The Parallel Universes Resolution

A bit of blogger honesty: above is the outfit I started off in this morning. In my head, this look was fabulous. Oversized sweater! Body-hugging pants! Fabulosity! I was going to look so cool, so hip, so good. The reality was something much less than that, bordering just plain silly.

While what I wear on my off-days falls somewhere between 'will the Chiefs mount an amazing comeback against the Broncos while I'm watching 'The Good Wife'' and 'Did I buy enough chicken to make dinner in case the boys come over for movie night on Tuesday?' -- which is to say wholly unimportant to the world at large but either critical or non-critical to me depending on the context -- it's still always my goal to look nice.

So it's pretty funny when I end up looking unintentionally sloppy. Say what you will about the narcissistic practice of selfies. It's been very helpful for me! I've found myself stuck with a lot of items like the Cabled Pathways Pullover in my closet...items that seem like winners mentally but never look right in an outfit, either because they're too big on me now, too shapeless all along, or something I never should have purchased to begin with.

Given a second chance to build this outfit, I'm much happier with the results.

It's nice to have the opportunity to build my closet again, this time with a better understanding of how to dress my own body. Where it's been easier and successful to style others, this might finally be the time where I give a little of that to myself.

A bit about each piece of this outfit: the sweater's cowlneck is somewhat fussy; it takes a minute or two in front of the mirror to set it right. Runs TTS; I'm in a medium. I picked it up as part of Anthropologie's Cozy Drive -- details here.The bag is small but can hold my iPhone, a small wallet, my keys and Metrocard with little issue. The boots run 1/2 a size small and despite reports to the contrary on Free People's website I find them very comfortable for the whole day. Love the toe hardware and adjustable side buckles.

The pants are fantastic and right up my alley. I drift towards items that are 'not for everyone' and look for an urban twist that can be worn in an otherwise preppy or classic outfit. They stretch out considerably as you wear them so stick with your true size. Thanks to these pants I've learned that I tend to sit down in a sliding style; in these pants where you sit is where the pants stay! This could lead to some embarrassing subway moments where you feel your ass sliding out of the pants...not that I have personal experience or anything. I'm in a 30.

Earlier this month I moved from one tip of Manhattan to the other, trading in the hustle & bustle of Wall St for the quieter neighborhood feel of Harlem. As I'm settling into my new home and exploring the area what strikes me the most is how many parks there are up here. Green everywhere! St. Nicholas Park, the park closest to me, has tons of steps and a huge dog run that Cinnamon loves. At the top of the hill is City College -- the place my parents met in the 1960s. It's a homecoming of sorts.

Before the cold set in I had a chance to photograph a few outfits. Groundbreaking, isn't this look? A dress with a cardigan, belted. And yet it seems fresh every time I wear this outfit. New shoes help too! It's the perfect outfit accent -- something fun that people may notice during pre-meeting greetings, but that get swung under the table so they won't distract once the meeting starts.

In this outfit: Sweater: Banana Republic Merino Cardigan (super old, similar 1, 2) Dress: Madewell Silk Ballad Dress in gold (old, previously) Belt: Anthropologie Leopard Spotted Skinny Belt Necklace & Earrings: Anthropologie Shoes: J.Crew Studded Heel Etta Pumps (go a 1/2 size up!) Bag: Fossil Men's Emerson Canvas City Bag Nails: Chanel Le Vernis Tentation

This outfit is cross-posted on my everyday blog, Effortless Anthropologie as part of Reader Outfits.

I've been on a bit of a shoe kick lately. While packing for the apartment move I said goodbye to some old favorites that were beyond repair. In addition to the fabulous Ettas showcased here, I've got my eye on some other incredible shoes.

Rachel Roy Aron

Rachel Roy Aron

Sandy Tortie Pump

Gia Mary-Janes

Steven by Steve Madden 'Ravesh' Pump

Vince Camuto 'Goldie' Pump

What shoes are you wishing for right now?

I'm told Maui is the most touristy of the Hawaiian islands. The resorts are certainly full service! I was there with a group, mainly staying in Wailea at the Marriot resort. The resort was incredible -- highly recommended! Just make sure you get extra room keys as I managed to kill 4 of them while there. I guess I'm magnetic.

We snorkled at Molokini, ate our way around the resorts in Wailea and Kihei (we loved all the restaurants at the Fairmont and of course Mamma's Fish House in Paia) and yes we did a little bit of shopping. 

