While we’re on the topic of dressing for the Met Costume Ball, I neglected to add Jenna Lyons to my worst dressed list yesterday, so I will now.  I found her ensemble entirely too casual for a ball.  It would have been far more elegant without the printed sweater.  I’m also quite tired of seeing Jenna Lyons in a button down shirt, jeweled necklace, and those glasses.

Lyons, one of the main creative forces behind J. Crew, is lauded for her design turnaround of J. Crew, but I feel that not all of the changes have been positive.  I remember shopping at J. Crew in the ’90s, when the store was primarily a mail order company.  Growing up in an area without a wealth of shopping options, J. Crew was my entrée to a larger retail world.  I derived inspiration from the preppy fashion scenes pictured in the catalog and I loved the basics that they sold, such as a black v-neck wool sweater that I would pay good money for today.  Now I peruse J. Crew’s catalogs more for the shock factor of seeing eclectic combinations that mix prints and colors to the max than as a literal source of inspiration . And the quality of J. Crew’s clothing is not the same as it used to be.  But I continue to shop at J. Crew; despite the brand’s outrageous combinations and diminished quality, I still find that J. Crew carries a number of pieces that I like to wear.  I’ve found their basics to be particularly reliable.

So after this little disclaimer/critique of J. Crew, I want to share some printed pieces that have captured my attention.  I’m typically not a print person, but I love the impact that these pieces create:

 Embroidered Scarf

Liberty print shirt

Tortoiseshell flower necklace. 

Striped tote

Beaded sweater

 Printed flats

Pineapple iphone case

Cuff

What’s your take on J. Crew?  Are you newer to the Crew or did you shop the store in the old school days?  Do any of these printed pieces speak to you?  Do you generally wear prints?

Now we take a completely different fashion turn from Saturday’s Kentucky Derby to this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Gala, “PUNK: Chaos to Couture.” The Met Ball is one of those annual fashion events, like The Oscars, that fashion lovers enjoy critiquing. Each year, some attendees adhere to the chosen theme while others (Ahem, Anna Wintour) dress as they would for any ball. My personal opinion is that at a Costume Ball, attendees should wear a Capital C costume, instead of a blasé gown that looks like it could fit any formal occasion.

I’ve read that some were not pleased with the theme and desired one that lent itself to more beautiful dressing, but I personally liked it. With the proliferation of stud details, leather, and punk accessories, like ear cuffs, spiking the pages of Vogue, there are certainly options abounding. I also believe that a costume ball should allow its guests to present themselves in a way that is unexpected, and this theme does just that.  When critiquing dresses for a costume ball, I’m willing to embrace details that I might ordinarily find veer into questionable taste.

Below are my picks for best and worst dressed. I’m basing my opinion primarily upon best illustration of the punk theme.

Images via Harper’s Bazaar unless otherwise noted.

THE BEST:

Cara Delevigne in Burberry.

Rooney Mara in Givenchy via People.

Dakota Fanning in Rodarte.  Check out the stunning back of the dress too!

Image via Marie Claire

Sienna Miller in Burberry

Taylor Thomasi Hill in Thom Brown via Vogue.

Gwen Stefani in Maison Martin Margiela via Marie Claire.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Giles Deacon and a Philip Treacy hat via Elle.

Carey Mulligan in Balenciaga by Alexander Wang.

Rosie Huntington Whitely in Gucci

Anne Hathaway in vintage Valentino.

Lauren Santo Domingo in Dolce & Gabbana

Jaime King in Topshop.

Anja Rubik in Anthony Vaccarello.

Nina Dobrev in Monique Lhuillier.

THE WORST:

While she certainly embraced the punk theme, I think that Allison Williams’ Altazurra dress is a mess.

While the beautiful Ivanka Trump is almost always in my best dressed category, I think she misses the mark here.  I love her punky jewelry but the mix of navy and green here is too casual for the Met ball and incongruous with the theme.

I normally adore anything Sofia Coppola wears, but her pajama outfit does not fit the theme, either.  Image via Daily Mail.

Likewise, the usually lovely Renee Zellweger failed to impress me this time around.  She simply looks dowdy in this Prada dress, which is more Mother of the Bride than Mother of Punk.  Image via Perez Hilton.

Coco Brandolini’s Dolce & Gabbana dress is a fail for me.  While it embraces the punk flower aesthetic, the shape of the dress, paired with those beyond tacky earrings, is just too much for me.

