clothing | Door Sixteen

Pretty things on my Etsy wishlist.

Mar 22, 2013

doorsixteen_etsywishlist_hindsvik

✚ Bright green and black vintage wool blanket from Hindsvik

With any luck we’ll be heading out of wool blanket territory soon (28°F in the third week of March? Ugh!), but you know me and blankets. I really love the intense green of this vintage striped one from Hindsvik. Bright green looks so great with pale wood and black/white interiors!

doorsixteen_etsywishlist_snugstudio

✚ snug.abc poster from Snug Studio

The shapes that make up the alphabet in this poster from Snug Studio are based on the shape of classic building blocks—like the ones I’m playing with in this photo! The next time I know someone who’s having a kid, this is what they’re getting from me.

doorsixteen_etsywishlist_urbanwalls

✚ Plus Sign vinyl wall decals from UrbanWalls

I don’t really think of myself as being a wall decal person, but these guys from UrbanWalls are really appealing to me. They come in a whole bunch of color options, including GOLD! Can you imagine a bathroom covered in gold crosses on black walls? Swanky!! Or pale gray walls with white crosses? So pretty.

doorsixteen_etsywishlist_thiefbandit

✚ Hand printed Mountain leggings and Mountain pillow

I couldn’t choose between the leggings and the pillow, so I went with both. To be honest, though, I kind of want everything in the Thief & Bandit shop. (p.s. They have another shop full of amazing kids’ stuff, too!)

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✚ Festoon ceiling light set from Raw Dezign

This is such a simple idea, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it done before. This string of ceiling-mounted lights from Raw Dezign comes with hooks for hanging and a choice of 13 different colors of braided cloth cord. You can contact them directly if you’re interested in a different length, too.

What’s on your Etsy wishlist right now?

Weekend uniform.

Jan 4, 2013

Vanity + Wearables

52 comments

It’s been a month since my last outfit post, which seems about right when considering how frequently I change my clothes! I kid, I kid. OK, not really—I know I like to joke about only having three outfits, but it’s kind of true. I have a small handful of staples that are all interchangeable. I like casual, comfortable, modest and somewhat masculine (boyish?) clothes.

weekend outfit

1. Surplus Parka, BDG
2. Cube Scarf, Micaela Greg
3. Veronica Slouch Boots, Frye
4. Letter Bag, Moop
5. Sofia Skinny Jeans (Dark Faye), Lucky
6. Arcos Earrings, Stone & Honey
7. Super Duper Strength Sunglasses, Karen Walker

This is more or less what I’ve been wearing every weekend these days. I love parkas—I have a black one with a very warm, detachable lining, and an army-green one that’s a lighter weight (mine came from the clearance rack at the Gap, but I’ve tried on this one from UO and it’s good stuff—it does run large, though, and if it’s -10°F where you live it’s probably better for fall/spring). The nice thing about loose-fitting parkas is that you can wear lots of layers underneath without feeling like a bulky sausage. Also: POCKETS. I love big pockets. Tissues, iPhone, lip balm, sunglasses, hair elastics, gloves…they all go in the pockets. (Still loving Lucky’s Sofia skinny jeans, too—more about them in my last outfit post!)

I don’t actually own that Micaela Greg scarf, but I’m thinking it might be a good present for myself as a reward for all of the tiling I did in the kitchen. (Hello, justification!) I have their triangle neck cozy, and it’s so soft (not a speck of itchiness!) and nicely made. I can never bring myself to squish a hat down on my head, so in the winter months I rely on giant scarves to wrap around my head and over my ears when it gets really chilly out.

I’ve expressed my love for Frye boots before, but I don’t think I’ve ever specifically mentioned their Veronica slouch boots. Truth: I own three pairs of these boots. Dark brown (pictured here), cracked white leather (yes, really), and these gray stone-washed ombré ones. Frye have been making this style of boot for a long time, and I’ve bought one pair every two years. Unlike most Frye boots (which have leather soles that can be slippery on ice), they have a thick, rubber lug sole that wears really well when the sidewalks and streets are icy, so they’re great in winter. Once a year I get them waterproofed by my cobbler and have him put a new piece of rubber on the heel, and that’s enough to keep them in excellent shape.

Weekend? Ready!

My work uniform + my favorite boots.

Dec 3, 2012

Greed
Vanity + Wearables

50 comments

I felt a little silly when I put together my first outfit post last month, I guess because I don’t think of myself as being a particularly “stylish” person when it comes to clothing. Most of what I wear comes from stores like H&M, Gap and Old Navy (I prefer to spend on accessories and shoes, since they’ll always fit!), and I don’t dress to stand out. I don’t work from home—I’m in a midtown office building every day—and while we don’t really have a dress code beyond “don’t come to work in a bikini” (not a problem), I try to not look like a complete mess. That said, I pretty much wear the same thing on my days off as I do when I’m at work, I just try to save the stuff with holes in it for the weekends.

