From left to right: 1) Definitely needed a double shot of coffee for this long week. 2) They said bowties are for boys, I said nice try. 3) Starting my day off with a workout and green juice (who am I?). 4) A few of my favorite things. 5) An adorable note from my coworker after I finished my May/June column. 6) Had a great meeting with a new advertiser, stay tuned for details.
Once in a while I have to step away from the trendy and get back to the classic. The other day Boston hit the 50 degree mark and to celebrate I put on a retro polka dot dress and a classic trench. But it wouldn’t be a Celina outfit without a little something extra, so I added a vintage crinoline underneath the dress for some extra volume.
I think this is actually a child’s crinoline but it works great for giving my party dresses a little extra oomph. I may love my leather and my studs, but nothing beats spinning around in a poofy dress.
Dress: Forever21, Trench: H&M, Shoes: Franco Sarto, Bracelets: c/o Kendra Scott
Photos by Jamie Ditaranto.
We don’t have a strict dress code at my office, so I typically wear my usual eccentric ensembles. But once in a while I pull out a semi-professional outfit. This look is as comfortable as it is pulled together. The boyfriend blazer is a soft knit (so basically like wearing PJs) and the sweater underneath adds extra warmth. The necklace and heels give it the look some fun.
Side note, my hair is finally long enough to do my sock bun again and I could not be more happy.
Blazer: LOFT, Sweater: H&M, Pants: Forever21, Necklace: c/o Kendra Scott, Shoes: Shoedazzle
Photos by Jamie Ditaranto.
This supsender skirt is one of my favorite new go-to items. It’s easy to pair with everything but adds a little interest to my outfits that a circle skirt can’t. I especially like it with this red shirt and a statement necklace. It adds some sophistication to a look that could’ve gone schoolgirl very quickly.
Shirt: Forever21, Skirt: c/o OASAP, Tights: TJ Maxx, Shoes: c/o OASAP, Necklace: H&M
Photos by Jamie Ditaranto.
What makes outfits like this so great is the way all the different elements work together. The texture, the colors, the pattern, the cut, they all work to make the look interesting without overpowering each other. It’s outfits like this that take a little more thought and artistry to put together than your typical cute dress.
Pants: H&M, Shirt: OASAP, Heels: Ferragamo, Jacket: H&M
Photos by Jamie Ditaranto.
I’ve always been drawn to vintage style. Fashion history is interesting in that the garments reflect the time period they were designed in. For example, sparse simple looks during World War I, versus a lush extravagance during the ’20s. I love wearing vintage looks because it’s like wearing a bit of history. Each garment has had a whole life before you and has seen a whole different time.
I found this dress in a thrift store in New Hampshire. I thought about hemming it to make it more contemporary but I didn’t want the integrity of the look to be compromised. Instead I added some mixed pattern heels and a cloche to give it that old/new juxtaposition.
Dress: Vintage, Shoes: c/o City Shoes, Cloche: Payless, Necklace: Hand-me-down
Photos by Jamie Ditaranto.
Matching sets are where it’s at this season so naturally I’ve been buying up every one I can find. This blue, floral set is one of my favorites. You might remember I wore the pants separately here. I wore my leather jacket with it to break up the pattern a little and added pink heels for a pop of color. It’s an eclectic mix but it works.
Shirt: Forever21, Pants: Forever21, Jacket: H&M, Shoes: Shoedazzle, Rings: Vintage and Hand-me-down
Photos by Jamie Ditaranto.
From left to right: 1) Hanging at the MFA, per usual. 2) Getting the news about a very exciting upcoming collaboration. 3) Workspace chic at the office. 4) Celebrating the opening of Josephine Boston. 5) Tough choices. 6) Previewing new luxury condos in Medford.
I almost never dress professionally. Since I work in a very creative office (hello, art magazine) we don’t really have a dress code so I rotate cute dresses with jumpsuits, leather pants, and whatever else I’m feeling. But I was immediately attracted to this pencil skirt when I saw it at H&M. It’s a little bit professional, a little bit sexy, and overall has great lines. I paired it with a flowy blue silk top to balance out the bodycon fit. 
Skirt: H&M, Shirt: Hand-me-down, Shoes: Shoedazzle, Bracelet: c/o Kendra Scott
Photos by Jamie Ditaranto.
I’ve been about high waisted pants for a long time, but it took me a while to come around to the idea of high waisted flare pants. I eventually went for it when I saw this gorgeous burgundy pair. And I couldn’t do a ’70s Series without bell bottoms, could I? I paired mine with this polka dot pajama shirt and nude heels to modernize them.
