In Spades

You know those moments when you see something and think “what is that?!” The first time I laid eyes on this faux fur bomber jacket I was smitten. I immediately had to know who created such piece and where I could get my hands on one. Enter The Design Studio – a mother/daughter duo from the UK who create and model these fantastic little gems. To say this jacket is a conversation piece is an understatement. It commands the whole room with nary an interruption. Combined with arguably my favorite shoes all time, I feel downright unstoppable in this get-up. Just try and get in my way.

How lucky are those of us that get to live our dreams? New York Fashion Week begins exactly one week from today and I couldn’t be more excited.

Sometimes when a dream becomes a reality a tremendous amount of pressure accompanies it. You know that not only do you have to up your game, but like a first trip to Disneyland, you worry the second time around will disappoint. It won’t come together as seamlessly, it won’t be as magical or it just plain won’t work out the way you want it to.

After reflecting on the amazing first experience I had at NYFW, I lamented this to a friend: “how can this get any better?”

“You’re asking the right question. But with the wrong intonation.”

How can this get any better! That one tiny change – replacing doubt with enthusiasm – flips the game entirely. I realized how much power there is in asking the universe to help show me how amazing it can get versus questioning the universe on whether or not it will follow through.

Positivity, openness, appreciation. Game changers.

Join me here on the blog and on Instagram and Twitter as I recap the shows, become crazy inspired and undoubtedly run around like a little Tasmanian devil in heels (this time in the snow).

Let the games begin again.

There is something about a coat that creates a strong sense memory for me. My mother wore the same trench coat a la Melanie Griffith in Working Girl for the majority of my childhood, and my father always had a leather bomber jacket or wool overcoat, depending on the decade. Even my fictional heroes are defined by their coats – Doc Brown in his lab coat, Indiana Jones’ brown leather jacket, Cindy’s wine soaked suede fringe number. To me, the coat forms an aura or perception around the wearer. Like Waldo in a crowd, the coat is the marker. Sartorialism come to life. So it seems quite predictable that this outfit really started to channel my mother. Everything down to the camel color, bordeaux accents and antique windows in the background.  Transported.

What’s your coat game?

Layering up in the winter is pretty much essential, but I feel like people tend to shy away from it because they aren’t really sure where to start. My philosophy is always to do things in 3’s (I’m Greek afterall).

Here are my tips for how to layer in three easy steps. 

1) Color: Start with three pieces in the same or complimentary color family. Try this color wheel for examples.

2) Silhouette: Choose tops with different necklines to draw the eye to various levels as I’ve done with this turtleneck, cardigan and folded collar.

3) Texture: Breaking up the types of fabric you layer is super important for building a cohesive ensemble. Try silks with fine wool and cable knit.

There you have it – color, silhouette and texture and you’re all set!

When I was a kid, the public library was like a wonderland. I loved the way the books smelled, getting lost in the twists and turns of literary catacombs and that it was always a journey I embarked on with my grandmother. Magical worlds and characters lived at the library. I knew it was a place I could escape and dream.

Clothing has a very similar effect on me. Whatever I choose to put on each day channels a different mindset, a different expression. When I put on my Elton John booties and leather jacket and descended upon the library, I thought we’d shoot in the beautiful, historic section. The expertly crafted sea of mahogany pulled straight from the Library of Congress. But the regular old stacks proved to be much more interesting. The mood completely shifted and I was suddenly transported into a Kubrick movie. I love that about the library.

Now I just need a twin.