the world according to sherimaven

Good morning, Wednesday. It's a stellar day in New York but that pollen is a real pain in the arse, not to mention the nose and the eyes and the skin. Yuck.

Some of you have written to me and asked me about culottes, that wide legged, cropped pant trend that's all over the stores this Spring. For me, the easiest way to wear culottes is this: not to wear them at all. 

Here's why.

Unless you have the hips of a small, underfed boy, this trend may very well not work for you. I'm not sure there's a harder silhouette to pull off- perhaps it's possible with an elastic waist, but that whole flat front leading to a voluminous pleat or fullness right below the waist is pretty much poison for women with womanly hips. I've tried them a million ways. I found a pair of khaki ones at COS I was loving, but they were so awkward on me. I tried and tried. I'm imagining they could work with a paper bag waist, but since I have not rocked a culotte since my 20somethings, I'm not sure this is the time to rock them again. That ship has most likely sailed.

Don't get me wrong- I love a wide leg pant. I love a cropped pant. But together? Lethal. Put down the culotte. Put them down. Now.

I'm curious to know if any of you are able to pull this trend off- it looks great on the 1%, but what about the rest of us? I think I can live without them. Hats (and pants) off to you if you manage to rock this one. I love the look, but it sure doesn't love me.

And that's what's up this some trends are better left untried kind of Wednesday in the 212. Yours, in one leg at a time. XO

Good late morning, Tuesday. It's hot, humid, and  h-e double hockey sticks outside but I'm happily in air conditioned comfort sippin' on an iced coffee and doing some work.

One of my favorite things about my work in production is searching for things that often lead me to find other things online. On a search this morning I came across this sensational April 1994 Vogue story shot by Steven Meisel and creative directed by Grace Coddington entitled "The White Album". It's perfection.

As a woman who came into her fashion own in the 90s, I can say that this particular brand of 90s simplicity is so spot on with everything I love to this very day. And with Memorial Day fast approaching (not that the white before then rules still apply), I thought I'd share this all white everything story with you today, even though this very moment I'm rocking all black everything as per usual.

The hair and makeup is flawless as well, and the clothes for the most part still hold up. I love young Reese Witherspoon and young SJP in a string bikini- what a fresh faced bunch of supers we have here- I miss them. And the obvious standout for me is the divine Linda E. in that tee shirt dress ready for this, that, and the other thing. Love love love.

Hard to believe this was shot over 20 years ago, because it looks so very now and amazing. I'm sure more than a few of you are ready to rock some summer whites. Gorgeous and crisp and classic. Hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do. Amazing. How gorgeous is Isabella looking below?

Cause that's what's up this bleached and bright Tuesday in the 212. Yours, in going into the white, and beyond. XO

Good morning, Monday.

Twas a lovely Mother's Day weekend and was happy to see how much mama love was happening all over my social media feeds. I myself went to see the one who birthed me on Saturday. I bought her some sheets, which she proclaimed were too nice to use, and then she started to cry for absolutely no reason. Right...

So I was home in the city yesterday and David suggested we go to Michael Williams' Pop Up Flea, an excellent amalgam of handcrafted cool, generally for boys but a few pieces for the ladies too. If you're not familiar with him, his excellent blog A Continuous Lean is a fan favorite of most dudes. I love his point of view and so does David, so off we went to check out the wares.

They did not disappoint, and I'll be shouting out a few of them this week but one that really spoke to me were the awesome canvas bags from New England brand Canvas Bag Machine. Summer time always puts me in a somewhat preppy, East Coast beach mood and I can't think of a better beach bag than a great canvas tote, as well as the de facto bag of choice for Farmers Market fanatics. (You can put your kale in it).