All of my favorite pastimes in Hawaii involve being outside. I loved Kauai last year -- there were so many outdoor activities! Maui had plenty to do as well between snorkeling at Molokini, paddle boarding on the gentle waters of southern Maui, touring the waterfalls on the road to Hana, some zipline runs to try (which we didn't do) and the beautiful climb up Haleakala, which is where the top photo on this post was taken. God it's gorgeous up there. We stopped at the Kula Lodge on the way up for breakfast -- be sure to check out the beautiful garden outside while you're waiting for your table. Then we drove switchback after switchback until we were 10,023 feet up.

We broke the cloud line at about 6,000 feet. Having lived in Colorado it wasn't my first time doing being above the clouds while still on land but there was something special about the view from on top of Haleakala, where you can see the dormant volcano crater, the rest of the island of Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii  in the distance (where I saw the mirror view from Mauna Kea in 2007), and of course the vast Pacific Ocean. I wish we'd planned a hike around the caldera. Next time! Another item on our itinerary for next time will be biking down the switchbacks, which looked insane from our car and sounds wonderful. On the way down we also spotted the blue car in the ravine between mile markers 12 and 11 -- eep! I hope the people in that car were OK. The top of Haleakala is popular for watching sunrises and I can see how easy it would be to go off the road in the dark. 

top // shorts // flip-flops (another top I wore, another pair of denim shorts)

I spent most of my time in Maui either in my bikinis or in a variation of the outfit you see above. Top, denim shorts, flip-flops or sandals, sunglasses. All of my swimsuits are from Victoria's Secret which makes supportive tops for my size (34D). My favorite pair of denim shorts is also from there -- love that they carry multiple inseams!

Well, most of the time I had my sunglasses. About 3/4 of the way through the trip we went to Big Beach. It's a gorgeous stretch of the softest sand my feet have ever touched. On the day we went there were spectacular waves for Maui with swells perfect for boogie boarding. During a break between catching waves a friend and I were in the shallows chatting, not really paying attention. All of a sudden we felt the familiar tug of the water being pulled back into a wave. We turned to find a wave taller than either of us about to crash down on us. You're taught to dive through waves but it was all we could do to take a deep breath and let the hugemongous thing crash on us and drag us back into shore.

We were both fine and laughing at our foolishness afterwards -- never turn your back on the ocean! -- but sadly I lost my Ray-Bans in the commotion. I wonder if they made their way back to Poipu where I'd purchased them last year. A small sacrifice to be sure but I'm a little sad my Wayfarers are gone. I'm thinking about a new pair to replace them.

Off in the distance behind me you can see a little sliver of Molokini and the much bigger island is Kahoolawe. The Hawaiian islands have a fascinating history, especially with the US military. Kahoolawe was used as a bombing test site in the WW II and post-WW II era. In 1991 President G. Bush Sr turned control of Kahoolawe over to Hawaii and a federal fund was established to try to resoil the island. While on Maui I learned the fund is set to run out in 2014! I hope they allocate more funding to rescue this beautiful island. Right now they spend about $15 million a year working on it, which is chump change to the government. The island could eventually be a nature preserve or perhaps livable again. 

dress // belt // sandals

We went out to nice dinners almost every night which gave me a chance to get island dressed up. I loved the opportunity to wear prettier beach dresses but keep the footwear casual! This Anthropologie dress was popular -- I saw it looking lovely on two or three other women while I was down there. Although I ended my vacation with an extra 8 lbs of weight (eep!) this dress strangely got looser as the week went on.

We ate lots of great food but my favorite restaurant was probably Kai Wailea, the sushi place in the top level of the Wailea Shops. The Wailea roll was delicious, as was the Crab & Crab Spider Roll. We also did sake flights which were so, so good! During the day we grabbed lunch either from Mala at our hotel or we went to the local Foodland for poke. I am addicted to poke -- and the octopus version toke. There's also a Whole Foods on Maui though we didn't discover it until our last day.

Club Monaco dress (old) // Madewell necklace (old) // J.Crew sandals (super old) // clutch

Here's one other dinner outfit. My friends made fun of me for the heels in paradise but I walked a mile to the restaurant in complete comfort. NYC ladies know what I'm talking about. My hair was totally out of control in Maui! The salt water left my hair curly on the sides and flat in front. It was hilarious. 

