Style Spritzer

INSPIRED: P.S.-I Made This

2011-10-18T12:06:00.000-04:00

Erica Domesek by Daniella Zalcman for WSJ

"A new fashion DIY movement!" says The Wall Street Journal. Women in their 20s and 30s. No sewing machines. Projects that can be done in a day.

Read the article about Erica Domesek and her website called "P.S.-I Made This."

http://on.wsj.com/po8DgG

Ignore your perfectionistic tendencies. Go to her website.

http://psimadethis.com/

Click "DIY Gallery." Pick one of her projects to try. The cut-out plaid cape? The beribboned haircomb? I'm thinking the polka-dot t-shirt looks tempting!

Where do you store your bike?

2010-10-18T22:38:00.000-04:00

from apartment therapy

Great post over at Chicago Apartment Therapy from 2 years ago that solicits reader answers on where they store their bike. We have a bike hoist (like one below) that's used mostly for winter and special occasions.

from amazon.com

ElliptiGO: bike or elliptical?

2010-10-17T19:45:00.000-04:00

from the gadgetguycolumn.com

Discovered ElliptiGO in Shape magazine's September 2010 issue. One of ElliptiGO's founders was a cyclist and Ironman triathlete who starting having hip and knee injuries and was tired of working out inside on a treadmill. So he created an elliptical bike. Read more about it on the company history page.

from ElliptiGO.com/product/photos

Suddenly, I'm having San Diego envy (where the company is based). I would love to see these in some kind of Boston, Zipcar-like rental program!

Athleta's siren song

2010-10-11T20:00:00.001-04:00

item that started it all: swinging 60s caftee

Athleta. You siren you, based in some pretty-sounding California town called Petaluma. Acquired by the Gap in 2008, but not changed as far as I can tell (despite what some user reviews say). You've bewitched me again with your catalogs, the first I saw with real women, real muscles, in real yoga poses. My family's Caribbean trip last year made me forget all my previous returns. I started the order with one to-die-for kaftan. Which disappointed and I had to return but since exchanges have free shipping, I ordered a few other kaftans. And bathing suits. And crewnecks. And now here I am, finally returning the last round of almost-keepers.

final almost-kept kaftan: feather swirl coastal kaftan

A sweet kaftan — 68% cotton and 32% silk — until I saw a picture of me in it, which I'm too embarrassed by to post here, and realized it came to my knees. I looked like a stump. To keep it, would have to hem it and I'm not up for that.

The bathing suit. Mum's The Word Tankini (in 3 sizes, because I had no idea of their fit) and the Sunny Boy Short. My favorite colors. I was really ready for a brown suit. I could ignore the slight bunching in the double layer of fabric over the stomach near the waist. But it was the boy shorts that did it. The even-very-slight suggestion of camel toe. So sad.

And the final shirts — two long-sleeved tattoo tops from YellowMan, an unknown-to-me brand, a marketing partnership that reflects well on Athleta, bringing hipness to base layer clothing with madkool technical fabric. I was hoping for perfect layering pieces for my otherwise all-black winter wardrobe.

front

back

The YellowMan Maori black/bone Crew Neck was simply too tight. No one needs to see every belly roll.

front

back

The YellowMan Japanese Floral Tattoo Top felt a tad looser and was nice and silky. In the end, it was still tight and really not my colors.

Summary: I am considering another YellowMan-like top, the Long Sleeve Twist Top (below), in a larger size and in red, which IS my color. And if I order it with my return, I can avoid shipping charges. Until someone ties me to a mast or fills my ears with beeswax, it looks like I will be susceptible to Athleta's catalog items.

Swapaholics do Boston Fashion Week!

2010-10-04T22:17:00.001-04:00

I read the blurb from Boston Fashion Week so I knew the basic details. Arrive at the Somerville Armory by 7:45pm, drop off your donations, pay $15, receive an official swap tote, and go to the end of the line and WAIT until the doors opened at 8pm.

Lots of waiting and wondering if it was going to rain.

But then what, was it going to be like one of the Filene's Basement bridal events, where we grab first, examine later? The answer? Yes. Exactly like that.

Fashion bloggers look down on us from above.

A few larger sizes and less stylish items left.

The doors finally opened onto 7,000 square feet of racks and racks and racks and it was — overwhelming. No nice neat labels for shirts over on this rack and dresses over there. Just women grabbing and stuffing clothes into totes. And TV and photography crews filming and interviewing. Like a nearsighted sheep, I stayed close to the door, picking my way methodically from rack to rack. A mere fifteen minutes later, the racks were empty. By the time I got to the "accessories" table, it was bone dry. The shoe section? A scatter of rejects including one pair I'd brought. Ouch. My pride took a hit!

Shoe rejects. Don't ask me which are mine cause I ain't telling.

I laid out my spoils, which I took home and promptly put into bedbug quarantine (being a little paranoid, I know).

Two bags of stuff, plus jacket, shirt, and skirt!

While waiting in line for some complimentary chardonnay, some new friends show me their shoes. Fun, right? For that price?

Sorry to say this, but the fashion show was anti-climactic. Suddenly the space felt too large. I realized later that the models were the same fashion bloggers who'd been partying up on the balcony while we wrangled clothes off the hangers below. There had been no interaction until then (no live blogging or tweeting on the overhead projector) and we didn't know who they were or what their connection to the event was. The personal scale was lost. At least, for me.

Liked how the heels were silhouetted by my iPhone camera.

Even so, the event felt significant, a sign of the new shopper. The Swapaholics — Amy Chase and Melissa Massello — are riding the new frugality. In one of their video interviews, Amy Chase said that because of regular swaps with friends, she can go forever without buying any clothes! Each of the Swapaholics has their own distinctive online presence, and as a team, they seem to be whizzes at finding partnerships and sponsorships. I am definitely a fan and look forward to their next Boston event.

Lost shoe in JP

2010-09-26T21:03:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday, I noticed this shoe on top of a transformer at the corner of Boylston and Lamartine. It was still there the next day. Putting on a brave front. I peeked at the label and had the sense that it had been lost before. Call me the shoe whisperer.

Its owner — let's say her name is Trudy — is the scattered type, and frequently stuffs her work shoes and lunch into a too small tote bag. In this case, when the light changed at Lamartine, Trudy rushed across Boylston and into the Stonybrook T station. She was thrilled that she made it to the office a few mintues before nine, until she went to change out of her sneakers and into her BCBG peep toes. She cursed the subway that had rumbled into the station and made her hurry. She fumbled for her back-up pair of scuffed black pumps that she stashed under her desk, and fought off despair. She had hoped to wear her BCBGs through October and maybe even November. She feared she'd never see her right shoe again. Trudy didn't have the slightest idea where she'd lost it.

Simon Doonan: Age Ungraciously!

2010-09-06T22:16:00.001-04:00

Simon Doonan, Creative Director for Barney's, has some fascinating advice, and it's not what you think. See for yourself.

Biker Chic WSJ-style!

2010-08-03T00:10:00.002-04:00

(Bryan Derballa, for The Wall Street Journal)

The journalist, Christina Binkley, wrote an article called "The Season of Biker Chic," and she doesn't pretend to be a serious bike commuter. She tries it once, one way, for the sake of the article. Even so, I enjoy the fact that she wrote it, and that the WSJ printed it. While I am a fair-weather bike commuter — meaning only on warm days without thunderstorms, and my ride is under 5 miles one way, in Boston (and not Los Angeles) — I do think she had a few things wrong.

1) Give up trying to bike in your work clothes. Sure, you will look stylish — for maybe 15 minutes. And then the sweating starts. And well, good luck when you get to the office and sweat is running down your back into the waistband of your pants/skirt and you're in the company kitchen, lining up for coffee, trying to act cool!

2) Ignore the weight of your bike at your peril. The Dutch do not care about the weight of their bikes because Holland is flat. I've ridden there. It is wonderful. And most of my commute back and forth to work is relatively flat. But once I get there, I carry my bike up a few steps to get to the elevator. And even a light bike is made heavier when you add in the weight of your bike lock(s).

3) Ditto on the peril of ignoring padded bike shorts. This is a caution that applies to any regular commuter, biking more than two weeks in a row. A padded bike seat can't prevent chafing. And chafing is not a pretty picture. I could go on, because I learned this the hard way, but I will save us both from the details.

4) Raised handlebars on city bikes are not new. My beloved Maruishi has them. I believe hybrid bikes, by definition, combine the raised handlebars of mountain bikes with the skinnier tires of racing bikes.

(from theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk)

The one thing that Christina Binkley did get right, the most exciting aspect of the "resurgence" of biking (for me, anyway), is the promise of stylish and practical accessories. I for one have not seen anything worth replacing my sturdy yet ugly nylon panniers, and I include the outrageously expensive Gilles Berthoud French panniers (about $335) in one of the WSJ article photos. The GB 799 Special Small Pannier may be made of the finest heavy cotton blend and leather trim, and it may be lovingly hand-crafted, but its size alone is inadequate for toting my groceries.

New York magazine's fashion blog, the Cut, posted a great slideshow of nine cute bike accessories. Again, none of which I will run out and buy, except for maybe that reflective pin, but that red snake bike lock is definitely cute.


(from pocampo.com)

(from pylones-usa.com)

Daily Candy included a great-looking bike basket for the front handle bars, which can carry nothing heavier than "a six-pack," and so wouldn't be useful to me. The Bent Basket: a tray made of molded plywood with adjustable nylon straps. If the designer decides to make something for the rear of the bike, I'll be interested.

(from bentbasket.com)

Nutcase Bike Helmets

2010-08-02T17:24:00.000-04:00

Bike helmets are not just for kids! Thanks to Daily Candy, I realized that there are a lot of cool helmets out there. Too bad I already have one. But if I ever have to replace it, I might go with the Swirl. Or the Dots. Or the Candy Swirl, which I actually saw on the Southwest Corridor bike path. Or there's the fierce Shark Attack!

