Come and knock on our door

The life of an insomniac is not an easy one. I rarely fall asleep without a pharmaceutical cocktail and even then, most nights I'm still wide awake staring at the ceiling come 3 a.m. Even though I have 300+ channels at my disposal, somehow I always end up at the same place, Three's Company. The rosy hues, outlandish 70's fonts and cheese factor are my version of warm milk and a bedtime story; a few episodes and I'm counting sheep in no time.

Last night however, something caught my eye and I sat up with rapt attention. "Oh my god," I said aloud to no one. "I'm totally digging Chrissy's style!" Her blend of playful rompers, teeny-tiny short shorts and striking mix of colors and textures spoke to me. One commercial break later and I was furiously taking notes, planning how I'll be biting her style this summer. Here are a few looks I decided on:

• Wide leg, high-waist pants with slouchy tucked in tees, or cropped tops and vests
• Obscenely short shorts paired with wedges and socks
• Jumpers and one piece play suits
• And of course, there's room in any wardrobe for a little glitz, even if happens to be in a dream sequence

Think I'll skip the side pony tails.

Deep Thoughts: Free from Baggage

Aiming for a happy medium between these two

I'm a classic over-packer. "What? Four pairs of shoes for 24 hours in Chicago is unreasonable?!"

I always begin with sparse intentions, carefully planning outfits and accessories but end up throwing in half my closet at the last minute, "just in case." Faced with the daunting task of packing for a 9 day excursion to Morocco is extremely challenging in itself, but I'm also limiting myself to one (!) piece of checked luggage, so this time I'm determined to tote along only the bare necessities.

My initial instincts to channel Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca were regrettably, but quickly discarded, because as much as I'd love to don fedoras, khaki trench coats and elegant two piece suits, these don't exactly scream low maintenance, nor do they save room in my suitcase. Also considering Morocco is an Arab influenced nation means I've got to go a little more, ahem, conservative than I normally do, while still managing to be (and look like) myself.

Here's what I've decided to bring:

• Charlotte Beach Pants and Jumpsuit
• Leggings in gray and black
• Alexander Wang and American Apparel tanks
• Burnout tees
• Cardigans in gray and black
• 2 swimsuits: loeffler randall and ella moss
• 2 or 3 jersey dresses
• A crazy DVF dress that's probably only appropriate when worn in Africa
• A giant Cynthia Vincent tote so I have plenty of room to bring back gifts for friends

Help! What am I forgetting?

Deep Thoughts: Hanging Outfits

Many ill-fated nights begin between these walls.

Inspired by a good friend's musings on first date outfits (and okay, a little miffed I wasn't consulted to weigh in on the subject) I set about conducting a serious scientific survey of my own, appeased by said friend's promises that when she writes her 'what to wear to make out in an alley' post, I'll be her first call.

Since I adhere to a strict anti-dating regime, many of my hang-outs happen spontaneously so I don't have the benefit of knowing when I'll run into friends who also happen to be boys. This week, however, I found myself in unfamiliar territory, panicked and stressed, not only because I had committed to an actual time and place but because all I really knew about the boy I was meeting was his seriously stylish aesthetics quite possibly surpassed my own. A text from my fashion advisor/life coach reassured me that showing up in anything other than my usual sartorial masterpieces would feel wrong, so I settled on a variation of my daily uniform: boots, dark denim, loose layered tanks, an oversized cardigan and 3 or 4 necklaces.

The responses from friends confirmed that the only thing to remember when selecting "hang out" attire is to wear what you love.

Deep Thoughts: Dressing Down

Before and much, much after

As much as I adore dolling up for black-tie events, I also can't wait for that moment at the end of the night when I haphazardly discard my outfit in a pile on the floor, pull on comfy clothes and curl up in a Wild sister's bed. This past weekend we attended an adult version of prom, a charity ball held in our little state's capitol. Dance party mayhem and screaming renditions of Bon Jovi and Journey songs left me far from my A-game come morning, but a night in Kiki's new Keep Me pants seemed magically to hold my aching feet (and head) at bay.

