Fall is basically our favorite time of year, save for the getting colder and darker bit. We love the new fashion, we love sweaters, we love love love boots. We love tights and skirts, and we love not feeling a bit naked every time we step out the door.
Unfortunately, for us, we have a hard time differentiating between Fall fashion (as in the clothes you start to see in, like, July) and ACTUAL Fall, when daytime temps are in the 60s. These are months and months apart; add to it an office that’s barely above 60 degrees, and it’s a bit of a mindfuck. What to do?
We have a solution, we think, and it comes from none other than American Apparel. Our love for them is completely documented and unabashed. Our only complaint is that often things there are a bit too short, or tight, or street corner appropriate – but all of this is combated by sizing up. It was a hard thing for us to accept, but we tried this last week and actually said HUH really loudly in the dressing room.
It’s this stupidly simple, but seriously cute and versatile, polo dress from American Apparel. On the site, all of the models looks like they’re barely breathing, so we recommend sizing up (unless you are teeny and/or like the very fitted look). We bought ours in Asphalt, and as we get more comfortable in it, we plan to branch out into bright colors.
We love that we can wear it with tights, no tights, stirrup tights, heels, flats, flat boots, legwarmers, sweaters, no sweaters, scarves. Honestly the options are seriously endless – and at $34 a pop, you can have a few in your arsenal.
Fine Jersey Leisure Dress, $34
We’re going to debut our dress tomorrow with black shiny stirrup tights (which aren’t so shiny, which is nice) and a pair of black flats. Our office has no dress code, but the pinnacle of style tends to come from a company with the initials O.N.
-LB
I don’t know, methinks that someone planning on wearing STIRRUP TIGHTS to work might not want to be throwing stones at her Old Navy-wearing coworkers.
Nico, this is a FASHION blog! Methinks you might be a a little off target. Sheesh, take a risk!
the universe has aligned! i just bought that very dress in black and navy to wear as my self imposed work “uniform”. i too bought it because it’s work appropriate, and you can easily accessorize it and change it up. i also bought it a size up for comfort’s sake and work appropriateness.
I was wondering how long it is, especially for work-appropriate-ness. And I think I would totally wear stirrup tights. Possibly with the above dress. I think might look cool to get the dress in charcoal and the tights in something bright (red?) with black heels. The bright tights might not be work appropriate, but would be fun.
i dunno, but i sorta detest the stirrup tights, mainly bc i don’t understand them. I understand them for dancers, er sorta, but that’s it. Does any one else have equal dislike for them? i just think full-foot tights do the trick & are cute.
I think that stirrup tights, when done right, can look either incredibly chic or witty. I love them with a simple black pump or ballet flat.
It’s important to try things you don’t understand.
It was definitely work appropriate for US, but our office is very casual (just not very fashionable). It definitely came past our fingertips in length, and wasn’t AA-typically snug.
I also don’t get the stirrup tights. And, as a dancer, I don’t even wear them for dance class. Full foot or footless for dancing or work!
i approve of stirrup tights, solely because my mother dressed me in them when i was a child and i always used to feel so cool in them. also, i have that dress in navy, but i didn’t size up so although my boyfriend loves it, i wouldn’t wear it work (um, that is, if i had a job…).
What is the purpose of the tights? To keep your feet aerated? DO the stirrups show when you are wearing shoes? I don’t get why they are better than normal footed tights.
Wow –
a) I totally had a dress like that that I wore ALL the time in 1996. With Chucks. (Or maybe fake Converse? Because the $40 was too much for me to spring for?) Maybe 1994 THROUGH 1996. Huh.
b) Really? Unabashed love of American Apparel? Dov Charney? Those ads? You are a bigger woman (women?) than I am, Bunnyshop — I just can’t see past all the yicky press.