I Gave Up

I blame The Sartorialist.

I added it to my RSS feeder as a means of getting some new fashion inspiration during the great Gossip Girl drought of early 2009.  It features just the coolest, hippest dressers all over the world.  And while 99.99% of the outfits would never fly in, on or around me, I certainly appreciate the eye candy.

But after following the posts, you start to notice trends.  Lots of layers in dark colors, huge wrapped scarves, flood pants, turbans and one thing I noticed about many of the women was that they all wear shooties.

(yeah, that's right.  Shooties.  Shoe-booties.  Shooties)

And they look awesome.

But it was this picture that sealed the deal for me.

So...I started looking.  

And I started at the top, trying on a fantastic pair of Christian Louboutins.  While they looked good, they were light years away from what I was willing to pay for a trendy shoe that I'm not even sure I can pull off.

So, I kept looking and looking and looking.

Until I finally found them.  In Aldo.

Pretty kick-ass, yes?

They look crazy good with tights now that it's still chilly, also great bare-legged for warmer weather, they are comfortable and the best part?  Even my husband liked them.

Do you think The Sartorialist will take a few pics down here?  I'll layer up and grab my turban.

You Know What They Say About Great Minds

I got to take a quick jaunt through L.A. last weekend.  It was just a 24 hour marathon visit tacked onto a business trip, just enough time to see two of my good girlfriends from college, Don Johnson, two actors from Heroes, and Vera Wang.

You know, the essentials.

It was great to catch up, but the weird coinkydink moment came when my friend, who I have written about before, met us for lunch and all I could do was stare at her nails.

They were a smooth grey with a hint of purple.  Darker than the color that I was crushing on this fall, but still totally chic.  And, I never found a light grey that met my specifications.

So, after we got through the niceties of how-are-you, how-is-work, significant-others-etc.  I couldn't contain myself any longer and I blurted out...What color is your nail polish?!?!

I mean seriously, you can't take me anywhere.  I have no social graces.

She looked a little taken aback (I mean literally, she had gotten through"work is goo-" before I jumped in) but said that she was shocked at how many comments she had gotten on it.  And that it was OPI by Sephora.

And I knew exactly which one she meant.

Metro Chic.

I know, because I have been to Sephora, oh, maybe 20 times to look at it.  It's the closest I've seen to what I want, but I was unable to pull the trigger and just buy the damn thing.  

Well, no longer!  Because my friend also said the magic phrase.  She told me that it was - nojoke- the best nail polish she's used.  No chips and going on 10 days.  Well, that seals the deal.  I plan on heading for that little bottle like a fricking heat-seeking missile or an intern for the cheese platter at a Rayburn reception.

Yeah, it's on.

After the nail polish issue was cleared up, I did get all the life scoop from my friend and catch up and everything.  I take this as reaffirmation that we are meant to be friends.

Oh, she also was carrying the bag I was about to buy last week.  Freaky, yes?

Welcome Back, Givhan

Holy Balzac people.

Surely a sign of These Fashion Times, Robin Givhan - columnist for the Washington Post, follower of MObama, critic at large, and general badass - will be relocating from New York to Washington sometime before summer begins.

Now, many of those in our Nation's capital who regularly read Givhan's column might be surprised to hear that the Washington Post employs a fashion critic/columnist who doesn't actually LIVE in WASHINGTON.  

Hell...I was.

But no, she lives closer to my parents than I have since high school.  So, as soon as she sells that 1BR prewar co-op on the Upper West Side, she'll be moving south of the Mason Dixon.  

Actually, this could take longer than she thinks.  Co-op boards can be a real pain in the you know what.  Someone better have some serious cash capital and a very quiet pet-slash-child.

Ostensibly, this is so she can keep a close eye on the First Family and their fashion plate ways, but I also think it's a sign of how far DC has come fashion-wise.

Yes, we still have girls roaming Georgetown in huge sweatpants tucked into Uggs and popped collar shirts (ps what is UP with that?  Gross.) and women in short sleeved shoulder padded suits in sneakers taking the metro to work.  And Lord only knows when people will STOP. WEARING. ACRYLIC. FRENCH. MANICURES.  PLEASE.  STOP. IT. HURTS. MY. EYES.

On the other hand, we have Hu's Wear and Relish, our very own little Ikrams.  We have Inga's and Remix, two very cool secondhand stores.  We have Target and their gorge spin off lines which is accessible by public transportation.

So, welcome Ms. Givhan!  But you are nuts if you think you can get decent food delivery under 45 minutes.