It’s a beautiful day at Central Park as you indulge in your favorite novel. The greenery slowly succumbs to Autumn (well, not yet, but soon!) and suddenly you remember you’ve got a date with the girls at an oh-so-far-away cafe. You have no time to run home and change, and even if you did it would still be a drag! This is why we love the ‘transitional’ outfit that can be worn comfortably all day and serve many purposes. This means more time enjoying your day, less time pondering (or pouting) in front of the closet and of course, less laundry… it’s a beautiful thing.

As we approach Fall it will be fun to start mixing shorts with sweaters - especially ‘blousy’, roomy sweaters if the shorts happen to be itty-bitty. Zip on some hot, black, strappy Louboutins that are ideal for all day use, throw on a long, bohemian necklace, a fringe-fabulous Prada, a laid back yet glamorous neck scarf, some rimless aviators and strut your stuff from the grass to the glass (cappuccino glass, that is). You have just successfully worn one single outfit for the entire day. Can you rise to the challenge? Seriously, how many of you change more than 2 or 3 times a day? Let us know!

transitional items in this observation:

The skirt to have for Fall has a sassy silhouette. It’s full but fitted at the waist, enhancing our womanly curves. It’s a skirt that you’ll feel confident and comfortable in all day long. It looks great with opaque stockings, ankle boots, tall boots, or even ballet flats. The best part about this skirt is it’s flexibility. You can dress it up with a silk blouse or throw a belted cardigan on for a more casual feel. If you’ve got great stems, go for it in a mini. If you’re not as confident about your legs, choose a knee length version. It will come in all sorts of fabrics for fall, but we’re loving it in a tweed. Tweed is a substantial fabric that captures the feeling of Fall. Go grab your Fall skirt before they all sold out!

Fall skirts and more in this observation:

Left:

Middle:

Right

You’ve got another party to go to, and you’ve run out of Summer ideas. Don’t be afraid to pull out your favorite black dress. The way to work a black dress into Summer style is with accessories. Go for a Grecian sun-kissed look. Black will simply glow with brushed gold accents. Pull your hair up with modern edge, and now this dress works from the suburbs to the city. Another way to dress your black dress for Summer is to kick it up with some color. Bring the color of the sea to the dress by popping on some refined turquoise earrings. Mix pieces of white and gold in for a polished look. A creamy white clutch will give it an elegant summer edge. Pull your curled hair back loosely so the pieces fall gracefully from your face. You’ll be relaxed and refined, and people will naturally be drawn to you. It’s not always about buying something new to wear. Sometimes it’s about redefining what you already have.

2 examples in this observation:

Left:

Right:

Is the sneaker wedge, in some odd way, the same as when peanut butter met chocolate? Am I missing some great combination, like the one that created the Reeses peanut butter cup? Although, chocolate and peanut butter I completely get. High heels on a sneaker… I simply don’t get it. I have tried very hard to understand the wedge sneaker, but have come up with nothing. I was under the impression that, for the most part, people wore sneakers for sport or comfort. Are the designers hoping it will be the most stylish and comfortable shoe out there? Or is it an attempt to be funky? And, is it funky? Or is it a shoe one of the slutty nurses at the nursing home would wear? And on that note, what nurse can afford Christian Louboutin? I would love feed back on this shoe, especially if you embrace the trend.

Have you met her? The girl who has the entire room watching her as she walks past. The one who has the power to stop you dead in your tracks. She has a confidence that makes others uneasy at first, but also an illuminating warmth that holds you close. She explores and appreciates all forms of art. She embraces individuality, and finds joy in expressing creativity. This freedom of expression comes across in they way she presents herself to the world, it comes across in her style choices. Bohemian style is no longer about peasant skirts, Birkenstocks, and unshaved armpits. It’s about mixing it up, and making fashion your own. It’s not predictable, and the fact that it doesn’t work makes it even more fantastic. It’s an intriguing style, that draws us in. She’s different, she feels the freedom to take risks in fashion, and own it. That… is what fashion icons are made of.

bohemian expressions in this observation:

It’s a constant struggle for women to strike the balance between what is fashionable and what is comfortable. The biggest challenge seems to be finding a pair of fabulous shoes that don’t make you scream in pain. Does that even exist? Well, we think it does. We have some ideas, but it may mean making some changes. First of all, put away the super comfy, super ugly shoes. It’s not necessary to resort to Crocs when there are other options. Secondly, NEVER be the friend who complains about her feet all night and heads home early! And lastly, carrying emergency flip-flops around all night might seem like a good idea until you realize that your uncomfortable and oh-so-heavy wedges don’t exactly fit in your dainty little clutch - Yelp!

