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‘Closet Talks’ Category

  1. Wardrobe on a budget: February 2012

    February 15, 2012 by Audrey

    My style resolution for 2012: build a solid basic wardrobe. All of it, on a budget. January-March, my monthly budget is set at $100. What did I get? Was I able to stay on budget? Answers below…

    Purchase #1: Steve Madden Unityy Pumps – $69.95
    Bought at the Steve Madden store on Walnut Street in Philadelphia, PA. Love the huge reusable shopping bag they’re giving instead of the classic plastic one.

    Steve Madden Unityy Pumps

     

    Purchase #2: H&M Biker Jacket – $49.95
    Bought on their Chestnut Street store in Philadelphia, PA – Word of advice: items located on the first floor of the Walnut Street store are also available a couple block down at the Chestnut Street one. Useful to know when one does not have your size. I was disappointed not to be able to snatch the hot red leather jacket from the Dragon Tattoo Collection, but I’m happy with my more classic (and cheaper) find.

    H&M Biker Jacket

    Total for this month: $119.90 – $19.90 over budget… Adding the $8.50 from last month, I’m out $28.40… But I have some great basic pieces…

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  2. What happened to slips?

    January 31, 2012 by Audrey

    I have been on a classic movie binge lately and I can’t help but noticing those gorgeous women wearing silk slips under their dresses. Mad Men anyone? And I wonder… What happened to slips? Modern clothing? The pants taking over women’s wardrobes? Probably a little bit of both and more…

    In her New York Time article What’s sexy now? The slip, back in 2006, Ruth La Ferla linked the renewed interest to the lingerie icon to Old Hollywood: “Historically Hollywood has served up slips as a contradictory symbol of girlishness and womanly predation, one that glides between the poles of trashiness and class. A subtle invitation to misbehave, slips were impressed on the popular consciousness by stars like Ms. Taylor, not only dangerously feline in “Cat,” but elegantly debauched as she nursed a Scotch wearing satin and lace in “Butterfield 8.”" She saw a trend. And she was right.

    Whether it’s an additional layer against cold weather, a solution for that little-too-sheer dress that’s staying in the closet or simply the idea of waking-up your inner Joan Holloway… the slip is an addition you might want to consider in your wardrobe.

    From the modern Calvin Klein Stretch Satin Slip with its simple lines, basic colors and affordable price to the luxuriously girly Rosamosario Rosso Disera silk-chiffon slip there are many options out there for all tastes and all budgets.

    What’s your take on it? Do you own one? What are your pros & cons?

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  3. Taking Philadelphia by the heart

    January 26, 2012 by Audrey

    The Heart of PhiladelphiaIt’s no secret that I love Philadelphia. I have spent here the most memorable 8 years of my life. What a ride!

    8 years can feel like a lifetime or like a New York minute. But one thing is sure, I never stopped loving Philly and I will carry that city with me everywhere life takes me. Well, actually, literally.

    See, as I mentioned before, my friends are the best. And they got me the best birthday/anniversary present a girl can ask for: jewelry! But not any kind of jewelry… They got me “The heart of Philadelphia“. A little pendant, designed by Steven Lagos, that carries with it four of the most symbolic Philadelphia monuments. And I’m not referring to the LOVE statue here, I’m talking real deal, old school, beautiful architecture: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Independence Hall, City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art mixed up in a very subtle way in the shape of a heart.

    Add the dog-tag chain to hip it up a little bit and you get yourself the most fashionable, personal and meaningful gift I could have received. Well played A. & D. You’re getting brownie points for this one!

    Category Closet Talks | Tags: ,,, | 2 Comments

  4. Wardrobe on a budget: January 2012

    January 14, 2012 by Audrey

    My style resolution for 2012: build a solid basic wardrobe. All of it, on a budget. January-March, my monthly budget is set at $100. What did I get? Was I able to stay on budget? Answers below…

    Purchase #1: L.L. Bean Rangeley Camp Shirt, Flannel – $39.50
    Bought online – L. L. Bean has a free shipping policy that is very appreciable when trying to stay on a budget.

     

    Purchase #2: Nine West Flax Pumps – $69.00
    Bought at Macy’s, not on sale, but somehow cheaper than the discounted ones on the Nine West website.

    Total for this month: $108.50 – $8.50 over budget… Not too bad…

    Category Closet Talks, Shopping | Tags: ,,, | 1 Comment

  5. Fitting like a glove

    January 5, 2012 by Audrey

    I don’t care what all the fashion editors are saying. Well, ok, I do… A little… Or else I wouldn’t be reading all those fashion magazines. But I don’t care… too much. Fashion magazines are for inspiration. My goal is to never forget that we do not live in a photo shoot, running around in 5-inch heels all day and having perfect hair flowing in the wind. We do not have $3,000 to spend on a dress or a fantastic necklace – well, I know I don’t. We (unfortunately) live in a strange place called Reality.

