Crisis in Denim

Rock sugar candy. Yum.

…  thus went the first-ever Boston Fashion Blogger Mixer last weekend.

Of course there’s much, much more.

When the day began I was a bit apprehensive.  Would my outfit be right? Would the other bloggers already all know each other? It was like the first day of sleep-away camp, circa 1988!

To ease my nervousness I told myself I’d just pop in for a few minutes, pick up some business cards, introduce myself to a couple bloggers, and quietly slip out. Wrong.

Hello, Lovelies. Where have you been all my life? These Pour La Victoire booties at Luna were a bit out of my price range, even with 25% off. Still, they are gorgeous and have inspired many a fantasy.

First off, the mixer was held at the fabulous Luna Boston handbag store (hello? handbag store?! It was like the venue was chosen especially pour moi!)  on Newbury Street, and the first thing I saw was a sign offering all bloggers 25 percent off anything. Now THAT’S what I call hospitality.

Then, just as I was filling out my nametag, some excitement erupted outside. We all ran to see. It was the annual Santa Speedo Run making its way down Newbury Street in all its Spandex glory.  Suffice it to say, we bloggers were all ready for a drink after that sighting.

The Santa Speedo Run ran just past the Fashion Blogger Mixer. It was a juxtaposition of sorts-- people who love wearing clothes, and people who love, well, NOT wearing clothes.

Thank goodness for Hpnotiq. If it sounds like I’m shilling for a big alcohol company, well, I am, just a bit. It was just that they sent over such lovely bottles of baby-blue liquor, along with bartenders to make delicious concoctions such as the  Roq Candy  which was stirred up with a stick of pale blue rock sugar candy.

(By the way, it seems we all inadvertently enrolled in Hpnotiq’s “Night School for Girls” (Click on 12.12.2009 Luna Boston)– since there are plenty of photos of the festivities on the company’s website.)

After we’d all had a few sips of these yummy drinks, the place really got hopping.

A Necklush. I feel a Jones of the Week coming on.

I met Lei Ann of Give Me Platforms… or give me death (I know, I love the blog name too) who was very Zen in her Buddha necklace.  She was also the lucky winner of a giveaway from Necklush, which makes super-sweet neckwear that is somewhere between necklace and scarf.

I met Amy of The Bargain Hunter Extraordinaire, Jessica of  Daucus Carota, Davita of Dita’s Style Buffet, Najeema of A Stylized Hysteria and Julie of Orchid Grey — all lovely and super-cool.

I met Jen of Jen Loves Kev and Amy, aka Punky of Punky Style, who also owns a very cool mobile vintage shop, Haberdash Vintage, and who supplied many of the goodies for the random drawing giveaway. (Yours truly won a crocheted clutch!). They, along with Liana of New Brahmin, organized the mixer and I,  for one, can not gush enough with gratitude.

Blogstress after fabulous blogstress confessed to me that she’d been nervous about meeting everyone and all I could say was: ME TOO! I had thought I’d stand in the corner, sneak out when no one was looking, and have a whole afternoon to kill before my 5:30 p.m. bus to New York.

Boy, was I wrong. Sometime around 3:30 p.m. I glanced at my watch and realized the afternoon had flown by and I didn’t even have enough time to take advantage of the shopping deals some Newbury Street stores were offering bloggers. In fact, I barely had enough time to pick up my bags and head to New York City.

I just barely made my bus and on the ride down (well, before those blue drinks sent me into a deep sleep), I thought, I don’t care what anyone says about fashion and New York– there is no city with a more fabulous sisterhood of fashion bloggers than Boston.

Booze and Shoes

Signs like this are all up and down Newbury Street in Boston these days.

Permit me a moment of indulgence, if you will.

See, ever since the economy tanked, I’ve been noticing a lot of empty storefronts. And sometimes, I can’t help but think how much nicer they would look as my own little boutiques.

Okay, never mind that the last time I worked in a clothing store was almost 20 years ago, just after high school, at the Express at Quincy Market (that Express is long gone now, that floor of the building empty, the last time I passed by). I never quite got that folding thing down with the Stalin-esque precision I was supposed to,  although I was darn good at putting together outfits for customers.

And never mind the fact that the sole cash I have to invest in a business is about $450, which it now looks like I will have to tap for a paint job, since some goober keyed the word Ass into the hood of my car.

Also, I know nothing about inventory, buying, supply chain management, accounting, or hiring salespeople.

