Slouchy But Fun, You Know?

RIB & HULL zippered tote (c/o), THEORY trousers (size 4), ZARA mules (38), ZARA cardigan (one size), LISA PERRY dress (size 4, worn as a top)

If you scroll real fast you'll be able to notice the slight differences in skin tone. Blame my radioactive skin on a freshly acquired tan from my last summer vacation outings and the fact that when these photos were taken it was a sunny day with occasional clouds changing the light every second. TMI? Sorry. 

I meant to say, like, this is a comfortable work outfit that I'd totally wear in front of a client. It's got the slouchy layers so I'm focused on the work and not how my outfit is fitting, and it has a key component that is crucial to regulation of my body temperature in cold air conditioned corporate climates, a slouchy cardigan.

No Shirt? No problem.

J. CREW blazer (size 4),  THEORY silk pants (size M)  ZARA heels (old), KAREN WALKER sunglasses, REPOSSI silver ring

Listen, I don't know why I spent years without buttoning my blazers. I have lived countless weeks of work with the blazer as an always-open structured layer above other layers... like a freaking cardigan. My blazers don't deserve that tunnel vision, and neither do yours! It's like I just doubled my wardrobe recognizing the buttons as functional. Amazing. #TheMoreYouKnow. 

Simple

 Ph. Biby Pacheco

There's nothing easier than following the time-tested rule of matching your accessories to your shoes. Lately, in my case, my hair has been an accessory, and has allowed me to consider things like....color. Taking a page from the Taylor Tomasi-Hill playbook, I choose to make my hair a big part of my outfits and stop relying so much on black-on-black all the time (Although, that can look damn fine, too. I mean, look at this.)

MADEWELL top (sz Large), J BRAND jeans (sz 26),  JEFFREY CAMBELL shoes (runs small, sz 38), KAREN WALKER sunglasses, MARC JACOBS wallet clutch

What to Wear to a Client Meeting

Ph. by Nick Smith 

There are some days where it's very possible that I may spend my entire day running around like a chicken for a client presentation. Those are times where a) I have to look über-presentable, b) feel very confident and comfortable, c) not fuck it up. And chances are if the stakes for a client presentation are that high, the chances are equally great that the entire team will have stayed up the night before (college style!) making last minute edits and having run throughs. So basically you'll be dead tired. 

This is an outfit for those times, my business-oriented and fashion-loving friends. All black, a little fashion forward, and above all, very comfortable. While I normally would never wear a crop top to work, this one has enough volume to be an interesting counterpoint to the otherwise standard slacks and shirt business combination. The slacks in question here are actually trousers. Theory trousers to be exact that were purchased about 6 years ago in one of my rare full-price plunges ($365 at the time, ah!). I had my doubts because they were so...masculine (they have pleats, and they taper, both very tricky things when your hips are big), but they are actually draped so perfectly that they manage to slim down my hips. That is fashion magic, which justified the price back then, if I had a time machine I'd fly back to 6 years ago when I was contemplating these pants/trousers/magical-leg-sleeves and would have said to my silly self, "You're ass looks great in these. And Theory stops making theses pants in the future. Get two."

Can we talk about the trench coat now? I've never once thought that I'd be advocating a silk trench coat as an adult person. But here I am swearing to you it's the greatest jacket for spring despite the comparisons you'll get to Dick Tracy or Trinity from the Matrix. Those are compliments, so take them as such! As evidenced by my Insta-vid, it has classic construction, but in a fabric that is so flowing it translates as effortless on your body.

Finally, the Tibi shoes: the show-stoppers. They look like a sky high mule, but in fact are walkable like a wedge because of that black band around the heel. (Note: If you manage to find a pair, I implore you to size up!) 

ZARA trench (Medium)  |  ZARA crop top (large) |  TARGET tank top (size M) |  THEORY trousers (similar here) | TIBI mules (similar here) (size 38)  | FASHIONOLOGY ear cuff

Shower Shoes on the Weekends Are Okay In My Mind

ph. Nick Smith

EVERLANE shirt  /  KAREN WALKER sunglasses  /  THEORY pants  /  ZARA sandals (and these) (and these)

I don't entirely advocate the use of "fashionable" shower shoes for actual work settings, but I do highly recommend them for the weekend. Can you imagine me waltzing into a meeting with these mannish feet? It makes me legit "LOL" at the thought. I'm pretty sure I'd get a call from my boss in two seconds with questions like a) How did you hurt your feet? b) Are you prepping/recovering for bunion surgery? c) How much longer do you have to wear these orthopedic shoes? d) Can you WFH?

Shower shoes are definitely like overalls: wear them in a private circle of trust, lest you want your reputation to be a trend chaser in the office, or in the case of the overalls a toddler. I bought these Zara Birkenstock-esque shoes because a) I was going on vacation, b) I cannot resist a trend that advocates such blatant comfort over aesthetics (I am human, after all), c) I was on vacation. I guess I liked experimenting with them in a non-vacation setting, too, but I definitely think people need to wear them responsibly. 

