Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

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Stacy Lomman Wardrobe Therapy: Black Skirt Ops

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I’m still showing off results from my continuing wardrobe therapy with designer/blogger Stacy Lomman. Outfits #8 and #9 both incorporate black skirts. The skirt for #8 came from a lightweight black Dolce & Gabbana suit; I previously wore it in a Stacy-styled outfit on election night. Fashion experts have been saying, “Split up your suits and wear them as separates!” for years, but when I tried that, the pieces still looked too corporate to me. I’ve realized from working with Stacy that the right shoe makes all the difference. For this particular skirt, she’s been favoring boots. I wore red suede boots with the skirt on election night. For a recent visit to Bergdorf Goodman for a press preview of Spring 2013 accessories, I wore the skirt with patent boots.

 What Wendy Wore — Stacy Lomman Outfit #8
Sweater: Zang Toi (2009, previously seen here)
Skirt: Dolce & Gabbana (purchased between 2000 – 2004)
Boots: Prada (2008, recently seen here)
Necklace: My own chicken-in-egg locket

I saw a lot of Barbizon television commercials when I was a kid with the tagline: “Be a model … or just look like one!” I’m starting to regret not signing up for a Barbizon class, but who knew then that 30 years later, we’d all be taking a dozen-self portraits a day? In the ’70s and ’80s, it was a splurge to get a roll of 36-frame film. That could last for months! Anyway, I thought I had come to terms with the fact that I have only one pose — the WendyB Pose — but I still feel I look unusually stiff in the photo above, probably because I was rather tense. First of all, I went straight from the Bergdorf event to see a couple of my manufacturers and check on the progress of new jewelry designs. I typically dress down for those visits, in the jeans and black t-shirt uniform of the past seven years. Whenever I look a little fancier, everyone has to comment. Have you ever worked in a business-casual office and had all your colleagues say, “Oh, do you have a job interview today?” whenever you dressed up a tiny bit? That’s what it is like.

Later on, when I met Stacy for an outfit photo, it felt weird to be striking a pose in a sidewalk location that I normally visit at night. There were a lot more rubberneckers in daylight. One guy was so engrossed in what I was doing that he didn’t see Stacy and walked right into her. That was kind of alarming. But, fuck it. At least I make a great paper doll. And my gorgeous publicist, Sakita Holley, thinks I would also make a good flip book: I could be in the same pose on each page, and when you flip the pages, it looks like my outfits are magically changing. A great stocking stuffer for the fashionista in your life! Think about it, publishing companies.

Still, MrB has been studying the pose issue to try to shake things up a bit. When he took my outfit photo after dinner with friends earlier this week, he surprised me by telling me how I could imitate a model’s stance that he’d seen in a recent issue of WWD. His instruction applied only to my legs, not my arms. I often carry my bag hanging around on my elbow and I was curious to see how it would look in a picture.

 What Wendy Wore — Stacy Lomman Outfit #9
Top: Sonia Rykiel (eBay, not sure what year)
Skirt:  Alexander McQueen (2004, previously seen here)
Shoes: Prada (pre-2005)
Purse: Louis Vuitton (2001)
Necklace: My own IDGAF necklace, askew
Rings: All my own designs

I had only worn those loafer-style heels with pantsuits before during my years in the corporate world. It was a very banker-y look. As for the skater-style skirt, I’ve never been sure what shoes to wear it with to keep it from looking too cutesy. I liked that Stacy paired the stuffy shoes with the fluffy skirt because they canceled each other out! I felt newly comfortable in both items.

If you live in the New York tri-state area and want to enlist Stacy’s help in revitalizing your own wardrobe, you can book an appointment with her through Cross It Off Your List. If you want a Skype consultation, contact Stacy through her website or Twitter.

UPDATED TO ADD: Now linked to Not Dead Yet Style’s Visible Monday post. Check it out to see other bloggers’ great outfits. Maybe you’ll get some good inspiration!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I love both looks! The first is absolutely fab. I took my posing idea from Art – contrapposto! Tilt weight onto one foot, do whatever is appropriate with your hands (in your case holding your bag.

    If it worked for the Greeks, it works for my blog.

  4. YES. If I wear a suit to work and no court-related activities I’m involved in are scheduled, then peeps want to know if I’m going out for lunch, and/or if what time is my job interview. Which can be particularly risky if you actually do have a job interview.

    Stacy is doing a great job of helping you rediscover how fantastic your own wardrobe already is (which we all knew). So glad the entranced pedestrian did not knock her over or damage the camera (I’m all about camera preservation). I think one key to getting more relaxed shots, which I still struggle with, but seems to be improving a little, is to take lots of pics because really only one or two will end up being really special, and to think of something that makes you laugh and laugh at yourself – and also to have someone take your pics that either loves you and/or makes you laugh 🙂

    • “Which can be particularly risky if you actually do have a job interview.” — exactly! And the colleagues’ tone is always so snarky.

      Photographers have always urged me to take lots of pix and I know I should (they’re the experts) but I feel soooo uncomfortable I always just want to get it over with.I have to learn to stick it out!

    • Thank you Lynne. And yes, “rediscover” is the right word because Wendy already has so much to work with already (because of her purchases and good taste).
      xo

  6. I like the WendyB pose! At least you don’t stand pigeon-toed and stare at your feet. I’m not sure which one of those things irritates me more. Both new looks are terrific, but then I have a thing for stripes…that Sonya Rykiel especially.

  7. I remember those Barbizon commercials. In fact I remember thinking that this was the type of “modeling school” that would emphasis walking around with a book on your head ala “A League of Their Own”. Actually given my slouchy posture that might not have been a bad thing for me. Does Barbizon still exist?

    I think both outfits & poses are great. Love that your husband studied up on posing techniques. That is too cute.

  8. HOW am I so late to the party??
    I really love horizontal stripes on you!
    Who knew?
    Love how the Sonia looks w/ the feminine skirt 🙂

  9. love that flirty little black skirt
    lol @ the barbizon adds, i used to listen to those and wonder how i could go there
    i was a stick and tall for my age at the time, don\’t know what happened…lol
    brett

  11. Stacy has great ideas. I love that Alexander McQueen skirt paired with the more conservative shoes. The top and pocket book are adorable in that shot too. The new pose is a good one but I still like the old one.

  12. I had one high-staff-turnover job where all of the “good luck on the interview!” wishings were quite sweet and wistful! Sorry to have missed this post as-it-happened, I love your articulation of Stacy’s rationale behind the awesome striped sweater + black skirt + footwear ensembles.

    Count me in as a fan of the signature WendyB pose – looking forward to the flipbook!!! – I’ve been standing the same way in photos since at least my teens except now my hands really want to be doing some strange things.