the world according to sherimaven

Good morning, Monday. It's a beautiful day in New York City and it's Fall days like this that make me remember why I'm way more Autumnal than any other season. I love this chilly, sunny weather- it's perfection.

So this weekend I did a little retail spy at the recently opened & Other Stories, the grown up fashion editor brand under the H&M umbrella that is a European icon but was yet to make a presence stateside. Now you all know how much I love COS, and though my loyalty wavered for a hot minute when they decided to open in LA first and NY next (no idea why), I remain in the trusted service of some minimalist basics that only COS can provide.

But back to & Other Stories. The store is on Broadway just below Prince and next to the Prada store- there's also an entrance on Mercer for those that can't deal with Broadway, for reasons I don't have to explain to frequent visitors who find themselves on that crazy stretch of Soho.

The store itself is just lovely- a massive, bright undertaking with some lovely little touches like live plants throughout. It's one stop shop appeal (the store stocks everything from hand lotion to nail polish to shoes to bags to jewelry to clothing) makes it a candidate for new favorite shop for women (sorry, boys) looking for loads of fun options to infuse their wardrobe with something more European and chic. There are some wonderful vintage inspired dresses in silky materials that are just lovely for holiday with a faux  fur  yet could also be worn for a quick trip down to Miami for Art Basel with a sandal.

For me, I found myself flummoxed by their fabulous coat collection, and also became an instant fan of their oversized sweater offering, a look I'm planning on wearing all winter when cozy/comfy chic is a big order of business. 

I am super into that geometric coat they did as a collab with Iris Apfel (the matching skirt with it makes the outfit feel tots Prada/Marniesque). But for me, the camel cocoon has my name written all over it for that Celine vibe I can't get enough of as the leaves change. And that outsized cardi in both black and camel is such a fab piece over an button down and boyfriends or with a loose dress, black tights, and some high heeled ankle boots. I'm all about it.  I also love fuzziness so the black coat above satisfies my muppet craving, with a sleek take on modern mascot dressing (I just made that up). Ooh, and I love that coat with the pink stripe- so chic and a way to incorporate something bright for gloomy, cold days. I'd be hard pressed to be in a bad mood with that coat on, and so would you. 

So the verdict is in and I declare & Other Stories, guilty, of stealing the rent money out of many New York pockets this season with their myriad of high end inspired options. As for the prices, it's a bump up from Zara but not nearly as pricy as anything you'd see in Barneys. My favorite things there are pieces that feel nice like the silk dresses or the nubby coats and cardis, but check it out for yourself by visiting the store, or go to their site which is full on ready to receive your fundage. Debtors prison just got a little bit more chic...

And that's what's up this feeding the economy kind of Monday in the very spendy 212. Yours, in fun fashion.  Bricks and mortar deets below. XO

& Other Stories
575 Broadway
NYC

Hi Friday you little reakshow. It's been a long week back at the grind and I'm looking forward to an inspired weekend. I need a two day off arrangement right about now. Looking forward to quittin' time today.

So I almost always write more chick focused stuff, but today I thought I'd post one for the boys. My husband shouted to me from the bedroom this am as I was frantically searching for my shoes (don't ask) that there's a new name for that whole bearded lumberjack man, and of course living in Brooklyn, I'm well familiar with what Gearjunkie is referring to as the (get ready for it) "lumbersexual". I mean...I just threw up a little didn't you?  Unless you re chopping wood, please. I'm begging. Enough.

Like me, you may be ready for men to hop to it and change up this ridiculousness. And if you're a man, most likely you're ready for a new jump off too. And though of late I've been conscious of my nostalgic tendencies and am trying to be very forward in my thinking, I can't help but just love on some of the fashion from back in the day, and to me, stylewise, the above photo by the incredibly gifted photographer Janette Beckman of Pete Townsend and Pete Weller from 1981 is transcendent and to me epitomizes why being suave is so much better than being a bloody lumberjack.I kind of can't handle how good this photo is. G-d is in the details, darlings. I'm in love with the acute coolness of both of these boys.Thing is, I'm not sure these are just for boys- I'm prone to borrow from them and feel like I would love to wear either of these looks. Doesn't this photo make you never want to wear buffalo plaid again? Mercy.