Nutcase Swirl, $50

Nutcase Dots, S-M SOLD OUT! $50

Nutcase Candy Swirl, S-M SOLD OUT! $50

Nutcase Shark Attack, $75

Nutcase Daisy Stripe, $50

Nutcase Watermelon, SOLD OUT! $75

Nutcase X Ray Brain, $75

Nutcase Rose Hibiscus, $50

Your Shopping Personality

2010-08-02T14:25:00.000-04:00

(from fashionlvr.com)

It seems like my bargain sensibilities are firmly in sync with the new retail world, at least according to a study about who shops: How America Shops 2010 MegaTrends Study, by WSL Strategic Retail, a retail and marketing strategy firm.

As reported by WWD EyeScoop, the study narrows down 5 shopping personalities. The personality closest to mine is the first (see below), although I have a few modifications. She should be named "Smart-shopping Sue." And while I agree that she is "OK with less," it's not that she's "given up her aspirations on big name brands." It's that she never believed they were worth their full-price value. Ever. And finally, she would substitute "Marshalls" for "Wal-Mart or even dollar stores."

• Shop-a-Lot Sue. She loves to shop, and although she has limited means — a household income of $60,000 — this is “not a deal breaker,” the survey found. “Sue knows she doesn’t have much to spend, so she shops smart, which lets her buy more.” She often opts for online options or chooses mass merchants such as Wal-Mart or even dollar stores. “She’s given up her aspirations for big-name brands and is OK with less.”

The other four shopping personalities are:

• Miserable Mona, who also has a household income of around $60,000. She is “so jaded by her financial situation that she finds no pleasure in shopping. Making ends meet is a constant struggle.” Although she, too, shops at discount or dollar stores, she doesn’t use online tools to help her.

• I’ll Pass Patty, who is apathetic about shopping and views it as a necessity. She has an above-average household income of $90,000 but lives within her means. She often opts for online shopping to avoid having to go to stores. “To her, smart shopping is no shopping,” the survey said. “Low price is important, but not if it means having to shop around.”

• Bubble Barbie, who spent the recession living in a bubble, ignoring everything and continuing to shop. Her household income averages $72,000, and she visits stores often although her debt level is high. “Bubble Barbie is the best reason to keep doing attractive displays of new products that stop her in the aisle and add more to her basket,” the survey said. “Sales and discounts are good, but not necessary for her to buy.”

— Bubble Barbie (or Bobbie, per diagram) worries me. She's the only one with debt issues. She needs help! And not from marketers.

• Chic Chic Charlotte, who has a high household income, around $101,000, and loves to shop. But even she was impacted by the recession and will buy less than she had in the past. “The more affluent have developed a case of retail guilt. She is not as spendthrift as she was in the Nineties. Reassure her that you are offering her value.”

Cycle Rush Hour

2010-06-12T14:57:00.002-04:00

From the Keen blog. Filmed in Utrecht, Netherlands. I wonder if Boston's bike traffic will ever get this high. Or this civil. Especially without bike helmets. We can only hope!

New Shoe Blog Dedication

2010-04-04T23:50:00.005-04:00

I would like to prematurely post a dedication for my spinoff blog (Shoe Shop Talk, yes, that's it over there on the right under my shoe blog blogroll) about shoes that are both stylish and comfortable. It is inspired by a woman working at the Maison Creole in the Providenciales airport where I bought my only souvenir — a horn necklace from Haiti (not more than 90 miles south).

While I stood there trying to decide which necklace to buy, the woman said her feet hurt, which was when I noticed she was barefoot. She said she stood for most of every day. I peeked at her shoes over by the register. Turquoise mini-wedge strappy sandals, I think.

Later, I realized this woman was a prime customer for the kind of shoe that I want to write about. And so I am dedicating my in-the-works blog — Shoe Shop Talk — to her and women all over who need to stand or want to walk for long periods and who want comfortable shoes that make their feet feel and look good.

Jil Sander Fall 2010 RTW

2010-03-27T14:29:00.003-04:00

What did I think when I saw these elegant Jil Sander looks at Style.com? Dream come true! Stylish clothes for us urban cyclists out there in the streets. Fantastic filmy cover ups for overly revealing bike shorts. Exquisitely sleek biker boots. And collars that are far more interesting and sculptural that any standard work wear.

Chanel Fall 2010 RTW Shoes

2010-03-24T11:12:00.005-04:00

Fashion extremes can be amusing in themselves, but what fascinates me are the incongruous touchpoints with practicality. Look no further than Karl Lagerfeld's Fall 2010 RTW "global cooling" Ice Age show.

“Let our shaggy coats drag in water as if we are polar bears. But our shoes. We must protect our shoes!”

Love the lucite heels on the faux fur boots. But what I really like are Cinderella's rain shoes! The boots with what looks like an outer shoe. A transparent pump over a two-toned leather boot, maybe? Does anyone besides Karl Lagerfeld know?

(Thanks to Style.com for the detail pics!)

my yelp review: Lineage

2010-03-04T18:29:00.007-05:00

Lineage
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Coolidge Corner
242 Havard St
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 232-0065

Leslie C.
Shoes are the best revenge
Boston, MA
4 star rating
3/4/2010

Two of us treated a grieving friend to dinner at Lineage, her favorite restaurant, and we all had a nourishing experience in palette and spirit.

The decor (yellow walls) was warm but minimal and barely half full on a Wednesday evening. Starting with the deceptively simple lobster appetizer, which we shared, everything was better than expected. The true test came when we faced down that fourth taco, with those small chunks of juicy mango and large chunks of lobster. It was not easy to split one small taco three ways, but none of us wanted to give up our share. Same thing happened with the entrees: the gnocchi, the mackerel, and the scallops — each better than expected and hard to share. My gnocchi was astoundingly good — not heavy, just sumptuous little pillows of heaven — and there was not the remotest chance of leftovers.

The service was excellent, laid back and friendly and patient when we were not ready to order even after the waiter visited us several times. The peak for me was just before dessert, when I pondered ordering a half glass (because who really needs that third glass of wine) and the waiter came back from the bar and said it was possible. I have no way of knowing if the great service was because my friend was a regular, but for what it's worth, I got the impression there were lots of other regulars too. A good sign, no?

To bring this rave review back down to earth, I will say that I was not impressed with the rolls and do not think they were the brioche rolls others have mentioned. They looked and tasted like plain, white flour dinner rolls, and although I only took one bite, I must admit that my dining partners devoured the rest (so maybe I'm wrong?).

My last reaction is to the prices, which I find a bit high. I am one of those people who prefers to spend discretionary income on clothes (preferably shoes) than food. This was perfect for our occasion, but while I might return once or twice to try some of the appetizers I missed (I'm a sucker for beet salad with goat cheese), I think brunch or during Restaurant Week would be a better value.

Prada Milan Fall RTW 2010

2010-03-01T18:13:00.002-05:00

In this Prada collection, I noticed first the accessories -- red futuristic glasses! But, more ominously, in the third picture, that under-boob cut-out. Is this the next part of our bodies we're going to be revealing?

Marni Milan RTW Fall 2010

2010-03-01T17:37:00.007-05:00

I'm sure fashion editors have a lot of complex reactions to a collection like Marni. Me? My first thought was: Knee socks? My second thought was: What a great way to mix orange, brown, and black. The last photo is Marni's designer: Consuelo Castiglioni.

Fashion Icon Suicide

2010-02-12T14:18:00.013-05:00

Far far away from his universe, I knew Alexander McQueen's name mostly for the blowback from his outrageousness. I mean, come on. Those Spring 2010 shoes! Positively reptilian! Did he design them for the movie Avatar?

So much fun to pooh pooh. Yet, also fun to look at. As a tribute, and a way to learn more about his work, some looks from his Fall 2009 collection, from New York magazine's Fall 2009 Alexander McQueen RTW shows.

Writer Quote of the Day

2010-02-11T18:11:00.008-05:00

“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” —W. Somerset Maugham, English novelist (1874-1965)

.....

Nothing like some cynicism to cheer up the February doldrums and my inevitable head cold.

.....

cigarette card image from NYPL Digital Gallery

Shoe Designer Quote of the Day

2010-02-08T14:04:00.011-05:00

A shoe can tell you a lot of things: It can tell you that it’s stable and strong, or it can tell you it’s flimsy and light just by how it looks before you even pick it up. —Tinker Hatfield, Nike designer. From "10 Questions for Tinker Hatfield" by Jennifer Ernst Beaudry. Posted Monday February 08, 2010. From Footwear News Issue 02/08/2010.

The $170 Air Jordan 2010, which hits stores this week, has features that sound crazy to me: a transparent circle on the side and a "bottom-loaded airbag." Maybe it's just the confusing use of the word "airbag," which in this case, seems to be more like an air bubble, not something that will inflate at high impact.

I love the idea of shoes telling stories. The “story” here is about Michael Jordan’s playing strategy, that he starts out “transparent” to lull his competitors, and then he mixes it up, to keep them on their toes. The transparent circle with airholes toward the heel of the shoe is the translation of Jordan’s strategy. I get it. Pretty cool.

As always, I wonder about the practical implications. What will we see through this transparent circle? Will sock colors change as a result? Or will we just see dirty white socks? Or even worse, tiny beads of sweat?

photo from sneakernews.com

Hard-to-Toss Shoes

2010-02-08T12:49:00.012-05:00

Every time I've tried to toss them, they'd remind me that we are old friends, going on ten years. I definitely haven’t worn either in the last year, and for the reasons below, it's time for them both to go.

• On the left, a sweet pair of Esprits, which I got at DSW, Downtown Crossing, Boston. Must’ve been when it first opened. Wore these as indoor sandals or around-the-pool flip flops. But once that band started to crack and dig into my skin, I stopped wearing them.

The unspoken factor, though, in the experience of wearing both of these shoes is the “shoefeel,” a term I am coining after the wine-tasting term “mouthfeel.” Shoefeel is the way the shoe feels as you walk, in terms of pleasure, spring, or support. Hands down, the Esprits had a better shoefeel. The molded footbed fit my foot perfectly. The rubber sole was both soft enough and hard enough to make me want to walk for hours, and the massaging nubs around the inner arch felt great on the nerve endings of my foot. I will miss these shoes.

The shoefeel: energizing and relaxing.

• On the right, the Josef Seibels, which my husband bought me in a South End shoe store on Berkeley Street, near the Chandler Inn. A place with a few womens shoes but mostly incredibly cool mens shoes. Since the store was often empty, I wasn’t surprised when I found a cafe had replaced it.

