Packing How-to's: Beauty Products, Part I

A few days ago I officially started making preparations for my annual Big Vacation, which is coming up in less than a month. This year I'm spending 2 weeks and a few days in Argentina with my good friend Jess; in honor of our upcoming trip, I've decided to do a few posts about packing, since it kinda sorta relates to fashion in a roundabout way. I've included some of my favorite photos from past Big Vacations to accompany this post. All are clickable for a larger view; there's a key to the photos at the bottom of the post.

Today I'll discuss some strategies for packing beauty products and toiletries, with a little of my travel philosophy thrown in there for good measure. This series won't be all in a row; I'll do a couple of posts on beauty products this week, and then cover clothes and shoes once I have a better idea of what I'm bringing.

With all the TSA restrictions on liquids and gels, packing toiletries has become quite a chess game. Not only that, but toiletries account for a fair amount of weight in your luggage, and since I like to travel carry-on, I pay a lot of attention to the weight of the items I pack. Today I'll share my general philosophy and strategies for reducing the amount of toiletries that you pack, and later in the week I'll take you on a photo tour of the stuff I'm bringing to Argentina. Here are a few things you should ask yourself as you're packing up your lotions, creams, soaps, and other sundries for a trip:

1. Do I need to bring it at all? I don't know about you, but I've tried about a hillion jillion beauty products at one time or another: wrinkle creams, dark circle lighteners, eye puffiness reducers, pore minimizers, you name it. Some stay on as regular players in my beauty regimen and some come out only when I have extra-puffy eyes or extra-dark circles. But when I travel, I strip it down to just the staples, because for one thing I don't want to haul all that crap around, and for another I don't want to have to deal with a complicated beauty regimen when what I'm really trying to do is to relax and enjoy myself. Is my skin going to age by 20 years if I don't use that night cream for a couple of weeks? No. Then why bother with it at all? My rule of thumb is that if I don't use it at least 3 times a week, I can live without it while I travel. I also find that letting go of a lot of the daily routine is a sure way to slip effortlessly into vacation mode.

2. Can it be replaced? One of the mainstays of my beauty regimen is good old Dr. Bronner's Castille soap, which I cleanse with morning and night. But as we all know, carrying 2 or 3 weeks' worth of liquid soap onto an airplane is about as pleasant as a dinner date with Vlad the Impaler. So when I travel, I bring my Dr. Bronner's in bar form; sure, it doesn't feel quite as zesty fresh as its liquid counterpart, but it gets the job done and it doesn't need any special handling to get it through security. Wherever possible, I try to replace liquids with solids when I travel.

3. How much do I really need? I can't believe how many people I've seen traveling on a 2-week trip with a full-sized bottle of shampoo, a volume that would easily last 4 months. I buy small, durable Nalgene bottles to fit exactly the volume I need for my trip; I know I planned well when I come home with all the bottles empty. The amount you'll need is often significantly less than you think, so consider measuring it out first and then transferring to the smaller bottle. If you've got a small kitchen scale it's even easier; simply weigh out one day's worth, multiply that by the number of days you're traveling, and then dispense it by weight directly into the travel-sized container.

4. Why not buy it when I get there? When you travel in a foreign country, even mundane tasks such as buying toothpaste become adventures. Travel is all about experiencing new things, and a sure way to do that is to try going about your regular activities in a place where all the packages are in a different language and nothing looks familiar. I've amused myself for over an hour in an Osaka drugstore, just looking in wonder at all the stuff of which I had no idea what it was for; to me half the adventure is in discovering those subtle differences in cultures through which you can learn so much. Intentionally not packing something and having to search for it when you get there can be a fun (and sometimes humbling) way to experience a new place. Make sure you do this only with things you know you'll be able to find, such as toothpaste or shampoo, and if you're not sure of the proximity or hours of drugstores, bring just enough to get you through the first day or two.

