Dear Ethers,

I’m shocked it’s another Friday.  It felt like yesterday I was slipping on my little pleated dress and writing my post.  The weeks are flying by……it’s kind of scary actually.  But none of this deep talk!  No sireee!  This is fashion baby, and a Friday to boot and we want to have fun, right?

As you know I root for anything with an elastic waist.  So, I am donning the most fashionable item of clothing that allows me to wear something without a zipper or buttons.  Yep—leggings.  I’ve sung their praises on this blog a zillion times so I won’t tell you how versatile, easy and how they have become the new jean—but I will say that I will be living in them until Vogue or Glamour or whoever the fuck the arbiter of fashion these days is says they must be binned. And you know what?  Even THEN I will wear them to small Eastern European countries who think they are still hip.  In fact, I will ONLY travel to such places because they will think I am on the cutting edge of the catwalk and will envy my stretchy leg coverlets.

I’m wearing a really fun camisole that I think would look as cool with leggings as they would with jeans.  The top  sort of has a 70’s/80’s “I’m a babe” disco attitude which I like—and the back has—guess what—elastic banding!  Could this top be better suite for me?

The shoes—you either love them or hate them.  I’ll tell you what will make you decide.  You hate moccasin fringe-like shoes or you totally dig them.  I am all about the latter.  I always wanted some fringed shoes but thought they had been overdone by now.  But when I saw them in this cool sandal form in a sleek black, and they were comfy as hell, I said, yep, slip those on my tootsies and call them my own.

I like this outfit because this is just a normal, everyday get-up.  This is something I would run out and get the groceries in or would meet a mate for brunch and a coffee wearing.  Is it jaw-dropping?  No.  But it is young, fun and has a bit more pizzaz than a crappy track-suit and trainers and I feel as comfortable.  I also think it has a beat of its own and unlike all the pastel wearing, glittery girls that can be so L.A., I like to bring a bit of dark casual to the streets here

So happy weekend, and I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.  I am seriously overwhelmed with writing—both my deadlines for pieces are due Monday.  I’m writing a fun shoe piece and a really fab style piece about a very famous dress.  More details to come.  One will be a main feature in a major newspaper.  I’m pretty psyched.  But—I wanna impress because if it goes well, this is the direction I want my career to be going in.  I would love red carpets to be simply a dyed rug in my past.

And speaking of red carpets…let’s roll out one for Fashion Fridays!

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

Casual, easy, fun, youthful and just a really easy way to be laid-back and look put together without having to dawn that horrible tracksuit. It's as convenient but has a little more pizzaz and is a bit more "now." I think the tracksuit, although will always be on the market, has sadly seen its day

I don't know why, but I feel like I'm conjuring Drew Barrymore when I'm wearing this top. It's really fun, 80's, whimsical and somewhat child-like but cut for an adult. I don't know if you can see the little ribbons on either side of the bodice, but they are a cute add on to the camisole. I like the tight top half and the loose bottom ruffle drape. I suppose you could dress this up, but the material is not very fancy and I think it's a cool "throw on and run out of the house" piece. Stars Camisole, 10 pounds, Topshop, London

Yes! Viva La Elastic Waist! C'mon girls....you know if you could make couture and hip clothes with an elastic waist you would vote yay. But, sadly, elastic waist= super Wal-Mart style. Leggings are one of the only items we can get away with these days with a whole lot of stretch unless we're pregnant, so LOVE IT! I have these in brown as well and I wear them everywhere. I look better in them when I'm not shoveling cookies down my gob and going to the gym, but they are a happy piece of cloth for me. And a bargain too. Black Leggings, $6.99, Target, Los Angeles

So, as I said before, you either love em' or you hate em'! I love em'....they are really boho fun and easy to walk in for hours. They are a great alternative then just throwing on a pair of crappy black flip-flops. The only negative is that the laces become unravelled sometimes, but besides that, the sole is comfy and they have great ankle support. I like them with the fun and youthful top and I'm glad I got them in black so I can wear them a little more dressy than I would be able to do with a more rugged brown. Black Moccasin Sandals, Dolce Vita, $98, Diavolina, Los Angeles

Dear Ether,

I’ve looked over my past Fridays and noticed a bit of a vintage vibe thing going on.  I realized, “Hey, many of you fashionista-Ethers may not be so into old skool dressing and may want something very right now!”  And let me tell you, this set of digits can wear it modern too.  So, I chose something that I thought was a bit sexy but also classy–we do not do “slapper” here at “Fashion Fridays!”  Yes, the top is very low cut, but the material and the style is very French linen making up for the expanse of cleavage.  The jeans are tight and black, but they are a classic cut and do not show off any cracks that shouldn’t be in the plaster if you know what I mean  And the shoes! Oh man, DO NOT get me started!  They are my latest acquisition.  I think they are modern, architectural and just do everything a heel should do.  And the best part?  They are comfortable so you can boogie all night long in style.  