Sometimes one photo makes my day. This one perfectly sums why true Brit style is cool beyond, stylish, and completely badass to boot. Cheers to a wonderful and stylish weekend. Perhaps take a cue from Paul and Pete when making fashion choices this weekend. Step away from the work boots. Say no to the ski cap. Say yes to something dapper and scrappy all at once. Here's a few more from Janette's archive, below, from the years of 1976-1982. These photos move me beyond belief- soulful, real, and so incredibly stylish. Some familiar faces there, too. What's not to love? Take heed, my little lumberjacks. Take heed.

Cause that's what up this going underground kind of Friday in the 212. Yours, in next level style. XO

Good morning, Wednesday. It's a gloomy day here in the city of NY but still pretty warm so there's that.  I know you read this blog for my musings on how to rock the latest such and such or what hair product is going to change your life, but I have some things to say in the political realm so if you don't like politics (none of us do), then don't read this post. Consider yourself warned, because this post is all about Washington.

As you are all well aware, the midterm elections were yesterday and the results were, well, not particularly surprising but also very much of a bummer for blue types around the country. The Republicans are back in control, and unless I was hearing this incorrectly on the news last night, the Dems won't have a chance to swing it back until 2020. That's a long time. A very long time.

I wrote this past weekend about Taylor Swift becoming the NYC ambassador, and how it made many of us cringe as more and more of the NYC we once loved is disappearing. A New York times piece called this to task and said that although so many of us are mourning the loss of places like Yaffa Cafe, none of us are willing to do much about it from our designer sofas in Brooklyn. I can't disagree, and the notion of "passive nostalgia" is something troubling- that we want things to be the way they were but we don't do anything about it.

It's kind of how I feel about this whole election cuckoo last night. 

It's clear that people want change- if more people would look at Obama's presidency, they would see many wins, but it's also clear to me that this country was not ready for the kind of change Obama was bringing about- from his Presidential style to Obamacare to oh, just about everything. I feel that as a nation, we are mired and mucked in a state of passive nostalgia psychosis- the Republicans yearn for the Reagan years while the Democrats yearn for something more reminiscent of the Clintons. I say both are strategically off base and we should really focus on something new, REAL change that embraces who we are as a people now- a people that were invaded on their very own shores, a people whose family structure is very different than what it used to be, a people who need to focus on technology, innovation, and creativity as well as a people who try to repair a terminally ill middle class and encourage small business to thrive and grow as a result.

As a human being, it's hard not to be nostalgic for the past when the present does not look great and thoughts of the future look even worse. And you can't argue with the fact, whether you are red or blue or purple, that we as an American collective have lost a lot. But I feel strongly that we need to stop with the nostalgia and literal interpretations and poison rhetoric. I will never agree with the Tea Party and I hate what they stand for because it's ridiculous to impose values on people that feel positively archaic. The world has changed. The country has changed. We have all changed. I'm concerned with the pedagogy of our whole political system and feel like there needs to be major reform. 

But this hatred from both sides of each other is not helping anyone. Isn't this country about justice for all? Why has everything become so incredibly mean spirited? I felt I had to step away from the TV so as not to get hit with the mud being slung back and forth during the midterm. 

I grew up in a very Republican home- my father was a Republican because he was a big believer and zealot for Kissinger era foreign policy, not to mention that the Reagan years were good years for him financially. And as a child growing up in the Reagan years, one had the feeling that America was invincible, even if movies like "The Day After" had us all feeling a nuclear attack. There was no stopping us, even the evil Russians couldn't mess with us. But cut to now.

Reagan is dead, the Russians are fucking with us yet again, and we have much to fear right here in America.  In all candor, I'm not disappointed in the politicians- they are power hungry Type A's who really don't care about any of us, but care more about their own advancement, so it's not surprising that they are out for blood. I'm disappointed in the people of this country- a country where we enjoy so many freedoms and relative prosperity but we're too afraid to move forward and that we can't seem to organize enough to demand more of our elected officials. I keep feeling like we have no control over what happens in Washington, and that's beyond unsettling. I vote to be part of the process, because I love that process and consider myself lucky to do so. 