5. Is there a clever way to pack it? Okay, I'm going to be honest -- I detest those stupid TSA regulations about liquids and gels, and I'll do just about anything to defeat them. I detest them not so much because they're a hassle, but because they're a hassle that doesn't do a damn thing to improve the safety of flying. So I find ways to beat the system. I'll tell you a secret: those x-rays at the airport don't have any sort of special sensor that detects liquids and gels; the security officers see them in your luggage because of the size and shape of the packaging. A tiny, round, flat case is used for carrying pills, right? Right, unless it's used to carry a small dollop of eye cream. Deodorant containers look exactly the same in an x-ray whether there's a solid in there or a gel (but of course, you already replaced your gel deodorant with a solid for the trip, right?). And then, the tinier the container is, the less likely it is to be noticed; for containers of about an ounce or less, I throw them directly into my luggage instead of worrying about the hassle of the quart-sized ziplock bag. Not once have I ever been stopped for having liquids in my luggage, except for the time I forgot about the flask of Fernet Branca in my backpack. But that's another story.

Later this week I'll show you all my nifty travel-sized containers and how I keep everything organized.

Key to photos, from the top down:
1. Skogafoss, Iceland
2. Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
3. Dancing to Afenginn, Copenhagen, Denmark
4. Interior of St. Peter's church, Salzburg, Austria
5. Kitty in jail, Vilnius, Lithuania
6. Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
7. Elderly lady with newspaper, Krakow, Poland
8. Museum of Terror, Budapest, Hungary
9. The Grand Place at night, Brussels, Belgium
10. Shadow and reflection, Paris, France

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Buyer's Remorse, Part II

Today I'd like to talk about strategies for avoiding the dreaded buyer's remorse in our clothing purchases. I'll start out with a disclaimer: I'm by no means perfect when it comes to sticking to these strategies 100% of the time. Often I've discovered in retrospect that if only I'd taken one of these approaches, I probably wouldn't own this or that item that I'm not perfectly happy with. So I'll share these tips not only for you, but also for myself, so that I might better cement the ideas more firmly in my own head.

Having items in your closet that you regret buying is a curse. You paid for it, you're stuck with it, and you never wear it. Or you wear it out of guilt and feel awkward and uncomfortable when you do. Assuming you can't employ one of the strategies I discussed yesterday, you really have no option but to get rid of it and at least spare yourself the further misery of having it mocking you every time you open your closet. But here are some tools you can use while shopping that might help you to avoid making that regrettable purchase at all:

1. Sleep on it. Unless the item you're considering is the last one in your size and has sold out rapidly, chances are that you can go home and think about it for 24 hours and it'll still be there when you come back. Many shops will even hold an item for a day while you consider whether you really want to buy it. Even going away for an hour or two while you browse other shops can do wonders for your perspective. If it's an online purchase, put it in your cart and log off for a day. More than once I've found that the next day I don't even remember to log back on, and by the time I do remember a week later, the item doesn't seem that spectacular anymore. If you're still thinking about it the next day and are just itching to get back on the site and make sure no one has snapped up your treasure, then it's probably a solid purchase.

2. Make sure it fills an unmet need. No matter what, there will always be cute things in the stores. But the fact is that you do not need to have every permutation of every type of garment in every color, and that's a great thing to remind yourself when you're contemplating what could turn out to be a superfluous purchase. Just the other day I stopped myself from even considering an adorable navy dress, because I already have one. It doesn't matter that the dress I have is a casual jersey style and the one I was looking at was a tailored cotton one; I simply do not need two solid navy dresses, because in the end they're not really all that different.

3. A great deal is not always a great deal. Oh, if I could have only learned this one last year, before I got caught up in thrifting fever. I can't tell you how many things I bought because they were a 'great deal' that are frankly not all I could wish for. So before you snap up that $2.99 top, take a moment to ask yourself if you'd be so excited about it if it were full price. Would you even consider it then? Also ask yourself if it is really and truly YOU, whether it's as flattering as it should be, and if it'll be just as treasured as your favorite items. Also, does it fill that specific niche in your wardrobe? Several months ago I bought an adorable orange skirt for a few bucks at Goodwill, only to get it home and remember I've already GOT an orange skirt that I love. Why do I need another one, even for a steal of a deal? Buying things you don't need is still a waste of money whether the cost is $2 or $200, so apply the same scrutiny to sale and thrift purchases that you would to any other.

