Uniforms

Dear Kate,

I know you're busy packing for Prague, but something I've been interested in for a while is uniforms.  Obviously there's the boring kind...

And then there's adding flair to a boring uniform...












This girl is my favorite...

I love her attitude, confidence, whatever it is--she looks like someone I want to grab a drink with, and let's be honest, that's one of the most important quality I look for in people.

However, my interest is not in obvious uniforms, but more my everyday uniform.  Sometimes it's so fucking hard to put together an outfit.  It's hard to be creative and cute all the time.  I know tons of people have written about the importance of a day-to-day uniform (The Sartorialist, Cupcakes & Cashmere, and many many more), but as a pretty broke college student, what fabulous outfit can I afford to purchase in several colors, textures, and weights?  For example, during the summer months, I would love to have a closet full of this...

The dress keeps it light, the flats keep it mobile, and the blazer keeps it structures and bit professional (always helpful when trying to make your way in the opera world, amiright?).  However, I also love the idea of monochromatic looks, like this...

I'm not a huge fan of the white because god knows I wouldn't be able to keep it white, but I am attracted to the overall neutral with a pop of color.  (Also, how cool is this old guy?  Go pocket squares!!)

I just want to look put together, but young and care-free!  Is this too much to ask?  Is this too much to afford?!?!  For now I'm sticking to my uniform of gladiator sandals, black stretch skinny jeans rolled past my ankles, and a whatever top is clean and closest. 

Have fun in Europa!  And tell me what the uniform for theatre artists in Prague is!

xoxoxoxo,

A

p.s. I got all these fabulous photos from Google and The Sartorialist.

GRADUATION aka #nu2012

Dear Kate,

As you know I have graduated, however what you haven't seen are the numerous photos I took with my iPhone during the event.  Because, as you know, graduation is terribly long and boring for the most part (except the part when I flirted with Colin Powell!!!! but more about that later).  So.....I distracted myself by taking pictures and editing them with Vintage Camera (my favorite app for my iPhone).

Me in my robe, chords, and cap.  Yes, I look like a lump....so I had to make this outfit slightly more attractive...and no, I was not about to decorate my cap.

This picture doesn't show it off that well, but I put a vintage pin on my cap, below the brim (is that the right term?) and it made me feel really edgy and hip.  Too bad no one looks edgy and hip in a cap and gown.  Oh and Joel graduated.  Did you know that?  Did you also know his short film that Mali was in went to Cannes?  God he's way cooler than I am...

This girl decorated her cap.  I can't tell what it says, but I what I can say for damn sure is that most of the people who decorated their caps were not creative, but did have craft store membership cards.  There were a couple 'thank you mom & dad's (which is sweet and totally true), but someone had YOLO written on their cap.  I later found out that this meant 'you only live once'.  Sorry I'm not sorry, but that's stupid.  True. But stupid.

This is the moment Colin Powell flirted with me!  Ok so I'm sitting in my seat at the back, texting my family and generally gawking at the enormity of the ceremony, and behind me, lining up, is the board of directors and professors...AND COLIN POWELL!  So I turn and start gawking at him and he turns to look directly at me.  I quickly turn back and face front.  After a few seconds, I turn back around to stare at him, and he looks directly at me and waves.  He basically flirted with me.  He totally flirted with me.  And since we're talking about my almost-boyfriend, he is a lovely speaker.  Him and his wife met in Boston.  Cute.  Super-cute.

So that is the story of my graduation.
Here are some extra pictures to prove it.

a

p.s. They kept projecting on the big screen at the Garden to tweet our pictures and twitterings, but I don't know how to use Twitter, nor do I have the patience and desire to try.  #technofail #lamesauce #penandpaperruleforeverandidontcarewhosaysdifferently

The Hat Problem

I love hats. I buy them. They sit in various locations in my room. I look at them. I love them from afar. But every time I try to wear them, I wimp out. "But how do I incorporate hats into my wardrobe?" I moan, hatlessly. "What am I, british?". Hats intimidate me.

So I constructed this flawless how-to on how to wear hats, which I recite to myself every time I get hat-shy.


How to wear a hat
by Kate, hat expert


Step the first: Put a hat on your dumb head.
Step the second: Don't take it off.

FIN


As long as you like the hat, and assume an attitude of casual badassery, the hat will be rocked. For proof, see below.

yes, I realize these are similar styles of hats. Because these are the kinds of hats I like. If you like these hats:

I can't help you. Hats like that require being British, or royalty, or at least a horse race. Most importantly, the require a whole gaggle of other people wearing hats like that. 

Hats aren't new. Your grandma rocked hats. HER grandma rocked hats. HER grandma was legally REQUIRED to wear a hat when out in public, cause who wants to see a woman's HEAD? GROSS. 

I love that hats were worn with short hair in the 20's, 30's and 40's. Now you see more long, flowing locks under hats like everybody's a gypsy, but back in the day, seeing a little flirty fringe under a perky hat was the tits. 

So go now, conquer the word of hats!

it's going very badly it's a terrible disaster

I went to Frieze Art Fair yesterday. I guess there was art there, but more importantly, people were wearing great outfits. I am not good at stealth photography. It's fine. Look at the clothes.

Full length white skirt with white chuck taylors, with a crocheted top. 

light shirtdress (or is it a tunic?) under a dark sweater with skinny pants. Great sunglasses.

I smudged out her face because it seemed sketch to put someone's face on the internet who I'd stealth photo-ed, but also because she was making a terrible face and I felt bad for her. Although now it looks like she is being very specifically swarmed by a well organized hoard of tiny flies....so I don't know if that's better. Ethics are hard. 

Here is the only art that I enjoyed. These are 2 sides of the same banner. 

And the best part is you can re-create it for like $8, if you have terrible handwriting or you are 7 years old . Or you can pay $6,000 if you want, I guess. Whatever. I don't understand art. 

Tune in later for a picture of my business lady pants. I had my cubicle buddy take a picture of me in them, but it turns out they match EXACTLY the color of ....everything in this cubicle. I really need to stop wearing grey things to work. Anyway, they are high waisted and have velvet pocket panels. A director I work for gave them to me for free. Wins all around.