Madonna is definitely punk, but decidedly not glamorous in this get up.  Image via My Daily

Katie Perry looks more like a Renaissance fresco than a punk princess.  Image via Us Magazine .

Kate Upton, in Diane von Furstenberg, is one of those attendees who ignored the dress code and looks instead like she could be attending a wedding rather than a punk themed costume ball.  Image via Mail Online.

And Zoey Deschanel, who aims for a bit of punk with her handbag, fails miserably in her Tommy Hilfiger seersucker gown.  I read that Tommy’s idea was to create an original version of the punk theme, but this dress is neither punk nor gala appropriate.  Image via People.

As an Apollo Circle member of the Met, I’m looking forward to viewing this year’s costume exhibit in person.  Expect another punk post soon with my thoughts and photos on the exhibit.

What do you think of this year’s Met Costume Gala theme? Which attendees do you deem Best and Worst dressed for this event? What would you wear to this event?

Louisvilleky.gov

It’s Derby Day!  The Kentucky Derby is one of my favorite American cultural institutions. Although I’ve never been to the Derby, it remains high on my Must Do list.  I love the fanfare of the event and the old-fashioned allure.  I adore both the Derby fashions and the thrill of the most exciting two minutes in sports. And I just love equestrian culture and design.

In honor of today’s Kentucky Derby, below are a few of my favorite images via Harper’s Bazaar collection of celebrities attending horse racing events, as well as my own selection of pieces that would work brilliantly for those attending the Derby or a Derby party:

Elizabeth Taylor

Princess Diana

Nicole Kidman

In choosing a Derby dress, I prefer a sleeveless dress with a shorter, above the knee, daytime hemline.  Since the Derby is a Southern, old-fashioned affair, I would err on the side of looking like a Southern Belle. Here are my picks for an afternoon at Churchill Downs.

I would wear this Lilly Pulitzer dress with some wedges and either a white hat or a pink hat to create the ultimate preppy color combo:  pink and green.

I find this Giambattista Valli dress to be the most sophisticated of the bunch.  For that reason, I would throw on an outrageous hat and high heels.

This Kate Spade dress has such a classic silhouette and the orange and white stripes make it more festive.  I like how the dress is shown with orange pumps.  A matching orange hat would be the perfect way to top it off!

This black and white ruffled Halston Heritage dress is more fashion forward than most Derby dresses and it mimics the particular flounced flair that many Derby hats display.  I like it with sandals and an all black hat.

I always love a pink Derby dress, and this Cynthia Steffe peplum dress is no exception.  I would add some bow bedecked heels and a pink and white hat.

Oscar de la Renta is the master of ladylike elegance.  The trimming on this dress is lovely.  I would pair the dress with a white hat and simple pumps, perhaps a white pair in the pointy toe style pictured above.

This Halston Heritage dress has a throwback silhouette but the cutouts make it more modern.  I could see this dress with a black and white hat and some heeled sandals.

Landscape prints, particularly those featuring flowers, seem appropriate for the Kentucky Derby.  This Erdem dress showcases flowers that are more sophisticated than sweet.

A mint green dress pairs well with a mint julep in hand.  I would wear this Alice & Olivia dress with a white hat and white heeled sandals.

Or, why not wear mint juleps on your dress?  This dress by Lilly Pulitzer is cheeky and fun.

This Collette Dinnigan dress is one of my favorite picks for its Derby appropriate farm scenes, which I like to imagine are horse farms.  I just keep finding more toile pieces!  I would add a pair of blue pumps and a green hat.

A fanciful hat is a must at The Kentucky Derby:  Any of these would be certain to turn heads:

The Hat Shop

The Kentucky Derby Official Store

Barbara Feinman Millinery

berkeleyhat.com

Kentucky Derby Official Store

The Hat Shop

berkeleyhat.com

berkeleyhat.com

Barbara Feinman Millinery

Kentucky Derby Official Store

Kentucky Derby Official Store

berkeleyhat.com

Kentucky Derby Official Store.   

For more Derby fashion inspiration, visit The Kentucky Derby website.

I just love events with pomp and circumstance.  Do you?

Have you ever attended The Derby or a Derby party?  What did you/would you wear?