4. Make some specific rules. This relates to #2 above, and is an extra way to ensure unnecessary duplication in your wardrobe. I recently told myself that if I buy another coat, it can only be a navy blue one. Period. I will not consider buying anything else, because I already have more than enough coats. But more than once I've wished I had one in navy, and so right now that's my sole option when considering coats. This type of specific rule is far more easily followed than a blanket rule about shopping less or not buying any more shoes for awhile. There are going to be times when you come across something so wonderful and unique that you'll kick yourself later if you don't buy it. So buy it, and don't regret it. But having a few hard and fast, specific rules that will help to guide your choices is a great way to ensure that you don't buy something that's essentially already in your closet, which is a sure way to end up with buyer's remorse.

5. Be careful with lists. Believe it or not, I find that having a list of things I 'need' to buy actually promotes shopping for things I don't need. The problem occurs when I have something too specific in mind: I search endlessly and in vain for it, and out of boredom and frustration end up buying other things just to fill the void left by the item I can't locate. The other contributing factor is the sheer number of shops I'll hit in my quest for that perfect thing, which of course just exposes me to all sorts of other lovely things. So these days I try to avoid keeping any sort of a must-have list, except for exclusionary rules like I mentioned above. Telling myself that I can only buy a coat if it's navy blue is a whole lot more productive than scouring every boutique in San Francisco in search of the ideal navy coat. If you have problems keeping your shopping in check, then I think it's best not to let yourself become convinced that you 'need' anything too specific, because the fact is that many other items will probably fill the gap in your wardrobe just as well. So rather than tell yourself that you need a knee-length, red pencil skirt to go with a particular top, simply wear the top when you're out shopping and try on anything you think might go with it. It's great to have goals when you shop, but try to keep an open mind, too.

6. Set some price limits on specific items. For me there are some things that are only worth so much money, period. I don't care what designer label is slapped on it or how cool the graphic design is, a t-shirt is still a t-shirt, and there's only so much I'm willing to pay for one. There are other items that essentially have no ceiling (though of course I still nix things that I truly can't afford, or that just aren't worth the price), depending on how well it's crafted and how much I love it: coats, shoes, and dresses are all in this category. But I really draw a hard line for items such as tees, sweaters, and jeans -- tees and sweaters because they have a limited life span, and jeans because I simply don't wear them for much besides super-casual weekend outfits. Where you set that upper price limit is up to you, but sticking to it means that you won't end up with what you consider to be overpriced items in your wardrobe.

7. Don't be afraid to return it. For heavens sake, if you're contemplating a purchase that you're not wholeheartedly convinced you should make, take a moment to find out what the store's return policy is. Once you get your item home, try it out and see if you can wear it at least 2 or 3 different ways; this will ensure that you'll actually wear it and not leave it to languish. Finally, if you decide you don't want it, return it as quickly as possible. Waiting only increases the chances that you won't return it at all. I think it's great to go out on a limb sometimes and buy clothes that might push our boundaries, but it's also important to be realistic about what you'll have the guts to wear and what you won't.

8. How much do you really love it? Staples such as layering tees aside, you should LOVE the items you buy. Don't buy it just because you need to replace your ratty black sweater and this one is okay and you're tired of looking and it isn't really your size but it's on sale and oh well, it's good enough. No! It is NOT good enough. There are plenty, PLENTY of beautiful things out there and somewhere is the one that's just right for you. So please, don't settle.

9. Give yourself permission to buy without guilt. This sounds weird, but stay with me. You've found something wonderful that takes your breath away; sure, you can afford it but maybe it exceeds what you would typically spend on yourself, particularly for one item. But you've applied all the litmus tests I described above and you've made the decision that yes, you really and truly do love it and want it. So decide then and there that if you're going to go through with it, you will not feel one little bit guilty about it later. Allow yourself to relish in your treasure and enjoy it to the fullest extent. Decide that even if someone close to you were to make a snide comment about how expensive your item looks, you'll simply smile and say, "Yep, I treated myself this time." Unless you've already got a closet full of mink coats and designer gowns, chances are that you own a lot of sensible, carefully-considered garments and a few decadent ones. And shouldn't we all be allowed our moments of decadence? You only live once, and you might as well look fabulous doing it.

