Shu In

I always relish moments getting ready in fancy friends' apartments, their dazzling top of the line face creams, soaps, perfumes, make-up, etc decorating their smooth marble vanities. The packaging and perfect glass bottles are simply intoxicating. However I could never rationalize why I would ever spend X amount of dollars on a small jar of concealer when I could put that money towards the darling Chanel pumps currently taunting me from Barney’s 4th floor. (And now they're on sale!) My Cover Girl has suited me just fine thus far.

Well, my friends, I have had a foundation revelation thanks to a post work trip past the Shu Uemera counter with my lovely (and infinitely wiser) boss. While she was replenishing her face wash, I was dabbling in sparkly silver crème eyeliners. Oh how I love all that glitters and shimmers. After glimpsing my reflection- rather up close and personal- in the bright light and unforgiving mirror of the make up counter (you know the one, they all have them), the bottles of foundation to the very near right peaked my curiosity. I enlisted the knowledgeable sales associate to recommend the right shade for me. The one I was currently wearing being far too light for my freshly sun kissed face and so blatantly sitting on top of my skin. A few moments of debate and several opinions later I had the perfect foundation. Needless to say my reflection in the mirror was infinitely more welcoming if not flawless. “I’ll take it and the sparkly silver crème eye liner too!”

Now on day three of my new Shu I am officially convinced. I have traversed the cheap make-up line, my Cover Girl has forcibly bitten the dust, and I’m officially an advocate of investing in what you put on your face.

I heart Phillip's limbs

Leather Up

Lest we not forget the rapid pace of fashion and the challenge that is presented to churn out an innovative collection with a clear statement and step forward, I will remind you that in one year designers produce Spring, Summer, Pre Fall, Fall, Holiday, and Resort. That’s enough pressure to propel one into a downward spiral, yet miraculously they pull it off and more often than not come out on top.

Therefore in light of this recent tailspin economy I marvel at the thought of designers having tapped into a dark foreboding when they sourced fabrications for their Fall 08 collections months ago. The Daily Beast has already noted breadline chic surfacing on the streets, and with the looming threat of the next Great Depression splashed across The Times homepage daily it is clear that people are currently panicked into survival mode. Everyone is holding their breath and on to their pennies until the elections are over and hopefully our country is rejuvenated with hope and marching onward to change. It is precisely this survival mode that I am reminded of while shopping around the city and noting the prominence of leather on the racks and in the collective conscience right now.


The leather industry being one of the oldest known to mankind, is the natural, primal resource our ancestors used for warmth and protection. With a high resistance to flexibility and alternately tearing, it takes 25-40 years to decompose. Essentially it’s genius mother nature providing for us when we cannot provide for ourselves. Of course the leather I’m speaking of is off Helmut Lang’s runway rather than the rugged chaps worn by cowboys of the lonsome west, but nonetheless the reference is all the same, and ours is rich and smooth and feels like butter. From Rag and Bone’s riding pants to Phillip Lim’s blazer, Marc by Marc Jacobs mini dress to Staerk’s entire collection, the leather in the market right now is incredible. It’s time to leather up.

Rag and Bone's leather riding pant.

3.1 Phillip Lim cropped leather jacket.


Marc by Marc Jacobs leather mini dress.


Staerk leather skirt.

*This post also appeared on The Huffington Post.

Pink Clouds

Pedaling around the city all summer these pink clouds tagged on doorways, rooftops, and abandoned buildings throughout Brooklyn continued to surface and call my name. They were chanting photo shoot, photo shoot, photo shoot! Can't you see an eccentric girl in a wild pink vintage tulle dress, with a pair of Dior's sweet fertility goddess pumps, sporting flouncing hair in enormous ringlets, 60's eyeliner thick and black, M.A.C.'s snob lip color, and Essie's Movers and Shakers lacquer, determinedly pushing a pink shopping cart piled with recyclable bottles? I can! My glamorous and somewhat neurotic bag lady...

I just love them...

