If only… there is no perfect shoe, but there are some strong contenders in the all-purpose, work-appropriate/bike-appropriate/walking-appropriate flats category. Here are my favorites:

Vans Lesley (pictured above): More like sneakers than flats, these are my favorite weekend shoes. I can ride my bike in them and they look cute with jeans. Done and done.

Patent Leather Saniya Flats from Target: They dress up your outfit just enough that you feel slightly more professional at work, and they are cheap enough you can have an extra pair at work and in your purse. Plus they wear well – the patent “leather” is stiff enough to hold it’s shape but soft enough to be comfortable. They don’t have any arch support, though, so use insoles.

CO-OP Barneys New York Uma I’m not ready for boots yet, but I could be down with shoes. It is fall, after all.
Oxfords are so hawt right now.

For the past several years, as fall arrives those of us who have spent any time in the equestrian world—riding horses, competing or spectating—wink knowingly at each other as every designer and fashionista breaks out their riding boots and tailored jackets. This year, even Banana Republic has a jodhpur legging!

The equestrian look can be attractive, elegant, and classy, but most of the time it’s not authentic. Not a major problem (if it flatters you and you like it, go for it!), but wouldn’t it be cool if it were? Here are some sources for adding the real thing to your look this fall:

Riding Pants and Tailored Shirts
Turns out the most popular riding pants (called breeches) in the country (and my personal favorites) are made in New York City. The company, The Tailored Sportsman, has been in business for generations, and the current owners come from the world of high fashion. They have recently expanded the line: adding colors, styles and new fabrics. They sell to tack shops (that’s what you call stores that sell real horsey stuff) all over the country, and to websites. You can check them out and shop for authentic breeches at smartpakequine.com or doversaddlery.com.  If you’re in NYC, you can find them at Manhattan Saddlery, 124 East 24th Street between Park and Lex, or you can take a ride to a store like Beval Saddlery in New Canaan, Connecticut on a nice fall day.

Riding Boots
Some of the best custom riding boots have been made in Brooklyn at E. Vogel. Take a look at two categories: riding boots and paddock shoes so that when you shop for boots – high or ankle – you’ll know what styles are authentic. Or, if you want to give yourself a real treat, save up and get measured for a pair of custom boots—and if you’re in NYC, they’ll even come to you:

You’ll get to choose style, color, leather and many other features, and they will last forever.

Riding Jackets
Designer wool “riding” jackets in the non-authentic equestrian world are actually prettier, fit better, and are more comfortable than the real thing. So for those, hit your favorite department store!

by theirhistory on flickr

Top image by geishaboy500 on Flickr.

To Hem Or Not To Hem: There Is No Question.

If you’re of the shorter persuasion, like myself, you most likely have a close relationship with your tailor. EVERY single pair of pants or jeans I have ever bought has needed to be hemmed, even the ones labeled “petite” or “short”, which is pretty annoying considering I’m not that small. I’m 5’1” (almost 5’2”), which is actually average in most parts of the world, thank you very much.

All the trips to the tailor really add up—it can cost about $15 to hem one pair of pants! That makes those $50 Levis a tad more expensive. However, don’t forget that hemming them to the right length probably means you’ll actually wear them. Considering the cost, I got a sewing machine and learned to hem the pants myself . This is obviously a cheaper alternative, over time, and the process is pretty simple, but I still use my tailor fairly often. (What can I say? I’m lazy.)

I know of only one retailer that hems pants for free – Uniqlo. God, I love them. It takes them about a day, but they do a good job and their jeans are still in the $40 – $50 range.

Whether you’re going to the tailor or doing it yourself, here are a few tips to the perfect hem:

1. Wash your pants before you hem because they will shrink a little. This is guaranteed. If you can’t wash them (for instance at Uniqlo, add an extra 1/2″ to the length).

2. Try on your pants with the shoes you will be wearing them with. If you plan to wear them with heels, you might want the pants to be longer than if you are wearing them with sneakers or flats.

3. Be exact: fold the pants to the desired length and then pin them in place. You don’t want to lose the spot when you take the pants off. Don’t laugh, this happens to me all the time.

4. For flared or boot-cut jeans, add an extra 1/4″ to the length, just in case. You would rather hem them a little too long than a little too short—there is just nothing worse than flared jeans that stop above the ankle.

5. For tight, skinny jeans, on the other hand, I’m not nearly as careful… I think they tend to look better when they’re a little too short anyway.

