Dear Ether,

Well, Well, Well.  Just when you thought I’d given up on Fashion Fridays……….but they’re baaaaaaaaaaack!  You know, I’ve been so busy with other topics.  My dad’s results came in on a Friday.  I needed advice from you guys on a Friday.  It seemed that the end of the week was just a dire day that needed serious attention. But, I realize that I’ve neglected a very fun part of One of 365.  So for all of your fashionista Ethers, here’s a little clothing pizzaz to start your weekend.

I didn’t choose anything too nuts.  I wanted to snap a look that I love dearly and I’ve worn with staples you’ve seen before.  I wanted the garment to speak for itself with the other accessories to act as a canvas to let it shine.  I love this dress.  It’s beyond comfortable, beautifully made, smartly constructed, uniquely designed, youthful and sleek.  You can also dress it up or down.  Even better, it doesn’t show your gut if you’ve just wolfed down a burger and fries (and in my case, half a cake!).

Here’s the story behind it.  I worked as head of copy and content for lifestyle, fashion and beauty for a very famous UK department store website.  They had the most unbelievable discount.  We had two different types of deals.  One deal was we had a yearly allowance of 1,200 pounds worth of uniform at 50% off.  Now, for the shop floor folks that only meant black shoes or a suit.  But, since we were the creatives and had manager status on our cards, we could B.S. a bit.  The icing on the cake was that we also got 50% off 1 bag and 1 coat.  Nice!  But the best thing was our discount could be used towards sale items too.  So you can imagine the deals we got during Christmas and July.  The other general discount was 33% off almost anything in the store.  AND…sometimes they would give us an extra 10% off day making the total 43%!!!  Oh yeah….beyond killer.  Most of my paycheck went back into the shop which I think might have been their evil plan  Needless to say, most of my lunch breaks consisted of shopping and trying to score deals.

This dress totally wasn’t what anyone would consider uniform.  But, as I was a creative and manager, I gave a huge smile and sweet talked the head of sales of that department.  The dress was originally 200 pounds, marked down to 100 pounds and I paid 50 because of my discount.  FAB!  I’ll one day share with you my many goodies that I got from this amazing department store.  And there are so many regrets (oh why, oh why did I pass up that amazing Vivienne Westwood skirt suit for 200 pounds that was originally a grand!!!).  But here we are on Fashion Fridays enjoying one of my many delights that I got working in London.  I know you want to hear more…you’ll die when I tell you what I paid for my YSL Muse bag

Happy Friday Ethers and thanks for hanging out at the ol’ blog.

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

I reckon this would look great on any figure. And you see the Falke tights that I have worn a zillion times (and keep pushing you to buy) and my KG's (best buy EVER). I think this is a whimsical, fashionable piece that really stands out. I get compliments when I wear it out because it doesn't look like any ol' dress.

Here it is splayed out in its full glory. It's made of silk and I love that the sheer fabric pattern matches the crocheted swans on the chest. So clever and a perfect touch to make this a really special piece. I think it's the little details from the designer to match things like fabrics which make pieces stand-out and feel very bespoke. Swan Silk Dress, Desiyah, 50 Pounds, Famous UK Department Store, London

Just in case you couldn't see the fabric patterns matching in different textiles, I thought I'd take a photo that captured the detail. I think it really is what makes it so special and worth you noticing. Pretty nifty, no?

I’m not going to insert the KG heels or the Falke tights as I’ve put them in so many Fashion Fridays it would be redundant.  If you have NOT seen them before, feel free to click on the sidebar where the categories are. You’ll find them listed there.  You can get the prices and my style thoughts about them. But, I will say, they are two of my favorite pieces because they go with everything and elongate the legs.

Dear Ethers,

At this rate this blog is going to cost me a fortune.  I’m running out of clothes for Fashion Fridays and am gonna have to go shopping to make my 52 week quota!!!  Nah…I still have some stuff up my sleeve….but I keep wanting to save the prime outfits for later and I’m starting to sport my just so-so pieces.  It’s not that they aren’t cute, they just aren’t the “wow” ensembles that I put together in my earlier posts.  Next week I am going to don a masterpiece.  I have 7 days to come up with a brilliant ensemble….the pressure!