Sure, I'm mad that myopia is setting in in Washington, and that "yes we can" makes me feel nostalgic and that I feel like we just can't.  I guess my hope for the next few years and for the next President is to find a way to work across the aisle, to listen to the voices of the people, and to bring about real change that is reflective of the country and the world we live in. I want the government to run almost like a tech company- always looking for ways to improve, innovate, and be first when it comes to helping people live better and more empowered lives. Hey, Sergey Brin- maybe you should run for President in 2016. You'd probably get my vote, regardless of what party you run for. I don't want the old America back. I want Washington to get better at moving forward vs. looking too far into the past and the way things were. Adapt or die- isn't that a prime tenet of evolution, and really, capitalism and democracy in general? So let's do it and put the past behind us. I'm tired of all of this constant bickering and smack talking and divisiveness. I just want to live in a country I'm proud of that does great things for its people and for the world, without a hint of nostalgia. Just move on and become a government that can bring about real change for a population that is not the same as it ever was. I'm seeing a lot of posts from my fellow Dems that speak of not "giving up the fight" but I think this whole civil war happening down in DC should just stop. I'm tired of being the child of a bad divorce, aren't you?  

And that's what's up this once in a lifetime kind of Wednesday in the 212. Yours in down, but never out.  XO

Good morning Tuesday. Get out there and vote, would you? Nothing else matters today. And that's what's up this election day Tuesday in the 212. Respect the process so that you can fight the power, if you so choose. Thanks to my friend, Lydia Langford for sharing this amazeballs Rock the Vote clip from the early 1990s featuring the divine Lady Miss Kier of Deee-lite.

So are you registered baby? XO

Good morning, Monday. My life of leisure is on hold for the moment- duty calls and it's back to early mornings for this chick.

I can't help but notice that there are people ALREADY complaining like crazy about the dip in temperatures. I say to them- just wait. I guess it's hard for certain people to enjoy 60 degree weather when -20 is just around the corner. Peeps need to toughen up.

But for those of you dreaming of the warmer months, I found this still from fashion influential film La Piscine from 1969- starring Romy Schneider and her frosted lipstick and gorgeous tan, Alain Delon being fantastic in some short swim trunks, and the gorgeous Jane Birkin, all 700 feet of her. Those legs.

The film takes place in the South of France, and it's hard to not feel a bit of sunshine when looking at this incredible pic of Jane from the film. Even though it's getting colder, all it takes is a French film to inspire a little bit of heat. I just wish I was in a basket chair in the South of France...it's easy to see why this film influenced so many fashion designers- the simple silhouettes are remarkably timeless- I see Gucci, Max Mara, and any number of perfect classic pieces with that effortless sex appeal. Here's some more photos in case you don't know the film- so, so chic:

And that's what's up this visually oriented Monday on the island of Manhattan. Yours, in tan legs and sunshine. XO

Good afternoon, Saturday. It's a snuggled in type of day and I'm feeling super lethargic, in a good way. I'm also craving doughnuts, and I hate doughnuts so no idea what that's about, but I think a doughnut of some sort is in my very near future.

Interesting I'd be craving such an old fashioned pastry- the doughnut long the provenance of a bygone era of police officers, blue collar workers, and elementary school parties. I'm not a big doughnut kind of woman, but time has been kind to the humble confection- with stellar offerings from the likes of Doughnut Plant to breathe some chic into the whole experience. And though it's nice to have something new that shout outs something old, I think I sometimes and way too frequently prefer the old version. 

Case in point- the use of pop star and relationship ne'er do well Taylor Swift as the new ambassador of New York. The choice of Taylor, at first, seems insane to most New Yorkers. New Yorkers pride themselves with being subversive, edgy, in the know, and above all- cool. There is nothing cool about Taylor Swift, and watching her explain hot to properly pronounce "Houston Street" (Howston) or tell an eager non New York public what a bodega is is enough to make most New Yorkers head for the nearest bridge. As one blogger aptly put it and was incidentally quoted in the NY Times: "Welcome to New York,” a song so bloodless and indistinct in its vision of the city that it presents to you,  the New York you would get “if you populated it entirely with humans raised in the Times Square Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., then let them out into the world with only a penthouse apartment, an Amex black card and leopard-print Prada luggage."  If you didn't feel like jumping before, perhaps you do now. And there's a reason why you do.

