Goodbye soul.

bustin' loose

2010-02-22T22:04:00.001-05:00

I noticed some other fashionistas aren't particularly enthused about the return of clogs, but being a child of the 80s/90s, I'm pretty stoked about it. I distinctly remember envying a pair my camp counselor had when I was 9 and begging my mom for a pair. And of course, who can forget Cher's infamous "I broke in my new purple clogs" line in Clueless? Needless to say, they give me a twinge of nostalgia, so I was thrilled to find these Jeffrey Campbell's that are not at all dissimilar to Karl's most delicious design.

And a quick update on the Lasik for those of you that are interested in getting it done - it was not painful at all. It only took 10 minutes for the whole procedure. My one complaint is that I have to tape these plastic goggle things to my head before I go to sleep every night and I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to get the sticky residue off my face from this damn tape, but it's only a week so it's really not that bad. All and all, I would highly recommend this to anyone who can't see without glasses. I'm finally going to be able to swim in the ocean and actually see it!

La Redoute jacket
Forever 21 top
Illig skirt
KMRii bag
Jeffrey Campbell clogs
Hermes bangle
Ray Ban wayfarers

PS DC people - I hope you remembered to watch "Washington in the '70s" tonight. The mention of WHFS brought a tear to my eye. A void that will never be filled.

dirty little angels gonna save my soul

2010-02-20T14:19:00.000-05:00

After getting lasers zapped in my eyes yesterday, I can see! I've had terrible eyesight for about as long as I can remember (we're talking coke bottle lenses), so to not have to rely on glasses or contacts to find my bedroom door this morning was pretty remarkable. Only downside was no computer work last night (scary!) and no eye makeup for a week. The upside is my physical activities are limited for the next week, so more time to spend on the Internet!

So these tights... I actually bought them last year and never quite found the right use for them (mostly out of laziness), but the other day I thought my legwear could use a little sprucing up et voila! I wore this outfit for an emergency Wine Club meeting at K's place, when B, F, and I invited ourselves over to make her dinner, because she refused to leave the house. We made her a delicious Italian dinner of prosciutto-wrapped shrimp in sauce and the finest cheeses Whole Foods' "bits and pieces" cheese bin had to offer. The next morning, K's relatively substantial wine collection was missing! Where did it go? We may never know.

J. Crew velvet blazer
Sunner dress
KMRii bag
Express tights
Balenciaga booties

grits ain't groceries

2010-02-17T21:38:00.000-05:00

This shirt has been one of my prized possessions since junior high. It was my grandfather's and it's pretty much indestructible. It also reminds me of Lindsay Weir on Freaks and Geeks, whom I identified with, because I, too, had a crush on Daniel Desario. Like, totally dreamy.

The crappy weather and my overly-packed schedule during daylight hours have any limited outdoor photo opportunities. There's only so much Long-Suffering House Plant has to offer in the way of photo embellishment so I tried my best to mix these up a bit with facial expressions.

vintage necklaces
Zuni turquoise bracelets
Bell's Trading Post turquoise bracelet
vintage ring
white amber ring from Lithuania
vintage Army shirt
H&M t-shirt
H&M tights
Balenciaga boots

PS Emoting rocks.

maybe I'll break hearts and be as fast as you

2010-02-15T21:45:00.001-05:00

Sometimes camera malfunctions make for interesting effects. Some greasy substance was smeared across the lens and B didn't discover the issue until after we had taken a couple pictures. I kind of like the way this one turned out.

I wore this for my buddy A's birthday dinner at Masa 14 this weekend. I usually have a hard time liking establishments with numbers in their names, but the food was actually kind of interesting and tasty. The snow is getting dirty and gross and I've decided I've had my fill for at least a few years. Be gone now.

Forever 21 lace top
Topshop blazer
Express skirt
Balenciaga boots
Hermes bangle
vintage amethyst and garnet rings

snover it

2010-02-13T10:20:00.002-05:00

My (hopefully last) snow outfits...

I'm going to share a secret with you: I have deep deep love for L.L. Bean duck boots. Nerdy, I know, but I kind of feel like a character from a Norman Rockwell painting when I wear them. Second look is so "Nanook of the North," it's not even funny. I think it was justified, given the circumstances.