Now that you’ve seen my ’70s Series, what do you think? Is the trend worth exploring or should we have left it in the past? The other posts can be seen here, here, and here.
Pants: H&M, Shirt: Forever21, Shoes: Franco Sarto
Photos by Stephanie Krist.
Next up in the Swimsuit Series we’re taking things from athletic to glamorous. Let’s be real, that’s my preferred aesthetic. I love this suit, the cut-outs are interesting but it’s still comfortable to lounge in. A pair of heels and a sheer coverup takes this look from poolside to runway in seconds flat. Just like the last post, these were taken at the spectacular Verb Hotel pool.
Swimsuit: H&M, Coverup: Forever21, Shoes: Ferragamo
Photos by Stephanie Krist.
Now that it’s September I’m ready to jump into fall full swing. Bring on the snuggly outfits, the hot lattes, and the beautiful foliage. I want it all. And the best place to start is with a cozy sweater. Remember Jen Stark Knits? It’s officially the knitwear season and Jen’s beautiful, artistic creations are the only way to go.
Jen made me this burgundy honeycomb beauty and it’s been glued to my skin ever since. Heat wave? Don’t care. This is literally all I want to wear. It’s the perfect balance between artistic, visually compelling clothing, and comfortable cuddle wear.
If you want your own Jen Stark creation you can meet her (and buy some of her amazing work) at the American Field pop up market September 12th and 13th. Hosted in the Innovation and Design Building at 25 Drydock Avenue (2nd floor), the event is going to be packed with American-made goods and the artists who create them. 
Sweater: Custom made by Jen Stark, Pants: Target, Shoes: DSW, Rings: Forever21
Photos by Jamie Ditaranto.
From left to right: 1) Soft serve on one of the last days of the warm weather. 2) The perfect new fall heels. 3) Celebrating National Coffee Day. 4) Made my first apple pie of the season. 5) Late night phone calls. 6) Important reads for everyone.
From left to right: 1) Glamorous in leather and fur. 2) Wise, calming words from Turgenev. 3) Getting my fruit on. 4) Stay tuned for a post on EyeSpot eyewear in Chestnut Hill. 5) You know, just hanging in my heels in the bathtub. 6) Working on a very special photo project with the MFA.
I’m so, so excited to announce the first post of an exciting new series: The Authors. This series will feature outfits inspired by my favorite writers. I’ve styled them very specifically to express the personal history and passions of my literary role models. Fittingly we’re starting with the love of my life, Leo Tolstoy. Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy has been a guiding force in my life for many years. His books have gotten me through good times and bad.
Tolstoy was born into an aristocratic family in Russia at their estate Yasnaya Polyana outside of Moscow. Russian winters are notoriously brutal so I started the look off with a heavy wool coat and fur hat. The formal structure is reminiscent of Tolstoy’s time in the military as a young man. And look, he was cuuuute! 
About mid way through his life Tolstoy went through a moral crisis and renounced the trappings of wealth that he’d been raised in. One way he did this was with clothing. He retreated into baggy, simple, peasant garments. Here’s a photo of him and his wife. In his mind, simple clothing indicated a clean conscience. His books follow this same rule, the extravagantly dressed characters tend to be the most corrupt (think Anna Karenina or Helene from War and Peace). The New York Times Magazine wrote an excellent article on the subject, you can read it here. 
In keeping with this philosophy I wore loose pants and a top in neutral colors. Tolstoy may not have been the most stylish, but man was he comfortable! If you want to know what other books to read by Leo, check out my guide to Russian literature.
I got this beautiful notebook on Etsy. It has a quote in Russian from his play The Live Corpse. The translation is “Music is the shorthand of emotion.” This play was one of many pacifist works Tolstoy wrote. His call for non-violent resolution would later influence Ghandi and Martin Luther King. 
This bracelet was another Etsy find. On it in Russian is the confessional scene from Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Dostoevsky and Tolstoy were contemporaries. They moved in the same circles and even went to a lot of the same events, and yet, they never met. It’s fascinating. They wrote to each other and admired each other’s work immensely. They tried multiple times to meet and were thwarted repeatedly. I wore the bracelet as an homage to their friendship.
Coat: Gifted vintage, Hat: Vintage, Trousers: Zara, Shirt: Thrifted, Shoes: Primark, Necklace: Forever21, Bracelet: Etsy, Notebook: Etsy
Photos by Stephanie Krist.