In that same piece in this weekend's Times this noted that although Ms. Swift is annoying, it's the people (myself included) that mourn a New York that was once subversive, edgy, and cool are, well, far more annoying than any pop singer ambassadress. The piece very aptly points out that "paradoxically, whenever a beloved institution closes in New York, it is precisely this kind of person — someone old enough to have lived through more thrilling days and now well situated in Cobble Hill or Fort Greene and not easily moved from a Donghia sofa and Hulu account — who is often the quickest to lament the disappearance of this restaurant or that bar without having visited them in a decade. A cherished institution now closes in New York practically each week (as readers of the poignant and richly reported blog Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York well know) and yet the institutions are often cherished the most voluptuously by people who love them the least actively. A passive nostalgist is perhaps the most dangerous kind." 

It's like they can see me or something.  Oh, you too?

I love the term passive nostalgia, and it's true- it's very dangerous. There's no reason for me to detach from NYC in the way that I have of late, secretly cursing yet another 50 million dollar apartment sale but also not doing much to keep a more accessible version of New York alive. It perfectly explains my craving for something that once was, even though I've done little to preserve it. Perhaps we need to become active preservationists instead- so we can fight for those things about this city that make it worth living in.  There's no doubt to me Jay Z would have been a better choice to represent us out in the world, but shouldn't we all be doing a better job of fighting for the right things in this city vs. passively hating all of this new stuff?  I for one may be a unique hybrid of someone who enjoys new versions of things- I like a reinterpretation by a smart person to reflect a new generation of fans- take Mile End Deli for instance- they pay homage to the Jewish delis of the past but reinvented to craft something more original. What's so wrong with that? 

But I will say this- if the people behind this marketing campaign with Ms. Swift thought that showing a young woman who came to New York from elsewhere and so easily fell victim to its charm, I cry foul. As a young girl in Philadelphia, I wanted nothing more than to get out of braces and move to New York as fast as I could. And when I did, I moved here with absolutely nothing but a job that paid crap and a shared one bedroom with a girl I had never met before move-in day. I think that what's more troubling about Ms. Swift's new role is that she moved to New York as a huge success, a sad state of affairs in the "new" New York- this is no longer a place where people can come from other places and "make it". It's best to make it now before you come. Sad, but true. It's just that those of us who do remember a very different New York need to get our noses out of our DWR catalogues and reusable Trader Joe's bags and find ways to preserve some vestige of the city we grew to love- to me, New York is a celebration of old and new thriving together with an authenticity that I have never been able to find anywhere else. And what's funnier still is that Swift's new album is called, quite simply, "1989". I gotta give it to her for not being passive about her nostalgia. She'll probably sell millions of records from shouting out the past, while I sit here, grumbling about the demise of the Holiday Lounge. I'd go to the nearest bridge, but I'm too lazy to get off the sofa. The one I am sitting on in Cobble Hill. With my Hulu.

Perhaps we need our own hero, our own ambassador, our own non commercial entity to represent our city and what we want it to be, or better yet, maybe all New Yorkers need to take matters into their own hands and do it themselves- it's always been the people that make this city so amazing, so how about we spread love the New York way and stop being so passive about the times we currently live in?  Honestly if Taylor Swift is now the poster child of New York life, I can't help but somehow feel we could and should do more to keep this city cool. There are so many brilliant, creative , beautiful people here that can inspire and keep this city alive. Now about that doughnut...

Cause that's what's up this second post this week that mentions Taylor Swift kind of Saturday in New York, New York. Yours, in still wanting to be a part of it. XO

Good afternoon, Wednesday. Yes, I'm aware it's almost evening and no longer afternoon, really. Whatevs. I'm chillin'. This whole dark early, cold thing has me a bit askew.

So with all of this free time, I've been going to my local Pure Barre classes religiously. I am often reminded that there are many places I go where I don't necessarily belong, and Pure Barre is one such place.

Barre classes are for women who want to have bodies like dancers, but more often than not, it's just full of skinny anorexics (what you want fat anorexics?) who are squatting as fast as they can to get rid of a spare half pound or so. Barre exercise is a cruel practice of mini movements, most performed on a ballet barre, where one plies and kicks and extends to the point of muscle failure. Shaking is considered a GREAT thing, and one is even rewarded with a "great shake" from the teacher when one reaches full muscle meltdown. So if you ever wanted to do be bent down in a plie, shaking like you have to go to the bathroom really, really bad, this is the class for you. I will say that it does wonderful things to your ass and thighs, and builds some nice abs to boot, if you have those, that is.

