Going Greek

Obakki Dress, Stuart Weitzman sandals, John Hardy: necklace, earrings, bracelet, Zadig and Voltaire Clutch, Oliver Peoples Sunglasses, Cartier Watch.

  I bought this dress in the early summer, at Yellow Dog, and had to be talked into trying it on because it had absolutely no hanger appeal whatsoever! Since it really doesn’t take all that much effort to twist my arm, my friend, Venetta, who manages the boutique, easily convinced me to slip it on. Lo and behold, the dress changed entirely, once it was on the body, in this case, mine. It reminded me of a chic Greek toga, if such a thing ever existed, and I thought these gladiator-like sandals, by Stuart Weitzman, completed the look in the right way.

The moral of this fable, is “never judge a dress by its look on a hanger,” and “going Greek never felt so good!” 

Hardy Worth The Effort

Blouse, Pants, Belt and Clutch all by Worth New York. Earrings, Necklace, and Bracelets by John Hardy. Oliver Peoples shades and Bottega Venetta Sandals. 

This is a play on the expression, “hardly worth the effort,” but it turns the expression on its head with a positive message. This outfit, outside of the shoes,  is comprised of two design houses, Worth New York and John Hardy. I am a fan of both, and was pleased that they complimented each other in this way.

Navy and white is so easy to wear and adding a pop of red, whether it be on the lips, shoes or bracelet is always a winning decision. Here, I decided to do all three!

Worth has always been my go to for chic and classic clothes. The blouse and pants are as comfortable with the just the right amount of dressiness. I added the belt for some definition. This is a great lunch or dinner outfit for a warm spring or summer day.

Classic meets modern when you add John Hardy to Worth. I have always been attracted to John Hardy’s jewelry because it is edgy and cool. He uses the themes of dragonheads and bamboo with mixed metals. I embrace it all and wear them together. The added bonus is that his jewelry is sold at most fine department stress….which means if you are a points and gift card person, you can purchase these as gifts for yourself or others.

Basic Black

Skirt and Jacket by Elizabeth and James, Subtle Luxury Lace Camisole, Calinana Necklace (all from Yellow Dog, Los Angeles).  John Hardy Earrings. Manolo Blahnik Heels. Balenciaga Handbag. Chanel Shades. 

One thing that we are often told is that black is a basic. While this is true, black is anything but basic. It is classic, quiet, edgy and cool all at the same time. I happen to own a lot of black. I seem to accumulate a lot of black t-shirts, blouses, sweaters, skirts and jackets. Black is season-less, so it transitions just as perfectly from winter to spring as it does from summer to fall. It also goes with everything and acts as the perfect backdrop for any color or pattern. Black is the most packable color because its neutrality is perfect for any occasion, even a wedding. Black is a must for everyone.

This outfit, all by Elizabeth and James, has all the edgy cool of its designers, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. I have had the skirt for several years, and this jacket, with the blouse insert, caught my attention immediately. It has the illusion of being a jacket within a jacket, and I think that is what makes it so cool.  I choose to wear a lace camisole underneath in order to maintain the beauty of the sheer blouse. When glancing at these photos, I am keenly aware of the shortness of this skirt, and that I may have committed the over 50 fashion faux pas, so I apologize in advance! I just love the skirt and its little “flirty bounce.” Is that where the word flounce comes from?

As you have gathered by now, I have a love affair with shoes; I have for as long as I can remember. These spat like shoes, by Manolo Blahnik, seemed to elevate the spirit of this outfit. They bring a smile to my face every time I glance at them in my closet.