Jumpers vs. Rompers

Jumpers always make me think of my first day of kindergarten when my mom put me in a pink corduroy jumper with a white blouse underneath.  The jumper had straps- very similar to those on overalls, except the bottom was a skirt.  It also had pockets, and I loved it.  In the U.K., jumpers are what we would call sweaters.  Either way, it’s a cool word for various items of clothing.  Just make sure you don’t look like the 60-something woman who played the piano at my cousin’s high school graduation.

A romper, on the other hand, is more like a playsuit.  In short, this is a loose, light-fitting one-piece garment, similar to a jumper in that the top is attached to the bottom.  The main difference is that the bottoms are usually shorts and they may be gathered (like a fancier version of the onesie underclothes, which newborns may wear).  All in all, the romper is a fairly practical item as far as physical activity is concerned- unless you need to you the bathroom in which case you better hope you’re not in a hurry since you need to practically undress.  Rompers have had a recent comeback among the hipster elite and A-list celebs, but there’s no reason why six-months-from-now, people won’t be saying you look like an overgrown, skanky extra from Barney.

Anna Sui Leaves Print Mini Dress

I’m down for vintage-inspired nostalgia and digging through the $1 bins at Jet Rag on Sundays, but this Anna Sui silk mini dress with lace crochet neck screams nightgown in a way that I’m not prepared to wear in public. On sale for $288 at Saks, would you wear it for 1/10 ($48) the original price?

Anna Sui printed top

Anna Sui is always a fun designer.  I love how her models are always blushing brightly as they strut down the catwalk in clothes that are interesting and wearable.  While she is one of the brilliant designers of our time, Sui is never unrealistic about what kinds of things real women will wear.  For her summer 2007 show, she favored a lot of pirate-themed clothing.  I think that this printed top is both unique and accessible.  It would work on a ship with a peg-leg and a parrot on your shoulder, or with a denim mini and some sleek flats while out on the town.  Unlike a lot of designer pieces, I can see any woman, not just size double-zero supermodels, feeling comfortable in this flattering blouse on a warm summer evening.  For a transition into autumn, I might even try it with one of the chic hats Sui favored so much in the show!

Anna Sui Printed Top- $260

A New Way to Embrace Art

Insideout is one of the many London exports that have been sending people wild. Their deconstructed and expertly constructed clothing, such as this T-Shirt, feature precise details of knits, vests, scarves and other items on their work. This wrecked piece of wearable art is $154.

An Eye on the Prize

I once had the privilege of watching how Catherine Malandrino works in her studio. She pays great attention to each detail, and, with a careful eye, sculpts wonderful clothing out of fabric and air. This Ribbed Waist Knit Dress is a good item to have for cloudy days. This gorgeous diamond knit won’t be found on an item in another store, because it was created by the designer herself. Although this dress is knitwear, it is made out of 90% viscose and 10% elite, which guarantees that it will be superlight. This blanc, innocent dress is valued at $425.