Wore these to work and as a general outdoor summer shoe. My husband loves the little ladder design up the front, but the slides were slippery enough that unless I completely clung on with my toes, they would slip off or go flying down the sidewalk. Plus the Seibels always had a weird lack of support in the insole, as if someone forgot to put any cushioning between the pieces of leather, so it caved in around my foot. I will not miss these!

The shoefeel: totally distracting and disappointing.

Writer Quote of the Day

2010-01-25T10:58:00.019-05:00

Don Quixote. The message matches my own—life is unbearable without a dollop (or more) of madness; one can live one’s life as a knight errant (or whatever) if one is ready to pay the consequences. But successfully executed madness for artistic purposes requires aforethought. Before setting out to right wrongs, Don Quixote did his reading, outfitted himself authentically, and acquired a squire. —Jeffrey Tayler

Photo of Jeffrey Tayler by Tatyana Shchukina.
......
Jeffrey Tayler is the Atlantic Moscow correspondent, whose stories I put into type for many years, and who recently friended me on Facebook! From his Facebook page, I found this great quote in a 12/31/05 interview on "World Hum,""the best travel stories on the Internet," by Jim Benning.

2010-01-24T18:13:00.003-05:00

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." — Mark Twain (or Abraham Lincoln?)
.......
Today I came across this truth (and this sweet chair) wrapped in wit and extra-strength cynicism. Yes, actually, now that you mention it, I did recognize myself in it, but I wasn't going to say anything.
.......

Copley Plaza Lights

2009-12-22T23:44:00.004-05:00

It's after work. You've shopped for gifts and necessities at two CVS's, one organic supermarket, Filene's Basement, and Borders. You are carrying heavy bags up Dartmouth. You almost don't notice the lights of the Copley Plaza, and even when you do, your hands are too cold to stand still and take a picture that isn't blurry. But you try anyway. Happy Holiday shopping!

Tina Frey's Necklace Is Not in My Dresser

2009-12-10T20:09:00.023-05:00

My favorite necklace has six beads and lives at the ICA online store. It will not be coming home with me because it costs $245.00 (non-member) or $220.50 (member). If money was no object. If objects were no money. If no money was red opaque handcrafted resin beads in the shape of a special, very expensive candy whose parents were a jelly bean and a lifesaver.

Could the grandparents to my fantasy necklace be this vintage acrylic toy for $75? (At that price, six of them would be even more expensive than the ICA candy.) Mine were red, naturally, and called Click Clacks, but as you can see, these are Ka-Nockers. The toy had a dangerous reputation. I heard they were taken off the market because some people used them as weapons. I pictured somebody's head getting clacked and hid mine away from the neighborhood bully named Mackie.

It didn't take me long to find a cousin to my necklace on Etsy. Less high end. More affordable. (Although it's sold out.) This opaque frosted resin bead necklace from Epheriell's shop. Now that's sweet!

Mayle excerpt: Up the Agency

2009-12-07T10:23:00.009-05:00

After reading Peter Mayle's "The Vintage Caper" (see yesterday's post), I discovered that he started in advertising first as a copywriter, and left 15 years later as a reluctant executive, according to PeterMayle.com. His nonfiction is just as cheeky as his fiction. See for yourself. From the "Look Inside" feature on Amazon, the opening paragraph of "Up the Agency":

"Advertising has been variously described as an art, a profession, a sinister instrument of mass persuasion, and a ludicrous waste of money. It hovers on the fringes of big business and show business, of sports and politics, of sleaze and respectability all at once. It is impossible to ignore, and yet most people deny that they are influenced by it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. In either case, conclusive proof is hard to come by because of all the other elements involved in persuading millions of people to make a particular choice. It is this—the delightfully imprecise nature of advertising—that makes it such a happy hunting ground for the articulate young person who is convinced he or she has a great idea. Maybe it is indeed a great idea, or maybe it is a piece of twaddle artfully presented, but who's to know? There are no foolproof methods of judging, no truly reliable methods of prediction, no guarantees of success. It's a funny business."

—Peter Mayle, Up the Agency: The Funny Business of Advertising

BCBG Mayle: "The Vintage Caper"

2009-12-06T14:46:00.026-05:00

Never mind that The Vintage Caper is light on caper (spoiler alert: freelance insurance investigator Sam Levitt steals back $2.3 million worth of stolen wine), completely lacks suspense (no one stops him), and except for the fingerprints on the bottles, neither the crime, nor its motive, is ever verified (Can you tell I'm rereading Sherlock Holmes, the master of the scientific investigation?). Because that's not why I read Mayle. Over the rainy Thanksgiving weekend in Bar Harbor, I rushed through the copy left behind by my oenophile uncle, before my stepfather could get his hands on it! Why? For the well-researched, humorous travelogue style Mayle trademarked in his breakout memoir of 1989: A Year in Provence — cheeky insidery descriptions of all pleasures French: wine, food, quirky characters, and glorious locales, preferably in Provence.

Being a white wine drinker, Mayle's wine details were lost on me. But any red wine lover, or curious oenophile, should be spellbound by Sam's visits to several of the great Bordeaux châteaux in search of clues to the stolen bottles from the great vintages of premier cru ("first growth") claret (red blends) ('53 Lafite Rothschild, '61 Latour, '83 Margaux, '82 Figeac, '70 Petrus).

What I will remember from this book is the explanation of the initials BCBG, used to describe Sophie Costes, Sam's French contact from the insurance company. For years, I've seen the fashion label on shoes and clothes, but never known that it meant "bon chic, bon genre," or "good style, good attitude." A term that could easily apply to Mayle: the man who wrote about buying $1,300 hand-built shoes in London for GQ (included in "Acquired Tastes," 1993), the man who sparked the American obsession with the south of France, and who was awarded the Legion D'Honneur in 2002 for his efforts to promote France.

p.s. Another Mayle title on my radar, a book he wrote in 1993, after 15 years as a "Mad Man": "Up the Agency, the Funny Business of Advertising."

Stalking BR military style sweater

2009-11-22T21:38:00.005-05:00

After a good five-plus years away, Banana Republic styles and sales are speaking to me again. Visited both Newbury Street and Copley stores maybe ten times last few weeks stalking the black Military cardigan, 100% wool, extra long sleeves, hits at hip, with polished military-inspired buttons and shoulder epaulets. A trend traced to Balanciaga, as far back as AW 05-06, and most commonly epitomized in Balmain's ubiquitous jacket (below) that’s been on all sorts of celebrities. Perfect for a boyish figure like mine. Bought it full price ($130), then returned and bought it at a reduced price ($89.99), but several more visits tell me it doesn’t look like it’s going down again. A sales clerk said that the number of reductions depends on sell through, and that it would move to the sale rack mid season, where I found it my last visit.
I’ve seen the Holiday season merchandise come in (unusually early, I might add). Like a game, I've read the fine print on the various sales incentives that I usually ignore. There was the $25 off coupon, good during the second week of November, which I used to buy a second sweater (hello, hidden pocket long cardigan, below). I’ve taken two customer surveys, and received respectively a 20% and 15% off discount. In my hot little hands, I have two “All Chic All Week” coupons, for 40% off full-priced merchandise on 3 successive Wednesdays. Dressing room chat leads me to believe there are many more discounts and deals to be had. Since their merchandise is regularly reduced, I suppose the advantage of a coupon is not having to wait until an item falls to a desirable price, or not having to risk sellout, and the satisfaction of knowing you've gotten a good enough bargain so that you don't have to keep checking back! So far, I’m happily drinking the Banana Republic Kool-Aid.

Browsing Pre-Christmas J. Crew

2009-11-20T18:28:00.017-05:00

Call me suggestible. Although I was headed to Banana Republic Women & Home, J.Crew benefitted from their location at the top of the stairs of Copley Place’s second floor (the affordable shops). On a mid-November Wednesday night, I joined a good number of shoppers scoping out Christmas styles and sales. I’d seen the “Wool harbor peacoat” online in sumptuous “barely peach," $220 originally, $169.99 online, plus a 20% off INSIDER sale that ended at 11:59pm, and my goal was to try it on and decide if I should buy it.

The best thing about the coat was its long sleeves. The bright red, “dark poppy,” size 8, seemed too bright, even for me, especially since I seem to be craving lighter neutral colors, an antidote to my all-black closet. The neutral, “antique stone,” size 6, totally washed me out though. The “barely peach” would have been the perfect color. When a salesgirl named Hope (for real!) offered us shoppers bottled water, I realized the dressing room was sweltering, I was tired of the peacoat decision, and most importantly, I wasn't convinced that I needed to have this coat by 11:59pm.
Off the sale rack, I’d plucked something I wouldn’t usually wear, but that’s the fun of browsing, and you never know when you’ll be surprised. A navy (“wild blackberry”) “fan placket perfect shirt,” on sale for $49.99. The silk/cotton blend felt great and light, and I loved that it was washable, but I just don’t get that messy, wrinkled look. I’d want to steam that placket, which was all bunched up, and I’d probably ruin it.

In my search for soft shirts to wear under winter sweaters, I tried the “textured jersey streamers tee” for $36.50, with mini-layers around the scoopneck, in a warm light gray that turns out to be “lavender.” The sleeves were strangely short, longer than 3/4 but barely hitting my wrists. The cotton was not super-soft so it didn’t feel special enough to pay full price for, but I will stop back to see if it goes on sale, because it represents what I think J. Crew does best: awesome colors.

My last item was a long luscious ombre silk scarf, originally $58, reduced to $20. It was light gray in the middle, dark gray at the ends. (Ok, I realize here it looks navy, but in the store I swear it was gray!) Since neutral accent colors are new for me, I wasn’t sure whether it was too cool on the gray spectrum, and needed to revisit it. I did get great advice from Hope on how to wear the scarf: either the ubiquitous “loop” (or “noose”), or a bow (not for me, thanks!), or go ahead and Google “scarf tying.”

