Style Essentials- The Black Patent Pump

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Hope you all had a lovely weekend. We had a nice reprieve from the scorching heat and humidity in the form of nice crisp breezes. 

The word that comes to mind when it comes to my wardrobe is CONTENTMENT. I take pleasure (and a bit of pride) in only adding items that will meld seamlessly with my wardrobe. Oftentimes, finding these items is an exercise in patience. One such item is the black patent leather pump. 

The black patent pump is an essential in my wardrobe- it’s elegant, graceful and chic. Perfect for every occasion- it transitions easily from day to night. I keep a pair of black patent pumps at the office. For a while, I’ve been looking for a pump to replace a pair of black patent pumps that had seen better days. Since patent leather is easy to maintain, I kept breathing new life into my pumps.

The black patent pump is an investment piece in many professional wardrobes and yet elusive. My criteria for the “perfect black patent pump” includes-

• A subtle pointed/almond toe to balance a sturdy heel
• 4 inch heel
• Quality leather lining, sole and uppers
• A single piece of leather lining the instep from the tip of the toe to the heel. (This speaks to the craftsmanship and quality. The alternative is when the heel is attached separately. The sole of the shoe is sturdier when a single piece of leather lines the instep.)
• A timeless shape (Not dated or overly trendy.)
• Discretion- No red soles

When I spotted these on sale at Bergdorf (Bergdorf does a great shoe sale) I scooped them up. The Manolo Blahnik Tuccio pumps met all of my criteria. Very little caught my eye in the sales. Due to the distribution size curve in which buyers purchase items, I rarely find the items that I covet early in the season on sale in my size. The Manolo Blahnik Tuccio pumps were a pleasant surprise and have quickly become a wardrobe essential that I’ve been living in.

Have you indulged in the sales?

No Fuss

Blouse: Peter Soronen, Necklace: Chanel, Skirt: Rachel Roy, Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. The weather here is gorgeous. Here are just a few pictures taken en route to the Accepted Students Party I hosted at our alumni clubhouse on Saturday. The clubhouse is easily one of my favorite places in New York- it’s such a beautiful space to get lost in, but more importantly there’s always a friendly face and I always leave with a few new friendships. Clearly, my parents feel similarly because upon hearing that the party was later that afternoon, my dad couldn’t get there fast enough- I love it!

As you all know, I love looking polished, but under no circumstances does that mean fussy. When it comes to important events, I gravitate to pieces that have worked for me time and again. This blouse and skirt is one of my fail-safe options- it’s elegant, chic, comfortable, wrinkle-proof and meets the club’s imposed dress code.

This blouse is one of my favorites. I have the best memories of visiting Peter Soronen’s atelier a few years ago and putting the finishing touches on my blouses (you can see the other blouse here). It happened to be the day before the Grammy Awards and Peter was busy putting the finishing touches on an amazing gown for one of the nominees. It would have been far easier for me to come back at another time, but I was welcomed in, and immediately in my element- poking around at all of the gorgeous eveningwear, including samples of Michelle Obama’s Twilight Gown. 

I have long admired Peter Soronen’s work for the craftsmanship, structure and shape. Both of my blouses illustrate the skilled manner in which Peter works with lace.  I love that he uses lace in an unexpected and modest manner. In his words, he likes to design “for a woman who’s strong, who likes a garment that’s well built, who understands her clothes.” I like to think that I’m that woman.  

Speaking of strong women, I’m wearing a skirt by Rachel Roy, who is such an inspiration. Several of the foundation pieces in my wardrobe are from her early collections. She wears her own designs and always looks flawless, while humbly balancing motherhood, a demanding career and her charities. I appreciate the inherent ease to this skirt.

Do you have any fail-safe items in your wardrobe? I would love to hear. 

PS- My necklace deserves a post of its own, but I can say that patience is a virtue when sourcing for a very specific item.

Edit- How appropriately timed is this article? Honestly, I've been wearing lace in a sophisticated manner forever.

Running In Heels

“Why yes boys, I run in heels.” 

Recently, while running to an unexpected and quickly called meeting, my shoes were called into question. How would I, in heels, ever keep up with the boys? All eyes quickly scanned to my Manolo Blahnik clad feet. For beautiful, well-crafted footwear that’s professional, I constantly turn to Manolo Blahnik. He knows how to make a gorgeous shoe that’s comfortable for long hectic days. It’s quicker to walk, when headed over to the east side in the middle of the day. Without going into further detail, I can only say that it’s difficult to believe that in the year 2012 a conversation was being had about my footwear. My response, “why yes, I run in heels.”

I love a beautiful heel, but movement and comfort are paramount. To be frank, I don’t have trouble running around in heels. I never have. In my opinion, there’s nothing worse then a woman struggling to walk in heels. A four-inch heel just feels manageable to me. Let it be known that I equally love flats.

I picked up these two pairs of shoes, from the Manolo Blahnik boutique, a couple of days before Fashion Week. I believe in investing in quality footwear. I always look forward to shopping at the Manolo Blahnik boutique- it’s an intimate space with a lovely terrace. The boutique is across the street from MOMA, which is always a wonderful way to while away an afternoon. The helpful staff makes a point to get to know your wardrobe and style. Growing up, my dad always said,  “you should feel good about how and where you spend your money,” which is such wonderful advice. 