I had good reason for the beach hair though -- earlier in the day I'd gone paddle boarding to Turtle Town, which I learned is pretty much anywhere that sea turtles are hanging out. While kayakers snorkled near shore seeing plenty of fish but no turtles my instructor and I spotted four turtles further out in the ocean where we were. Not only that, a large male turtle came right up to my board to say hi! There is a law to stay at least 10 feet away from these cool creatures but when they come up to you it's OK to wave, which I did. 

dress // sandals (old) // necklace

A little later in the week, once my body started lobstering from the intense sun no matter what SPF I put on, I switched to mostly maxis.This Gap maxi was an island find at the Wailea shops. Even though I'm no longer in Maui I've been wearing it all week back at home, pretending like I'm still on the beach even as I crunch along the steamy sidewalks of Manhattan. Just today someone told me I had a Maui glow to me -- how did that stranger know?

Dress // sandals (old) // sunnies (new!)

The Corvida Cross Maxi Dress was a purchase I made right before my double-island Hawaii trip last year (Oahu and Kauai). It had to come back with me! I felt right at home in the maxi. Most people were dressed like me even at the nicest restaurants, a mix of stylish dress with casual footwear. Lots of shorts and super-casual looks too. I enjoy dressing up a bit at finer restaurants. Or really for no reason at all. I found a cute pair of cheap white sunglasses with a floral print to tide me over until I got home and they worked out so well I'm wearing them all the time!

You can see the tan line from my bikini halters. What's sad is that this is super tan for me, normal color for many people. I am super pale!

dress (old) // wedges (super old, from J.Crew) // new sunnies!

Rebecca Taylor is known for beautiful flowy dresses. In the Spring 2013 runway show I fell in love with this polka dot tuxedo-pleated shirtdress. Part of it is of course the effortless cool of the model, who is wearing photoreflective sunglasses yet somehow can still see in a darkened room on a semi-lit runway. COOL! Love the studded collar. Love the pockets. Must have it, I decided.

I hunted around to see who's carrying the dress (Neiman Marcus, Rebecca Taylor's online shop and Bergdorf Goodman) but in my search I also discovered this beautiful floral version on me that seems to be a Nordstrom exclusive. It immediately captured my heart. You can't really tell from the product shot but the dress has subtle pinks and purples in the floral along with the lovely blue. If there was ever an excuse to use my triple points day, this dress was it.

If you decide to buy this dress for yourself I recommend sizing down. I'm in a 6 which is my usual size but would have been better off in a 4. Oh well. It's supposed to be flowy. It moves beautifully in the breeze and is a great dress on days when I need the flexibility to move and shift around a lot. I was taking photos in Soho for a freelance project and had all my gear with me. 

In this outfit: Rebecca Taylor Pintuck Silk Shirtdress via Nordstrom AG Jeans Robyn Jacket in Villa c/o AG Jeans Gap Ponte Leggings in dark purple (old, similar 1, 2) 7 For All Mankind Olivia Pumps Anthropologie Geology Clutch (old, previously 1, 2) Madewell Lovelock Tote (more great Madewell totes here) Doyle & Doyle Deco Diamond Ring

A little bit of blogger truth: while I did wear the pumps you see pictured during my walk around Soho, I changed into Sam Edelman flats to walk to the Seaport for these photos. It was just easier on the cobblestones that way.

A friend asked me if this was my smoking jacket. Well, it's the Anthropologie equivalent I suppose. Worn while walking the pup. I'll share some more iPhone shots in the coming days because I snap them, so why not share them, right? Now that it's warmer hopefully I'll get outside with the camera more.

The clothing was a mix of dresses, jumpsuits, and two-pieces featuring pajama pants in silky satins, leopard prints and some beautiful prints. There's a playful sensibility here that I love. All of the models wore Seychelles shoes, a perennial favorite of mine.

Our favorite dress of the evening:

We were in love with the accessories too. The long bone and metal necklaces were a nice tough element to play off the pretty looks. And while I'm not normally a hat girl I'm suddenly feeling the need to invest in a fedora.

The sequin dress in the set below was another favorite of mine. The entire look seemed very West Hollywood to me, making me long for nights on the west coast.

Which look is your favorite?

A quick stop inside their flagship store on 57th St yesterday helped my shopping list explode. Quick shots below. Everything ran true to size for me -- 6 in dresses, 8 in skirts, 6/M in tops. If only I'd seen these pretties before the discount code I'd gotten last week expired.

