The Sun Is Out, but We're Still Wearing Our Wellingtons

The Sun Is Out, but We're Still Wearing Our Wellingtons

Mr. Weatherman, I have a bone to pick with you. You promised me on each and every news station you were on last night that it was going to be raining cats and dogs here in New York City. Your predictions made it sound like a typhoon was going to descend on the isle of Manhattan, warning drivers to be especially careful on the roads on what was sure to be a blustery day.

Like any good, responsible working girl, I decided to pick out my office look the night before to best prepare myself for leaving the house in the morning, I dug deep into my closet to pull out my Wellies, and since I was going to be wearing rain boots, I had to pair them with some sort of skinny pant. (I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand it when I wear a boot cut or any looser fitting type with boots and they get all bunched up. So annoying, and uncomfortable, right?) And ever since breakfasting with Kelly Rutherford two weeks ago at the Gramercy Hotel, I’ve been obsessed with jodhpurs, so went and picked myself up a pair by Maggie Ward and I’m in love.

Since the Wellingtons make this a more casual look, I figured I’d go for a plaid flannel to usher in what I envisioned would be the first real day of fall, adding just a hint of chic with my black cashmere wrap I bought last season. Hey, a girl’s gotta look her best, even if it is Friday.

I laid out my outfit, satisfied with the look I culled together--I wasn’t going to let the weather be a reason not to look stylish.

After I caught some late night reruns of Seinfeld and The Simpsons, it was off to lalaland I went, getting my full eight hours before starting another work day. It was the wind that woke me up this morning, and I was expecting to see trees and telephone poles collapsed on the brownstones and cars that line my Brooklyn street. So how surprised was I that the sun was shining, the ground completely dry. There wasn’t any time to figure out a new outfit--I had to rush to take a quick shower and make some coffee before it was time for me to leave my apartment. Thankfully I looked good, even if I did look like I was ready to go skipping through puddles.

But hey, the day isn’t over yet. The weatherman has time to redeem himself, but I have a feeling that since I’m uber-prepared for the rain, it probably won’t ever come. It’s just how these things go.

Sigh.

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Taking a Sick Day

Taking a Sick Day

Waking up this morning was hard. Admittedly, it probably wasn’t too responsible of me to have gone out on a school night, but I had a date with one of my dear, dear friends, and we had some serious catching up to do. Work problems, boy problems--you know how these nights go. The stuff best talked out over a nice stiff cocktail. And the mixologists at the Counting Room in Williamsburg knew just how to serve us up. And FYI, the Lazy Spring and the Hollagolla were just what the doctor ordered.

There was a reason for our hang, though; it wasn’t just about gossiping and drinking--though there’s always room for that. But we wanted to see a band. Yep, just your typical ladies night, Brooklyn style. This amazing band North Highlands played a free show at Brooklyn Bowl, which is probably the hippest bowling alley you’ll ever step foot into. Like, for real. Bowling, booze, bands--a hipster haven, if there ever was one.

So there we were, surrounded by some seriously styled music lovers, sipping our cocktails, bopping our heads, dancing in the crowd with everyone else who made sure to bring their dancing shoes. All of which made for a night out in funtown. And the fact that I met Max, a charming lumberjack hottie with his requisite flannel and some scruffy facial hair to complete his Paul Bunyan look, who chatted me up in between sets and asked for my number before the night was over, well it just made an already great night that much more memorable.

But right about now I’m thinking that I probably should have had dinner before hittin’ the sauce. So I plan to stay in bed on this chilly October day, staying comfy and cozy in my Jasmine Di Milo wool/cashmere knit sweater, napping and letting my Netflix Watch Instantly keep me company.

Oh, but wait. What’s this? Max just texted me and wants to get coffee! Well, I can surely drag my butt out of bed for this! I just need to make sure to put on some concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Thankfully this sweater is so chic with the open-seam detailing in the back, all I need to do is throw some black leggings on complete my effortless look. And hiding behind my Ray-Bans can’t hurt either.

Wish me luck!

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Maiden Voyage

Maiden Voyage

In case you haven’t heard, there are some people out there who aren’t too crazy about our country calling a national holiday for Christopher Columbus. A public service announcement has been floating through the ethers of the Internet, asking Americans to reconsider the celebration that takes place each October, placing the blame on this man for bringing slavery to the New World, its repercussions still haunting us today, over 500 years since the explorer from Spain first set foot on our land, mistaking the Americas for the West Indies.

While this debate will no doubt continue, leaving future generations to ponder why so many bank holidays celebrate the history of American brutality (We're looking at you, Thanksgiving!), there’s always an upside to any situation, and since this is a fashion blog, we’ll give you one guess as to what we can celebrate about ol’ Chrissy boy.

That’s right. We're talking clothes. It’s no news to you that fashion repeats itself, and so much of Columbus’ style from 1492 is relevant today. The ruffled collar, a relic of its time, has been immortalized in countless portraits--and countless blouses. The puffed shoulders popular in 15th-century garb was reinvented in the ’80s with shoulder pads that Bea Arthur wore so well on The Golden Girls. Last year's runways were littered with its latest incarnation: the power, pointed version that Christophe Decarnin peppered throughout Balmain’s Fall 2010 collection. Not to mention the slops men wore back in the day--you know, those fancy ballooning shorts? Though not exactly the hottest commodity in menswear, women’s skirts took a cue from this fashion back in 2006 when the bubble hem was all the rage.

Which is not to say that Christopher Columbus’ actions should go overlooked. We just wanted to lighten up the mood a bit, and try to make Columbus Day a little less political and a little more sartorial…

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