For most, downtime is so scarce we're willing to toss on any old ratty tee inherited from past amours. But lounge wear, with its ability to sooth and comfort, is truly worthy of its own category on the shopping list. If you're anything like me and your basics extend outside the house, say to work or to brunch the next day, it's best if they can pull double duty. A few of my favorites:

• Keep Me basics
• My beloved Bop Basics burnout tees
• American Apparel hoodies (preferably stolen from a boy who pretends not to notice)
• Finally, I almost didn't include them because they're hopelessly uncool and should never see the light of day, but show me something more comfortable than Juicy sweats and I'll convert.

Deep Thoughts: Dealbreakers

My imaginary dream man's closet.

A recent Jezebel post about fashion dealbreakers got me thinking about my own. Obviously, my make or break list for potential suitors is nearly infinite, but I tend towards forgiving if at least a minor interest in fashion is apparent. I once saw a boy's closet more organized than my own, overflowing with shoes all in their original packaging and nearly took my pants off on the spot. (Editor's note: Don't worry mom, I totally didn't!)

In any case, most straight(ish) guys I know aren't as strict with fashion don'ts as women are with other women. If the girl's good-looking, they're not cringing uncontrollably at the sight of her frayed Sevens and black boots like I am. But certainly, I'm not the only one wanting to slap some sense into mall outfit offenders, "going-out" clothing wearers and anyone, anywhere with counterfeit bling. After informally asking my gentlemanly friends what they considered dealbreakers, the following answers were suitable to print:

• "Nothing, it's impossible to turn me off. Okay, well jeans with no back pockets."
• "Fat people in skinny fashion."
• "It comes down to shoes, that's my gauge for style. Too many girls rock the ugliest shoes."

Truer wisdom has never been spoken, but I'd love to hear what YOU think. How do you avoid breaking the deal? What are your dealbreakers?

Deep Thoughts: So 1993

Marc then and now

I discovered a letter I wrote to myself in 1993 while sorting through the piles of junk I've accumulated over the years in my Mom's basement. After slogging through nearly two pages compiling the boys I liked in excruciating detail, I came across this sentence, "I still don't really dress the way I want to, but who knows if I ever will?" Even at 12 I understood the yearning to transform and the seemingly magical powers fashion plays as a catalyst. Coincidentally, I've been reminiscent of the early 90's as of late because I'm uncharacteristically feeling a grunge moment.

It was a time of epic changes on the fashion front, 1992 was the year Marc got sacked from Perry Ellis for showing his revolutionary, now cult collection. Repurposing looks the cool kids were already rocking and presenting them to the cardigan sweater set certainly isn't ground-breaking now, but back then it was an unholy union, one even Jacobs himself described as "a little fucked-up." Layers upon layers of thermals, florals, flannels and big down vests topped off with the obligatory cozy knit hat created an uproar, women weren't sure how to respond to a $1200 dress that looked plucked from vintage store anonymity.

Fortunately we all know this story has a happy ending, and I'll be thanking Marc as I'm dusting off my old Docs and piling on a jumble of harmonious textures and prints. Maybe it's a desire to placate the girl in me who never dressed this way the first time around or maybe the overwhelming runway resurgence of this sartorial gem finally seeped onto my radar. Either way, I've discovered the revealing part about looking back is how often it then propels you forward.

Not fortunate (or old) enough to still have the goods from the first time around? Try these:

• Thermals and henleys are great for layering
• Flannel (I'm partial to an oversized Men's version)
• If you're really going for street cred, you gotta shred denim yourself. But fear not fellow lazies, Current/Elliott comes to the rescue
• Docs or Fryes?
• Albeit grown up and more refined this time around, but hands down, nothing beats Marc dresses

Deep Thoughts: So 2009

Editor's Note: Yes, I realize this is late, but since my New Year's Day was spent shouting at Kristin from her bed (she was on her living room floor), watching Teen Witch and Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and trying to keep my head from exploding all over Hilary Duff's poignant acting skills, I figured it's still applicable. Enjoy!