When one enters the class, there is almost inevitably a cadre of Lululemon clad ladies, stretching to perfection in socks with treads on the bottom of them, a barre class "must"- I don't know why. It's just a thing. It helps when you are trying to dig into the ground after holding a plank for two minutes to have some traction. That's my take. 

So I've been doing barre for a while and I'm not the best, but I'm far from the worst. As a woman of Eastern European descent, I did not get the Bolshoi ready genes, rather, the ones more equipped for easy childbirth and hard labor and the ability to haul furniture over my head. No matter how hard I try, a ballerina body I will never possess, but I like feeling strong and I suppose it's better to feel more solid in the thighs vs. walking around with squishy gummy bear legs. But it's hard to look around and not get annoyed. 

So I always stand by the back barre, by the door, and not because I'm looking for a quick escape, though many times, that's tempting. I stand there because it is one of the only spots in the room where you can feel the intermittent airco kick on, because that room is lined in track lighting, hot track lighting, and wall to wall carpet that doesn't exactly lend itself to ventilation. 

And in the morning class I often take, there is a women there who is OVER IT. Maybe even more than I am, which is tough. Needless to say, I love her.

She's in her 50s and is more Russian peasant as well, and she also has discovered the secret air conditioning blast in the back of the room. It's usually only the two of us back there, because most chicks like to look in the mirror while they're busting moves, but not me. The relief of not having to look is way better for me. I definitely look better not doing these exercises, of this I'm certain. 

Today she comes in, puts down her two pound weights, rubber ball and tube, and says "Fuck there are some skinny bitches in here today. G-dammit."

To which I reply, "And by today do you mean every day?"

 "And it's hot as balls in here today. It's like menopause up in here, not that these skinny bitches sweat", she says, as she pulls on her tank top which is creeping up a bit too much, even before class has begun. She is already sweating, as am I.

I then ask her why she thinks this particular class is so crowded, to which she replies "because nobody wants to take the later class with that teacher and that double ring thing". 

I know exactly who and what she means. There is one teacher at this studio who hails from the South where clearly they do things differently. In addition to the typical torture, this lady makes you slip some crazy rubber double ring thing over your thighs, which, for girls with thighs, is less than pleasant.  And then she wants you to lift your leg with that crazy contraption around both of them, all while you're tucking in your stomach and squeezing your ass, while Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off" plays, twice in a row: "Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake...."

She then says "G-d I hate it here. I hate it SO MUCH". And then the class begins, with our teacher, who is clearly a dancer and tells us, if we are good, we can do a split by Thanksgiving. Since I've been here for a while, I have heard her say the same thing about other holidays, and since it's Halloween and I still can't do one, I'm not expecting any Thanksgiving miracles. And from the looks of my friend, she's not either. 

I don't know whether to be offended that when she speaks of skinny bitches she is in no way meaning me, or to be deliriously happy that I have found a like minded soul to stand in the back corner with- we would have been friends in high school- smoking Marlboros in the back of the gym, hating everyone and everything. I should ask her to go out for a drink. I no longer smoke cigarettes, but I wouldn't be surprised if she did. It's nice that even in a class full of anorexic Brooklyn ballerina types, I find the misfit toy. I've always been the girl who finds the broody type- whether it's been the gentleman at the back of the bar scowling at everyone or the hot flashy woman in  a barre class full of brides and new moms. It's just the way I am. I need to be more in touch with the fact that no matter how hard I try to roll in places like barre class, I'll never quite cut it. Thank goodness there's usually somebody else there that feels exactly the same way. It's more fun that way. 

And that's what's up this I'm dancing as fast I can kind of Wednesday in the borough of Brooklyn. Yours, in sitting in the back of the bus and pouring one out for the cynics. Shake it off. XO

Good afternoon, Tuesday. It's warm and spring like in NY today, though I hear we're going to get downright chilly for Halloween. Needless to say, this topsy turvy weather has wreaked havoc with not only my immune system, but something way more important- my hair.

