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Gosh do I remember reading my boyfriend's post about new Outlier pants that were not just waterproof but everything-proof. Being a fencer myself, the concept of "proofed" up clothes barely excites me (our FIE gear will withstand almost any sharp things coming our way...some vendor told me it was bulletproof) yet I was still glad when I saw a tidbit about (fashionable) waterproof denim in the latest Lucky. I do hate it when my hems get soaked in the Seattle downpour. Check it out:

"Devious"

[Kasil Jeans. Cotton/Waterproof Lycra. $202.]

&

"Storm Denim"

[Alexander Wang x Cotton Incorporated. $375.]

Alexander Wang's denim has been out for a while, with blogs about it dating back to summer '08 when he first released the news. Quite the planner that man is. Did you know he was a former Teen Vogue intern? Yeah, hmm! I'm not too much of a fan of the (very) risque zipper. There is a front AND back complete zipper, which pulls the two legs of the jean totally apart. Strange. For me, I'd like waterproof denim when I'm tromping around going to class--and Wang's jeans make me like I'm going clubbing.

I haven't seen/heard much about Kasil but I'm liking the comfy, faded wash reminding me of my favorite Seven's I always throw on when it's a rainy day outside. Now that's practically applied fashion!

 

We all know Lela Rose. We all know her fabulous ready-to-wear designs and gorgeous gowns--but did you know she went to the University of Colorado? Even more importantly, did you know she is collaborating with Payless to make some goregous shoes without the high price tag? 

I've heard about this designer colloboration for a while. It's a no brainer Payless (the "go to" discount shoe store) will follow in the footsteps of Target and Kohls who have weathered well with their "fast fashion" collections. But as a skeptic of Payless for years, I wasn't expecting much. What a joy to be pleasantly surprised today when I walked into a Payless store to check out their new selection. 

These shoesies are adorable. I've always been a fan of the d'orsay detailing--and the big bow adds girly fun. Gray is still very trendy, staying strong from last fall/winter (though it may have been overtaken by yellow...there is no yellow version of this shoe though.) The satin is a tad shiny and polyestery, but hey--for $34 it is a great deal. The sizing runs a little big for me...but that may be my 4.5-5 size feet. I couldn't take these babies home since I just bought two great deals from my neighborhood consignment store (lacoste sweater and J Crew wool lady coat!) but I have them on my "considering" list for sure.

I swear fashion mags are boggled by numerous footsie padding ads--some smell nice, some keep your toesies warm, some are shaped like flowers. I have a lot of back, ankle, shin, AND foot problems so I've always been keen about cushioning ALL my shoes. I rarely wear high heels unless it's for special occassions, and you'll never see me with flats on without insoles. Through the years I've bought many a pack of insoles; I've tried pretty much every pair of Dr. Scholl's insoles available in the market. I've whittled through the massaging gel kind, the "pretty" kind for women, the shock obsorbing kind, and even the "back pain relief" kind. Now, I finally found the one that actually works--not just for flats and my fab new boots but also for my day-today sneakers AND my fencing shoes. I now present you with...

This babies work like a dream. They are easy to slip on (nothing to peel and stick) so you can move them from shoe to shoe when in a crunch. They never lose their padding and they have fantastic arch support that is flexible and not too hard (I hate insoles with very stiff arch support...it hurts more than it helps!). They virtually fit any type of shoe and any size of feet. They rarely get very smelly (if they do, just sit them in baking soda for a night) even though I wear them sock-less all the time. They are rubbery at the bottom so they don't curl up as you're walking--a huge pet peeve of mine. I have these in all my pairs of flats (including my very uncomfortable Franco Sarto's) as well as my Steve by Steve Madden boots which has a 1-inch wedge heel. When I stick these insoles in, I feel like I'm walking in sneakers. No pains at all. That's what I call miraculous.

I admit, most everything I find at Martin + Osa needs altering. Their size 0 usually means size 2 (just like J Crew) but sometimes I'll find something wonderful. It didn't hurt I got a 30% card for all their Fall Collection instore or online. Plus free shipping! 

You know the on-again off-again problem where you need a basic white tee but you want it to also look vaguely dressy and not hum-drum plain? Problematic, eh? My shelves are stocked with simple tees from Forever 21 but that's not something I want to wear with a pencil skirt for a work conference. Yet my ruffly blouses seem overly zealous and are too constricting. The solution?

Ruffle Tux Tee 

[Martin + Osa. Cotton. $49.50.]

Totally miraculous, right? I love the loose, body-skimming cut (it hides all the tummy you gain if you're at a dinner conference), the short sleeves are appropriate for semi-formal occassions (or if you forgot to shave), and the cute details. The ruffles are really well made, the stitching impeccable, and the little slits at the side of the shirt add enough casual to merit pairing the tee with jeans and flip-flops. Tuck this in a pencil skirt, throw on a black blazer, and you are comfy but still ready for work. Throw on a boyfriend cardigan over this, a miniskirt, a booties for a night out with the girls. Or pair with some jeans, flats, and North Face for a chilly fall day. I'm sold--are you?

I'm a young girl with a 60 year old body. My back aches, my shoulder aches, my feet hurt, my knees throb, my thighs hurt, etc. Most of it is fencing related, I admit, but that's something I won't stop doing. What I can do is to be super careful about eating well and not putting too much strain on my body. I'm all for gummyvites in the morning,  padded backpack shoulders, and a lot of hydration throughout the day. If Italy taught me anything, it's to keep water with you at all times. But who wants to carry a bulky SIGG bottle in their purse? Plastic bottles will get you many a frown, so what's a girl to do?

Luckily, I found a water bottle that not only eases weight on your shoulders but ALSO is eco-friendly. I present to you...

THE PLATYPUS

This water bottle is BPA free (remember the scandal with Nalgene bottles?), can be frozen and handle boiling liquids, is flexible in size, can roll up if needed, and comes in 3 different sizes. I love the Platypus because it takes up very little room in my purse, doesn't weigh anything by itself, and is pretty cool lookin'. I have the 1L one, which I usually finish in about a day. The only gripes I have with the water bottle is 1) it tastes like plastic the first few times when it's new 2) the sports-cap is really annoying and a couple times the twisty bottom cap came loose and water owned my purse and 3) you can't drink it without two hands (ie biking). Other than that, it's easily the niftiest thing I've got in my handbag. Get one cheap on Amazon today!

So I'm sure many of you have picked up one of the hottest trends for fall: the boyfriend cardigan. This soft, versatile sweater is perfect paired with jeans and tank for lounging around or belted over a dress. I did some researching and finally found the perfect boyfriend cardigan (for under $50!)

[Urban Outfitters. Cotton. $48.]

This version of the boyfriend cardigan has a bit of pizazz with the double stripe feature on the left sleeve, but it is still comfy and safe in a light heather gray. It is cotton (!!) for all your allergy-prone gals, has fitted sleeves but a slouchy body. It still does look good buttoned up, which isn't something you can say for all boyfriend cardigans. I'm not a huge fan of how it's worn in the picture, so take inspiration from Ashley Tisdale who wore this dress to the style lounge of the 2008 Emmy's. Her purple dress is drapey and soft but the cardigan provides a great boyish contrast.