the world according to sherimaven

Good afternoon, Monday. I'm out in Palm Springs where it's hot (a dry heat) and we're doing a photoshoot and having a lovely time. But even though the sky is blue and the palms are majestic and the pool is the perfect temperature, I find myself distracted by the endless photos from Milan as Fashion Week marches on. There's the usual decadent offerings from Dolce and Gabbana, the usual gauzy, diaphony of Alberta Ferretti, and then, then there's Marni. BOW DOWN.

Although I can only claim two pairs of sandals, I'd like to think I am a Marni girl through and through. Her exceptional arty silhouettes are simply my thing. I adore this collection- its ease, its muted palette, its quiet. I want to wear almost all of it, and here are few of my favorite pieces. I can't get enough of the pajama panted look above, and those shorter skirt lengths are a way to do short without feeling weird.

There's so much elegance here- to some these may indeed look too uniform, too staid, but to me they are beautiful and perfect and supremely modern. She did some other lovely prints as well, whole collection here but these were my fav pieces. And since it's the 20th anniversary of the brand, the depth of looks felt like a great nod to the past with a foot very much in the future. Just loved it- quite possibly my favorite collection of everything so far. I'm a humble fan of this new femininity emerging on the runways- maybe designers are realizing that women really want to feel comfortable in clothes that showcase their inner beauty as well as their outer beauty- well done over at Marni if you ask me and looking forward to wearing some version of these looks in the very near future. Cause that's what's up this Italians do it better kind of Monday in Palm Springs, baby. Yours, in a more mindful approach to dress. XO

Good morning, Thursday. NY is a beautiful baby today. Wow. Lovely weather.

So I'm watching the Gucci show for Spring '15 last night and was feeling very meh about it. It's super 70s and I feel like we were just there and wasn't sure if we were ready to go back there again. I caveat that by saying it is hands down my favorite era in fashion, so it's not shocking when I went back and reviewed it this am I fell head over heels in love with it. Gucci is back in such a big way- there's no messing with Gucci's cool rock and roll chicks when the house is at its best, and this was a wonderful collection worthy of Kate Moss sitting in the front row.

But I'm not going to share the many looks with you, most of which are fabulous with all the nods to the 70s you love- fur (I don't support real fur as you know),  military elements, and short skirts. I'm here to share the fabulous jeans in this collection and ok that one leather dress in green because a LEATHER DRESS IN GREEN.

But back to those jeans- I love that a high end designer like Gucci is showing jeans on the runway, and I love the whole cuffed, cropped, less stick skinny silhouette. I have a brilliant pic of my mom somewhere back in the 70s, rocking a cuffed short jean with sky high espadrilles tied at the ankle and she looked so chic. I adore this new jean silhouette and guaranteed me, you, and everyone we knew will be wearing these. No doubt about it. Bonus points for the fab military embellishments- seems to be a bit of military showing up on the cooler runways a la Marc Jacobs' many nods to armed service type detailing. I'm a fan. Perhaps the whole 70s thing is played to death but these jeans feel super new and fresh after so many seasons of skinnies. To me, that was the big story over at the house of double G's, and a statement on just how casual we really have become- the big designers out there are realizing they need to make clothes to complement our lives, and well done for Frida Giannini to acknowledge that clothes are meant to be worn, and then some.

I can't wait to buy a pair of jeans like this next Spring- most likely will not be by Gucci but I'll find a suitable style in the manner of this fab collection for sure. Well done, Gucci. Still so cool after all these years. Don't think I don't have my eye on a Jackie bag too. So chic.

And that's what's up this denimy Thursday in the 212. Yours, in blue jean babies and  LA ladies, courtesy of Gucci's fun looks for Spring '15. XO

Good afternoon, Wednesday. Halfway there, living on a prayer and such. 

This past weekend I got to see a dear friend of mine- we were very close when we were both crazy young little fucks running around the city, but lost touch over the years because, well, we were dumb little fucks running around the city. I got married and moved to Miami, and it was a long time before I heard from said friend again, who reconnected with me on Facebook a few years ago when I came back to the city.

Now this is a person who has really been through it- there were issues with just about everything you can imagine and for a long time, this friend of mine was pretty lost in a life that was not for her. After seeking help and getting through it, she became the person she is today- a person who is conscious, practices yoga on the regs, and has her own successful business. But wait, this story gets better.