I adore these bags and the extra large tote is roomy enough for a weekend at the Cape, or a week's worth of veg at the Union Square Farmers Market. They will custom make a bag for you in a few different color ways, but what's not to love about this sunny yellow? Lovely. I have to have one- my outsized LL Bean version is still alive and kicking, but like that this one is a more original piece, although still as classic as they come. They are a third generation stitching family, and supporting a family run business is simply a great idea. Plus, I can't get enough carry ons. As soon as I am done writing this, I do believe I'm going to order one of my own. Be sure to admire it when you see me at the beach or at any number of flea or farm markets this Summer. Ah, Summer. Thank goodness there's a way to take you with me wherever I go.

And that's what's up this well canvased Monday in the 212. Yours, in carrying on. XO

Check out my Instagram for pictures of yesterday's flea time fun. 

Good afternoon, chickens. Happy Friday and Happy Mothers Day weekend. Though I doubt Khan will cook me breakfast in bed, I hope all of you mommies out there get some much needed TLC this weekend- being a great mom is a huge endeavor and I applaud all of you awesome mamas out there.

And since it's beautiful outside and we are finally warm, I can't help but love on, oh, just about everything at Madewell these days. I don't know how they do it,  but they have a sense for everything I want and need out of a summer wardrobe- basic pieces that are easy, cool, and stylish. If you haven't worn their jeans, I highly recommend them, and just about everything they make gets the maven stamp of approval. Here's some images from their site I was feeling particularly gaga over. I love the look of Madewell and the clothes fit well and are just right for this modern life. I love how their clothes could suit most age groups too- nothing too gimmicky or trendy and everything just basic and classic.

I love these photos and hope you'll be inspired- mom or not, to do some shopping this weekend and welcome the Spring/Summer vibe in a big old way. And that's what's up this well made Friday in the 212. Yours, in mad for Madewell. XO

Good morning, fellow mavens. It's a transcendent day in the city- absolutely stellar weather and though I am stuck inside, my mind wanders to somewhere with salty, floral air and balmy temperatures. 

I noticed a ton of rosy scents coming into Spring (think modern, Japanese rose vs. your grandmom's rose), but for Summer I am all about the wonderful scent of neroli, that heavenly fragrance from the bitter orange tree that just screams summertime on the Italian Riviera. And though it skews masculine with its fresh citrus, I love when it's cut with hints of something spicy like amber or something sweet like vanilla to bring it all home for the ladies. It's just such a delicious smell and I want to bathe in a bathtub of it.

My favorite of the lot for Summer 2015 (and there's loads of options) is hands down Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino, which I got to sample at Sephora and immediately fell deeply in love. It's crisp, super summery and beachy, and also a bit spicy because of the amber notes, as well as sweet with orange flower. It's a lovely vibrant fragrance and comes in the spendy eau de parfum but also comes as a body spray which is much more affordable, as well as a body oil which I love on tan limbs after a day in the sun.  I also imagine the bar soap is a nice gift for the man in your love who wants to smell like an Agnelli this summer. 

I'm so inspired by this fragrance that I can't help but share some great pics of the Italian Riviera for inspiration- clean, crisp, sparkling. I want to go to there right now. And if you're not a big Tom Ford fan, I also recommend the Le Labo Neroli or the one from Creed or of course, Diptyque. Ooh and I also am really liking the new scent from Juliette Has a Gun called Gentlewoman- it's a lovely mix of male and female and is alive with loads of yummy neroli and sexy musk. And though I may be locked indoors today, my mind wanders to orange trees and cool breezes by the sea, with tan limbs and a glass of something sparkling and delicious. Sigh...a girl can dream, and today's dreams are scented with neroli.

Cause that's what's up this delicious Thursday in the 212. Yours ,in la dolce vita, or at least, smelling like it. Ciao! XO

Link to buy the Tom Ford scent here. 

Good morning, Wednesday. Let's just get something out of the way- today feels totally off in a cosmic vortex kind of way and I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm hoping for an incident free afternoon. I'm not in the mood for anything seismic, and that's the truth. Hoping today is not as weird as it feels. Y'all feel it too, right?