6. It the original pants are cuffed, don’t try to hem them yourself unless you really know how to use a sewing machine. I sure don’t so I take those straight to the tailor!

7. Cuffed or not, the original seam at the bottom of your jean leg is way more stylish and authentic than a basic stitch that screams “I hemmed my jeans!”.  Always ask your tailor to keep the original seam or follow this tutorial if you want to take the DIY approach.

Lead image from Louise Dungate Knitwear.

So fall and consequently, winter is upon us. Time for ruddy noses and icy toes. Some people don’t favor the colder months, but I’m a fan. Being a romantic sort, the colder months give me a chance to wallow in my nostalgic notions, curled up by the fire with a good book or imbuing the house with the perfume of my simmering mulled cider. You too can revel in the nippy weather if you follow my fail-safe checklist.

1. A good coat. If you choose to heed but one of my suggestions, then let this be the one. A good, nee excellent coat is key to looking good and more importantly, feeling warm this season. After years of wearing adorable vintage numbers and spending the majority of my time repairing the lining, re-sewing the buttons, occasionally freezing through the decaying fabric and finally replacing the coat, I decided it was high time I invested in a very warm, flattering, and (this is paramount) good-quality, coat. I bought my pricey beauty through Burberry three winters back. I had such bad sticker shock and class guilt, I kept it in the closet for a week with the receipt in the pocket and the tags attached. Finally, unable to not wear it any longer, I cut those tags off and I’ve never looked back. I’ve worn this coat nearly every day for three fall/winter seasons and the only repair I’ve had to make is to re attach a button. I stress the a. That’s it. The coat still looks like a million bux and I look forward to busting it out again this season. There’s plenty of ways around the luxury price-tag, too. Scour Century 21, Daffy’s, Ebay etc. An excellent quality coat will last and last so you should be able to find a fabulous and sturdy second-hand one that will still keep you warm and your pockets lined.

2. A Scrumptious scarf and hat. With any good coat, you’ll want a yummy scarf and hat to go with. I like the hand knit chunky variety. You can find beaucoup de knits at etsy.com and bigcartel.com.

3. Boots. I favor the wet-proof wellie type to protect in the slush and the rain. You can wear them with thermal socks to keep your piggys warm. And nothing says jolly old bird like a sexy pair of cords tucked into a classic green pair of Hunter’s topped off with a smashing wool peacoat.

4. Cognac. Or whatever warming digestif floats your boat. I love bourbon too, but it’s tough to source out here in the EU. Nothing caps off a cold evening more perfectly than curling up on the couch with a snifter of the good stuff.

5. A warm and cozy blanket. Whatever tickles your fancy: you can go for the knit afghan type or the uber-luxe cashmere throw or even a family heirloom quilt—whatever will keep you snugglerific. Which brings us to the next one.

6. A good book. Now that we’re on the couch with our cognac and our cuddly blankie, we’ll need a good book to curl up to. I love a little Wuthering Heights for when I’m feeling romantic and tragic. I just finished The Memory Keeper’s Daughter and The Gastronomical Me, both heart-wrenching and well-written tomes. Love love love. And perfect for those moody blustery nights.

7. A fine cuppa tea. Sometimes you’re not feeling boozy, or it’s 10 AM on a Saturday (not that that’s stopped us before). However, a fine cup of tea, or if you’re feeling a bit more decadent, a sumptuous cup of cocoa, should bring the blood back into your extremities. Serve it on a tray with your best tea service and you’ll be feeling royal and pampered.

8. A bath. Ah! What a nice hot bath can do to warm the soul and the spirit. I like to add salts or bath oil (Jo Malone bath oil being my absolute favorite) and bring in the aforementioned book and/or cognac.

9. A bathrobe. Now that you’re all warmed up from the tub, it won’t really help if you freeze your goods off once you get out. Wrap yourself in a luxurious towel to dry off and then don a sexy robe/kimono/what-have-you. Ain’t nothin’ sexier than looking and smelling bath-fresh, hair up in a towel turban, thigh revealed from your robe as you walk to the kitchen to round up that second cuppa tea.

10. A hobby. Now that you’re stuck inside, take this time to dust off that lonely guitar in the corner, or bust out those needles and merino yarn and knit yourself a chunky scarf, or get yourself a little watercolor set and paint a summery seascape whilst dreaming away of sunnier times ahead.

*And now check out these gorgeous items! All were carefully sourced, taking care to utilize as many handmade, independent items I could find. Have fun and explore the fruits of my labor.

