I devour Vogue every month. The clothes are fun and ridiculous (and sometimes fabulous). The jewelry--aah, the jewelry--is just so much fun to oggle, and don't even get me started on the shoes and purses and accessories.
But when I'm done reading it, I suddenly think a $450 skirt is reasonable. That's so wrong.
I end up reminding myself that we don't all have the bank accounts of the pretty young things featured in the magazine. They are all well-connected with trust funds and weekend houses and vintage Dior and Pucci and Missoni in their closets, handed down from mother.
(I have been wondering, though. What has happened to those frothy pretties who don't work and whose husbands have flippantly been described as being "in finance". Will they be forced to wear clothes from past seasons now that the global financial markets have melted down from glimmering, gleaming excess to dirty little puddles?)
It is easy to look fabulous when your outfit is from Neiman or Barneys, but putting together a great wardrobe when your target price for a cocktail dress is $150 and not $1500 isn't that easy. For the majority of us who shop in malls where mass retailers rule, the pickins are slim. The stores overflow with uninspiring clothes from one season to the next. Heaven forbid you want the latest trend, because you are stuck buying a piece from H&M or Forever 21 that will shrink/fade/fall apart in the washing machine.
Finding one retailer who promotes well-designed and well-made clothes that have personality, that do not render the wearer a carbon copy of everyone else at Whole Foods, and, that most importantly, sport prices on their tags that don't make your eyes pop out is no easy feat.
Well, I have found two.
JCrew has been around forever, but have you been recently? They have meshed their long-time preppy aesthetic with chic, timeless, and fun urban elements that keep their collections up-to-date and inspiring every season (just don't go now, during their transition into spring--boring). I love their skirts, sweaters, accessories, and shoes. Their catalogues are a study in how to look put together. And everything is well-made and fits, to boot.
My newest discovery is Martin + Osa. Huh? Well, that was my reaction when I saw their store. Who are these guys and where did they come from? They are a part of the American Eagle family, based out of the garment district in NYC. They are to American Eagle Outfitters what Banana Republic is to Gap. Their clothes are basic, thoughtfully designed, and the prices aren't obscene. The sales guys at my local outlet are fab and cute and fun and charming. Check it out.
About Me
- Monika
- I'm a marketing communications consultant living in the 'burbs outside of Washington, DC who would love to write about food and wine for a living. While I figure out a way to do so, I'll share my opinions and some great recipes via this blog. So why am I qualified to write about food and wine? Fair question. I should have gone to culinary school, but for whatever reason, I didn't. (However, I do have some formal culinary training, which I gained during an ill-advised one year stint in a hospitality management program during college.) When I got sick of working in a cube, I quit my job for a start-up software company and became a personal chef in Boston. Did that for a couple of years, but when we moved to metro DC, I went back into marketing communications. And here I am.
I actually recently discovered Martin + Osa myself and an definitely a fan. Their clothes is actually very well made, fits nice and I have to say, was pleasantly surprised when I looked at most of the price tags. One of my new favs. (Although still having a hard time getting away from Nordstrom's!)
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