All in all, a productive browsing experience, before hitting Banana Republic!

my yelp review: Aveda

2009-11-03T22:35:00.009-05:00

Aveda Environmental Lifestyle Store
Categories: Massage, Nail Salons
Neighborhood: Back Bay
100 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 236-1917
Aveda Environmental Lifestyle Store
3 star rating
11/2/2009

Every now and then, I try to step into the world of women who put goop on their faces in order to look more natural. This involves the grueling process of talking about my skin, which is like chalk scraping against a blackboard to my sense of identity. A year and a half had passed since I'd made the mistake of buying Aveda's tinted moisturizer ($28). Because of their incredibly generous return policy, you can return any product, even if opened, without any time restriction. I went back last week, thinking I was ready to try another skin product, something less like makeup, maybe one of their moisturizers.

Let me say I am a BIG fan of Aveda as a brand. All that pure essence of plant and flower shit makes me swoon, much less their focus on sustainable business practices, for which they deserve to be the market leader they are. My allegiance started with their shampoos, one whiff of Shampure to be exact: "a calming mix of 25 pure flower and plant essences," according to the bottle. AND DID I MENTION THAT IT SMELLS FANTASTIC?! Then those sweet little postcards luring me in with free samples or a small bottle of free scent on my birthday (one of which I dropped and found myself actually crying about, although the bedroom smelled wonderful to me for months and months afterwards!). At first I brought the postcards into the Copley store the next day. But every now and then, I'd realize I didn't need or want one of the freebies. In other words, the brand's glow had its off moments. And it is at those moments, when the brand's products aren't keeping their promise, that other aspects of the brand, like warm, welcoming service and fantastic return policies repair the void, ultimately redeeming the customer's brand experience.

This did not happen for me. Of the two employees I met, one was too new to know the welcome drill, withholding the signature licorice tea for a cruelly long period, and the other (the manager) seemed too weary. (You'd think Aveda would stock free energy-boosting treats for staff like the AcaiBlaster antioxidant soft chews I bought from GNC downtown.) Before giving me the spiel about what special ingredients were in this concoction or that concoction, which is what I go there for and what I enjoy, the manager quizzed me in an impatient manner, suggested a four-bottle Botanical Kinetics regime for $90, and then hurried off to the one new customer, leaving me with sticker shock and paranoid thoughts. Wasn't I dressed expensively enough? Do I really want to shop in a place that you feel you have to dress up for? I had come from work, so it wasn't like I was in sweats. I managed to leave with a (relatively) modest 1.7 fl oz bottle of what was labeled a massage oil ($21) (and which I thought my husband would, ahem, enjoy), the energizing composition, but I think it's the staff who needs a good dose of it.

my yelp review: Rinaldi's

2009-11-03T21:39:00.010-05:00

Rinaldi's Park Square
Category: Shoe Repair
Neighborhood: Back Bay
31 Saint James Ave Ste 550
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 426-6480
4 star rating
11/1/2009

I wouldn't have ventured into the Park Square Building, past the manned security desk, if Camper hadn't sent me. The old Boston building had pretentious gilded scrollwork and friezes inside the double height lobby and along the first floor concourse that creeped me out. Or maybe the strange mix of shops reminded me slightly of Harry Potter's Diagon Alley for wizarding supplies, where you hoped you could remember how to get out before some mischievous young wizard tried out their new wand on you. The quarter-sized blister on my left heel had just healed from this fall's debut of my Camper Spirals 46098-002, and I wanted someone to stretch the culprit (the left boot) to prevent a long torturous wearing in period. I am a firm believer in not suffering for fashion.

With a name like Rinaldi's, you walk in to the teeny shop wanting to love the place, and I can safely say that I did, although my simple request might not have been much of a test. I presented the woman behind the counter with my plainly beautiful brown leather left boot. She held it respectfully, for which I was grateful, since that one boot cost me about $106, and that was only after I'd gone back to Camper's a week later to get the price reduction. I wanted to tell her the whole story behind buying them (because there's always a story, isn't there?): how I had plunked down my hard-earned cash after a long search for boots that fit my narrow calves, and my love of rubber soles, and that I had considered them perfect until my first blister last winter, which I'd completely forgotten about until putting them on last week. But luckily for her, I didn't.

A man whom I'll presume was Mr. Rinaldi came up some stairs from a lower level workshop, and made a few expert observations: that he would only stretch the heel leather a little bit since it would stretch eventually with normal wear; that it would fit better now if I just put in thinner insoles (which I didn't want to do); that he could do it for $10, which I gathered was $5 off the regular price. Maybe because it was only one boot?

I've worn the boots once since and am completely happy with Rinaldi's work. The left heel now fits perfectly. Unfortunately, this correction has highlighted the fact that the right toebox is a little narrow, even though it's rounded, leaving my poor fourth toe chafed and close to blistered. I will have to test the boots a few more times to decide if I need to have the right one stretched. If I do, I know where to go.

my yelp review: Jerry's

2009-11-03T21:17:00.009-05:00

Jerry's Custom Tailoring and Alterations
Category: Sewing & Alterations
Neighborhood: Back Bay
729 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 266-5757
5 star rating
9/4/2009

A claim check for Jerry's Custom Tailors is in my wallet right now. I first heard about him over ten years ago when buying a couple of dresses (on sale) at Lord & Taylor's for my wedding rehearsal dinner. Either they didn't have a tailor, or the tailor couldn't do it on short notice, so they referred me to Jerry, just across the street! Uber-convenient, since I worked at 745 Boylston and lived in Bay Village. Several jobs and one move to JP later, I'm still a regular.

While I can do basic hemming and button replacement, I don't always have the time or want to risk messing it up. Jerry is very discrete and treats everything I bring in with respect, even if they are fresh from sale racks, or — gasp — thrift stores! Off the top of my head, some work he's done: hemmed my pants from J.Crew (pink seersucker on sale) and Boomerang's (brown wool plaid bought for $9); he's shortened the sleeves on my North Face softshell jacket (Freeport ME outlet); and at this moment, he's resizing a size 14 pink linen Banana Republic tulip skirt ($1 at Boomerangs outlet closing sale!), and raising an ankle-length hem on a bias-cut linen dress to just below the knee (vintage Boomerangs).

Go to Jerry — but don't hog him! He will turn your clothes into perfectly fitting favorites. And if you haven't noticed, I'm very cost-conscious, so you know Jerry must be reasonable. :)
............................................................................
Update - 11/1/2009

I cannot believe how well the Banana Republic skirt turned out (see 9/4/09 review). Imagine resizing a skirt from size 14 to a size 4 or 6. The only way you can tell is that the side zipper is now a couple inches off-center and sits in back of my left hip, but that said, the seams line up on the outside and the inside lining. Perfect for my next warm-weather visit to Florida or the Caribbean?!!

Spring RTW Marathon Sunday

2009-10-12T18:25:00.000-04:00

It seems that Sunday passed while I was busy scouring WWD’s coverage of the Spring 2010 fashion shows. I had no idea WWD.com had so much free content, much less “more show reviews & images than any other site.” My lowbrow curiosity first urged me to learn about Lindsey Lohan’s role as artistic advisor to Emanuel Ungaro’s new designer, Estrella Archs. WWD’s comments egged me on further, calling Ungaro’s RTW Spring 2010 fashion show “quite simply, an embarrassment.... the clothes, they looked cheesy and dated, as has often been the case chez Ungaro during the post-Emanuel revolving door of designers. Hot pink, orange and flashy, with an overworked heart motif relentless in its execution...”

Cheesy and dated? Those glitter hearts could be teenager-young except for the porn-star hearts-as-pasties. And if the bandeau-bra look seems too beachy, other designers also seem to be mashing beachwear and lingerie into daywear. The closest thing to cheesy I saw was the shorts suit with pasties and no shirt. But is that cheesy, or just runway craziness, in the same category as Gareth Pugh’s sheer shirts?

I like bright pinks and oranges, either at Ungaro, Stella McCartney, or DKNY. I like clean lines, and shocks of color against neutrals. After clicking through the Ungaro collection, I went through as many other designers as my eyeballs could absorb, because it’s fun to see how much you can retain, and whether you can recognize the influences later in the stores.

Look out for my red soles!

2009-09-06T23:37:00.000-04:00

Simon Doonan in Lanvin pumps (photo from FabSugar). Creative Director of Barneys New York. Cross-dresser specializing in Queen of England II. Imploring us women to resist the evil conformist trend toward porno chic and develop an individual sense of eccentric glamor.

How can you not be inspired? In “Eccentric Glamour,” that book he's holding, Doonan says a basic element of personal style is to have a repertoire of signature flourishes. I don't think I have many, but there is one. The color red. Clothes, housewares, shoes, everything. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve gone too far: sheets, pillow cases, blankets and towels.

And then I spy something else. Red-SOLED shoes! And I don’t mean Christian Louboutin's. (Although I find it interesting there is a demand on eBay for Vibram’s red rubber outsoles by women looking to prolong the life of their prized stilettos.) No. I'm talking about Donald J Pliner’s Glori-P, Elastic String Back Strap Tractor Sandal.

This isn't the first red sole that has caught my eye. See Camper's Ankle Boots from last year.

Doonan says that once you know your style identity, you owe it to yourself — and your neighborhood and workplace — to dress the part and fill the world with positive vibrations! Look out for my soles!

Radiohead’s "Harry Patch"

2009-08-16T17:00:00.000-04:00

(Harry Patch at the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day in London in 2008. Photograph: Alessia Pierdomenico/PA)

I first saw that Radiohead had a new song in a Wall Street Journal article by Jim Fusilli. “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)” (5:33) is a tribute to the last British veteran of World War I who died on July 25 at age 111. I am now on my tenth (and counting) listen. Not rock but slow with big strings — elegiac.

