Mr Diabolina's Shoe Shopping Spree

Remember how my mom treats herself to an ape-shit shopping spree once a year? Well, Mr. Diabolina does the same thing.  Once every five years. Ugh.

It's like I have to remind him he's a big deal litigator on big deal cases now.  That he's no longer the  starving student moving boxes in the summer to not starve.  Like he was when we met 14 years ago.   

My mom is partly to blame. You see, for the last decade, she's been giving Mr. D clothes. Not new clothes, mind you. Gently worn hand me downs.

She gets them from a family friend who owns several well-known clothing companies. Which means he's a baller. Which means he's always shopping, rarely wears things more than once and his tastes run the designer gamut: Hugo Boss, Gucci and Armani.

Yes, Mr. Diabolina knows he is one lucky beotch. And no, he doesn't give me any shopping cash to reflect how much my mom has saved him over the years. Le sigh. 

Mr. Diabolina is also a creature of habit. Since our family friend loves Gucci shoes so does Mr. Diabolina.  So when he actually buys his own shoes, Mr. Diabolina tends to head to Gucci.

A few weeks ago the mood to shop struck him.  So off to Gucci he headed with his two brown fashion advisors in tow. Alas he couldn't find every day or court shoes that he loved.

Except the cutom made section sample shoe.  Which looks alot like one pair of Guccis he already owns. I'm not kidding about the creature of habit thing.

I managed to coax him to check out the kicks at Ferragamo and Prada.  And much to my delight he loved shoes at both stores. Snapped them right up without his usual second-guessing.   I think a new habit has been born ;)

And I don't mind at all.  Any excuse to tag along and drool at all things pretty and Prada I will take!

Even managed to convince Mr. D to let me peep inside Miu Miu.  Where I squealed at every turn and my mom wanted everything. Duh.

I mean how could anyone resist DOUBLE BOW CONFECTIONS!!!.

Men's shoes---even when they're Ferragamo and Prada---don't even compare!

My mom's lucky I was born a girl.

Fall 2010: How to Wear the Maxi Skirt Trend

 Have you noticed how SHORT the skirts have gotten in stores lately? And how all the young kids nowadays love to nearly flash their coochies morning, noon and night???  Ugh I have.  And yes, I am older and rounder than I've ever been but neither of those things has ANYTHING to do with my hoochie skirt length observations ;)

So you would think my old ass (literally and figuratively) would appreciate the return of the maxi skirt trend. After all I practically lived in long skirts in the early 90s. When I was a PYT myself.

 But to be honest I've struggled with how to incorporate long skirts into my adult wardrobe.  I haven't wanted to look like a tragic cross between a prairie frump, an Elvira goth and devoutly religious believer. SHUdder!

So I've turned to the Interwebs for styling inspiration.  Studied how fashionable ladies are rocking the trend.  Across the globe and across seasons.

After months of looking for the perfect starter maxi, I hit pay dirt at Forever 21: a $20 black jersey skirt with some darting that gives it a bit of a flute at the bottom.  Just the right investment for a trend I wasn't convinced was for me. The last day of summer seemed like the perfect day to take the skirt out for its first test drive. I decided the best way to go was to keep the look languid and easy. 

So I paired it with two F21 tops - one long tank in gray and one cropped dolman sleeved knit in a neutral. Added Steve Madden platform boots and my new-ish Louis Vuitton Never-Full Tote (a bday present to myself.)  Decided to keep the jewelry to a minimum and wear my hair down to match the lines of the outfit.

Throughout the work day I felt incredibly comfortable...physically. A little frumpy, man repeller fashionable AND comfortable.  Though I'm not going to front: I was self-conscious. As I have mentioned I looooves my new job but the culture does not lend it self to high fashion trends. Or really any kind of fashion. Sigh. Nonetheless, my boss (a self proclaimed honorary fgay) mentioned he loved the look. And when I got home, Mr. Diabolina said he was utterly confuzzled by my outfit. Check and check ;)

My top tip for rocking a maxi skirt is simple: don't overthink it.  Think of a maxi skirt as, say, a wide leg pair of pants. You know how to style a pair of wide leg pants, right?  You just have to keep a close eye on  proportions.

Don't make the look fussy. Think basic separates. Tees and tanks and sweaters. Think uncomplicated, drapey shapes. Steer away from ruffles and frou-frou. This is the time to keep things sleek. To create a long vertical silohouette.

As for shoes, you can do either heels or flats. But I think for most of us the look is most flattering with a bit of height---again to elongate.  For fall, I'm really feeling the long skirt look with a platform boot or a great wooden wedge. Just play with what feels right to you. And experiment.

Consider adding a belt or a blazer or a leather jacket.  Maybe a vest or a cardigan.  Perhaps a long necklace or a sassy scarf or a fab hat or a cross-body bag.

If all else fails, channel your inner Olsen twin, damn it.  You know she's in there somewhere.  A billionaire barely out of her teens who loves to play with fashion.  Because in the end, WHO CARES, IT'S JUST A SKIRT! 

p.s. As luck would have it, Jean Bean was blogged on Stylesightsings today in a long languid look.  She's wearing Margiela, a pants/sarong combo.  She calls them her "Bea Arthur" pants.  LOOOOOVE!

One more day until we're together!!

Blogger Crush of the Moment: Brook&Lyn

I stumbled upon the exquisite blog of Brook&Lyn a while ago. But only recently did I fall head over heels. Think my new found appreciation---read: borderline obsession---has alot to do with what I find inspiring right now, where I am in my life right this hot second. 

Lately I feel hugely at peace. It happened just like that.  I woke up one day and I felt at peace. With who I am, with my life, with my very BEing.

In so many ways, I've come to terms with who I'm not and who I'll never be.  And I've come out on the other side genuinely liking who I am.  Shocking but true ;)

I know what and who I believe in. I have faith that this whole adventure is headed in the right direction. Or at least in the direction that's meant to be...for me.

Life is by no means easy or simple at the moment.  But it's mine.  I am owning my decisions and my reactions and my words. I am learning, I am growing, I am taking responsibility for every moment.  Every moment of who I am, every moment of how I treat other people, every moment of how I treat myself.

It's taken a long time to get here.  33 years in fact. And the road ahead still stretches far in front of me. But let me tell you it feels pretty fucking amazing to be exactly where I'm standing right now. And I wouldn't trade this perspective, this clarity, this vantage point for anything.

That's why lately I feel myself gravitating toward people who seem to actually like where they are and who they are. Who express themselves freely. Who don't see a need to hide who they really are. Who don't live to please others. Who accept themselves---warts and shadows and mistakes and all.

And that's how I choose to see Brook&Lyn. Her blog and her style lead me to think she is completely herself...come what may. Her way of dressing has less to do with trends and more to do with self expression.  Her style is elegant and chic without feeling studied or forced. The authenticity of how she communicates who she is...well...speaks to me.

Plus she pays attention to the details.  She seems adventurous and willing to make mistakes.  She comes across as refreshingly comfortable in her own skin.

And she conveys a point a view with what she wears. She's one of those people that makes a strong statement...without saying a word. I like those kind of people.

She is a stranger.  And yet in this moment, she feels like a kindred spirit.  Another butterfly ready to take flight.