    Welcome to my Reality.

    In my Reality, today was (apparently) the coldest day of the year; which sounds promising since we’re only January 4th. If we can put that behind ourselves so early, I’m starting to like this Reality!

    So, my Reality is cold. Frozen fingers cold. And there’s nothing better on a cold, cold, day than a nice pair of gloves. I don’t know you, but if my hands are warm, it feels like my body is picking up degrees by the minute. So, I would like to declare Gloves the accessory of the season!

    I adore those Kenneth Cole gloves that I bought for cheap, a couple years ago, in an outlet. I love their dark burgundy color that complements any of my coats better than a harsh black, and that doesn’t get dirty as quick as a fragile beige. I love their cozy lining. And more than anything, I love that they’re keeping me warm head to fingers – yeah, I still have some work to do on the toes area – even on the coldest day of the year.

    And because Reality cold bites, I thought I deserved to finished the bottle of Prosecco that my friend G. left on New Year’s Eve. Plus it looked very chic on the picture, don’t you think.

    Cheers to more cold days ahead!

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  6. The Little Red CK Coat

    November 16, 2011 by Audrey

    Once upon a time there was a weekend fashionista whom was hopelessly searching for the coat of her dreams. A warm, rich, red coat. A coat that says lady. That brings some color her winter days.

    One day, after turning the Internet up and down, spending countless hours on shopping sites and never finding the coat that will be dear to her heart, she opened her daily dose of RueLaLa… And there it was. Looking at her straight in the eyes: the little red CK coat.

    After a few days of hardly contained impatience, she finally opened the black & white box. Trembling with excitement (and a little bit of fear that it wouldn’t fit perfectly right), she ripped the plastic wrap and ran her fingers on the warm wool. Quality check: success (despite the under $100 price point).

    She put in on in a hurry, closed the buttons all the way up, cinched the belt around her waist. Size check: success.

    She looked at herself in the mirror. Everything was perfect: the length, just below the knee that will cover her more conservative garments; the color,  a rich raspberry red that complements her skin and hair tones; the collar (ah… the collar) that gives it its feminine edge. Style check: success.

    It was a not-so-cold night when she took the new coat out for it’s first official outing, but that’s when she found the best of all about that coat: the big huge collar brings not only style points, but is the perfect place to hide/protect the hand that holds the purse handle when trotting around Center City.

    That’s what I call a shopping home-run!

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  7. One sweater, one world of possibilities

    November 4, 2011 by Audrey

    It’s on this week’s issue of the Net-a-porter magazine… This season, the sweater is a superstar and knitwear is everywhere! I boarded the sweater wagon early on and got this timeless piece at J.Crew.

    I went with the Purist Knit trend, because 1. it’s easy, 2. it’s elegant, 3. it’s versatile. And got myself a nice deep red wool sweater for the Fall. But what I really like about it are the 3/4 sleeves and the nice round neckline, perfect for layering!

    What am I planning to do with my new sweater? Simple…

    Cowboy it! With jeans, cowboy boots, and a nice leather belt.

    Country it! With a corduroy mini, wool tights and knee high boots.

    Layer it! With a crisp white shirt or an all-season dress.

    Or as Net-a-porter suggest: put a nonchalant spin on a statement party dress…

    How do you wear your sweaters? All ideas welcome!

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  8. Socks Drawer | Fall 2011

    October 2, 2011 by Audrey

    Socks Drawer | Fall 2011Last weekend, my journey took me to Las Vegas where I met with 16 other women to celebrate life and our common friend V.

    The long trip from Philadelphia, PA via Denver, CO gave me the rare opportunity to catch up on a lot of magazine reading and fall trend inspiration. I was flying toward a 90 degrees weather and all I could think of were argyle socks.

    Little did I know, our hotel, the Mandalay Bay, was the home of the Las Vegas Sock Market, self-proclaimed “the World’s Greatest Sock Store”. So, one morning, as my 2 roommates were still asleep, I sneaked out and found myself in socks heaven.

    I have to say, it’s a little overwhelming at first: humongous selection in a not-so-humongous store. I was on an argyle mission and had to sniff around quite a bit before finding the perfect pair: the knee-high one that will be matching my mid-season shoe collection. Mission accomplished.

    While I was at it, I splurged on a few extra pairs: leg warmers (because, after all, I’m a dance teacher, I have a built-in excuse to wear them), B&W stripped thigh-high (stepping back, I might be too old for those, but could be useful for Halloween or in a dance performance costume) and old school tube socks (again, that might just be part of a new fashion-character fantasy, but you never know…)

    It’s my theory that a girl can never have enough shoes… and I’m starting to believe that she also can never have enough socks. What are you fall favorites? Where do you stock-up on socks?

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