So in light of said weirdness, let's keep things simple. 

I spotted this dress in American Apparel yesterday and it's a dress that takes a bit of vision as well as a dressing room to understand its genius. Lolita vibes aside, I'm a big fan of AA's basics- they make great tanks, tees, leggings, and I own quite a few cute dresses from there for Summertime as you can't beat the nice price and easy approach to dress they provide.

This washable silk number is no exception. It's a bit on the roomy side but not in a bad way- it skims the curves in all the right ways and is a lovely addition to any warm weather wardrobe- plus I love the feel of silk against my skin and for just under a hundred bucks, it's a perfect little Summer number that you can wear with flat sandals or heels to dress it up. it's no secret that dresses are the perfect antidote to hot weather wardrobe woes- when I lived in Miami I never wore pants and all of my dresses saved me from heat stroke. And it's true I now wear way more pants than dresses, but I'm in the mood for something pretty and easy so why not?

Again, the dress looks like nothing on the hanger, but as this blogger shows in the photos above, it's a cute look that is flattering and easy peasy. With the weird vibes in the air, I'm all about keeping it loose, comfy, and above all else- simple. I prefer the black (duh) but it also comes in a pretty pale pink and a more bold blue. And I may be imagining this, but young brands like American Apparel and Urban Outfitters are getting a more age neutral and including pieces all of us can love, regardless of our birth date. Well played.

Cause that's what's up this strange vibes and cute dresses kind of Wednesday in the 212. Yours, in simple solutions. XO

Link to buy here.

Good morning, Tuesday. I suppose some of you are wondering (or not) why I refrained from comment concerning last night's Met Ball. To be perfectly honest, the whole thing was a sad and tremendous bore. I'm not sure how an event that is all about fashion and design became such a train wreck, but said train went way off the tracks. So few people got the memo about the party itself- was this not a soiree to fete Chinese style and the iconic imprint it has left on the world? Yea, no. Nobody saw that.  Or very few did. I can't even. And I don't care, because this is not the Met Ball I used to look forward to seeing pictures of- this is the Met Ball of banned selfies and starlets and reality stars. 

And clearly these are people that are more like paper dolls than fashion plates- they are dressed by million dollar stylists in million dollar dresses but end up looking cheap somehow. Kardashians- unbearably bad. Kim in a copycat gown that Beyonce already wore and momager Kris committing more fashion crimes in one body than an entire prison. How on Earth did she decide to wear this?  Also Anne Hathaway. What on Earth? A meteoric miss.

Good afternoon, Monday. Busy day today but tonight is the Met Ball for all of you fashion watchers, with Red Carpet beginning at 6 and all the stars doing their star thing. According to Racked, this year's theme " is dedicated to Chinese fashion, and that's the theme for this year's gala. The exhibit is called "China: Through the Looking Glass," and it showcases Chinese art and rare artifacts as well as dresses interpreting Chinese designs from Western designers like John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Tom Ford".

It should be a beautiful, well gilded affair, so why not try and pick your dream dress? Mine would have to come from Galliano's amazing 2007 Spring/Summer haute couture for Dior, so many choices, but that white dress at the top of this piece is simply outstanding.

I'm equally enthralled by all of the looks from that show, and look forward to seeing some incredible fashion on my feed later tonight. And with that,  I take my leave of you. I'm not nearly red carpet ready and won't be any time soon- and must dash to a meeting so I can get home tonight and watch all of the fun. There's apparently a social media embargo on the whole thing, so who knows what we'll get to see. 再见- or goodbye for now. Cause that's what's up this ball gowns and couture kind of Monday in the 212. Yours, in Chinese dreams. XO

Good afternoon, Friday. Busy day around these parts so will cut to the chase- wtf with this contouring cuckooness?

I popped into Sephora to get a fan brush yesterday (great for overall blending and finishing- highly recommend if you don't have one) and was shocked by the mammoth section for contouring, a beauty trend that has escaped me in the biggest way and will most likely never have me, unless of course I become a TV anchorwoman or Sheena Easton impersonator any time soon. But I digress.

