Just completed a legit full week of work with outfits of the day to show for it. I am all about silk, silk-velvet, leather and embellishments, and have taken to wearing the bracelets I created over the summer.
Akemi + Kin for Anthropologie dress, Calvin Klein bootiesRebecca Taylor silk top, French Connection leather skirt, Marc Jacobs booties, Tashkovski bracelet
There are over five hundred bracelets in stock with more on the way. I’m obsessed with this new venture! I’m waiting for the arrival of tags and some other supplies. Will be launching the collection soon! <3
BCBGMaxAzria T-shirt, velvet leggings and sandals, Alice + Olivia silk velvet topTrina Turk top and pants, C by Bloomingdales cashmere cardigan, BCBGeneration velvet booties, Tashkovski bracelet
BCBGMaxAzria sweater and dress. Ralph Lauren boots, Coach crossbodyTheory cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria romper, Joie sandalsTrina Turk jumpsuit, Joie sandals
Here are some of my Instagram photographs taken outside of the classroom. Summer rocks! So grateful for time off of work, for time to enjoy the sunshine. And for time to bask in the creation of art, and in the appreciation of it. #blessed <3
Alice + Olivia top and pants, Calvin Klein bootiesRebecca Taylor dress, BCBGeneration sandals, Marc Jacobs sunglassesRebecca Taylor dress, Calvin Klein booties, Coach bagBCBGMaxAzria top, Rag & Bone skirt, Marc Jacobs bootiies and sunglasses, Coach crossbodyBCBGMaxAzria dress and sandals, Michelle DaRin jewelry braceletsHalston Heritage dress, BCBGMaxAzria sandalsTrina Turk top and skirt, BCBGMaxAzria sandals, Coach crossbody, Marc Jacobs sunglasses
Cinq a Sept top, Trina Turk pants, Calvin Klein bootiesTrina Turk dress, Marc Jacobs booties
I have been playing with mixing patterns and textures in my #ootd. And layering. Putting sweaters under dresses and finding unexpected matches, like my amber necklace (I actually designed it myself!) is the same color as the Marc Jacobs patent leather booties in rust (pictured above).
Rebecca Taylor top and pants, Alice + Olivia top, Calvin Klein bootiesTheory cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Calvin Klein booties
And a new cardigan pairs nicely with a four-year-old dress (above).
Theory cashmere cardigan, Rachel Zoe dress, Via Spiga tights, Calvin Klein bootiesTrina Turk top and pants, Calvin Klein belt, BCBGMaxAzria sandalsBCBGMaxAzria sweater, Rachel Zoe dress, Sorel bootsC by Bloomingdales cardigan, Banana Republic leather top, Free People leather skirt, Nine West bootsKobi Halperin top, BCBGMaxAzria jacket and pants, BCBGeneration sandalsBCBGMaxAzria dress, Marc Jacobs sandals
It is now spring. I have started to slowly reintroduce sandals. The weather in Syracuse/Chittenango will just have to catch up.
BCBGMaxAzria tops and pants, BCBGeneration booties
In other news, students are glazing textured clay projects, finishing up patterned paintings and some fashion drawings. The quarter ends on April 5th, I believe. Then we will be gearing into the homestretch with sculptures, more paintings and artsy mayhem (the good kind – there is no fartsy in the art room).
Michelle DaRin jewelry ring, Coach crossbody bag, BCBGMaxAzria sweater and dress, Ralph Lauren boots
Rachel Zoe dress, Nine West bootiesHonora necklace, Lord & Taylor cardigan, Trina Turk top and skirt, Marc Jacobs bootiesFree People cardigan and dress, Marc Jacobs booties
Here are my looks for January and February 2019. I started with new students so we are easing into the mess. Three students got paint on their clothes on Friday, lol, and one slapped her painting into her chin while attempting to place it on the drying rack. Another got paint on the back of his forearm. What is that about??? Of course, I made it through the week unscathed. I am a professional, as you know.
Free People cardigan, Ulla Johnson dress, Karl Lagerfeld Paris bootsFree People cardigan, Rebecca Taylor dress, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots
Disclaimer – I have a couple of repeats here. I tried to change it up, but you will notice that I have those over-the-knee Karl Lagerfeld boots in two colors and about four or five similar Free People cardigans. And – I just bought the Theory Malinka belted cashmere cardigan in three different colors! I still want the black one too, if I can find it.
Theory cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Calvin Klein bootiesTheory cardigan, Banana Republic dress, Sorel boots
I know what I like and when I find something that works, I want it any way I can get it. My new desires include the Joe’s Jeans leather cropped pants in all three colors, more Theory sweaters and I have my eye on a white BCBGMaxAzria gown (for no particular reason) and a couple more Rachel Zoe things. I also have 3.1 Phillip Lim on my radar and, of course, more silk Ulla Johnson dresses.
BCBGMaxAzria sweater, Akemi + Kim dress, Sorel bootsFree People cardigan, Akemi + Kim dress, Karl Lagerfeld boots
I <3 fashion!
Theory cardigan, Rebecca Taylor top, Alice + Olivia pants, Calvin Klein bootiesFree People cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria T-shirt and leggings, Alice + Olivia top, Calvin Klein booties
Rebecca Taylor top, French Connection skirt, Calvin Klein bootiesTalitha top, Banana Republic pants, Nine West bootiesSaks Fifth Avenue sweater, BCBGMaxAzria skirt, Eliffete tights, Marc Jacobs booties
Here are my #ootd pics from December 2018. A few new pieces are in the mix, like the lace tights and my first Milly top. OMG, I love stretch silk, which is a silk blend with a bit of spandex in it. You can tell that I am a huge fan of silk, cashmere and leather.
