From Ogle to Own, A Cinderella Story: How Chalayan and YSL Became Mine.

I have a lovely friend.  She's getting married to a lovely man.  She gave me a lovely reason to shop because her friends and family are throwing her and her future hubby an engagement party this weekend.

I've thought about this before, but why do people feel the need to get super dolled up for someone else's wedding?  I mean, it's not like the people are going to see you- they're going to see the gorgeous bride and the dashing groom.  Alas, I also fall prey to the school of thinking that you have to look your absolute best when you attend someone else's wedding/wedding events.  Why am I not posting about the dress I'm wearing to the wedding?  Well, I'm going to be a bridesmaid and the bride allowed us to pick out our own bridesmaids' dresses.  Curious which one?  Well, you'll have to wait.  We're going to talk about my outfit for this weekend first.

I know how I want to look at this party.  I want to look like a put together young lady (it's at a racquet club, after all) without being uptight.  I want to be chic, not sexy.  Smart, but not corporate.  Fashionable, without being unapproachable.  Tall order, right?  Or wait- I think this is what I want to look like all the time.

Anyway, lots of styles like this are far out of the price range for one event.  Not saying that I'll only wear the dress once, but we all know that is a possibility (though I'll try it on plenty of times in the future for other events and probably opt to buy a new dress for those events...eeek tsk tsk to myself.)

So let's get to the reason why you're here at all!  THE DRESS.  THE SHOES.  THE LOOK.

First, the dress, of course.  I had a credit sitting on Yoox, so naturally I started there.  After hours and hours of sifting through pages and pages of dresses, I found the One.  This One:

This picture doesn't even do it justice.  When I put this dress on, it cinched perfect at the waist and the slit up the leg was just enough to make me say "oh my."  There are slight shoulder pads which make the dress just a little more "fashion."  The v-neck in the front can be opened up to be more sexy (if I feel sassy) and the whole dress is simple enough that if I wanted to dress it up with some serious bling, I could.  Win.  Win.  Win.  Want more?  Well, when I found it on Yoox, it was at a price so low that I didn't even have to think twice about buying it.  I don't even think I blinked- I just clicked and it was mine.  Later, when I was looking for images for this post, I found it on Opening Ceremony, it was WAY MORE.  I bought it without knowing the original price.  I had found a gem and I didn't even know it.

Then there's the story of these shoes.  It really was kind of a Cinderella/Glass slipper kind of deal.  I walked into the YSL store and immediately saw this shoe on the shelf.  When I asked if they had it in my size, they didn't.  I was ready to walk away when the lady asked me to just try on the display pair since it was the only one they had left.  I slipped it on and IT FIT.  I think my jaw might have hit the ground.  The best part?  The shoe was marked down something ridiculous- so ridiculous that I worry if I tell you, you simply won't believe me.  Just know it was enough to take it from Ogle to Own!  

Now that I have the basis of my outfit,  I just have to dress it up.  I just got painted my nails a deep, deep red in honor of the first day of Fall and I'm so excited to really dress this outfit up with some fall accessories and make up.  Do you guys have any suggestions for lip color??  I'm always terrible at picking the right makeup to go with an outfit.  Any help is welcomed! 

Obsess: Mandy Coon's Spring is Dark and Lovely

When I think of spring in New York, I often get this image in my head of pretty girls rubbing their eyes and shedding all the layers of black that they piled on in the winter.  When the weather isn't quite warm enough, but the sun is shining bright, they emerge in shorts to show off their well-hibernated legs.  They braid their hair and wear beach waves.

Well, Mandy Coon's Spring 2013 collection just slapped me in the face, woke me up, and shoved leather and greased-back hair in front of me.  And I liked it.

You know what else she had in her show??  THE BUNNY BAG!  I love that bag!  It's so lovely and adorable.  It's a nice contrast to the tough lines and the shiny leather.  The floppy ears are awesome. Take a look at my favs:

Loving the slicked back hair, too!  To see the whole show, you have your trusty slideshow on Style.com.

Obsess: NYFW Jenni Kayne Spring 2013

Jenni Kayyyyne.

You've heard me go on about how much I loved her D'orsay flats, but her most recent Spring Runway show has driven me deeper into my love for her design and awesome use of color.  Let me share with you a few of my favorites:

I love the shorts and I love those FLATS (of course).  High-waisted shorts are awesome for shorts girls (like me) AND those lucky, leggy girls as well.  I love the colors and the throwback patterns.  Needless to say, I'm totally excited for Jenni Kayne next spring!  After all this time that I'll have to obsess over those flats, I might just have to Own them (soon).  Oh, and, that pink dress is stunning.  If you want to see the whole collection, you can find it at Style.com.

Happy Friday!

