In Spades

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Would I Still Wear That?

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Would I Still Wear That post, so today – in honor of NYFW starting next week – we’ll be taking a trip down NYFW memory lane.

I picked 3 looks from early on in my NYFW adventure.  These aren’t necessarily my favorites, but they all have fun backstories.

First up…

The Balenciaga Cocktail Dress

Balenciaga black dress

This dress epitomizes my #1 Rule – develop relationships with sales associates.

This dress was originally pegged for a top customer.  She had a ton of things on hold and this was one of the things she decided against.  So it sat in a stockroom and was kind of forgotten about.  By the time someone realized it, it was past season and needed to go.

Hence, the tipoff from my favorite sales associate that scored me a Balenciaga cocktail dress on massive sale.  I love that it’s a little bit Breakfast at Tiffany’s, a little bit badass.

The Indie Designer

Tiko Paksa

This look brings up another good lesson – styling prowess evolves.

I would style this blazer differently today.  This was still early on in my NYFW adventure and while I put thought into my looks back then, my strategy certainly evolved.  I used to think if I had a top, bottom, shoes and a bag I was good to go.  I still think that, but with a bit more panache now.

I ended up styling it differently two years later at NYFW.  Which look do you prefer?

Tiko Paksa blazer & Marni tassel belt

This was the first time I wore Georgian designer Tiko Paksa.  She would go on to become one of my fave indie designers.  I wore her pieces at two other fashion weeks.

NYFW SS19 OOTD 4 Tiko PaksaTiko Paksa at NYFW S/S19

Tiko Paksa Resort 20Tiko Paksa at NYFW S/S20

The Arm Warmers

NYFW FW18 OOTD Day 2

This is probably my favorite of the three backstories.

I was 7 months pregnant for this fashion week, so my top priorities were staying warm and being comfortable.  This was during Raf Simons’ tenure at Calvin Klein and when I saw him send arm warmers down the runway, I about died.  The 1980s are my favorite decade so these HAD to come home with me.

When I came out of the dressing room, I showed the sales associate the floor-length green coat I planned to wear with them.  I was concerned it was a bad color combo and asked him if he thought I would look like a Green Bay Packer.  He replied:

“Honey, what is a Green Bay Packer?”

Of course.  What was I thinking?  Always remember your audience.

LikeToKnowIt would go on to feature this photo on their Instagram account.  The comments it garnered were HILARIOUS.  Clearly, I am in an arm warmer part-of-one.

Happily still wearing all three looks.  Cheers.

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NYFW F/W18 Day 2

Day 2 of NYFW F/W18 was probably my favorite fashion week day in many, many fashion weeks.  I can’t recall a day in which I was so inspired, met some of the most fabulous people imaginable and felt so happy with how my OOTD came together.

It was truly one for the books.  Read on!

NYFW FW18 OOTD Day 2 NYFW FW18 OOTD Day 2

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When Raf Simons debuted his first collection for Calvin Klein I was absolutely blown away.  He’s a favorite of mine, and while I rooted for him at Dior, it was never his true calling.  But at Calvin?  A match made in heaven.

Planning my NYFW outfits is something I do almost a year in advance.  I carefully curate the upcoming collections with secret Pinterest boards and bookmarks to keep a running tally of what would look great with what.  There’s even an Excel spreadsheet involved.

I was this close to purchasing this yellow coat from the collection, but tapped my inner 80s obsession and went with arm warmers instead.  Why arm warmers you ask?  Why not?

BCBG

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After many seasons of not being on the NYFW calendar, BCBG returned with gusto, and I was beyond thrilled.  Having never seen their presentation before, I didn’t mind the early call time one bit.

F/W18 played with contrasts: masculine and feminine, polished and undone.  Aptly named “Rough Glamour” we got oversized pajama dressing (a personal fave), structured jackets and soft ruffled gowns.