What should we call my fashion mecca?

It’s a fantasy here, people, work with me.

This vacant space in the chic Meatpacking District of New York City. It beckons me.

As long as I’m sharing, I’ll have you know that I’ve especially fantasized about a particular space about in a town called Natick, about 40 minutes west of Boston. Until a few months ago it was a kind of one-floor mini-department store called Barber’s.

A long ranch-style building, Barber’s had room after room of scented candles, fancy bath gels, Vera Bradley floral luggage and Brighton jewelry– just to name a few examples. I used to call it the suburban mom emporium, and most of the stuff wasn’t quite my style ,but that’s not to say I don’t have a few choice finds from there in my jewelry box or my, ahem, handbag collection.

One of the things that always impressed me about Barber’s was that  even though there was no other shopping around it — it was mostly surrounded by offices and trees —  the folks at Barber’s sold enough good stuff that they were a draw in their own right. That place was always busy.

Thing is, Barber’s has been sitting empty for months now. And sometimes I think, if they can do it, I can do it.

The only time I could get there to take a picture was at night. I see this as a clothing mecca by day, though. No?

In my mind I’ve turned the room that used to be the Yankee Candle collection into the shoe section, full of slouchy boots and adorable ballet flats.

The room that sold the quilted floral handbags and wallets –well, those shelves could be filled with gorgeous sweaters– some chunky cardigans, some cashmere crewnecks, as well as soft cotton t-shirts of the Splended and LA Made variety.

When I’m meandering this way around Fantasy Island (minus Tatoo and the Boss, thank you very much, that show scared the crap out of me when I was a kid), I like to think about what my price point would be (okay, I’ve just exhuasted the one retail term I know).

I think I would have a mix of well-priced lines; some Kensie, perhaps, with sweaters running about $70, and then more high-end pieces by Marc Jacobs or Nanette Lepore.

I’d also, of course, feature plenty of local Boston-area indie designers, especially in the jewelry, bag and shoe departments.

I’d stock plenty of basics and have multiples of all sizes. And there would be a glorious section dedicated to, of course, denim, with yours truly making sure every jean-related shopping experience was crisis-free.

My fabulous shop would be a one-stop shopping for all– young and old, rich and poor (okay, not too poor, I’ve got to make a meager profit here, people), and the world would be a better place because I’d be in charge of outfitting it.

Anyone interested in making an investment in my own personal fantasy island?

If I Had Only Slowed Down: An Ode to the Clothes That Could Have been Mine

I could have bought cashmere all fuzzy and soft
Or a nice pair of pants seen at Ann Taylor Loft
I could have bought Gucci or Pucci or Betsey
Or a handbag that’s one of a kind sold on Etsy

Oh the boots I’d have had, some Cole Hanns, or a Frye
Oh the shoes I’d have got, oh the shoes, I might cry!
For one hundred and seventy bucks I must pay
To municipal coffers in the state of M-A

Since the friendly state trooper , his lights white and blue
Said: you know you were going a brisk eighty-two
In a sixty-five zone. I had no choice, alas
But to pull you right over … you were going too fast

I begged for some mercy, a small bit of pity
Don’t you know, that I just bought a coat . It’s so pretty
that I now need a scarf that will match, and a hat
Just give me a warning, we’ll leave it at that

But the cop shook his head, so I’ll just pay the fine
And mourn for the dresses that could have been mine
But at least I have learned, that for shopping’s sake
I must slow my ass down, and keep my foot on the brake

So Boston’s all-news cable channel, NECN, is launching a style show, and, surprise of all surprises, I ended up on the invite list for the launch party at the Institute for Contemporary Art.

Now, this was an event at which one was meant to see and be seen. I personally did a lot more seeing and not a lot of being seen. In fact, it became almost comical how many times the photographer wandered past me and my wingman Limeduck, without so much as raising his camera. Limeduck was perplexed, as he claims short bald men are this season’s must-have accessory.

No matter. Limeduck and I had a good laugh over our invisibility, and anyway, I enjoy seeing infinitely more than I enjoy being seen.

Believe me, there was a lot to see that I didn’t like.  Here are some examples.

Hated it:

Now, I should say that after a couple of vodka concoctions garnished with arugula (yes, arugula!), my more generous nature kicked in, and I was willing to consider these as gutsy attempts rather than fashion disasters.

So why focus on the negative?

I will instead share what I really liked .

