Fashion Truth

The fashion industry is a little crazy (make that more than a little). I don't think anyone would disagree with that assessment. I appreciate all the creativity, competition, energy, innovation and artistry that exist within the fashion industry. I definitely have a list of favorite designers and enjoy seeing how trends shift (or don't) year to year, season to season. But there are many things that happen within the fashion industry that I don't like, such as poor working conditions, clothing made unethically, commercialization, greed and excess, false marketing, standardization, and a tendency to favor unhealthy lifestyles in order to meet a certain aesthetic look. All of these are reasons why I appreciate Modcloth so much. Modcloth offers clothing from a variety of designers and at all price points.  Modcloth understands and advocates that there is no one ideal body type, that we are all unique. As a company, Modcloth enables its consumer base to cultivate their own style rather than fitting into the latest trend. Modcloth does not photoshop its models and the models they use do not all wear the same size clothing. Basically, Modcloth just seems to respect people for all of our differences and preferences. I think Modcloth gets that fashion should be fun and that what we wear should make us feel good.

When I heard that Modcloth was having a pop-up event to help all of us come together to be the change we want to see in the fashion industry , I knew I'd have to go. What a fun event and what a great initiative. Everyone at the pop-up was incredibly warm and welcoming. Posing for photos was a lot of fun and it was wonderful to see everyone's unique styles.  My favorite part was definitely sharing my fashion truth and reading what other people had wrote. My fashion truth was to "wear what makes you smile. Have fun with your style. Play with color, pattern and texture. Forget about what's "on trend" and instead be your own trend; dress for you." Style inspiration can come from many sources and the fashion industry is just one source. We are all consumers. We all buy clothes. I am not saying we should ever stifle anyone's creativity by saying what to make, but we can be our own advocates in the purchases we make or don't make, by the companies we choose to support and those we don't, by the ways we spend our money and by the choices we make in terms of how we dress. 

So, what's your fashion truth?

Outfit Details:
Dress: vintage, Salterio of Milan via Beacon's Closet
Purse: Kate Spade via surprise sale
Shoes: Fluevog
Socks: Hot Sox
Belt: Pinkyotto
Necklace: Modcloth 

An Evening with Shakespeare in the Park...But Not THAT Park

Vintage wear in Bryant Park

Ready to watch Boomerang Theater Company perform Shakespeare's Loves' Labour's Lost

  

Photo credit: Bryant Park Blog

Photo credit: Broadway World

I don't know why but my summer doesn't feel complete unless I've seen some Shakespeare performed in the great outdoors.  Don't get me wrong, attending Shakespeare productions (or reading Shakespeare) is definitely not a love confined to one season nor do either of those things need to happen outdoors (I'm thinking of you Sir Kenneth Branagh and your transformative production of Macbeth I saw earlier in the summer at the Park Avenue Armory). That all being said, Shakespeare outside and under the stars (or lights of Manhattan...) is really magical.  And it doesn't hurt that most Shakespeare in the park productions are free! 

The thing I love about the Shakespeare productions in Bryant Park is how casual they are. No lines, no worrying that you might not have a seat, no need to feel that you need to stay for the 2+ hours if at some point you feel like leaving, no need to put on makeup (just maybe some sunscreen and/or mosquito repellent!) and there's free wifi so you can go crazy with the social media if that's your thing. Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park productions in Central Park are wonderful and are totally a NYC thing to do but obtaining a ticket is a bit of a production so there's something extra nice about being able to pull up a chair one minute before showtime and watch/listen to Shakespeare performed in the heart of midtown. Amazing how quickly all the street sounds fade away as the Bard's words carry you away. 

Outfit Details:
Dress: GreenFlea Market, Upper West Side
Eyelet blouse: Suzy Shier (old blouse...never get tired of it)
Purse: Beacon's Closet, Greenwich
Head scarf: can't remember where it's from as I've had it for years
Shoes: Suprega sneakers
Picnic basket necklace: Kate Spade 

Summer should be one great big picnic (or many little picnics all strung together)

Some of the amazing people I work with! Headed to House No. 17 to meet with folks from Third Rail Projects. Photo by Francis Estrada.

We had a picnic of course. You can't go to Governor's Island in the summer on what would normally be an afternoon in the office and not have a picnic! I made these little cornbread sammies (store bought mini corn muffins stuffed with guacamole and topped with jalapeno Havarti  and red pepper.

Inside House No. 17 we got to get a little preview into Third Rail Projects next production. We loved all the finds they acquired from Materials for the Arts. Can't wait to see how it all comes together.

Each object tells a story, creates a mood and sheds light on a particular character.

My colleagues are the best! Fun, smart, kind, funny and stylish! Happy people. Photo by Francis Estrada

I am a bit of a nerd and really love a good theme. If I am going to wear a watermelon dress and watermelon earrings why not paint my nails to look like watermelon too? This is an abstract watermelon design...painting one's own nails is hard.

Picnic. Theme. 

I want to wear this dress all year long.

Outfit Details:

Dress: Picnic Person dress by Bea and Dot, Modcloth

Watermelon Earrings: MoMA Staff Sale 2014

Necklace: Kate Spade Picnic Basket

Socks: Foot Traffic, Beacon's Closet (also were available here)

Tote: Little Women, Out of Print Books

Hat: Lord and Taylor

Heart Sunnies: Beacon's Closet

Sneakers: Suprega

My Love of 'The Find'

I feel like Pollyanna

Love this place: Beacon's Closet

Where else could you find pieces like this? Can someone please buy and wear that pink silk elephant blouse?!

My (treasure) finds. The best part is I was able to get rid of some pants and shirts that I haven't worn in years and receive a store credit....so basically sometimes at a thrift store you can shop for free!

I love exploring, not knowing what I might find and feeling like I've stumbled upon something unique. I love a good story. And I love a good deal. It's no wonder then that consignment stores, thrift shops, flea markets and sample sales are magical places for me. These are havens from a culture of shopping malls and department stores...where everything looks and feels the same and the only stories are those that refer to rude customer service and outrageous price tags. Sifting through the racks and boxes is like going on a journey through time and people's lives. Memories are stirred when I come across pieces that remind me of times in my own past. Style is cultivated in places like this, personalities shine through. There is no one look or one trend in these places. When you come with an open mind and are willing to play you never know what you might find when thrift shopping....but I guaranteed you'll find some pretty great stuff.  Now if we all approached life the same way, playfully and with open minds, what a great world this be! See what a little thrift shopping can teach all of us?!

Outfit Details:
Photo 1:
Dress: Beacon's Closet
Heart sunglasses: Urban Outfitters
Boots: XoXo, Macy's
Floral socks: Lord and Taylor
Purse necklace: My mom's
Rose earrings: H&M
Unicorn tote: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Photo 2 (Apologies for the goofy selfie):
Dress: Anna Sui via Beacon's Closet
T-shirt: Airism at Uniqlo
Tri-color pennant necklace: Tatty Devine via Beacon's Closet
Long yellow necklace: Beacon's Closet
Belt: Anthropologie
Hat: Lord and Taylor
Watermelon earrings: MoMA staff sale
Shoes: Suprega