Lenora Dress. Love the flared skirt and slightly dropped waist.

Rosalba Dress. An all-seasons dress.

Ori Peplum Top & Rowan Skirt. Dying over the color of the top. Wish the skirt was a little longer.

I pretty much stick to two regimens: my summer routine and my winter habits. In summer it's tinted moisturizer, facial wipes and natural makeup. In the winter, it's tons of moisturizer, lots of chapstick and more dramatic eyes with liner. Who knows if I actually need all this stuff. The marketing is too good. I'm convinced it works!

This winter I'd noticed that my face was rebelling a bit -- my skin was much drier and redder than usual, my lips were perma-chapped and the hereditary dark circles under my eyes were becoming eclipses that threatened to overshadow my pretty hazel irises. I've been sleeping and eating better than any time in my life but my face was starting to look a bit rough. This would never do.

So I went through my medicine cabinet and either gave away or tossed most of my facial cleansers, moisturizers and makeup and set out to find new stuff. A few whirls through Sephora, Saks and Bergdorf's later, I've got a much smaller (but nicer) stack o'stuff.

Here's a breakdown of what I tried, what I love and what didn't work out.

MOISTURIZER: Currently using: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Moisturizer. I've been using this stuff for years and swear by it. Most facial moisturizers would clog my pores. Not this stuff. It makes my face a little red when I first apply it, but once it seeps in my face feels relaxed and cool. Used to use: Kiehl's Ultra Moisturizer. It's been a few years now so the formula may have changed, but this stuff used to make me break out. I couldn't figure out why my acne-free face suddenly exploded into red dots in my mid-20s. Once I took this stuff out of my regimen my skin calmed down almost completely. There must be something in there that I'm allergic or reactive to. Also tried: La Mer Creme De La Mer. Like the Kiehl's it's been awhile since I used this product. All I could think while using this stuff was, for the price of 4 of these I could get the Valentino Rockstud Sandals I want. At $275 for for 2 ounces, this stuff should do my laundry and make me dinner. There's no denying my face felt great but I can only justify splurging on so many things. Until I make friends with someone at the beauty counter, my $15 Neutrogena moisturizer does just fine.

FACIAL SERUMS: Currently using: Clinique Radiance Renewer. This stuff has been pretty amazing. I've been using it for about 4 weeks now and I can't believe how much smoother my face is and how it's making my pores smaller. I use two pumps of it twice a day. Basically as all the product pages say it helps get rid of dull top-layer skin and preps the face for moisturizer. Even when I miss a dose I notice my skin is much more moisturized than it was. Plus, my face is resisting the dry indoor heaters much better. My cheek pores are about half the size they were. Very impressed with stuff. I put it on before my moisturizer in the morning and just before bed. Clinque Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector. I am undecided on this product. I've also been using it for about 4 weeks, though only twice or so a week as opposed to everyday. I don't have many lines on my face thankfully so there's not much difference to see. This product stings just a bit when I put it on. If it helps against UV damage I'll be happy but I have a feeling I won't know until the summer, or my next trip to Hawaii or Colorado. Then again, if I never get wrinkles that would be pretty cool too. Used to use: SK-II Facial Repair C. No real complaints about this serum except the cost. ($160 per bottle, yikes.) It's light, smells kinda good and  dries quickly. It works well except in the toughest spots on my face, which are my chin lines and between my eyebrows. The Clinque Radiance Renewer is 1/4 of the price and works equally well, if not better.

