Cheryl Shops

I tend to harp on The Row a bit; I don't think what they're doing is super original—which is taking classic items and making the best possible version of them, at obscene prices—however you can't deny how influential they are on fashion at the moment. (Yeah, I'll admit I'm eyeing those flip-flops too, but I'll be ordering the Amazon dupe instead.) We can thank their Gala pant for the proliferation of pajama pants on the market the last few years; I was resistant to this silhouette at first because thin elastic waistbands usually don't sit right on me (I am a little thicker through the middle and also in my 40s) and call me old-fashioned, but to me an elastic waistband plus wide-leg pant equals pajamas. And while the teenagers who attend the high school on my block are not shy about wearing pajama pants in public, again, I am in my 40s, which means I'm either trying too hard or not trying hard enough. Then again, the upside of being in your 40s is that you don't care as much what people think about you, so I decided to give the pajama pant silhouette a try. Of course, I don't have $1,090 in my budget, so I set out to find a good dupe of the Row's Gala pant. 

Spoiler alert to my family: this is probably one of my Christmas outfits. It's bright pink, which isn't exactly Christmassy, but I feel like Mrs. Claus Gone Wrong when I wear red velvet, so it's the closest I could get. I know velvet is a big trend right now—and I'm fully on board with that—but I think I was four the last time I really wore it. So my challenge for this week is making velvet feel a bit cooler and age-appropriate. Here's how I put it together.


This black leather moto jacket is one of the few remaining pieces I kept from my three (very long) years at Banana Republic. I will keep my thoughts to myself on the quality of the rest of the line, but this jacket is incredibly soft lambskin, fits like a glove, and should probably retail for twice what it does. I think BR recently put everything on sale for 50% off (including leather, which they rarely promote), hence why it's nearly sold out. If you see one of these in the future, however, pounce on it. It's worth every cent.

Since the skirt is so bright, I had to balance it with a lot of black on top. This sweatshirt was a Black Friday score, and one that I was incredibly happy with. It's incredibly soft and lightweight, and it looks rather fancy. It's hard to see, but it has a cool crisscross detail in the front. I'm not normally one to order something in several different colors, but I'm tempted to do so for this one.

And, oh yes, the skirt. I kind of impulse-bought this one at Zara (story of my life), and while it's definitely a bit brighter than what I normally wear, I think the risk paid off. Also, it's good for twirling.



I am obsessed with these shoes and have been wearing them pretty much nonstop since they arrived. They're pretty comfy, thanks to the kitten heel, and they have a crazy elongating effect on your legs, especially when you wear them with pants. They are sadly sold out at the moment, but hopefully Mango will restock them soon.


I'm firmly in the leopard-is-a-neutral camp, and I thought this look needed a little pop of print, so a fun little clutch it is! This one was last seen in this post, and I love how it looks just as great with jeans as it does with a dressier outfit. And did I mention it's only $45?



OUTFIT DETAILS: Banana Republic leather jacket (very similar by Madewell) || Athleta criss cross sweatshirt || Zara pleated velvet skirt (similar here too) || Mango satin knot mules || BP leopard haircalf clutch || Stella & Dot disc necklace and wing necklace

I can't tell you when I started shopping at Zara, but I can tell you I've been shopping there every season since. I pretty much have it down to a science: first, at the beginning of the season, I pick up a few key pieces that I think will be big trends. Then at the end of the season, I shop the sale, but I go for crazy boundary-pushing items and/or things I wasn't willing to pay full price for at the beginning of the season (which is generally a bad rule, but it's what I do, so there). This being mid-September and the beginning of fall, it was clearly time for a Zara run, so I set out seeking a few specific items that I pre-shopped on the website. This is generally a bad idea also, but I find Zara a bit overwhelming and like to know what I'm in for. Which for fall means lots of grunge revival and Gucci knockoffs. I tried by best to steer clear of the plaid and embroidered mesh; here's what caught my eye.



This checked midi dress looked cute on the hanger; not so much on me. It was pretty snug through the bust, then the pleats started a bit too high and the rest of it looked like a Little House on the Prairie nightgown. This was from Zara's younger TRF line, so I should have known better, but alas.



This black and white dress, also from the TRF line, looked super cute on the hanger and in spite of not having a zipper, had a pretty flattering fit. It also had long sleeves, which are actually practical in cooler weather. I would have bought it, except that it was about 2–3 inches too short. Again, another reason why I need to stay away from TRF.



One of the items I was specifically looking for was a pair of side-stripe pants, à la track pants, a big trend for fall. I thought these chino side stripe trousers were the pair I saw online, but alas, they were not. I always have a hard time with cropped, tapered pants for some reason, and in spite of being my Zara-standard medium, they were oddly big and baggy. (They also did not photograph well, sorry.)


Much better was this pair of side stripe trousers which I thought I wasn't going to like but was pleasantly surprised by. The fabric was more like a fluid trouser material with a nice drape, but there were definitely sporty elements like zip pockets. They also had elastic in the back of the waistband, so they'll be comfy for the plane or a big meal. Winner winner chicken dinner indeed.


