A Midnight Snack

On occasion, I stumble across deal so hot that I can't go to bed without letting you in on it. Behold, one of the loveliest shirt dresses you will ever lay eyes on, for under $100. Only size small and extra small are available.

Converse by John Varvatos - Womens Stripe Shirt Dress (Noir), $74 @ 80's Purple (was $185).

Photo credit: www.80spurple.com

Working the Work Shirt

More rugged and casual than your boring, crisp button-down, these shirts from Urban Outfitters (I know, lots of UO mentions lately) epitomize a look I like to call working class chic. I'm digging the dual-layer contrast and curved hem.

BDG Dress Solid 1-pocket Duofold in navy, $49 @ Urban Outfitters.




Also available in grey.
Photo credit: www.urbanoutfitters.com

Adieu, Riptides

This week I am mourning the loss of my favorite flip flops, which broke tragically on Sunday afternoon as I was crossing Avenue A to meet my friend Sam for brunch at Westville. The thong became severed from the wooden sole, leaving me to limp across the street as if shot in the leg. We pondered my predicament, trying to determine where I might be able to get a replacement as quickly as possible. The hostess did her bit to help by providing tape, which worked for about half a block. I then wondered, as I often do when I find myself in tough situations, what MacGuyver would do. I was inspired to use my ponytail elastic to strap the shoe to my foot. When that failed another half block later, I resorted to a piggy back ride.

We gimped our way to Buffalo Exchange (where there wasn't anything simple and basic in my size), Pas de Deux (where I wasn't willing to part with nearly $300 for a pair of basic black Repetto flats), and finally, Urban Outfitters (where I ended up getting a woven sandal for $20). I didn't exactly love my new footwear, but they solved my problem. Many thanks to all the lovely, sympathetic sales associates (apparently everyone has "been there") at all three stores for helping me in my hour of need, and to Sam for lending his services as a transport animal.

As my dearly departed flip flops were hopelessly beyond repair, they were discarded laid to rest in a trashcan somewhere along the way to the theater to see Inglourious Basterds. The simple, minimal Ashley Dearborn Riptide sandals I left behind featured slim straps in the perfect shade of dull platinum and, for the last four summers, had taken me everywhere from beachside vacations to day-to-day errands to nights out on the town. I'd actually gotten them for free because the designer's line was sold at a boutique I worked at in SF, and she gifted the employees with a pair of the best-selling style.
I tried to find the same shoes again, but I kept getting an error message on the Ashley Dearborn website. They seem to be out of stock. I've tried similar styles from other brands, but they're just not the same. J. Crew's leather capri sandal is the closest I've come to finding a suitable replacement, but the silver is a bit too shiny for my taste. Anyone have any recommendations?

Photo credit: www.ashleydearborn.com

A Biased (Cut) Review

Menswear blog Biased Cut sent in this very comprehensive review of the new men's jeans at Gap. I dig it.




Ms. Shoptometrist -

I used to be a frequent reader, but I think I lost you there sometime in the spring. Nonetheless, I'm back, and I saw your request for some input on Gap's Premium Jeans men's line. I thought it would be interesting to spend my lunch trying on their various cuts.

Now, to be fair, most (ok, all) of the jeans I currently wear are relatively skinny in nature. Not the super skin tight rocker jeans, but definitely far from any "boot" or "relaxed" cuts you'll see at most outlets. But I decided to sample three different cuts at the Gap: Standard, Authentic, and Straight. Skinny isn't under the Premium line, and it also isn't under $60, so I didn't try it.

• Standard: My first thought when buttoning these up was "Wow, I haven't worn anything this baggy since 'Nam". But they were comfy. So much so that I could definitely see myself sporting these in the great outdoors. While I can't imagine wearing them around the city, these would be a great pair of jeans to scrape up in some rough brush or scuff with grass stains. They were noticeably roomier in the crotch, which was a welcome change, and besides a little ballooning just below the waist, they fell comfortably down the rest of the body. Verdict: 3.5/5.0.

• Authentic: Again, this pair took a few minutes to grow on me (metaphorically). I realized that these would make a classy, more formal pair of jeans to be worn out on a nice evening. The crotch area was tighter, as most men are probably used to in recent years, but it felt strange because the rest of the pants weren't as equally close-fitting. I think with just slightly less fabric in the leg opening, we'd have a great fitting pair of jeans here. Verdict: 4.0/5.0

• Straight: According to the Gap, the only difference between the Authentic and Straight is that the Authentic is slim through the leg, while the Straight is... straight. It's somewhat ironic that the Straight is named so, since it gave my lower body a more hourglass-shaped figure. I felt these were too sloppy-looking to be worn for fancier occasions, but their loose fit definitely won't make them many fans in the fashionable crowd. Verdict: 2.0/5.0.