Hat: Parkhurst
Dress: an oldie from the 90's, shortened
Skirt: thrifted
Shoes: Sofft
Scarf: Banana Republic

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Buyer's Remorse, Part I

Over the weekend Mark asked me if I ever have any buyer's remorse about the clothing items I own, and I spent the rest of the day turning the question over in my head. It was a good exercise, I think, because it got me thinking about the lasting effects of the choices we make with our shopping. Sure, there's the financial impact that's fairly immediate. Who hasn't made a decadent impulse buy and left the store with a knot in the stomach and a vague sense of guilt? But what about the longer term effects? How do we deal with those items lingering in the closet that we wish we hadn't bought?

When I thought about the things I really regret purchasing, surprisingly few of them turned out to be those big splurges. Most of them were things that either don't fit right, are uncomfortable, or that simply don't get worn very often for whatever reason and that I have to force myself to try to incorporate. The guilt over the expensive purchases subsides fairly quickly once the credit card bill is paid, provided I actually wear whatever it is. So in the final analysis, it is not about how much the item cost, it's about how much benefit I'm getting out of owning it.

The question, then, is what do we do about those regrettable purchases? Rather than simply dumping the item at the nearest Goodwill, are there ways to turn buyer's remorse into pride of ownership? These are a few I came up with:

1. Alteration. I've had sleeves taken in, hemlines shortened, armholes made larger, and all sorts of other modifications to make clothes more comfortable and workable. If there's a garment you regret owning because you're not wearing it, consider whether an alteration might help you get more use out of it. This extends beyond just modifications to the fit; you can dye clothing, remove or add embellishments, change the buttons, or whatever else you can dream up. If you can figure out exactly what it is about the garment that makes it a regrettable choice, chances are that you can fix it.

2. Swapping. I tend to run between a size 8.5 and 9 shne; as a result I often end up with shoes that seem fine at first and later end up being too large or, more often, too small. I have to admit that historically I've tended to want the look of a smaller shoe, and as a result I'm plagued with more than one pair that kill my feet by the end of the day. The worst such offenders were my adorable gray and teal flats, which I foolishly kept because I thought they'd stretch out. Since by the time I figured out that they were a lost cause it was too late to return them, I was stuck with a practically new pair of shoes I couldn't wear. Thankfully, my good friend Jess runs about half a size smaller than me, so the last time she was in town I asked her to try them out, and on her they fit and felt great. And then guess what happened? When I was in Seattle she had a pair of shoes that was half a size too large -- the shoes I've got on in this outfit, to be exact. Sloppy and blister-inducing on her, they are comfy perfection on me. Both of us ended up with a pair of shoes we can actually wear, and none of the guilt of either casting out a perfectly good pair or leaving it neglected and unworn in the closet. As The Godfather said, "Keep your friends close, and your friends that are about half a shoe size different from you closer." Or something like that.

3. Reducing your price-per-wear. OK, so maybe this seems obvious, but if you've got an item that haunts you because it was expensive and you rarely wear it, you can always just wear it more. I've previously discussed the idea of putting your special items into every day rotation (here's an example of it in action), and this is a tactic I use to soften the blow of that empty bank account that follows a splurge. OK, so I paid a lot for a pair of boots, now what am I gonna do about it? Wear them, that's what. I'll wear them so much that two things happen: one, I convince myself that they were worth every penny; two, the price per wear decreases dramatically and puts them on a par with the other things in my closet. I've owned a $3.50 thrift store skirt I wore all of twice and a decadent $350 pair of boots I've worn countless times; at this point they're probably close to equal in terms of the price per wear. Not only that, but the skirt has been tough to work with and looks only so-so, while the boots still look gorgeous and are a dream to wear, so which was really the better value?

4. Wearing it in a different way. Right, so you jumped on the maxi skirt trend only to realize 2 months down the road that maxi skirts look dreadful on you. You could have the skirt shortened, as I mentioned above, or you could try wearing it as a dress. I've done just that with a long skirt, as has gorgeous S from Academichic and probably countless others as well. A button-down shirt can be worn as a jacket, a short-sleeved top can be worn as a vest, a minidress can be worn as a tunic. Before you dismiss an item as being unusable and begin your cycle of regret over buying it, consider if you could style it in a different way that would make it more flattering. Is the hem too short? Try layering a longer skirt underneath. Is the shape too shapeless? Why not add a belt? Restyling your items can also push them beyond a trend and make them a longer-term staple in your wardrobe.