So contouring, huh? For me, it conjures up images of Kardashians and the aforementioned newswoman. It also scarily reminds me of Nagel paintings- and if you remember those too, most likely contouring freaks your shit out too. I remember the 80s. The makeup was a pretty terrifying part of that time. I'm not going back. No. No. No. I may still listen to Depeche Mode, but that makeup- yikes. I still am having nightmares from all of that pointy blush.

I was happy to read on The Cut that apparently, French women don't care for le contouring much either. Not surprised- you know how perfect Frenchwomen are, or perfectly imperfect for that matter. Truly, unless you need to be camera ready or starring in a Duran Duran biopic (mazel tov on that ps), there is no need to spend money on this craziness. Plus, most likely, you will look insane if you attempt to do this yourself. I'm imagining only professionals can master this look, and from the looks of this video there are too many steps and too little time to get this done properly in the morning before you have that second cup of coffee.  Oh, and yes. This video is from Teen Vogue, a magazine geared to young women- you know, the type who have natural contour of their own and a youthful glow? Why on Earth take that away? I'm so not about a matte look either- the glow of youth over a robotic matte finish any day, please.

So why not just take all of that money spent on Kabuki brushes, contour kits, and sculpting sticks and just perfect the cat eye and call it a day? I have no idea who is buying into this trend, but I suspect it's a person who really loves taking selfies and dreams of their own reality show. For now, I'm sticking with the French and saying "non" to this trend. I don't need another beauty addiction. I've got plenty already.

So are you contouring? I'd love to hear some thoughts on it, but for now I remain happily unsculpted. Cause that's what's up this not going cuckoo for contouring kind of Friday in the 212. Yours, in (good enough) cheekbones and jawlines. XO

Good morning, Wednesday. A very funny person in my office just told me my aura smells like oak moss and cherry. Take that for what you will. Moving on.

So I got a fabulous catalogue in the snail mail the other day from Tiffany- needless to say, I'm over the moon with the Tiffany T collection, and that rose gold smile necklace is kind of everything. I do love nice jewelry. I can't help myself. So beautiful. LOVE the new look of Tiffany- very modern and collectable, if you are the type who can collect jewelry (damn you). Remember how many of us wore the locket bracelet? Well this is the new that.

And the catalogue is beautifully designed and shot by Daniel Jackson, one of my favorite photographers whose minimal, black and white style is always just right. I'm a big fan and love the work he does for Bazaar. Fantastic styling, very much my aesthetic always.

But besides the gorgeous photographs and jewelry, I am completely and totally girl crush smitten on Edie Campbell and THAT HAIR. For those of you who are not familiar with my hair canon, I'm a bit of a cutter. Well, a chronic cutter. I love to switch it up and have very little fear of going from long to short and back again. I love to switch it up. I refuse to get bored.

I'm a girl who goes from bob to shag on the regs, and I'm about to say goodbye to the bob and hello again to the shag, all thanks to Edie and that amazing do in the above video, which also happens to be an homage to my favorite city and home, NYC. Well played, Tifffany. I'm digging the well branded makeover beaucoup beaucoup.  And because I happen to be very good friends with my brilliant hair stylist, I simply Facebooked her the link to this video and said "HAIR HAIR HAIR EDIE EDIE EDIE WANT WANT WANT". To which she replied "Let's do it tomorrow". 

Yes please. I want this haircut in a big way- new look, new season, new right now 

Should you have any objections to this 'do, speak now or forever hold your peace. (David, you're not allowed to weigh in. I know you want my hair long but I'm not that kind of girl, but you know that already.) I'm ready to sass it up a little bit so hopefully the rest of you will approve.  Chop chop.

Cause that's what's up this shagadelic Wednesday in the 212. Yours, in smelly auras and good hair days (the best is yet to come). XO