Speaking of Miuccia Prada, last night I stopped by Prada in Soho to view the collection of costumes designed by Miuccia Prada and costume designer Catherine Martin for Baz Luhrmann’s remake of “The Great Gatsby.” The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite novels and the 1920’s are my favorite historical fashion era; seeing the costumes in person was a true delight!  I’ve been a fan of Art Deco design since I was a child.  My favorite childhood Halloween costume was a flapper costume.  You can expect more Art Deco related posts in the future!

Anyway, Prada’s dazzling collection of Art Deco inspired pieces did not disappoint!  The headpieces were especially fabulous.  The designers’ modern take on the costumes was particularly evident in the hemlines; the hems were longer in front and shorter in back.  The pieces were constructed of silk taffeta, dyed fur, velvet, sequins, and metallic lame.  Many of the pieces were jewel encrusted.

Image from Harper’s Bazaar.  All other Gatsby exhibit images are by StyleAspirations.

Daisy Gatsby’s outfit is front and center.

I took note of the shoes, some of which (see below) reminded me of shoes shown at the Schiaparelli and Prada:  Impossible Conversations exhibit I viewed at the Met last fall.  I find Miuccia Prada to be a fascinating person and a provocative designer.

Prada has some Deco inspired pieces for sale. Take a look:

I’m normally not drawn to jeweled accessories, but I guess Miuccia is making me change my mind.

If you’re going to be in New York before May 12, stop by Prada at 575 Broadway to see the exhibit in person!

Tiffany is also celebrating the remake of the 1974 film with its Jazz Age Glamour collection. I haven’t visited their 5th Avenue Art Deco window displays yet, but I will. I highly recommend viewing Tiffany’s Art Deco collection of jewels in person or on their website. Not all of the pieces featured are new, as some are culled from Tiffany’s preexisting Jazz and Legacy collections, but they all evoke the glamorous aesthetic of the Art Deco era. Below are my favorite items from the collection, with prices starting at $250 and going up to $875,000:

Savoy Headpiece, the pièce de résistance of the collection.

Ziegfield Collection pearl tassel necklace

Deco Fan Bangle

Art Deco Drop Earrings

Ziegfield Collection Pearl Ring

Legacy Collection Five-Bar Drop Pendant

Another one of my favorite New York landmarks, The Plaza Hotel, is also taking part in Gatsby fever with a Great Gatsby themed Fitzgerald suite, decorated in a modern spin on Art Deco style:

Fitzgerald Suite bedroom

Fitzgerald Suite sitting area

In addition to providing these Decoluxe accomodations, The Plaza is offering a number of experiences inspired by the Jazz Age, including dishes and cocktails inspired by the era, a Fitzgerald Tea for the Ages, a jazz band at The Rose Club, and other Gatsby inspired offerings in the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, Warren Tricomi Salon, and Plaza Boutique.  It’s only fitting that The Plaza would be celebrating the remake of “The Great Gatsby”; after all, The Plaza was an F. Scott Fitzgerald haunt and it made an appearance in The Great Gatsby.

I don’t know about you, but all of this Deco inspiration is making me want to don a flapper dress and head straight to The Plaza!

Do you love The Great Gatsby like I do? Do you plan to see the remake?

What is your favorite historical fashion era?

With a trip to Key West, a long visit from my in-laws, Easter, and a stomach virus, it has been awhile since I’ve shared what’s inspiring me.  Here are a few of the things that have inspired me most recently:

A.W.A.K.E.

E. Tautz

I’m completely obsessed with shirting these days.  Jackets used to be my obsession, but after amassing a collection of them, I’ve moved on to shirts.  I also think that the prevalence of shirting in magazines and street style photos has been influencing my desire.  Thanks to Moda Operandi and That’s Not My Age, I’ve been introduced to these luxurious shirts from A.W.A.K.E. and E. Tautz.  I’m especially enamored with the top shirt from A.W.A.K.E.; the tailoring is so unique.  My Wish List has just grown a couple of shirts longer.

Carolyn Murphy and Tobey Maguire reenacted scenes from the Alfred Hitchcock classic, “Rear Window” in the April issue of Vogue.  “Rear Window” is one of my favorite movies and I adore Carolyn Murphy’s modeling; she has a penchant for portraying glamorous protagonists.  The Marc Jacobs dress on the left would be a fabulous wear to work piece!  Check out this photo spread in Vogue if you haven’t already!

via Spoonforkbacon

This piece of inspiration is a bit late, but I was recently taken with these watercolor eggs, so I tried them at home with Baby Boy.  He loved the painting process!