Wear This Now: Back To Reality

MADEWELL bag (on sale) // VINCE leather leggings (on sale!) // THEORY sweater (on sale!!) // ZARA flats

After a doozy of a flight path back to San Francisco, I am home to 49 degrees and misty weather. I have one more post about the ocean, but until then, enjoy my incredible sale musings. Seriously, these are all on sale and my debit card (my resolution this year was to eliminate purchases on credit and to eliminate all debt -- so far so good!) cannot take another hit this month. So if you can swing it, enjoy!

A Work Uniform Can Be Rad(arte)

If you think about it, a finely tailored blazer, a t-shirt, and a pair of slacks is really all you  need to get ready in a busy morning. It's the perfect base because everything you do next is pretty much correct. For example,  how about a leopard belt? Sure! Even, leopard shoes? Do it! As long as the accessories live together in some thematic way there's a lot of room for error here. So go nuts. Best of all, you will look like you're a woman who kicks ass in a business setting and a happy hour one. Win-win situation. 

Shop your own work uniform:

Radarte

Next week it gets pretty heavy into menswear. I'm talking tailored slouchy pants, tuxedo jackets, houndstooth, oversized plaids, and so on. I'm also considering a major overhaul in my wardrobe in which I sell all of my high heels, given that I spend so often now day dreaming about sneakers, flats, and kitten heels. Are you with me?

RODARTE tee / THEORY pants / J.CREW jacket /  J.CREW belt and shoes / THIERRY LASRY sunglasses

The Last Days of Summer

ZARA  shirt  /  THIERRY LASRY  sunglasses (and here)/  MAY28th  watch  /  THEORY  pants / ZARA  pumps  

In true San Francisco style, the sun has decided to shine and warm our cold, foggy bodies in the last days of August. I'm taking advantage of it and using the science of wearing black to absorb as much of it as I can.  Yes, I know I just wore this shirt in my last post about getting dressed quickly, but it just feels so versatile.

Andorie F Déjà Vu

Photo by Nick Smith

Andorie F Epirus

Photos by Nick Smith

Crazy to think a blazer could have such a regal sounding name like "Andorie F Epirus." I don't know what that means, or who that could be if it were a person, but it certainly sounds like Latin and therefore academic. On top of the fact that it has an icy blue-ish fur trim (removable, FYI), a name like that makes you take the jacket more seriously and dress up a bit more than you normally would, if only for the honorable occasion of wearing it...kidding. It's a great jacket that makes even a tank top and leggings look put together. That's probably what "Adorie F Epirus" means.

Shop the look:

Tiger Beat

Hard and soft, young and bold. The combination of Theory leather skinny pants and all its bold implications are perfectly countered by the youthful charm of a Mulberry sweater. Covered up á la French with an Étoile Isabel Marant Diego wool coat, and topped off with some luxuriously leopard J. Crew half calf ballet flats. The YSL structured bag is completely revamped in a punchy green, which is surprisingly versatile, but (admittedly) not as fun as the blue one. Which is on wait list. Sad.

I'm personally going after that Diego wool coat because I felt so bummed after missing out on the perfectly wool draped, oversized French appeal of Isabel Marant's outerwear last Fall. Not this time! And let it be known that J. Crew ballet flats are the best. Period. I have a pair of patent leather Mary Janes that are about 5 years old and still an everyday staple.

Max

A couple changes on this happy Friday morning! I've been busy behind the scenes on a little bit of a redesign, and what you see now is Part One of the overall overhaul. Full disclosure: it's made me more stressed than I ever thought it would. 12:04 has become a part of me, and thanks to people who visit and read, It's been a more important part of my life.

I often get asked, "What is the story behind the little dog and the bow tie?"

Well, that little dog was my actual dog, Max. He was a gentleman, I loved him, and passed away a couple years ago. As an icon, and in real life, Max has always been a white dog, but recently began exploring the possibilities of an inverted color scheme. So I ask you, my readers, whom I also love, if you have any opinions on which way is best I'd love to hear them in the comments. Does it matter?

Invest In Your Sanity: Pieces You Need For Trying Days When You Have "Nothing To Wear"

Simple, clean, effortless. Seems easy enough, right? That is an endless uphill pursuit some days, when all I need to get out of the house is an outfit that just works. Those trying days where nothing fits or  looks right  are solved by an outfit made of transitional easy pieces like these: Classic, leg-elongating The Row pants, topped off with a fitted superfine Theory t-shirt with a contrasting athletic stripe down the sides. Minimalist and modern The Row cat eye sunglasses literally got with everything, thanks the the transparent acetate and soft brown lens. I am a little blown away by the price, but when you find something that just works (damn it), I find it hard to resist calling it an "investment in my sanity."  The heels? They are sex on your feet, courtesy of the leopard print by Givenchy. Finally, the studded and tasseled bag by Mulberry is refined, lady-like, but with a hard edge. Put yourself out of your misery and invest in some of these ASAP.

After School

Theory cropped tux blazer (or do this Isabel Marant one), Kate Spade bow bag (plus this psychedelic bag), Zara shorts, Club Monaco button up shirt (plus this Carven shirt), Zara sandals, Eddie Borgo stud earrings