Hypeed was kind enough to feature on of my looks in their Plaid and Tartan Trend spread. Check it out here.

I also want to thank the Trendy Fashionista for the award. She's so sweet and her blog is full of tempting items and inspiration.

vintage shearling coat
Forever 21 dress
LL Bean duck boots
H&M gloves

vintage fur cape
H&M gloves
Technica boots
KMRii bag

a whole lot of don't to do

2010-02-10T14:23:00.004-05:00

As of this moment, all things outdoors frighten me. Currently trapped in my apartment, possibly forever. Solution: wine, fur, lace and ridiculous shoes.

Now I must tell you the main reason I bought this was because of the label (though I did get a good deal and I had been looking for a good stole in this color, etc.). A DC history lesson: Woodie's was the place to shop back in the day and the building still remains down on 10th and F St. I remember my mom and grandmothers taking shopping trips into the city, because Woodies was the only place where things like baby/wedding gifts and good winter coats could be found. Oh how things have changed with the advent of Tysons Corner, Mazza Gallerie, and, well, the Internet. Anyway, I don't think I could ever bear to part with this piece, because every time I pass it on the hanger in my room, it gives me a little twinge of nostalgia. RIP Woodies.

This look is for Paulette's birthday, because I feel that fur and a glass of red wine are things that she would enjoy.

Another thought: the cut of this stole is on the larger, broader shoulder side and it kind of makes me feel like Henry VIII. Obv. he was kind of prick, but powerful, too, so I'm going to run with the powerful side in this look.

vintage Woodward & Lothrop mink stole
Forever 21 lace top
H&M jeans
Eloise tights
Finsk shoes

PS Tasha gave me the nicest award commemorating the 1st anniversary of her blog and of our "virtual friendship" as well. Is it strange that I feel a cetain rapport with you, my fellow bloggers and readers, though I've never met most of you? We share a common interest that we bounce ideas around about fashion - isn't that the concept behind a salon or a club or something? I really foresee fashion blogging (and blogging in general) being a milestone in cultural history. Won't it be cool to say we were a part of that? I think about this often. I totally drink the blog Kool-Aid.

Apocalypse Snow

2010-02-08T21:33:00.001-05:00

So the weather is pretty out of control right now. DC kind of goes to pieces when it snows, too. All rules go out the window and the city turns into one of those surreal post-Apocalyptic landscapes with lions and tigers running around with zombies like it's no big thing. As for the temporary blogging hiatus, well, the Nation's Capital shuts down for Snowmageddon and I guess I do, too. On the upside, I did do laundry today. GTL, baby.

United Bamboo coat/dress
H&M gloves
KMRii bag
Eloise tights
Hue over-the-knee socks
Born boots
The Scotch House scarf

PS Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints? Who dat?! Who dat?! Lots of getting crunk last night, I tell you what.

"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." ~ Winston Churchill

2010-02-04T22:24:00.009-05:00

Helen Twelvetrees during filming of "Thoroughbred", Sydney, 1936

I'm a horse lover and, in trolling old photos on the Internet when I should be doing something productive, I was thinking how many fantastic images there are of horses and their people. I love how each of these pictures tell such vivid stories about the relationships between the two. It's also pretty easy to see why the equestrian influence on fashion is undeniable.

Miss Louise Ireland & Miss Helen Marye, April 18, 1925

Ringling Circus Equestriennes Chicago, July 20, 1951

Ringling Circus, August 2, 1949

L'Oiseau Jaune, Ringling Barnum + Bailey Circus, August 10, 1947

"Katharine Meyer." (future Mrs. Katherine Graham), February 19, 1927

Children riding a horse to school, Glass House Mountains, Queensland, Australia, 1928

Janie Irvine gives water to "Patches" from surf, Pass-a-Grille Beach, Florida, May 5, 1948

Three boys dressed as a cowboys with their horses, Saint Petersburg, Florida, November 5, 1947

Unidentified Blackfoot Chief on Horseback Speaking to an Elderly Man, 1910

Seminole Indian cowboy Charley Micco and grandson Fred Smith on horseback in a cattle ranch, Brighton Reservation, Florida, August, 1950

Rodeo Riders, L.A., between 1910 and 1915

"Skijoring," Location unknown, 1930

Josh Taylor, Negro Foreman who has been on place for fifty three years, Knowlton Plantation, Perthshire, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi, October 1939?