Did anyone celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day on April 12?  I certainly hope so.  While I opted for a burger (with bleu cheese) instead, I recently had the best grilled cheese of my life at the Key West restaurant, “Better than Sex.”  This restaurant has to be the most unique dessert place I’ve experienced, and it definitely has the most titillating menu descriptions I’ve encountered.  The brooding, romantic atmosphere and rich desserts were fantastic.  I enjoyed a glass of cabernet rimmed in chocolate (red wine and chocolate, what better pairing could there be?) and the decadent chocolate grilled cheese, which the menu describes as “Danish brie cheese & dark Belgian chocolate grilled on homestyle buttered bread kissed with cinnamon and sugar. Served snuggled up against a shot of strawberry champagne soup.”  This incomparable grilled cheese sandwich has inspired me to re-create the sandwich (or convince my husband to re-create it) at home.

This quote resonated with me recently as I traveled to Key West for the wedding of one of my best friends.  I believe that pleasure time should be spent wisely, doing the things we enjoy most.  It’s not often that I take a pleasure trip on my own, so I made sure to relish the time catching up on magazine reading, enjoying key lime pie and conch fritters, exploring Key West, spending a bit of time on the beach, and most importantly, catching up with college friends and celebrating our friend’s marriage.

Does anyone else watch CBS Sunday Morning?  In my opinion, it’s the best show on TV.  It gives me everything I want to hear in 90 minutes:  a trumpet and signature sunshine to greet the day, a quick news summary, political coverage, arts features, human interest stories, a nature scene at the end, and occasionally a special song sung at the piano by the affable host, Charles Osgood.  I’ve been watching this show for years, since discovering it with my mother, and it never fails to inspire me in some way.  Several weeks ago, before heading to Key West for my friend’s wedding, I watched this story about the importance of friendship.  Lately, as I retreat deeper into family life, I’m simultaneously being reminded of the importance of nurturing my friendships.

StyleAspirations posing with the beautiful bride.

What has been inspiring you lately?

I sadly learned today that fashion icon Lilly Pulitzer died yesterday at the age of 81.

Lillian Pulitzer Rousseau (New York Times Obituary) accidentally created her iconic patterned shift dresses while running a juice stand in Palm Beach.  Lilly found a practical solution to a problem and the idea turned into something bigger than she could have anticipated. Her story is proof of the momentum that a small but brilliant creative idea can gather.  In need of something that would disguise juice stands, she created a patterned shift dress that quickly became a coveted item among the Palm Beach elite. 

Jacqueline Kennedy, an old schoolmate of Lilly’s, also helped the brand garner attention after she was photographed wearing Lilly on vacation, and later, in a Life magazine photo spread.  The simple shift dress blossomed into a full blown company, which today also sells clothing for men and children, accessories, and home goods. The 1980 “Official Preppy Handbook,” cited a Lilly dress as a must-have.

I purchased my first Lilly Pulitzer piece in college, in Kennebunkport, Maine, after receiving an introduction to the brand by the Lilly loving ladies at my liberal arts college.   I still have that shift dress today.  While my style has evolved since then, I still enjoy the whimsical prints evocative of beachy locales like Palm Beach.  My wardrobe contains several other Lilly dresses, cardigans, polos, accessories, and even a pink winter coat which has received more compliments than any other piece of clothing I have ever owned.  I purchased a white Lilly dress with the last money that my paternal grandfather gave me before he died.  I wore it to the law school graduation of my boyfriend at the time, my own law school graduation one year later, and even out for celebratory drinks on my wedding night after changing out of my wedding dress.  I will wear it yet again this summer.

Part of Lilly’s legacy is that she created clothing that countless women have chosen to wear for the special occasions in life and items comfortable enough to be worn every day.

Whenever I think of summer, I think of Lilly.  Whenever I pack for destinations like Florida, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C. in the summer, I always pack Lilly.  A piece of Lilly is a reminder to keep life bright and colorful and not to take oneself too seriously. 

If you have any personal stories about wearing Lilly, please share them.  The Lilly website is also accepting personal submissions. 

Links to Photos:  1, 2, 3, 4, 6

This pouch should have been on my last post, but alas, here it is.

Pamelabarksyshop via Etsy.

These luscious cakes have been calling my name.  If only I had the domestic motivation to make one!

Vanilla Blackberry Marscapone cake from Sweetapolita.

