oh look, it's monday again.

I suddenly find that my feed reader is empty.

Is no one blogging anymore? Where are all the good blogs??

Also:

Stream the new Beck album over here. It is super soundtrack-y and terrific.

Who binge-watched House of Cards this weekend? I had to give up halfway in. I so wanted it to be good but RAYMOND TUSK RAYMOND TUSK RAYMOND TUSK. Who gives a shit. (And the fucking lighting was driving me bananas.)

I found your wedding wrap. It comes in four colors !

Wedding dress halp!

Dear ESB,

I'm getting married next summer in my fiance's hometown and it will be a small ceremony in his parent's backyard and then a dinner reception at a great restaurant downtown. I would like to look classic and not too made up or bridal-y because it's an intimate affair and we're not particularly traditional. I would like to look great though, because it's a special celebration! :)

I'm very sure that I would like to wear a short white lacy dress from Lover's amazing collection (this, this or this, plus several other options I'm still considering) and my amazing sister and her husband will be graciously buying my dress for me as the raddest wedding gift ever. However, their dresses are hard to come by in Canada or online which makes trying on several dresses really difficult! I do also like this Zara dress (which I can easily purchase to try on and return for free if I don't like it) and a Lauren Moffatt dress [pictured above] but I feel like they may not look special enough for my wedding.

While I'm going to keep trying to get the Lover dress of my dreams, I feel like I need to look at alternatives too in case that doesn't work out. 

Do you have any suggestions for a lacy short dress with a similar look to the Lover, Lauren Moffatt and Zara dresses? I'm also open to a nice top and skirt combo too. I have a budget of CAD800, but if you have cheaper options all the better! I am 5'5" and hourglass shaped if that helps.

Excited Bride To Be!

*****

STOP IT WITH HOW CUTE THAT DRESS IS

I LOVE THE LAUREN MOFFATT

My one concern is that 100% silk (esp with long sleeves) might be a little warm for summer.... But I had to post it for someone else to buy.

Hold out for spring collections. Your dress is coming. I know it is.

Accessorize Me

Dear ESB,

My best friend is getting married to his boyfriend in October, and has asked me to be in the wedding party, to which I said HELL YES!! I'm super stoked. My problem is that I'm having difficulty figuring out what the hell to wear. The restrictions we have been given is that we should wear their wedding colors (black, red, and hot pink). The other important factor is that the wedding is taking place in the woods in Maryland. We're staying at a camp in the woods all weekend. I've almost definitely decided to wear a black jumpsuit (this one, specifically), but I'm having trouble tying the other wedding colors into my outfit.

While I don't think I'll be kicked out of the wedding party for just wearing all black, it would be boring and not in the spirit of their request. First, I tried to look for red shoes (I'm a size 9), but the options that I could find were pretty ugly, or there was no way that I would be able to walk in them in the woods. So, I found a pair of black suede heels that I really like...and then I got stuck. I have no idea how to incorporate one of the other wedding colors into my outfit, let alone both of them.

My style is very simple. Jeans and t-shirts for day-to-day and tailored, nicely cut clothes with very few embellishments, and almost no accessories when I'm dressing up (it sounds really boring the way I described it, but I actually find it really fun, and, more importantly, very me). I'm also a big fan of anything menswear inspired, and I will not wear ruffles of any description. 

I'm still open to shoe suggestions, but I'm mostly looking for help on how to spice this whole thing up with a belt, or jewelry. Bottom line: I need help! Big time! He's my best friend and I want to look awesome at his wedding!

Thanks,
Don't Hate Me Because I Love Jumpsuits

*****

Why does everyone always want to spice things up with a belt??

Has anyone ever SUCCESSFULLY spiced things up with a belt?

YOU DON'T EVEN LIKE ACCESSORIES




If you must go along with his hideous color scheme, you know you have to tie it in with the shoes.

I'm not mad at these chunkers from Zara. (v. woods-worthy)

perfect budget wedding shoes

$39.90 at Zara

You're welcome.

Where do the cool girls shop? Part 1.