So this girl has an apartment, a studio apartment on 2nd Avenue on the Upper East Side for as long as I have known her, let's say about 15 years. 15 years in the same apartment. 15 years with soot from Second Avenue seeping into your kitchen every bloody day. 15 years of the awful, awful, beyond awful 6 train. As we reconnected and she came out to Brooklyn to see me a few times for brunch and shopping dates, she told me she seriously wanted out of that apartment, but was feeling scared. This apartment was basically free (rent controlled) and the only place she had really known as a grown woman in New York. She thought about Brooklyn, and realized for her, it didn't feel quite right. 

But then she found the most amazing apartment- on a positively perfect block- West 12th between 5th and 6th. This weekend, I had the pleasure of seeing it- overlooking a beautiful courtyard with a huge living room and wonderfully "New York" neighbors- theatre people, academic people, and people offering to show her how to grow a garden on her patio. After many hugs and pinches of disbelief, we got in a Zip Car and wandered up to ABC Warehouse in the Bronx, and picked out a beautiful sofa and rug for her living room. As I looked at my friend, still funny and beautiful after all of these years, I felt so much warmth and happiness for her. She kept saying how she couldn't believe her luck in finding such a gorgeous apartment in her price range, and how it seemed unreal to even ponder an apartment full of new things and new possibilities. But even though New York real estate is a scary game and even having space for a sofa in the city is a gift, I did not feel surprised or shocked the way she did, and I told her so. You know why? Because this girl did the work. I mean, she really did the most amazing amount of work. 

She dealt with her issues, got her life together, and made things right with me and who knows whom else. As I stood there with her, I realized how important it is to simply do "the work;  whatever that work may be. I felt her gratitude, respect, and relief for this new part of her life that was about to begin. And the best part was that she deserved this to happen, and really there's no coincidences, even though Streeteasy may be a serendipitous app that shows you where all of the best apartments are in the neighborhood where you happen to be taking a yoga class or meeting a friend for lunch. There are no accidents or by chance encounters when you do the work, because everything good that happens is something that you have earned, and only good can come from that. 

I guess what I was thinking about was that we spend so much time on our jobs and our bodies and our love lives, but are we focused on the real work that needs to be done- feeling fulfilled, satisfied, healthy? Being a better person does not come from a promotion, smaller waist, or hot new boyfriend, you know. That stuff is solely up to you. And not that the other stuff is not fabulous, but some of it can feel empty if you're not the person you know you were meant to be.

So I ask you on this beautiful Wednesday- are you doing the work? I know I could be working a lot harder- and though it seems like I work all the time, that's not really the "work" I mean. I mean- am I doing everything I need to do to get where I want to be? Could I somehow do more? I can't help but think about my friend and how much time and energy she put in to making the life she wants to have. If you do the work, you get the reward- whether it's running a marathon, falling in love, or opening a store that sells pet sweaters. It's all about the work you put in to get there. And ps- it's not just about setting a goal or intention- it's about dedicating yourself completely to being as good as you can be, and true, sometimes that's not enough. But I have to believe trying is worth it, well worth it. Oh, and all bets are off if you are not somehow humbled by how far you have come. Because if you choose to do the work and get some of that good stuff and then shit on the people or things that helped you get there, all bets are off, because karma is a doozy. My point- just because you get there, you've got to keep working to stay there. 

I felt so very inspired by my pal and wish her a wonderful move- a move that represents so much more than just a nicer apartment and a new sofa. It's the culmination of a new way of life, one that was fueled by a huge amount of blood, sweat, and tears to do that work. Now I better get back to it, because I myself have all kinds of work to do, because I just am trying to look forward and keep moving. Just felt like sharing. Cause that's what's up this willful Wednesday in the 212. Yours, in loads of work to do. XO

Good afternoon, pals.

It's a gorgeous Fall day in NYC and I'm happy to have had a glorious weekend.

