see through

glasses - booth & bruce / lipstick - maybelline / shirt - zara (old) / tank - h&m (old)  / bralette - gap / pants - gap / boots - dv

Sort of been living in this simple uniform of a sheer tank and cropped pants with an army shirt over the top for the cooler mornings (yes, autumn is coming!).   I don't usually do sheer, but this feels somehow safe in spite of the translucency.  It's a question of balance I think.  As usual in my outfit posts, a lot of these items are from years gone by and no longer available, but here are the details for the ones that are and some alternatives for the ones that aren't...

vince

It was about a year ago that I posted those surreal sweaterscapes I'm so partial to and extolled the virtues of Vince knitwear.  Season after season they manage to just keep churning out high quality knits in totally covetable designs.  (And they last!  All of my Vince sweaters look impeccable even after years of constant use.)  But as much as I loved them, I was kind of convinced that was all they did and never paid much attention to the rest of their goods.  Until now.  So many good things on hand, like pony hair sneakers and oversized military coats:

And also t-shirts, leather jackets, silk shirts, and yes, of course, knits...

well made

Oh Madewell, you get me every time.  This rough and tumble yet streamlined utility jacket has me craving crisp fall days when I can romp through piles of crunchy fallen leaves while wearing all kinds of layers.  I know, I was just saying it's still summer, and how great that is, but honestly, when it comes to clothing, I'm all about the fall.

Effortlessly perfect, right?  Course, it's not really the jacket, it's the whole Madewell identity; they're just so good at making us want their stuff.  I know I fall for it every time.

More aspirational fall styling from Madewell...

still summer

I'm on sort of a spending diet lately, saving up for some big expenses on the horizon, but of course that doesn't stop me from fantasy shopping.  Problem is, all my fantasy shopping leans towards fall: layered sweaters and button-down shirts, long pants, lace-up shoes...  You'd think that since this is just hypothetical shopping we're talking about, it wouldn't matter, but it conditions me to crave certain things, and then to be disappointed when I can't actually wear them.  So today I felt the need to remind myself of something pretty important: It's still summer.  You'd think I'd have no trouble remembering, since it hasn't dipped below the 90s here in over a month, but I still find myself looking wistfully at my favorite long sleeve garments thinking that maybe a light breeze will necessitate an extra layer sometime soon.  Not gonna happen.  And really, that's not a bad thing, you just have to embrace it for all that it is.

So just as a reminder, some fabulous summery things to covet...

cut it out

mk and rumi in balenciaga

Remember these?  That was over two years ago, and those damn Balenciaga cutouts still look so good to me.  Time passes though, and since then everyone else has been getting in on the game too.  I, for one, am pretty happy about it.  I know it's a little early to be looking at anything other than flip flops in this heat, but I am already starting to yearn for days when I can wear actual shoes.  But maybe they need to be shoes with holes in them, for built-in ventilation.

minimarket oxfords

So many good options out there right now, so many styles to choose from...

skirting the issue

A simple outfit that's becoming my go-to uniform for summer weekends: a T by Alexander Wang classic pocket tank, a jersey maxi skirt from Zara, Rag & Bone Vespa sunglasses, Hawaiana flipflops (invisible, but there), a great big silver cuff from a market in Peru, and a solid leather tote I picked up at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul many moons ago.  Most of that's not available anymore, but you can come pretty close.

Some options, and some secrets...

sleeveless

This is all I want lately.  A simple button down shirt, hold the sleeves.  It's a way to stay cool without looking like you've given up.  Sadly, there's only one of these in my closet right now, and it's silk and reserved for special occasions.  Me thinks me needs more.

Some options on the table...

show some skin

Even though it's now (finally) summer here, I'm slow to show my skin.  I start off sort of victorian, with just a bit of ankle.  May not seem like much, but I get really really excited when I get to bare my ankles.  Of course, it necesitates the perfect little socklet.  Lucky for you, I've tried zillions and am here to recommend the most perfect little socklet ever produced.

Here you go...

light layers

It's officially spring here in Madrid.  We've done daylight savings time, there's little blossoms blooming everywhere, it's chaotically alternating rain and sun in a totally unpredictable way, and it is finally warm enough to go outside without a big coat on.  Rejoice!  Since it's been a while since my last outfit post, and nothing makes me happier than lots of layers (they call me an onion around here) and I thought I'd show you how I've been piling it on lately.  Nothing fancy, just simple, comfy, easy lightweight layers.

