Bye Bye Blogspot - Hello SidewalkisaRunway.com

I am moving on up in the world and transitioning from blogspot to my own domain, www.SIDEWALKISARUNWAY.com. If for some reason you decide to type THEsidewalkisarunway.com instead - don't you worry - I've got that covered and it will re-direct!

My posts on Facebook & Twitter will be for the new site, so if you click externally that's ok too.

Grazie mile.

Hervé Léger - Body Bondage

Hervé Léger (via Max Azria) bandage mini dresses are shaping up to be the new Roland Mouret Galaxy dress - i.e. worn by multiple celebs, multiple ways on the red carpet. This silhouette, however, is not as forgiving as Roland's, and requires a seriously hot bod and no carb intake on day of said red carpet event. Bebe definitely has the short & skimpy market covered, so it's no surprise they knocked off this celeb favorite - for a fraction of the cost.

All dresses $98, shop BeBe.com

Halloween Like A Queen

Get Creative - don't just go to Ricky's and pick up a costume in a package, unless you're a dude! Marie Antoinette is one of the most fascinating icons in history - due in large part to her dress and how it drove the French crazy, in more ways than one. Of course it's hard to achieve 3 foot hair, but the Sofia Coppola version of Marie Antoinette can be easily interpreted into best dressed girl on Halloween.

If in need of a little more inspiration, one of my favorite books "Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution" (Caroline Weber) - goes into detail about what was worn from her first steps at Versailles, to when she was beheaded - and all of the history in between. Fortunately, I learned way more about the revolution from this book than from public school in PA.

For the readers in Austin, an AMAZING place to buy/rent costumes, hats, & jewelry is Lucy In Disguise With Diamonds in SoCo. Jewelry is grouped by genre (Greek, Hip Hop, Victorian), and there are fabulous sales people who help you find exactly what you're looking for - be it sequin hot pants or a Top Gun style bomber jacket.

Forever21.com $5.80


Forever21.com $4.80


AmericanApparel.net $34


Asos.com $58

Atrévete - Calle 13 Style Blowin' Up

Calle 13 was my senior year muse. For those of you who don't know, Residente Calle 13 is a Puerto Rican group that's huge in Latin America, like our Coldplay but verrrry different. I would ride the E train to Queens (listening to some Reggaeton) trying to make some bills, and then head back into the city for a 6-9 class - all in my boots w/ the fur, 80's door knocker earrings, and puffer jacket (with more fur).

I was ridiculous! I still have a strong affinity for it though - and now that Calle 13 is ALL over MTV, I'm deeply regressing and daydreaming about nail art in East Elmhurst. When it comes to Latina style, all you really need is color, confidence, and a metrocard.


Nail art via Valleynyc.com in the Lower East Side, but you can get this anywhere, just ask for it!



An absolute favorite - Girlprops.com $9.99



Build your own bag @ Emotional Baggage $100, Etsy.com



Rocawear.com $75

Pound The Pavement

I dream of the day when my shoes will have their own home and won't be hanging on some rickety fixture on the back of my door. My man has to adjust it about every month to make sure it doesn't collapse – like it did many a time in our tiny New York apt. Anyway, the point here is that I don't have a walk in closet and it is NOT full of Louboutins.

I have only splurged once on shoes: During a visit home (Philly has great outlet venues) at the Neiman Marcus Last Call – I bought a pair of Chanel ballet flats – totally necessary and justifiable, but a little different with clear plastic sides and patent black toes. To this day they are absolutely unbearable to walk in, but worth it to pass down to future gens – only $150 (regularly $600)!

So, you can imagine the thrill of the hunt when I discovered these two very affordable and "interpretation"- friendly sites for shoes. AmiClubwear.com & GoJane.com, which offer zillions of styles - most for $30 or less. Balenciaga, Prada, & Dior "interpretations" – are very close replicas aesthetically, just obviously made of less pricey materials. Now that I'm in the thick of car culture, I'm more willing to opt for these more economical shoes - as I don't have to hike up subway stairs or dodge cabs anymore!

All shown are under $25, and all from Amiclubwear.com - excluding killer Sex and the City Dior-esque gladiators, from GoJane.com (Free Shipping over $50 for both, fabulous).

Unlikely Inspiration: Bebe Hol 08 Campaign

10% off BellaDawn.com: Code "Sidewalk"

Hey girrrrrrls - if you're in the market for jewelry that reads Rachel Leigh, but rent is due in a week, check out one of my new key sites www.BellaDawn.com. Thanks to the advent of Twitter, fashionista's get to connect on a whole other level - and you benefit!

Enter coupon code "SIDEWALK" when you check out, and you'll receive 10% off your purchase. As you know, the more you spend, the more that 10% means - and we all have to do our part to stimulate the economy!

Natural Lime Green Stone Necklace $38 www.BellaDawn.com

Diffusion Confusion

I love Ralph Lauren. I love my girls there, I miss it dearly, and it was my first job out of school - BUT I just HAVE to throw this look for less out there! Fortunately for us, Rugby interpreted the fantastic cardigan that was shown in the Collection Fall 08 show. Lucky for Polo that those shopping at the mansion on Madison are probably not checking out Rugby down in Union Square (that god foresaken subway! where is car service?) As well as the fact that the luxury market grew like 3 points today. I kid, I kid - here's how to look like a thousand bucks (really, $2,598 above).

Shop Rugby by Ralph Lauren $175 www.Rugby.com

Feeling Girly? Take A Bow.

