Notes On: Paying it Forward

Inspired by a few random acts of kindness, I decided to offer a fortuitous treat to you, loyal readers. The concept of a "pay it forward" campaign has always made me smile. I once pulled up to the Starbucks drive-thru to find out the kind stranger in the car ahead of me had already paid for my triple grande nonfat cappuccino. I'll never know who decided they could spare an extra $4.18 to brighten my day, but I often think about how unexpectedly happy I was. I actually think I was supposed to continue the kindness by doing the same thing for the car behind me, but I was just too shocked to do anything except drive away in amazement! (editor's note: I promise I paid for the car behind me on my next trip!)

This morning Summit Credit Union came to me with a similar campaign and left a ten dollar bill hidden in one of the Atticus fitting rooms with a message for the lucky finder to use it to help someone else. Moments later, a gust of wind knocked over a recycle bin on the curb in front of the shop and hundreds of papers started blowing all over the sidewalk. Stephani and I immediately ran out to help pick up the sudden mess, and within seconds we were joined by about 15 passersby who stopped to help. At the risk of sounding super cheesy, I have to tell you that I actually felt like my heart was swelling at the thought of so many people taking five minutes of their time to help clean up our street. So, setting aside the cynical humor you surely have become accustomed to as a reader of our blog, I want to remind you that sometimes it's nice to give a random gift, or to help a fragile model if she happens to fall on the Prada runway.

Here is my random gift to you:

Use the code: PAYITFORWARD at atticusshop.com to receive 15% off your entire purchase (including sale items!!). If you're in Madison, mention this post at Atticus to receive 15% off your entire purchase. This is only good through Friday, May 7th. So, hurry up before your luck runs out, and don't forget to pay it forward by sharing the news with your friends!

Notes On: Pants

Though most of the comments I make regarding my distain for wearing pants are facetious, I really have taken somewhat of a hiatus from wearing the garment. The pieces that I once couldn't get through the week without wearing (Current/Elliott bf jeans, Acne skinnies and my old Gap camouflage cargos) were collecting dust on the top-most shelf of my closet while I rocked leggings, skirts and dresses for the duration of the dark season. Then came the fall runway shows, and suddenly it appeared the fashion world was once again obsessed with pants. Fixated on pleated trousers from Ann Demuelemeester, leather crop pants at Isabel Marant and velvet at Alexander Wang (which I'm sure I'll come to love by the time they hit the retail floor), I was inspired to pull down my old faves and create some updated looks. In anticipation of what I'm predicting to be the summer of many things including pants, I am offering you a list of the looks I plan to wear in heavy rotation:

1. Acne Gin Chinos in navy rolled at the ankle with an Alexander Wang Classic T and driving flats

2. Current/Elliott Captain Trousers in army (coming soon!) with a beater and my C/E Bomber Vest

3. Splendid Harem Pants with a worn in t-shirt and my trusty Acne jean jacket

Notes On: Dressing for the Kill

Someone who has always walked a fine line between being an admirable mentor and ruining my life once instructed me to add deer hunting as an interest on my resume. Whether he really thought it would be an interesting talking point for an interview or was hoping that I would humiliate myself, I'll never know. Either way, hunting is definitely not an interest of mine. Sportsmanlike style, however, has always seemed to peak my interest. Not surprisingly, the first and only time I accompanied my dad on a deer-hunting trip, I was far more concerned with my outfit than the game. Choosing to forego the traditional orange attire, I wore my matching neon pink jacket and snow pants and carried an equally bright "handbag" filled with a thermos of hot cocoa, a rubix cube and a box of Girl Scout cookies. (editor's note: I was in the fourth grade.) Neon colors and Thin Mints aside, I've found traditional English hunting clothes quite inspiring lately. The vests at Rag&Bone and Boy by Band of Outsiders for Fall 2010 are incredible layering pieces, and who doesn't love plaid? In anticipation of the Fall trend, here are some hunting inspired pieces to start mixing into your wardrobe:

Acne Joy Chino in beige

Ashley Watson Cormorant Bag in olive

Charlotte Ronson High Waisted Leather Shorts

Current/Elliott Zip Bomber Vest

Trovata Solano Flannel in cloudburst

Notes On: Effortless Fashion

It's usually a safe bet that any look deemed 'effortless' is anything but. Take for instance that perfectly destroyed Balmain t-shirt gracing the pages of every known fashion issue (see Daria at left). After a wasted hour of going at, and completely ruining, my favorite Marc by Marc tee with a scissors and cheese grater, I can tell you that this particularly disheveled look is far from effortless. And unless you've been blessed with a mane like our model, Rachel, that breezy Wang braid is nearly impossible.

Lately, my schedule has been so packed with travel, fall market, dinner parties, fundraisers, meetings, photo shoots, collaborations and a rather intense remodeling project, I haven't even had time to tweet. Clearly that leaves zero time for creating inventive, or even interesting, looks from the emerging piles of clothing lying on my floor. In order to survive the rest of this daunting winter, I need a few go-to looks that really actually require only tiny amounts of effort.

Here are the pieces I consider to be relatively effortless and are currently being worn in heavy rotation:

ACNE Blackout Dress: So easy to put on over tights. I put a belt with it for meetings.

Charlotte Ronson High Waisted Shorts: I swear they really are effortless. They're enough of a show piece themselves, so tights and any top complete the outfit. I like to tuck in a white t-shirt if I'm going out, but they also look cute dressed up with an embellished tank.

Filippa K Long Slip Tank: It's long enough to wear alone with tights. So, I have them in a variety of colors. I always wear one over tights, and then just throw any cardigan, sweater, or jacket over it to complete the look.

Kerrigan Richard Jacket: I steal this out of my sister's closet to dress up my favorite t-shirts or to make my tank dresses wearable in the winter.

Temperley London Honeycomb Sweater: This is my all time favorite piece. I own it in 3 different lengths and colors.

Notes On: Getting Waisted

Fortunately for you, this post is not about last Thursday's antics which resulted in getting so wasted that certain members of my social group called in sick to work, fell asleep on the job or in one particular case, someone was asked to go home early. In case the homonym escaped you, this post is about belts and showing off your waist. I'm not sure if it's the consumption of many a holiday treat or the fact that I have no core (according to my trainer), but my collection of expensive jeans has been shoved to the back of my closet and replaced with leggings, skirts and dresses. (Editor's note: I'm not actually blaming my current refusal to squeeze into tight jeans on any sort of weight gain, but rather on a sartorial shift in the universe.) Anyway, my new clothing choices have given me the chance to rediscover one of my favorite accessories: the belt. I've started quite the collection, and these are my top picks:

-Filippa K Thin Belt

-Ashley Watson Skinny D-ring Belt

-Any belt from Madewell

Notes On: Winter Wedding Wear

My dear friend, Jessica, is tying the knot in a couple weeks. A wedding is always cause for much thought and overanalysis of what to wear, and the date of this particular fete is making my decision that much more difficult. Not only do I have to look extremely beautiful, happy and successful in the likely case of a run in with an old boyfriend or high school friend, but I must also cover more skin than I would like, thanks to the frigid temps. Surprisingly, I've come up with a few options that might actually cover all of the above!