Hard Times

M: I need these Loeffler Randall boots. Okay, not need. Really, really want.
C: What happened to no more shopping?
M: Shit, forgot. That’s right, no more shopping. Bad economy. No more spending money on clothes. Right. Got it.
M: Found them on sale!
C: How much?
M: Still too much.
M: Okay, fine. Forgetting about the boots.
C: What about the ones you have on?
M: Not the same thing.
C: Those are amazing.
M: Mine are to the knee, not over the knee. Completely different.
C: Right. But hard times. Remember.
M: I’m settling for last season’s to the knee, damn it.
M: Being rational sucks.
C: Do we think I need these Dieppa Restrepo's?
M: Need?
C: Okay, not need. But should I get these?
M: How much?
C: Not too much.
M: Okay, what about this Mayle tote?
C: Mauri. This merry go round. You're killing me.

I want. I need. Not shopping. No money. What about this? Not shopping No money. Remember. But this? Maybe that. No, not that. Don’t need. Don’t want. But this? Not that. Too much. But that? Maybe that. You think? I think. No, never mind. Not that. Changed my mind. But this? Yes this. No, not that. Right. Too much. No money….

My inner-er, outer monologue.

Orange Obsession

So fall is here and I should by all fashionable reason be parking my Mini Shorts on the shelf, but alas I cannot bear surrendering them to a long cold winter…in my medicine cabinet. By Mini Shorts I hope you didn’t think I was referring to cut off denim. No, no my friends I am referring to that electric shade of orange in Essie’s Neon Collection. It has been my obsession for the last three months, and I must say it’s going to be with me the next three. According to season I should be coating my jagged, ill manicured nails with deep burgundies, reds, purples even, but nope. Orange it is. What the hell, the economy is sinking and we’re all swimming in credit card debt, might as well have a little something to brighten up our lives.

P.S. If you’re into lips as well as lacquers, check out M.A.C.’s Morange lipstick. It’s 1990’s heaven.

Buffalo Check: A Key Print For Fall

Buffalo Check is clearly the key print this season, from Steven Alan’s ubiquitous button downs, to Opening Ceremony’s short sleeved coat, Shipley & Halmos’s tie neck top to Vans classic lace up. Woolrich, Ralph Lauren, and Y.M.C. all have variations on the big squares, and Trovata just showed them for Spring 09. I could keep going, but I’ll spare you. You get the point; it’s everywhere. But where oh where did it come from?

Big fashion houses make their statements on the runways each season, those trends often surface with smaller designers the next, and shortly thereafter it’s splashed across the windows of Forever 21, H&M, and the like. Last but not least Wal-Mart and Kmart (I would insert Target but when it comes to trickled down trends anyone who’s traversed the red bulls eye’s threshold knows that they are way ahead of the game) inevitably wind up with the watered down version of what once was the iconic print or body 'originally' designed by Chanel, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, and so on. And where did that all begin? The best street style from the biggest cities in the world, blockbuster films (Batman has been a huge influence), politics and current/cultural events (war and the economy), and of course always the decades past, amongst countless other factors.

But alas I digress, the big buff and it's origin? Well the large check has been recycled for years. Envision those old flannels by no names found at the local Good Will. Alternately and more recently, however, it was a strong thematic element of YSL’s Spring 07 runway. 'Spose everyone’s always borrowing from someone.

YSL Spring 07

Ralph Lauren Fall 08Trovata Spring 09

*This post also appeared on The Huffington Post.

Women Welcome Back The Pant For Fall 08

Ladies, get your wardrobes ready the moment is quickly approaching wherein those light cotton dresses will be hung in the farthest rack space of your closet, and all of your Fall gems will be brought to the front. What will be the key piece you add to your collection this year, you wonder, as you flip through silk dresses and wool mini skirts?

Pants! Considering all of the boyfriend garb saturating women's wear this fall it is THE season to invest in a great pant, one that's going to suit- no pun intended- your three piece suits. I suggest going for a fashion forward pair- drop crotch, over sized pleats, and odd proportions welcome. The juxtaposition of a great slouchy pant with a bit of volume creates the perfect hi-lo combination with a shrunken blazer or sharply tailored shirt. Between 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, United Bamboo, and Acne a stellar selection is at your fingertips.

This is a great light wool pant by Acne with a slight drop crotch and tapered leg. This is the perfect staple black pant for Fall. I wore their cotton spring version all summer!


This is the notorious carrot pant by 3.1 Phillip Lim; his best pant by far this season and a staff favorite. It features a tapered leg, high waist, and large pleats to flatter the waistline. This silhouette was offered last spring, is already selling out this fall, and will be brought back for Spring 09. Note it is offered in a variety of colors.