Maybe it's from my time at Ralph, maybe it's because I'm surrounded by pearls/yuppies here in Texas - but I LOVE bows. That preppy princess look gets me every time - although I find I can never quite pull it off (I think you need straight hair for that).

I can full on vouch for the L. Erickson headbands below. After watching Gossip Girl last season - the world basically stopped turning because I needed to find a bow headband. As it turns out, adults really don't wear bow headbands (insane) so the hunt makes it worth the $42 bones - not only because it comes in about 20 colors, but the charmeuse feels like heaven, it doesn't hurt, and I instantly feel like running off to the Cape!

Since I don't know many girls like that in an urban setting, however, I tried to scout out some pieces that would work for a regular city girl.

BellaDawn $24 www.BellaDawn.com

ASOS $8 www.Asos.com

L. Erickson $42 www.FranceLuxe.com

ASOS $24 www.Asos.com

Hippie Bridal - JCrew Gowns Under $400

Pleeeeeease stay away from David's Bridal! There are other ways to stick to a budget besides succumbing to cliche sequins and fibers that easily ignite. Also - NO tiaras. Stick to a chic, classic silhouette, and think cotton, linen, and silk. I don't know about you, but I'd rather look like Caroline Bessette Kennedy than a senior prom throwback.

Shop JCrew Weddings
Prices from top to bottom: $350, $395, & $295

Playsuit Pretty, LA Based Unhee

I saw this Unhee romper on Selma Blair - from a TRL appearance a couple of months ago on People.com - loved it, couldn't find anything similar - and TopShop saves the day once again. They should really start paying me for this blog (dreaming). I think I'm mostly just depressed that once I left New York, they FINALLY opened their SoHo store, which delivers same day to those in Manhattan. Whatever - shipping is a small price to pay in comparison to the awful tourists clogging the streets and slowing down your stride.

Does anyone know where you can shop online for the real thing? Totally MIA.

TopShop version:

Would you pay $100 for this? (Yup, fishing for comments!)



Photo taken from People.com

Loving Loving Loving VPL

VPL has that certain something that Vena Cava did - and I do say that in past tense since Gossip Girl blew up it's spot (sorry, GG). There is so much more going on beyond the surface, it's like pieces to an ironic little puzzle.

The opposing boyish bottoms and vampy tops pull at one of my favorite fashion heartstrings - girly & tough. There is a distinctively bad ass vibe in the styling - the suspender straps, color blocking, and cut outs that show a little skin. There is just something that's done so right - it's like the Fifth Element, linear - sexy - and could kick the sh*t out of you.

Shop VPL at ShopBop.com - and if it's too out of reach, Jonathan Saunders for Target has a similar vibe - and obviously less dominatrix.

Costume Prep for South by Southwest

This dress would have never worked for Austin City Limits - hot sun, dust, & polyester - no, no. Perfect attire, however, for venue hopping South by Southwest. A little premature and pricey at $150 when you think of the exposure to spilled drinks and cigarettes, but at least you can order through the U.S. Top Shop site now - a small victory towards international fashion domination.

Get it: Gossip Girl. Episode 3 "The Dark Night".

If I were a rich girl...I'd own this 3.1 Philip Lim dress too.

Some UES sleeve interest - or lack thereof. What's so gorgeous about this dress is the draping & ruching. What's so great about the contemporary market is that jersey is cheap, and jersey drapes beautifully. What you pick up at American Apparel has very little material difference against Philip Lim - and what difference in treatment it does have, probably costs 5 cents. It is ALL about margin, girls. Gabrielle Chanel was actually a jersey maverick - and began using it in 1916 for women's suits. Chanel was also living at poverty level for most of her youth - so she definitely would have been scoping out the below. Are you picking up what I'm putting out?


Go Jane $21.99


Urban Outfitters $129.99


Go Jane $54.99

On Trend - NY Mag's History of Tennis Fashion

"The Case Against Uniforms"

Drinking the Koolaid - Stella McCartney for Adidas.

Moving from New York to Texas has been a mind altering adjustment - most specifically the terrifying car culture - but what's even more difficult to swallow has been going from fashion avenue to definitely not fashion avenue (also known as I35 North).

I do not play sports. As any good buyer knows, you have to know your customer to plan a profitable assortment. So, that's exactly what Stella McCartney's tennis collection for Adidas is helping me do in my new professional endeavor. And no, I'm not ashamed to say that the only reason I'm going to start playing tennis is for the cute outfits - what better sport for an addict?!

Shop Stella McCartney for Adidas, Fall/Winter 08









...A little WWD preview for what's up next: Spring 09 Stella McCartney

Feigning over WTD: Anthropologie Fall Sweaters

Here in Austin, it's currently 91 degrees. My entire wardrobe has been turned upside down while acclimating - I'm still wearing gladiators and carrying around floral bags, and will probably do so until December (gasp). Last fall in New York I was stressing about having to be the first person to wear a chunky knit and colored tights in the office...in August.

So, I'm sure anyone (dreaming of fall) who opened the new Anthropologie catalog got chills looking at the chunky textures, asymmetry, and whimsical appliques - with that contrived-yet-adorable assortment they never fail to deliver. Who says direct is dead?

For retail, the bad news is that the economy should have taken a lesson from Tommy Hilfiger - you can't hand out loans like candy, nor can you merchandise to yuppies & rappers at the same time. The good news is that the only thing selling in apparel right now is novelty - so Anthro has 23 pages solely devoted to sweaters with enough detail to last you through the recession.

Enjoy! Visit Anthropologie.com.