Now Wearing...

Cream lace dress - H&M (it's basically a muumuu)
Nude crossbody bag - Botkier Venice Feed Bag
Purple snakeskin flats - Kelsi Dagger
Studded watch cuff & rings - no name
The heat wave in NY is truly unbearable right now, and I learned the hard way about tar roofs. Top floor apartments in buildings with tar roofs absorb heat throughout the day and that heat later comes beating down in the evening. It is so intense!

In efforts to cope with the heat, I've been wearing a lot of loose airy tops and dresses like this lace number. But when it's this hot, it doesn't matter what you're wearing; you will be uncomfortable. I was riding my bike through the neighborhood in the evening and I laughed like a crazy person because the breeze felt like bus exhaust. Sigh, love hate this city. Remember to drink lots of water!

Photography by Randy Smith

Now Wearing...

Like I mentioned in my previous post, when it's warm out I am all about dresses. I bought this dress a few months ago. It's from the 80s, but initially I had a little buyers' remorse because it started reminding me of 90s ravers and their mesh, netted shirts. With some key accessories like a flower and floppy hat instead of candy necklaces and visor, I think was able to move past that awful association. Hopefully you agree...
Green net dress - vintage
Multi-color tribal print wedges - Cynthia Vincent for Target
Black floppy hat - Forever 21
Cat eye sunglasses - no name
Tote - Twinkle by Wenlan goodie bag from NYFW 2008
Photography by Randy Smith

Now Wearing...

Navajo print dress - Steven Alan
Nude crossbody bag - Botkier Venice Feed Bag
Wood cutout wedges - Target from a few years ago
Sunglasses - Forever 21
Studded leather cuff - Linea Pelle
Tan skinny belt & wood ring - secondhand
As I wrote on Twitter the other day, spring in New York is heavenly and summer is hell. The other night I couldn't sleep because my apartment was so hot I was sweating the entire night. Gross. Time to install an AC unit.

When it's hot out, I find myself wearing a lot of dresses. They're just so much easier and more comfortable than pants. This dress is one of my favorites. I usually wear it with some sort of skinny belt or sash to give it a little shape.

The belt was a thrift find. It's actually a size XL, so it loops around me one and a half times. I usually push the buckle to the side to "hide" it and tuck the extra length in front, so it looks a bit like a double belt.

And lastly the shoes, they're just a pair of $24.99 wedges I bought from Target a few years ago. I'm surprised they've lasted me this long. The thought crossed my mind to get them resoled because I love them so much, but the pleather is starting to peel. So my plan is to wear them into the ground and part with them at the end of summer - which will help me with my goal of trimming down my shoe collection. Whoo!
Photography by Randy Smith

Now Wearing...

Mixed print silk blouse - vintage
Double zip pencil skirt - Loeffler Randall
White canvas oxford flats - Marais USA
Bangles - from Beijing
Brown backpack - mom's closet

Every fall I think back-to-school, which leads to thoughts of backpacks, oxfords and plaid. I've always had an obsession with oxfords, and just last week I treated myself to these flats from Marais USA. They were just too damn cute when I tried them on, but I was hesitant because they're white canvas. I live in New York (dirty), and I'm so clumsy (fact). With some peer pressure from friends and others in the store, I decided to celebrate payday with a purchase. Luckily, Marais is affordable; $85 for a nice pair of shoes. Interesting to note, Urban Outfitters is selling the same flats, but for $98.

By the way, how do you feel about backpacks on grown ups? I'm ok with it. In fact, I think they can be pretty great.

Now Wearing...

CAPE! I am so in love with this shirt. It makes me feel a bit like a superhero, a lot like a kid.

I'd been eying it for literally months - ever since I discovered the Anzevino and Florence line back in January. Then last month I spotted in a bin at Oak's warehouse sale for half off - score!

One thing about this shirt, it was cut a bit on the short side, so I'm usually digging through my drawers to find the right layering piece, which varies based on the pants I'm wearing. Too bad I'm not in better shape, I could wear a bandeau, expose some midriff and call it a day.

Black silk jersey cape tee - Anzevino and Florence (AZFN)
Purple strapless top - Urban Outfitters
Skinny jeans - Uniqlo
Black studded fringe flats - Zara
Black turban - no name
Peacock wrist cuff - dirtystory
Earrings - Subversive for Target
This last picture should be an outtake, but I love how the shirt looks so I'm posting. Why am I such a dork? Haha.
Photography by Randy Smith

Now Wearing...

Gray oversized button down shirt dress - Oak NYC sample
Brown double buckle belt - Ann Taylor Loft
Maroon lace up platform booties - Michael Kors sample
Earrings - Subversive for Target
Bangles & rings - no name

These shoes are so ugly, but I'm obviously kind of into them. I found them at the Loehmann's on the Upper West Side and wasn't going to buy them, but my friend and life mentor, Kelly pointed out that wearing them made me giddy. God, I hear myself, and I sound like a child.

In all seriousness, I was in love with the fit and the strangeness of the look. They're like a mutant platform hybrid of Timbs & Doc Martens (probably the reason why Michael Kors didn't go to production with them). Oh, and they make me super tall! I didn't realize how ridiculously high the platforms were until my co-worker asked me to measure them. 5 inches! No wonder I love them so much. They make me a dream height of 5'9.
Photography by the homie Randy Smith

Now Wearing...

Tribal print dress - vintage/DIY
Black rose buckle belt - Forever 21
Hematite fringe necklace - secondhand
Black bangles - H&M
Cooper hoop earrings - Claire's
Wedge sandals - Old Navy

A few weeks ago when it was warmer out, my friend Randy Smith asked if he could shoot some photos of me against the city skyline. I choose to wear this dress because I thought it might be fun to play with contrast - urban vs. tribal and organic shape vs. structured buildings.

I found this vintage dress secondhand shopping. It was extremely frumpy (so bad it made me look pregnant and short) and in terrible condition (so old I’m labeling it dry clean only), but I bought it because the top fit right and I was so in love with the print. When I tried it on, I played with around with belt and saw that I could create a bubble hem, so I felt like it was a safe purchase.

To fix up the dress, I create a soft high-low bubble hem. I felt like a longer hem would match the print and darker look of the dress. But a longer hem wouldn’t solve the frumpy problem, so I stitched a higher hem in the front to show off some leg and make the dress younger and more playful. I would have done a DIY post on the alteration of the dress except I think it would have been just an example of very poor technique. I did a really lazy job – just loosely stitched every couple inches around the bottom.

Now Wearing...

Chiffon blouse - Cynthia Rowley
Pinstripe vest - Xhileration, Target
Black trouser shorts - Alexander McQueen McQ for Target
Brown woven flats - Jeffrey Campbell
Tan crossbody bag - Hayden-Harnett
Nautical earrings - no name
Bangle - vintage

I hung out with my friend Randy the other day, and he snapped these photos. He's a really great photographer and totally legit. He's been using film for years and only recently switched over to digital. You can check out some of his work on his blog, randysmithphoto.blogspot.com.

For the past few weeks (or maybe even months), I've been trying to clean out my closet. Less is more! And I'm tired of having so much laundry to fold and put away.

The problem is I feel like I honestly wear just about everything. I've done the "If I don't wear it within X time, I throw it out," but I've managed to cheat my own system by wearing whatever I need to wear within the time frame so I can keep it. I think I've attempted to throw out this vest more than once because I don't wear it that often. I should just let it go, right? Thoughts?