Gorgeous Ted Baker at Bluefly -- too bad it's not his size.

So, I mentioned last month that despite my talking big in March about being the most conspicuously single Femme, I recently started dating someone.  (Amusingly enough, a friend of The Ex’s, and a guy who I’ve known for years and whose Hidden Talents I have mentioned in previous posts.)  One of the most entertaining parts about dating a new guy?  Dressing him up after your own tastes, of course!  Assuming he’s cooperative, there is a special kind of fun in ignoring his actual wardrobe and putting him in exactly the outfit in which you think he will look the hottest.  This is particularly true if you have been admiring said guy’s looks for several years but have not previously been in a position to do anything about it.  Now that we’ve been dating for a couple of months, I figure this is all fair game.

Despite the fact that I’ve known The Man With The Hidden Talents for years, what I didn’t know is that he has a previously hidden talent for hoarding plaid.  He has a truly impressive collection of button shirts, long and short sleeved, in a rainbow array of plaids.  I don’t really have a problem with that — there’s nothing wrong with plaid in concept.  It’s in execution that it becomes problematic.  Anyone with eyes can hardly have failed to notice there are some really horrifying plaids out there.  I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to exercise my fashion talents/treat him like a giant doll and play dress up.  He needs a few more shirts that are not plaid, for choice green.  (He also has several shirts that snap rather than button, but I’ve decided to leave that alone.  I was initially unconvinced by the snap thing, but I am willing to admit I’ve been converted to the point that I suspect he is slightly sorry for having convinced me.  Snap shirts do in fact provide good entertainment value.  Particularly in public.)  And hey, I have time on my hands!

After the jump, my quest for good men’s fashion… which turned out to be a little harder than I expected it to be.

read more »

The perfect summer jacket from Trina Turk.

Welcome to summer!  Wedding season is in full swing.  We’ve covered wedding fashion outdoors, in the church, at the beach, so hopefully you have your eye on the dresses you’ll be wearing at this summer’s ceremonies, but what we haven’t covered yet is, well, the cover-up!  Yes, it’d be great if your dress covered all the bases by itself, but let’s be realistic.  Sometimes weddings will take you in and out of the sun, the wind, and the air conditioning, and you’ll find yourself in need of some help for climate and modesty control.  This is particularly true if the reception is going to be outdoors or in tents and the ceremony is in a church or the ceremony is outdoors and the reception venue is heavily airconditioned.  A pashmina is always a safe choice, but if you’re looking to go a little farther afield, here are some ideas for cute cover-ups that are totally wedding-appropriate.

read more »

Dear God, a corset-belted trench from Mackage? Someone tell me again why I don't need new coats? Please?

So, what I said last week about not needing new spring coats?  That’s still true.  I don’t need anything in that line.  Not really.  I am nonetheless confident that none of you are going to be surprised to hear that this did not stop me from continuing to scour the stores, online and physical, to find all the best of this season’s offerings.  Last week I was jacket-focused.  Now that New York’s real spring weather (see e.g., rain) has started to show up, however, I’m starting to hear the call of the ultimate spring classic: the trench coat.  A great trench coat is the ultimate way to pull together a spring look while remaining prepared for the vicissitudes of the weather, which can change from minute to minute in the cruel months of March and April.  Had I mentioned it’s snowing as I write this?

Lily and I went to the Soho Bloomingdale’s, where I tried on every trench in sight and Lily styled me, and, well, afterward I continued my addictive web surfing for online fashion to find all the most difficult to resist coats to torment myself with.  My haul follows after the jump.

read more »