On St. Marks. Get Studs. Go.

To be perfectly honest, I wish I posted this a year ago, when it was most relevant to me. But I'm frequently lazy and forgetful, and now, perhaps this post may be past its prime. I prefer my blog to set standards of style rather than to follow them. If it didn’t, the title of "trendsetter" would be completely inaccurate, wouldn't it? I apologize for my tardy reporting and I hope you can forgive me for it.

If you buy magazines, read fashion blogs, walk down the street, or go in to a store, you are probably well aware that studs are huge this fall. Studded shoes, blazers, jewelry, belts; you name it, it has been punked. I would not be surprised if right this very moment, Sid and Nancy are rolling over in their graves. However, despite its fast track to fashion overkill, studs are a trend that I still totally dig. In fact, I've been into this 80s throwback since picking up the September 2008 issue of Elle magazine, and obsessing over Kate Lanphear and her masterful styling.

As strange as it sounds, it was a High School Musical cast spread that inspired me to attain the punk rock vibe. Being that Kate is consistently faithful to the origins of her look, the majority of the cuffs featured were available at Trash & Vaudeville, and at incredibly reasonable prices. Sure, I may have felt like a poseur walking into that store--as I am far from punk, rock, or goth--but there is nothing wrong with trying to reinvent your style, or at least giving it a swift kick in the ass. A little edge goes a long way.

While I am still drooling over and longing for two of Kate's signature bracelets: the Hermes Collier de Chien and the pyramid cuff I can only find similar in this Noir version, I have managed to stave off the desire to spend excessively by recreating her layered look with the Trash and Vaudeville cuffs ($10-$30) mixed with some Tiffany chains I've acquired over the years.

Remember: anyone can achieve their desired style with the right amount of determination and a little imagination. Moreover, it is worth every penny to mingle with the authentic punks to get the exact look that you want. Fashion is an experiment; not always aspirational or out of reach. In fact, sometimes it falls right into our price range. Now that deserves a gold medal in the Shopping Olympics.




Trash & Vaudeville is located at 4 St. Mark's Place (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)

Sole Mates

I am just going to say it: I love my shoes.

As a single, 27 year old with no pets, or even plants; they are my children. And as any good parent, I take extremely good care of my babies: all 55 pairs of them (not including flip flops, sneakers, snow or rain boots of course!). And while shoes certainly are not children, they do require constant upkeep: the price you pay for a pair of shoes is not limited to the day you purchase them.

Sure, some people rely on the philosophy that you buy a pair of shoes and wear them until they are worn out, which is not a terrible thing to do if the shoes do not cost much to begin with. But, as I tend to find myself drawn towards more expensive footwear (at a discount of course!), I refuse to leave them to the elements unarmed. I spray all leather and suede with water repellent, I keep the "special" pairs confined to the office and locations to and from which I am taking a cab, and never hesitate to bring any pair to the doctor: otherwise known as the shoe repair.

No one should ever underestimate the importance of a good shoe guy. You wouldn't take your kids to any old dentist, ophthalmologist, or pediatrician, would you? Okay okay, I know, shoes are not children, but they are the closest things I have at the moment. And, like I will my kids, I spoil them. While many swear by the "Best Doctors" issue of New York magazine, it is "Best of New York" issue that is my bible, and I live by the gospel of Empire Shoe Repair. Located on Lexington Avenue between 71st and 72nd Streets, this tiny hole-in-the-wall takes all my old soles and restores them to their original luster.

Of course, the importance of a shoe repair goes far beyond what you may initially imagine. They do much better work than just putting on a new heel or a no-slip sole. They can stretch the toe box, fix nicks, recolor any part of the shoe, they even work on handbags and other leather goods. Ever have a belt that needs more holes? They do it for free. Need it to be shortened? Expect to spend around $10. Trust me, you do not know how good your shoes can look until they have been in the hands of a seasoned leather surgeon. Think of it as a face lift for your shoes, it shaves off years!

Everyone who knows me is aware that I have a weakness for incredible footwear. I tend to choose a new pair of designer shoes over many other things in life (food, activities, vacations). I am not condoning this behavior, as it is not especially helpful for my non existent savings account. But, if I am going to choose to invest my money in shoes, I do so wisely, and look for a good return: years of wear. To ensure my shoes look as new as the day I took them home, I must rely on "my shoe guy," as I so lovingly refer to him. He is my insurance, and I know my shoes are in good hands. Finding a good match for your soles is a much easier task than finding one for your soul. And while shoes can not call you on your birthday, they sure can take you out on the town. And trust me, you will look and feel fabulous.

