What 2 Wear When...: August 2012

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

...it's Fall 2012: Oxblood

"We’re suckers for the dark red everyone seems to be calling “oxblood,” even if that also sounds like something GOOP would tell us to drink as part of a spirit cleanse." The Cut, NY Magazine.

Image from nymag.com.

Better known as maroon or burgundy in the 80s and 90s, oxblood is a color we haven't seen much of until now, but it's a major look for fall. And if you follow me on Pinterest, you know that it is the color that is dominating my fall fashion wall. This deeply-saturated wine color is flattering to almost any skin tone and mixes well with almost any other color, making it closet-worthy for fall. From head to toe, it can be a simple accent or a major anchor in your oufit. Count me in.

The love affair started in the spring with this chiffon backed leather tee that I picked up at Topshop.

Image from topshop.com.

Since then, I see the world through oxblood-color glasses and am finding inspiration in the most unlikely places. A trip to Brooklyn last weekend yielded not only a decadent gelato at Jacques Torres in DUMBO, but this divine scooter sitting out front.

Image from mrchocolate.com.

Images from Lisa Bida.

White leather, shiny chrome, black trim and glossy oxblood paint. Voila! A new look for yourself...or your front entrance.

Image from elementsofstyleblog.com.

Image from colourlovers.com.

Image from victorianvaluesconstruction.co.uk.

Or try my new fave color with 50 shades of gray and if you're in the mood, a touch of black.

Image from jcrew.com.

Image from colourlovers.com.

Image from neimanmarcus.com.

Tory Burch pulls it all together with the navy ensemble. Play with other colors in the purple, navy, fushia family that are already in your closet to updates your wardrobe for fall.

Image from toryburch.com.

Image from colourlovers.com.

Image from colorlovers.com.

My daughter just got these totally cool kicks from hometown favorite New Balance. The pairing of cool turquoise and deep red is fresh and right on trend.

Image from newbalance.com.

Image from colourlovers.com.

I L.o.v.e. with a capital L this bracelet from Rocklove jewelry.

Image from rocklove.com.

This purse from Tory Burch is killer! Can you just see it dressed up with a black outfit or cooled down with denim?

Image from toryburch.com.

For the dabblers, try just a touch of this magical color on your nails.

Image from pinterest.com.

Lastly, booties, which Jen reported on in a recent post, are my obsession right now. I love these two from Urban Outfitters and will be adding a pair to wear with my outfits this fall. The bit of burnished suede we're seeing this season is just the beginning of what will be a key trend in fall 2013/14.

Image from urbanoutfitters.com.

These little beauties from Vince can be folded over just slightly.

Image from nordstrom.com.

Kick it old school with these nerdy cool loafers from Bass. Roll up your jeans, throw on a blazer and you're good to go to a meeting or pick up the kids.

Image from zappos.com.

Email us or leave a comment with your favorite finds in oxblood! ~ LB

Sunday, August 19, 2012

W2WW News Flash - Save the Date for a J.Crew Fall Fashion Show featuring LB!

W2WW is hitting the runway! Lisa and I were approached by our personal shopper at J.Crew (Natick Mall), Sylvia Gesell, to model in a 'closed door' Fall Fashion Show at the Natick J. Crew. What fashion-loving blogger could say no?! Well, unfortunately I had to as I will be out of town. Lisa, however, will be there and we certainly hope that our W2WW readers and fans will come, support Lisa, and check out the fall J.Crew fashions, because you are all invited! No RSVP necessary. Just get your calendar out and pencil in the date: Sunday, September 23rd, from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

We will be blogging about her styling appointment for her 'runway look' as well as the show itself. I wonder what she'll be wearing? Will it be a more polished look, like this one, with the No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Snake Print?

Or, will it be a dress, like this Jules Dress in Colorblock?

Will they feature the Stubbs & Wootton for J.Crew Classic Velvet Slippers?

Or, will Lisa be styled in a classic, J.Crew look: Merino V-neck sweater with Cafe Capris?

And if you attend the show, please take pictures for me! ~ JH

Images from jcrew.com.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

W2WW News Flash - Topshop comes to Nordstrom.