On the left: hat - Anne Demeulemeester // sunglasses- Paul Frank // necklace - mashallah pendant I've had (literally) since I was born // hoodie - American Apparel // parka - Filippa K // t-shirt - T by Alexander Wang // pants - Zara //  sneakers - Zara

On the right: hat - forte forte // jacket - the kooples // scarf - zara (ancient, but it's just a sheet of jersey fabric - DIY anyone?) // bag - cos (last season) // blouse - zara // jeans - fidelity // boots - moma

As you can see, a lot of these items have been in my closet for ever, so you might not be able to get the exact same pieces now, but here are some other options currently available...

vpl lusting

I've talked about VPL swimwear before, and yes, a year later, I'm still lusting after the majority of their suits.  Not quite as wacky as the We Are Handsome suits, but not the minimalist Eres either, these bikinis seem to strike a perfect balance between playful and subdued; they're simple but thoughtfully designed, sporty but elegant, and I love the extra bit of coverage in the bottoms.

More VPL goodness...

handsome

Our upcoming trip to Mexico has me thinking about swimsuits, something I don't actually do very often.  Of course the pragmatic minimalist in me fantasizes about a nice Eres suit, but then I thought, what about something fun?  Australian label We Are Handsome makes great quality suits with a sense of humor.

Joyous flora and tongue-in-cheek fauna...

clutch me

I stopped into Oysho yesterday to grab some pretty undies on sale, and inexplicably walked out with this clutch.  Of course I picked up some sale items as well.  Please.  As if I could resist.

See the details...

harrow two ways

I spent the entire weekend in my new boots.  So good.  They are indeed as comfortable as I'd hoped, and I can in fact walk for hours in them.  Saturday night my boots and I even stayed out til 3 in the morning (a huge accomplishment for a homebody like me) and my feet barely complained at all.

motobreakertrenchy

Lately I feel like 3.1 Phillip Lim just keeps getting it right.  And while he's always done leather jackets ridiculously well (I still think about, and pine over, this motorcycle jacket from Fall 2010, I honestly just can't get it out of my head), this new lightweight hybrid thing is pretty cool too.  Part motorcycle jacket, part windbreaker, part trench coat, it's a little strange, but I could see getting tons of joyful wear out of it.

Check it out...

black bootie

Yes my friends, this is for real.  I alluded to it before, and it's been a long time in the works, but The Great Black Boot Experiment of 2012 is finally finished, and the results are in.  I researched hundreds (pretty sure I'm not exaggerating here) of black ankle boots, narrowed it down to 8 candidates, and after careful scientific analysis, have made my decision.

I'm sure you're dying to know all the gory details...

counting sheep

I am smitten with this cozy sheep sweater from Oysho.  I'm not usually a fan of cutesie animal prints, but this one got me.  Also love the boyish boxy shape, I think it would be perfect for layering over a button-down (with a pop of color on the lips)

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

A few more greys from what is easily one of my favorite spanish fast-fashion labels...

denim day

One of my great accomplishments when I was in Madison was buying new jeans.  You laugh?  Huge accomplishment, I swear.  I imagine that there is a body type for which it is extremely easy to find jeans that fit, but mine is not one of them, nor, I'm guessing, are most women's.  Lucky for me, Madison, WI is home to amazing shopping.  Oh, you didn't know that?  Did you know that Shopbop is based in my hometown?  And that we have a local in-store Bop?  Jealous yet?

More after the jump...

sweaterscapes - vince

My beloved new sweater.  More beautiful and luscious in its simplicity than I can describe.  It also magically turns into misty moonlit sandscapes on a distant planet while I'm not looking.  Or so I'd like to think.

Zoom out to see the whole thing after the jump, along with some more of my favorites from Vince...

cos

Cos, or Collection of Style, is big sister to H&M and has stores sprinkled throughout europe.  Oddly enough, I never thought to check if there's one in Madrid.  Well, there is.  Danger, danger!   The pieces are beautiful, minimalist, well-constructed, and the shopping experience there is totally and utterly enjoyable.  And yes, it is of course more expensive than its younger sister, but justifiably so, and I really think that each and every piece is a steal. 

And the t-shirts?  Can I just say that I'm no longer relying on Mr. Wang to supply me with perfectly draped silky soft Ts?  And that my new-found loves are half the price?  And can I also mention that while I still dream of having a VPL bra one day, this sporty number is bringing me all kinds of joy in the meantime?  These may seem like simple pleasures, but the quality is so great that I'm over the moon about it all.

Take a closer look at my first Cos Madrid haul after the jump...

to top it off

It's hot. Summertime hot. I don't think it's permanent, seems like it's going to cool down here at the end of the week, but for now, I'm enjoying every sunny minute of it.  It also makes me want a new hat.  You know, to keep the sun out of my eyes.  Come on, it makes perfect sense.  Eugenia Kim, as usual, has a few options that caught my eye immediately.

But so does Club Monaco.  I don't know why I'm surprised by this, but I am.