Harry Patch (In Memory Of) lyrics:
I am the only one that got through
The others died where ever they fell
It was an ambush
They came up from all sides
Give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves
I've seen devils coming up from the ground
I've seen hell upon this earth
The next will be chemical but they will never learn

I am always interested in what inspires. Thom Yorke used some of Patch’s own words from a 2005 BBC interview (9:57), so I went there, and quickly understood. Even though Harry Patch is only one of the veterans interviewed, his whispery voice is scratchy, lyrical, and incredibly haunting. (Perhaps even more so after the hassle of making RealPlayer work, what with the “invalid socket errors,” two upgrades, and multiple restarts.) Picture Clint Eastwood in thirty years being asked if the First World War was worth it. “No, they never learn. They had two world wars. The Third World War will be chemical. I don’t want to say it.” (4:06)

New York* staffers test drive Fall 09 runway shoes

2009-08-10T22:22:00.000-04:00

This is the kind of thing I love – an attempt to mix real women with unreal fashion. In this short video (1:51), New York Magazine staffers try on the craziest of the Fall 09 runway shoes, the ones that models apparently fell in. After a quick walk up and back on a sidewalk that seems to be just outside the magazine’s building, they gave their opinions. Three testers admitted their shoes were uncomfortable, and three testers expressed mild surprise (perhaps a touch of condescension?) that a model could fall in such comfortable shoes. What these women were testing was really not comfort. They were testing basic walkability. See Nina Ricci's 8.5" platform heelless shoes that make you walk on tiptoe. A truer test would be walking the same course that the models walked on the runway. Or wearing the shoes for several hours. And was it just me, or did the staffer testing the "comfortable" Manolo Blahniks have a bit of a wobbly ankle situation?

*I have to say that I love New York Magazine’s fashion blog The Cut for its insidery tone (which is not too too) and its inevitable New York sass, sometimes reflected in comments that are shocking and priceless.

Spring 09 YSL Cage Boots*

2009-05-17T15:58:00.000-04:00

At first sight: It’s not love. It’s confusion. What has Beyonce got on her feet, little cages? Instant write-off of YSL's Cage Boots as another painful fad that celebrities force themselves to endure.

Double take: Whoa. See the closeup, above? The stitching? They’re apparently made of leather. And therefore flexible. Maybe even comfortable, especially as they're ventilated for the warmer months. Except for pinkie toes, seen here, at left, trying to escape out a side window.

Influences: Architectural furniture, like the Bertoia Asymmetric Chaise.

In our closet: They remind us (ever so slightly) of a well-worn pair of Josef Siebel slides that our designer husband won’t let us throw away. He loves the small lattice detail, tiny strips of horizontal leather.

Still, even if this was a good economy, no shoe, not even YSL, is worth a mortgage payment ($1,590), even to fashion voyeurs like us.

*Inspiration from Boston Metro’s 5/5/09 YSL Cage Boot cover image & Kenya Hunt's Style article, p8.

Biras Creek Polka-dotted Tunic

2009-03-30T14:03:00.000-04:00

Have thoughts of unpurchased clothing followed you home from vacation? You sweep the sand from your suitcase, clutch your pictures of heavenly blue skies, turquoise pool water, sunglasses & sunhats on everyone, and wish you’d ignored the voice that cried, Are they crazy? $130 for a simple linen tunic?
Ah, yes. But not just any linen tunic. A particularly elegant navy with white polka dots. In a shop outside perhaps the most exclusive resort in Virgin Gorda (next door to the also-exclusive Bitter End Yacht Club). I was converted on the spot into a navy person, a color I've religiously avoided as too conservative.
This “Navy Dots Beach Tunic” from Island Company ($145, above) is close but more casual; perhaps the dots are too close together, the blue isn’t navy enough.

Ralph Lauren’s “Aryana Cotton Jersey Tunic” ($39.99 on sale, above) is more elegant, the right spirit, even without polka dots.

A navy top will appear in my closet sooner rather than later.

L.L. Bean "Brand Guilt"

2009-02-07T13:47:00.000-05:00

L.L. Bean is like an old boyfriend I’ve grown out of. Every so often I see him around. Like in my mom’s coat closet, up in Bar Harbor, Maine. Or the Bean outlet in Ellsworth. But I let my L.L. Bean Visa lapse into the default Bank of America card because I wanted Bank of America’s Worldpoints. I didn’t even use some of the $10 L.L. Bean coupons by the end. Their clothes were too basic, almost boring. I’ve met two new brands — Patagonia and Athleta (bought by Gap in 9/08) — with great sales and much higher quality and style.

So when I read that L.L. Bean is freezing wages and salaries of their 5,500 employees starting in March 2009, I felt concern. Even a twinge of guilt. L.L. Bean seems like a great company with unbeatable customer service. They are only trying to stall layoffs. Their 2008 holiday sales were down 10% from 2007. These are tough times for everyone. A turnaround in the economy and the company’s performance is not expected until 2010. Short of getting Michelle Obama to appear in some fitness fleece, I'm tempted to order some for my spring vacation. Apparently I still have feelings for L.L. Bean and I wish them well.

From Dad’s closet to mine

2009-01-26T23:34:00.000-05:00

William AlBurtis Cauldwell • June 2, 1926-January 9, 2009

On January 2, 2009, my father was admitted to Baptist Medical Center Beaches in Jacksonville, Florida. When it became clear that multiple organs were failing, and he kept asking for a gun, my brother and I rode with him in the ambulence to a hospice center, where my father passed a mere seven hours later. During that time, Jacksonville had a freak cold spell and out of habit, I raided Dad’s closets for warmer clothes. His oversized, v-neck rayon-polyester-blend white and baby blue sweaters were super soft and made great nightshirts. His bright orange socks and tassled boat shoes were great for yardwork and cleaning away the grimy evidence of his daily routines with his dog Baron, who might be part Vizsla.

I brought a few treasures back with me: a red canvas belt with leather around the buckle that had been looped in the pants of a yellow suit. A school ring with an amber stone found in a red Cartier box in the garage. Dad's things carried a special weight, a way to keep him close, a way he could not refuse, and they are sprinkled throughout my closet.

Toms Wrap Boots

2008-12-15T13:19:00.000-05:00

Blake Mycoski, founder (and chief shoe giver) of Toms Shoes, has no fashion background. Toms Shoes are about a socially driven business model, not fashion. The company’s name (not to be confused with Tom’s of Maine) derives from the word “tomorrow,” as in: buy one pair today, give one away tomorrow. On the other hand, politically likable causes have a way of becoming trendy. Toms’ boat-like flats are probably comfortable in the way that any canvas-based espadrille is comfortable, good for slipping on and off in warm weather. (Below are styles $68 Neon Sunset and $48 Bronze Glitter.) But Toms’ new Vegan Wrap Boots ($98, above) might be the next contender in the ugly beautiful category, now dominated by Uggs and Crocs.

Perhaps this is the time to confess that I recently sprained my ankle and might be unduly impressed by a boot that looks like an extension of an Ace bandage. Toms' website says the wrap boot was inspired by the leg wraps of Argentina’s champion polo horses, which is a glamorous image and probably a good PR move, but if they’d asked me, I’d have said embrace the ankle brace image. Call them the bandage boot. (Even better, the Ace bandage boot, pending trademark negotiations with “Ace,” of course.) Wear them with Hervé Léger’s bandage dress. Help fashionistas come out of the closet with their foot injuries. The boots could even become the trendy way to recover after falling out of Gucci’s six inch fertility goddess heels. Miuccia Prada could issue them to all her runway girls before Paris Fashion Week Spring 2010. With at least one fashion blogger fan in Kuwait, who knows how many other fans are out there?

Ecco’s Brussels Boots: Nay

2008-11-22T03:47:00.000-05:00

What’s inside the Zappos box sitting at the top of the stairs for me to take to UPS tomorrow? Those pretty Ecco Brussels boots in Ascot Patent (see 11/13/08 post). It was a fun fling for a few days but then they let me down.

Here’s my scorecard:

•LOVED the gently pointed toe and narrow foot. They really fit my feet perfectly.
•LOVED the mottled gray color, and would have kept them even though I originally wanted a brown boot.
•LOVED the shiny, crinkly patent leather. It is very unusual.
•HATED the wide calf. This boot taught me about calf circumference (mine is 12.5”!!!). In the Zappos picture, the boot's calf looked pretty narrow, but was 15.5,” putting it on the larger side. Most boots seem to be 14" or 16." I took a (crappy!) picture of the gap between my calf and the boot. Maybe if I’d been planning on wearing them with pants stuffed in them. But I don’t have skinny jeans and was hoping to wear them under boot-cut pants or even skirts. As a backup, a British website (duoboots.com) offers 21 calf sizes, both thin and wide.

•HATED the heel. I don’t like clackers (from Devil Wears Prada). I go for rubber so I can sneak up on people – kidding! I like shoes that allow my foot to feel connected to the ground. These boots are hard rubber on the heel and softer rubber on the outsole. The Zappos description? Cemented, single-density latex outsole ...

My search for brown, thin-calved, rubber-soled boots continues!

Marc Jacobs Lucite Heels: Yea From Afar

2008-11-15T15:17:00.000-05:00

I landed at the Couture section of Zappos, which I confess I didn’t even know existed, and found myself staring at these Marc by Marc Jacobs ankle boots in a beautiful brown leather called “Luggage Kid.” Actually I was staring at their cheerful blocky pink acrylic heels.

Yes they are three and a half inches and no I would never wear them but yes I do have a serious shoe crush, or should I say boot crush. I am going to frame them to hang in my little museum of favorite shoes of all time. And for those women who would wear them, they are 19% off, down to $524.95 (from $654), but only sizes 37.5 and 40 are left.

Here are a few more Marc Jacobs lucite heels.

•The Leather Sling-back Bootie with seam detail at vamp and buckle closure at ankle strap and a four inch amber lucite heel. Color is Bordeaux. Price is $292.50 (down from $585).

•The Knee Boot with Amber Lucite Heel in “Bordeaux Kid” with a 15" shaft and “transparent resin” heel, or the same in “Black Kid” with clear heel. Zappos says these heels are 2", but Shopbop.com says they are 4". (Zappos, if you need a shoe factchecker, call me.)

•The very cool Cashmere Lucite Pump. In Black. Patent leather peep-toes with lucite heel. $780.00 at shoezoeonline.com. The most classic and the most conceptual of all the above. Could pass for standard black peep toe pumps, until you look closely at the heel and see a black stiletto heel inside. Like it’s been preserved in amber!

Ecco’s Brussels Boots: Yea or Nay?