The British are coming! On September 10th, Nordstrom will be selling the Topshop apparel. (Topshop is a British retailer that has 3 stores in the U.S. in New York City, Las Vegas, and Chicago.)

Image from nordstrom.com.

Unfortunately for the W2WW girls, it will not be in our local Boston-area Nordstroms. (see what stores will carry the line in-store by clicking here), but it will be available online. Looking forward to perusing what they might feature. Until then, we'll settle for looking at the Autumn 2012 Topshop Campaign film; some of those jackets look great. Mark your calendars and enjoy! ~ JH

Video from nordstrom.com.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

...it's Fall 2012: Booties

Ladies, time to get your bootie on! Last fall, I obsessed about an ankle boot (or 'bootie') I saw online at my favorite French boutique, Comptoir des Cotonniers. These are the booties that started it all for me.

Image from pinterest.com.

Lisa and I traveled to NYC in October 2011 on a shopping trip, and visited the 2 Comptoir boutiques that existed in the U.S. at the time (one in Soho and one on the Upper West Side) to see if I could find them. Both stores were out of my size. And then I remembered that Bloomingdales in NYC has a store-in-store for Comptoir. We went, and I purchased the LAST pair of size 39s in the U.S..

I'm SOOOOO glad I bought them. I wore them with everything from slim bootcut jeans to cropped pants, almost everyday. These booties inspired 2 more bootie purchases last year too - a grey, weather-proof suede pair and a dressier, rag & bone black bootie (below) that I wore with pants as well as with opaque tights and dresses. (Full disclosure: Lisa spotted these rag & bone ones first, and I couldn't resist copying her.)

Image from pinterest.com.

This year, booties are EVERYWHERE for this fall and if you've visited Lisa's Fall 2012 Pinterest page, you can see how obsessed she is too. Believe me, booties are such a fun change from ballet flats and knee-high boots in the winter.

For everyday booties, I like a stacked heel with height coming in around 2 1/2 to 3 inches maximum. One of the classics out there is by rag & bone; their 'Newbury' bootie that comes in 4-5 colors, both in suede or rugged leather, and is ridiculously comfortable.

Image from rag-bone.com.

If you are not comfortable with the price-tag or heel height that accompanies them, brands like DV by Dolce Vita have great booties too. The 'Nuri' and 'Java' booties are really attractive, even more so since they are both under $130 a pair.

Images from nordstrom.com.

I've seen more 'everyday' - thicker heel, casually styled - booties this fall than I've ever seen. If an everyday bootie fits your lifestyle, consider a tan or light brown suede. They work well with jeans as well as black, tan, and navy colors.

And you ask: "How do I wear them?". Casual booties can be worn with jeans, pants, and more casual dresses. Calypso St. Barth shows this boot styled several different ways...

Image from calypsostbarth.com.

...with skinny jeans rolled to the tops of the booties...

Image from calypsostbarth.com.

...or with a casual dress and bare legs (a great transition look into fall).

Image from calypsostbarth.com.

Even paired over a pant, cuffed or cropped, booties give an outfit (that probably already in your closet) an updated look. Below, this plain top, belted into a slightly cropped pant looks a more polished with the booties than with a pair of flats, doesn't it?

Image from comptoirdescotonniers.com.

For dressier occasions, go with a smooth leather bootie with a higher, thinner heel. Basically, a closed pump. Pair them with dress pants, a dress, or pencil skirt. So nice to have a change from the standard pump, and a bit warmer in colder temperatures. This Corso Como bootie is an inexpensive, great way to enter the bootie market, at Bloomingdale's for $169.

Image from bloomingdales.com.

This bootie is one of the few I've seen with a mid-heel. By Pour la Victoire, it's also a great start for trying out the dressier bootie look.

Image from bloomingdales.com.

And as for how to where them? Check out these looks for inspiration. You can add stockings or tights as the season changes.

Images from net-a-porter.com.

There are TOO many booties out there to post one picture at a time. So I went to trusty Polyvore and created a set, showcasing some of the best choices for everyday and dressier booties. Whatever you do, just try some pairs on the next time you are in the shoe department. Enjoy the ode-to-booties below! ~ JH