Option 1:

-Publicka Black Crew Neck Dress

-Lace tights

-Black Booties from Melanie Dizon

-Giles&Brother Pola Bangles

-Daryl K (recycled) Fox Fur Vest for a jacket

Option 2:

-Charlotte Ronson One Shoulder Dress

-Black Filippa K Tights

-Black Patent Peep Toes from Rock&Republic

-Giles&Brother Chaton Pyramid Drop Earrings

-L.A.M.B. Cape for a jacket

Option 3:

-Modern Amusement Bardot Dress

-Grey Filippa K Tights

-Black heeled boots

-Filippa K Sophia Peacoat for a jacket

Notes On: Gratitude

I recently came across an old journal entry from Thanksgiving 2006, when I lived in New York. The entry was an attempt at pulling myself out of the cynical mood that I had become accustomed to after countless walks to work in the rain, overdrawing my bank account for taxi money and living on a random girl's couch for two months. I listed all the things that I was thankful for, and I realized how fortunate I was to live in the greatest city in the world. It's been three years since I wrote that entry, and although I can no longer include Shake Shack, Pixie Market and sample sales among my current roster of things to be thankful for, I still think that life is pretty flipping fantastic.

What Kristin is Thankful for in 2009:

My family and the Wild Homestead

My friends- both those I don't see very often and those who I bbm with 3429875 times a day

My Atticus crew for their inspiration, creativity and work ethic (even when they only get paid in pizza and alcohol)

My Aude Michelle Scarf for basically being my security blanket through the long Wisconsin winter

Bradbury's and Kickapoo Coffee for getting me through the day. Every day.

The fact that I have a career that allows me to live in Madison and travel to NYC on a regular basis

Current/Elliott, Acne and T by Alex Wang for designing my current go to staples and Temperley and Rag&Bone for giving me a reason to look forward to the normally dismal month of February

Notes On: Hats

The hat is a fickle garment. It can just as easily ruin an outfit as it can make one. It can define your mood, your personality or even your job. There are rules about hats at dinner or during the National Anthem. Hats can be iconic like Faye's beret in Bonnie&Clyde or Harrison's hat in Indiana Jones. Hats can even affect one's level of attractiveness. I once dated a boy whom I was only attracted to when he was wearing a backwards baseball cap. I can't think of any other accessory that affects the wearer (or the gawker) quite as much.

Other than a brief cowboy hat phase in the fourth grade, I have never considered myself to be a "hat person." But that hasn't stopped me from being fascinated by them. It's a mystery to me that something so simple can instantly cause a specific reaction or behavior. For instance, yesterday I put on a Temperley cable knit beret that was given to me years ago. I asked my sister if I looked stupid in it and her reply was, "No, you look totally Parisian!" I was beyond ecstatic. I immediately went out for a tiny cup of coffee and had to stop myself from purchasing a pack of Parliament Lights just so I could carry around cigs all day.

Whether you're a hat person or not, there's actually a pretty fantastic selection out there for Fall/Winter 2009. My picks are:

Nobis Madison Hat $50 available at Atticus Shop

Nobis Isabella Hat $135 (Atticus re-order expected soon!)

Nobis Lucifer Hat $39 available at Atticus Shop

Eugenia Kim Woomi Earflap cap $188 available at Shopbop

Canada Goose Aviator Hat $145 available at Context Clothing

Notes On: Dressing for the Occasion

Holidays exist to remind us of the things we sometimes forget. For instance, Thanksgiving reminds us that we should be grateful for what we have each day, Valentine’s Day reminds us to say I love you to our favorites on a regular basis and most importantly, Halloween reminds us that what to wear should always be a conscious decision. When choosing a Halloween costume, there are three very important factors:

1. Weather

2. Appropriate footwear

3. Looking sexy, not slutty

A good dresser takes these factors into account daily, which is probably the actual reason that Halloween was created. So, in the name of fashion, you can forget about Satan, witches and above all candy. (Just kidding about the last one.) Those who forget about the three factors never cease to look like fools. Think about the girl who manages to dress up as some variation of a playboy bunny year after year. She always ends up getting frost nip on her midriff, having to carry her sky-high porn star heels home and I don’t need to spell out factor #3 for you. I think we can all agree that this does not equal sexy. You’ll be much better off if you dress for the frigid temps (i.e. choose a costume that requires a cape or hat), always choose appropriate footwear and go for something that leans more toward coquette rather than blatant whore (like Dorothy instead of Little Bo Peep). Now, good readers, remember to keep these factors in mind every day that you get dressed. Do not wear a strapless white dress when it’s 55 degrees just because it’s after Memorial Day. Do not wear strappy heels ever when it’s below freezing outside unless you’re wearing tights. Do not wear shorty shorts to your bf’s parent’s house for dinner even if his brother is super hot. Happy Halloween!