(Garrett Leight from Mohawk General Store)

The people have spoken, and they have demanded a Where do the cool girls shop? series. (But you just launched a new series! I KNOW, IT'S CRAZY.)

To start, I figured I'd hit up some of ESB's best/coolest shoppers. Duh.

Here's Rachel A\\\\\, who just so happens to live in my neighborhood and also has AMAZING HAIR. Is that relevant? I think yes.

Anyhoo. Here she is, with a guide to shopping Los Angeles/online/the mall/your mom's closet....

Los Angeles is, bar none, the most versatile clothes-shopping city on the west coast. We're equal opportunity -- whether you want to look like a hipster farmhand, a platinum-card princess, or a derby doll, we've got you covered. Still, I’m such a magpie scrounging clothes from all over the damn place that when asked to share my favorite places to shop, I generally freeze up. A list of where I wished I shopped, or where I solely window-shop, would be far easier… but for the first time (only for you, ESB), I'll try. My top places where I’ve actually bought more than one thing ever include:

aerie - The "vintage lace bikini" from AE's aerie line is my biggest life-improvement secret. You're welcome.

(Vintage lace bikini from aerie)

American Rag - Their denim bar is the best. Stuff that isn't sold anywhere (Naked & Famous!) turns up there. I haven't bought anything else at AmRag in years but if your pockets are deep it's a great resource for everything else, too. P.S. My second-favorite jeans are from Forever 21.

ASOS - THE BEST ONLINE SHOPPING EVAR. Shipping is always free, there's a new vintage section that seems really rad, and their sales are great for stuff like a wool-and-leather cape that sounds insane but turns out to be indispensable.

Barneys - Since we don't have Bergdorfs, when you need big-girl clothes the next best is Barneys. 

Designer sample sales - 100% A-#1 way to shop. Every LA-based designer has to get rid of backstock at some point, and R29 is really good at tracking all the upcoming sales.

Jet Rag - for vintage that isn't (necessarily) costumey, Jet Rag is a joy. Their racks of everything-under-the-sun are arranged by category and color (<3 <3); they have loads of great leather jackets and so-hot-right-now vintage Hawaiian shirts if you want to bring your guy along; I got my Enid Coleslaw outfit there; and my very favorite skinny teal belt is from their weekly $1 Sunday sale.

[Editor's Note: I've now been living in LA for 7+ years. How have I never heard of the $1 Sunday sale??]

J.Crew - wait for their sales, when all the best weird sweaters, ugly-patterned pencil skirts and sherbet-color ballet flats get marked way way down. I also want 9 million of their super-flattering "perfect-fit" tank tops to wear under EVERYTHING.

Jenette Bras - for those on the stacked side (or just weirdly sized like me), Jenette's skivvies selection and ferociously knowledgable ladies are lifesavers. 

Mohawk General Store - I hate how much I like Mohawk General. Their independent clothing and shoe designer roster is flawless, but it's the gorgeous mid-century decor, jewelry by my lovely friend Kristen Elspeth (OBSESSED with the silver finger chain I just got from her), Garrett Leight glasses, CDG clutches, and Mast Bros. chocolate that make you want to move in.

My lady relatives - I've raided the closets of my mother, my stepmother, my aunts, my grandma, my other grandma, my best friend's grandma, my mother's boyfriend's mother… this isn't a store, it’s just a tip: befriend All The Moms.

Steven Alan - I used to work in Venice and stop into the neighboring SA store almost daily to try on shoes by Marais and Rachel Comey, floral button-downs, leather bags, and the wonderfullest little gold rings made by Steven's dad.

(Boyfriend shirt from Steven Alan)

Zara - fun for basics, incredible for shoes. SHOES SHOES SHOES. SHOES.


If you're interested in writing a guide to shopping your city/the mall/online/your mom's closet (or whatever your version of that is), hit me up!

Six Dresses to Run Away In

When I posted this lil Zara dress the other day, Jamie immediately emailed me to ask: want to post a whole round up of dresses for the runaway brides??