Trail Blazer

If you ask my parents, they would tell you it is pretty unbelievable that the girl who would not wear buttons as child is now addicted to blazers and jackets. I define addicted by the fact that in the last year alone, I have acquired five new blazers. It all started with a cute little bow jacket from Bloomingdale's. So adorable in fact, that even my mother bought one for herself. Of course, I had no idea what a slippery slope this purchase was to become.

I wore the jacket with everything - t-shirts and leggings, tank tops and skirts. It dressed up and preppied-out my most simple of outfits. It was a revelation: jackets were my new accessory. I could change any look just by putting one on. I was starting to slide down the slope, and it was a going to be long ride until I reached the bottom.

My next purchase of the year may be considered my most versatile and promising. While taking one of my weekly strolls around the neighborhood, I could not help but notice a half off sale sign in the window of an Upper East Side thrift store. A sucker for a good deal, I was compelled to venture inside. As I flipped through the rack of blazers, I came upon the perfect menswear jacket. In all honestly, I think in once belonged to a boy (not much shape in the waist area), but it fit perfectly. It was black with gold buttons, vintage Aquascutum, and only $20.

Once I started wearing my new blazer, I was even more in love with the idea of how it gave new twists to all my old clothes. Once a girl searching for the ideal over-sized cardigan (which, by the way, I purchased in the men's department at Daffy's), I was now the girl searching for even more perfect jackets and blazers.

After much magazine reading, blog surfing, and television watching, I decided I wanted a tuxedo jacket to add to my collection. I tried thrift stores, department stores, and discount stores, but found just what I wanted at Express. It was tuxedo style, long, had a fabulous leopard print lining, and was magically on sale. It dresses up my American Apparel t-shirts, and looks great with leggings and sky high heels. I love to cuff the sleeves, and pile on the punk rock accessories.

You would think by this time that my collection would have been complete. I had three new jackets, in addition to the four blazers I already had in my closet. Of course, if you know me and my tendency to shop too much, you would know that when it comes to my collections, complete is a word I cannot seem to grasp the definition of.

During my post X-Mas shopping, after I had already resolved to stop the madness and start saving, I spotted a wonderful, Balenciaga inspired blazer by Theory. It was completely Gossip Girl, Upper East Side fabulous, and I had to have it. It also was going to be about 75% off the original price. It is shorter, has the perfect stretch, white accents, and looks adorable even with jeans.

My final purchase was a month or so ago, and even in the midst of my no shopping resolution, was only $48 and almost 90% off the original price. It was one of those "I can't NOT buy it" situations, and I do not regret it. I think for a final item, it was the best way to go. It is sparkly, cropped, 3/4 sleeves and adds cocktail party panache to anything it touches. In a word: Love.

So there you have it: a year's worth of new jackets. Now, you might say that I spent a lot of money on blazers alone in 5 month period (yes, 5 jackets in 5 months, I know I know), but I like to think of it as an investment. Blazers and jackets are like cardigans, they can be mix and matched with any dress or shirt, jeans, dress pants, skirts, or leggings. I have managed to dress up many a t-shirt and leggings for work, or tank tops and jeans for a night out. I can be preppy, funky, classic, and even warmer, just by throwing on a different blazer.

The best part is: you don't have to spend a lot to get a great jacket. My purchases have ranged from $20-$100 and while they were either on sale or with a work discount, if you have a little patience and time to search, you too can get the right piece for a great price. It is all about the hunt, and I can definitely lead you to the right path.

Fall Into Darkness

Okay, so the title of this post technically refers to the title of my favorite Christopher Pike book that I read in middle school (which I recently learned, while channel surfing early one Sunday morning, was made into a movie in '96). Although I highly recommend the book (if you want to pretend you are an angst ridden fourteen year old), what I really want to talk about is nail polish. I know I have previously written about the amazing makeover qualities that a quick paint job can do, but this time I want to focus specifically on dark nails.

