Glitter & Pearls

{image a la Atlantic-Pacific}

When I’m not babbling on about fashion, clothes, shoes, and other ground-breaking world events, I play a lawyer. I’m petite (whatever that awful word means), and my signature look is the dress, tights, and cardigan combo. Try as I might to venture, I stick with this ensemble.

But in a law office, clients pop by all.the.time., and I can’t risk looking like a seven year-old. So I’m working on adding structured jackets to the mix. I’m sticking with structured jackets for two very practical reasons: (1) petite implies that I am less than busty – the implication is entirely true – I melt away in big shouldered numbers – so fitted I go, and (2) structured is way more fashionable – I reserve boxy attorney jackets for only the most formal of federal court hearings (shaking in my conservative pumps.)

My latest jacket crush – the military-inspired blazer. Ever in style, military buttons and bold piping are right up my fashion alley.

Current Military-Inspired Jacket Obsessions:

Love Moschino Military Jacket, $595 $273

Ann Taylor Petite Military Jacket, $198

Juicy Couture Troupe Wool Jacket, $298 $199

Frenchi Ruffle Hem Military Jacket, $49 $23.90

Smythe Cadet Jacket; $695 (eek!)

Fun fact: The jacket that Bee, from Atlantic-Pacific, is wearing is in fact, Stella McCartney for GapKids!

{image a la pop culture afternoon}

Nicole Richie wears the satin kimono all over town – and she looks endlessly effortless (the satin feather-printed kimonos seen everywhere are in fact from her own line, House of Harlow 1960/Winter Kate, her version of the “bed jacket” – think velvet and lace – is also from the Winter Kate line).  Miley Cyrus rocked a floor-length version to the Never Say Never premiere and again out on the town. 

Paired with jeans, kimonos look casual and stylish.  But part of me worries, are these satiny robes a tad on the costumey side?  Probably – but fashion is all about the drama.

I err on the side of fashion “safes”, so I probably won’t venture from the slight-flare-denim paired with a muted color kimono, but I can’t help but think that a tight mini worn with a sexy colorful satin robe is just the ticket.

My take on the trendy kimono:  wearing pajamas to work and still looking chic?  Yes, please.

The other day, Grace at Stripes and Sequins reminded me about those other jeans in my closet. You know, the not-skinnies. Somewhere around the 2000s, we all got caught up in the skinny jeans craze; blame Kate Moss. (Skinny Jeans actually fell into favor way before that … in the 1950s the likes of Roy Rogers, Marilyn Monroe, and every band member from The Beatles forward.) And then there were jeggings.

My take on the denim phenom, it’s all in the name. I wear skinny and therefore I THINK skinny.

But the teeny tiny jeans (spandex necessary in my book), are not necessarily the most flattering of denim. Sometimes they work, and paired with ballet flats – so chic. Sometimes they become a second skin – not so chic. But at times I yearn for the comfortable balance of a slight flare. I may not be ready to take the plunge into the high-waisted 70s wide-leg trouser, but it might be time to mix in a few of my old flare favorites.

Closet, here I come – I’m digging out my bootcuts.

{all images a la Shopbop; from left to right: 7 For All Mankind Gummy Jean Leggings; 7 For All Mankind A Pocket Flare Jeans; 7 For All Mankind Georgia Trouser Jeans}

Apparently, Talbots has got it all figured out. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I finished scrolling through the incredible Talbots lookbook featuring Ms. Julianne Moore. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Hollywood A-lister is drop-dead beautiful, but Talbots is one step ahead of us – she makes everything she wears look good. Sadly, I always chocked Talbots’ wardrobe up to something middle-aged librarians wore.

Dearest Talbots – I was so wrong. I want it all.

{images found via Long Distance Loving; all screenshots from talbots.com}