What I Want/What I'm Wearing This Spring

I won't be shopping much this spring. It has very little to do with the economy. I simply have the basics that I've lacked in the past: Proenza Schouler black pumps. Shift dresses from WhyRed and Steven Alan. Blazers from Helmut Lang and YSL. (Of course, these items were all purchased for a fraction of the original price.) However, there are always a few items on my wish list.

What I Want:

• red, navy and highlighter yellow deep v-necks from American Apparel
• some sort of Lego hair clip or belt
• some new white sneakers--maybe from Superga
• BOY suspender strap skirt
• boyfriend shirt in blue from Steven alan
• new navy Keds (mine are stinky)
• some classic flats
• cotton power dress from Preen's diffusion line
• And maybe this pioneer skirt from Acne. Maybe.

What I'll Definitely Be Wearing:

• my Rachel Comey oxfords with Uniqlo jeans
• Tashkent wedges with high-waisted Michael Kors shorts
• Marc by Marc Jacobs black organza cocktail dress
• black bass tassel loafers
• my grey YSL oversized blazer from the '90s
• my doc martens
• lots of fluorescent accents, like scrunchies!
• more grey than I should be able to get away with
• Pierre Hardy for Gap army green wedges!

What are you looking forward to pulling out of the closet this spring? Send me your thoughts!

Getting A Seat At A-List Shows

As a member of the business press, some designers deem me important, others certainly do not. Therefore I get invited to some excellent shows without requesting a seat. Others, on the other hand, I'd have to beg for if I wanted to go. (Hello, MJ!)

This year, I requested only one invite--Phillip Lim-- a show I've attended for four seasons now but have never officially been invited to. Every year, I'm stuck with a last-minute standing assignment. (For many, a "standing" assignment is the kiss of death, but I have been willing to suffer through those 15 minutes of rubbernecking to get a first-hand glimpse of Lim's new collection.)

The big guns came out for this one, including my idol Suzy Menkes, as well as the Voguettes and Nina Garcia and every single buyer on the earth, since his stuff does so well in retail. I am proud to announce I did get seated this year, and my spot wasn't too awful!

The clothes were pretty good (wouldn't the above dress suit me well?), but couldn't touch Narciso Rodriguez's collection, which really impressed. I think I might just email their pr girl about Fall 2009 seating right now...

I Love You, Shoe

I've never been a big shoe person -- I tend to stick with flats and Converse or Keds -- and I've been that way since childhood. I don't think I ever truly adjusted to wearing heels. On the days I do attempt to slip on anything above 1.5 inches, I tend to look like a teetering fool. I suppose I'm lucky at 5'8" -- I have no need to wear uncomfortable clompers unless I really want to.

However, the sculptural shoe styles that have become more popular in the last couple of seasons are making me reconsider my anti-height stance. I loved Marc Jacobs inverted heel/wedge contraption for spring, but my heart really belongs to Tashkent by Cheyenne. The designer's Greco-inspired wedges -- with twists and turns and unexpected textures and colors -- still look fresh after debuting about two years ago. I finally got my hands on a pair, deeply-discounted of course, at my local boutique.

Who are your new favorite shoe designers?