It’s so unusual to see bare ankles in the Shanghai winter that this is like a sweet relief. Coming from California, where winter is kind of a joke and sandals are worn year-round, it amuses me that when I do go without socks here, people stare in shock, old ladies make comments and of course, my ayi asks if I’m not cold. Well, yes, it is cold without socks, but it’s also cute; sometimes, we make sacrifices.
Generally I’m loving this outfit. It’s a touch busy on top – I think she could do without the white shirt, but I understand (after all, it is winter). The pleated skirt is a favorite of mine – simple but sophisticated – and the Céline bag is adorable (it also matches the tan stripe in the shoes without being too “matchy”).
Can’t wait for spring and more bare ankles!
(I’m like a horny 18th-Century marquis or something – trying to get the ladies to show me their ankles. Yikes.)
Céline has the best bags.
So does Chloé. Currently infatuated with their 2011 bags. Need!
I think it’s pretty common knowledge among the fashion-savvy and possibly also the not-fashion-savvy that your handbag says a lot about you. I recently read an article in which some stylists, including Rachel Zoe, wax lyrical about how the purse can be the most exciting and telling part of the outfit, largely because it has nothing to do with your body type so there are fewer restrictions in what you choose to sling across your shoulder or hang in the crook of your arm.
I think shoes fall in a similar category. Of course there are some limiting factors in footwear – dress codes and weather being among them – but footwear is a great place to splash out a bit and show your true colors. Like cobalt blue. The rest of the outfit may be a bit staid, but the shoes catch your eye and send a flutter of excitement from your lashes to your tummy. They compliment the neutral pallette and houndstooth jacket quite nicely, and if they were about 2 inches higher, I might be in shoe envy mode. The bag’s not bad, either.
This young lady works at the African Pavilion in Pudong, site of the 2010 World Expo. The African Pavilion is one of the more interesting pavilions. Interesting because it was funded by the P to the R to the C. hmm.
Back to it.
I think dressing should be season-less but if I had to comment on dressing for seasons it would be this. The best part of summer is minimalizing. So after a long summer of that, the best part of the fall season is accessorizing. Scarves, belts, layers, and oversized leather bags. A bonus with oversized bags is that they can hide them hips and make any girl (female or male) look a little more petite, if thats the look you’re going for. I only carry large bags. Ask my three friends.
Isn’t she just about the cutest little potato you ever did see? And I’m well aware that describing someone as a potato may not seem flattering, but I truly mean this in the most adoring sense of potato-ness. Even though I’m not the hugest fan of navy (the blazer) and black together, I can forgive this little Hong Kong cutie because she makes me go, “Geeeeeeeeeeeee!” At my desk. By myself. In front of my computer. Don’t worry, it’s cool.
By the way, the title of this photo when it was sent to me was “idliketorollyoudownthestreet” and I can only say that I am in complete agreement. Strange things happen when cuteness is involved.
You too can look like a hot tudou:
- American Apparel and H&M have a huge variety of leggings [cairn says: i think h&m is good for basics and accessories. nothing else. i think people who buy strictly from zara and h&m (granted the choices are limited here in China) look like they only shop at those 2 stores and though it can be cute, always still come out looking generic]
- The original Dr. “Doc” Martens
- Hit up your local Salvation Army for what promises to be a great selection of men’s shirts – belt it and it’s a dress; personally i like to partially tuck them into low rise shorts (high-waisted would work too)
- Blazer inspiration
Photo by Natalie Wang
To be honest, not a huge fan of the outfit. Wishing she had colored wellies on and a different colored bag. I don’t really get the all black outfit. I am sure this is her lazy sunday hangover outfit, to which many of us can relate. But she’s so cute cause she reminds me of my Caucasian friend Cori in high school, in face and hair. You wonder why I even have to mention Caucasian? Well, this post has now given me a reason to add this blog’s link below…
Real reason for this post.
What to say about Dapper Dan here? With such an obviously strong grasp on his own awesomeness and fashion sense, what else needs be said? Let me try to break it down for you:
Dapper Dan is a man who knows how to wear a mismatched three-piece suit with panache. Sticking to a palette of grays with colorful shirt-and-tie bursts at the neck, D.D. may appear to possess a devil-may-care attitude but underlying that is his fierce work ethic, which you can tell that he has because he’s got a Starbucks iced coffee, no cream – what is that, a venti? Also, he has a briefcase. Boom. Professionalism.
But – what? What’s that I spy, Dan? Could it be…? Yes! YES! You did it! You put the square in your pocket to create what we in the fashion world call a pocket square! You’ve taken the early-twentieth-Century-London-banker look and ushered it into 2010 without batting an eye, haven’t you, my saucy lad? And I know you knew exactly what you were doing when you partnered the brown-strapped tote with the brown shoes and brown briefcase. That’s what is known as tying an outfit together. That’s an industry term, people. Write it down.