Like many other areas of my life, I've reached a happy contentment with the hair I was born with. After years of keratin treatments, I'm one for embracing one's natural texture, just letting it all go because I'm finding that pin straight thing, unless it's natural, to feel way too forced and weird. If you hair wants to be wavy, why not let it? It's true I have the most brilliant hairstylist (Siobhan Benson for life. Seriously. If you live in NY you have to see her), but I've also found a great new product that you've most likely been reading about of late- Purely Perfect's Cleansing Creme, which is the antibody for those of us who have a bit of an aversion to overly shiny, bouncy hair. You know what I mean- you know how your hair looks better after two days of not washing it? I find my hair is just too fluffy when it's freshly washed- much like my style vibe these days I like my hair to feel settled, lived in, perfectly disheveled in that awesome French way.  Caroline de Maigret above is the poster chick for this look, and here are a few more to show you what I mean- oh and I'm not a long hair girl, but j'adore that Bardot look of wham bam thank you hair. Shorter tresses can also achieve that je ne sais quoi too- genius all around, regardless of length.

After hunting down this hard to get, waitlisted everywhere product (randomly purchased on Urban Outfitter's website), I used it this morning. 

This is a product that is a shampoo and conditioner all in one, or moreover, a cleansing product that does not require a conditioner or any yucky stuff that strips your hair or cause too much buildup- it has no detergent or harsh chemicals which is a nice change from all the crap we put in our hair, though I've been sulfate free for a few years now with all of those aforementioned keratin treatments. I used about 3-4 pumps on my shoulder length hair and it felt amazing. Don't expect a lot of lather- that's the one thing that may get you but to me it made my hair feel clean in a really natural way. I let it dry naturally while I crawled back in bed for a few with the pup and I swear my hair is not only fluff free but also frizz free- a bonus beyond bonus on a day when there's actually a good bit of humidity in the air.  At this point in the game, finding a new product that works for my hair is a big deal, and I love that this one is actually a really healthy alternative to the whole shampoo and conditioner grind. I'm planning on buying their post shampoo products as well, and I'll let you know how those go, but the verdict on this one is- so far, so great. It's also cool for girls who like to wash every day or every three days- it's not damaging so washing frequently is not going to hurt you. Game changer, ladies. And it seems like stock has been replenished- you can buy it on the website or on Net a Porter and any variety of sources. You should hurry, though. It's a popular item, and for good reason.

Ooh and bonus points for Shu Uemura's Texture Wave Dry Finishing Spray, a great beach wave maker and texturizer that brings your wave to a good place. I've had my eye on this one for a while, and it was worth the wait to get it.  Cause that's what's up this sexy tressed Tuesday in the disheveled chic capital of the world, Brooklyn. Yours, in new products. XO

Good afternoon, Monday. It was a lovely weekend in the BK spent celebrating a family birthday- we had a wonderful time of food, drink, and flea marketing, and even though I had a yucky cold, I soldiered through for the higher purpose of having fun. Wins every time for me, though it explains why I have no voice today.

So as you know, I'm a hired gun or freelancer. I love freelancing. It's a great way to not get stuck in a rut and constantly challenge yourself to jump headfirst into the deep end, with little time to figure out how to keep from drowning. I say that because as a freelancer, you're expected to quickly start a project and the best ones ask very little questions because nobody has time to answer them. (That's why they're calling a freelancer, silly.)

But sometimes in the down moments of no work and after the afterglow of pretending to live the rich life of Cobble Hill housewife where one goes to barre classes at 11 am instead of 5:45 am and where one can shop for fresh kale when nobody else is in Union Market, that clunk happens. The clunk that is a feeling of "what the f am I going to do next"? , better known as, "I gotta get my butt back to work". 

I'm moving in the direction of a bigger endeavor that's entrepreneurial, as I always am. And though I'm grateful for my freelance life, I'm aware that my head is continually banging against that glass ceiling. There's only so many hits on the head you can take, so inevitably as you watch the same story on NY1 over and over, you question what to do, because being a rich Cobble Hill housewife is not really an option. 

And as I sit here in my pajamas with a sore throat, nothing hits me over the head harder than the fact that for most of us, we know what we need to do. I know my instincts are really good- following them is another story. 

So it came as a sort of affirmation as I paged through my new Bazaar this afternoon a story about yet another rich person leaving Manhattan and moving out to the country. Apparently this is some sort of posh trend- in this month's Vogue, former publishing honcho Jonathan Van Meter recalls his move from New York City to Woodstock, where he still manages to wear a Burberry suit, as noted in the above photo. Tree hugging has never been so stylish. He regales readers with tales from his new quaint life which includes a not pretentious look at country life, where everyone has fabulous dinner parties surrounded by trees and artisanal food is available, even when Dean and Deluca is nowhere to be found. A revelation!