And now, I’ll bid you adieu with my favorite wintry verse. Winter by William Shakespeare.

When icicles hang by the wall
And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,
And Tom bears logs into the hall,
And milk comes frozen home in pail;
When blood is nipt, and ways be foul,
Then nightly sings the staring owl
Tu-whoo!
Tu-whit! tu-whoo! A merry note!
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

When all around the wind doth blow,
And coughing drowns the parson’s saw,
And birds sit brooding in the snow,
And Marian’s nose looks red and raw;
When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl—
Then nightly sings the staring owl
Tu-whoo!
Tu-whit! tu-whoo! A merry note!
While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

I accidentally ran my brand-new jeans through the dryer and they shrunk by a whole size. They fit me like a glove when I bought them, but now they were cutting off my circulation!

I wore them around the house, did lunges and even tried to sleep in them. All this helped slightly, but not enough. And let’s be honest – I’m not about to lose 10 pounds just to fit in a pair of jeans. Luckily I had a backup pair (I always buy multiples!), but I’m not going to relegate a new pair of jeans to the back of my closet.

So last night, in a fit of desperation, I took a bath in my jeans. According to the always reliable Interwebs, this should mold the jeans to my body. The result? To be honest, they are a half size bigger, but not back to the original size. Still, an improvement.

Why wasn’t it a perfect fit? Well, the ratio of cotton to lycra will make a difference in how much the jeans stretch, and whether or not they will regain elasticity after washing. The Denim Blog has some great info about it. Basically, the problem was these jeans have a fair amount of Lycra/polyester in them, about 30%. They are made to retain their shape, so there is only so much stretching to be had.

In general, wet stretch has the best results on unfinished, selvage denim, but it can’t hurt in a situation like this. Want to give it a shot?

Instructions:
- Fill up the tub with lukewarm water
- Put on your jeans
- Soak in the tub completely clothed for 10 minutes or so
- Do some stretches, lunges, squats, etc.. in the wet jeans
- Pulled on the fabric where it’s tight
- Let dry overnight
- Done!

A few tips to help your jeans retain color and shape:
- Always wash in cold water
- Wash jeans inside-out
- Tumble-dry low or air-dry. Never, never use high heat.

The temperatures are starting to drop and apples and maple syrup are beginning to fill up the stands at the farmers market. Many folks are thrilled at the chance to bust out their favorite knee-high boots and fall jackets, but I’d like to remind you all that you’re in for six to eight months of boot and jacket weather, so please, please, do yourselves a favor and enjoy summer—and your summer wardrobe—as long as you can!

Here are some of my summer favorites and tips for wearing them into fall:

Flat Sandals
When it’s sunny, but not hot, pair your sandals with jeans.

Wedge Sandals
Wear them with tights!

Summer Dresses
Pair your summer dresses with tights and a cardigan.

Shorts
Wear your cut-offs or tailored shorts over opaque or patterned tights with boots, ballet flats, or your wedge sandals (as pictured).

Tank Tops
Layer a couple and pair them with a blazer.

Capri Pants
Wear them with oxfords and a sweater!

“Buy multiples” is one of the best pieces of style advice I can share. And as we wrap up a fantastic month of Personal Style posts, it’s fitting that we reflect on personal style, what it means to each one of us, and what signature pieces in our closets help us define our very own personal style. Are you reflecting? Do you have a mental picture of your favorite jeans? Shoes? Sweater? T-shirt?

Oh, but wait: your favorite jeans got a hole in the back by the pocket last fall and have been stuffed into the bottom of the hamper ever since and when you went to ____________ to find a new pair, you discovered they no longer make them. Sure, you can try and get them fixed, but don’t you really wish you had another pair? Or two? No more regrets. Next time you find the perfect, most comfortable ballet flats in the world, the world’s most flattering chinos, or the softest, curve-hugging tee, buy another.

Because you know what? The stupid manufacturers change the designs every season and you’ll never find them again and you’ll be pissed. I’m looking at you, Banana Republic. However, if you pick up three pair of those fabulous jeans, you triple the time they’ll last. Sure, it’ll cost you now, but ask yourself, how much money have you wasted buying a blazer that you think is going to be like the other one that you love but it never fits quite right and you don’t even wear anymore?

So stock up and you’ll love what you wear everyday.