2008-11-13T17:32:00.000-05:00

Next post, I’ll let you know my verdict, but this is about my crush on Ecco’s Brussels boots for $220. (Patent leather upper with convenient side zip entry for easy on/off. Textile lining absorbs moisture and provides excellent cushioning for all-day comfort. Cemented, single-density latex outsole absorbs shock and ensures flexibility and long-lasting wear. 1 1/4" heel. 15 1/2" shaft. 15" circumference.)

Infatuation occurs before I’ve tried them on and lasts until the return policy makes me decide whether to keep them. After a period of consumer restraint and work-induced stress, I walked into Ecco's Newbury Street store ready to buy. I was told they’d sold out, to the surprise of their buyer, but of course not to me. The boots were a beautiful mottled gray named “Ascot.” I had no idea why you would name a color after an English racecourse or a man’s silk neck scarf until Wikipedia explained that ascots were traditionally made of gray patterned silk. Never mind that I needed brown boots. If Tim Gunn were by my side, would he remind me that brown is a better shoe closet staple than gray? Is that even true? Oh well. Below are two designer boots with similarly compelling (but more ombre) shades.

•Prada’s Degrade Riding Boot in smoke degradé (smoke gradation or shaded tones) for $1,250. (Think dégradé is supposed to have another acute accent.) Full exposed side zip. 1” stacked heel. Made in Italy.

•Aquatalia by Marvin K’s Rain Boots in Wasabi Rose for $285. Slick patent leather with shading. Wedge heel, 1", weatherproof, hidden inner zip, leather lining, padded insole, rubber sole. Made in Italy.

Celine Spring 2009

2008-10-26T18:22:00.000-04:00

Although I wore a Vera Wang dress to my own wedding and am a huge fan of Michael Kors on Project Runway, it is clear that I don’t know shit about high-end fashion brands. When I first saw the name Celine, for a fleeting second, I wondered if there was a connection to the Canadian diva. Then I did a quick search on the brand and the first thing I learned is that under the Celine label, Michael Kors (hey, I practically know him!) designed Rene Russo's wardrobe in the 1999 version of The Thomas Crown Affair, one of my husband’s and my favorite fluff movies. So that means an elegant but high-glam flavor. Which you can totally see in this dress. Which I love. The airy layers of bright blue fabric that looks like tulle, with the black ties around the waist and neckline – it adds up to an awesome splash of Icelandic water.

Log In the Miles First

2008-07-27T18:39:00.000-04:00

If I bought a pair of Timberland’s, I would expect to have to break them in. Not so a pair of Wolkys of Holland. A contradiction in terms, yes? Six months of walking to break in the “world’s finest walking shoe”? Normally a vigorous and inveterate returner, this time I was shamed by several previous returns, and the above-and-beyond customer service of the folks at Berk’s in Cambridge. I soldiered through constant pressure in the upper left of the toebox, which felt like an extra layer of leather pressing my toes. I prayed it wasn’t a defect and clung to the promise of legendary comfort from a tried-and-true walking shoe company.

The Wolky Impulse is now my go-to fall/winter ankle boot.

Wolky Sighting at the Office

2008-07-23T12:49:00.000-04:00

Oh how I’ve wanted to do a post on Wolky of Holland, a brand I love. And then the IT guy walked in wearing Utopias in Art Print/Blue with a removable, washable footbed and anti-slip Vibram sole (more colors below). So much hipper than Crocs. The Utopia embodies the Dutch flair for design and playful irreverence. For anyone who hasn't been there, and by there I mean Amsterdam because Wolky has a store there and I can't find out where their original store was (and also because I've been there), picture yourself — if you can — sporting these babies in hash bars, browsing outdoor stalls for leather jackets, oogling Red Light district displays, dancing to live music at the Melk Weg, or jumping out of the way of bike traffic. And of course these shoes will want to mingle with other works of art at one of the fifty museums; prepare yourself to see and be seen at the Rijksmuseum, the Sex Museum, Madame Tussauds, the Anne Frank House, or the Van Gogh Museum.

Louis Boston Sale Hands

2008-07-18T12:15:00.001-04:00

Walking by Louis Boston last week, I couldn’t resist taking a picture of their sale sign. Someone went to a lot of effort to fill each letter with what looks like stuffed rubber kitchen gloves. I wanted to get closer but didn't feel like jumping the hedges. Definitely demands a double take. As for the biannual sale itself, I’ve set foot in Louis Boston once, but I don’t enjoy stores where items are so far out of my financial reach that there’s no point in fantasizing about them. And why bother with the famously snooty sales people when Filene’s Basement is several doors down Boylston? On the other hand, now that I've read about it, I would probably stop in if I happened to be in the area. For those who care, the sale is from 7/9/08 to 7/19/08.

My Doc's Stoneflys

2008-07-16T13:44:00.001-04:00

At my last physical, I was struck to the point of distraction by my doctor’s shoes, possibly because they resembled the Mephistos I’d coveted (see 6/6/08 post). After discussing my issues (all minor, thank you), I took a few seconds to talk shoes.

Exhausted after a weekend on call and wanting to lift her spirits, she had dressed in a nice suit with a tulip-shaped skirt and new Stonefly’s Sonjas, a slip-on wedge in Nero (black) patent leather (also in chestnut brown patent, black fabric, and black leather). Considering how much standing she did, she realized it was worth it to spend money on comfortable shoes, even though she thought they were expensive!

Not the perspective I expected from a general practitioner at Mass General. But the definition of expensive is relative, right? (I think what I pay for healthcare is expensive, but that has nothing to do with her.) Zappos has my doc's Stoneflys for $130 (down from $144), although Shoebuy.com sold them for $290, which definitely qualifies as expensive. I’m deciding now to define shoes as expensive if they are over $150. Or over $200. Definitely if they are over $250.

I've tried on Stoneflys and wasn’t impressed. Because of the name, I thought they were an American brand pretending to be a European comfort shoe. They looked like what you’d be afraid a comfort shoe would look like: clunky, practical, mannish. In fact, a few years ago when my husband drove me to the Cambridge clog store, Vintage Etc (crazyclogs.com), one of the shoe stores I try to check out regularly, he ended up buying a pair (the Elegant 20 model with Gore-Tex).

But like a lot of comfort brands, it seems Stonefly's added some zip to their styles. At least, judging by my doc’s Sonjas. And it turns out Stoneflys are a “premiere Italian shoe manufacturer,” started in 1993. In something called a Comfort Lab, they’ve conducted research, drawing inspiration from the sporting footwear sector, and arrived at unique technologies like Shock Air and Blu Soft gel cushioning. While these “technologies” sound a bit gimmicky, I’m willing to reconsider.

Own: Ecco X-treme Jane

2008-06-20T14:01:00.000-04:00

Last June, Jan and I roadtripped up to Wrentham Village Premium Outlets. A good six hours later, I left with these Eccos for $48.97—the first of four "athletic Mary Janes" featured in the NYT article below. I found them in the sales rack at the outlet store because they were the previous season's colors (titanium/red plum), although Zappos is still selling them for $104. (Sierra Trading has them for $64.95, size 35 only.) I've had several pairs of this Danish brand, which were in fact my first European comfort shoe. Although this style is admittedly clunky and definitely not office-worthy, I wanted them for summer workouts in a gym without AC. To address the concerns in the NYT article, yes, they are a little wide in the upper midsection for my narrow foot, so I wear them with black peds for the stationary bike or stretches, and switch shoes for the treadmill or hiking. I also wear them around the house and around town all the time in warmer months.

NYT: Athletic Mary Janes

2008-06-20T11:08:00.000-04:00

September 21, 2006
Physical Culture: GEAR TEST WITH | Tina Vindum, Personal Trainer; Mary Jane Grows Up and Works Out
By SARAH BOWEN SHEA

FORGET laces. Shoe companies are designing Mary Jane styles for low-impact gym workouts and easy hiking. No patent leather or heels, just a strap (or two).

These athletic shoes offer a pared-down feminine alternative to lace-up indoor cross-trainers and low-cut hikers. All of these shoes have at least a slightly lugged outsole for traction and cushioned soles. But do they provide adequate support and traction for exercisers?

When people run or walk, their feet move around inside their shoes, said John W. Pagliano, a podiatrist in Long Beach, Calif., and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. ''Without laces, it could lead to more foot instability, causing foot injuries, sprained ankles and irritation to the knees and heels,'' he said.

To test the suitability of these shoes, Tina Vindum, a personal trainer who often leads groups through trail workouts in Marin County, Calif., wore them while exercising on cardiovascular equipment, strength training and trail walking. SARAH BOWEN SHEA

* Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company
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Thanks to Tsubo.com for the heads up on this NYT article, which also has four shoe photos (Ecco's X-treme Jane [which I have—see post above], Mephistos' Allrounders, Tsubos' Saiph, and a fourth I can't read).
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First Shoe Memory

2008-06-15T23:01:00.000-04:00

My love of shoes can be traced back to a pair of blue patent Mary Janes. The closest matches I found on Google were these "Maloles" (above) ($295 at Piperlime) and these "Pour La Victoires" (below) ($154 at Zappos). Yet unlike these contemporary Mary Janes, unless my memory is playing tricks, mine had a multi-cutout pattern, including a triangle behind the strap on the outside of the foot. The next time I get out my family albums, I'll scour the shoes. In the meantime, these Peacock (Aqua) Alice Crocs ($34.99 at shop.crocs.com) represent a less serious aspect of my first shoes. I don't remember if blue was ever a favorite color of mine; it certainly isn't now. But I know I put them in a prime spot on the floor of my closet so I'd see them first every time I looked in. And the peep-toe patent heeled Mary Janes from Chadwick's ($24.99 on sale)? I would never wear them now, seeing as I am not a high-heel wearer, but they would have been perfect for dress-up.

Own: LOVE My Kamiks

2008-06-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

While my mother was getting her hair cut next door, I wandered in to the Curtis Family Shoe Store, a tiny place in Ellesworth, Maine. It was July of 2007 and I was not looking for rain boots. Not because of the summery weather, but because I was a rain boot snob. Even after 20 years in Boston, where rain boots were required unless you wanted wet feet and ruined shoes, I refused to buy LLBean duck boots — the standard issue rain boot for New Englanders. Duck boots are not stylish in any way, shape, or form. Despite what this Fashiontribes poster says.