I got to go to two fabulous events, one in support of Badass Brooklyn, an animal rescue organization I follow and who happens to have some very cute little doggies up for adoption. They had a great little block party in Gowanus and Khan had the time of his life. Not only did he get to have homemade dog ice cream from Shake Shack (I was scared his eyes were just going to completely pop out of his head he was so excited), but we got him the cutest little coat from local brand Billy Wolf, a fabulous bespoke dog line consisting of the most adorable little bandanas and coats all made from recycled fabrics right here in the US of A. Here's a pic of the coat from the site and here is Mr. Khan man in his new neckerchief. Yes, I said neckerchief. How cute, right? He's such a mcnugget.

Then we went to the Renegade Craft Fair, an awesome outdoor market full of the most incredible handmade stuff I've seen in a long time. Not only was everything reasonably priced, but there was an incredible bounty of beautifully made and appointed items- I discovered this awesome bag line called Vaalbara, which is a cool brand that does vintage Mexican fabrics with leather bags- I bought an oversized envelope clutch to house my computer because neoprene is just so meh.  And the woman who makes them is a rad chick from LA, who donates a portion of all sales to the Surfrider Foundation, so double bonus for not only shopping small, but shopping with purpose. 

We saw so many good things, and also fell in love with Sean Mort's super cool graphic prints from the UK. We bought this New York bookshelf print (he also sells frames right there which is very clever) , as well as this super cool print from the Salt and Sea that will be great by our record player.

There's no place where I feel more inspired than to be surrounded by people making their own designs. Martha Stewart, who coincidentally sponsors the fair around the country, had a great quote recently that stayed with me. Instead of women trying to "lean in", more women should really (and this is my wording) "step out" as in step out on their own. Why bother climbing an endless staircase to some boring glass ceiling? Why think about getting older vs. getting better, why not just make your own way and steer clear of endless corporate BS? 

As I stood surrounded by so much great stuff, I realized that maybe we're all a bit fatigued by the whole maker/Brooklyn thing, but today's next gen of entrepreneurs is an absolute force to be reckoned with; and it gives me so much hope that so many people are making stuff, doing stuff, and selling stuff. I think if we get it right we may just re-establish a middle class, wherein the middle class is a happy class of people who just want some freedom from the corporate world and just want to be creative and make a living. It seems that now more than ever, that may not be too much to ask. I love this and am going to try and channel this into my very own maker future, wherever that may take me. Even if I may never make necklaces or batik dyed tunics or bags made of old Honduran blankets, I'm going to channel that spirit in my work- where everything I do has my own personal signature and it's done with love. Can't fail that way, can you? 

I hope we get to make some stuff together, by the way. But in the meantime, be aware of all of the great things being made around you- for you, for your puppy, for your life.  DIY as the photo of these two awesome, happy people tell us. It's the only way. And that's what's up this makin' it happen of a Monday in the 212. Yours, in good stuff.  You gotta make something to be something. XO

Good afternoon, Friday. Khan and I are holding it down and keeping it real. New York is a beautiful place today- I'm mad for Fall and that's that. Loves it.

So last night as I sat and watched the news and took Khan for a walk, staring out at the beautiful double beam of light coming from lower Manhattan, I felt so much sadness, but as somebody on my feed so aptly pointed out- the incredible message and tribute that those two rays of light evoke are important- from darkness comes light, and this is something we have to try and take with us. It's hard to see any good that has come from such a horrific event- but the fact that we are able to keep going while never forgetting is a testament to the power of humility and grace in the face of so much sadness. G-d bless New York, today and always.

And as I settled in to the evening with my pup, I was thrilled for a little fashion relief in the form of the Marc Jacobs show, which was shown on a live feed, as most shows are these days. Apparently, Marc's marketing chops are as spot on as ever, because each attendee was given a set of Beats headphones to listen to something that only they would be able to hear, creating a more personal experience in the face of everybody being able to watch from the privacy of their own homes. Ain't nothing like the real thing, and Mr. Jacobs knows that better than anyone. I also like the interpretation that Marc was giving a not so subtle wink to the way "technology controls our lives". I don't disagree. 

I say this because I just finished reading "Champagne Supernovas", a fantastic book about the cooler than cool fashion world of the 90s, particularly focusing on Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, and Kate Moss. I guarantee you will not be able to put this book down- a fun read meant for a lazy day. And reading about the rise and fall of McQueen and the rise and fall and rise again of both Jacobs and Moss was fascinating. Marc is a survivor- a survivor of a rather torrid upbringing, a young adulthood where his friends and lovers were dying of AIDS, and a well documented struggle with drugs. And not only is Marc a survivor, but an incredible barometer for trends- love him or hate him, he has always had an incredible knack for knowing what will sell, and what people want. It's hard to imagine Bleecker Street without his many stores, but he had the insight to know that was the place to be, back when the only game in town over there were some overrated cupcakes made famous by Carrie Bradshaw.