I said hell yeah!

(And then Amber, of Pitbulls and Posies, did this paste-up to complement the runaway inspiration board, which makes me feel very fancy.)

If you *kind of* want to elope, but you also *kind of* want rad wedding photos and live music and craft cocktails and a stylish little venue (and the thought of Vegas makes you gag) .... Why not head down to San Diego on May 26 and just get er done?

Wearing one of these dresses, obvs: 1 Zara (again) ($90), 2 Girl by Band of Outsiders ($370), 3 Reality Studio ($335), 4 Acne ($480), 5 Lindsey Thornburg ($2080), 6 Iris & Ink ($175)

PhD Panic

Dear ESB,

Ummm, so... I’m having a bit of wardrobe crisis.

In ten days time I have the most important exam of my life so far. Obviously, as opposed to working, I’m busy stressing about clothes.

I am about to take the transfer (upgrade) exam from MPhil to PhD. The exam is a viva voce, although not as long or scary, as the one at the end of PhD. It's an hour and a half long in front of a panel of 5 academics.

I don't know what to wear and I know it shouldn't matter but it really, really does. The problem is I'm studying at art college (this one), in the fashion department. My tutors wear Comme des Garçons and Margiela, my co-students wear their own creations and I have been writing in my pajamas for the last three weeks

My style up until recently was sort of tangled vintage. The thing is I'm 32, I want to be taken seriously and I'm not sure 30s tea dresses and laddered tights cut it anymore? I don’t want to look like a manic pixie dream girl; I want to look competent and strong. I'm just not quite sure how to do it.

So could someone find me the perfect PhD exam outfit? Dress or skirt and top with awesome shoes would be wonderful. I'm a UK 10, blonde, pale and extremely curvy (big ass and big tits). I need to be able to purchase online (and preferably in the UK).

Demanding, I know….

Bit in love with these shoes, btw……

Budget: About £300? I am profligate as well as unproductive

*****

go minimalist

a black dress (zara again)

and killer shoes, obvs

if you want snakeskin
i vastly prefer this pair
note: get your hair cut!

vegan sandals, haiku poems &c.

vegan shoes suck ass
but i need summer sandals.
what you got, cookies?

*****

i know you're anti-
flatforms, but could you bend on
this pair from zara?

______________________________


p.s. hey naurnie,
bet these braided wedges would
go with your jumpsuit!

oh, zara.

This dress is terrifs
except that it is nylon
100%

What should the (recently pregnant) best (wo)man wear?

Hey hi!

I'm excited to be writing you with my very own dress challenge. I have no doubt you and your trusted b*tches will do good on me.

My brother is getting married at a farm house in Sonoma County this August and has asked me.....wait for it....to be his best (wo)man. When he first asked I thought it would be fun to play up the role a bit and dress a little masculine. Like a rad pantsuit [pictured above].

Buuuut then I got pregnant, and I highly doubt my gunt (can I say that on here) will be back in high-waisted form by wedding time. So what do you think I should wear to a semi-formal, evening wedding that will flatter my post-pregnancy body (nothing sleeveless ya'll) and be a killer way to support my brother, not take (too much) attention away from the bride?.

xo
Best woMan?

*****

How bout stripes? Am I crazy? These silk pants look hella comfy (and gunt-friendly).

With something like this cutaway blazer....?

And killer heels, obvs.

Why should TALL GIRLS get their own line of dresses? (Sponsored by Dream-ers)

I am ashamed to admit I never realized how hard you tall ladies have it.

You got harassed in the high school cafeteria? You shop in the men's section? You can't buy a floor-length dress off the rack?? I mean, it makes total sense. It just never occurred to me.

Enter Yanique, of Dream-ers (formerly Trendsetter Vintage):

So why the heck should tall girls get their own line of dresses? Well....(scratching my head).....why the hell not? Us tall girls have to raid the men’s section to find clothes that are long enough, especially in the arms and legs. But men don’t wear dresses. (Okay, men don’t usually wear dresses.) There are no dresses in the big and tall store that we sneak into while pretending to shop for our other half.