I didn't end up purchasing any, but I also went in with no intention of purchasing any. If I had to choose one, I would have chosen the Standard because it's what my wardrobe is most lacking right now, and inevitably slimmer jeans will fall out of style. Plus they had the best wash in my size. At $54.50, plus an instant $20 off, these are a pretty solid deal. However, if I'm in the market for some well-fitting, inexpensive jeans, I'm headed to 546 Broadway and picking up these babies in another color.

Many thanks to Biased Cut for their time and words! Also, in case you're curious about the skinny fit, Fashion Herald tries them on for size.


UPDATE: I sent my friend Omar on a mission to test them out and he's come back to report that his experience was very disappointing. Like the Biased Cut review, he tried on three styles and, much like my own experience with the women's version, felt they were certainly comfortable, but ran way too big and just didn't fit right. He also found the straight cut to be roomier in the leg than a straight cut ought to be. For a comparable price, he prefers BDG, Urban Outfitter's in-house line.

Photo credit: www.gap.com

Gap 1969: Born to Fit (Some)

As promised, here's my review of Gap's new premium denim. Note: This review is limited to the Always Skinny style, as it was the only kind I was interested in purchasing.

On Sunday afternoon, I wandered into the Gap at Astor Place, keenly aware of the improbability of finding a pair of great fitting jeans from a mass retailer for less than half of what I usually end up having to spend. Still, I trudged onward towards the table piled high with denim. A faint glimmer of hope flickered in my eye as I spotted what looked like a promising, medium blue wash, and another in charcoal. It was quickly snuffed out when I discovered that both were out of stock in my size, as well as the next size up. I chose to interpret the lack of availability as a sign that perhaps the jeans were as good as advertised, and had been eagerly snatched up by discerning fashionistas. I decided to try my size in another, darker wash purely for investigative purposes.

As I pulled them on, the first thing I noticed was how comfortable they felt. Even though the dark rinse I'd chosen was more rigid in feel than the medium blue, they still didn't feel like denim. The fit through the legs wasn't as snug as I normally wear (I favor the super skinny), but narrow enough to make me happy. However, I knew even before they made their way up over my hips that they would be too big in the waist. Once zipped and buttoned, my suspicions were confirmed. The pair I tried on was a 25/0, and since I normally wear a 24 or 25 in other brands, this cut was obviously a bit too generous. Though they weren't falling off, there was room enough that they moved around on my hips and wouldn't sit right. Also, the stretchy fabrication seemed to foretell an inevitable stretching out to the point of unwearable mess. It's too bad, because for the price, I totally would have bought a pair were it not for the waist situation. According to their website, there is a such thing as a size 00, so I'll think about it.

The verdict: though there were a couple of nice washes, the fit wasn't mind-blowingly amazing. However, at these prices, it might not be a bad idea to get a pair as comfy, back up jeans.

My apologies for the poor quality of the camera phone photo, but it's all I could manage in the poorly lit dressing room.

Always Skinny Jeans in Saturated Dark Wash, now $49.50 (was $69.50).

A Little Help, Please

Dear Menfolk,

I'm cooking up a post on the Gap's recently launched 1969 denim collection (surely you've seen a billboard by now, bearing the "Born to Fit" slogan). The idea is that the design team supposedly put in a lot of time tooling around with denim, tweaking and re-tweaking to deliver new, more contemporary styles with an unparalleled fit at affordable prices (they're all under $70 a pop). I tried out the girls' version this past weekend (stay tuned for a report), and now I'm looking for some dudes (i.e., you) to let me know what you think of the guys' styles. If you own or have tried on a pair, I'd love to know your thoughts. Ditto if you happen to be passing by a Gap store and are suddenly seized with curiosity. I'd need to know the style you tried on, what you liked/didn't like, how they compare to your favorite denims, and if you'd actually buy them.

You can check out the press release to read all about the new offering and the nauseatingly 360 degree campaign that accompanies it (expect the usual: pop-up shops, Facebook interactivity, in-store concerts, and of course, an iPhone app). I do like the ads, but I'm so sick of the full-on, bombardier-style blitz, which seems to be de rigeur these days. I miss print. And jingles. And plain old word of mouf.

Many thanks for your contributions.

M