Then I had the chance to read the tale of Anne Marie Gardner, a former big time beauty editor, who left the big time to live in Hudson, and never looked back, except to be profiled in Bazaar in a floral Gucci dress  and Vera Wang pink confection all under the guise of living a pastoral life. I do give her credit as she is now the brains behind "Modern Farmer", a magazine celebrating the farmer chic we have all come to covet since Brooklyn became a buzzword. PS don't you feed chickens in Carolina Herrera? No? Shocking.

And as I read these modern "Green Acres" success stories, I want to very much pull a Zsa Zsa and do the same thing. There she is above with her little dog- see how much we have in common? I love New York more than anything, but if I could find a way to have my own business and buy a house in a place like Hudson, I would. Time and time again, I would. Unfortunately, the two profiles I just shared with you will most likely kill any dream I have of doing so- because if those two are in places like Woodstock and Hudson, I'm going to have to go deeper into Schlebutky (is that a word?)  to even stand a chance, and I guarantee you I won't bring my Vera Wang ball gown, because I don't have one. But I do like the bigger message, and the one that has me yearning deep in my gut to do something else, something that is challenging in a new way. I don't like feeling like the city that I love also has me enslaved, and I'm aware that eventually, all of those hits to the head against that aforementioned glass ceiling are gonna smart. Incidentally, the impact is made more severe by the fact that living in Brooklyn was the affordable and chill alternative to city life.  One must go much, much further to even attempt some solace and more cost effective living, and if I am right in my instincts, there's going to be a mass migration out of the city into more suburban and pastoral living- guarantee that those places will be unbearably steep and pretentious too. Thanks, former editors for ruining my dreams. Thanks.

Regardless, I'm feeling a strong pull toward doing something like those lucky bastards above. It's hard not to fantasize about leaving everything behind or at least finding a way to make money that has the freedom to work from anywhere you want. For now, I'm paging through Bazaar, realizing that dream they profile may very well have to be scaled back for us mere mortals, but dreaming big has always been my specialty, it's the actual doing that stops me dead in my tracks. Sigh. Less dreaming, more doing.

And that's what's up this still dreaming/not doing anything kind of  Monday in the BK. Yours, in chic country living and home offices with a view.  Right this second, Green Acres is not the place for me. But you never know what's to come. XO

Good morning, Friday. There's Ebola in my town and peeps be freakin'. I'm not hitting the panic button just yet, cause I'm more concern about the ax wielding maniac that came at two cops yesterday. Oy. This world. Best to just talk about fashion. It's less panic inducing. Can't we all just get along?

So I know I'm obsessed with this jumpsuit thing- you know I love 'em but I'm paranoid about the full frontal bathroom experience that occurs and there's no way to avoid that. But I was a few moments early for dinner with an old friend last night when I decided to pop into Calypso and see what was happening in there. Since Christiane Celle left the brand she started, I've been pretty much boycotting Calypso, because their looks of the last few years have not been nearly as cool and chic as they were under her. But times may be changin' because there were some great looking (albeit spendy) pieces in there for girls who like things a little more Ibiza chic.

So there's this gorgeous faux wrap blouse that comes in cream and black (my two favorite colors). It's a great top, is super flattering and classic and silky and sexy. I love love love this top to wear under a blazer and some trousers, or with jeans and a faux fur vest. It's so pretty. 

But then, then- there was a matching pant situation in black silk that were harem and comfy and super delicious. Put the two together and you've got the glam of a jumpsuit but with a top you don't have to wriggle out of after too many margaritas. I love the look of these two pieces together- and you could even do the creme top with the black bottom and throw on a belt and a blazer and you've got a well put together jam happening. And to me, I like jumpsuits that skew a bit more Studio 54 than auto mechanic, so if you're into what I'm throwing down here, go. Go to Calypso now. This could be your look for evening all fall long, and great for holiday parties too with some metallic shoes and gobs of gold jewelry. Here's a link to the top and here's a link to the bottom. So good. Pants run pretty big ps, top fairly true to size but if you're small on top size down. That's all I've got for ya today.  Oh, and for those of you who want the old school one piece silk vibe, they are also doing this fab jumpsuit. Love. Wear at your own risk, and drink responsibly.

Cause that's what's up this perfect duo of a Friday in the 718. Yours, in two for one specials.