I always like to give a story to my outfit, so tonight I’ll call this the “City Girl Night Time In The Summer” look.  I can see our lady in London or NYC walking in the Village or in Soho.  It’s a hot, August evening where you want to be wearing the bare minimum–especially if you’re going to be stuffed in a club or bar.  You can go from work in this outfit to drinks with your girls, or dinner with your guy (just put on a cardigan or funky tailored jacket, sleeves slightly pushed up, and a single button done up over the cami.  I’d say this was for a more casual, trendy work-place though). Great for dancing the night away because the camisole is light, the shoes comfy and the jeans have a bit of stretch so you can get down and move. Amazing for an evening at an exhibition (the artists will all LOVE the lines and colors of your shoes) where canapes, Warhol and champagne will be inhaled and you’ll be slightly tipsy off the genius of the NYU grads and the bubbly as you’re whisked away in your yellow taxi.  And when your night is ending with Big Ben ringing and sunlight coming up over Parliament, you don’t have to look like you’re wearing a walk of shame outfit. Remember, this lovely frock transitions night to day no problem–just make sure you powder your face and add a new slick of gloss to those happy lips.  

Summer. City. Night. This is a great outfit to wear to look comfortable IN, feel sexy IN and have fun IN. Modern, stylish and classy=perfection.

I don't normally do a back-shot but I wanted you to see the cross-back detail of this lovely top. I adore the thick straps and the look of it being like corsetry. I just think you would have missed out from just a front view. Pose is tres J Lo, no? LOL!

When I saw this top I had to have it. It was sitting in a little sale bin in a fancy boutique on Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles and everything was on crazy clearance. The place was a madhouse and all the good stuff was going and I couldn't get my hands on anything. And then....I saw this! I loved the almost Victorian linen quality of the piece, but with the modern, deep cut. You really cannot have terribly large, wall-eyed or sagging breasts with this baby. I'm not saying my boobs are perfect, but this top really challenges "the girls" and you need to be able to fill it out with no spillage and have enough cleavage so you don't look flat chested. I might have to wear tape with it because if you aren't always watching, and you lean forward, BAM, a boob falls out! This is a thinking girls top, for sure! Borbonese Cross Back Camisole, originally $300 reduced to $60 Vionette Boutique Los Angeles

This is just one of those weird and wonderful things you throw together and make a necklace out of. The big gold "hunk" is part of a broken necklace from my Grandmother's costume jewellery from the 50's or 60's that I like to wear as a pendant, and the brooch I attached to the pendant is of a Chinese man who is holding a large pearl. I thought the two looked fun together and I needed something to break up the large chest space that the top was creating in my cleavage area. I thought this was a fun and funky way to do it. Faux Gold Pendant and Silver Brooch, One of 365's Own, Priceless!

Jeans photographed really gray, but they are a deep black. These are the most flattering denim I own. I wish I knew the style but I got them from a store that buys from stylists and designers, and these were a sample that were in the process of being chopped and changed for J Brand. I think they were just a design sample---they may never have actually ever produced these jeans. Ahhh, are they comfy! They have great stretch, hug you in the right places making your legs look like a tall drink of water and they give your tush a nice lift too. And guess what, these lovelies were are a bargain. J Brand usually go for like, what, $150-200 bucks, right? Well....J Brand Black Denim Jeans, $36 (WOWZA!) Brand New, Buffalo Exchange Los Angeles

Okay. I saw these in the sales and made a bee-line for them. A lovely bloke in the shop in L.A. named Alex (hi Alex!) is amazing and pointed out that all shoes were 75% off. Reiss have a bit of a funky shoe sizing issue. I would have bought more but they either make you buy a US 6.5 or a 7.5. I'm a 7! So, that these fit me, and they were my 1st choice of any pair...well, it was my lucky day. And, Miss Fergie (of Black Eyed Peas not of Weight Watchers fame) bought them too, my lovely source told me, so I am truly Fergalicious! I love the colors, the textures (they are champagne satin, black patent, and an aqua faux reptile) with the cutest little grosgrain ties in the back. The heel height is perfect and they are like wearing slippers! I was wearing them with jeans, but with a skirt or dress they make your gams look like uber model. I love Reiss. So pricey here in the States and the sales tend to not go as low as they do in the UK, but these were a bloody bargain! Rocco Sandal Originally $295 reduced to $88.50 Reiss Los Angeles