Loved Loved Loved:

One of my favorites was very different from what many attendees were wearing (i.e. it wasn’t so short as to allow a view of the control portion of the wearer’s control-top stockings). A black eyelet lace shirtwaist, simple and elegant. Janice Saragoni says she bought it at Barney’s about 10 years ago, for about $500, and wears it three or four times a year. That’s what I call an investment piece.

I then happened on Maegen Thornton and Danielle Kupsc, keen to show off the outfits they’ll be selling in their new South End boutique, Flock.

The two were pretty in plaid. I loved Danielle’s shiny pink Marc Jacobs t-shirt and how it paired with the grey and black skirt (oh, that I could rock a skirt that short).

Maegen’s Lauren Moffatt dress really spoke to me. It was designed to look like a skirt and top. And with a slightly higher waist and longer A-line skirt, I could see myself wearing it. My favorite part was the little grommets not just across the top but sprinkled through the green black and grey plaid silk.

Maegen claims the dress is so comfortable you could live in it, which is probably good, since I wouldn’t be able to buy the dress AND make my rent. But I liked this dress so much I  would consider choosing the dress over my rent this month.

And finally– here are a couple of the ensembles I really liked, that were on display among the cheese platters andceviche shooters.

So there you have it. My take on an evening of fashion watching. I had a fabulous time.

Maybe next time my own look will convince the photographer that I’m someone worth spending just a few pixels on.

Last Sunday, I happened to find myself moseying through the Nordstrom shoe department, when I noticed an area that had been closed off by a set of grey curtains.  

Hmmm. Mysterious.

 I tried to peek through a little space between two of the curtains. I’m ashamed to say I considered making sure the coast was clear and sneaking in, when a salesgirl came bounding up behind me. 

I told her I wanted to know what was behind the curtain. NEEDED to know .   

Turns out that behind that curtain were the shoes about to be unveiled at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. That special sale, when Nordstrom discounts fall merchandise, then actually raises the prices again after it’s all gone, is a much-anticipated event among Nordstrom devotees.

Now, that sale wouldn’t be starting until July 17th. But given that it was only July 5th, special customers would have access to a 12-day-long sneak preview . But even THAT wouldn’t be starting until tomorrow, July 6th, and Julie wasn’t allowed to let me in even a minute before.

I must have looked stricken, or splurge-ready, because Julie quickly added that she COULD bring things OUT to me. And she COULD bring me what she called ‘look books’ of every boot, flat or pump on display in the mysterious, grey-curtained crypt. 

Now we were talking.

I said I was in the market for cowboy boots. 

She said she had just the thing.

Out came a gorgeous pair of Frye cowboy boots. All new and with that yummy enw leather smell. And, like any good sales person, she also brought out something I didn’t realize I needed until she showed them to me, and then I had to have them.  Wooly winter Uggs, which Mom insisted I buy, reminding me it would be snowing again before I knew it.

My new salesfriend boxed up the boots and wrote up a sales slip. I was in love. I wanted to take my new babies home.

But no. Read the rest of this entry »

So, it’s been a few weeks since I’ve really jonesed for anything quite like I’ve been jonesing for these shoes.

In case you’ve been wondering (believe me, I KNOW it’s been a nail-biter) I ended up returning the blister-rubbing Frye’s to Nordstrom (they took them back, no questions asked, didn’t even need the receipt, I love you Nordie’s) but while I was there, I found myself idling longingly in front of these $230 Farylrobin babies.

I’d actually seen them a few weeks before, and passed them up, with a sigh, of course. But there they were again.

Now, yesterday, I got a Daily Candy offer for 25% off any and all Farylrobin shoes, so for a few moments I really considered it.

ME: These would be perfect for work. The right mix of dressy and casual. Cute with jeans or a skirt.

REALLY IRRITATING INTERNAL VOICE: But you just bought black shoes for work. For a fraction of even the on-sale Farylrobins. They’re fine. More than fine. Super cute.

ME: Yeah, but I need more than one pair of black summer shoes. And these are 25 percent off!!

REALLY IRRITATING INTERNAL VOICE: Yes, but is that what you’re REALLY jonesing for? Let’s revisit the REAL Jones of the Week. 

RIIV was right, as usual. And though it’s not a fashion-related Jones of the Week, I think I have to confess my real, my true Jones of the Week. Of the Month. Perhaps of the Year… Read the rest of this entry »