I vividly remember my early years in high school, walking my 6-foot self into the cafeteria, only to hear..... “would you please pull your shoes up....or push your pants down?” followed by a hysterical outburst. Those morons were so cruel, until I discovered that my gangly teenage legs looked fierce in a mini skirt, and that’s all I wore, rain or shine. That was my reality for too long.

OK, I say “was,” because many designers are starting to pay attention to the tall minority, but only a handful of them get it right. The majority of them make you want to run screaming back to the big and tall store, their clothes are just so ugly and so grandma. Tall girls can find hope at Zara and J.Crew for separates. But darn it, what about when you need to go to a black-tie affair, or what if you want to wear a non-conventional wedding dress, where do you go, besides to a specialty seamstress? I can’t be the only tall girl who wants to wear a floor length gown, or a dress with sleeves that are actually long enough. What about a jumpsuit that doesn’t instantly give you camel toe?

By now, you may think I am nothing more than a drama-queen, and while I’ve been labeled that many times over, I promise......no drama on this one.

I love this fashion business a bit too much, so I quit my long stint as a manager at Chanel in order to focus on designing a line that tall women can wear with pride. The DREAMERS line, as clichéd as it sounds, means tall girls no longer need to dream of dresses that fit. The core pieces in the line are my vintage-inspired lace dresses. 

Many unconventional brides have already discovered these, and are ordering them for their weddings. We also make limited-edition dresses, based on fabrics we buy only in limited quantities. My intention is to keep styles exclusive (an idea gleaned from selling vintage clothing for so long).

All the Trendsetter Vintage pieces are available “off the rack,” BUT, we strongly encourage each buyer to send us her measurements. We then customize the dress using those measurements, so the dress fits perfectly when it arrives. This means (and I know I’m cheating here) even if you are not a fellow tall girl, you can still wear one of our dresses. I have some of the best seamstresses in LA working with me, and our turnaround time is exceptionally fast. They love what they do, with the only occasional complaint being, “the dresses are too long, the patterns don’t fit on my table.”

Chances are, if you are a fellow tall girl reading this, I won’t have to twist your arm. Because your reality is mine. You know why the hell we tall girls need our own line of dresses.

(All dresses pictured are from Yanique's DREAMERS line, $150-300)

I found your wedding cardi

Zara sequins via Wit & Delight

Also: If you click over to Zara's main page, the partially-Patti-inspired lookbook/short is pretty excellent. (Even if Patti would never wear pumps with bows.)

Silver. Moto. Jacket.

Someone clearly needs to wear this over her wedding dress.

Bonus: It's vegan!

Colorado Wedding Guest Attire: THE VOTE!

I pored over your contest entries last night (PORED), and it wasn't too hard to narrow it down. My basic criteria were: a) Do I like the dress? and then b) Do those shoes go with the dress?

Here are the five ensembles I'm recommending for our Colorado wedding guest, four out of five of which feature BOOTIES. 

What can I say? I'm not a big fan of espadrilles.

from Emily (pictured above): Michael Angel Sleeveless Peplum Dress, Zara Leather Jacket, Charles Albert Obsidian Arrowhead Ring + Rachel Comey Ankle Boots

from beeprint: Antik Batik Mini Dress for some sparkle and falltime colors, Veda Avery Leather Jacket, kh:W earrings because they are subtle but badass + Rachel Comey Tux Boots because they are amazing.

from marisa, the i might get mauled by a bear (or hit on by an elk) but i will look damn good doing it outfit: Acne Moreau Crepe Dress, Matthew Williamson Mongolian Vest + Boutique 9 Wedges.

from Abbey: Burning Torch Ikat Dress, Leslie Shershow Antler Necklace + Rachel Comey Huron Boots

from buttercup133: Funktional Tunnel Dress, A Peace Treaty Yaluc Earrings, Club Monaco Adele Parachute Parka, Geometrical Illusion Printed Leather Pouch + Loeffler Randall Ollie Open Toe Booties

Cast your vote quickly! I'm shutting her down when we hit 500.