If you’re convinced that the only 18 hour piece of wardrobe is the bra, then think again. With this season’s myriad of fabulous flats, sexy sling backs, Greek goddess gladiator sandals, and sexy, slouchy boots, that perfect pair of shoes does exist! That is, the shoe that will carry you through a day of work, a night of cab-hopping, dancing and then some! So toss aside those blister bearing pumps and pamper your feet with something more comfortable!

comfortable items in this observation:

Treat your feet to comfort and style!

You have just purchased the perfect pair of slingback heels that are going to bring you joy all Summer long. You’re thrilled you found a pair that will work with almost everything in your closet and bonus.. you love them! Tonight is the perfect night to whip them out; suddenly your excitement turns to panic. The shoes that you just spent hundreds of dollars on keep getting caught up in the hem of your pants. What are you going to do? Luckily, there is a solution. Kix by Katie has a product that attaches to the back of your hem. It provides enough weight to secure the pants, and they will stay put! You can breathe a huge sigh of relief. Your summer wardrobe woes are solved. Thanks to Katie.

Another dilemma we gals sometimes face is wearing our favorite jeans with heels and flats. Do we always need to buy two different lengths? Not necessarily, you can try Zakkerz. This little device secures your hem with a magnet so you can temporarily make you pants any length you want. I think I’m in love!

Our goal is to bring you all the style help that we can. So, when we come across products that can give you a quick fix we love to share it with you. We would love to hear if any of you know of any other style fixes.

items in this observation:

Everybody is always talking about “the little black dress”, and how to hunt down the perfect one. Well, we actually think you need more than just one. We think you should acquire three or four perfect black dresses, one to suit every occasion. First, the formal black dress. This dress should be sleek and simple. That way you can mix it with pearls, diamonds, or no jewelry for a minimalist look. It should be the kind of dress you have tucked away in your closet, that looks perfect every time you whip it out. Next, the cocktail party dress. This dress is tailored, and slightly demure. It dresses up or down beautifully, depending on the accessories. For instance, a Thursday night cocktail party would call for gold jewelry, black leather pumps, and a small shoulder bag. Whereas, for a Saturday night you could pull out the heavy duty jewels, patent leather pumps, and a clutch. Then, the black wrap dress. This dress works on so many levels. It’s great for work, for a dinner date, or for an after work party. You can pair it with boots for a more casual chic look, or with pumps to dress it up a bit. Finally, the wild card. This dress is more fun and flirty. Choose a dress that is more festive, with added beading or intricate details. It’s the dress you wear to your friend’s birthday party, and dance all night long. The black dress is really versatile, that’s why so many of us migrate to it. Don’t limit yourself to only one, give yourself options. Go forth and find your four perfect black dresses!

Top Look:
Moschino plunge front dress
Chanel Classic bag with flap @ bagborroworsteal
Christian Louboutin Declic leather pumps
Right Look:
Rebecca Taylor beaded chiffon dress
Ghibli front row black patent leather clutch @ Forzieri
D&G Dolce & Gabbana patent carla peep toe pump @ eLuxury
Bottom Look:
Diane von Furstenberg volante wrap dress @ Net-a-Porter
Isabella Fiore ‘Wild Thing’ brooke satchel
Sergio Rossi Slouchy knee boots
Left Look:
McQ Draped dress @ Net-a-Porter
Aspects bow clutch with chain strap @ eBags
Giuseppe Zanotti Taz Swarovski embellished sandals @ Net-a-Porter

Tory Burch jane thong @ Jildor

Birkenstock gizeh black patent @ Jildor

Christian Louboutin ankle-wrap pump @ Bergdorf Goodman

Oh Deer! Kate @ Zappos

These days it seems like the prices of high end designer shoes have jumped. A really nice shoe used to cost $500 to $600, now that is on the low end. The sweet spot, these days, for a designer shoe is $650 to $900. We’re wondering, is a designer shoe worth the high price? For example, if we showed you two shoes that looked basically the same, and told you that one was a Christian Louboutin and the other an Oh Deer! - which one would you want? Is the quality that much better in the designer shoe? Or is it just the name? What is it about shoes that causes us to throw caution to the wind and spend an insane amount of money? Well, there’s something so lovely about putting on an expensive pair of shoes.  Slipping into a pair of $1200 Chanel pumps can make you feel like Dorothy in her magic slippers. Why is that? I think it’s because it makes you feel like you’re worth it, and special enough to wear something so well crafted. I suppose that means I’m buying into exactly what luxury brands want me to, essentially I’m part of the problem. What’s a girl to do? I think many of us out there get the meaning behind Oscar Wilde when he said: ” I have a simple taste, only the best”. Hopefully, we won’t all go broke doing it. Happy shoe hunting!