How to Wear a Pleated Skirt

The Scene


Delicious dinner at Tom Colicchio's Craft with the lovely Mr. and Mrs. Saint.

Hamachi with grapefruit to start

Duck Tortellini
White Corn & Mustard Greens

Washugyu Flatiron
Bone Marrow Custard & Morels

Winnimere
Apricot Mostarda

Nectarine & Blackberry Shortcake
Vanilla Crème Fraîche & BlackberrySorbet

And freebie Scooby snacks to take with us. 

Happy piglets went nomnomnom all the way home.

The Outfit
Banana Republic tank
BCBG Generation skirt
Louis Vuitton tote
Valentino heels
Canal street palm tree necklace
Forever 21 bracelet

The Grade
C+ (for super self-Conscious)

The Commentary

As I hurdle violently toward my 35th birthday, I am trying to come to terms with my aging body. I've accepted the fact that thanks to a slow thyroid, an appetite that rivals any hog's and a lifelong aversion to athletics, I'll never have a Kate-esque waist.

For this reason, I've avoided buying pleated skirts even though they've been everywhere for the past year. LOVE them on other bloggers. They come off as so flirty and lady-like. Especially on my girl crush Kate. Her whippet-thin waist and barely-there hips are ideal for the style, which inevitably adds bulk around the middle. My thick waist and child-bearing hips (barren and yet still broadening, ironically), not so much. 

However, I temporarily lost my mind a few months ago and bought this pleated beauty. In my defense, the print is pretty, it was on sale and the pleats are so thin that I convinced myself they almost made my hips look thin. I also blame my mom who is pretty honest with me in the dressing room and said it looked great.

Fast forward a few months and the skirt and its trickster pleats have been languishing in my closet like most things do when I'm not absolutely sure I've made a good purchase.  But recently on a warm spring night out with old friends, I decided YOLO. This side-by-side comparison of Kate and Kim in pleats might have helped me reconsider.

Paired the skirt with nude-ish heels to help lengthen the legs and balance the proportions.

Also decide to show off alot of skin on top to draw attention away from my mid-section. Since the girls are holding up, I might as well use them, right? Added the cute little palm tree necklace to further draw the eye up. Was in such a hurry that I didn't add a jacket or wrap sweater to give the look some structure and disguise the midsection - like I normally do.  Pretty ballsy.

Not one of my favorite looks of all time but I'm proud that I tried to embrace the skin I'm in as I enter my mid-thirties. Even prouder that I did it while enjoying a great (read: pig) meal ;) 

The Inspiration

Sequin Zara Skirt: What to Wear to A Work Holiday Party

The Scene


It's the most wonderful time of the year: holiday office party time ;) 

Mr. Diabolina and I decided to start the night with a leisurely dinner at The Gorbals so at least we'd have a nice meal together before the obligatory tight-lipped wine-sipping with co-workers.



Started with the bacon wrapped matzo balls---sadly not as amaze as I expected.

And grilled squid with garlic and lemon---my favorite dish of the night.

Confit turkey leg and a lamb burger (not pictured)---both insanely good.

Roast carrots and fried kale---greasy good for you ;)

Then with full, Santa bellies, we made an appearance at my work party. Everyone talked about work. No one made ass.



Joy.


The Outfit
Banana Republic top
Zara sequin skirt

The Accessories
Dolce and Gabbana heels
Chanel bag
Bracelet from the Fashion District

The Grade
A

The Commentary

Built the outfit around this new sequin skirt. LOOK at the splatter effect of the different colored sequins!!!! Love love love it. Especially fond of the longer length---no hoochie coochie allowed for a work holiday party.

 I work at a tech company i.e. there are NO fashionistas for miles. So I thought the skirt would be enough to blow minds and was going to simply pair it with a crew neck black sweater. But then I remembered: I dress for myself not other people.  I like to stand out, not blend in. So dug out this old top that was hidden in the back of my closet. It must be nearly a decade old by now. Love its drape and material. Manages to make the deep v neck not so scandalous.

Decided to add a pop of red with the lips and my new favorite makeup staple: a cat eye.

And this little $10 bracelet that I nabbed in the fashion district. Very House of Harlow.

 

The cherry on top was my mom's borrowed Chanel bag.
Want to live in this outfit. Very J to the Lo.










It is festive but still professional. Just the right balance. Plan to reinvent it for Christmas in Vegas and maybe even New Year's...

The  Inspiration