The dress featured in this post is from a Kiwi designer named Peter Alexander who had a store on Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles.  I tend to peek in a lot of these shops because Dr. W’s office is on this swanky street.  I get there early and enjoy seeing all the lovely things that I can’t afford.  But sometimes these boutiques have major blowout sales.  I’m lucky because I usually get to them first since I go twice a week and get bargains.  Some of my best deals have happened because of therapy!   Peter Alexander is evidently really famous in Australia and New Zealand and has been trying to make it Stateside.  However, I think it has been to no avail.  His shop came and went so fast I don’t even think the paint was dry on the storefront when they put the final bolts on the door closing it forever.  He’s known for his nightwear.  It’s cutsie pajama’s and bras and underwear.  Truthfully, I thought it was really immature and silly and extremely overpriced.  You know, it was the sort of thing where it has a satin top and bottom pajama set that has Barbie dolls on it for $300. In pink.  Yeah, no way.  BUT.  In his Robertson store he did a special collection of clothing that you could wear in the public that was made from lush materials and was rather understated, elegant and fun.  It was limited edition and beyond expensive.  One day when walking by the shop I noticed a huge red set of numbers saying 90% off everything in the store.  Well, you know me.  I LOVE a deal.  So I went in, whisked past the crappy thongs with Swarovski crystals on the bum (ouch) and hit this rack that no one seemed to care about.  And there it was.  This sweet little dress made of cashmere and silk.  And I paid $50 for it.  It’s nice and warm, but also surprisingly light and you can wear it with tights or sandals.  I love the whimsical star cape that is attached.

As for the Miu Miu’s.  WELL…..those are ancient!  I got those at a Barney’s warehouse sale in the Santa Monica airport hangar which is famous in Los Angeles because women go bananas and fight to the broken acrylic from Dior to Dolce & Gabbana.  I will NEVER go back there, but I did snag these snazzy shoes.  I think they were $85 dollars at least 7 years ago.  They might be a little beaten up, but I still think they are swell.  They remind me of a sleek jester.  Or, a black and white cookie

Anyway, have a lovely Friday and a great weekend and I will speak to you tomorrow about….well, you never know with me, right?

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

God my legs are pasty! They might as well blend in with the doors. Anyway, this is about fashion....not tanning! I like this dress because it's simple, elegant and also youthful. It's a nice play on the LBD with the added cape and I really respect nice fabric so this is an A-Star (HA) for me. I'm wearing it with flats---throw on some heels with this and I reckon it could be a lovely date dress. It's understated with a bit of personality. Because it is made of cashmere, you can slip on a pair of wool tights and wear it more seasonally.

I had to give a back-shot to show you the cape. It isn't that obvious from the front and I thought you should see how sweet it looks from the back. It's made of silk so it floats with every movement.

Here it is! Lovely indeed! It's a really great travel piece because it doesn't wrinkle and the colors are obviously really versatile. But, as I said, so is the style. You can wear it day to night and warm weather to cold. It also has a bit of stretch to it--great for after a big meal

Oldies but goodies! I fought my way through a bloody airport hangar for these suckers. I really like them because they are black and cream and go with everything. They look lovely with jeans, smartening them up a tad. They are so comfy, and just slide right on. The leather has made them get better with age and hey, who doesn't need a bit of Miu Miu in their lives?

Dear Ethers,

I can’t believe that I missed a week of my beloved “Fashion Fridays!”  I must admit, when the end of the week comes, I do get quite nervous about what ensemble I will pick from the disaster zone that is my room. But when it all comes together on the page, it’s always a bit off fun to share a frock with friends.  