1. Blazer, H&M
2. Small Gem Necklace, Lila Rice
3. Juniper Tank Top, Alternative Apparel
4. Sofia Skinny Jeans, Lucky
5. Hepcat Shades, Madewell
6. Leslie Zip Booties, Frye
7. Rain print pouch, Bookhou
8. Mustard cotton scarf, Scarf Shop*
*Martha from Scarf Shop was kind enough to offer 10% off anything in the shop with the code ILOVEANNA through Jan 1st!

This is a typical work outfit for me. I wear jeans almost every single day (I don’t even own a pair of non-denim pants!), so I try to keep four well-fitting pairs in rotation at any given time. Sadly, Gap seems to be discontinuing the Curvy Skinny jeans I love so much, but Lucky’s Sofia skinny jeans are my fallback. I’ve been wearing Lucky jeans for years, and while I can’t always rely on them to have the exact color/fit combo I like in their lineup, I do love these. They hit all the marks: A truly skinny leg, medium-rise, butt-covering, hip/thigh-accomodating. Flattering. The “resin” color is actually a really dark blue, not black. I love that they have absolutely no fading/distressing whatsoever, too. I find I can wear dark, unfaded jeans to just about any fancy event short of black tie (and I’ve never been invited to anything black tie!) as long as I wear the right shoes and a nice shirt/jacket. I love a good blazer.

Speaking of the right shoes, these are The Right Shoes. (After ogling Acne’s Pistol boots for a few months, I finally tried them on and they were…wrong for me. The opening around the ankle is too small to tuck jeans in unless you have stick legs, and I don’t have stick legs. They just looked bad on me.) By chance I came across Frye’s Leslie Zip booties right before I left for London in October, though, and they are perfect. Perfect! The opening is large enough that my jeans can tuck into the top and look a little scrunchy the way I like. The heel height is just right. Last weekend I wore them with tights and a dress…they can do anything. Like I said, perfect.

In a moment of true recklessness, I decided to make them the ONLY shoes I brought with me to London—yes, I committed myself to a full week of walking every day in a brand-new pair of shoes. And I was fine. I did get one small blister around day 5 from my toes rubbing against each other, but nothing from the shoes. They have been ultra-super-comfy from the moment I first put them on. Bootlove.

EDIT: I just realized I’m actually wearing this exact outfit today, only with a different Bookhou bag. Hah!

Your frankly vulgar Moz pullover.

Nov 8, 2012

Music + Movies + Books
Vanity + Wearables

34 comments

I freaked out the other day when I got an email announcing that pre-orders are now being accepted for the new line of Morrissey sweaters from VIVA MOZ. I want them all. The gray Smiths sweater with the daffodils even made me want to put together one of those “outfit montage” things that Real Bloggers® are always posting:

1. The Smiths daffodils sweater, VIVA MOZ
2. Curvy Skinny jeans, Gap*
3. Long striped scarf, Madewell
4. Thatcher glasses, Warby Parker
5. Carson oxfords, Frye

*Side note about the Gap Curvy Skinny jeans: If you follow me on Twitter, then you know how enamored I am with these jeans. I wear skinny jeans about 360 days a year, so the fit really matters to me. I know everyone’s body is different, but if you’ve got a large hip/waist ratio and tend to have that problem with jeans gapping at the back and requiring a belt, these are for you. I recommend going down a size (or two!), though, because that “vanity sizing” thing Gap does is totally out of control.

I have a weird thing where I don’t like to wear shoes that don’t come up over my ankles unless the top of my foot is exposed—I’m convinced my legs look like parsnips unless I’m either wearing boots or sandals—so I keep hesitating and not buying a pair. Jen was wearing these Frye oxfords when she was here last week, though, and I kept eying them with envy. I feel like my inner nerd (who, coincidentally, is also my outer nerd) really wants to wear oxfords…parsnip legs and all.

But enough about my parsnip legs! LOOK AT THESE SWEATERS! (By the way, if you think you want one of these sweaters for yourself or a loved one, I suggest you pre-order before the sale date. They always sell out fast once they’re knitted and stocked.)

Evan has owned the original green one for a few years, and I have the football scarf. They’re both pretty rad, as evidenced by my mother and Evan, who are making their second joint modeling appearance on D16 this week (here’s the first). I’ve posted these photos before, but how could I leave them out? Fashion plates, those two.

My fall fantasy wardrobe.