I've been looking for a big fuzzy sweater for a long time, and after trying on this mohair sweater, I realized why: big fuzzy sweaters are not flattering, and if they have mohair like this one, they're incredibly itchy. I should also note that I'm wearing a medium and absolutely swimming in it, but then again, so is the model. (Her face is saying, "I know this looks ridiculous but I'm getting paid $5,000 a day, so I'm ok with that.")


Speaking of ridiculous, take a look at this pearly hooded sweater. Pearls are also a big trend for fall, which is probably why I thought I'd give this a whirl (there are lots of pearl-encrusted things at Zara right now); my phone is covering my mouth because I couldn't keep a straight face with this thing on. It felt like something an early-'90s female rapper would wear. It was also incredibly huge and cropped at the same time (again, I'm in a medium). Even the model looks like she doesn't know how to feel about it.


Of the four things I was specifically looking for at Zara, only the buttoned checked blazer was in stock in my size. It was exactly what I was looking for—glen plaid is huge this season, and it's really similar to one from Tibi that happens to be, oh, $800 or so. It's a bit oversized—I'm in a medium and probably could have sized down to a small—but I think that's intentional, so I went for it.

Which leads me to the question, can I still shop at Zara? 

Oof. Only two out of seven items came home with me, with the rest ranging from ill-fitting to downright comical. Not great odds, but I am quite happy with what I did buy. My conclusion is yes, as long as you avoid the TRF section and shop with a good sense of humor. 

Even though I was in San Francisco back in September, I felt like I didn't spend quite enough time there, so I decided to book another trip out west...the week Hurricane Sandy hit NYC. Great planning, Cheryl! But after 48 hours of obsessively checking the JFK departure schedules—and a near-miss with my car service, due to the citywide gas shortage—I miraculously made it out, just in time for the most beautiful weather I've ever experienced in SF. I spent my first two days catching up with old friends, eating, drinking, walking around in the sunshine, going to Napa, and drinking some more. But then Sunday morning I found myself in a strange situation: I had no plans. So I thought, what would I do on a Sunday morning if I actually lived here? I took a walk to Sightglass Coffee in SoMa (good, but I still prefer Blue Bottle), sat outside and ate a croissant in Yerba Buena Park, then drifted over to shops in Union Square, which were miraculously open at 10 a.m. on a Sunday (I love the early rising that happens on the West Coast). I wandered into Zara, which made me feel a little like a traitor, since San Francisco has such great locally owned stores, and god knows we have Zara in NY, but, hey, I'm only human. There is so much awesomeness in Zara right now (like this skirt and this top, both of which I've already purchased this season), but what really caught my eye this time were the tote bags. Now, in a perfect world, my Balenciaga arena bag would be large enough for everyday use, but considering it barely fits my wallet, sunglasses, iPhone, keys, and a tiny makeup bag, it's best for weekend use. Also, it should be noted, I carry around a ton of crap during the week. I need a big-ass tote, the kind that can hold all of the above, plus a magazine, an iPad, a sweater, maybe an extra pair of shoes, and my planner (yes, I still use a planner). To make a long story short (too late!) there are all manner of fabulous totes at Zara right now: huge, real leather, and under $200. My favorites have faceted studs; yes, they are heavily inspired by a designer that begins with Valentin and ends with o, but, sorry, I'm not going to spend $2500 on a bag and then put my lunch inside it. Instead, there's this studded black tote for $149, a sexy leopard-print haircalf tote for $189, an equally hot red version for $159, and for the less flashy, this understated classic tote for $149. I wanted to buy all of them, but instead decided to wait till I was back home. After all, I had another leisurely afternoon of drinking ahead of me; sometimes the best way to spend money is sitting outside, sipping Negronis in the sunshine with friends.

I've caught Balmania
I had an hour to kill before my Core Fusion class tonight, so I popped into Zara to check out the new arrivals. One can safely say that Zara has the Balmain fever, as nearly everything in the front of the store has padded, exaggerated shoulders--jackets, dresses, blouses. I did not see the thigh-high boots pictured here (if I had, I would've bought them on the spot), but there are a lot of great strappy, studded sandals and boots. It was far too hot today for me to seriously think about fall, but as soon as the temperature drops to a more reasonable level, I will be back for some strong shoulders.

Then, for some reason, I wandered into Aldo, a store which tends to underwhelm me, but Rumi on Fashiontoast always seems to have cool shoes from there, so I decided to give it a closer look. And there, on the sale shelf, I spotted a pair of shoes so ridiculous, I had to buy them. They're a knockoff of these $1800 Balmain sandals from spring 2009, but with fewer straps, and the studs are all metal (as opposed to a mixture of crystal and metal). I can't find them on the Aldo website, although the Smeal style is similar--these have a platform (mine don't) and more straps. Like Balmain itself, the shoes are decadent and trashy, and I can't wait to wear them.