Sandal Season

Now that the weather is cooperating and I'm considering a badly-needed pedicure, a new pair of sandals are in order. I tore last year's pair to shreds, so I'm looking for something a little less wimpy this time around. The issue: I have...shapely legs, which means that with the wrong pair of shoes, my legs can resemble Christmas hams. Trying to avoid ankle straps on sandals leads me into the flimsy V straps of flip flops, which are neither comfortable nor stylish whatsoever. Alber Elbaz can't even make flip flops look cute. And if you cite Tory Burch's number with her little medallion on them, those do not count particularly because they have that little medallion on them.

The solution: nude sandals. Just as nude heels elongate the leg because they create an illusion of length, a similar hue on an ankle strap doesn't break (and thus shorten) the line of the leg. If the shade of the sandal is close enough to your skin tone, it works. Here are a few versatile options that would look just as cute with shorts as they would with a sundress:

1. These KORS Michael Kors leather sandals ($125; Click to Buy) have a more substantial sole than what you'd find on a typical flat sandal, and I love love love the look of the double ankle-strap. It lends a touch of the gladiator look without going all Russel Crowe on your footwear. The shade's a little dark, but it's not a jarring contrast.

2. This pair of J.Crew leather sandals ($118; Click to Buy) is the trifecta: made in Italy (read: better quality than most at this price point), the perfect shade of nude, and has a padded sole for comfort. These would look great with shorts, or a maxidress, or a skirt, or a sundress. Do you see where I'm going with this?

3. If you need a little lift, Marais suede wedges ($160; Click to Buy) are a sophisticated option. They're not exactly nude (the height of the wedge excuses the grey shade)(I make the rules)(this is an autocratic blog!)(just kidding)(kind of) but I love Marais shoes for the focus on comfort and urban designs. That T-strap just kills me. Come to mama.

4. Coral counts as a nude if you have VERY pink undertones or didn't slap on enough sunscreen before hitting the beach. (Doesn't it?) I understand that I'm taking a lot of liberties with the definition of "nude" here, but if you think about, the color nude for a Swedish girl isn't exactly nude for Eurasian me. Anyway, these Delman calfskin sandals ($195; Click to Buy) are simple and pared-down without looking stark. I love the small details on the sides; they're a great option for the more feminine of ladies.

Current status: team J.Crew. You?

The Signature Look

I'm a huge fan of Garance Doré; I think she's witty, personable, and unbelievably charming. I'd like to make her my best friend at some point. One can usually spot her signature topknot hairstyle, and when I saw the above street-style photos, I got to thinking about signature touches, whether they be Alexa Chung's shoulder-length hair or Freja Beha Erichsen's (guys, you knew it was going to head in this direction) leather jackets.

I don't have a signature touch. Sometimes, I straighten my hair before work. When I remember to do so, I'll swipe on Nars lipstick in Casablanca. Mostly, I just let all of my makeup fall off before going home and washing off the remnants before bed. I feel like I should implement a signature something, but the intent to do so seems fraudulent and a little forced. One of my bosses has a perfectly frizz-free bob regardless of rain, shine, or monsoon, and the other wears bright red lipstick on the regular. One fashion editor likes to wear ankle boots with opaque black tights and flowing, floaty minidresses. I doubt any of them set off with the motivation of making each her signature look.

I can let nature run its course, but I don't want my signature look to be dark skinny jeans and chapped knuckles. Should I just let a "signature" happen or try to influence it with purposeful applications of mascara (for doll-like lashes) or orange lipstick (à la J.Crew catalogues)? Is a signature even a signature if you've lifted it from the pages of popular clothing store ad? Probably not. Earnest Sewn and a perpetual need for hand cream it is.

Do you have a signature look? I'm just going to wait for mine to develop on its own. Currently, I'm crossing my fingers and hoping to God that frizz-free, humidity-immune hair somehow happens.

Photos courtesy of: Chicago Street Style and The Photodiarist.

Good Morning Mug

I love mornings. My undying love for breakfast food notwithstanding, my parents trained us to wake up at the crack of dawn to get a head-start on the weekends. To this day, sleeping past 9 AM causes an existential crisis about how I'm wasting my life. The downside is that I usually nod off by 11 PM and rarely partake in fun social activities. I'm nearly certain that my parents planned this in advance.

This Morning Mug ($29; Click to Buy) is such a cute illustration of the night-to-day transition.

