Sarah Jessica Parker makes interesting choices

Last week, Frugal Fashionistas featured an affordable version of Sarah Jessica Parker's look in this picture.

Credit: Frugal Fashionista

While the look isn't my style, per se... Actually, wait a second. This look is sort of crazy. Is it just me or does it look like a walk-of-shame outfit?  Like the girl who just shacked up after a wild night at a bar (in her LBD with her sparkly purse and booties) then borrowed one of his old sweatshirts so she didn't look totally slutty walking down the street in broad daylight in an outfit clearly from last night?

Yeah, I thought so.

So, OK, we can agree that this isn't an outfit I would replicate on looks alone. I love the 3.1 Phillip Lim booties, but that's about it. Sorry, Frugal Fashionistas.

But more importantly: Where is SJP wearing this outfit?

She can't be running errands because those boots are just way too impractical to be prancing around NYC in (though we know SJP makes questionable shoe choices). And while I know she's been carrying that Halston Cleo Sac around town, she's been in much more sensible clothing. And if she's cold enough to be wearing a sweatshirt, why is she wearing a short, flouncy skirt?

(I might have taken it a little far with that last comment. I love the many styles of sweatshirt we've been seeing this fall, even with mismatched minis.)

Point is, I don't think your fashion life has to die when you become a mom or when you no longer have anyone to dress up for. Just because you are lugging a child around doesn't mean you have to do so in sweats. And SJP has proven this (plus, she does have someone to dress up for everyday: paparazzi). But at some point, don't you just want to be comfortable?

Monday's Facts: I need a nap

(Credit: Acting Like Animals)

• Last week, I discussed the female politician fashion void. The New York Times had a very interesting piece on the same topic, comparing the standard Hillary Clinton way of dressing (basic power suit) and the dressier Sarah Palin style. Does a sense of style make a female politician seem unfocused on the issues? And is the double standard for men and women real? This is a must-read.
• Refinery29 has an awesome fall handbag guide.
• Harry Potter geek meets fashion geek: Looks like Harry Potter's fashion designer ripped off McQueen (but you can't deny that it's a pretty brilliant choice for the wizarding world).
• Over at New York Magazine's Vulture blog, the Fug Girl rate Kelly Kapoor's looks on The Office. Hilarious.
• Also hilarious? This pregnant Rachel Zoe parody. Thanks for the tip off, Project Beltway.

Fashionable Event: Fashion's Fight Against MS

Last Tuesday night, I Heart Heels sent me to cover Fashion's Fight Against MS, a charity fashion event in our very own Washington, DC.


The event, which took place at the swanky Washington Club in Dupont Circle, was advertised as a runway show the likes of which have never been seen before in DC. And in a way, it's true. The caliber of the designers featured in last night's show - Tommy Hilfiger, Sir by Joanna Baum, Hilton Hollis - isn't often seen on runways in DC.

The final pass, featuring model Shannon Rusbuldt, the event's host, in a gorgeous red frock (with mismatched booties).

And yet, there was nothing about the event that was truly extraordinary. We can all see DC striving to break into the world of fashion, hoping to join the ranks of NYC, LA and maybe even Chicago as a bastion of US fashion, but this event wasn't the one to take the city to the next level.


The event had its moments - mostly on the runway. But true to DC form, the night was not without a little bit of pomp and circumstance.


The stars of the night, excluding, of course, Mr. Hilfiger, were really of the "famous for DC" variety. Michaele Salahi, who recently revealed that she suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, opened the show as a "surprise celebrity" guest, while Tareq, her husband, chatted up the crowd. And Katherine Kennedy, star of MTV UK's "Blonde Charity Mafia," graced the orange carpet before the show. Other "confirmed notables," including Redskins running back Clinton Portis and Capitals/Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, were nowhere to be found, Yeas and Nays reported. 

Michaele Salahi, one of the stars of Bravo's "Real Housewives of DC," looked like she took Linda Erkiletian's advice and ate a sandwich... in a good way.

