I’m still not sure about skinny jeans on someone as curvy as me, but under a long trench, the proportion’s just about right. (With just a sweater? Bad.)

What I wore:

• Trench coat: $60 at Century 21 (half price :)
• Sweater: Christopher Fischer silk/cashmere/cotton, $32.97 at Century 21 (60% off)
  Bought both sweater and trench in the few days after I arrived in NYC. Nothing I owned in Sydney was remotely warm enough, so I had to buy a new warm…

For me, this is super casual…

What I wore:

• Jacket: AUD$76.30 on clearance in 2006
  Clothes are so much more expensive in Australia that ~$80 for a low-end designer jacket is a decent find!
• Sweater: Muji cotton/cashmere, $18 on clearance
• Jeans: Topshop; $100ish Singapore dollars
  
• Shoes: Marc Jacobs, $132 at Last Call Neiman Marcus
  This style, in purple suede with black leather trim
• Bag: Longchamp
  My very first Longchamp bag, now almost 4 years old!
• Necklace: Vintage; gift from my Nanna-in-law

Where I wore it:…

This ’suit’ is made up of black jeans and a tailored jacket; I’m not a fan of traditional matching suits. What I wore:

• Jacket: Macy’s, $59.40 on clearance
• Shirt: H&M, free! Gift from a lovely house guest :)
  
• Jeans: Topshop, SGD$116 (US$80ish now, less then)
• Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs, $115 at Loehmanns
  These MJ flats, in this black-and-white colorway
• Bag: Longchamp; it’s my laptop bag!
• Watch: Seiko $75; thrifted for $10
• Bracelet: Express, $14.50

Where I wore it: business meetings

Photo taken at…

Coco Chanel invented it; Audrey Hepburn made it iconic. The Little Black Dress is still a go-to choice when you need to look good.

What I wore:

• Dress: French Connection. $100+, i.e. expensive for me!
• Singlet: $8.97, Century 21
  Makes any neckline a lot more demure, plus a built-in shelf bra keeps everything respectably bounce-free ;)
• Shoes: Marc Jacobs, $132 at Last Call Neiman Marcus
  This style, in purple suede with black leather trim
• Bag: Longchamp
• Watch: Fossil, $20 on sale.
• Bracelet:…

What I wore a couple of days ago:

• Sweater: $25 at Century 21
• T-shirt: $20 at Lohmann’s
  
• Jeans: Topshop; $100ish Singapore dollars
  I’d convert the price to US dollars, but I’m not sure I want to see the results after yesterday’s stock market crash…
• Belt: Steve Madden, $13 at Filene’s Basement
• Shoes: Marc Jacobs, $132 at Last Call Neiman Marcus
  They’re this style, but in purple suede with black leather trim — and they’re actually comfortable to walk in!
• Bag: Longchamp
• Watch: Seiko…

What to wear to travel in style? Denim skirt, flat shoes and a bag that’s just big enough for in-flight essentials like an iPod and some chocolate.

What I wore:

• Denim skirt: Macy’s, $59.40
• Polo shirt: Uniqlo, $5.90 on clearance
• Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs, $115 at Loehmanns
  They’re these MJ flats, in the black-and-white colorway here. Love ‘em!
• Bag: Longchamp
• Watch: Fossil, $20 on sale.
• Bracelet: Express, $14.50

Where I wore it: On the plane back from Florida to NYC

…

What happens when a serial over-dresser tries to dress down? Their flip-flops wind up paired with a logo bag… but hey, it’s casual for me! Outfit details:

• Tank top: Witchery clearance store (years ago)
• Skirt: Gap via local thrift store, $8
• Flip flops: Free! (magazine freebie)
• Bag: Longchamp
• Watch: Seiko $75; thrifted for $10

Went out for gluten-free pizza with Meg, for my second-last day in Florida :(

How to wear a calf-length skirt without looking fusty? Add a tank top and a bold cuff. Outfit details:

• Top: Target, thrifted in 2004; still going strong!
• Skirt: Thrifted, $8
• Sandals: Steve Madden, $120 on sale
• Bag: Longchamp 4—4
  Christmas gift from husband in 2005 ;)
• Watch: Seiko $75; thrifted for $10
• Cuff: JCPenney, $14

Still in Florida with Meg :) Photo taken while building the set for another show we’re working on.

…

How to wear a loose, smocked top? With tight — but not short — shorts. Outfit details:

• Top: Mossimo for Target, $12.59
• Shorts: thrift store, $6
• Sandals: Steve Madden, $120 on sale.
• Bag: Longchamp 4×4
  Christmas gift from husband in 2005 ;)
• Watch: Fossil, $20 on sale.
• Bracelet: Express, $14.50
• Hair: Not meant to be so bright!

In Florida, staying with Meg. Pic was taken on the set of her new show, Style Spice.

…

When this month’s Elle arrived with a gorgeous black and white cover, it had to be read immediately. I’m glad it didn’t go into my pile of unread mags because when I read it, I spotted something interesting: a story very like a post I wrote last year.

The Elle story reports that fashion designers wear the same look for years, while they push a new look onto us every single season — much like my post that…