United Bamboo has brought us a great voluminous tweed this season. This pant will set off a simple silk blouse, shrunken sweater, and a pair of sturdy pumps.

Here is a nice pant by Alexander Wang with tons of volume, a wide leg through and through. It has a metallic sheen, and will be so much fun to dress up for cocktail parties, and fancier affairs. You can also go the other direction, pairing it with a simple American Apparel tee and flat lace-ups.

This pant by 3.1 Phillip Lim is so old Hollywood chic. Take inspiration from the late Yves Saint Laurent and reinvent Le Smoking. I dare you!

*This post also appeared on The Huffington Post.

A Day in Dumbo

Last Friday despite the downpour I decided to take advantage of my lone day off and finally make a trip to Gargyle, the physical showroom and location of the beloved wares ogled daily on their online shop. With the intention of scooping up a Karen Walker beret and scoping out the sale items, I hopped on the C train and made my way down to Dumbo.

In classic Mauri fashion I neglected to write the building number down, but thanks to my photographic memory and their contact page remembered it was on Front Street between Jay and Pearl. Surfacing from the subway I located Front, headed North towards my prescribed destination, and of course managed to duck into a few new boutiques along the way.

Loopy Mango was the first. While the name is slightly bizarre (crazy fruit?) and totally lost on me, the boutique is quite cute and definitely stocks a few gems if you’ve got an affection for sparkles and silks. The racks are strewn with bigger and bolder names such as Badgley Mischka and Alexander Wang, and then alternately smaller American and European designers Mischen, Morphine Generation, and Ulla Johnson. I scored this crazy cat dress by Manoush (the one pictured) at 70% off. It’s definitely one of those pieces that can either be really awesome or really awful; needless to say I’m determined to make it the former. Something about it says to me 'cupcakes and champagne!'.

Moving on and out of Loopy Mango, I made it a few more blocks before sidetracking (it was pouring after all) my way into Blueberi. Evidently there’s a fruit theme I was previously unaware of... Anywho, they’ve got a terrific selection of accessories from little leather driving gloves, to 40’s inspired feathered headbands, and loads of handmade jewelry by local designers. I eyed Vena Cava’s latest collection (including the navy silk dress comprised of tiny heart cut outs, sigh) and a trench coat by the sister design duo Stretsis before settling up with 3 pair of tights.

Back onto the street my unwieldy umbrella and I gave the hunt for Garglye one more go. I wandered around the five block radius one more time, ducked into the used bookstore (much to the owner’s dismay) to dial 411 for their info, and with the number and location unlisted (and my shopping bags scattered about my feet) decided perhaps Gargyle could stand to wait another day.

Weakley Reading

Holiday in Tennessee always calls for several trips to the underwhelming Governor’s Square Mall where I’m bound to bump into no less than 15 people I 'know'. While racking my brain for names and associations I’m generally able to navigate some chatty, ambiguous conversation until I’ve made it a few safe paces away and can finally ask my little sister, ‘Now, who was that?’.

Old acquaintances I bargained for this past Xmas, but copies of Metro.pop and British Vogue (amongst the expected US Weekly, In Touch, and bold face American fashion mags) residing on the Borders magazine rack I did not. Evidently Clarksville, TN is moving up in the world or branching out rather, and provided me with some decent reading material for the flight back to the Big Apple. Here’s what I learned:

Evidently androgynous trends in fashion are heading south, anatomically speaking. Several of the designers featured in Metro.pop's latest issue (#32) originally began designing shoes for a specific sex and have eventually grown to encompass both. They've done so without compromising their original concepts and aesthetics, but by expanding their range in sizes: Generic Man, Double Identity, and Keep to name a few.

In other news Reebok is releasing the Voltron Pack: five variations of patent leather, shiny metallic, vibrantly hued sneakers that each come with a different toy. This throwback is definitely for the true blue sneakerheads. Perhaps the kind that wear terrycloth zebra print Spring Courts…has anyone ever seen these? I’m told (by someone who owns a pair) that they do in fact exist.

December’s British Vogue was the Glamour Issue with Sienna Miller on the cover. She looks great, but who can compete with those seductive shots of Kate Moss styled one part Faye Dunaway the other part Barbara Stanwyck circa Baby Face. Love it. Then there’s Naomi…the woman practically jumps off the page. She may be nutso, but damn does she have two-dimensional charisma. And finally there’s Sasha who makes a beautiful wide-eyed nymph, but frankly cannot compete with the real glamour girls who precede her.