New Year's Eve, with its seemingly endless possibilities, has always been my favorite holiday. I’m drawn to the romantic idealism of a night where anything can happen and come morning, everyone's slate is wiped clean. Most people say they never keep resolutions, so they've long stopped making them, and although I tend to fall into this camp, I still relish choosing them every year. There are the ones that should be no-brainers (hypothetically speaking of course): don’t make out with someone’s boyfriend or stop having my paycheck direct deposited into the local drinking establishment below my apartment. Then there are the ones I actually want to keep, resolutions to inspire and bring hope that the coming year will be better than the last. This year I’m focusing on three things.

Appreciate Beauty: Not to get all Zen and one with the universe, but I think engrossing myself in the world outside my head will be a powerfully welcome change. Instead of continuing to overlook the delightful randomness of each day, I want to revel in the genuine, happiness-inducing moments. My extremely talented friends: photographers, artists, writers, chefs and designers, each chip away at their own masterpieces everyday. Whether it’s savoring home-made frittatas on Sunday mornings, recording monumentally obscure inside jokes to be used as fodder for my great American novel (“It all comes from the same place anyways”), admiring the craftsmanship of incredible denim or just supporting my favorite starving artists by keeping their shot glasses full, this resolution won’t be difficult.

Work Harder: Consuming more than just coffee and a half a pack of Parliament Lights before 5 p.m. on a daily basis would be a good start. And yes, the amount I’m able to accomplish considering my embarassingly minimal effort is astounding, but double or triple that and I’ll be on my way to where I actually want to go.

Punctuality: This was not a resolution I made, but instead one made for me by my extraordinarily patient boss. I better take it seriously.

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

Deep Thoughts: Color

After enduring my rather abrupt wake-up call (what can I say? I can't handle snoring) a friend recently confessed that, upon waking, he initially mistook my room for a hospital. Although my style could be described as extreme minimalism, having it likened to an asylum isn't exactly a dream come true.

I've always loved the look of bare white walls, I find it an incredibly soothing contrast to life's daily stress. It's also extremely easy, a no-brainer, in terms of design. I approach my wardrobe with the same fervor, except in lieu of white, I stick with fiercely minimalist, always in style, black. Prying my bony little fingers from their vice grip on my ink J Brands and 15 variations of the same black tank, however painful it may be, is a necessary foray into the unknown. Especially after boring myself skimming previous posts, realizing I constantly write about this exact dilemma. After finally hanging girly pink pictures in my bedroom, perhaps it's time to follow suit with my wardrobe.

Here's how I'll be injecting a much needed dose of warmth to my closet:

• A bright alternative to my basic black tank.
• Strawberry Cordial can't be described as neutral, right?
• A lovely print with the added bonus of a bit of black.
• Sunny and cheerful will feel fresh on dark winter mornings.
  
• Certainly not for the timid, but I'm obsessed with the Louis Vuitton bunny ears in candy colored pink.

Deep Thoughts: Giving Thanks

The last time I gave a compliment, it got laughed off. Apparently, the downside to being a sarcastic ass most of the time is even when actually telling the truth, people don't believe me. It's easy to get caught up in the monotonous day-to-day and dwell in the negative, but when my genuine expression of niceness got scoffed at, I realized perhaps focusing on the positive couldn't hurt. With the impending holiday reminding everyone to give thanks, I found myself inspired and downright cheerful when thinking about all the good in my life. Mostly ridiculous, with a dash of serious, I've compiled a list of what I'm thankful for this year:

My family: both biological and the one I've assembled on my own. It's been a helluva year and I'm beyond lucky to find myself surrounded by creative, inspiring, amazing people.