This week is very simple.  I thought I’d ease back into things with something very orignal that stands on its own without any baubles or accessories that you can just appreciate for being unique.  I found this dress at a very small boutique on Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles (a main drag in L.A. with lots of hip restaurants and shops etc…) and sadly can’t recall its name!  I know if I pass it again, I will pop back in for some more juicy goods (though the place is super overpriced).  The shop is a vintage store but everything they sell is in pristine condition.  But, they really hike their prices up in a nutty way.  I looked at a cute top that should have MAX been $50 and it was $150!!!  It has things that would make you drool, but the prices, alas, are too cruel………except for this one little rack in the corner. Now, Ethers you should know me by now.  Am I not the queen bee of bargaining and finding a sale even when not advertised!?!  Indeed!  So, the deal with this rack is that anything that’s been sitting in the store for over 6 months that hasn’t sold, they mark down like mad.  I liked a lot of things, but either the sizes were off, or they were still very expensive because they started off with high ticket tags–and really, you can only mark something down so much.  But then……I found MY dress!  It was the type of thing that I knew no one would like.  The colors were kinda weird and the shape was odd.  It was heavily pleated.  But it looked so much like an Issey Miyake Pleats Please piece and I really was curious how it would look on.  And it had originally been $200 and was now $20.  Oh, and I loved that the label said made in London  As soon as I slipped it on, I fell in love.  I think the women in the store were shocked and thought I was bonkers, but were happy to be rid of it and I walked away a happy camper.  I think it looks designer, cutting-edge and it must have looked futuristic when it was designed all those years ago.  You can dress it up or wear it casually.  It’s definitely a lighter-weather dress, but living in L.A.–I think I can get away with it for a few extra months out of the year.  

As for the shoes.  Bought at my favorite palace o’prices, Loehmann’s.  I love how they are a unique putty color with a semi-gladiator wedge that remind me so much of what women wore in old Italian films.  I can just see a lovely bella walking with a basket, a full skirt and these shoes on a cobbled street where a outdoor market is being held and she’s perusing the goods.  They are comfy and they match the dress well.  They were a bargain….$30!  So, this whole ensemble cost $50!!  Not too shabby.  This is why I love hunting for deals and one-off’s.  You look original and you save a bundle.  So, let’s welcome back “Fashion Fridays!” and I will try not to miss another week…….well, until another catastrophe hits…….oy vay!

I think the color combo is so unique, the pleating is original and the cut (especially at the chest) is like nothing I've seen before. I think it's very fun, and something I could see a groovy 70's chica wearing to stand out from the boring crowd and making a little fashion statement to the world--especially in Blighty! I look tres curvy in this ensemble, no? Well, this might be my new sex-bomb outfit! As mentioned, I can't remember the name of the shop. But it was made in England, bought in L.A. and I spent a bargain price of $20 for it!

These have been great summer shoes. They are a versatile shade so they look lovely with browns and whites and they happen to match this dress perfectly! I like the semi-gladiator aspect to them, but that they don't look like the typical, boring sandals everyone else can get. The wedge gives a nice height and they are super comfy. I also love the ties. These just remind me of Rome or somewhere hot and European. As mentioned, these were purchased from the palace of prices, Loehmann's for $30 in Los Angeles

Awww, isn't it lovely? Nutty to charge $200 smackaroos for it, but I'm sure glad that I scored it and that it was dangling on the "nobody wants me rack." Guys, that is often the BEST place to find the awesome deals. It's in perfect condition, it stretches to your body so if you eat a heavy lunch...well, you get my drift. I think it is a classic and the pleating is brilliant. I'm ashamed I can't remember the name of the shop it is from, but if I do, I will update the post.

Dear Ethers,

In many of my posts I have mentioned that I will, in time, explain my absolute obsession for Sienna Miller.  Today is sadly, not that day.  However, the outfit I chose for this week brought out her old boho spirit thrown in with a little of Ms. Moss. It just felt right to dedicate this Friday to these phenoms of fashion. This outfit brought me such joy to put on.  It reminded me of how I would dress up and go out for a night in London (something I miss dearly).  A tunic, some boots and a funky belt.  I’d get my bag sorted, slam my Oyster card down at the Tube and head towards town on the Northern line getting off at Charing Cross and then walk towards Covent Garden or wherever the lights would take me.  Ethers, I really felt like I was back in Blighty posing for this one

For many of you this will not be to your liking.  You’ll think the tunic is way too short, the belt a nightmare out of the 80’s and the boots something out of a Sci-Fi film.  But for me, this outfit spells Soho on a Saturday night.  It spells Sienna Miller when she was dating Jude.  It has Kate Moss written all over it when she went to Glastonbury.  And that’s why, folks, I fucking love it.  So, no made up back story for our girl tonight.  This girl is ME….living out her dream as a fashionista back in a town she misses terribly and paying homage to the creative outlets and outfits that London is so famous for.

So to you Sienna, Kate and all you Topshop girls in Brick Lane who wear corsets with leopard leggings and tutu’s over them—Viva La London Fashion!!!!!  And hey, to all you Brits out there, maybe whisper the name One of 365 tonight at the pub.  I could use the big-up and I’d love it if the city that owns my soul was reminded that I still think of it everyday.

