Ode to Style & the Canal Saint-Martin, Paris

Canal Saint-Martin attracts sundry crowds. Model-types pose along the canal’s banks while unshaven philosophers ruminate waterside and demure couples dine at brightly colored boulangeries. Canal Saint-Martin’s conspicuous lifestyle contrasts its residential attributes—simple rectangular windows scale the neighborhood’s utilitarian apartment buildings. As a place to see and be seen, Canal Saint-Martin is especially popular with angst-ridden university students—it’s the perfect setting for finding oneself while watching others. - Airbnb

the Canal

view of the Canal from our Airbnb apartment

That Airbnb description is perfect. The area around the canal was full of students, hipsters and young families.I loved hanging out in the Brooklyn of Paris, and I would go back again in a heartbeat. What's great about the Canal Saint-Martin (and the surrounding 10th arrondisement) is that it's very close to busier, more commercial areas of the city, but it's more chill, and serves as a respite from all the city crowds. I found my favorite bar in this neighborhood, and all the folks there - rocking all sorts of styles - could've filled an entire fashion blog.

I snapped the photos below on my last day in town, on a Sunday late afternoon, while having aperitifs along the canal. (I enjoyed a few moments pretending to be like Bill Cunningham.) Everyone passing by looked casual but stylish, effortless without being sloppy or ascetic. The weather was neither too warm or too cold, but everyone looked prepared for city micro-climates, something I appreciate as a San Francisco resident. There was much to be inspired by, especially for a summer in SF, in the few examples below.

inspired to buy a sweater coat

again, inspired to buy a sweater coat

floral and sneakers

always appreciate an easy grey sweater

USA! USA! (pretty sure she was a French kid)

I didn't buy any clothes while in France (despite lots of boutique exploration), but when I came back home I felt inspired when I came across some great items (all on sale!), such as:

this embroidered top by The Kooples

abstract floral top (Vince Camuto) at Nordstrom Rack

patterned sweater coat at Anthro

I've been working them into my wardrobe already - for me they make sense both for work and for fun. It might be something about summer, but I enjoy (somewhat) brighter accents to my neutral basics this time of year. The blouses are versatile in that they work with multiple pieces in my closet - and the Kooples one is great quality. The jacket is useful especially in the mornings when I'm commuting, when it's actually kind of chilly and foggy out - it's a heavy but also loose knit so it's also airy.

I'm probably done shopping for a little while, as I work these and other new pieces into rotation and rediscover other items that have been in my closet. So who knew a side effect of vacation would be a wardrobe refresh, but it's a side effect I'm enjoying as summer continues.

Oscar de la Renta at the de Young Museum

the de Young museum

I spent a rainy afternoon checking out the de Young Museum's retrospective on Oscar de la Renta. They had dozens of gorgeous dresses and items from throughout his 50+ years working in fashion. The designer's work was the epitome of elegance and glamour - and yet, practical: even in the '60s he was making ballgowns with pockets. The exhibit, curated by the inimitable Andre Leon Talley, featured pieces worn by notable women such as Dede Wilsey (head of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco which includes the de Young), Hillary Rodham Clinton, Laura Bush, and today's red carpet stars such as Amy Adams (love her), Taylor Swift (of course) and Nicki Minaj (pleasantly surprised).

As much as I love wandering through museums, I think the last special exhibit I attended was the (New York) MoMA's Tim Burton exhibit, and I forgot how popular (crowded) they can be. I splurged for the audio tour which helped me focus among the crowd, as well as learn more about the history of the items in the exhibit and the designer's inspirations. The sources of inspiration included Spain and flamenco, which brought back some study abroad and college memories for me - I was dressed nowhere near as elegant as these mannequins, though. Perhaps one reason the exhibit felt like such a treat is that since moving to the Bay, I hardly have any reason to truly dress up. My only disappointment at the exhibit was that you couldn't touch the fabrics or try the dresses on... I mean, I know I was in a museum, but still I dream.

