I thought I’d pop in and sharing a quick find:  the Everlane pop-up store on Lafayette Street.  Everlane has distinguished itself from other retailers by diligently researching its factories and revealing its the true costs of manufacturing.  Don’t worry for Everlane; the company is still making a profit, but their transparency puts into perspective the outrageous markups common in the clothing industry.

Another note I’d like to make about Everlane is that while I appreciate the clean aesthetic, I’m not impressed with the fit of most of the clothing or the overall pricing.  The pricing certainly isn’t offensive, but shop the sales at J.Crew, Nordstrom, Club Monaco, etc. and you’ll find similar items in the same price range.  I found the cuts on the sleeveless button down shirts too boxy and the cut of the silk tank too long.  The sought-after Petra market tote that some claim is the new “It” bag didn’t impress me with its pebbled leather and unremarkable finishes.  I left the pop-up with only a simple tee in hand.  In the fall, maybe I’ll try a cashmere sweater on for size.

If you’re interested in trying out Everlane now, hurry there.  The pop up disappears after today.

While the pop-up is going away, the website and look are going nowhere.  We may pin and post on some glamorous things, but in my daily life and in the lives of others I observe in person and on the Internet, fashion is skewing towards simplicity.  Clean lines.  Normcore, if you will, a fashion insider term that I dislike not least of all for the way it sounds.  I’m still trying to understand what Normcore is, but my understanding is that it’s nondescript dressing.  Think more basic than classic.  Some have even debated whether Normcore is actually a fashion trend or a joke.  Perhaps what we are seeing here is just the influence of Normcore on the high fashion world.  My perception of Normcore is that to the fashion set, it’s the high-low combo with a bigger dose of basics.  This Vogue article confirms the accuracy of my perception.

For me, the renewed interest in basics is more about how I feel in my clothes.  As I’ve posted before, I feel more like myself when I’m in streamlined black.  Certainly, part of this is a function of living in New York, but much of it is just the style that I started developing in high school when I introduced black into my wardrobe.

In the midst of writing this blog post, I found a definition of Normcore as it was originally intended.  K-Hole, a NY trend agency that coined the term Normcare states, “Normcore doesn’t want the freedom to become someone.  Normcore moves away from a coolness that relies on difference to a post-authenticity that opt into sameness.”

Being interested in they psychology of fashion, this definition both fascinates and repulses me, as do the words of Normcore proponent Jeremy Lewis, the founder/editor of Garmento and a freelance stylist and fashion writer, who says his ‘look of nothing’ is about absolving oneself from fashion, ‘lest it mark you as a mindless sheep.’  I find the whole concept of Normcore contradictory.  Normcore eschews freedom but still “opts” into sameness.  Whether we “absolve” ourselves from fashion or follow the fashion industry, we still make fashion choices.  The choice to consciously become part of a movement is the biggest indicator of trying to fit in that I’ve heard.

Basically, Normcore reappropriates plain and even dowdy clothing.  What I like about this is the idea of reappropriation, a concept that intrigues me in general.  What I don’t like is the presentation or the superior attitudes that accompany the most outspoken supporters of Normcore.  Even as someone who sees the intellectual side of fashion, I think that its supporters over-intellectualize it.

I also disagree with Jeremy Lewis’s statement, “I like the idea that one doesn’t need their clothes to make a statement.”  True, no one needs clothing to make a statement; however, no matter what you wear, your clothing will always make a statement about you.  How much you need your clothing to make a statement about you depends on who you are. Unless we’re the president or a tech magnate, research shows that we may need clothing to make a statement about us.

At any rate, I chalk up the glamorization of Normcore to the ebbs and flows of fashion; we max out on maximalism and then we crave minimalism.  It’s a cycle that continually repeats itself and is driven by the fashion industry and its publishing industry arm.

Links:

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12 Jenni Kayne  13  14 DKNY  15  16  17  18 Ralph Lauren  19 Badgley Mischka 20 Carolina Herrera  21 22 Helmut Lang  23  24

Check back next week for a full NYFW review.

*Please note that comments have been disabled for the near future so SA can resolve spam issues.

Normally I like to scour the internet for my favorite images when crafting a post.  Given the holiday season and my usual time constraints, however, tonight I’d just like to share a few holiday dressing ideas that have garnered my attention.