Tareq Salahi schmoozes with K Street Kate Michael before the show begins.

The night did boast a selection of New York "socialites," but the significance of this was mostly lost on DC's crowd. I, for one, did get excited to see Bianca from America's Next Top Model (who apparently now goes by BiancaChardei and splits her time between NY, DC and Miami). Though Bianca is in fact a model, instead of walking in the show, she just watched from a cushy seat (seating was limited to only VIPs and notable guests. Plebes and press were forced to stand).


But petty gossip aside, what was most important about the night was the cause. The charitable event benefited the National Capital Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, a cause near and dear to Hilfiger's heart, as his sister battles the disease. Hilfiger even stated that a charitable show like this one is more important than any Fashion Week show he could put on in any city in the world (Oh, hush, you'll give us big heads, Tommy). 

Tommy Hilfiger chats it up on the orange carpet. (Orange is the MS Society's signature color)

And DC's philanthropic and social elite were treated to a great show. Tommy Hilfiger's fun, preppy look took center stage, and the audience ate it up. Tweeds and trenches ruled the runway in his looks, accented by cute booties and over-the-knee duck boots. I loved his strategic leather accents, artful turtlenecks and pretty evening outfits.

Tommy Hilfiger's preppy, poppy Fall 2010 collection shown through in his capsule display on Tuesday night. Think you'd venture to try his over-the-knee duck boots?

Cute hat, cute coat, crazy OTK duck boots. (Sorry for the blurry photos!)

Hello, sir.

The other three designers who showed collections on Tuesday - Hilton Hollis, Nary Manivong and Sir by Joanna Baum - had some hits and misses. Manivong had some cool offerings but no piece really stuck out to me. Hilton Hollis showed some bad pants, though had some cute fun sequined tanks and party frocks. But it was the Sir by Joanna Baum collection, which featured fabulous cocktail dresses, that really got the DC ladies excited.

This photo doesn't do justice to this Sir by Joanna Baum champagne and dusty rose silky gown.

A beautiful burnt orange dress from Sir by Joanna Baum

Hilton Hollis geometric print dress with a wicked side pony.

Hilton Hollis' fun and fab belted jacket

More photos from the show are featured after the jump!

See more of my coverage on the event - including more shots of some of the fabulous pieces in Hilfiger's capsule collection - head over to I Heart Heels.

To see more pictures from the show, check out SnarkInfested. And read more from Women's Wear Daily on the event, including why Tommy Hilfiger thinks Michelle Obama has yet to explore his evening wear.

All photos by Marta Dehmlow.

Fit to a T

Saturday, I got an email from my mother. After looking online a variety of places - Banana Rep, Gap, Lands End - she was unable to find a high-quality, plain white T-shirt. My mom often wears white Ts in her day-to-day wear. The easiest basic of all, what's not to love about the possibilities a white T - really, a blank slate - offers.

Like my mom, I love a quality white T-shirt. My go-to outfit often consists of jeans paired with a fitted white T, accessorized with a scarf or a long necklace.

I have a few go-to white Ts; my favorites - dingy with age - are Gap's Favorite T, made with a bit of spandex for a fitted look. I have a couple other white Ts I love for different reason: a long, tunic-y T from H&M that was $5, a J Crew tissue T with a pocket that's soft and comfy, and so on (I have maybe 7 or 8 white Ts in various styles). But these other Ts are fairly sheer - you must wear a camisole of some kind under these shirts or - hello bra! (Luckily, I always wear a cami. It started in adolescence, and now I am just way more comfortable with a tank on under my Ts.)

So when my mom asked for my rec for white Ts, I immediately thought of my Gap Ts. But as my mother said in her email, reading the reviews on gap.com, it sounds like the quality of the Favorite T has gone down - way down. Cheap fabric, ill-fitting, super see-through were all terms used to describe the T shirt. It hadn't gotten a favorable review in ages.

So I thought of other good brands for Ts, and I went on a hunt to find great Ts recommend to my mom (unfortunately, I don't think my mom would go for the slouchy, boyish, pocket Ts of T by Alexander Wang - despite their incredible softness).