Personal style… what does it mean? Well in my case, it’s way less about fashion and way more about dressing for myself. My personal style happens to be centered around the age-old idea of “dressing to flatter”. I don’t care what the latest rage is (short, long, tight, baggy, what have you) I always dress in semi-classic pieces that accent what I’ve got and camouflage what I got too much of. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a pretty gal with a splendid figure wearing too-tight, too-low skinny jeans, a too-tight bra and too-tight shirt all converging to give her the look of muffin-top with sausage rolls. And it’s such a pity. With a flattering top and properly-fitting jeans she would just look dyno-mite. This is where fashion fails us. Or as I prefer to see it, where we fail ourselves, by reading too many fashion magazines. So I’ve come up with a top 10 checklist for you, to keep you feeling good and your dance card full.

1. Mirror. Do you have a full-length mirror? Seriously, if you don’t, go out and buy one stat. And don’t go leaning it too much so it’s a skinny mirror. Suck it up and regard yourself as you are.

2. Jersey. Jersey is no one’s friend. Stretchy cotton jersey is comfy as balls. It feels like you’re wearing yoga pants…and well you should be…at yoga. Jersey shows EVERYTHING! So unless that shit has some couture master tailor’s name on it, leave it be. I have seen a person’s control top and the bunched up panties underneath it, thanks to cotton jersey. When in doubt, don’t.

3. Accentuate. What are your assets? Got a rack that just won’t quit? Are you booty-licious? Got stems that go for miles? Figure out what your best features are and learn to accentuate them. Those daisy dukes, flip-flops and tissue tee may look the bomb on miss 90lb tween down the road, but if you’re sporting a beer gut and thunder thighs…think about how you can translate that look to showcase your stunning ta-tas. Find some sexy, properly-fitting, medium rise, dark jeans, flops and a tissue tee (deep v-neck to show off your unbeatable décolletage). If your gut spilleth over, accentuate with a grand pashmina around the neck, allowing the ends to graze past your belt line. The fraying ends will cause a visual distraction to mask your blub. Voila, you’re still a hot sexy hipster.

4. Accessorize. You can be any shape and size and pull off fab shoes, bags, scarves, and jewelry. I prefer to wear simple staples and jazz them up with accessories galore. I use my small silk scarves for anything from my hair (as a headband or in a knot at the base of a ponytail), to wrapping around my wrist for a bracelet, to tying in a fashionable ascot around my neck. A jaunty hat is always a crowd-pleaser. And don’t underestimate the power of a statement necklace.

5. Hair. Big Forehead? Bangs! Round face? Have your hair cut so it falls below the chin adding length and slimming the visage. Petite? Make sure your long locks don’t overwhelm you. A good haircut can really make or break your look. Stop looking at celebrities and instead look at your face and your hair. Don’t fight your hair’s natural instincts. If it’s curly let it go! A good, properly shaped cut can make curly hair look fabulous. If it’s straight, stop trying to perm it and get it cut in one of those enviable precision cuts that only the straight gals can do.

6. Quality. It’s all about quality not quantity. You don’t need a closet filled with cheap crap. One or two properly tailored pairs of pants and some flattering blouses will get you turning heads in record time. And I don’t mean Dries VanNoten (ok, secretly I do) but even Banana Republic and J.Crew have some excellent, lined, tailored pants that could really take you around the world. Cheap stretchy unlined H&M or forever 21 will only get you to the dartboard and back.

7. Dress for the occasion. Strappy stilettos in January. Yeah, you! You know who I’m talking to. Don’t look like a turd out there. Dress for the weather – a trench in the rain. The occasion – that means no goddamn jeans at the opera. And the time of day – full blown foundation and shadow during office hours be gross.

8. Once-over. Before you leave, look in the full-length and do a 360 turn. Now bend over. Seeing panty lines? Grab a thong. Your underwear? That skirt may be too short. Camel toe? Those pants are too damn tight for you. Back fat bunched around the bra? Buy a properly fitting bra, but in the meantime, don a shirt with a little pucker and ruffle. A sheerish tunic over a sexy tank goes miles for showing your shape without sharing your bumps and bubbles.

9. Swagger. Oh man, you gotta have it in spades no matter how tall, short, skinny, or fat you are. When I’m out and in the zone, really feeling myself, adding an extra wiggle to my walk, I have to beat ‘em off with a stick, boys and girls. When I’m out feeling crummy, frumpy, sad, blue…turns out company doesn’t love misery. And it’s fine if you don’t really have it. You can fake it. Practice switchin’ your hips, holdin’ that head high and lookin’ ‘em right in the eye. They’ll be putty in your hands.