I don’t typically attend a lot of cocktail attire events during the holiday season; rather, my holiday social schedule consists of casual gatherings of family and friends that provide a welcome sartorial respite from my week days of suit dressing.  So my go-to attire for holiday gatherings is usually a sweater (I adore Ralph Lauren cashmere) or a button down plaid shirt from J. Crew in darker colors and a pair of dark skinny jeans, or more recently (the past two seasons), a pair of coated skinny jeans from Zara, my first Zara purchase, made on a whim.  I like to add a pair of riding boots or short motorcycle boots with my ensemble.  Lately, I’ve been trying to change things up a bit.  I’m occasionally replacing the plaid button downs with feminine tops and the boots with a pair of smoking slippers, one of my obsessions that’s worthy of its own post.

I picked up these babies in black, a bow version of the Miu Miu smoking slippers I spotted last spring:

Some other smoking slipper picks:  Charles Phillip Shanghai, Ann Taylor, and Charlotte Olympia.

I learned this past week that my holiday attire picks are in good company.  I was delighted to see that Preston Davis of Keep it Chic favors similar attire for the holidays.

I know that most people equate holiday dressing with some glitz and glamour, though, and for those of you wanting a bit more of that, I have a couple of other ideas…  The key is to create a simple base and add some pieces with impact.  The holidays are just the right time to break out the plaid, fur, jewels, and feathers; add a bit of whimsy to a sleek ensemble.  Lately I’ve even found that the addition of a tartan silk scarf to a black outfit adds just the right amount of Christmas cheer.

A sleek blazer is just the right base for casual to formal holiday wear.  Try pairing it with one of these feminine, silky blouses.

Tory Burch

Or go with a classically constructed dress with opulent details, holiday hue optional.

Isaac Mizrahi

Ellery

Suzannah

Rebecca Taylor.  Another amazing option from Alice & Olivia here.

Or, if you prefer to go a bit more casual, pick a feminine top to pair with a simple pair of pants or skirt:

Robert Rodriguez

Club Monaco

If your clothing volume doesn’t go above a whisper, be sure to make your exclamation with accessories:

Kate Spade

Fenton

BCBG

Alexander McQueen

Shourouk

Asos

Ben-Amun

Valentino

Brian Atwood

Jimmy Choo

And because I always appreciate fashion with a dose of humor, check out Elle’s guide to holiday movie inspired dressing and my favorite holiday accessory:

Net a Porter
It’s a classic.

What are you wearing this holiday season?

Style Confession:  I wear black all summer long.

It will probably come as no surprise to you that I love wearing black, since this blog has prominently featured many black pieces.  Even those who love black usually take a break in summer.  Not I.  While I admire chic all-white ensembles, typical of a South of France style, my wardrobe isn’t there yet.

Outside of work, in the summer I typically wear a black skirt or an ankle length/cropped pant with whatever style of top appeals to me that year, and a pair of Jack Rogers sandals.  For many years, my top of choice was a polo shirt, then it was a simple sleeveless top.  Last year it was the sleeveless peplum top.  And this year, it’s the sleeveless button down top, reminiscent of the basic button downs that I love so much in cooler weather.

I’ve purchased a few dark (2 out of 4 are black and the other 2 are navy) sleeveless tops and I’ve been living in them and my other black items on these summer weekends.

(Side note:  I still haven’t shared my 2013 purchases with you, but I’ll remedy that sometime in the near future.  Not to worry, I haven’t hit 25 items yet).

Sure, I own clothes in summery colors and I’ve shared my love of Lilly Pulitzer previously on this blog, but when it comes down to it, I feel most comfortable in dark colors.  In black.   A lot of days, like today, I wear black from head to ankle.  A couple of month ago, my best friend chastised me about having so much black for summer, but, as I said to her, that’s what I like.  I feel most like myself when I wear black.

So I’m devoting this post to some of my favorite ways to wear all black in the summer.  I think the trick is to show some skin; a bit of arm, a bit of leg, and let the accessories speak summer.

Mark D. Sikes

Of course, the LBD is the most readily apparent way to wear all black.  It looks extra chic paired with black strappy accessories, don’t you agree?  This dress could be worn year-round, but the accessories scream summer.

Harper’s Bazaar

While the leather top isn’t going to work on the hottest of days, another tucked in top can be substituted.  The cropped pants hint at the rising temperature.  Again, the accessories, strappy shoes and sunglasses, make this outfit summer ready.

 Keep  it Chic

I don’t wear shorts, but if I did, I would want this tunic and shorts ensemble from Proenza Schouler.

Krystal Schlegel

The pieces here are so simple.  A black T and coated black jeans elevated by an Hermes cuff and those magical Valentino Rockstuds.  When I get my Rockstuds, I plan to use this photo for styling inspiration.

Tumblr

And of course, Gwyneth, who can take any fashion concept and make it look like gold, is perfection in a sleeveless black ensemble paired with a contrasting tan leather shoulder strap handbag.

Do you wear black year round?  What’s your uniform this summer?