I wear two smocks while painting and using Mod Podge, which is my new go-to instead of using Plaster of Paris for sculpture. I’m doing a form of papier mache instead and it is amazing. Can’t wait to share my donut project!
Aqua Cashmere cardigan, Trina Turk skirt, BCBGeneration bootiesRachel Zoe dress, Calvin Klein bootiesBCBGMaxAzria dress, Karl Lagerfeld Paris boots
The other big project is…Artist Books! My Studio in Art students are creating these very cool books using sports equipment, lunch boxes, ceramic bowls and musical instruments. They will be done by the end of the semester. Then we will start watercolor!
Trina Turk dress, Marc Jacobs bootiesC by Bloomindales cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria dress, Nine West bootsMilly top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Marc Jacobs booties
I will eventually clean off the back counter and prepare for new students in February. Art – 8 only meets every other day for one semester. I am able to do about three or four projects in that time – a drawing, a painting, a sculpture and a clay project or some combination of those things. Right now we are finishing up sculptures in the five classes and drawing in the other two.
C by Bloomingdales cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top and leggings, Ugg boots
I did not get any clothes for Christmas, lol. Or did I? Santa was good to me. I know him! (I really do!) <3
Rachel Zoe dress, Coach clutchBCBGMaxAzria top, pants, and belt, Nine West boots
Trina Turk silk top, French Connection leather skirt, Nine West boots
Here are my #ootd pictures from November 2018. The black cropped leg BCBGMaxAzria pants go with everything! I ended up getting a second pair because they are so spectacular. Not sure why they were not made in other colors. I love silk as well, and silk velvet is soooo amazing! I’m sure my dry cleaner loves that I wear it too, lol.
Cinq a Sept silk dress, Via Spiga tights, Sorel boots
I was able to incorporate my Wonder Woman boots (above) in this one! They are Sorel – I think I paid one third of the retail asking price for them, maybe less!
Ulla Johnson silk dress, Calvin Klein bootiesKobi Halperin top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Calvin Klein booties
It is fun keeping track of fashion because I can see what combinations I have done with separates – what items go with what, and as a result, I can assess what one new thing I may bring into the mix that will serve me best. The morning I put this look together (above), I was, like, how do these two things match? – that is so cool! That Kobi Halperin top is embroidered cotton – very wonderful texture in person. There is a version of it in all white hiding somewhere in the universe for me to find.
Rebecca Taylor silk top, BCBGMaxAzria silk-velvet pants, Joie sandals
Rebecca Taylor has a new concept right now where you can pay a monthly fee and rent up to four garments at a time to wear until you want to give them back and then get more. I have my eye on a few pieces from her holiday collection right now. Go to www.rebeccataylor.com for more information.
BCBGMaxAzria sweater and skirt, Nine West bootiesRebecca Taylor silk dress, Marc Jacobs bootiesTrina Turk silk-spandex top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Marc Jacobs booties
This top (above) is from 1999! It is my first Trina Turk, the reason I fell in love with her work! Mine is a size Medium, which is a bit large for me now but I still love it and wear it often.
Free People cardigan and leather skirt, JCrew T-shirt, Marc Jacobs bootsAkemi + Kim for Anthropologie dress, Via Spiga tights, Calvin Klein bootiesBCBGMaxAzria silk dress, Calvin Klein booties
This BCBGMaxAzria gown (above) was my outfit for my annual Friendsgiving dinner. About twenty-five of us dined together at Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse. It had been hanging in my closet for two years and so, I was very psyched to have an opportunity to wear it. I sewed bra cups into the lining because the bodice neckline made it difficult to find undergarments that worked. Easy-peasy!
Cinq a Sept silk top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, BCBGeneration bootiesRachel Zoe silk top, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Calvin Klein booties
Here I am wearing Rachel Zoe (above) at my friend Tracey’s pre-Thanksgiving house party. I have this top in black too.
C by Bloomingdale’s cardigan, Rachel Zoe silk dress, Via Spiga tights, Calvin Klein bootiesBCBGMaxAzria dress and tank top, Nine West bootsFree People cardigan, Alice + Olivia silk-velvet top, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Calvin Klein booties
I found this Alice + Olivia silk-velvet halter top on a final sale on saksoff5th.com. I think it was $40? Something like that! It is my new favorite thing. I paired it with those black cropped pants seen in every other pic, lol, for a trip to the movies last night.
Trina Turk silk top, BCBGMaxAzria silk-velvet pants, Marc Jacobs booties
What will I wear next? Stay tuned….
BCBGMaxAzria top, sweater, jacket and pants, Marc Jacobs booties
I wore all black this week because I am in mourning for my summer vacation – and because I just love wearing black. I think I have, like, six black skirts and about a dozen different pairs of black pants. I don’t know how many tops. I could potentially extend my mourning period through the month of September just for the challenge of it. But I don’t think I will.
Trina Turk top and skirt, BCBGMaxAzria belt and sandalsBCBGMaxAzria sweater and sandals, Trina Turk skirt, Michelle DaRin jewelry
My grandmother used to hate seeing the old widows at church all dressed in black. She was a pearls, pink crochet cardigan, and pastel floral dress kind of girl, so I know she wouldn’t approve. In 1996, I was hired as a long term substitute. At the end of that first school year, I had to go through the interview process all over again when the other teacher decided to retire. I wore red and black (the school colors) every day to work until it was confirmed that I had gotten the job. Fashion themes are fun! Go Bears!
Honora necklace, BCBGMaxAzria top, Rebecca Taylor pants, BCBGeneration sandals