So sorry that I've been MIA especially since there was so to talk about when New York Fashion Week was in town.  I don't know if I've already missed the boat to talk about that but I do have some things that I'll probably have to post about even if NYFW has already had its moment.  Anyway, thanks for being patient with me and stay tuned! :)

Happy Friday!

Ogle: What I Want to Wear to FNO!

Now for the SHOW.  If I had the bucks to comb through the upper echelon of shopping for FNO, man, would I be a dazzling, patterned gem amongst a sea of black and grey in NYC!

Sorry to get so poetic about it, but sometimes fashion really does amaze me.  Instead of shoes, let's start with bags this time.  Get ready..

This is a lovely, gorgeous, delicious bag by Maiyet.  It has "FALL" written all over it.  Pair it with a berry colored dress like this one by Cédric Charlier which shows just the right amount of leg.  Want some glitz?  These simple cube earrings from Tom Binns for a flash of gold are perfect with the lovely burgundy of the bag.  Strappies are lovely when showing off some leg.  I think these from Alexander Wang are perfect- they aren't sky high so you should be able to walk around looking like a human being (or not).

The simpler, yet still gorgeous Maison Martin Margiela Saddle Bag.  I love grey with dark blue and this top by Tess Giberson total does it for me paired with some funky pants by Kelly Wearstler.  I'm still sticking to my rule of comfort which is why I recommend a tasty pair of Pierre Hardy heels.  These strappy ones to be specific.  Pierre Hardy shoes are the most amazingly comfortable heels I have ever worn.  Finish it with your hair down and a nude lip like Fairest Nude by L'Oréal!

 Let's go a little more casual with Marni.  I love this bag.  I've still been on the search for a new tote and I think the geometry and color of this bag are just so cool.  I love to rock this with a single patterned outfit like this one from A.L.C. (top and bottom!).  For shoes, I'd take odd route- loafers.  Not just any loafers.  These adorable ones from Nicholas Kirkwood.  A tough cuff by Pierre Hardy to complete the look!

I hope these last two posts inspired you about Fall fashions!  I'm personally in a slump about the summer coming to an end.  A depression, really.  I don't want to let it go, but with all these cool items popping up in stores, each day that I get closer to fall, the more excited I am about digging out my fall clothes.  I can taste the pumpkin ale now...

Own! What to Wear at FNO

What is FNO?

It's Fashion's Night Out (Thursday, 9/6)!  As much as I want to be enthusiastic about this event, I have to say that, because it's so contrived*, I find it hard to really get into it.

Ok, so if you don't know what I'm talking, let me give you the DL.  The event was created a few years ago by none other than the Fashion World Giant Anna Wintour.  She came up with this idea when the economy was really tanking and retail needed a pick-me-up.  It's a night when stores stay open late and have "specials" or sneak previews of what is in store for fall.  In the city, a lot of stores have special guests including live entertainment and many of them also have designers themselves there to meet and greet.

So what does one wear to FNO?  It's hard to say.  Fashion's Night Out is really Fashion's Halloween Night out for girls.  You'll see all kinds of outfits being paraded around and the crazier, the better.  But I've done that before and I can tell you I ended up at home with my feet in shambles, looking like a total sweaty mess.  It's from experience that I say to you, COMFORT is KEY.  With all the girls that will be traipsing around the city, though, you don't want to get shown up.  You want to look like you know what you're doing.  Here are a few suggestions.  All within price range and all fashion-y, like we girls like it.

I love to fashion looks around shoes.  SO!  Let's see what we have here from Zara.  They always have a great shoe selection and their first delivery of fall is already in stores.

lovely red heeled flat!  How about pairing this with a pair of high waisted skinny jeans and prim and proper top.  Top your look off with a clean coif like a high bun and dangle some lovely baubles from your lobes. 

These are great transitional shoes.  They'd be great with a casual t-shirt dress and some unique jewelry.  You could probably rock a nice wine lip (like Dior in Fantastic Plum), too.

I know, I know.  At New Year's, I said I was over the spike, but look how adorable this shoe is!  I think the smaller heel makes it so much less severe.  To toughen up the look a little, I'd rock some awesome leather leggings (a little outside the Ownable price range, but whatever), a sheer top (bra optional!) and a clean navy blue, long blazer.  But that's just me.

Anyway, there you go.  Three comfortable and trendy outfits for your FNO adventures!  Stay tuned tomorrow for the Ogle version of this post!

*I'm not hating on what actually happens on the night of Fashion's Night Out, but I just hate that it was created to boost sales.  People love fashion.  It should have been sold as a chance to get the inside scoop on the designs that you've admired for the last 6 months (Spring Fashion Week).  All in all, that's just a technicality.