Socially Responsible

It must be nice to be a socialite. Sit around sipping Manhattans? Try your hand at working? The choice is really up to you. I am glad that Tory Burch has picked the latter option. Even if you do not like every outfit she creates, you can at least see someone wearing it. (As opposed to some designers that produce for some unknown character.)

Case in point, this smart number.

I could see any college girl wearing this to class. How many of us already wear ballet flats, jeans, and fun blouses already? Welcome to my standard uniform.

And who doesn’t like a little glitter?

Here Tory has another sweetly bowed dress and gold cardi. I like that she kept it classy by only showing off the legs. No one wants to look like a decked out Vegas showgirl. Okay, at least I have no desire to!

If you have to work, there are some ideas as well.

I love the scarlet pencil skirt! The gold details on the toes and heels of the shoes are a nice touch too. The whole outfit is still conservative enough for most offices. Unless you work in a ridiculous land where you can only wear black or navy suits, boo.

Speaking of working, I suppose I should focus on getting a job so I can splurge on these clothes! Until then, hopefully Tory Burch will not turn into a lady who merely lunches.

A True Ally?

So yesterday it was announced that the FDA had approved the first nonprescription weight loss drug called Alli. Basically it is just a half dose of Xenical, which is only available with a prescription.

The Good News: The drug could help many people lose weight. Helping overweight/obese people decrease their risk of weight-related diseases (like diabetes, heart problems) is obviously a great result.

The Bad News: Since it is over the counter anyone can buy it. This means that someone who does not really need to lose weight could potentially abuse the drug. (It brings to mind all the girls I know who are thin but still think they need to lose ten pounds. You already look beautiful!) Another con, it is expensive. The prices for Alli can range from 50 to 100 dollars a month. According to one expert on NPR, the drug will only cut 100 to 300 calories a day from your diet. For your money you can buy a nice gym membership instead.

The Gross News: Alli works by blocking fat absorption in your digestive tract… and that fat has to go somewhere. So basically prepare to run (fast!) to the bathroom if you eat anything with too high a fat content. Ick.

So Alli is far from a cure-all. Some people will definitely benefit from the drug. I, for one, will be sticking with the tried and true way of losing weight!

One in a Million

Every once in a while I am pleasantly surprised by a store I had completely written off. Today I ventured into Gap to see if the conditions had improved. Unfortunately it was the same mess of bland merchandise.

But low and behold, there was a cute item… a sweet baby doll. Lacy? Pink? Polka dotted? Sign me up! I could suddenly see why some of my friends swear by Gap Body. Then my vision cleared and I looked around at the rest of the lingerie. The store was brimming with neutral bras, basic undies, and uninspiring sleepwear. Sadly it was just an outlier.

If only they could learn how to replicate this phenomenon more often. Gap Body, please promote whoever designed this and try to stop putting me into a coma.

Clothes V. Boys

It is no big secret that a lot of ladies love clothes. But just how deep is their adoration?

A new study out confirms every guy’s worst nightmare: girls may like their clothes more than you.

Some findings included…

-The average woman surveyed would forgo sex for 15 months in order to receive a brand new wardrobe of clothes. (Ouch!)

-About half of the women said that an article of clothing was better at making them feel sexy than their guy. (I can understand this one. I instantly feel better when I am wearing a flattering outfit.)

-Apparently, a full 70 percent of the participants thought that love at first sight with clothing was real. Only about half thought the same for falling in love with a man. (I get this one too; clothes do not really have anything to hide. No pair of shoes has a crazy mother waiting in the wings!)

I suppose the guys of the world had better step it up… before clothes take over. Haha!

Roses are Red...

It is officially one week until Valentine’s Day. Depending on your situation the holiday can trigger any emotion from glee to misery. If you are really fortunate, you do not care a lick about it and just write it off as another Hallmark holiday. (Like you need a special day to say I love you?) If you subscribe to the holiday, the typical thing to do is to go have a lovely, romantic dinner. And if you are unattached, it is always amusing go out with friends and tell tales of the single life. (“He did what?!”) In either case, Valentine’s Day is a great excuse, if you need one, to go shopping.

To me, wearing red for V-Day is about as unique as wearing green for St. Patty’s Day. Why discriminate against all the other colors possibilities out there!

So instead of sticking with red, how about orange? The sweetheart neckline is perfect for Valentine’ Day. To be honest, most guys will think it is red anyway. They always pay so much attention to these details. And since it is only 58 dollars, you will have some extra cash to buy all the post-holiday chocolate you want. Can anyone resist candy on sale?
If you are on a budget, you can always looking into this violet dress as an option. It’s only 40 dollars, you cannot beat that price. Bring a cardi so you don’t freeze though!

This blue dress is definitely a tad warmer. I love jersey because it feels like you are wearing your favorite pajamas. Mmm, that makes me want to take a nap…

There are lots of us who just cannot resist a cute pair of shoes. Sound familiar? These printed green shoes (for 80 bucks) may be just the item for your Valentine’s Day plans. You may need to plan on valeting (or having someone nice drop you off at the door) so your new pumps are not fouled by the slush.

If your main goal is to stay toasty, I would go with this happy yellow cardigan. All my favorite sweaters are cashmere, why suffer through scratchy wool, right? You can wear this sweet little tied number through the rest of spring. Or even in the summer if you end up in one of those horribly over-air-conditioned places.

Never underestimate the power of a good pair of jeans. These indigo beauties are all you really need to keep your V-Day date’s full attention. Guaranteed! (FYI: These Citizens are on sale.)