Then I spied these Daisy Pink Kamiks. Their sherberty pinks and oranges channeled Emilio Pucci, the jet-setting Florence fashion designer known for bold kaleidoscopic prints (and Capri pants). Pucci’s daughter Laudomia has been involved in updating the brand since Pucci's death in 1992, which must explain Pucci’s footwear collection, and the Pucci pumps and rain boots I found on Zappos!

Luckily for my pocketbook, I prefer my $55 Kamiks to the Puccis (pumps $270; boots $154). Apparently, so do a few celebrity mother-daughter pairs. Orange Daisy wearers allegedly include Courtney Cox and daughter Coco, Brooke Shields and daughters Rowan and Grier, Kelly Ripa and Lola, Gywneth Paltrow and Apple. Pink Daisy wearers include Reese Witherspoon and Eva.

Introduced to the USA in March 2007, Montreal-based Kamik rain boots are made of recyclable synthetic rubber, and because of a new technology have clearer graphics with no distortion or front seam that otherwise ruins the boots' design. When asked about the rain-boot stink factor, I’d have to say that mine are stink-free. Kamiks are made with soft Polartec lining and removable Kaxeric antibacterial insoles. But to be honest, unlike some teens I hear about, I mostly wear mine when it rains.

Real Shoe Crush: Tsubo's Lara

2008-06-07T14:52:00.000-04:00

Three times (and counting), as if they were puppies in a pet store, I've visited these Tsubos at Nahas Leather at 65 Charles Street (their store at 285 Hanover didn't have them). Each time I try the Laras on, I'm shocked by how comfortable their rubber soles are. Not only are they sexier than anything else I own, the Laras pass my idiosyncratic test: I could definitely ride my bike in them.

So what's stopping me? A) The $110 price, which is feasible but not until I check out all my regular shoe stores to make sure I'm not missing these on sale or something better for less. B) The open-toe manicure issue. How many disapproving looks am I going to get if I don't keep my toes polished up? I rarely do finger- or toenail polish, much less deal with maintenance once I do. C) The tan color is slightly too large in a 39, whereas the black 39 fit perfectly — but do I really need another pair of black shoes?

Fantasy Shoe Crush: Paul Green's Violet

2008-06-06T13:37:00.001-04:00

How do you know when your job is riding you raw? Could it be the late nights where you and the cleaning lady are keeping one another awake with a little karaoke? The real sign for me is when I start craving shoes, with complete and total disregard for price, which is how I found myself on Newbury Street at Footstock, a store featuring very high-end comfort shoes. Last summer, I successfully resisted a $300+ pair of Jakezas, black wedge Mary Jane Mephistos (now on sale for $200+, and still resistible).

I slipped into Paul Green's Violet metallic sandals and told Jason, the salesman, that I couldn't take my eyes off of them! I know that metallics are everywhere, but these looked like little pieces of modern art. Like mini-homages to Anish Kapoor's 2006 S-Curve sculpture now at the ICA. I've always been aware of the brand, having seen them in high-end places like Neiman's or Sak's. But aside from Zappos' blurb that mentions Paul Green's proprietary hand-built lasts, obsession with a perfect blend of style AND comfort, and the fact that their boxes say the shoes are made in an Austrian factory with Austrian sizing and terminology (although the logo says Munich), I had trouble finding information on the company or the folks behind it.

Since Jason didn't have them in my size and had to get them from his other store, the only thing I bought were some $6 Hue peds -- "micro net liners with cotton sole." As I walked out, my head began to clear and I realized A) I wasn't even looking for sandals, B) in summer, most women wear flip flops, which do not cost $200 (except Mephisto's popular Babatas), and C) the Violets really do not fit my lifestyle. They need someone who will take them to art galleries, the French Riviera, someone's yacht party. Not biking around JP!

Awesome Fuchsia Hoody

2007-12-09T19:38:00.000-05:00

At last night's Payne Bouchier holiday party at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter building, I couldn't take my eyes off this fuchsia boiled wool hoody: the silhouette, the three leather ties that accentuate the waist (which you can't see in the photo), the shawl collar, the bell sleeves, the pintucks front and back. This girl's mother bought it in Christiana, Copenhagen — a sort of mecca for hippies and environmentalists — and gives it tons of street cred, but means that even if I get myself over there, and find the designer (the label said: Defoyn), it's probably one of a kind. The perfect jacket for a snowy December in Boston.

Tree-trimming Party Ornament

2007-12-09T14:20:00.000-05:00

For my neighbor's tree-trimming party, I snapped a picture of his Bengal cat Kimba. In sewing class, I sewed together the sandwich of red felt medallions that I'd edged with pinking shears, on top of six sheets of red and pink tulle. Then I sewed a second circle through the paper images et voila!

Nanowrimo Winner!

2007-12-01T23:47:00.000-05:00

Nanowrimo winner means I wrote 50,000 words over the course of November 07. This was the eighth annual National Novel Writing Month with 90,000 international participants. It was thrilling at first, then grueling, and then it was over. I managed 2,000 words a day until my Thanksgiving visit to Bar Harbor, where I fell to 500 words a day, hitting the final count on 11/26/07. It was more than I'd ever written at once and I'm amazed I did it.

Unfortunately, I haven't finished. At the TGIO (Thank God It's Over) party at Subway in the Fenway, I learned about Nanofimo (National Novel Finishing Month) in December (NOW!) and am trying to gear up for an impossible 30,000 more words. Then there's Nanoedmo, National Novel Editing Month, in March 08. Nothing focuses the mind like a hanging, says Samuel Johnson. Or a deadline, says I.

What is it about? It is a fashion mystery: a fashion designer's boyfriend goes missing, turns out to have enough debt to get mixed up in some luxury counterfeiting of designer shoes (Gucci, Prada) made in China and maybe connected to the yakuza... an excerpt.

MCoA fashion at BPL

2007-11-30T17:20:00.000-05:00

After the 9/8/07 panel discussion about jobs in fashion for teens (a kickoff to Boston Fashion Week 2007) (a little late on the posting, I know!), I found this exhibit at the Boston Public Library. I was floored by the creativity of the non-textile dresses: the pink and black foam cut-out overlays, the cupcake cups (not kidding!), the fake flowers, the rope!

Closet hunting at IKEA

2007-10-16T13:15:00.000-04:00

If a hurricane blew through your closet and left your clothes in heaps, would you:
A) not notice?
B) move things into neater heaps each time you got dressed?
C) rally all your strength to put everything back in its proper place?
D) fall on the floor because without the sense of order that your closet imposes on your life, you are utterly useless?

I vacillate between B and A and D (B-A-D). I can’t choose C because my clothes rack is currently unstable and will fall if I put clothes back on it. Long story short: we bought a condo in a work/live artists’ building, not a luxury loft building where I’m sure all the built-in fixtures not only will not fall down, but will also be quite stylish. We consider ourselves lucky to live here, but at the closing, they might as well have given us a list of items that we would have to fix.

And it’s not just my closet. About six months ago, a neighbor reported that his clothes rack had fallen down in the middle of the night. Although he’s in a heavy metal country band and probably has a few Elvis-type costumes in his closet, I don’t think the weight of our clothes is the issue. It’s also happening in my husband’s closet. The wire shelf has started its slow leaning away from the wall. If I took a poll this weekend at the condo meeting, I’d probably hear of more cases.

My husband was for a quick fix because overnight guests were coming who would want a house tour and if they saw our clothes-strewn bedroom, they might call one of those makeover shows, and we’d have to smile and pretend we were not humiliated when a crew and cameras came knocking. But I prevailed.

I found a wardrobe storage system that I liked at IKEA called Antonius, although what really hooked me was the flash-based video, which fast-forwarded through five or so installation scenarios. I paused and restarted the video over and over to see exactly how the system was assembled. IKEA's storage solutions seem to take ten seconds to install in any room you might want. A cunningly easy, and deceptive, invitation to picture my clothes on those shelves and those racks.

On Columbus Day, my husband and I pulled up to the big blue box (with yellow accents) that is IKEA -- in Stoughton, MA. At the top of the escalator on the display floor, we spot the perfect wardrobe storage system called Pax. A sign that this quest would be easy, fast, efficient? We oohed and awed, touched the wood shelves and pullout hanging racks, and took pictures with our iPhones.

The fact that we had a single purpose made it easier to combat big building fatigue syndrome, which involves yawning and loss of energy and a growing claustrophobia. People everywhere. IKEA-world. A peak into an organized future of immaculate closets, and then a plunge into the depths of overwhelming tiredness at finding yourself and tons of strangers milling around coveting lifestyle improvements that we could or could not or could partially afford, manifesting itself in the desire to eat, which became unbearable by the time we hit the strategically placed cafeteria with its legendary Swedish meatballs (a pass for me) and the slightly better than second-rate salmon and veggie plate (my husband’s choice) or the safe Greek salad (my pick).

My pear soda refreshes me. Me: “So, are we going to buy these frames?” Husband: “No. I’m going to make them.” Me: “But are you going to make all those different drawers and shelves and hanger thingies?” Husband: “No. We’re going to buy those.” My husband who is a hybrid of contractor and architect has since sketched on computer the exact configuration of components to fit into his closet.

I remain eternally grateful that I married a man who is handy. Otherwise I would have had to hire someone to customize the IKEA system (their “boxes” are too tall for our closets). Or I would’ve had to hire the California Closet people, which my husband says could cost $4,000. We’re hoping to spend $900 per closet, excluding the cost of our (mostly his) labor.