Sep 15, 2012

Greed
Vanity + Wearables

32 comments

My personal style is very “Jedi Knight meets Patti Smith,” and that’s tough to nail down when it comes to readily-accessible, moderately affordable clothing. It’s also a style that pretty much just looks like dirty pajamas if it’s done wrong. If I had limitless cash, I’d have Yohji Yamamoto, Ann Demeulemeester and Rick Owens at my disposal, but alas, I do not. I am trying to make an effort to move beyond Forever 21 and H&M, though. I mean, I’m going to be 37 years old in a few weeks. I think it’s probably OK to buy a sweater that costs more than $18—and, more importantly, that last longer than 6 months before the threads start to pull and it loses its shape in the wash. (Side note to my real-life friends: I swear I will stop wearing that disgusting cardigan every day. Not just yet…but soon. Really soon. Honest.)

I had never heard of the New Zealand clothing company Kowtow before Tamera sent me a link to this outfit, but I’m already kind of obsessed. This is exactly how I want to dress every day. Modernist Lazigoth.

✖ Bauhaus Jacket. I don’t know if they’re referencing the German school or the English band, but either way, I’m on board. This is the most perfect hoodie ever.

✖ Parallel Dress. OH HELLO THERE. It’s true that I’ll wear anything the size and shape of a Hefty bag with a neckhole (armholes optional), but this dress/tunic is actually cut really nicely—and it has a rad print on it.

Jen wrote about the San Francisco-based knitwear line Micaela Greg (designed by two sisters!) on Honey Kennedy the other day, and I had a series of tiny heart attacks while flipping through their Autumn-Winter 2012 lookbook. Legging and scarves are staples in my (tiny but flexible) wardrobe, and who doesn’t love little sweaters with weird arms? No one, especially when they’ve got Q-Bert style geometric patterns on them.

✖ Black Triangle Neck Cozy. Like Jen said, I would wear this scarf every day between now and next July. This is an Anna-scarf if I ever saw one! I love that it can double as a little hood, too.

✖ Cube Shrug. This is my favorite shape when it comes to cardigan-type stuff. The length in back is perfect, and it’s got volume without being bulky. I don’t like wearing wraps because I never know what to do with my arms, but little shrugs like this are perfect.

✖ Small Square Legging. You know how I said I feel like Ferm is designing housewares just for me? Well, I like to think Micaela Greg had me in mind when they made these leggings. The pattern is just so good. I feel a teensy bit nervous about the color being described as “dark navy and rose,” I could make do. Can you imagine them with knee-high boots, a long white tee, and the Bauhaus jacket from Kowtow?! Now you’re talking.

Oh, Kenobi-Smith! My favorite. I can’t afford any of their stuff, sadly, but maybe if they decide to do a diffusion line someday I can splurge on a piece or two.

p.s. Thank you so much for all of the feedback and kind thoughts yesterday. I don’t know what comes next or exactly what I’m planning to do and when, but I’m glad I at least opened up the dialogue. I feel proud and fortunate that there is such a friendly and honest community of people reading my blog.

My pants are electric.

Aug 4, 2012

Vanity + Wearables

25 comments

A while back, Jessie posted a photo on Instagram of her new lighting bolt pants, and I knew immediately that I was going to have to copy her and make them my own. They remind me of two people: My friend, Nubby Twiglet and my sometime spirit animal, David Lee Roth. Honestly, that’s not a bad place to be. I mean, is it possible to say, “I feel like David Lee Roth in these pants,” and have it be a bad thing?!

Jessie bought hers at Trash and Vaudeville (Isn’t it amazing that T&V still exists? Other than Yaffa, I think it’s the only thing on St. Mark’s Place that hasn’t turned over since I was in high school), and I was able to find mine for about 50% off at Karmaloop (sadly sold out). They’re made by Tripp, naturally!

I’ve had these pants for a couple of months now and I still haven’t managed to leave the house with them on. I think once it’s a little less stiflingly hot and humid outside, I’ll feel more confident since I can pair them with boots and a giant cardigan…

I want to be the person who can dress like this and not look (and feel) like a total idiot.

Jan 4, 2012

Greed
Vanity + Wearables

31 comments

Photos via Marimekko

Noora Niinikoski’s Tivoli knitware line for Marimekko’s Fall 2011 line was pretty spectacular. And also pretty wacky. When I look at the composed outfits, my first thought is that I want to wear all of it, including the red clogs, immediately. I’m pretty sure I’d literally look like a clown, but you only go around once, right? I tend to be extremely subdued in my dress (though contrary to popular belief, I don’t only wear black), mainly because I prefer to blend in to my environment rather than stand out. For some reason, the opposite extreme is also appealing to me!

I’m pretty sure the last time I ventured into the world of “funky” (OH, HOW I LOATHE THAT WORD) legware was a good 20 or so years ago (as evidenced here), but maybe it’s time to go down that road again. Am I old enough to have reached that point where I can look like an idiot but have it get written off as eccentricity? I hope so, because I’ve always wanted to wear a pom-pom scarf around my head like a turban. There is always the fear that I’d wind up looking like a giant infant, of course.

A few pieces from the Tivoli line are on sale right now at Kiitos Marimekko, and I am seriously tempted. Maybe just the knee socks…