Showing posts with label What About This?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label What About This?. Show all posts

Friday, June 14, 2013

What About This?: The Big 3-0 Edition

A few days ago a co-worker asked me if it would be weird to simply tell her mother what she wanted for her birthday. I couldn't say "no" fast enough. There is always a thrill in the unknown, but after one has exited the age of dolls and trains and coloring books, I believe that that thrill becomes secondary.

A couple of months ago my best friend, whom I've previously dressed in this post (oh, and that one), asked if I would put something together for her again to celebrate the beginning of her 30s. It's more grounded than the previous posts and more focused in on just a few brands that I know fit her well. Every age is about being stylish, but as you get older it's also about being smarter. I've grouped the pieces into the most generic of categories, but in the end they are all part of a whole.

Basics

Because everyone needs a pair of black pants.




And a black pencil skirt (with a fun hem detail).


Because nothing will deal with the heat of a New York City summer quite like a linen sweater.


(Or a boyfriend with an air-conditioned apartment.)

Because she, like I, knows the importance of a good ballet flat.


Because your everyday tote should come in a non-neutral neutral.


Because I once had to corner her while she showered in order to reclaim a pendant necklace of mine that she had borrowed for a long stretch of time.


Work

Because everyone needs a classic dress in a great color.


Because she's not afraid of prints.


But that fearlessness doesn't always include printed pants.


Because the art of draping is one that everyone should master.


Because this tweed goes with everything.


Because every office ever is always too cold.


Because every woman should have a bag that is briefcase-adjacent.


Weekend

Because a shirtdress goes well with brunch.


And a denim jacket goes well with a shirtdress.


Because I know how much she loves sweatshirts.


Because she should never forget about her inner punk.


Because leopard is a neutral.


Because sometimes she needs to feel taller.


And sometimes she wishes that she were a baller.


(Yup. I did in fact go there.)

Because she's never met a mini bag that she didn't love.


Because, as the Fug Girls say, everyone looks hotter in sunglasses.


Because sometimes you just have to jet away.


Night Out

Because sometimes she should be the center of attention.


Because every arm party needs a starting point.


Because every woman needs one pair of shoes meant only for sitting and standing.


And sometimes that pair needs a friend.


Because I've seen the evidence that she looks great in this dress.


Which probably means that she also needs the leather version.


Here's to the 30s being more fun and better dressed than the 20s.

Friday, June 5, 2009

What About This? (Special Birthday Encore)

I promised, as part of her birthday celebrations, a new post for the first of my styling guinea pigs. The first time round, she gave me free rein when it came to price range. And when let loose, I pick things like Wolford tights and Jimmy Choo booties. So for this birthday edition, she asked that I try to at least be reasonable. So I gave myself a ceiling. No single item over $100. Thankfully, with everything on sale everywhere from Old Navy to Barneys, this didn't prove as difficult as it might have been in previous years.

In fact, I found so many things that I think organizing them into outfits could cause my brain to implode. But then, how to organize them? Day/Night? Work/Play? By Store?

Instead we're going by type of piece, much like this post that I wrote for myself.

Things for the top half

One


Two


Three


Four



Things for the bottom half

One


Two


Three



Things for the whole

One


Two


Three


Four


Five



Things that keep out the cold (or are supposed to...)

One


Two


Three



Things for the feet

One


Two


Three


Four



Thing[s] to carry

One



Things to ornament

One


Two


Three


Four


Five


Six


And one for the head



So that last one broke the rules. But only by six bucks.

It was a necessary evil.

HAPPY (almost) BIRTHDAY KELLY!


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