Notes On: The Moto Trend

I've been feeling a strong aversion toward dresses and anything that could possibly be described as feminine or sweet since the end of 2007 (for reasons I shouldn't go into on something as widely read as the Atticus Shop Blog). Lucky for me, the fashion world has been feeling the same edgy mood. Motorcycle styles started popping up on fashion's radar when we all started to pay attention to Christophe Decarnin's revival of Balmain around spring of 2008. Similar styles began popping up in my closet not long after, beginning with black Frye Engineer Boots. Leather, studs and fringe quickly became must have details, and suddenly dressing like the chain-smoking, Harley-Davidson driving, forty something grandmother at the local tavern was considered chic! Sorry, that reference may only apply to those who have spent time in small town Wisconsin. If that doesn't completely turn you off from the moto trend, you'll be happy to know that it's still on point for FW09! My current faves include the Faux Fur Motorcycle Vest from Charlotte Ronson (which will be available on atticusshop.com next week), the High-Waisted Leather Shorts from Charlotte, Current/Elliott's Skinny Jean in Overcast Destroy and the Hex in Cash from Acne Jeans. Even though the leather and hardware details can often get pricey, there's no need to worry. From what I've seen, motorcycle trends are continuing into SS10 (think acid wash leather vests, studded belts and destroyed denim), so thankfully, there is no need to pull out those ruffled dresses and bow blouses from the bowels of your closet anytime soon!

Notes On: House of Harlow 1960

I've always disliked the following:

-the description "boho chic"

-celebrities who think they're designers

-earrings

I know the last one is sort of strange for someone who sells jewelry. I just feel like my head looks weird when I wear earrings, and I absolutely abhor anything that resembles a chandelier earring on anyone.

So, when I heard that Nicole Richie was designing jewelry, I was skeptical to say the least. It's not that I don't love her. I've been a huge fan since I first saw her sticking her hand up a cow's ass on The Simple Life. She's hilarious, gorgeous and sort of seems to have her life together, but those qualities don't equal a designer.

Apparently, I unfairly judged N.Richie because I'm currently typing this post while wearing a House of Harlow cocktail ring, some HoH stack bangles, a HoH super long locket and HoH earring. Yes, earrings. I don't know if I have the courage to wear them out in public, yet. However, I used them to re-pierce my holes, and I think they almost look cute. I still refuse to describe the collection as boho chic. However, I do think that it has a look that can be described as bohemian and will look great accessorized with your fall wardrobe!

House of Harlow 1960 is available in store at Atticus or by phone at 608.204.9001.

Notes on: The Crop Skinny

By now, it’s safe to say that skinny jeans are not a fad. The trend shows no signs of slowing, and that’s fine with me. However, I’ve been rocking the same old skinny styles since Fall/Winter 2005, and I’m in need of an update. It’s become an expectation that Current/Elliott constantly come out with denim styles to fill voids I didn’t even realize my wardrobe had. However, even I was left speechless when I discovered the Crop Skinny style from the girls at C/E. Leaving off a few inches of leg has proven to be revolutionary. The breathing room at the ankles makes the jeans bearable to wear in the summer months, not to mention you can show off your sexy shoes. The style also transitions into Fall/Winter seamlessly with an easy tuck into boots. All of this is practical and nice, but the true reason I heart the crop skinny is that the length actually fits my 5’5” self like a regular skinny jean fits Erin Wasson, Daria Werbowy or my best friend, Bridget.

Current/Elliott Crop Skinny in Night Wash $198