So how about you? Do you have any cases of buyer's remorse? What are you doing about it? Tune in tomorrow, when I'll discuss shopping strategies to avoid ever having buyer's remorse in the first place!

Jacket: vintage
Dress: Target
Shoes: BC Footwear

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Japanese Punk Cowboy

There are some very disparate styles converging in this outfit; the western shirt, the punky plaid boots, and the obi-style belt. Because I was trying to make the outfit look cohesive and not create a mishmashed Japanese punk cowboy theme, I was careful in my selections so that the common thread that runs among the different pieces would be fairly obvious. To me it's really the belt that is the crux of making this outfit work. The green/brown combo relates the shirt to the skirt to the boots. The soft yellow color of the cardigan is picked up in thin stripes in the pattern of the boots. Each piece is reinforced, color-wise, with at least one other item in the outfit. Thus, there isn't one particular style that dominates the look and makes the other pieces seem out of place.

I think it's great to mix different styles together and create something completely unique. I love the look of a conservative suit paired with an edgy t-shirt, or a soft ruffled sundress with big chunky combat boots. It's one of the things that draws me to the steampunk aesthetic; I love the blending of Edwardian, Gothic, burlesque, vaudeville, Mad Max-style post-apocalyptic and futuristic elements. But when blending styles it's important to consider what the pieces have in common that unites them, otherwise the outfit will look haphazard and amateurish.

That said, don't be afraid to mix different items that you might assume don't go together stylistically. Chances are that the things in your wardrobe, if they're really you, have more similarities than they do differences. When you scan your closet looking for a top or a skirt or whatever, try to ignore the style and focus only on whatever quality is absolutely essential. For instance, when I started building this outfit I wanted to use the boots, so I decided I needed a shirt that would pick up the green in the boots' pattern. When I came across this one I grabbed it based solely on the color, and was intrigued with the combination. Once I had those two pieces, the rest was easy; I wanted a skirt that was short enough to reveal the entire length of the boots plus a little leg, and it needed to be a solid color. That narrowed my choices down considerably. Once I selected the skirt and was searching for something to put over the shirt, I knew I needed a softer color so as not to overwhelm the outfit with dark tones. The only possible choices were yellow or pink, and since I don't have a pink vest or short-sleeved cardi, the choice was made for me. The fact that I just happened to have the perfect belt with which to tie everything together was just one of those lucky coincidences.

Shirt: La Redoute
Cardigan: Solemio
Belt: Audra Jean
Skirt: Zara (I think; I bought it years ago)
Boots: Sugar

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Blue-Green

Here's a relatively simple approach to mixing colors: select two colors as the primary ones for your outfit, then use the shade that results from mixing the two primary colors together as your accent. Here I've chosen blue and green as my two primary colors, and blue-green, or teal, as my accent. The accent color compliments both of the primaries equally, while providing more interest to the outfit and keeping it from being too matchy. In this case, the teal color also made the look a little more seasonally-appropriate, since it brightened up the otherwise subdued color scheme of the outfit.

Lately I seem to have gotten over my previous aversion to letting the tops of my socks show. I guess I always considered the look to be too school-girlish, but I've found that wearing shorter socks instead of tights or thigh highs is a great way to keep your feet warm while still bearing some leg in the supposedly warmer months (I say supposedly because San Francisco isn't very warm at all in the spring or even summer, and yet we're still expected to dress as if it is). Surprisingly, these mid-calf socks had no trouble staying up all day with no extra tugging or adjustment needed. Since most of my sock collection is comprised of above-the-knees and thigh highs, I think an order to Sock Dreams may be in my near future.

Shirt: Target
Jacket: vintage
Skirt: thrifted
Socks: Sock Dreams
Shoes: John Fluevog

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Special Items for Everyday

There are certain items in my wardrobe that, no matter how bold my sartorial experiments may be, will just never make it into my daily wear. One such example is my mini top hat, which would have looked smashing with this outfit, but which simply doesn't belong in the office. Instead I used this little plaid cloche as a substitute, while all day long I imagined I really looked like this:

It's fine to have a few things in your wardrobe that you reserve only for non-work use. As a rule though, I think it's best not to keep too many of them, because for most of us, reserving clothes only for 'special' occasions means they don't get worn enough to make them worth owning. They take up closet space, they're often expensive, and they taunt you day after day with their loveliness while you go schlumping out in your boring black dress slacks and sensible shoes.