Following suit with Day 1’s fluidity, the trend of a seasonless collection continued BCBG.  Dark, bold and pastel colors were used in conjunction yet still achieved a seamless effect.

The slouchy knee-high boots and hair styled in messy waves echoed the “I’ll dress how I want” mantra we saw the day prior.

In the summer camp spirit that accompanies NYFW, I ran into my good friends Kelly and Julia before meeting my fashion week style sister, Carolina.  A fellow mommy-to-be, we found out we have the exact same due date!  Beyond our future baby similarities, her OOTD was on point.  Anyone who can rock a crop top 7 months pregnant in 30 degree weather is an absolute god in my book.

Yay for new fashion friends!

Bibhu Mohapatra

Bibhu Mohapatra FW18Bibhu Mohapatra FW18Bibhu Mohapatra FW18 Bibhu Mohapatra FW18 Bibhu Mohapatra FW18 Bibhu Mohapatra FW18

If there’s one word to describe Bibhu Mohapatra’s design aesthetic it’s this: decadent.

He makes clothes you want to touch.  Clothes that are accompanied with ooh’s and ahh’s, stolen second glances and quiet head nods that confirm, yes, this man knows how to enrich a piece of fabric.

It was no surprise to me that Linda Fargo and Hamish Bowles sat front row at his show.  Like the prom King and Queen perched on a velvet throne, they too fell deep into the complex Dickensian love story that unfolded before us.

Berry, crimson and plum marched in front of us, morphing from leather canvas windbreakers to lace tennis dresses.  Mesh and pleated cocktail attire got embellished with feathers, while fur coats were paired with jewel encrusted turbans.  When the mini dance dress topped with a lacquered leather parka walked before me, I about died.

Let me repeat that.  Lacquered leather.  DEAD.

It’s impossible not to leave a show like Bibhu’s feeling lighter on your feet and a little sing-songy.  The clothes are just too good.

Milly

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There are moments in my sartorial life where it’s taken every fiber in my being not to snatch the clothes right off of someone’s back because true love hit me so hard.

Enter Milly F/W18.

While I thought it impossible to top my vibrant mood thanks to Bibhu Mohapatra, Milly rolled out the entire ROYGBIV spectrum.  In a rainbow of lush fabrics, sequins and expertly tailored separates, she also served up strong neutrals for the minimalists among us with closet maximalist tendencies.

I found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Milly, take my money.

The collection succeeded in its quest for inclusiveness by driving home the point that our individuality is beautiful when it comes together to include all – a literal rainbow.

A reception followed the vibrant burst of color on the runway and I got to meet the creative team that makes up the Milly family.  You couldn’t find a more cohesive group of fabulous people.  It felt like I had been welcomed home.  The perfect warm fuzzy end to an utterly fabulous show.

Paul Andrew

Paul Andrew FW18 Paul Andrew FW18 Paul Andrew FW18

If Ron Burgundy describes his love for Scotch by repeating it over and over than let me do the same for one of my true loves.

Shoes, shoes, shoes.

I like a shoe that makes a statement – edgy yet polished, unfiltered yet pristine.  Paul Andrew manages to capture these qualities season after season.

His structured mules with box bows, peep toes with textured fabric and slingbacks with jeweled embellishments impressed.  But it was his killer boots in suede and patent, bejeweled and laced, snake skin adorned and knee high that really got my blood going.

The men’s looks contained the same DNA, wrapped in buckles and elevated with slight platforms.  I’d wear both.  Correction: I will wear both.

As we were leaving, we got the meet the creative genius beyond the collection.  Paul Andrew was warm, gracious and so humble.  It made me love him even more.

Just as I turned towards the door, someone backed up at the same time and accidentally stepped on me.  It was Hamish Bowles.

Two Hamish encounters in one day?  Could NYFW F/W18 Day 2 have seriously ended any better?

I think not.

Don’t forget to check out everything we saw on Day 1!

Photos by Matthew Passiglia