Spec

Speckled egg cake via The Cake Blog.

Parisian chic Moynat ads, spotted on Habitually Chic.  Take me back to Paris!

This Dior scarf has been popping up in several places.  It’s unique, chic, and fabulous!

Image via Mark D. Sikes.

I just finished this book.  I read it to learn about what I can do as a parent to help Baby Boy succeed in life.  This book reiterates the importance of a mother’s nurturing at an early age and the value of character, specifically qualities like perseverance, curiosity, conscientiousness, optimism, and self-control.  Just as importantly, this book demonstrates that failure is often more valuable than success, something that I need to continue to remember in my adult life.  Although the book shared some insight that parents can apply while raising children, it was actually more of a crash course on the American education system.  I recommend this book if you want to learn more about the education crisis facing our country today.  Reading it left me with a desire to do something, even if it’s small, to help young children in our country who do not have the foundational advantage of growing up in a stable environment.

1.  Makeup as Art

Images via We See Beauty

I’m not a makeup person.  I wear it but I don’t find it to be the most exciting topic.  When makeup is photographed this artfully, however, I find it captivating.  This makeup is from the We See Beauty’s makeup line, MAKE, which I first spotted on The Atelier.  The We See Beauty Foundation describes itself as a “non-profit organization dedicated to incubate and accelerate women-led, worker-owned cooperatives to drive large scale change.”  1/3 of sales from the We See Beauty shop, including MAKE products, go to support the We See Beauty Foundation.  Check out the We See shop, which offers a carefully curated selection of beauty items, accessories, print materials, films, and home goods.  We See Beauty is a fascinating organization with great aesthetic sensibility.

2.  Old School Ski and Lodge Vacations

Amanda Brooks wrote about her skiing getaway to Samoens in the French Alps on I Love Your Style this week.  I adored the European ski lodge photos and the tales of igloo building.  The above photo from her blog reminds me of a Massimo Vitali photograph.  Speaking of Massimo Vitali, I also enjoyed his photographs of Brazil in the New York Times magazine this week.

Elements of Style posted on another relaxing getaway, The Point at Lake Saranac.  The photos below are from her blog.

Images via Elements of Style.

The Point is a destination that combines a love of the outdoors with gracious accomodations and traditions; Wednesday and Sunday night dinners at The Point require a tuxedo.  This sounds like my kind of place!

3.  Elsa Peretti

Image via Time.

I enjoyed reading about the career of Tiffany’s most famous jewelry designer, Elsa Peretti, in Time Style & Design.  For more photos of Elsa Peretti, including a few from her modeling career, visit Habitually Chic.

4.  Styling with Marble and Fresh flowers

Image via notetoself.

This vignette is just delicious.  I love the combination of the orange peonies and succulents with marble, a simple framed sketch by notetoself, and just a simple votive and some nail polish.  Sometimes elegance lies in the corners of a room.

After viewing this beautiful photograph by Alice Gao on notetoself, I stumbled upon the photographer’s visually compelling blog, Lingered Upon.  I love her tagline:  “Photos and Accumulations of Small Realities.”

5.  Neighborhood shopping & services

Image via Travel Managers.

I love my neighborhood.  When one lives in a city of over 8 million, most of the people one encounters are strangers, but NYC still manages to impart a neighborhood feel.  After all, the city is a collection of neighborhoods.  One night last week, I ran a few errands after work (card shop, bakery, dry cleaner, and wine store, all within less than a few blocks of our apartment).  The man behind the counter at the bakery smiled like he knew me (this probably isn’t a good thing), the man at the dry cleaner did in fact call me by my first name (again, maybe not a good thing), and the owner of the wine store offered me and my husband tickets to a performance that evening (once again, this indicates that I might frequent the business too much; in truth, it was a rare, perhaps twice a year, stop for me).  Humor aside, my point is that even in a large city, we are not strangers in our neighborhood.  And, I appreciate that I can frequent small businesses that are not part of a larger chain and be recognized and valued as a customer.

6.  Perservering through Personal Challenges

Image via The Bronx High School of Science

I read about this boy, named Santiago, a few days ago in the free daily paper that I read on the subway each morning.  His story is part of a new photo exhibit at the UN that documents the journeys that children around the world take to school.  I was inspired by Santiago’s perserverance in the face of his personal challenges, especially how he takes his 2 hour commute to school in such stride, and recognizes that, compared to others, he is quite lucky.