There are plenty of ways to dress down items in your wardrobe that you might currently consider to be off-limits for daily wear. Why not try pulling them out and giving them the airing they deserve? A mini top hat might be crossing the line for your average daytime office setting, but I've toned down ruffles, sequins, dominatrix boots, and even a Derby-worthy hat at work. Pair a sexy top with a boxy blazer and a pair of jeans; wear a slinky dress with a soft cardigan, chunky scarf, and boots; but don't let your best items languish in your closet because you don't think you have anything dressy enough to wear them to. Here are a few tools that you probably already have at your disposal to help you pull off those 'special' items in your daily wear:

Denim: Jeans and other denim items are the great casualizers of the world. Even the most ethereal top can be brought back down to earth with a well-worn pair of jeans. Denim jackets and vests can be thrown over dresses to give them a relaxed, daytime look.

Menswear: A button-down shirt, vest, or blazer is a great way to offset even the girliest of dresses or floaty tops. Try a simple, boxy cardigan over a flowy dress, or a button-down underneath a sheer top (examples here and here).

Flat shoes: A simple pair of flats or low-heeled boots makes any outfit look more demure; you might think that miniskirt is too sexy for work, but you'd be suprised how different it looks with a pair of flats. Conversely, you can pull off even a sexy pair of platforms if you've got the right pair of long, wide-legged dress pants to go with them.

Patterns: Try a preppy plaid or a sensible stripe to downplay frills, feathers, florals, and other flashy finishes. The contrast of a conservative pattern against a flamboyant one makes for an interesting look.

What special items do you have hiding, neglected and barely-worn, in your closet? Isn't it about time they saw the light of day?

Cloche: San Diego Hat Co.
Mini top hat: Audra Jean
T-shirt: Rock Steady
Waistcoat: Heathen
Jeans: Joe's
Boots: vintage

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Jeans and a Tee

With this outfit I did a fun variation on a basic graphic t-shirt and jeans outfit. There's simply no denying the comfort of a good pair of jeans and a soft tee, but there are several things to be considered if you want to make that combination look stylish. Today I'll talk about a few considerations for pulling off this most casual of pairings, particularly in a work setting.



First things first; let's talk about the shirt:
1. The fit. Choose a t-shirt that actually fits your body. So many shirts are boxy and shapeless, and there's simply no amount of belting or accessorizing that will make an ill-fitting t-shirt look anything other than sloppy. Next, consider the cut of the jeans you'll be wearing the shirt with. If they're low rise, make sure you've got a t-shirt that's long enough to cover your middle section. The midriff is an area that should rarely be exposed at all, let alone at work. I like a shirt that gives me plenty of coverage without constantly having to tug at it.

2. The design. I'm not a big fan of writing on shirts, particularly at work. Because here's the thing: words written on t-shirts are typically emblazoned right across your boobs. And when people see writing on a shirt, of course they want to read it; it's just a natural human response. I'm sure I don't need to point out that in a work setting it's far better not to give anyone a reason to stare at your chest, whether the motivation is innocuous or not. Thus, the shirt should be harmonious with the rest of the outfit as a whole, and not be the only thing that draws attention. The easiest type of t-shirt to wear is one with a simple or abstract design and a soft enough color palette that the shirt doesn't distract from the rest of the outfit. Of course, there's also the possibility of wearing a shirt with a big statement-y image on it, but you'll definitely need to make sure you have some accessories and/or shoes that can really stand up to the design.


Now let's talk about the jeans:
1. The wash. The wash is really the main thing that sets a work-appropriate jean apart from a strictly weekend one (assuming it's ok to wear jeans at your workplace at all, of course). Even an ultra low rise pair of jeans can be fine for the workplace if you have the right amount of coverage from your shirt, but really nothing is going to make a lighter wash look anywhere near professional. Now my workplace is very casual and pretty much anything goes, so I can get away with wearing even my weekend pairs. But if you need a more professional look, choose a wash that's nearly black. Consider the difference in the outfits shown below, just in terms of the color of the denim:


Additionally, don't neglect the fact that the classic denim blue is very much a color and not a neutral. Any outfit with jeans should be designed with the color of the jeans in mind or else it'll look mismatched.