That's my dose of frivolous December reading in a nutshell. Bring on January!

Psych 101

What's up with the anti enthusiastic shop girl mentality these days? It seems the more snobbish and apathetic the employees are the more the customer feels subconsciously pressured to make a purchase. Evidently this purchase proves that he or she is worthy to step foot in their store. Talk about a bizarre twist on customer service... Give 'em a dose of condescension and they just might hand over $700 for that cashmere cardigan. It's rather masochistic (and awful), don't you think?

Feed Me Some News

I've spent barely 3 hours in the last 3 months reading blogs, media coverage, and fashiony stuff I used to read religiously every day, numerous times a day. A year and a half ago I was starving for information and an outlet to discuss my fashion obsessions. I gorged myself on The Sartorialist, On the Runway, Coutorture, Mrs. Fashion, Refinery 29, F.A.D., Jezebel, and Fashionista amongst a slew of others, and as you clearly know started my own. In October I began to feel nauseous and subconsciously curbed my diet of fashion centric periodicals, inevitably my posts followed suit. That quickly spiraled into an all out fast. The cycle has finally come full circle though, and on this first day of January I just might be hungry for more.

Shopping vs. Saving

Ridiculously cheap rent is a double-edged sword in this city. The sacrifices one has to make in order to secure cheap rent (i.e. longer commute, smaller room, shady neighborhood) are all rewarded with the grand notion of building a savings account, having extra spending cash, and establishing a better standard of living. These were my grand notions, at least, when I moved into a tiny maid’s quarters adjoined to my girlfriends’ railroad apartment in a 3 story brownstone in Prospect Heights Brooklyn for- brace yourself- $350 a month. Yes, it’s unheard of. I’m a spoiled brat, a lucky dog, and have no intention of leaving anytime soon.

However after six months I have saved all of $74.10 (that was made from consigning a pair of $300 Grey Ant jeans) and at the end of every pay period find myself yet again flat broke. Let me add that I don't make a bad living comparitively. How does this happen?!

I sit and ponder what appears to be the indubitable reality of living month to month as I scan over the luxurious contents of my closet and it’s latest additions. There may be no money in the bank, but there’s a white rabbit fur coat, a vintage Fendi clutch, a dozen new Doucette Duvall silk dresses, four pair of Acne jeans, cashmere Marc Jacobs gloves (2 pair), Wolford tights, Opening Ceremony boots, silver Les Prairies loafers, a vintage Bulova, Lulu Frost jewelry, an Alexander Wang skirt, etc. etc. etc. all providing the spectacular décor for my petite bedroom. Evidently I'm not living month to month but rather shopping month to month.

Perhaps I have enough. I'm going to stop squandering and start saving...after Christmas...maybe the New Year?

All about the Acne's

According to November’s Vogue Kate Moss and Katie Holmes both turn to J Brand for their wide leg jean, but for this fall ‘essential’ I personally am all about the Acne’s. They have a great pair in deep indigo, with a fairly high rise (though not as high as their tubes), just the right amount of stretch, and a perfect width for ladies more vertically challenged. Coming from a girl who just consigned two pair of her own Grey Ant high waist/ wide leg jeans after a few wears, I’ve done a bit of research, and these Acne’s are just right.

Perhaps you could score a pair at their Sample Sale starting today! No luck there? Swing by Steven Alan’s Tribeca location or check out the Acne Jeans website. Their entire women’s collection has my heart.

*Note: The image does not do them justice; they're so much better in person.

Down wins

I’d prefer mink over down any day, but I have to admit I’m pretty darn excited about the down vest I scored at the Steven Alan sample sale yesterday. The navy and red plaid flannel lining (SO warm) adds a playful twist to an otherwise boring winter necessity. As much as I would rather splurge on party dresses and another stunning yet impractically thin winter coat- alas I have too many of those already- I’m proud to have finally made a legitimately wise purchase.

So, while I cuddle up in my cozy vest, you should go check out the sale, last day is tomorrow! Dig overstock/past seasons Steven Alan men’s and women’s shirting, a nice selection of dresses and mini’s from Sunshine and Shadow, beautiful Gryson bags, Cass Guy coats, A.P.C. shorts, a few star pieces from Mayle’s Spring 07 collection, and loads more.

Word on the street: Acne Jeans is having one next week!

