The Conference Room Coat

One of the conundrums in which I've often found myself over the past eleven months has been related to the appropriate outerwear (or in this case, innerwear?) for an office building. My first place of full-time employment, that which I entered a mere three weeks after graduation, was a casual work place with a funky air conditioner. When it was 90 degrees outside, it was 30 degrees inside, and when it was 30 degrees outside, well, it was still 30 degrees inside. The air conditioner was broken for the last two weeks that I was working there, and the loft space that our office occupied became one of those dry and stuffy rooms that smells of whichever hot foot idem was last put in the microwave.

As the temperature rises outside, those of us who are proudly among the ranks of the terminally seated are faced with the question of what type of sweater or coat to wear inside during the day. Do we opt for a generic hoodie like the boiz of Silicon Valley (great show, great show), or do we take advantage of freezing corporate temperatures to bust out our faux fur coats? Maybe we just wear an overbearing scarf? A neutral colored pashmina? Not much to belabor on the point and given that I have about 20 minutes to get ready for work and get myself on the C train, I'll leave you to ruminate over this sweater coat from Zara, whose wool (or something like it) material may make it seem like a useless purchase in April, but would make for a great office overcoat.

Disclaimer: The coat used to come in a nice navy, but it appears to have sold out of all but the green and orange shades. Eh.

Patterned Pants: Silk Edition

Of all the email newsletters that I receive in my inbox, one of my favorites is Citizen Couture, although I guess it really isn't a newsletter because its contents are limited to a single street style photo. It doesn't come at the usual mid-morning time as most blasts. It usually comes in the middle of the night, which means that when I unconsciously check my email at four am (digital digital get down, bad habit), I have a lovely street style photo to gloss my eyes over.

Example: This photo came at 3:03 am on February 19. I effing love Rachel Nguyen's oufit--especially what appears to be silk pants. Also, she makes me want to go blonde. I'm going to do it. One day. 

Below, a silk panted outfit:

Vince sweater, J.Crew café capri, J.Crew denim jacket, Jenni Kayne D'Orsay flat, Zara bucket bag, Derng bracelets

Introducing: Earl of Knit

Here's the thing about sweaters:

Sweaters can be worn in any weather

Heavy and chunky or light as a feather

Sweaters pull an outfit together.

And so began my sister's new blog, Earl of Knit. 

I'd argue that a sweater brings more value to an outfit than any other article of clothing (excluding shoes). As the poem above espouses, sweaters are practical and tasteful and can dress an outfit up or down, depending on the temperature and occasion. Sweaters rock, which is why my sister has dedicated a blog to them. 

One of my sister's and my favorite sweater in pop culture is the one worn by Ann Margret in Bye Bye Birdie. I can't remember if it's blue or yellow, but either way, it looks unbelievably comfortable. Similar to the way I compare every guy I'm attracted to to Daniel Day Lewis, I compare every sweater I buy to the one from Bye Bye Birdie. 

If you haven't seen Bye Bye Birdie, you're doing something wrong. Go watch it, and go read my sister's blogue. 

I'd be content if I went through life as a member of the Bye Bye Birdie ensemble. 

Inside Llewyn Davis

This blog was initially conceived as a merger between my two interests in fashion and movies, but I feel that I unfairly abandoned the movie aspect long ago. I didn't even write posts commemorating Brad Pitt's 50th birthday or You've Got Mail's 15th anniversary last week, WHO AM I? (Answer: here). As Oscar movies are coming out left and right though, it's time to get crackin' on the reviews.

I woke up Sunday morning on the hungover side of things, and while I intended to go buy Christmas sweaters for various family members, the only place I could find myself at peace from tourists and fellow holiday shoppers was in a movie theater. I opted for Inside Llewyn Davis--I had wanted to see it since I streamed the soundtrack on NPR's website a few months ago, and my unwavering devotion to Justin Timberlake leaves me obligated to see all (most) of his movies.

Anywhooze, it was ah-mah-zing! And I don't even like folk music! JK, I do now. Oscar Isaac should win an Oscar, if only because of all the bad jokes and word plays that will abound post-win (especially on this blog). Carey Mulligan and JT rocked, as did Garrett Hedlund (remember Country Strong? Neither do a lot of people) and John Goodman.

I spent a good portion of the movie fixated on one of Carey Mulligan's vneck sweaters. It's the loose-fitted, boyfriend vneck sweater of my dreams, which makes sense because Justin Timberlake plays her boyfriend (maybe husband?) in the movie. It's in a musky blue tone, a color that shares a spot with burnt orange and burgundy as colors that only look good when worn by actors in 60s era movies. The top half of the sweater is shown below, but can't you tell from the structure of the V how great the rest of it is?

I'd report more on the movie, but I'm not a tough critic and I just got a seltzer maker for Christmas that needs my care/attention. Appliances, the millennial Christmas gift, AMIRITE? Nope.

Two comment-worthy questions for you people to answer: Did you see the movie? Did you get anything good for the holidayze?