Lt. Walter Brooke, Lt. C.T. Walwynt, Col. P.A. Kenna & Lt. Geoffrey Brooke, 1910?

Basketball on the tanbark at Durland's Riding Academy, New York, 1908

Wild West Polo, Coney Island

Images found on Shorpy, Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection, and the flickr Commons.

PS Another one of my favorite horse quotations: "A woman needs two animals - the horse of her dreams and a jackass to pay for it." ~Author Unknown

Nokia gadgetry + "the original"

2010-02-02T21:58:00.001-05:00

First order of business: WOMWorld/Nokia sent me this equal parts sleek, stylish, and functional Nokia N97 mini. Considering I've been using a Zack Morris-style cellphone with zero to no capabilities other than making phone calls, I've been itching to try one of these fantastic new gadgets that offers a bit more. This baby definitely lived up to my expectations. It was pretty sweet to be able to surf the Internet (with incredible resolution, I might add). I'm an ADD multitasker and loved the option to reply to emails/comments while waiting in line, sitting in traffic (someone else was driving, don't worry), and all kinds of other situations I never realized were such empty voids of time before. I have to send this little beauty back now and I'm not sure how I'm going to go back to my P.O.S. phone. Sad :-(

Second on the menu: I've done a fair amount of shopping in my time, but my grandmother never fails to show me up, both in resourcefulness and taste. Grammy always takes me and my cousins shopping for Christmas, which she enjoys because she gets to "keep up with trends." I find this ironic considering it is usually she who points out "what's in this season." For example, this year, I was looking for a good pair of ankle boots, since I ran the last pair into the ground. I waste an hour or so of our time, indecisively mulling over a pair of unimpressive Elizabeth and James boots and a somewhat more interesting pair of Seven's. Grammy tolerates my selections, but is generally unimpressed. She suggests we "look a little more," and we pass a boutique where she immediately points out the cutest boots I've seen that day, if not this year. Upon closer inspection, yes, Grammy has found "the best bootie." Slight platform: check. Rounded cap toe: check. Motorcycle boot buckle detail: check. Oh and the icing on the cake? They're Balenciaga. And 75% off.

Forever 21 tee
H&M pants
Zuni bracelets
Nokia N97 mini
Balenciaga boots

Chictopia Euphoria

2010-02-01T20:19:00.003-05:00

I just checked my inbox and had all these wonderful messages from my fav readers and bloggers telling me I'm on the frontpage of Chictopia today! Holy moley!

too much monkey business

2010-01-31T18:30:00.000-05:00

I'm sooo behind! A four-legged friend had a medical emergency that, when combined with the blizzard-like conditions on Saturday, kind of canceled any hopes B and I might have had for weekend plans/productivity; though spending quality time together and going to bed at a decent hour was hardly a bad thing.

This outfit was from last weekend when I made B take me to Something Sweet so I could get a cookie.

I'm going to make Spaghetti Bolognese this evening and I'm looking forward to it.

vintage blazer
Forever 21 tee
vintage YSL belt
Mango trousers
Born boots
antique locket
Hermes bangle
very vintage LV bag

PS Thank you so much to satinsugar and Mon Mode Blog for the awards!

death is not the end of this song

2010-01-28T16:20:00.002-05:00

Fur and open-toed shoes? Queen of Practicality, that's me.

I found this adorable purse at thrift store a while ago and it's been staring at me forlornly from it's lonely little spot on what has become "the purse shelves." Have you found that after you wear something once, it kind of "breaks the seal" and all kinds of possibilities immediately open up? That seems to happen to me all the time. I'm not sure why it takes me so long to wear cute things like this neglected little purse.

vintage fur jacket
Forever 21 tee
J Brand jeans
Report Signature shoes
vintage bag
necklace from a boutique in Hoboken
Hermes bangles
antique rose gold amethyst ring

PS Just a couple more hours to bid on the DVF top I'm selling on eBay if you're interested!

sangria wine

2010-01-26T20:28:00.002-05:00

This was my outfit for a birthday party on Friday. The theme was Fiesta and the food/beverages were incredible, as were the decorations. Apparently some came home with us, because our living room is now filled with balloons. Oh and Apples to Apples might be my new favorite party game, second only to Scattegories.