A B C D E F G...

Courtesy of both author and blogger Lesley Blume- she’s one of my absolute favorites- I have come upon Marlene Dietrich’s book ABC. It is “a thoughtful journey through the alphabet” from one of the world’s most glamorous women, in which she comments on everything from men and mink to homeopathy and hardware stores. Here is the excerpt I read before bed last night:

GENTLEMAN
A man who buys two of the same morning paper from the doorman of his favorite nightclub when he leaves with his girl.

GLOVES
Gloves belong to suits, afternoon and evening dresses. Outside stitching on gloves is strictly reserved for sport suits and dresses.
Don’t waste money on black gloves. They clean very badly and make you sad.
One good rule to obey: Do not put your gloves back on when leaving a party or a restaurant. Once they are off, they stay off.

GOSSIP
Nobody will tell you gossip if you don’t listen.

The Great Wall of Fendi

Is this video not awesome?! What a fun fashion show to be at or in for that matter. Though I think of all the runways this would be the most terrifying one. Could you imagine falling at a show of this magnitude? Becoming fashion roadkill on The Great Wall? Thankfully none of them did.

Sorry Charlie!

My apologies for sparse posts in the past few weeks. My computer charger has conked out, and a trip to the Apple Store proves more difficult to squeeze in to my busy days than I had originally thought. Things are looking up though; today I have off and plan to make that the first errand on the agenda. There will be a real post coming soon. I promise!

What are we buying for?

Lately I find shopping habits running away from me with my debit card in tow. I walk into work in one outfit, and walk out in another. My long work hours used to prevent my compulsive shopping habit- with stores closing at 7 or 8- but now that I work in a store daily that ‘inconvenience’ no longer serves as a barrier. But who am I kidding? This bad habit reaches far wider than impulse purchases made only at the ‘office’ and this past weekend forced me to contemplate the psychology of shopping a bit more…

Last Saturday I walked into Ina in a pair of Prada flats (a previous compulsive purchase) and was damn close to walking out in snakeskin Valentino heels- carnation sized flowers at the toe- that looked perfect with my outfit for the day. Just perfect. I stood in front of the mirror admiring them for 15 minutes before realizing just how close I was to handing over the last few hundred dollars in my bank account for a pair of shoes. The gesture sounds almost romantic- in a fashiony kind of way- and would have been, but after calculating the amount of money spent on clothes already this month I knew I was not in Kansas anymore. I frantically collected my compulsive urges, shoved them to the bottom of my being, and marched out the door headed west.

There is something about this time of year (maybe the moon?), where I continually find myself nearing the edge. Thankfully I came to my senses just before going over it.

Safe and sound ten blocks away (do you find there's a shopping radius that has to be broken to truly free yourself from the temptation?) I took refuge on the bench outside of Raoul’s, secured a glass of my favorite red, and contemplated just what exactly are we buying for?

It has nothing to do with self-esteem, lord knows I probably have too much, and I’m not buying for the approval of others. In fact I chose not to buy for the approval of others in this particular instance. I knew if I showed up to drinks with Glynnis in a new pair of heels she would be so dismayed, and then there I would be with my shameful shoes, the absurdity of my behavior becoming increasingly and embarrassingly apparent over the course of the night.

No, this compulsive shopping is more individual and internal than all of that. It’s the rush of the purchase and how that purchase is going to transform some part of you. If we are, like I believe, all dressing up for this theater of life and our outfits are visual expressions of the character we’re ‘playing’, what happens when by the end of the day you are identifying with a different side of your character? You instinctively want to be dressed as ‘her’! This explains why you leave the house in a mini skirt and boots and by the end of the day you want a toned down t-shirt and flats, why you choose pants some days and dresses others. There is a method to the madness after all. Think about it, and why you’re thinking about it the next time you get dressed.

Third Time's A Charm?

Polaroids anyone?

The time has come to pull myself down from those lofty Fashion Week rafters and get back to business, which for me means shooting. However there's not going to be a lot of shooting going on with one lonely package of Polaroid 600 film left in the crisper. Hence me calling for backup: If anyone out there has film sitting around that they'd like to send my way (expired film is great too!) please shoot me an email at fashionweakley@gmail.com and we can talk logistics. Feel free to pass the word out to anyone you know who may be willing to contribute/sell. Lately we've been working on lookbooks for young indie designers, so your film is going to a great cause!