Living in Leggings

Maybe it's that they make your legs look a mile long, or maybe it's that they make easy to pedal around on a cruiser bike or hop on the back of a motorcycle for a spin (yep, I've done both in them), but I am wearing the hell out of my Uniqlo pant-like leggings.  Not sure about you, but I am so over jeans right now.  I want slim, stretchy, comfy, yet totally pulled together.  I have them in black, oxblood (the new color du jour of fall), and a creamy white--but I am sure a few more will be added over the winter.  And, for the hefty price of $19.90 and the fact that you can now shop Uniqlo ONLINE, there are no excuses. 

Check 'em out at Uniqlo.com

Tommy Ton's 2010 Best-Dressed

J'adore Tommy Ton.  His blog, Jak and Jil, is one of my daily 'must visits', and I always look forward to his slideshows on style.com.  Check out a few of my favorite looks from his 2010 Best-Dressed list.  Fashion moves fast, but style is yours forever, so I know I will be incorporating these sartorial twists into my 2011 repertoire.  Enjoy!

For the full slideshow on Style.com click here.

Neutral scarf with crazy print dress tones it down.  Damn those Euros and their chic scarves!

Banish a bad hair day and add a dash of color to a camel coat.

Sweater + Sequins gives a whole new meaning to day-to-night dressing.

Shrunken navy blazer with jeans and a flouncy tee = perfect casual but not too casual.

Image courtesy of Style.com and Tommy Ton

Amazing Fall Finds at LOFT

Yesterday, I walked past LOFT (of the Ann Taylor variety), and I saw this amazing mustard colored jacket in a photo on the window.  Further hunting on their website gave way to one conclusion: they really have some lovely pieces for fall!  I can visualize any of my pics below going from late summer to fall to winter and back to spring: Dresses move from being worn with sandals to tights and booties and tops get layered with cardi's or jackets.  I will definitely be checking out these cheap/chic finds in person to see if they are too be good to be true.  But, if my past experiences with LOFT count for anything, the clothes fit great, wear well, and most importantly....look way more expensive than they really are.  

Check out LOFT's new arrivals here.

Twill Anorak Jacket - $148

Flutter Silk Dress - $128

Lightweight Dolman Zip Hoodie - $59

Perfect Layering Tank - $27

Mesh Jewels Knit Dress - $79

Cropped Lamb Skin Leather Jacket - $298

Twisted Neck Exposed Back Zip - $49

Marissa Slim Cargo Pants - $59

Electric Green Scarf

I really hate to be like James Andrew at WhatIsJamesWearingToday.com (aka the most narcissistic blog of all time), but I think this pic makes a very strong case that accessories truly make the outfit.  I absolutely love this florescent green scarf I bought from the pashmina lady on the corner of Houston and Thompson for all of $5.  Albeit, sometimes I feel like it's a bit too bold, but hey, it's February, it's gray outside, and I need a jab of color dammit or I may start looking like a corpse.  As you can see, I am wearing my requisite black (blazer, tights, shoes, bag) and white (dress), very little jewelry, and only my favorite lipstick in the world.  The wow is in the scarf. 

Picture courtesy of Patrick McMullan

It's Always Summer for Viviana Volpicella

We may be in the throes of winter, but for Viviana Volpicella (editor's assistant for Vogue Nippon) it always seems to be summer. I have always approached color with a skeptic's eye, and needless to say, have ended up with a wardrobe full of black and gray. However, I am loving how she combines color in a modern way. I think the trick is to stick with a clean silhouette, steer clear of prints, and make accessories (like scarves or bags) burst with color. She is also the owner of the emerald green leather gloves I recently posted about. Read a bit more about Viviana on one of my fav blogs du jour, Habitually Chic.

Hands Down Best Winter Accessory

I was tooling around on Style.com when I found Tommy Ton's photos from Milan fashion week. Leave it to the Italians to look chic, but not so impossibly chic as the French. The picture above really caught my eye and truly exemplified the importance of accessories. No, not the cigarette as that will make you gag and not in a good way, but the emerald green leather gloves. Me likey! Winter can be full of blacks, grays, and browns, but a punch of color like this changes the game. Check out Portolano's website for their amazing, yet affordable, cashmere lined leather gloves. Each style has about 13 different color options, and I recommend going with the 4-button for yummy scrunchability.

Ladies gloves on Portolano.com