Capsule Wardrobe Pt 3: The Black Album

When I first moved to New York back in 1862, I lived in a dorm at NYU. There was another freshmen girl I used to see in the elevator ALL THE TIME and she would say the same thing to me, in a way that made it clear that she did not remember that she had seen me or said this thing to me before!

"You always wear black - that is, like, so New York to me! I mean when I think of New York, that is what I think of. Someone like you dressed in black. Hahaha [weird nervous laugh]."

... Or some variation of this. I could have prevented this embarrassing mini-monologue if I had worn ONE COLOR my whole freshmen year. But alas.

Later on, right after I graduated, I got really into clothes and shoes in a more "outfit" kind of way, and got into color. Of course, there was an older guy that I liked and he gave me an obnoxious lecture about how I dressed too young (um, I was 23) and how I should wear more black. I stopped liking him.

Anyway, the truth is, I am going back to my dark days. It's so much easier! I could start a whole blog just about black outfits. I think they're inspiring because most people already have pieces they can put to work in recreating a similar look.

If you have any black outfit images (of you or from the web), send them on over to holierthannowblog at gee mail! I will put them up with a link to you - and probably totally copy them in my daily wardrobe.





Image credits (from top): Wayne Tippets, Stockholm Street Style, Stylesightings, Olsens Anonymous.

Obsession - Elation - Depression

So I know it's Fall but I still really want these dumb shoes!


I hunted them down this summer and here they are in reality:

They were $770. SEVEN SEVEN-TEE! How insane. Anyway, if you are a size 10, here they are for $307.53 (that 53 cents'll kill ya).

Today I found these on Etsy.

They are $29! They are vintage Cherokee. Don't you think some Henry Cuir intern must have found them and brought them to his attention? I almost bought them before I remembered that shoes have a size and 9 is not mine.

Anyway the good news is there are more things like this (here) and I have faith that a size 7 will materialize... probably next Spring at Aldo when I will be over them.

Back, again.

So I thought this subject deserved more attention (I posted some of these inspirations the other day, but I was too busy to do any more research). When I started searching for the buy-able items for this idea, I got very into it. So much is on sale, and I was inspired about ways to do the look ... some of the images are old, but the styling feels really relevant.

When I used to do shows (as a singer) back in the day, I actually made a black backless shirt with a piece of fabric and a piece of satin string. It had like ... 20 stitches total, sewn by hand. I used to wear it with a necklace that had a long chain at the back that was an extension of the clasp - but the idea of flipping a necklace, especially all the long ones around now, is appealing.

You may ask what you are supposed to do with the front ... and aren't the annoying touchy-feely people you know going to try to turn your necklace around when they see the clasp? I'm sure you'll figure it out ... add a charm to the clasp, layer with another necklace facing forward, etc.

The bottom line is: who cares when you have the drama at the back?

From top:

1. Indie Shopper dusty pink backless dress $185 +
Forever 21 pearl multi-strand necklace $16.80.

2. Urban Outfitters backless dress with built-in necklace $34.99

3. Leviticus silver harness $89 +
Boulee backless dress $135 (was $407!)

4. Top Shop multi-strand necklace $100 +
Cecilia de Bucourt gladiator tank (there's no direct link for some reason) $158

5. Fluxus basic backless top $46.50 (was $62)+
Forever 21 drop necklace $5.80 +
Forever 21 pendant necklace $11.80.

Photo credits (left to right from top): Ashley Olsen via Celebrity Gossip, Cobrasnake, Le Fashion, Sienna Miller via Team Sugar, Kate Bosworth via Daily Mail UK.