vintage blouse
J. Crew velvet blazer
vintage locket
Hermes bangle
Forever 21 shorts and belt
Eloise tights
Givenchy booties
KMRii bag

great gosh almighty yes we can I know we can can

2010-01-24T18:54:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite collections for Fall '09 was Matthew Williamson. In a sea of black and gray, it was so refreshing to see near-blinding use of color for Fall and Winter. Anyway, this outfit was spawned out of that thought. This outfit was actually from last weekend, so I'm a little behind. My friends and I had a fun girls dinner at Busboys and Poets before meeting the boys at Stoney's. Good times.

Missoni cardigan
H&M dress
American Apparel tights
Mellow Yellow shoes
H&M scarf
Bally bag

PS Saints are going to the Superbowl! Yayah!

yellow moon

2010-01-22T19:13:00.001-05:00

This past Sunday was rainy and gross, so my friends and I all curled up on the couch with some wine and cheese to watch the Hangover. There could not have been a better way to spend the night. Icky weather makes me crave soft sweaters and t-shirts, so I snitched the super-comfy cashmere sweater that B just got for Christmas and forced it to mingle with grays for the evening. I hadn't noticed until I saw these photos that these sparkly knit tights have a kind of cool sheer quality to them.

Brian Hughes, the product engineer at Insolia, saw my earlier post about these fabulous inserts and was kind enough to offer my lovely readers a 15% discount. Just use the coupon code "districtofchic," which will be good until March 31. Click here to order.

B's sweater
Young, Fabulous and Broke t-shirt
Eloise tights
Born boots
KMRii bag
vintage necklace
bracelets from New Mexico
white amber ring from Lithuania via R

PS I'm trying my hand at this eBay selling thing. I'm starting out small with this one item and, if all goes well, I have closet full of stuff to add. If any of you eBay experts have any tips or tricks you want to share, I am your apt pupil.

tu es bien plus forte que moi mais nous sommes nombreux

2010-01-20T22:32:00.001-05:00

Thank you so much for the sweet comments on my last post. I always find it fascinating to read what pieces of an outfit that you like best, because it varies so much and oftentimes it's not the pieces I would expect. To answer a couple questions, the Finsk shoes came from ASOS, where they had clearly been hiding, because I didn't see them until they went on sale (thankfully). I think they were around $140 when I got them. Please don't hunt me down, because I would have to fight you for them and I'm a lot more scrappy than I appear. That being said, I have seen a few other Finsk shoes on farfetch (all of which are pretty incredible-looking).

This skirt is so much fun to play with. It's the perfect balance of volume, softness, and length that just lends itself to twirling.

Forever 21 top
vintage tank
vintage belt
vintage skirt
Finsk shoes
KMRii bag
Hermes bangles
necklace from a boutique in Hoboken

love you, shoe

2010-01-18T12:35:00.004-05:00

My heart skipped a beat when I found these on sale. I didn't even care that they're over 5 inches (new record for me). They're like architectural wonders.

Haircut Day!

Speaking of way too tall shoes, I realized it might be helpful to share one of my staples for high heel wearing over long periods of time. I swear by these Insolia inserts, which shift your weight off the balls of your feet, rather than just padding them.

vintage slip top
vintage Brooks Brothers sweater
H&M jeans
Finsk shoes
KMRii bag
Hermes bangle
vintage locket

walking on moonlight in the day

2010-01-14T22:25:00.000-05:00

Pretty simple, I know, but I'm not totally opposed to simple. I should also mention this is "plane ride chic," though it could have been "everyday chic." B's sister gave me this sweater for Christmas and I love it so much. I've been wearing it with anything and everything. The jewelry is from a Maasai village in Tanzania, where my grandparents went on safari earlier this year (totally envious).

Remember I told you about the cat and the chickens? Well a certain reader requested a photo of the cat, so I tried my damnedest, though this group wasn't entirely cooperative. For whatever reason, the chickens freaked out whenever I tried to get near them. B's dad said maybe they heard I like Popeye's.

gotta love those sunsets...

Derek Heart sweater
Target t-shirt
Maasai necklace and bracelet
American Apparel leggings
Enzo Angiolini boots
Ray-Ban wayfarers