W2WW News Flash - Calypso St. Barth now open in Chestnut Hill

Calling all Calypso fans!  Yes, it's true, we now have access to Calypso in the 'burbs!  As of last Thursday, Calypso is open at THE STREET (where the Shake Shack is located), 33 Bolyston Street.  Hours?  Monday-Saturday, 10am-7pm, Sunday noon to 6pm.

Image from calypsostbarth.com.

Have you been yet?  Looking forward to checking it out! ~ JH

Don't we have enough sweaters?

The last thing I need is another sweater.  My drawer is full of them. Jen and I have pinky-sweared "NO MORE SWEATERS!" this season.  Problem is I fell HARD for Fisherman cable knits this fall.  

Images from habituallychic.blogspot.com.

The texture of a cable knit is the perfect partner for jeans, waxed or leather pants.  There are lots of style and color options out there in stores. But no pink cable for me.  Just the preppy, classic, gorgeous ivory color that goes with everything.   The search began in earnest.  Candidates must be:

• Not too heavy but heavy enough to be warm with just a cami under, scarf and jeans.  And ankle booties. Or riding boots.
• Not too bulky.
• Somewhat refined so I could wear it to work with trousers... 
• Yet cool enough to work with ponte leggings or waxed jeans 
• An interesting, classic cable pattern.
• Wool blend, not cotton.

My search turned up these...

525 America, Tusk cable sweater.  It's super cool and the loose turtle is a bit of a spin.

Image from cusp.com.

The Theory Innis Cable Knit sweater.  This is a gooood one. Sometimes I throw on a denim shirt underneath and Theory's sweater can handle that.

Image from cusp.com.

This Gap cable knit. Gap has great basics and they are doing their own version of cable knit.

Image from gap.com.

At Zara there is this short sleeve cable.  Short sleeve is a nice twist on the classic.

Image from zara.com.

Zara also has this ribbed cable.  It's cute, but it's short in length, so it might be belly-baring which no one, including me, wants to see out in public.

Image from zara.com.

Ahh.  The Vince cable turtleneck.  Very warm and cozy. 

Image from vince.com.

The Barbour Beckwith sweater.  Barbour is the classic.  I like the trim fit.

Image from madewell.

And the new addition to my sweater drawer? Which one made the cut?  This little lovely from Madewell.  Already sold out in store and on-line! 

Image from habituallychic.blogspot.com.

Clearly, I am not alone in my cable admiration.  Move over Eric Bompard, you have a new neighbor. ~ LB

Ode to a Coated Jean

Lisa, a good friend, and I were shopping back in August at Satellite Office West (i.e. Natick Mall) on evening.  We strolled into Madewell and were admiring their ballet flats and other shoes when one of the sales women started talking with us (ok, she recognized Lisa and came up to say 'hi').  While we were talking and walking around in Madewell shoes to see how they fit, we paused at a table with black, coated jeans. 

Now, a coated jean is a pair of denim jeans, typically black, that are coated with pigment to give it a wax-like finish.  They look and feel smooth, and from afar, the sheen is reminiscent of leather pants.

As Lisa and I paused at the table, the sales woman said, "You know Bunny from J.Crew?  She has a pair and loves them."  Bunny happens to be the super stylish lady who works in the Crewcuts section of J.Crew in the Natick Mall and we love her. Lisa and I took one look at each other, each grabbed a pair in our size, and headed to the dressing room.  It was love at first wear.

Images from madewell.com.

If that sales woman had never come up to us and told us about the pants, I personally would have NEVER tried them on. Why?  Their name: the "Skinny Skinny Ankle Coated Motorcycle Jean".  For those of you who know me, I am NOT "skinny skinny" and "motorcycle" doesn't really fit either (unless it's a great Vince leather moto jacket).

Once on, these jeans were FAN-TAS-TIC.  Super fitted, but not suffocating. You can dress them up with heels and a fun top OR down with a boyfriend sweater and ballet flats.  I personally like to have the ankle zipper zipped up half way, creating more of a 'boot cut' bottom (which I think is more flattering on someone not "skinny skinny").  Wear them as you would leather leggings.

Throughout the fall, I have been complimented on these pants numerous times (including one friend, who yelled to me out of her passenger window one morning while in school carline that she LOVED my pants).  Before they are gone, you might want to check them out and add them to your fall/winter wardrobe.  At least try them on.  You won't regret it!  ~ JH

W2WW News Flash - Ines De La Fressange develops line for Uniqlo.

Image from luxuo.com.

The former French model and author, Ines De La Fressange, is partnering with Uniqlo for a capsule collection due out later this month.  We've admired the impossibly chic De La Fressange since she penned the Parisian Chic: A Style Guide and shared tips for looking effortlessly cool and put together.  Take the navy sweater, my personal favorite, paired with white jeans, flats, perhaps a scarf and voila! 

Image from hannekeverstegen.com.

New York magazine wrote: "She genuinely doesn't give a rat's ass about what she's supposed to look like, but always looks fabulous anyway.  She smokes, consumes bread and butter, has short hair, almost never wears heels, and always smiles in pictures, probably because she isn't dying for a foot rub and a sandwich."  If I had a closet of Roger Vivier, I would probably wear flats all the time too.  My kind of lady.

So, what to expect on November 20th (unveiled in Paris on 11/20, in stores early 2014)?  I'd bet we will see lots of her Parisian-inspired basics like slim pants, cardigan sweaters, striped tees, and cool jackets in the French uniform of white, tan, navy and black.  

Here are some of our favorite IDLF looks. And when-oh-when is Uniqlo coming to Boston?!?! ~ LB

Above images from nymag.com.

it's Fall 2013: Gray Area

Image from lyst.com.

One of my favorite colors is happening right now. Gray is a super cool and classic alternative to black, white and navy.  Every shade of in the gray spectrum is in and can be worn as a head to toe neutral (like the outfit above) or mixed with other colors of the season.  Check out my 'how to wear gray' guide below. ~ LB

W2WW - Gray for Fall 2013

Chinti and Parker long sleeve sweater / A.P.C. sweatshirt / J.Crew petite top / Nordstrom vest waistcoat / J.Crew tall stretch pants / Nina Ricci ballet shoes / Tod's loafer, $390 / Givenchy handbag / Longchamp leather handbag, $505 / Michael Kors bracelet / DIANA BROUSSARD necklace / raen polarized sunglasses / Massimo Dutti scarve / Old Navy scarve / Gray slouch beanie / Essie nail polish / Essie nail polish

W2WW Friday Funny

Because we can't help ourselves, here's Part 2 of "Sh*t Fashion Girls Say".  "Little teapot, chin down, eyes up!" Happy Friday! ~ JH