But I digress because I want to talk about his collection, and how it may very well have been the best of the entire week. You must watch it in motion because it's better that way. Trust me...here's the link. 

Many will disagree- there's girls all with the same wig on, walking like zombies in military garb. Yup. That's about right.

But if you look a little deeper and understand that the best trend focused fashion is like a cultural sieve, sifting through what feels powerful and important now, you would realize what a genius collection this is. It's obvious our military involvement overseas has made many of us weary and scared for the future. And this is an obvious nod to that, but in a way that is way more 60s revolutionary than soldier. The Style.com review references Marc's inspiration for this collection as Grace Slick, and the cool chicks of that era who wore military looks as a reaction to the times, and to fight for something more peaceful and non violent. 

I think this collection was also a comment on our sameness, our desire to stand out has somehow resulted in all of us looking the same- think of Gap's "Dress Normal" campaign, or the "like" culture we participate in almost every day. And yes, there were amazing dresses in here that I would wear every day, but so would everybody else- and I guarantee you Dr. Scholls had a real moment last night online when everyone and their chic mother tried to buy a pair because Marc had his own version on the runway. Standouts for me were the variety of dresses- some short, some long, all pretty fabulous, wearable, and modern.  I love the short coat dresses (short a huge trend runway wide for Spring ps- so get ready), and adore that mossy green color of many of the pieces. 

Perhaps the themes are a bit too obvious, a not so subtle sledgehammer between the eyes about where we are at this point in the game. But I have always loved fashion not just for the clothes, but for the social commentary they provide. And Marc to me is the ultimate anthropologist/fashion designer- he seems to know what we want before we even want it, and I guarantee we are all going to want to wear some version of these looks- even if they end up being from Zara, who will have a field day knocking these properly off. I think Marc know that the greatest form of flattery is imitation, and sending a bunch of women down the runway that all have the same look is a wonderful way to get that across. I want to be in Marc's army too- I find his pieces and genius are well worth fighting for.

And that's what's up this fighting for my rights kind of Friday in the good old US of A. Marc, I salute you, and all that you bring to the game. XO

PS...some things you'll want to know from the collections, a quick off the toppa trend rundown, so you know what to expect when all starts blooming next year:

Yellow and blue everywhere, and loads of green- some brights, some more muted, but a marked return to color and optimism

A return to a more feminine silhouette and a move away from super normcore

Shorter skirt lengths, reflecting an economy on the rise

Belly baring pieces- why won't this trend go away already?

Loads of prints from nature- think leaf prints and a continuation of tropical looks from this past season

Mesh and techno fabric big as well as we explore wearables and extreme tech

Good morning, friends. 

Today's a hard day for America. And the world.

In general, I'm not one for dates. Of course my wedding day is important to me, and the day my father died is one I can't forget. But on my birthday I'm not one to go for major celebrations, I like to keep things low key. On New Year's Eve, I loath the pressure to go out and go crazy, I much prefer to mark the year ahead and the one that's past with a few key friends and loved ones. I guess my point is that I tend to find, after time, that key dates become, well, more like any other day after time passes, and that I'm somewhat apathetic to dates that mark some big occasion in general. But not today.

Today is different. It's been 13 years since the lives of New Yorkers and Americans and global citizens changed forever, and I can never, ever forget that. I can never forget sitting in an office in Soho, doing a freelance job, when we all sat around a table wondering what was going on. I remember feeling disconnected from everyone at the office, who had all started hugging and crying as we figured out just what to do. I remember grabbing my one friend there, who has since passed away, and walking him home- he to the East Village and me to Stuyvesant Town. I remember a cup of free coffee and people huddling around car radios in disbelief and watching ghosts walk up Broadway.  I remember because I simply can never forget. 

