Transitions and a Chunky Knit Sweater

Transitions. Generally speaking I’m not very good at them. But they are inevitable and omnipresent and so I wear my game face and trudge on. One transition that I find exceedingly easy to embrace is the fluid and welcomed move from summer to Fall. To me, it’s the most evocative time of year. My memory ain’t so great lately (a condition I attribute to my life as a world class juggler aka a working and devoted mom of two), but when the Fall air begins to crisp and the light begins to wane, my happy childhood memories come flooding back. Another positive side effect of this seasonal transition is that the fashion Gods greenlight the wearing of cozy sweaters. Oh how I love a cozy sweater! Here I’m wearing a chunky knit pullover from Mango. Taking the Fall theme all the way, I’ve paired said chunky sweater with a forest green corduroy trouser from Zara and a little black boot. This is my happy place. Now if only I could embrace the passage of time with as much grace and enthusiasm. Guess I’ll have to tackle that, one stylish baby step at a time.

With love,

Amanda

Suede Dress and a Knee High Boot

I tend to be very judicious about the trends that I adopt, my imagination sparked instead by individual pieces from talented designers whether brand new or old guard. And unless being trendy is your modus operandi I suggest you too resist the urge to bow to the ever changing winds of fashion’s temperamental cognoscenti. But I never met a mini dress, or skirt, I didn’t like, and Burberry Prorsum paraded several suede pieces down their Fall 2015 runway, and so I cherry picked my way into this look. It reminds me of dresses my beautiful mother would wear in the ’60s and ’70s and yet it still feels modern and forward looking. This piece isn’t Burberry, but if that’s in your budget, by all means get thee to Net-a-Porter and gather up as much as you can. Otherwise you can follow my lead to Forever 21 and snap up this maroon, exposed zip number. The boots are Sigerson Morrison and also suede, which I admit is a risky move and has me walking a fine line between too much and just enough. But then that’s the fun of it, isn’t it? Playing it safe never lit the flames of passion, and neither did following the herd. Trust yourself, not the critics. You might find that you’re swayed by suede.

With love,

Amanda

A Backless Dress

Consider your back. I don’t think we do so often enough. Instead we favor our legs, our arms, our abs (if they werq for you), our cleavage (if you’ve got some), our bums even, and neglect the scapula, the lumbar, the beautiful back. No more I say! Let’s turn things around (get it?). This dress does the trick. It’s another custom piece, made for me by my dear friend Cornell Collins. I wore it to the Golden Globe awards (more than) a few years ago. (A good piece of clothing will stand the test of time.) From the front it reads as demure, modest even, but then I walk away and, ta-da! Something more. As a rule of thumb if you expose this much in the back, you should cover up the front. Too much is often exactly that. I’ve suggested a few options below so go ahead and give it a try. I’ve got your back.

With love,

Amanda