Atticus (and it's owner, my darling Kiki) : my home away from home, even if I'm not allowed to lay on the couch when people come in to shop.

Blackberry Messenger: Drewser and I would perish without it.

Black leggings: I'd never leave the house if I had to wear actual pants.

Whiskey: even if it makes me habitually tardy and causes my boss to crack jokes about untreated alcoholism.

Alexander Wang, Vena Cava, Rodarte and Gary Graham: designers who still push boundaries, explore new territory and make me remember why I love fashion.

My standing Sunday afternoon dates: brunch, yardwork, pumpkin smashing, hopscotch, skateboarding injuries, terrible movies, the list could go on. Everything is better with my partner in crime.

The Silver Dollar and Le Tigre: no explanation needed.

Deep Thoughts: Yes We Can!

I sat cross-legged on a bench chugging water in London's East End and rudely asked the man to repeat himself.

"I said, you look just like a pixie," he said.

I brushed it off at the time, probably because like the ungrateful, barbaric American that I am, I spent my summer abroad at 17, not absorbing the rich cultural sights and experiences, but finding the nearest pub and staking out for 12 or so hours at a time. For some reason, although I can't even picture this man's face, his words came back to me this week. While I'm quite certain I didn't look like one then, I'm positive I'd never be mistaken for one now. Their impish, ethereal air is as far from my usual uniform as possible, but right now I'm finding florals, layering, down home and homespun irresistibly endearing. Fantasies of frolicking in prairies and living in an anthropologie catalog are calling my name.

Chalk it up to the change of seasons or the alarming fact that it's now suicide level dark at 4 pm, but after struggling for some time to find original and inspirational clothing, a swing in the complete opposite direction may lift my spirits. I can never completely abandon my influx of beloved black but I'm giddy with excitement over the delicate, feminine darlings I've spent far too long ignoring.

Here's what I'm cruising:

Copenhagen brand YDE
Anthropologie's November catalog
shopbop's 'walk in the woods' trends feature
Pretty tank
An Atticus favorite

Photos of YDE and Rebecca Taylor

Deep Thoughts: Beautiful Pain

Over the years I've inflicted my fair share of pain, both onto myself and others. After a particularily brutal weekend involving 4 inch heels (self-inflicted) and a drunkenly overzealous tete a tete (inflicted onto a poor unsuspecting other), I hobbled to work Monday morning contemplating the physical torture we endure for the sake of fashion.

Easy and comfortable are often synonymous with mundane and ugly. I'll take sore legs over a night of comfortable shoes any day and I'm not alone. One friend likens wearing her Balmain gladiators to being punched repeatedly in the lower back, but is quick to add, "still worth it."

Aside from starving, waxing, tweezing and other general masochistic bodily upkeep we enthusiastically endure, why do we love the things that make our lives hell? There's an expectation that the truly noteworthy pieces are the most uncomfortable in order to prove their elite status. Sacrificing the most basic needs of comfort for an unconditional love of fashion is inexplicably exciting and brings a raw sense of meaning to a mostly aspirational, untouchable industry. The things that make us cringe in pain, the too-tight denim, the half-size too small shoes, become badges of honor proudly displayed along side shredded feet and scarred knees.

The greater the pain, the greater the reward. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Photo stolen from Love Magazine.

Deep Thoughts: Inspiration

A visit to my parent's house always includes a nostalgic trip down memory lane. When my sister and I found this picture recently, we couldn't stop laughing. I'm hamming it up for the camera in my matching ice-cream cone shirt and pink pants, while she's rocking some high-waisted jeans and practicing her petulance for junior high. Aside from the unsettling fact that every boy we've ever dated has worn a slight variation of my father's outfit, I'm finding myself unable to look away from this photo. I'm wistful for that unbridled enthusiasm that only being seven years old can bring. I also remember how much I adored that outfit and hope to translate that excitement into my current uninspired, apathetic state of mind.