The mug is "asleep" when cold, and as fresh coffee or tea is poured in, the heat "wakes" the mug. Is this not adorable? (Yes. Yes, it is.) It would make such a great hostess gift, or a present for that friend who has everything except a cheeky little mug.

Keeping in Touch

I took the leap and bought an iPhone. I'm still barely over my Razr, so this was obviously not an easy transition. I set it on my desk (carefully) and stared at it for an hour, too nervous to touch it. What if I drop it? What if it rolls out of my hand through no fault of my own? What if someone snatches it out of my hand and runs? This thing is like a newborn baby. I'm half surprised it doesn't wake me up and cry in the middle of the night.

The obvious first step was to get a case for it. I decided on a simple black-and-white chevron pattern for the time being, because the idea of holding out for a great, creative case and leaving my iPhone vulnerable for more than a few days was beyond me. But I've been on the look-out for something better. I know what I want in a case: something simple, French-inspired without being obviously so (no tours d'Eiffel), and cheeky.

Et voilà, I've found my technological soulmate. Check out this gem from Society6 ($35; Click to Buy):

J'adore quand ils m'appellent Big Poppa! God rest your soul, Biggie. If this doesn't make springing for an iPhone a good decision, I don't know what would.

Style Icon

The other day, I was chatting with my boss about how she's influenced my personal style. So far, she's inadvertently shamed me out of wearing denim leggings (but they're Madewell! Almost real jeans!) and chipped nail polish. She also owns (and I've been keeping count): a pair of leather shorts, a leather maxi skirt, a leather jacket, and a leather tunic. Clearly, her own personal style is down pat: edgy but appropriate, and definitely cooler than me.

Besides my bosses, I develop style crushes on semi-celebs with ensembles that just pluck my little pants-and-tee-loving heartstrings. The evidence:

1. Freja? Check. I cut my hair into a pixie because of Freja. Then I grew it into a bob because of Freja. Then I grew it out to shoulder-length, thanks to Freja. Wash, rinse, repeat. In addition to her many hairstyles, Freja may be the reason that I have a black leather jacket. And why I wear dark colors so often. And why I wake up at 6:10 AM every morning to go to the gym.

2. An important lesson for which I have Audrey Tautou to thank: throwing a blazer over a rumpled t-shirt makes it look instantly polished. I have a go-to fitted grey number from J. Crew that I can wear over anything and—ta-da! I'm ready for work.

3. Chanel Iman is just cute. Also, I wouldn't EVER say no to a slouchy grey purse and black stiletto boots. Big smiles!


Whose style do you take note of? It's Freja, isn't it? I knew it.

Photo credits, from left: Pinterest, Cognac and Coffee, The Petite Brunette.

Burch Versus Burch

(Tory Burch's home in Southampton, courtesy of Vogue via This Is Glamorous)

On my lunch break, I read a NYMag article about preppy designer Tory Burch and her ex-husband, C. Wonder founder Christopher Burch. The similarities of their brands are uncanny and pretty obvious, but to be honest, I feel that I know neither person well enough to make a call on who is right. This is my public and diplomatic declaration. (Personally, I'm Team Tory. Tell no one.)

I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of the C. Wonder store, which is a kind of like a bright, colorful zoo of weird knick knacks, tourists who are NOT afraid to knock you down, and clothes that just cannot be of very good quality. And, if you read the article, you know that they're absolutely not great quality. Then again, you don't go to C. Wonder for the decent quality of the clothing. Save the ready-to-wear for Tory.

You go to C. Wonder for the affordable and cheeky housewares...especially those made of lacquer. Lacquer boxes, lacquer trays, lacquer everything. I love lacquer. I love lacquer more than I love petting strangers' puppies on street corners. And, maybe it's because I'm half Chinese, but I would love to see these little guys ($58; cwonder.com) on my bookshelf:

Team cute, quirky bookends.

Looking Forward

I've been on a hiatus lately. Oh, did I say hiatus? I mean Fashion Week happened.

 In other news, I booked a spring trip to Madrid with two of my very best college friends. One lives in Chicago, and the other has been in the heart of Tanzania since August. We're going in late April, so I'm hoping everything will be bursting with flowers and the weather, warm enough to day-trip to a beach town. (Valencia? Barcelona? Something tiny along the coast? Suggestions welcome and/or desperately needed!) I want to wear skirts and tan my legs and carry around open bottles of wine. That's allowed in Spain, right?

Have a wonderful and relaxing holiday weekend!


Photo credit: That's Chic and here.