Calvin Klein Spring 2008 Runway Review

2007-10-08T20:21:00.000-04:00

After 5 years at Calvin Klein, Francisco Costa seemed to reach back into the company’s archives for his ode to simple elegance. Inspired by Laura Wilson’s book about the Hutterites of Montana, a religious group less assimilated than the Amish of Ohio and Pennsylvania, Costa challenged himself to eliminate any unnecessary design elements, including extra seams, which led to one continuous curving seam on some of the jersey dresses. His Spring 2008 Collection was all monochromatic neutrals, offering a refreshing palette cleanser of whites, grays, tans, and a few subdued but rich shades of aqua, rust, and spring green. Some of the first white ensembles were so austere that they suggested medical recovery more than refined luxury. But the sensuality of the fabrics begin to speak for themselves, especially in the skirts and dresses (mid-calf or full-length), which appeared to ripple whether the models were walking or standing still. Front-row admirers included Kate Bosworth and Julianne Moore, who changed into fresh Calvin Klein outfits after the show to co-host the after-party.
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What Bands Influenced My Clothes

2007-10-07T14:32:00.000-04:00

First up, the rocker-cowboy look. I can pinpoint this look to my favorite band, which was Traffic. They had this album and song called “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys.” The song's writer, Jim Capaldi, was inspired by an actor with a rebel attitude, a guy who walked around in his cowboy boots and leather jacket. My logic was: the next best thing to being them is dressing like them. My Frye Boots, classic Campus style, were a form of tribute and a huge departure for me. I’d just transferred from a private girls’ school where we all had to wear uniforms and it was like being let out of the zoo—being able to choose your own clothes. I happily spent hours polishing those boots (instead of my dress-code oxfords).

Next? The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album and the marching band jackets that the band are wearing on the cover. In my thrift shopping when I visited my divorced dad in Greenwich Village, I found an excellent replica. Orange wool with blue lining and heavy gold trim around the neck and down the placket. All the little hook and eye clasps up the front that discouraged me from closing it and made me stand around at dances or parties, sweating underneath.

A later Beatles’ influence would be my glasses frames, which I got from a semi-retired optometrist (on Bromfield Street in Boston) who had drawers full of antique frames. Little black specs. When I held them up to the light, I saw that they were actually a dark translucent purple. I had a purple tint put into the lenses because “light hurt my eyes.” As I would learn (and to the frustration of my future husband), the fringe benefit was that at loft parties or rock clubs, cute guys would often stop and say, “Hey, cool glasses. Very John Lennon.”

Then there were those girl dance rock bands: Lene Lovich (“Lucky Number”), Cyndi Lauper (“Girls Just Want to Have Fun”), and early ungroomed Madonna ("Borderline" and "Lucky Star"). I didn’t really wear skirts until I found a yellow-pink-black oversized checked poufy one that any of these singers could have worn. I wore it with a black top and, because it was so short, black leggings or bike shorts instead of a slip. For bracelets, I wore a studded black leather band and lots of black rubber gaskets, à la Madonna. My boots were black Kenneth Cole lace-ups, which I wore out dancing and resoled and relaced and polished faithfully. After a visit to San Francisco, I dyed my hair black and cut it in short, punked-out spikes.

What comes after is the less exciting phase of the messy-rocker anti-fashion style of lyrical, heart wrenching noise bands: Sonic Youth or Patty Smith or the Pixies! Favorite t-shirts (mostly black in different fabrics) and jeans (mostly black) worn so often they frayed. A few leather jackets. And then came the long-term serious job and its subtle influence towards all things conservative. Or classic. Definitely no costume dressing. And fewer and fewer bands. A good point to drop this narrative, since it's lost its sense of drama!

Newbury Street Shopping Tour

2007-09-30T18:13:00.000-04:00

My style is never static; my color preferences have evolved after certain events, like a class called “Color Your Image,” where I learned I was a “late autumn” so I began to inject vibrant pinks, reds, and oranges into the sea of black in my closet. On a trip to Venice in early 2001, I saw smartly dressed Venetian women walking through the campos and calles in a color palette of strong reds, tans, and whites--the last two, colors I’d always thought would wash me out. As a “late autumn,” brown is supposed to be my black, my primary neutral, and so I am currently beginning to add more brown to my wardrobe.

The class I took yesterday, “Fashion for Boomers," will definitely affect my style evolution in ways I cannot yet predict. Wardrobe consultant Susan Mullins turned out to be down-home glamorous and breathy with long eyelashes and frosted pink lips. Before we toured the three shops (a boutique off Newbury, Cuoio shoe store on Newbury, and Neiman Marcus at Copley), she recited basic fashion strategies: highlight your strengths and cover your flaws. For inverted triangle types like me, darker shades on top to minimize and lighter shades below to draw the eye. For pear-shaped types like one woman and Susan herself, more volume on top and tailored shapes below (she pointed to the straight-legged black pants I was wearing!) to balance out the proportions.

At Jari Boutique (236 Clarendon Street), Susan greeted the saleswoman and then led us from one display to another, whispering things like, “See that bronze metallic raincoat? It’s not too shiny. It would be great for any of you. It’s a little boxy but still classic.” We had been encouraged to incorporate the metallic trend into our accessories, and since I was wearing bronze metallic Mary Jane flats (Me Too, $50 on sale, Cuoio at Faneuil Hall), I was on my way.

Next, we considered the necklace on a mannequin wearing a drapy orange boiled wool jacket over a knitted black dress; it was probably made of some kind of plastic or resin and looked like orange banana chips rimmed with black. One woman said that’s the kind of jewelry she loved. The other woman asked if Susan bought the jewelry for each outfit and wore it only as an ensemble. Big surprise to me: Susan said yes! I thought that was kind of ... rigid. Since I don’t have enough jewelry to do that, and hardly wear it anyway, I need jewelry that can go with more than one thing!

At Neiman Marcus (Needless Markup!), Susan had expected to show us the lines of Dana Buchman and Tracy Reese. “We don’t carry those bridge lines anymore,” sniffed the saleswoman. “But we do have St. John Sport and Rebecca and Drew.” And that was the moment, for me, that redeemed the entire cost of the class because Susan was our buffer. Amid the chatter of our little group, I could ignore the feeling that I was being judged too poor to shop here and focus instead on our quest for a wardrobe basic: a patterned silky shirt that could go from day to night. Susan finally found an example to show us, and although it wasn’t any of my colors, I could feel myself changing as I considered it. This is exactly the type of thing I don’t have and could spend time looking for down the road! At our last stop, Susan explained that jeans can be dressy if they are dark. She put into words something I’d understood nonverbally: the concept of daytime and nighttime jeans. Daytime jeans go with sneakers; nighttime jeans go with heels, an evening shirt, and a jacket!

Above all, Susan encouraged us to go outside of our comfort zone, whether that meant trying a new store, a new color, or a new category of accessory. Following orders, on my way out, without the protection of the group, I browsed through some of the big names like Dolce & Gabbana, Stella McCartney, and Prada, where I lingered over a jacket I’d seen worn by Don Cheadle in the August 07 issue of Esquire. A black wool jacket that morphed into navy silk three quarters of the way down. Not a blend of wool and silk but two separate regions of each! A masterpiece of construction.

Pom-Pom Topiary

2007-09-10T00:51:00.002-04:00

Our five-day trip to Madison, Wisconsin, was filled with friends, brew pubs (Great Dane!), Taliesin (in Spring Green), and squeaky cheese curds (in Arena)! But the best part, no lie, the part that made me oblivious to ravenous mosquitoes, the part that made me thank my lucky stars and my horoscope and any other random harbinger of luck, was the topiary at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Not so much the cute little bear (and his mother obscured by tourists) which I saw on the way out and which anyone could love despite the lighting quality of my iPhone's picture, but the other one that I call the pom-pom topiary. Something about the off-center and imbalanced nature of all the pom poms, and the way all six line up so nicely in the shadow. Also, the fact that the topiary balls remind me of polka dots, which I have a mild obsession over.

7 Pillows Made in Sewing Class!

2007-08-18T20:21:00.000-04:00

By the time my sewing class ends this week, my two couches will be seven pillows richer. Every time I look at one of my six finished pillows, I have a little moment of disbelief. Did I really do that? It seems that with each pillow, I’ve become more interested in sewing, clothes, and fashion. (I’m almost through Season 2 of Project Runway on DVD and can’t wait for Season 4 to start! And why the heck isn’t Season 3 on DVD yet?) Being laid off recently allowed me to consider what interests I’d always wanted to pursue. When I came across my old sewing machine stashed in my closet, I remembered all the times I’d said I wished I’d properly learned how to sew. Instead of thinking that it was too late for me to learn a new time-consuming skill, I now had no excuse.

Searching for fabric was a blast, of course; it’s like shopping for clothes except you can’t try anything on. At Jo-Ann Fabrics in West Roxbury, my husband and I picked three complementary patterns: a maroon stretch corduroy, a red cotton ticking, and a cherry-red stiff cotton with white-and-metallic circles. In the first class, our teacher gave us three simple rules: no fabrics with a nap, durable easy-to-work-with fabrics (no silks), and no patterns that would need to match up. Turns out I broke two of those rules. The corduroy had a nap, which meant that during construction I needed to keep checking which direction the nap was running so that the front and back matched up. The red ticking was the sort of pattern that should match up on both sides, something which turned out to be close to impossible by perfectionist’s standards.

Like all things Boston, the Eliot School has a claim to historical fame, being the fourth oldest school in the country. At its current address since 1832, the classrooms have a distinctly dated and threadbare (pun intended!) feel. This summer, we sewing students often had to step over a sleepy Golden Retriever to enter the two-story building, go past the large first-floor room for woodworking and upholstery classes, up the creaky uneven stairs to the smaller of two classrooms. After choosing one of the Singer machines lined up on either side of the room, we spread out our fabric for cutting on a large table in the middle.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned over the course of three sessions is how much patience is needed to turn cool fabric into cool pillows (at least I think they're cool). While I can’t be positive I remember how to thread a machine correctly, I can recognize when the bobbin is in incorrectly. If a peek underneath the fabric reveals long, wasteful loops of thread, then the bobbin is in incorrectly and the stitches need to be taken out, pronto! Another challenge, depending on how high your standards are, is getting seams straight. My standards are still high, but after undoing and resewing my first hundred seams, I may think differently. I’ve learned a few tricks, like reinforcing seams by backing up and going forward a few times. Or snipping off extra fabric (after the seam is set) with pinking shears, in order to prevent threads from unraveling.

There is so much more to learn. I will probably sign up for another session this fall. I saw a Very Easy Vogue pattern online for a nice LBD. Or maybe I’ll make an apron out of all my leftover pillow fabric! Or an iPhone holder for my new iPhone!???