gentleman con swag: chris paul

1. gucci woven cashmere blazer

2. dunhill leather travel bag

3. j.crew suede boot

4. nudie denim

5. chris paul clippers jersey

6. brioni paisley tie

7. gucci aviators

skirting the issue

The truth is this: When it comes to holiday dressing (& daily dressing in general) I always feel guilty throwing on a dress. Besides Googling the answers to your astronomy homework, a singular cylinder covering two major zones of your anatomy just seems like the biggest cop-out in the game. With the exception of the high school prom & maybe (just maybe) your wedding, I challenge your creativity & self-confidence in pairing more provocative pieces together primarily for the sake of originality & my amusement. 

Although the result of said challenge for me personally is usually leather pants, this holiday season I'm dipping into the pond that holds a similar type of cylinder covering only one major zone of that said anatomy. Because, contrary to this generation's Einsteins Taylor Swift & Boys Like Girls, two is not better than one. 

I give you, the festive skirt.

1. drinks with friends

2. date night

3. dinner with boyfriend's parents

4. company holiday party

5. new years eve party

6. holiday party with friends & family

lauren jerdonek.

they go west

During my senior year of high school I had the distinct honor of playing Sally Cato in the spring show, Mame. The role came with the pivotal and plot-twisting musical number in which I sang the line “Giddy-up, Lightening Rod” to my invisible horse for two whole minutes, in about a dozen different octaves, while a crowd of 300 wondered why I didn’t wear nude undergarments and why I was holding my whip upside-down. I still pray to this day no one has footage of that scene to hold over my head when E! News profiles my True Hollywood Story in ten years.

Although Sally Cato was nothing short of a harsh blow to my dignity, it did give me a leg-up on one of this season's most prominent trends: Equestrian.

Everything from riding helmets to horse-patterned sweaters made their way down the catwalk this past season. But, since a stallion graphic knit can seem a little My Little Pony-ish and wearing a riding helmet will probably get some “Halloween was last month” reactions, pieces like plaid shirts, buckled accouterments and riding boots are the perfect cavalry translation.

lauren jerdonek.

boyfriend: bomb squad

 

Admit it: you either spent fourth grade recess pretending to beat the Nazis to the Ark of the Covenant or you turned the swing set into an F-14 until it was time for dinner. Regardless of your ten year-old-self’s fantasy, both Dr. Jones and Maverick taught incredibly important life lessons: No, not to “believe in the unbelievable,” not “persevere through difficult times” and especially not “don’t drink coffee in the flight tower.”

The biggest lesson learned from such BAMFs is this: with the right bomber jacket, you can never loose.

A leather bomber jacket is not only the ultimate definition of “cool,” but it’ll become one of the most versatile pieces in your repertoire. Wear it down with a white V—neck and a fitted pair of dark denim to turn you Boss Notch up a dial or dress it up with a collared shirt to add a degree of smooth and sexy to a formal look.

Because the bomber’s silhouette is so simple, it’s important to tune-in to the details. Zippers, pockets and the shape volume all formulate different styles and vibes.

lauren jerdonek.

geeking out: diane von furstenberg & google glass

{pc: style.com} 

Aside from 10% Off Gelato Tuesdays at the Pourhouse Cafe & a free Wi-Fi connection, there's only one thing that gets me more excited than a kid on Christmas morning & that, my friends, is a delightful fusion in fashion & technology.

Earlier this month at New York Fashion Week, Diane von Furstenberg not only sent her  models down the runway in confident brights, narrowly cut bottoms & printed caftans, but she also added a never-before-seen accessory to the catwalk: Google Glass.

Glass is Google's first venture into the stylesphere while making its first major debut last April when Google co-founder, Sergey Brin, hosted a Google+ Hangout that featured skydivers jumping out of plane wearing Glass, capturing their descent live for the press conference attendees a.k.a. tech junkies to see. When Brin met DVF at an event over the summer, she was fascinated by his work & he hers. It was decided instantly that a collaboration had to happen.

Glass was worn by von Furstenberg, makeup artists, assistants, front-row attendees & models themselves for a short film giving a 360-degree, inside look into the creative process behind a resort collection. The glasses not only have the ability to record video & take pictures, but also act as GPS, social media updater among other things, claiming their role is "augment reality."

Although these glasses are totally on my wish-list in December (hint, hint mom & dad), Glass does pose some fashion concerns: like, how the hell to wear them without looking like  X-Men's Cyclopes. Of course the fashion maven herself did a stellar job styling the specks in her spring/summer 2013 collection, it is my duty to bring you some more obtainable inspiration perfect for your new splurge.

{contents: 1. levi's made & crafted red skinny jeans + 2. iris & ink cobalt shell top + 3. reed krakoff green crepe dress + 4. christian louboutin yellow brogues}

{contents: 1. t by alexander wang tank + 2. donna karan leather jacket + 3. valentino leggings + 4. the row clutch}

{contents: 1. chloe pleated crepe dress + 2. rag & bone jean + 3. j.crew ballet flats + 4. victoria beckham bag}

lauren jerdonek.

essentials: leather sleeves

Adding black sleeves to your wardrobe this fall amps-up the classic tee. Noir-siding not only slims your upper arms, but also turns a simple top into a Lagerfeld-approved ensemble.

{contents: 1. jason wu lace + 2. tibi silk print + 3. reed krakoff + 4. 3.1 phillip lim leather sweater + 5. h&m color top + 7. rick owens jacket}

lauren jerdonek.

boyfriend: mr. burgundy

Never in a million years would I have dreamed of lumping a fictional, (local) Emmy-awarded anchorman into the same category of such swanksters like Andrew Garfield and Zac Efron. In fact, I'm sure I'm committing some kind of fashion cardinal sin even comparing the two! But sometimes, ya gotta do what you gotta do.

  If there's one thing I've learned in my experience with guys (cue laughs!) it's that if you want them to listen, you need to give them something they want to listen to. So, alas I have shamefully resorted to Mr. Ron Burgundy in a plea that guys to show their support for the autumn 2012 champion color.

Burgundy in menswear was all over the runways for fall/winter 2012 collections in February. From Tommy Hilfiger to Ovadia & Sons, the legend of the deep hue lived on. 

Now, do I expect you gentleman to dawn tailored suits to 9:30 chemistry lecture? Yeah, I do. But I know you wont. So, five burgundy items that you're down to flaunt & that're girlfriend-approved.

Stay classy, San Diego. 

{contents: 1. NN07 basic tee + 2. Beams Plus Zip-Up Jacket + 3. Illesteva Sunglasses + 4. Common Projects Leather Low Top Sneakers + 5. Canili Woven-Silk Tie}

lauren jerdonek.