10. Know thyself. Feeling comfortable and happy in what you’re wearing is the biggest key to number 9 (see above). Just because it’s fabulous, expensive, or someone recommended it, does not mean it’s for you. Take time to look around in stores and such, alone. I hate shopping with people. The only perspective I need is my own. And you should too! Trust your gut. And if that gut protrudes, hide it with a well placed hobo bag!

When I found out September was going to be personal style month here at OMFG, I was very excited to read everyone’s articles on what contributes to their style.

Style is subjective and objective. Our parents had first dibs on selecting our style while we were infants. Then inevitably somewhere in our toddler stage comes the day when we tell Mom: “I can dress myself!”. That day is momentous! Our first personal style statement. Style is influenced. Style evolves (hopefully). Our friends, hobbies, travels, books we read, the movies we watch – all this influences our style.

Winning “Most Fashionable” in my yearbook was as important to me as winning an Oscar was for Julia Roberts – seriously. I just always had a love of style and fashion. My mother was a big influence on me. We would take trips to New York City and spend the entire day at Bergdorf Goodman. The goal – to get some “essentials”. My mother was a big believer in quality over quantity. She taught me the importance of investing in classic pieces (the classic little black dress, a divinely tailored black pant, a crisp white shirt) and then mixing it with the trendy stuff. To this day I still spend the big bucks on the best jeans and dresses and then have fun in H&M blending in the fun trends that will not last a season, i.e. Ikat prints.

Accessories. If I had to do it over again, I would have loved to been an accessories editor as I LIVE for accessories.

Jewelry. From Cartier to Costume, jewelry is very powerful. Firstly, jewelry is emotional….we remember when and where we got each piece. Whether it was a graduation gift from mom and dad or a fab flea market find. Secondly, jewelry becomes sacred and one’s collection can be passed through the generations. Lastly, a statement piece can do just that….. just make sure when accessorizing with jewelry not to overdo it… If you think you have too much on, you probably do, so remove a piece.

Shoes. Ladies, I’m sure I don’t have to go on and on about the importance of good shoes, but it is important to have at least a few really good “go-to” stilettos/flats. I know that some brands are as much as a car payment, so keep a eye on those sales racks. At the end of the season try buying staple pieces for the next year, they wind up lasting much longer. Just as essential – find a great shoe repair spot to keep those big investments going.

Scarves. Probably one of the most versatile pieces one can own. Scarves can quietly grace your neckline. They can be used as a belt. Tied a certain way they work as a sarong or even a top! Folded over a few time as a headband or knotted on the handle of a bag; scarves are a fashionista’s secret weapon.

Handbags. Having lived in many different places from the country to the city… I can say that women in cities are definitely more handbag-conscious. It is the one piece that can really sum up and define your style and at the same time needs to be functional enough to carry all those “essentials”.

Style does not just reside in fashion does it?! The car we drive, the way we decorate our abodes is also a further reflection of our style and sensibilities.

I think the most important thing to remember, as cliché as it sounds, is to feel confident and have fun in whatever your rockin’. Don’t be so quick to judge! That gal with the nose-ring and Manolos or the headband and Babour coat may have more in common that we think!

In the words of Yves Saint Laurent; “Fashions fade, style is eternal”.

Looking through my childhood photo albums I was shocked to realize that my wardrobe hasn’t changed much since I was a young’un. Since I wear jeans and t-shirts every day I don’t know why that was so surprising, but I guess I thought I would have made more progress. After all, I did stop wearing sweatpants! I also made a few other wise decisions:

I decided never to wear tie-dye again. Or match my shoes to my shirt.

Most importantly – all my elastic waist shorts were thrown away. They are not a good thing. I don’t care what you think American Apparel. (Mello Yello, however, is the perfect accessory for this outfit. Why don’t you pose with it for the camera, fatso?)

Headbands… these also had to go. I understand the power of accessories, however I wore the I wore them so far back on my head they were practically falling off. I just don’t know why.

If I didn’t have a headband, I had earrings. Huge, enormous, dangly earrings. The bigger the better. Or – the weirder the better. Plastic fruit, christmas trees, etc… anything I could find at Claire’s.

Sadly I can’t say that I’ve abandoned this. I still love big weird earrings. I am trying to keep it a little more tasteful and adult-appropriate (silver is a little nicer than plastic) but I it’s true what they say – habits are hard to break!