Note: As usual, I included no chalk/blush/white dresses, even though a startling number of you suggested them. If it's a color the bride might wear (especially at a casual wedding) it is not appropriate for a guest, mkay?

Pleez help me dress myself for my engagement photos

Dear ESB,

The FW and I are getting engagement pictures taken on the 17th (of November, eeeeee) and I am desperately needing your help to dress myself.

I recently lost 25 lbs and the only things in my closet that fit me properly are yoga pants and horribly boring work clothes. My fiance has incredible style and has lots to choose from. I am worried about looking like a schlump, but I cannot. find. anything. I thought I would figure something out, however after leaving a baker's dozen stores empty handed I might have to show up in a grey sweater set and yoga pants. I am a size 12-14, so I am in the predicament of still being too big for a lot of standard women's design and too small for plus size.

I am 5'5, and I have dark hair, very light skin, glasses, and a large chest and bum. I am open to patterns and color and really anything that will keep me from looking like a sloppy snoozefest. I would love a cute dress and or shirt/skirt combo. I am also open to shoe and accessory suggestions if you or any of your readers have them! My budget for the clothes is around $100 and the shoe budget is around $50. I know you have cooler and more artistic things to do--I would be deeply grateful if you could help a girl out.

*****

I'm not generally a fan of engagement photos, but you seem so sweet....

This Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique Faux Wrap Jersey Dress got a thumbs-up from H.

And then any chance you wear a 38 or 39.5 shoe? These haircalf (that's what I said, HAIRCALF) pumps would take you a teensy bit overbudg, but gahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I also sorta like this floral top w/ sheath skirt from Zara. With some kind of edgy black heels though okay? Nothing too office-y.



Jeez, I feel like I'm dressing you for a high school reunion or something. Just don't wear a WHITE DRESS and you'll be fine.

(Top Photo by Gavin Doyle)

speaking of weather....

This Ottoman Puffer Jacket from Zara doesn't suck. ($169!)

Via Refinery29

1999, who knew??

I thought you might enjoy a few more images from Arthur Elgort's 1999 Vogue shoot that inspired this bride.

Pointy-toed pumps are happening again right now.

Which leads me to wonder... Would these Zara booties be too much with the Chanel knockoff? Er, HOMAGE.

+

Not to beat a dead horse or anything.

Audrey Marnay photographed by Arthur Elgort + styled by Grace Coddington for Vogue USA, March 1999 via Dust Jacket Attic

While I'm posting sparkly things.....

How do we feel about these Glitter Heels from Zara?

They're finally selling shit online, so that's a good thing I guess.

via Megan Gilger via The Social Type

Help! Sparkly wedding blazer dilemma!

Dear ESB:

I'm getting married in Austria at the end of August, outdoor ceremony, & reception in the courtyard of a winery. Ivy covered walls, awesome giant wine press, beautiful, romantic, bla bla bla....

I am all over the outdoor element, but this is Austria and not California, so I'm assuming it's going to be a bit chilly later on in the evening. Normally I would throw on a leather jacket or giant wooly cardigan, but neither of those options are super appropriate for "the big day."

This is my dress, and I'm wearing those Vivienne Westwood rubber/gold heart shoes, the ones that everyone wears. (PS. they are bubblegum scented, which makes me love them even more...)

So my questions is, what the hell should I throw on later in the evening if it gets cold? Something that is not a god-awful pashmina. I like this [Zara blazer pictured above] in gold, but when I showed my mother she threw her hands up in exasperation, wondering why it is impossible for me to pick something 'chic' and 'normal.' Her words were something along the lines of "You're already wearing weird shoes, isn't that enough..."

Now I'm unsure. Is she right? Will the gold-sequin blazer make me look like some florida retiree getting dolled up for bingo night? What could I wear instead?

*****

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

That jacket is fabulous. Tell your mom I said so.

p.s. I'm running out of effusive words that don't make me gag: RAD, AMAZING, FABULOUS… Would someone throw me a few new ones?