Splendid 1x1 scoop T, available at Shopbop: $46

James Perse V-neck tee, available at Nordstrom: $49.90 (double layered - so extra not-see-through!)

Three Dots crewneck T, available at Nordstrom: $40 (Runs small!)

American Apparel fine jersey short sleeve T: $17 (for me, American Apparel is something you should buy in the store and not online, unless you know what you are buying)

But my mom had a valid point: It's next to impossible to find a quality T shirt that isn't super sheer or meant solely for layering purposes. Even hunting online, I could tell how sheer most of the options out there really were. 

In most cases, an opaque T isn't going to be made only of cotton, in most cases - many will have spandex or modal to help with the transparency. And in other cases, the shirts are too fitted (no one needs to see my innie belly button through my T-shirt). And for whatever reason, there is a dearth of crew-necked T-shirts. Not all ladies like the V-neck (though it is universally flattering). So basically, it was really freakin' hard to find white Ts! 

So I ask: Do you have any go-to brands for quality Ts?

My mother, in all her sagacity, closed her email with this. "Otherwise, based on all the reviews I read, we should start a company that makes a good quality high opaque plain white tee."

Does anyone want to invest?

Sunday Lust List

Helmut Lang suit, available at Saks: Pants $345; Jacket $585 (featured on Coporette)
I love the unique cut of the smoking jacket, which makes it a bit more casual.

Le Mont St. Michel hooded poncho, available at La Garconne: $495
It's the year of the poncho, and I'm loving it!

Parker sequined dress, available at Shopbop: $297
Birthday weekend in NYC party dress for Liz?

Wink Leidy faux fur coat, available at Shopbop: $288

Tory Burch "Abbey" sequin ballet flat, available at Bloomingdales: $225

This killer Lanvin dress from the Spring 2011 collection.

Saturday Style: Seventies Chic

Credit: Streetpeeper

Floppy hats are everywhere this season, and seriously, what could be more perfect for a Saturday of shopping in Georgetown? You look cool, casual and smart (because you're protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays).

I love this Londoner's hat because it's not too floppy. It looks super cool with her fringe bangs and the retro mustard turtleneck and flared jeans.

Turtlenecks are sort of back in vogue, n'est pas? They don't work on everyone, and rarely do they photograph well (hello, double chin!), but this girl works it.

If I were dressing up today, this is totally the outfit I'd want to put on. However, for now, I'm in leggings and long-sleeves for a nice bike ride in this beautiful weather. The fiance and I are going to try the new Capital Bike Share program and head up the C&O canal. If we happen to pass through Georgetown (we will), I just might have to try to find a floppy hat and cool, colorful turtleneck!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Friday's Facts: It's a mad world

Eat zero carbs and you might be able to look like Adriana Lima. (Picture via Oh No They Didn't)

• Are you already depressed Mad Men is over for, like, nine months? I am. Thankfully, Fashionista has a fashion retrospective of the ladies of Sterling Cooper Draper Price.
• Also from Fashionista: Fashion-themed Halloween costumes. Do you know what you're dressing as next weekend?
• The last of the fashion week round-ups: Fashionista (again) compiled their top 20 looks from Spring 2011 Fashion Month and Refinery29 has the top 20 dresses. Gorgeous!
• In diffusion and collaboration news: Derek Lam wants to do a diffusion line with someone like Topshop, WWD reports (via The Cut).
• Wall Street Journal has a slideshow of Hong Kong's highest heels. 15 cm Alexander McQueen heels came in at the tallest! The bigger they are, the harder you fall...
• I thought I'd continue this week's mini-school theme. Today's subject: English. WSJ has a lesson in in brevity.
• And the most depressing, sobering news of the week: Adriana Lima eats zero carbs before a Victoria's Secret runway show, The Cut reports. So I'll just blame carbs for me not looking like Adriana Lima. (Seriously, though? ZERO CARBS? I'd die).