BASE LAYER/FOUNDATION:  Currently using: Clinique BB Cream. Let's be real -- any of the American brands aren't really BB cream. The concept behind a BB Cream (that's Beauty Balm Cream) is that it helps to fix flaws by being loaded with anti-oxidants. The Asian brands like Dr. Jart purport to hydrate, treat and protect against aging. The problem for me is that the Asian BB Creams mostly come in one shade, and that shade is both too dark and too different from my skintone. I'm fine with something that looks light and fresh. The Clinique is one of several BB creams I tried (more below) and I like it the best. It isn't chalky on me, it oxidizes to match my skintone well and it's covering enough that I can use it as under-eye and acne concealer. It's a one-shot product for my face and I'm loving it. When you first apply it the cream looks streaky but it dries uniformly. I apply my face serums and moisturizer before the BB Cream. During the day I retouch my nose but the rest of my face holds the cream well. I use Shade 2 of this BB Cream. Used to use: Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer. I'll continue using this stuff in the summer, but in the winter the coverage doesn't last all day and is no match for my Rudolph red nose. I like how light it is and the second-lightest shade matches my fair, pink-flushed skintone well. I use the Extra Fair variety. Also tried: Tarte BB Cream. I didn't think it was possible, but I found a foundation that was actually too fair on me! Even with moisturizer applied beforehand, this stuff was incredibly dry and chalky on me. Doesn't mean it's a bad product; it just wasn't a match for my skin type. Urban Decay Naked BB Cream. Only available in one shade, it's a little too dark for me. I did like how light it felt on my face and it really doesn't rub off. I only needed to re-apply to the bridge of my nose. If this came in a lighter shade I'd probably use it all the time. I recommend applying this BB Cream with a brush instead of a stippling pad. I can't say why exactly but it holds better over the day when applied via a brush.

EYESHADOW: Currently using: Dior's 5-color Lift Eyeshadow in Ivory. This stuff claims to be "lifting" and "radiance-boosting". I don't know about that. I picked the palette strictly because it's pretty! My goal was to find a nice romantic day eye and the ivory version fit the bill nicely. The soft champagne, pinks and browns work well against my fair skin, dark brown hair and green-gold hazel eyes. One of the swatches is a shimmery ivory that tops the look perfectly. I'm very pleased with this palette! My current night palette is the Serge Lutens Eyeshadow from Barney's, which was a gift I received earlier this year.  Used to use: Urban Decay's Naked Palette. I love the variety of color options in this palette but I've found the colors are too intense for my eyes. If I'm going to a show, concert or bar crawling I can wear this. But for day it's generally too much. The "sin" swatch is amazing with cat eye liner or winged eyes though.

MASCARA: Currently using: Diorshow Mascara and Mascara Primer. I'd heard great things about the mascara and am very happy with the results after about 3 weeks of use. I have naturally long lashes, some with blond tips. This mascara separates and defines the lashes nicely. For nights on the town the primer is helpful in making it look like I have even fuller lashes, though if I use too much my lashes can become spidery quickly. A light touch goes a long way with the primer. Used to use: Maybelline Volume Express Colossal. My main issue with this mascara is that it 1) dries out really quickly and 2) seemed to clump up really easily. For under $10 it was manageable but I like that I no longer have to clean the brush (and thus waste product) on a daily basis. Also tried: MAC Zoom Mascara. I love MAC's liquid liners so much I decided to give their mascara a try. Not a winner for me. It applied very heavily, weighing down my lids and I found it nearly impossible to get off. I want my mascara to stay on for the day -- not forever.

EYE CREAM: Currently using: Oil of Olay Definity Eye Illuminator. Eyes. Still. Yes. This is what I use to combat those dark circles underneath my eyes. The difference is clear after about two weeks of nightly use -- my eyes are much brighter and lighter underneath. You can also wear this under your makeup. I haven't tried any other products because I'm so happy with this stuff.

PERFUME: Currently using: Chloe Eau de Parfum. In my mind this is the perfect light, floral day perfume. Just a couple of spritzes is enough to have people close by asking what that wonderful smell is without suffocating the whole room. On a sidenote, I also love the body lotion so I usually end up getting this cute set from Macy's when I need a refill. Also tempted by: Marni Eau de Perfum. I got three samples of this at Saks Fifth Ave. I'd compare it favorably to Prada's perfume -- it has that same musky, come-hither scent to it. Great for date night, but probably too much for most days.

I'm not exactly sure what inspired the death of the knee-length dress. At 5'8" I'm tall but not incredibly so, yet it's nearly impossible to find a dress that grazes my knees without looking mumsy. When nothing in the present satisfies it's time to delve into the past. An eBay hunt landed me the Eyelet Silk Dress, an Anthropologie oldie but goodie.

When tango dancing the key to success is letting your partner leadand allowing their inertia to direct your movements (or leading your partner if you so desire). A silk dress is perfect for showing off the movements. Now I just need to find a proper pair of dancing shoes... 

Which set is your favorite? I think mine is the striped top/boyfriend jeans look, with the casual camel sweater/calf hair pumps look a close second. Really I would be perfectly happy in any of these looks. Swoon.