And if you just cannot go out without wearing black, look into this lovely noir DVF number. Yes, it is not cheap (about 365 dollars). But given the number of times you wear a LBD (uhhh, all the time), it seems a little more reasonable.

So in advance, Happy Hearts Day!

So Close Yet So Far

With temperature in Ithaca in the single digits (or below), it is easy to forgot all about fashion and focus solely on getting to class without frostbite. Outside of this little niche there are some wonderful fashion shows happening. I wish I could simply skip town except I am sure my professors would not be too happy. (Unless I lied and said I was interviewing or something more practical.) Anyway, here are just a few of my favorite outfits.

I love this Matthew Williamson look because I can take pieces I already own. All I really need is a light turtleneck and some big wood bangles.

Okay, this one is a long, long way down the road but this Lela Rose gown would make such a pretty wedding dress. Who knows what the style will be by the time that happens though!

The tights in the Tracy Reese collection just made the outfits. Both the polka dot and striped versions somehow need to become part of my wardrobe.

I can actually imagine wearing this Tuleh suit to work... although I dislike the front pant zipper being so easily seen.

Finally, while most of the Lacoste collection reminded me of things my mother wore while she was on campus, these sleek rain boots stole my heart. They can replace my galoshes any day!

Back to the tundra for now...

Make Me Up

I wonder if I can hire these people to come to my house every morning.

I will pay in pancakes... deal?

Talk is Cheap

I admit I have a weakness for nice things. I really dislike buying clothes that do not fit well, fall apart within a month, or are made of horrible feeling fabric. Sometimes it is just plain easier to find clothes that are more expensive. (The difference between walking into TJ Maxx versus Barney’s.) One of my good friends is the master of finding designer things for 10 dollars, but I think her skill comes more from having a good eye and an afternoon to blow than anything else. Still, this is a skill I need to learn… I am sure my “income” from unpaid internships (what, you pay me in experience?) is not going to bring me above the poverty level.

So I decided to challenge myself to find ten items that cost less than one hundred dollars. I also added the caveat that I had to actually like the items and not just be filling space. The whole thing made me feel like a contestant on a game show. Sort of like that show where they run around a grocery store trying to find a can of tomato paste. So here they are, ranked from most to least expensive…

Number Ten:

This printed dress comes in right under the wire at 98 dollars. There is a version in black as well, but I find this one so much more interesting. I would pair it with black tights and boots until the weather is better. Date night anyone?

Number Nine:

This Tocca skirt is more of a "wishing for spring" find. (It is on sale for about 69 dollars at Bluefly.) I guess looking at this may brighten your days until the crocuses pop up.

Number Eight:
Because everyone needs fun accessories, here is a pretty gold and stone bracelet on sale for 50 dollars. Just think, if you get attacked by someone you could use this instead of brass knuckles. Watch out muggers.

Number Seven:

For 50 dollars this black asymmetric jacket can be a new addition to your wardrobe. It is a great cover-up for the bar on these cold nights. I always feel bad when I see girls dashing around wearing a tiny mini skirt or tank top. Alcohol does not protect against frostbite!

Number Six:

Next up, some grey trousers for only 47 dollars. According to one of my professors, people who shop at Nordstrom do not care about prices. I think this is a tad misguided. There are some great deals if you look. That store rocks my world, if only there was one closer.

Number Five:

Good old American Apparel is a great place to find inexpensive basics like this 32-dollar scoop neck tee. At that price you can feel free to stock up on as many of the colors as you please. Add a wide belt or interesting necklace if a plain tee does not do it for you.

Number Four:

I was super excited about this lime Rebecca Beason top for 25 dollars. Heck, dinner costs more than that at a lot of restaurants! Although the flutter sleeves may not be the best choice for people with broader shoulders.

Number Three:

This lacy Forever 21 blouse will set you back a mere 23 dollars. Add a bright cami and you are set to roll. Just make sure to check the seams and fabric, the quality can be sketchy at Forever 21.

Number Two:
This adorable printed headband that will only set you back 15 dollars. It will come in handy when you wake up late for class and have to deal with slightly dirty locks. Believe me, it is a vast improvement over a boring ponytail. And did I mention it is fuchsia? No one says no to fuchsia.

Number One:

This why Target is wonderful, you can get this Benhaz embellished tee for 8 dollars! Living in Ithaca would be difficult without Target. Browsing the rest of the stores like Bon-Ton or American Eagle can be awfully depressing. At least I can still try on cute shirts like this here. (Added bonus: no need for a necklace.)

Whew, it is nice to know I can bargain shop too. I will just have to start collecting my savings for a ski trip in the Alps...

Probably Smarter than Dr. Phil

Get excited, it is Groundhog Day (again?). That means that everyone wants to see what this fatty will do. Punxsutawney Phil, pictured here, is the most famous of the once-a-year weathermen. (I am not even going to get into his over-dressed tux wearing entourage.) This cold morning he rolled out of his den and did not see his shadow… so apparently there will be an early spring.

But what about the New Yorkers? There are two groundhogs on Long Island and one on Staten Island that all claim to know what the rest of winter will bring. Staten Island Chuck and Malverne Mel agreed with Phil about the early winter. Holtsville Hal was the only defector and decided to see his shadow. (He was probably under pressure from the Long Island salt and shove sellers.) This Hal had better straighten out his act. I am in desperate need of an early spring.

And for the record, I did not see my shadow this morning either. Then again, I am blind without my glasses... and am not round and covered in fur.

I just hope this “early spring” kicks in before this Sunday when the high is forecasted as 6 degrees. My jeans cannot take being tortured to death by salt for very much longer!