After a few weeks of keeping things pretty tame around here, I thought I’d spice it up with an alternative styling of the studded bra I picked up in Germany. I styled it with a leather midi skirt and a soft, grey sweater to tone down the hard edges of the bra. A red lip and a pair of single sole heels made the look. 
What I love about this look is the balance between sexy and covered up. Even though I’m wearing a studded bra as a shirt (sorry, Grandma) the longer skirt and oversized sweater keep it from going trashy. 
Bra: Purchased in Cologne, Skirt: Primark, Shoes: H&M, Sweater: H&M
Photos by Stephanie Krist.
I fell in love with this flapper inspired dress a few months ago at H&M. But the $50 price tag was out of my range. Just before Christmas I popped in again for a last minute present and saw this beauty marked down to $15! I wore it for Christmas and New Years, it’s a more interesting option than the typical sequined, bodycon dress. The slang “attagirl,” meaning well done, originated in the flapper era. 
Even though the dress is a little oversized (I could only find a medium) it’s sheer underneath the fringe which gives it a little unexpected sex appeal. 
I found these vintage pumps at a thrift store and have been dying for a special occasion to wear them. Even though the style looks great with casual clothes, they shine most with an elegant, retro ensemble like this one.
Sometimes I twist and shout in the secret back hallways at the MFA. Everyone needs a stress reliever! 
Dress: H&M, Belt: Thrifted, Shoes: Vintage
Photos by Stephanie Krist.
From left to right: 1) Throwing it back to my college days with one of my favorite art books. 2) Nothing like a good breakfast to start the day. 3) New beauties. 4) Can’t go wrong with $3 Primark loafers. 5) Valentines chocolates. 6) Kicking off a classic.
I’m very excited to share two new footwear brands with you this morning! Rialto and Seven Dials are both derivatives of the White Mountain brand, a comfort shoe company based in my home state of New Hampshire. I typically shy away from comfort-first brands because they have a reputation for putting style on the back burner. Rialto and Seven Dials are working hard to fix that misconception by designing shoe lines that are both wearable and chic. These are three of my favorite styles by the best-of-both-worlds line. 
These beauties, similar in style to the Valentino Rockstud line, come in three different colors with tan straps and a comfortable 3″ heel. They transition easily from day to night and I’ve been wearing them nonstop to bring some much needed spring color to my ensembles. The Mariella’s are from the Rialto line and they run a little on the small side. I typically wear a 5/5.5 and the 6’s fit quite comfortably. 
Love the look? Rialto and I are giving away a pair of the Mariella Patent Heels in red. Enter the giveaway here! The giveaway will be open for one week and the winner will be announced and contacted on social media and the blog. 
These single-sole heels by Seven Dials are a going out dream. I couldn’t believe such sexy shoes came out of a state known for Birkenstocks and clogs. These are 3.5″ heels, a little higher than the Mariella’s but still very walkable. They’re well padded for extra comfort and surprisingly stable despite the thin straps. 
I styled these with a printed pant that could be worn in the office or for a night out. This pair was more true to size, the 6 was a little big on me so it’s most likely a true 6. Both sites handily offer a foot measuring guide to help you find the right size. This is an underused and undervalued tool, especially in a marketplace where standard sizing doesn’t truly exist. 
Typically I’m not into clog-style shoes but the Maribel’s have a real high fashion vibe. The 3″ block heel is very walkable even in the city and subtle treads on the bottom ensure that you won’t take a tumble running for the bus. These are Rialto so the 6 fit my typically 5/5.5 foot well. I would recommend going a half size up. 
I styled these with leather leggings to amplify the edgy vibe the laser cut leather gives off. They would also work well in place of booties with a dress or skirt.
The Rialto and Seven Dials shoes are impeccably made. I wore all three pairs for day-long jaunts in the city and didn’t even have to break them in. No blisters, no pinching, no pain whatsoever. I’ve never experienced that in a shoe before, even when I buy designer shoes. These are some of the first pairs I’ve ever bought that are comfortable all day long without jimmy-rigging them with bandaids and padding. I can’t recommend these brands enough for ladies who are looking to be stylish and comfortable all day long.
Photos are mine.
Full Disclosure: I was given three pairs of shoes from Rialto and Seven Dials, however, all opinions are my own.
From left to right: 1) Spicing up a rainy Monday. 2) Searching for that perfect shade of red. 3) Latest reads. 4) It’s never a bad time for a croissant. 5) Planning the presentation of my latest piece. 6) Heading west for the weekend.