In the years since 9/11, we were never really the same, and the country has struggled to get its footing back after being attacked on our own shores. We have a new President since the towers fell, and a new set of enemies that we have to deal with that seem scarier and more horrific than the ones before. We have come together in New York City, we have grieved, we have cried, and for many of us, we have moved on. I left this beautiful city for some time as you know, and coming back, I watched as a new tower went up, One World Trade Center, and I reconnected with what I loved about this city- the quick pace, the ability to just get on with it, the extremely tough challenges of living here. 

Since 9/11, we have suffered a punishing economy and wondered how we would bounce back. For me, what's new is a feeling of hopelessness- Obama's very brand was based on hope and lately, I'm feeling less hopeful and scared again of what's to come. I don't feel confident in our leadership, I wonder why our city and country is so grossly uneven in terms of opportunity, and I wonder why we can't just get the hell out of the Middle East, though of course I know it's more complex than that. I wonder how as Americans we can find a way to feeling proud again, without the help of some crazy Tea Party type who yearns for an America I just don't want to be a part of. I want my America back, or at least I want an America that feels more closely aligned to a sense of safety, freedom, and opportunity, and most of all, optimism. 

I wondered as I watched a document on Gadaffi the other night why leadership in the Arab world is such that there is no voice coming from those that oppose such lunatics, perhaps because they are not lucky enough to live in a country where they can speak freely. It's hard to imagine that with so much pain and tragedy and bloodshed, a Martin Luther King, Gandhi, or Mandela has not emerged from that part of the world to say enough is enough. These are things I wonder as I sit here and never forget. How is it possible that with so many not one voice can emerge and say "no more"?  

I wonder why this pain will never really heal, why as I sit and watch the Today show this morning and see the memorial services for loved ones why we still have no real closure on this, even with Osama Bin Laden taken out in a blaze of glory. I wonder why every time it's a clear and beautiful day in September it's hard for me to really enjoy it, because it always reminds me of THAT day.

13 years later and I am back in New York with a dog and a husband and an apartment in Brooklyn. 13 years later I have more lines on my face and feel stronger than I was then. 13 years later I still get choked up that I get to live in this beautiful, crazy city, one of the great loves of my life. I can't ever forget what this city has given me- a sense of self, a wonderful journey meeting the most amazing friends and coworkers, a chance to be surrounded by everything I hold dear- the arts, fashion, conversation, and of course, wit.  

13 years later and I still feel so much emotion on this day as I try to move on, as we all try to move on.  This is a day we can never forget, because it's impossible to do so. It's a day that changed our lives forever, how we felt as Americans, and how we felt about this city. I still love you New York and though I fear what's to come amidst news that we are going to pursue air strikes in Syria, I have to find a way to have some hope again, because next year at this time, the feeling will be very much the same, but I'd like to combine my remembrance with just a bit more hope, that we can commemorate and remember and be a little less fearful of a world that will never be the same again. And though every year I mark this day with quiet reflection and feel gratitude to not have lost anyone, this year feels more raw somehow, because I don't feel we've come far enough in this horrible battle yet I don't want us to have to fight anymore.

To all of those that lost someone on this day, I wish I could hug each and every one of you. To the firefighters, to the police department, to the first responders, to the rescue dogs, to the survivors- I salute you. It's for all of you that I will never forget. And to my city and adopted hometown and most favorite place, stay strong, and never forget what we've been through. They are reading the names of the dead on television and marking this day with the honor it deserves.  I love New York as much today as I did then, and it's for this city that I will never, ever forget. This is a photo I took from the Promenade the other night, a beautiful testament to the most beautiful city in the world. I feel lucky to live here and I will never, ever forget.  XO

Aloha, Wednesday. I've been super nesting lately in the evenings, retiring to my sofa with a good bottle of something and both loves of my life (K + D) by my side. Needless to say, I'm happy "American Ninja Whatever" is over. David made me watch it and I found myself endlessly bored- I'm sure real Ninjas are way more interesting (actually, I know they are- but that's for another time).

Another subculture you may be bored with are vampires. We're all kinds of vampired out I know but I have to make a strong recommend that you park yourself on your very own sofa and On Demand the crap out of "Only Lovers Left Alive", the new film from Jim Jarmusch exploring the world of some very chic undead types. The male lead is played by Tom Hiddleston as the depressed, Jim Morrison/Lord Byronesque musician who lives in a decaying mansion in Detroit. PS Detroit at night provides some amazing scenics. And then along came Tilda who plays his long distance love interest, and centuries old too boot . World rocked.