Forget about December 31st, the changing leaves and crisp chill in the air has always felt more like the start of a new year to me. And normally, the excitement of reinventing my look and starting fresh each fall carries me through the long, cold winter months, but this year I've seemed to hit a wall and it's only October! I'm having a hard time finding those pieces that I can't live without, the ones that stimulate and revive and remind me why I love fashion in the first place. Luckily most of my friends work in the industry in some form or another, so inspiration is within my reach. I can pull on my vintage rubber riding boots, brave the rain and stroll into Atticus. Or if I'm feeling lazy, which let's face it, I always am, I can peruse online lookbooks and get click-happy on style.com and my girl-crush favorite fashionista.com.

Am I forgetting anything? Where do you go for inspiration?

Deep Thoughts: Sweat Dressing

This picture recently found its way to my inbox and as I took in the simple yet striking look, I realized with fervid enthusiasm...she's wearing sweatpants! As real pants! As I've said before, I'm the epitome of lazy chic. If I could wear leggings and my Chip and Pepper mukluks everyday I would, so anything that manages to look dressed up while feeling dressed down is my fashion holy grail. Although sweats are one of the few clothing options produced purely for the sake of comfort (snuggie excluded of course) whipping them into a fashion forward masterpiece is easy.

Well-made, quality constructed pieces are key. They can be worn to death and even slept in and they'll still look good come morning. Paired with a more structured piece, like the blazer pictured, or chosen in unexpected colors like grape, keeps them from entering that scary Walmart special zone.

Finding inspiration in unlikely avenues is a refreshing thrill. Personally, I can’t wait to pair some ratty old raglan crews with a super feminine, flouncy ball skirt and sky-high heels. And the best thing about sweat dressing? It’s supposed to be easy. Every one of us has stared blankly into our closets at some point and said, “I wish I could just wear my pajamas.” Now you can!

My picks:

LNA hoodie
Any Kerrigan by Daryl K wrap
AA Raglan Crew
Splendid Harems

Deep Thoughts: Evolution

I borrowed a friend's impossibly chic leather jacket Saturday night, and along with my typical uniform of all black and A. Wang, it provided an interesting contrast to my new, as said friend put it, "jersey manicure." Essie's Bermuda Shorts didn't look so uh...hookerish in the bottle, I swear! But the leather jacket got me thinking about those must-have pieces that seem to take on their own personalities and have magical abilities to evolve one's entire personal style. Some of us are lucky enough to look back and point to those 'aha' moments in our style history, those fond memories of a fantastic item that sent us careening down the rabbit hole with nary a glance over our shoulders.

I remember mine with unsettling accuracy. It was my quarter life birthday and I was headed to dinner in Tribeca. As my companion tipped the maitre d, I looked down at the Loeffler Randall snakeskin boots I'd been stalking for months. They'd arrived earlier that day and as my doorman handed me the package I could barely maintain a polite demeanor before seeking sanctuary in the elevator and ripping them open with an enthusiasm usually reserved for lottery and superbowl winners. The flat boots quickly became my go to, everyday shoes because they managed to elevate the simplest, most mundane outfit into something special, not to mention they greatly lessened the pain of walking around the city.

So, although my beloved boots forever changed how I got dressed in the morning, my sartorial light bulb item was over three years ago and I've been on the hunt for a new love ever since. The following are currently under careful consideration:

Ashley Watson
ACNE jeans
T Dress

Any suggestions?