My Personal Photos

The gray flannel pumps are exactly what I’ve been looking for, to punch up black. The leather piping adds an unexpected touch. As for the suede boots, my narrow feet and small calf muscles, make boot shopping arduous. There was just something about the fit and the asymmetrical fold at the top that won me over. I was slow to warm to chocolate brown, but sometimes (in the same vain as navy) it just looks a bit more luxurious and richer than black. In the age of the  “it shoe” I appreciate that Manolo Blahnik makes a beautiful shoe that’s timeless. 

Interestingly enough, news of a Manolo Blahnik/J.Crew collaboration dominated Fashion Week. Last month in this insightful interview* Manolo Blahnik made it clear that he wouldn’t do a mass-market product, if it meant polluting the brand. This particular collaboration seems a bit different. Manolo Blahnik’s iconic Bebe heel will be sold at J.Crew in exclusive prints and colors. Only time will tell, but I love what he’s doing with Lane Crawford here. Collaborating with brands that share his love of craftsmanship and artistry in an innovative and unique way.

*This interview is worth reading for the designer’s perspective on style. I find that I have very similar views in many aspects. 

** I will put together a post on shoe care and maintenance. For those who have asked about caring for Repettos, I have some tips here. 

Switching Up

My Personal Photos 

3.1 Phillip Lim Silk Blouse, J. Crew Cropped Trousers, Manolo Blahnik Shoes, Tiffany & Co. Hand Engraved Bracelet

We all know that I love my skirts and dresses, but every once in a while I like to switch things up with a pair of trousers. There's something so sharp and smart about a pair of trousers that's tailored to perfection. Lately, I've come to appreciate the beauty in a pair of pants. What's prettier than a pair of pants billowing in the wind? I fall hard for beautiful clothes and silhouettes that look even prettier in motion. This little skirt (click link) is the perfect example.

I have been wearing these J. Crew pants nonstop. I found them hidden away deep on J.Crew.com. They feature so many things that I love- a touch of ankle, a fabric that's suitable year-round, a lining. A lining! When did properly lined clothing become such a novelty? I'm generally sized out of pants at J.Crew,  but l I knew these pants would be worth having my tailor rework. They're perfect for these fleeting transitional weeks. As soon as Fashion Week ended, New York had a very sudden taste of chilly weather. I wore these trousers with one of my favorite cashmere sweater jackets. This week has been warm and extremely humid, which calls for these trousers being paired with airy silk blouses. 

Here I'm wearing my trousers with a 3.1 Phillip Lim silk blouse that I picked up from the showroom shortly after Phillip Lim started his line. 3.1 Phillip Lim's Spring/Summer 2012 collection was one of my favorite shows of the week, however I'll always have a weak spot for his early collections. As Lim puts it, "3.1 is about clothes that refine instead of define. A refinement that's a bit classic in attitude, but imparts a sense of individual style, without looking or feeling forced. Confident, unidentifiable, chic and most of all effortless." I tend to gravitate to 3.1 for blouses and dresses that have a certain New York polish, but are also fashion forward or directional. I like that this blouse has subtle feminine details like the puffed sleeve, the front keyhole and ladylike peplum detail (this is not something I usually like, but it just works here). 

PS- My pumps are a very rich chocolate brown. I have a penchant for pairing rich brown with black and navy and black. 

Twirl

My Personal Photo

My Personal Photo

My Personal Photo

My Personal Photo

Peter Soronen lace blouse, Azzedine Alaïa wrap skirt, Manolo Blahnik  pumps.

There are few designers that make you want to twirl. Azzedine Alaïa is one of them. It's undeniable that  Alaïa is one of the greatest couturiers today. The other day my friends and I came to the conclusion that his technical, draping and cutting skills are up there with the likes of Christian Dior. If you could have one designer design all your clothing (or at the very least your shoes), you would want it to be Alaïa. The silhouettes are always gorgeous.

Undeniably, Alaïa excels with the construction of his signature knit dresses. In my opinion there isn't a designer out there who works with knits in such a way. Some of his knit dresses barely resemble knits. I'm always awestruck by the way Alaïa  garments truly make women look beautiful. His clothing always strikes the right note- sensual and oftentimes clingy, but never vulgar. There is a misconception that Alaïa's garments are unforgiving. Truthfully, Alaïa's garments magically flatter all body types. This is the mark of a designer who loves women and making them look and feel even more beautiful than they already are.

Alaïa doesn't strive to fit into the corporate structure that fashion thrives on. Barneys was the first New York department store to stock the full line and Bergdorfs and Saks only started stocking select pieces a few years ago. It's no coincidence that Alaïa's boutique is located in a different area from the other names in international fashion. This is a designer who until yesterday had not presented a collection at a fashion show in years. Alaïa prefers to work at his own pace. There is an integrity to the way  he approaches his business. It's hard to define luxury today, but this sort of craftsmanship and attention to detail are determining factors to me.  

An entire Paris trip should not be spent shopping (there is so much to do and see), but a trip to the Alaïa boutique is essential. On my last trip to Paris I picked up a few pieces including this skirt. Alaïa's boutique, stock shop, design studio and atelier are all housed in close proximity to each other. Naturally, upon descending from a taxi (accidentally leaving the door ajar), I sprinted ahead of the gentleman who wasn't exactly sure which building I rushed into. Oh the excitement!

The skirt has one inside clasp, wraps around the waist and buckles at the back. I have yet to successfully wrap this skirt as precisely as the lovely sales assistant, but I still love it. There's a lightness that adds just the right amount of whimsy. Any motion or little breeze sets the skirt aflutter. This skirt is a great little edition to my wardrobe that is extremely versatile, but feels special.

PS- As old fashioned as I am, the blog finally has a Twitter! Cheers.