2. The cut and fit. Looking again at the 3 different outfits above, it's pretty easy to see that the wide-legged jeans have the dressiest and most formal feel. But I think that the real key to pulling off a stylish look with jeans is also about the fit. A good quality pair of jeans that flatters your figure is well worth the investment, in terms of not only money but also the time spent in searching for them. I'd much rather have 3 pairs of good quality, fantastically-flattering jeans than 10 pairs that are only so-so. I prefer jeans with a waistline below the belly button and just above my hip bone; for the most flattering fit, the waist of the jeans should sit right across that little tummy roll that most of us have.

Finally, let's discuss the rest of the outfit.
1. The accessories. In order to give a basic jeans-and-tee outfit some flair, it's really essential to add some interesting accessories. Today I topped my t-shirt with a fitted waistcoat and a double-wrap studded belt, and added my funky Betsey Johnson skull bracelet. With such a basic starting point as jeans and a tee, you almost can't overdo it with the accessories. Instead of the skinny studded belt and waistcoat I could have worn a big wide belt slung low on the hips, or a flashy scarf, or a hat, or several layers of long necklaces, or just about any combination of those.

2. The shoes. Ah, the pièce de résistance -- the shoes. As lovely Sal pointed out just the other day, a great pair of shoes can be the difference between a ho-hum outfit and a great one. They can be the defining factor that determines where the outfit is going to go. For this outfit, I was definitely seeking a little bit of punk rock attitude, so these plaid lace-up boots (which incidentally were a mere $26 on Amazon) fit the bill perfectly. The funky colors and pattern of the shoes took the emphasis off of the t-shirt, added some color, and made the whole outfit more interesting. The single biggest mistake I see people make with the jeans-tee combo is to throw on a boring pair of sneakers. Save the sneaks for when you're out jogging, and class up those jeans with some interesting kicks.

Waistcoat: Guess
3/4 sleeve tee: H&M
Graphic tee: Gama Go
Jeans: Joe's
Boots: Sugar

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Jeans and a Tee

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Let's Pretend

Today let's pretend that I have on black dress pants instead of dark-wash jeans. Because when I chose this outfit I fully intended to design it around black pants as the long-overdue follow-up to my Fashion Rut series. Does everyone remember our friend Martha, and how I banned her from wearing black pants for a month, and promised to do the same myself? Well the truth is I had no problem at all avoiding black pants for a month; in fact it's been well over TWO months since I even thought about wearing them. And frankly I would've gone on not wearing them had it not been for the fact that I promised to do so. But when I pulled out my one and only pair of black pants I found that they are actually too short to wear with heels, and my backup pair, which are charcoal gray, had a hem coming loose. I had no choice but to substitute these black-ish jeans and call it a day.

So assuming these are black dress pants, here's what I did to make the outfit interesting. First, I kept the bulk of the outfit to neutral colors -- white, black, and gray -- and added just some small pops of color with the necklace, shoes, and coat. What you don't want to have is a block of bright color floating in space against a background of black. Next, I added a pattern and texture mix with the top layers -- a striped button-down shirt topped with a sheer black top with a subtle floral pattern. The sheer top adds depth and softens the look of the solid black pants, while the pattern mix adds visual interest. Finally, I jazzed it up with the pops of yellow, since after all it is spring.

I'd love to tell you that I'll be back with more ideas for wearing black pants later in the week, but frankly I don't want to lie to you. And anyway, I hate black pants and am planning on getting rid of that one and only pair, since clearly I never wear them. I can only hope that Martha, as well as any other readers who followed my Fashion Rut series, have outgrown their dependency on the black pants by this point.

Shirt: Promod
Sheer top: Noa Noa
Belt: Red Dress Shoppe
Pants: Level 99
Shoes: Gabriella Rocha
Coat: vintage
Necklace: Dana LeBlanc Designs

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Let's Pretend

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