Deep Thoughts: Pants

Anyone who knows me understands that pants and I don't exactly have a love affair. I've been lucky enough this summer to almost avoid them entirely, opting instead for a mix of shortie shorts and "dresses" (which most people just call shirts), leggings and tees or even on occasion an actual dress. Obviously pants in general, let alone, corduroys and chinos have never been at the top of my fall must haves. But something unexpected happened when I tried on a pair of ACNE chinos last week. They were comfortable, flattering and I pretty much fell head over heels. Not prepared to be enamored, I mentally started pairing them with my current wardrobe, the true test of a good buy. The slouchy Alexander Wang tees and feminine Marc blouses I've been wearing all summer, suddenly felt fresh again. Surprised with this new revelation, I was also delighted when I slipped on a pair of Current/Eliott corduroys. Just in time for fall, all it took was trying on a few pairs to rocket these perpetually ignored pieces to the top of my list. Subtly refined without feeling forced or fussy, I'll be traveling into uncharted territory because I think pants just might add that crisp contrast my conventional uniform was desperately lacking.

Deep Thoughts: Hoodies

There's a girl about town Kristin and I have unkindly dubbed, "hoodie girl." As another friend put it, "she looks like she's done about 20 years of hard drinking!" We're usually not this mean (Kristin anyways) and this girl is not unattractive. She just suffers from the common malady of wearing a virtually indistinguishable variation of the same outfit every day. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for lazy. I'm the girl who wears leggings 98% of the time because they're one tiny step up from pajamas, so I feel her pain. But with so many other exceptional and unique options, it's time to give the hoodie a much-needed vacation and graduate to more sophisticated styles.

I've extolled the virtues of Kerrigan by Daryl K wrappers before, so if you haven't already checked them out, do it, and do it now! Aude. also offers ultra soft and cozy shrugs perfect for chilly nights. And as a personal believer that a girl can never have too many cardigans, options from Loomstate will permanently banish that hoodie to the back of the closet.

Wrappers, shrugs, cardigans or stoles, it doesn’t matter which; pulling one on instead of the old standby will instantly update an outfit.

Deep Thoughts: Swearing Off

After crying into my millionth shot of whiskey last week, I proudly proclaimed to a friend that I was swearing off. Never again will I tangle with any of the following: bartenders, artists and/or boys who have ever or are currently in a band. This led to a painstaking trip down memory lane, but as I recalled my many, many mistakes, I remembered one thing fondly. No, not the boy who didn't speak English, although talking IS overrated in my book...it was the clothes. The clothes, the clothes, the clothes! So while I'm quitting my beloved downtown boys cold turkey, I figured, I'm still allowed to dress the part, right?

Obviously a great leather jacket is key. Unfortunately, finding the perfectly distressed piece is almost as hard as finding one of these boys willing to pick up the tab. If you can’t wear one conventionally, the next best thing is to have one on your arm. Made from recycled leather jackets, Ashley Watson’s buttery soft bags, only look better when knocked around.

Hands down, no one does downtown disheveled like T Alexander Wang. The tops epitomize careless cool to perfection. Add dark denim or ACNE skinnies and you’re almost out the door. LNA leggings are another perennial favorite, not only because they look cool but they're also comfortable as hell. Dancing up a storm is a very serious task, anything comfortable is key.

Even though I’ve severely limited my pool of future victims, I like to think I'm keeping the best part. And after all, Alexander Wang is one boy that never lets me down.

Deep Thoughts: Denim Dresses

Recently when a friend tried to entice me into a denim dress, I was underwhelmed to say the least. Actually I think I recoiled in horror and said something like, "I don't think I'm wholesome enough for that dress...won't it burn off of me like holy water?"

If denim frocks conjure up images of good girls, down home prairie time, or worse, junior high, you're not alone. Luckily, I've spotted a few for fall that just might change my mind. Far from innocent, these denim beauties are a welcome alternative to pulling on the same old pair of skinnies, and can prove just as versatile. And with cooler temps coming soon, they'll transition easily with a classic blazer or cardigan.

Even if you're not the sweetest girl on the block, try one on. Nothing beats the unexpected and if nothing else, at least you'll be able to fool people for one night.

Pictured:
The Current/Elliott Heart Dress
Charlotte Ronson Cut-out Dress