Apologies for the blurry iPhone pics, here are some choice pieces from the exhibit:

New York, New York :)

dresses from: http://www.vogue.com/865470/asia-major/

the dress that Marie Antoinette-era Kirsten Dunst wore in Vogue...

http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/761290/

The look that I totally want to copy:

More links:

The exhibit goes through May 30: https://deyoung.famsf.org/exhibitions/oscar-de-la-renta-retrospective

Vogue: http://www.vogue.com/13414187/andre-leon-talley-lynn-wyatt-oscar-de-la-renta-de-young-gala-2016/

The Effort in Being Effortless (related: Favorite SF Brands)

my Cuyana tote

Now that it's spring and the weather has been nicer, it seems like there's a lot more to do (which is not new to me, apparently). This month I've had two weekend camping trips, a jazz show, a drag show, birthday parties, wine country, and friends visiting in town. I've been outdoors as much as possible when not stuck behind a computer screen. 

One small way I find simplicity in busy times is to rely on a more streamlined style that fits wherever I go. After all, wardrobe style is part of lifestyle. And I've adapted a style over the first decade or so of adulthood that I really rely on. 

For me, part of 'growing up' was developing my own style (in professional settings, this would be referred to as 'creating your brand and image'). In grammar school and high school I wore a uniform, so my classmates and I would express creativity, or not, with accessories. I was very excited to build out an everyday wardrobe once I hit college and over a few years amassed so. many. clothes. It didn't help that I came of age along with fast fashion, so it was almost too easy to play around with different styles and trends and you know, really "find myself". (insert winking emoji here) Even friends would remark that I had an eclectic style and would even say "that's totally an Ingrid type of [whatever item]" when we were out shopping.

In the last few years, once I hit the later 20's, I started to pare things down a bit and stick to more of the same looks, if not a strict uniform. This also came about with lifestyle changes - new cities, jobs, activities. I wanted to focus less on the activity of shopping and instead on buying higher quality pieces and feel more like my grown-up self.

Luckily this train of thought came along the time that minimalism and capsule wardrobes also became more mainstream. (I don't know about anyone else, but after reading a ton of blogs I feel like I should be able to develop the perfect minimal capsule wardrobe, even if I don't want to.) I've still had some hits and misses, but overall I see my wardrobe becoming more streamlined. Even now I know I have more items in my closet than I truly "need". But my truth is that I still want the choices to play around with style a bit, while of course still looking and feeling "effortless".

There's the sophisticated, gamine, French-girl image of being "effortless". And there's the "groomed" kind of effortless - I know women who admit they straighten their hair and put on makeup so they're perceived as professional, or hardworking, or whatever. Then there's the stereotypical Silicon Valley "effortless" of hoodie, jeans and backpack. (Now despite the Bay Area being known more technological innovations there are some great companies catering to the more fashionably-inclined part of the population, which I'll get to in a bit.) I knew I had to come up with what kind of "effortless" style I wanted for myself. 

As much as I enjoy fashion, what l appreciate most are clothes and accessories that let me live my life, not get in the way of it. Therefore, my aesthetic has evolved in line with trying to simplify a fairly busy schedule that is probably familiar to other 30-year-old urban professionals: commuting to the office, figuring out after-work plans, packing in as much as possible on the weekends and of course, making exciting travel plans, preferably with friends. For all of this I want clothes with forgiving cuts (I just love a draped sweater or blouse), colors and prints that go together, and versatile basics that stand up to everyday wear. Also on my list of demands: clothes that don't make me feel guilty for adding to the human rights and environmental problems that fast fashion has fostered. Luckily, besides checking out some good consignment shops in the Bay Area, I've found some companies that answer this call with the clothes they manufacture. And I've realized that quite a few of my wardrobe staples come from them. Over the last few years I've become a loyal fan of these local brands:

• Everlane - The first of the local brands that I tried, I appreciated Everlane's 'luxury without the markup' and 'transparent supply chain' strategies. I started with their t-shirt, then bought a couple silk tops for <$100, and most recently their wallet. Here's a referral link if you want to try them out: https://www.everlane.com/r/y2nkha
• Cuyana - They first caught my eye with their lean closet movement and fewer, better motto. They also provide the story of where they source their materials. I was doing periodic closet purges and bringing bags of my unused items to Community Thrift. I first purchased a bag from them, not for myself but for my mom (who now has two, go figure). Finally this past Christmas my gift to myself was one of their classic tote bags (above) which I use nearly every day. I'm also interested in some of their clothing items for when I need to replace some wardrobe items.
• Amour Vert - I love the variety of cuts and prints by Amour Vert. They have a couple shops in the Bay Area and are distributed by some department stores. Over the last couple years I've collected silk/cotton mixed media tees, cotton tees, a silk pineapple-print tank, and silk printed pants.
• Betabrand - Dress pant yoga pants! (I wear the cropped version which hits my ankles) They  really are a dressy-enough material to not get called out as leggings, and they really are very comfortable. This is a fun company that crowdsources designs and makes most of their stuff right in SF. Again, a referral link: https://www.betabrand.com/referrals/landing/friend/?r=70dH (they also have student discounts)

These brands have gotten press elsewhere so they don't need me to sing their praises, nor do I wear them exclusively, but I did want to call them out since I was happy to find them close to home. Everyone has different brands they like and not everyone even cares so much about what's in their closet. I still care what my wardrobe is made up of, but in a different way than I did when I was an excited college student. Below is some more reading on this topic, I'd be interested if anyone else has more suggestions.

Ethical Shopping on Refinery 29
Local Fashion Labels on SFist

Summer Style

Over the last couple years my wardrobe purchases have slanted toward neutral/minimalist/basic (it just makes it so much easier to get dressed in the morning!) but that doesn't mean I've completely ruled out the fun and bright pieces. Here are some of the items I've bought in recent months to round out my summer wardrobe, aka what I throw on when I'm headed to the park, to brunch, to the stadium, the beach, the woods, the bar, etc. 

Except for my Birkenstocks, my sandals from previous years are pretty worn and I need more comfortable options. I found the above brightly patterned cloth espadrilles on the clearance rack at Anthropologie and they have been so fun to wear around; they are actually padded which I find rare in espadrilles and they feel like I'm walking around in slippers. They're a jolt of brightness to otherwise neutral outfits. The sandals below are a Nordstrom Rack discovery, and the silk pineapple-print top was a sample sale find from Amour Vert, a local sustainable (& beautiful) clothing line. I also bought printed silk pants at that sample sale though sadly I haven't taken any photos with them; you'll have to trust me when I say they go nicely with a plain top and sandals.

And here are some of the more neutral pieces making up my wardrobe, aside from the usual jeans and t-shirts:

Treat Yo'self

Mashable/Getty Images

This weekend I got a haircut, foot & back massage, a Pilates class and a new sweater. :)

It would be nice to say I planned this weekend to be full of self-care but in truth it just came about somewhat organically.

Not-so-impulsive Buys

For the past couple years, I've been paring down the contents of my closet, donating all the things I just don't wear anymore, and usually buying only classic basic elements to round out my wardrobe. A few things factored into this endeavor: I started a new job (w/quite a commute) and wanted to make getting dressed easy despite not being a morning person; I moved across the country, got married, and began sharing an apartment (& closet!) with my husband; and I just didn't want to keep adding to the fast fashion industry. It's not like shopping ever put me in debt, but the Pareto principle definitely applied to my wardrobe, so I also realized I didn't need to spend money on additional items beyond the kinds I wear most often. I had started viewing shopping as more of a hobby and not a necessity, and there are other things I'd rather spend my free time on.