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

Damn right if I bent over you'd see WAY too much! And that tunic in the sun might be see-through. But dammit, while I'm still young enough and can say I did it, I want to be a bonkers, boho, beatnik too! And the best part about the bloody thing? It is so comfortable.

This is a silk tunic I got from Zara years ago for 15 quid. I love it because you can wear it over leggings, or with sandals and hey---like me---with boots. It's light as a feather and I love the multi-color green/grey effect. You can wear a slip underneath it if you're a bit shy about things being sheer, and it also comes with its own tie so you don't need your own belt. Zara Silk Tunic, 15 quid, London

Ok. Many of you are recoiling at the site of this. Older folks who dumped a belt like this and gave it to Oxfam/Goodwill are wondering who paid good money for this crap? I DID! And I LOVE IT! Look how good it looks with the tunic! It just adds that boho crazy vibe--that rock-star chic. It's badass and I think it is so outrageous, it's cool. It's fashion, baby. Vintage Belt, 8 quid, Camden Stalls (Where Else!!!!)

Knee-high boots are really in this season. I really like the dove-grey color and the patent finish. They also have a great almond-shaped toe and a little bump of a heel so you could walk miles in them. They look sick with tights and great with bare legs. I like how they bring out the silvery-grey in the tunic and just tie the whole swinger-Carnaby vibe out of the outfit. If I had Kate's legs I think they'd look way hotter, but alas, I must make do. Grey Patent Boots, Originally $411 Reduced to $100, Due Farina, American Rag, Los Angeles

Dear Ethers,

This end of week fashion bonanza is a simple one really.  It will be perfect for you shoe aficionados.  It’s easy.  All you have to do is look at the outfit and decide which pair of shoes you think goes better and then leave me a comment with your thought.

I’ve picked a delicious butterscotch colored silk romper from Marc Jacobs that I really got a kick out of wearing this summer.  Sadly, I’m sure it will be barred off of all fashion Ed’s lists for next year so I tried to get the most use out of it as I could.  I really enjoyed the romper style.  I know it got a lot of flack.  I think jumpsuits got it worse!  To me, the romper was so easy.  It was a shirt and shorts built in.  You didn’t have to pick separates–you had an all-in-one waiting for you.  It was so great because I could just throw it on and look fashionable without trying too hard.  And because it was silk and a bit dressy, I could wear it out in the evenings.  Also, because of the material, it breathed in the heat, so it was lightweight and got me through some broiling weather.  I liked it for the same reason I love dresses—it’s a complete package.  No matching a top to a bottom.  You just jump into and you are set.

A lot of people who had lived through the 70’s laughed and said they had given things like this away years ago.  And I don’t think  it was for their age group.  But for the younger set, it was a bit of fun and something new and experimental.  As mentioned, the jumpsuit got too much shit, so I never went THAT far (though I DID try one on and I rather fancied it.  But English gent, who rarely puts his green moccasined foot down, said NO!).

So, leave me a comment (to your pleasure, I’ve left a poll out of this) and let me know—the matchy-matchy Ferragamo’s that are more casual and easy to run around in?  Or the satin green shoes with a higher-heel that are dressier and more for evening, but make more of a statement because of the citrus contrast?  I’m of two minds.  I love the idea that one actually has yellow shoes to match.  C’mon, that’s kinda badass.  But, I also love the green with the yellow.  Toughie—YOU DECIDE!

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

Let the decision making begin:

Right-O. So, here we have our romper (LOVE IT!) with our greenie-meanies. So, is it the green for you? Hmmmm? Comments please!

The magic slippers. Here they are closer up so you can have a better inspection. Leave a comment so I know how to style my outfit!

Romper-licious part-deux! Here we go, but with the yellow Ferragamo's. Go on, it's your call....

These canary yellow beauties for your closer inspection to help you in your decision making. Leave me a comment. Scroll up and down to decide.

And here is the lovely romper in it's (slightly wrinkled--sorry) glory! I love this onesie. I got it for a song ($75) and it is such a great piece that was on trend for summer that I really enjoyed wearing. I wore it evenings out, or to do my shopping. I love the stripe and the slightly vintage color. However, I NEVER knew what shoe looked best. Now I will know! So....leave me a comment!