One of my favorite things about the impending Autumn, is that I get to break out my dark nail polish and lipstick. As much as I love neons, bright pinks and blues, and other non traditional colors, there is something refreshing about inky fingertips, so you can bet that I was super excited when I finally felt the time was right to paint my nails with one of my favorite fall colors: OPI's "Lincoln Park After Dark."



In the picture it looks almost black, but it is really a great dark deep purple. And, if you follow fashion trends as closely as I do, you know that purple is big this fall (okay, it is big almost every fall), so you can imagine the excitement I felt when I brought back my deep shades to wear as soon as Labor Day passed. Who cares about white shoes, it is all about the fingernails.

However, is no recent obsession. Beyond collecting a vast array of colors, I have loved dark polish since 1994 when Chanel's "Vamp" hit the makeup counters (I got the last bottle at Nordrstrom during the initial craze, and it is still sitting in my nail polish drawer. Sounds gross, but the new formula of Vamp is just not the same.) Since then, my dark polish collection has expanded (What? You are not surprised?) to include the following colors on my "favorites" list:

OPI "Lincoln Park After Dark"
Chanel "Black Satin"
Chanel "Blue Satin"
OPI "Russian Navy"

Well, what are you waiting for? Join me as I "Plum It!"* nails first into Fall.

*Sally Hansen Fall Collection.  In fact, while a bit delayed, Sally Hansen has their own version of almost all my favorite colors for $6. Check your local drugstore, the Fall Collection should have its own display.

The Dr. Is In

The last time I laced up a pair of Dr Martens, I was in the seventh grade. I had two pairs - suede blue low tops as well as the ankle boots...in an incredibly 1990s, loud and outrageous flower pattern.



I spent $114 on them, using a gift certificate to Nordstrom's that I received for my Bat Mitzvah. I had been eying them for months, but in 1995, $114 was a lot of money to spend, especially on a pair of shoes. That's right, it has been 13 years since my 13 yr-old self slipped her feet into those clunky boots that, despite their ugliness, were extremely desirable.

When I was wearing my flowered Docs, I thought I was the coolest. Well, as cool as any awkward seventh grader could be, I guess. But the trend faded fast and pretty soon my shoes were so out that they became nothing but a surface on which dust collected in the back of my closet. Eventually, the blue shoes were donated to charity, but the thought of discarding my flowered boots made me sad and nostalgic. I convinced myself that I would wear them again, hoping that maybe they would come back into fashion. But time passed, the dust layers thickened, and I had yet to wear my British imports.

After graduating college and moving to New York, every time I came home, I was asked what I wanted to do with my shoes. (My parents are constantly looking to clean out my closet so it is no longer a shrine to my middle and high school self.) And every time that my mother questioned my reasoning for keeping them (Are you ever going to wear them again?), I insisted that one day I would feel cool enough to do so.

Finally, after picking up the September issue of Teen Vogue (true, I am no longer a teenager, but the looks in Teen Vogue are far more accessible - yet barely so! - than those in Vogue), and reading their Fall A - Z style guide, I learned of the fact that Dr. Martens were making a comeback. This realization brought me nothing but hope, and that perhaps I would at least be given the push to clean off my boots and make some space for them in my New York City closet.

In further attempts to assuage my fears of stepping out in such statement boots, I scoured the internet to see if I could find any reference to my Docs. Unfortunately, Dr. Martens no longer produces the style I own, but I did manage to find a few ebayers that were selling my exact pair. According to one seller, my shoes were worn by Sienna Miller in Nylon, and are rare enough to be auctioned at the buy it now price of $300. While this does not tempt me to try to sell my vintage kicks, it further inspires me to take the plunge, bring them out of their thirteen year retirement, and back into wardrobe rotation.

While the weather is not yet brisk enough to take my Dr. Martens out for a test drive, I am eagerly awaiting the day that I walk out on the New York City streets rocking my flowered boots, some sort of black dress and tights ensemble, finished with my new fabulous leather motorcycle jacket. I have recently been feeling the urge to update my current style, and I think these shoes will ultimately be the prescription that will cure my fashion rut.

Greek Godtressess

In the Fourth Grade, after reading D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, I became obsessed with Greek Mythology. I mean, when else can you dress up as Demeter wearing a bed sheet toga and a headband adorned with plastic leaves without the suggestion of psychiatric help? Sigh, the memories. Now that I am an adult, my idea of Grecian inspired fashion has manifested itself into drape-y gowns, long dresses, and braids. Oh how I love braids!

