August 9, 2010

make your own Gap magic!

I’m back from BlogHer, where I managed to take zero photos of what I wore. I have no idea how that happened, but I promise, I’ll get back on the photo bandwagon soon. Today. Really.

(Although today I’m wearing a dress I’ve worn 1,000,000 times and a pair of flip flops. Eh, whatever.)

Striped Sweater Dress, $59.50

While I’m doing my laundry and catching up at work, I wanted to take three seconds to give you a heads up: Gap’s fall line is being released Tuesday, August 10 — tomorrow! — in the evening. If you’re out and about this week, and happen to find yourself near a Gap, stop in and check out what’s new. I’ve seen some of it and it’s fabulous. Truly.

In Oklahoma City, you can swing by the Gap at Penn Square Mall and say hello to Stylist Danny, who is the best. You can also call the Penn Square store (405-843-0850) and set up your own free appointment with a stylist.

Let me say that again: FREE APPOINTMENT WITH A STYLIST.

Do it today. You won’t be sorry!

July 31, 2010

Gap magic!

Here’s something that really should have been on my life list, except that I didn’t realize how much I wanted to do it until I actually did it: work with a personal stylist. You know, have my own Clinton Kelly, just for an hour or so.

Yesterday I got to do just that. And let me tell you, it was truly the best thing ever.

This is Danny Moore; he’s a stylist with the Gap here in Oklahoma City. Danny usually works at Penn Square Mall, but yesterday he came out to Quail Springs and pulled together a big rack of clothes for me to try on; then spent 90 minutes watching me go in and out of the dressing room and pulling more pieces to go with what we already had on the rack and offering super smart suggestions about what to pair with what and how to accessorize each option.

He also taught me how to wear a belt, which seems simple but has always baffled me. Go figure.

Danny had assembled a perfect collection of pieces for me to try on. He told me that he had done his research and had been reading this blog and looking at my Flickr photos. His choices were spot on, both in style and size, and I got a little giddy when he started making recommendations for how to mix and match the pieces he chose with things I already own. Swoon.

The outfits Danny created for me revolved around two basic pieces: black pants and jeans. I’m a big believer in both, because if you’ve got a great pair of black pants and a pair of jeans that fit right, you’re ready to go anywhere. Right now, the Gap has a nice range of both options in a variety of sizes and shapes. What surprised me, though, was that the shapes I wound up loving the most were not ones I ever would have picked up on my own.

Danny put me in a pair of Real Straight jeans in a dark wash, which was a nice departure from my typical skinny jean; they gave me a long, slim leg line, which I don’t usually get in jeans, and they balanced out my hips, which are the widest part of my body. He had me try them in the regular length, rather than the ankle, which is what I typically default to. The regular inseam was perfect with a heel but can easily be rolled for flats, which means that these are now officially the most versatile jeans I have ever owned.

Excellent.

Danny also pulled a pair of True Straight Pants for me to try on, again in a regular length; I typically go for a cropped black trouser because it’s easier than messing with hems and heels. He paired the pants with the Cascading Ruffle Tank and a skinny black belt and my jaw fell to the floor when I saw the whole look. I was convinced that I couldn’t pull off that long tank because it would make my backside look huge; instead, the pants made my legs look about three miles long and the tank completely camouflaged my hips. I would never in a million years have picked out that particular outfit but it was fabulous.

Which is why I want Danny to come live in my closet and dress me every morning. Seriously.

This week you’ll see everything I came home with; I’m packing it all to take to New York City with me for BlogHer ‘10. In the meantime, if you’re in the market for jeans or black pants (or both!) stop in to your local Gap — and ask about working with a stylist. And then, once you’re there, take a chance and try on some unusual pieces. It’s entirely possible that you’ll come home with something completely different and completely stunning.

Trust me.

A big thank you to Danny Moore and the staff at the Quail Springs Mall Gap for making my shopping trip so much fun, to the Gap Inc. for picking up the tab, and to Brand About Town for putting all the pieces together.

July 28, 2010

Old School Meetup, NYC

Will you be in New York City on Saturday, August 7? Me too! Let’s meet for drinks.

Photo by Maggie Mason

Lots of us will be at The Volstead (125 East 54th St.) from 6 p.m. until we leave.

There will be no sponsors, there will be no schwag, and no one will make you drink a sickly sweet purple martini with hunks of dry ice. Thank god.

You can drink whatever you want, because you’ll be paying for it. That’s why we arranged for happy hour specials. Come raise your glass with us. Mine will have a vodka martini with a twist in it — and yours?

Hope to see you there.

July 2, 2010

don’t forget your underwear

I just sent my children off on a two-day drive to Florida with my in-laws. Yesterday, when they were packing up their things, Charlie gathered exactly one t-shirt and one pair of underwear as his clothes for the week. When I asked if he was just planning to stay in his swimsuit for the entire trip, he said, “Mom, I only have three pairs of underwear. I’m wearing one, one is in the laundry, and then there are these.” And dammit if he wasn’t right.

(I will be buying him underwear today and packing it with my things tomorrow.)*

What does that have to do with the winner of the Ellingon giveaway? This: JenS, who was drawn at random from the comments, will be toting underwear in her new Amelia bag this summer, along with a bunch of other stuff.

“What would be in mine? Diapers, wipes, sippy cups, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks for them, a power bar for me, water, books (for me and them), maybe my iPod, a stash of candy for bribing, perhaps a flask (you never know!) extra underwear (not for me!) one of those magnetic write-on boards, a little first-aid kit, and probably whatever random toy(s) they can’t live without, carry out of the house, then lose interest in.”

Her bag will be purple. Or burgundy. She’s deciding. Either way, a good choice! Congratulations, Jen! And thanks to everyone who entered, and to Ellington for providing the bag.

Want your own Ellington bag? This weekend get 20% off your order with code LIBERTY. Sitewide sale runs through Sunday. And if you’re in the Portland area, hit the Ellington store and score the same 20% off storewide. Excellent.

*Wade and I are flying to Florida, because the idea of spending two days — each way! — in the car to get to the vacation totally negates the idea of having a vacation in the first place.