Tilda is some chick, man. I can't get enough of her alien angel vibe. In this film, she plays a bohemian vampire with long pallid hair and an amazing wardrobe. She lives in Morocco (Morocco by night also awesome and a setting to inspire) and rocks everything from prayer gowns to what appears to be Rick Owens deconstructed leather pieces in atypical light colors, by Vampire standards of course. And a certain literary figure from history makes an appearance that is awesome and touching and very cool.

This is a quiet little movie that is beautiful to look at, romantic, and one for those who admire the works of Byron and company- maybe it's cliched that a depressed Jim Morrison of a vampire loves the work of Byron, but no matter. I loved this movie and highly recommend you see it, if not for Tilda's unearthly skulk around moody, dark Tangier and her fashion sense alone- boho vampires rock. She's everything. Sampling of some stills above. Who's better than her? And further, how much do I love a well styled film? So. Much. And one more question- how amazing would she have been as Eric's love interest in "True Blood"? Way better than that yokel Sookie Stackhouse, right?

Cause that's what's up this taking a bite kind of Wednesday in the 212. Yours, in true romance. XO

Good morning, Tuesday. It's a beautiful chilly day in the neighborhood and I'm feeling giddy because Fall is everything, and that's that.

So bypassing Fall and Winter are the Spring shows in New York, of course, and in general, I was seeing some nice things, but nothing that made me really feel something, because good clothes do that to me by the way. And though I loved the Versus show and its rock and roll edge, my wheelhouse has moved past that into something that feels both modern and ancient at once. Ladies and gentleman (as in the one gentleman who may be reading this), I give you The Row. Those Olsens knocked it out of the park yet again, and here's why.

The Row is on a whole other level when it comes to fashion, because really The Row is about true style. What is so genius about this collection is that when you look at these beautiful garments, so carefully and mindfully constructed, I feel like the yin is grounded in an ancient Japanese Zen, while the yang is taking off into the future- because these are clothes that feel postmodern to me- free of artifice, gimmicks, or trends. I've been struggling to figure out how long this whole normcore moment is going to last, but to me, these pieces are the next logical step- clothes that are so transcendentally classic, they quietly tell a story that is just pure magic in my mind- the phrase restrained bohemian comes to mind.  So elegant, so what I'd want to wear every day, so easygoing and casual yet artfully formal.  All week I've been looking at collections and seeing some good things (the Donna Karan collection show had some real feminine loveliness that never went girly, more strong), but this is a collection that just sort of blew me away. I pictured these clothes accompanying me to the Far East, the West, and wherever else I'd want to go- how carefully I'd pack them into some beautiful suitcase.  If I had all the money, I would wear this brand alone. What else would I really need? That navy dress and pants is the past, present, and future, and all of those beautiful skirts are standouts- and the cream color is such a lovely soft counterpoint to white- where white is stark, cream has a more warm and fuzzy intellectual side. These are delicate clothes for a harsh world. Full stop. The end. 

And although The Row satisfies the quiet aesthete in me, Rag and Bone speaks to my inner downtown. I adored this collection and there were pieces created to sell, which is a wonderful thing in my mind because it means people can actually wear these pieces- this is also the intent of normcore nation but these looks are just so much more fun, so much more polished, and so much more effortlessly chic.

Both lines feature a silhouette I am in love with- the longer dress or cardigan with a wider pant. I like clothes that move and flow, and these are standouts. Some may see these clothes are best worn by very tall women, but really, I think there's an innate wearability in all of these pieces if attention is paid to how to accessorize them (very sparingly) and how to tailor them to fit your body. 

I think that although the economy is (supposedly) turning around and we come to a more hopeful place, I feel that style and fashion are still notions that can show emotion, and in both cases above, a mindfulness and quiet reflection. These are pieces that are far, far away from vulgarity, objectification, and flash in the pan ideals. Bravo to both The Row and Rag and Bone for giving us some clothes to really think about. 

And that's what's up this silently stylish Tuesday in the very loud 212. Yours, in a more spiritual approach to dress.  I'm a believer. XO

Good afternoon, Monday. You're moving a bit fast for me I gotta say but I'm along for the ride so giddy up.