I have alluded to my affinity for plaits in my post on headbands, and I stand behind the belief that there is nothing greater than a braid/band combination. As you know, I have written about humidity acting like Medusa towards my hair, and have since then discovered a Greek inspired hairdo that combats against its damage as would the warrior Perseus. And while I was somewhat influenced by the recent visibility of celebrities donning Heidi braids, my take is a twist on the typical country 'do, and instead, is a little more ethereal.

My interpretation of this braided hairstyle is the perfect option for shorter, finer hair. While the Heidi--over the crown--braids are great for long, thick hair, mine just does not have enough length or volume to make the proper impact. So, rather than pulling the braids over my head, I pull them under. Below you will hopefully find a helpful, step-by-step picture guide, to give you a clear idea of the process in creating this sweet and practical look.

1) Whether you part your hair in the middle or side, create two even sections of hair


2) Braid each side



3) Pull one braid under your head and pin



3) Pull the other over, and also secure with bobby pin



4) Add a headband to cover the hairties and ends, pin, and voila!


I love this hairdo because it is incredibly easy to create (takes no more than 10 minutes, even for a perfectionist like me), is much more polished than just pigtail braids or a ponytail, and looks completely put together despite how simple it is to do. It's a little taste of Mount Olympia, no supernatural powers required.

About Face

Contrary to popular belief, I hate buying makeup at department stores. It is like walking into a war zone, attacked from all angles by sales professionals armed with weapons of perfumed tear gas and sharpened makeup brushes. Each counter is a land mine, with the possibility of a surprise attack lurking around every corner. For this reason, I prefer not to purchase products from large retailers. Unfortunately, my love of luxury products (and my employee discount), compel me to buy certain basics such as mascara, foundation, and many a lipstick at a department store. However, when it comes to the staples of my beauty routine, I am just as much a patron of Duane Reade as Bloomingdale's.

A sufferer of acne throughout my teens, I have used a multitude of prescription and over-the-counter products, with my only success resulting from Accutane. It was not until I reached my mid-20s, that I determined my most effective skincare regimen came quite cheaply.

Let me first state a disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist. I do not know your skin type. I just know what works for me and that it works well - so I'm sharing my experience, hopefully for your benefit. That being said, here are my favorite (and inexpensive!) beauty products:

1) Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash: It is orange. It is just under $8. You can get it at any drugstore. And it works. My skin has never looked better.

2) Neutrogena Healthy Skin Lotion w/ SPF: Sunscreen is key. It's not too greasy either, especially for my combination skin. It's around $14, but, even with everyday use, usually lasts a long time.

3) Johnson & Johnson Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment: The commercials don't lie when they say 100% (yes, that's right!) of people in clinical testing showed improvement within a day. It's about $8 and it effectively eliminates surprise breakouts.

My last drugstore obsession coincides with my infatuation with lip products: balms, glosses, sticks. You name it, I've tried it. As a younger girl, I had quite the Lip Smacker collection. But that doesn't surprise you, I'm sure. If a new lip product was marketed, I had to have it. (Does anyone remember the chocolate flavored glosses from The Body Shop?) If it was innovative, made lips glossy, or hell even just made them smell, I bought it.

As I got a little older, I was swayed less by the novelty of a product, and more by claims of being a great lip balm. I moved from Chapstick to Lip Medex to Kiehl's to Rosebud Salve. And while all of these are pretty good (Rosebud would be my top choice), none of these products come close to how great my favorite lip balm is, and you can get it at the drugstore for $3.50! Behold Palmer's Cocoa Butter Stick. It smells great, feels amazing, and, like many lip balms are, it is not addictive. Sure, it looks more like a glue stick than anything, but I'll take the stupid observations over dry lips any day.

The bottom line is this: I love luxury products. Unfortunately, expensive skincare is not in my budget, and most of the time I find that the effort (and body armor) it takes to find a product worthy of its insane price tag is much more than I'm willing to commit. Instead, I have proven that you don't have to spend lots of cash to get great skin and soft lips. Sometimes a simple regimen is all you need. Now, don't you feel just a little more...

At Ease?