Phone a Friend

FRIEND: JESS
THE CHALLENGE: PRINTED WORK-WEAR
Fashion is great because you can enjoy it on your own, or share it with other people. Sometimes I go on autopilot when getting dressed for work, and one of the ways I snap out of it is to see what my friends are wearing and become inspired by (aka steal) their style.

Today, I am welcoming the lovely Jess, to show her take on a printed work outfit. 

"It finally has gotten warm and spring-like, so I can break out my spring and summer wardrobe from my closet. I'm wearing a retro-feeling synthetic, sleeveless shirt dress from Ann Taylor in a fun print with a tie belt. While I could wear no sleeves at my office, I prefer not to, and the AC gets cold, so I'm wearing my Boden cashmere classic crew-neck  cardigan (in red-orange). My shoes are Tieks in California Navy- I take the metro to work and walk to the metro so I rarely wear heels and comfortable shoes are a must. My ceramic watch is Bungi and my bracelet and necklace are Stella and Dot."

My printed work outfit is below. My office is really cold during the day, and so tights and a blazer are almost a given. Even though this is a busy print, I layered on the multi-strand necklace in order to add some sparkle. Jess's photo reminds me I should wear more jewelry...

Blazer: Theory

Dress: Michael Kors

Some similar dress options are below:

Up the Steps

I love summer. It might not be warm yet in the Bay Area (hence the jacket), but when the sun is out and shining, it feels like we are almost there!

 

Top last worn with the matching pants, here.

I've been looking for a comfortable and well-made pair of flats with a little bit of personality, that I can wear on the weekend or to work. Talk about a tall order - I tried about five other flats before I tried the Pinky by Coclico. I've sung the brand's praises before, and so far, I like their flats as much as I like their heels. 

Thrift Tuesday - March 24

Today, we have a Thrift Tuesday double feature:

Rag & Bone Tank - The Real Real  

Retail: $150.00

Paid: $30.00 

Paige Skyline Jeans - Goodwill

Retail: $158.00

Paid: $7.00

The unpredictable nature of shopping secondhand requires an open mind. However, this doesn't mean you can't be prepared, so you can capitalize when you do find something with potential. 

These jeans are a perfect example. Paige is one of my favorite denim brands: the company had a female founder, they offer petite sizing, and it is based in Los Angeles. Also, as their sizing is consistent, when I saw these in my size, I knew I could scoop them up without having to try them on, and there was a good chance they'd fit. This particular Goodwill had limited dressing rooms and there was a line of people waiting, so if I'd had to wait to try them on, I might have just passed. Knowing beforehand what sizes you are in brands like Banana Republic, J. Crew and Ann Taylor, can be helpful when shopping at Goodwill.

Transamerica Pyramid

Thrift Tuesday - May 17

Welcome to the first installation of Thrift Tuesday!
Much of my wardrobe is made up of clothing purchased secondhand, either from thrift, consignment or other resale stores, and I wanted to use this weekly segment to highlight some of the pieces I've found recently. It can take a little more work to find gems when shopping secondhand, but, as I enjoy the thrill of the hunt, I say bring it on.

Tibi Slip Dress - Crossroads Trading Co. 

Retail: $395

Paid: $37.50 (paid for with CTC giftcard)

This print of this dress is what first caught my eye. I wasn't sure a slip dress would be a good look for me, as I am not curvy and the cut of a slip dress is very straight up-and-down. I think, in this case, the bright, repeating pattern adds visual interest that keeps it from looking so shapeless or like actual sleepwear. I also added the leather jacket to give it some edge. 

I found this hanging up in the top row of a Crossroads Trading Co. I'm not if they do this in all the Crossroads, or just the few I have been in, but there are usually a few pieces that are hung up around the perimeter of store, almost hanging from the ceiling. Usually these are "nicer" brands, items that are more expensive, and pieces often in excellent condition. This dress was no exception, and I was pleased to see that it was 100% silk, and fully lined.

Until next week, here are a few other slip dress and leather jacket options, arranged from lower to higher priced.

Muir Woods

Happy 100th Birthday to the National Park Service. 

Top  Pants (similar) Shoes (similar)

Will keep this short and sweet - I prioritized for an outfit with movement and breathability and couldn't pass up an opportunity to wear Ivy Park in a park. I mean, I'm sure she timed the collection's release with the centennial of the National Parks Service, right?

De Young: Oscar de la Renta, the Retrospective

The man, the myth, the legend.

I went to see the Oscar de la Renta exhibition at the de Young today, and if you live in/around San Francisco and haven't gone, I would strongly recommend it. I would also recommend buying your tickets online and printing them at home, as the line to buy tickets was very long. The tickets have a staggered, time specific entry, which helped the exhibit from becoming too crowded.

What does one wear to see de la Renta? Obviously, your best printed jumpsuit. (This is actually separates, but I feel it has the attitude of a jumpsuit, without the hassle of needing a friend to unzip you when you have to pee). I initially bought this printed top, and when I saw the matching bottoms I couldn't resist. These are from a past seasons, but similar pants here and here.

A.L.C. silk top and bottoms

The show has various themed cross-sections of his work, sorted by type (such as day wear, evening gowns, etc.) and inspiration (such as Russian and Spanish influence). I don't want to say too much or post too many images, as part of joy is being surprised by each room and the articles therein, but I will include a few snaps.

Check out the bottom of those pants!

So  much whimsy! Also, a prime example of the strange mannequin shoe situation.

Here is that dress in action - my own photo taken from the exhibition catalog. 

The best part was definitely how close you were able to get to the clothes - it made me really appreciate the detail and tailoring. I will say, though, that I thought a few of the rooms had strange lighting, and I wished they were a little brighter, or had played with color more to make the clothes pop. Also, some of the mannequin choices were odd (for example, none of them had shoes, they just had tape wrapped around the feet to sort of give the idea of shoes) (also I fully understand if that last parenthetical makes no sense). Essentially, the clothing brought the drama, and I would have liked a little more drama from the surroundings.

You might look at this photo and think - she wants more drama...

Have you seen it? Let me know your thoughts. It is at the de Young until May 30th.