As Fashion Week continues, I can't help but look at a lot of the clothes in the New York shows and feel that designers may be slightly fed up with the whole normcore thing. There's loads of prints (leaflike) and bright colors (blue a huge one for Spring) as well as really pretty muted greens, yellows, and pinks that have a dusky appeal.

But then the Versus show comes and oh, snap. Rock and roll is here to stay.

I can't underestimate just how much this show made me smile. It's Anthony Vaccarello's first nod for the house of Versace, and damn if it was not just a fabulous and sexy collection, and all available for sale right after the show, which was yesterday. That's an ingenious idea, as is this collection that has an accessible sex appeal for girls who appreciate the wonders of a little black anything. Throw in a white blouse or some gold lame and you are ready to board a private jet with the Stones, circa Exile on Main Street era. 

As someone who is not much of a Versace girl, there are pieces here I would be more than happy to wear, and there's loads for the type of woman who wants to have a moment in the spotlight- I picture these as "FU" looks- the piece you would want to be wearing when your ex is at that big party and realized the error of his ways, that outfit you'd want when you get backstage for the Black Keys at Barclays, that business meeting in Tokyo at some underground izakaya. You know where I'm going with these- these are looks that are anything but normcore- they're hot, sexy, and strong and super rock and roll. And I like them. Yes I do. Because I love gold lame, I love slinky all black, and I love leather. And I love clothes with a little bit of attitude (ok a lot) and snarl a la rock high priestesses like Joan Jett or cool as shit French girls like Caroline de Maigret, who always brings a bit of androgynous cool to her cool as shit style. Oh, and big bonus points are in order for figuring out a way to take those iconic Versace safety pins and make them look fresh and fabulous.

Cause that's what's up this bravo Donatella/Anthony kind of Monday in the 212. Yours, in armchair fashion editing and cherry bombs and dead flowers. Rock on. Rebellious clothes never looked sexier. XO

Hi, Friday. It's been a long week somehow. The heat is killing me. I am now officially over Summer and ready for Fall. Thanks Mother Nature for reminding me why I love Fall so much. 

So it was with great sadness that I read about the untimely passing of a comedy icon, Joan Rivers. Loved her or loathed her, there's no denying that she was born to perform and make people laugh. The loss of another comedy treasure a few weeks back, Robin Williams, also took us by complete surprise. It's very hard to lose people that have a gift to make us laugh- there's nothing better than laughter and humor and in these times where it often feels that crying is more appropriate than laughing, we need comedians more than ever. 

And as I thought about how I grew up with Joan and always loved her, I also remembered that I was born the same day as another wacky woman comedian, Phyllis Diller. Imagine those two in a room. I'm guessing you'd want to be on their good side.

So it was with the importance of wit and fun in mind that I loved looking at the Honor presentation at Fashion Week for Spring '15. I've not been quiet here about my love for a more minimal and spare silhouette, and my embrace of this whole normal dressing epoch we all seem to have loosened up our waistbands to embrace. But it's clothes like these that make me remember what's truly fun about fashion, and that life is bloody serious business, so why not have some fun with style?  I adore the vintage POV, the slash of blue eyeshadow (blue being a very dominant trend so far on the runways for Spring), and the feminine and freewheelin' vibe of these clothes. Loving the little white dresses with candy accents- adorable beyond adorable (scroll through the above for a ton of images from the show).

If I were a bit younger and looking for a way to stand out as a bride, this little number above would be my numero uno pick with the cute little babydoll top and long skirt, and here would be my bridesmaids, pretty in blue and printed. Also I'm loving the ice blue gown below- my mother wore ice blue when she was a bride and I always thought it was one of her best choices. These clothes made me smile, that weird little scrubby bubble print is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen, and I adore the moddish coats (very well constructed to boot) that show off a good set of gams. The short length is also big news for Spring, and in typical fashion philosophy, hemlines tend to go up when the economy is good, so perhaps happy days are here again?

We sure could use that. If laughter is indeed the best medicine, then this collection is the cure. Go ahead and think about having some fun next Spring when it all starts blooming again. There's nothing wrong with enjoying (and wanting to look like) a girl. Love. And that's what's up this frocky Friday in the 212. Yours, in armchair fashion reporting. XO