I've been trying to practice a little more simplicity and minimalism rather than impulsively buying the trendy stuff at fast fashion spots. I am definitely inspired by sustainable brands (like Amour Vert's awesome basics) but also I can be more 'sustainable' by refraining from buying cheap things made to fall apart. I keep a running list of items I want/need on an app on my phone and a Pinterest board of wardrobe workhorses. These mechanisms remind me to consider my purchases in the full context of my closet, and choose things I can wear for a long time. 

I am still a design-loving consumer for sure. I'll flip through magazines and check out Remodelista and WhoWhatWear and random blogs. (Brooklyn Nine-Nine had a nerdy joke about going to a museum to see an exhibit of a chair, and my husband & I burst out laughing because we both knew I'd totally do that.) I've just tried to be more mindful of my personal style versus fashion trends... I'm no "minimalist pixie dream girl" but I can read about trendy items and still feel alright wearing an old sweater and simple jewelry out in public.

I've noticed, over the last couple of years, that I make fewer impulse buys and I'm pretty happy about that (so is my closet). But this winter I tried putting myself on an outright shopping fast for two months and almost got through it. For over a month I didn't even go into a store. However, I would still browse e-commerce sites, basically for sport, fully aware I wasn't going to put anything in the shopping cart.

At the end of March, just four days shy of hitting my two-month mark, I ordered a pair of shoes. This week, I ordered another. Both pairs (suede d'orsay flats, and black ankle boots) are ones I've wanted for a year or so (I have older versions of each), and they could match nearly every outfit I wear. I ordered them now because I found out the exact ones I've wanted were on sale via some fashion blogs, and they were still available in my size. I thought I might feel guilty for not making it the full two months, but then I realized these weren't impulse buys per se and I'm glad I could pull the trigger on items that my closet has been waiting for.

I. love. this. dress.

One of the first times I remember that my mother and I agreed on fashion concerned Diane Von Furstenberg. I was working at the flagship Bloomingdale’s store in NYC in ‘04 and she was speaking at a special event on my floor (this was as she was re-establishing her fashion line). My mom said something like “wow she was really popular when I was growing up, and I just really liked her clothes” and I realized I was my mother’s daughter.

In 2010 I heard the designer speak again, this time in DC at Georgetown University, where I had just entered grad school. She talked about business, philanthropy and women’s empowerment, all of which were nicely woven with tales from her personal experience. My favorite story was some businessman on an early a.m. flight hitting on her, not realizing her picture was in that morning’s Wall Street Journal that he was carrying.

10 years after I first heard the lady speak, I’ve got some DVF dresses and I’m hoping one day to pass them on to a daughter who will appreciate her mama’s & grandmama’s styles.

Alpaca wool capes and ponchos - Made in Peru: incredible video on how raising alpacas helps communities in the Peruvian highlands run a sustainable business

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

What to Pack for Colombia

via Travel Fashion Girl & Jasmine Wanders:

Cartagena – As Cartagena has a tropical climate be sure to pack your favourite pair of sunglasses, a hat and plenty of sun cream to protect you from the suns glare, light coloured flowing maxi dresses and skirts are perfect for women, men should purchase a ‘guayabera’ for a local clothing store, it’s kind of like a safari/camp shirt, popular in South America. Don’t forget to pack a printed swimsuit/bikini and cute cover-up to hit up Cartagena’s beaut sandy beaches.

Medellin – For this fashionable city pack your favourite printed dresses and colourful tops team these with a pair of on trend jeans and you’ll fit right in, oh and don’t be afraid to show a little skin.

Bogota – Think slightly conservative and sophisticated clothing (if you want to fit in, maybe you don’t though!), essentials include sunglasses for during the day, a pair of jeans or dark pants, a printed scarf and a light coat and jacket, dress up not down!

What to Pack for Colombia

Can I wear those shoes with these pants?

http://www.businessinsider.com/what-color-shoes-to-wear-with-pants-2013-11