Stacy Lomman Wardrobe Therapy: “Shades of Grey” and Yellow

In the past 10 days, I’ve worn outfits #11, #12 and #13 from my wardrobe therapy project with designer/stylist/blogger Stacy Lomman. Stacy has been trying to break me of my dependence on black tops. The black tops don’t always look bad, of course, but it’s interesting to mix it up. For instance, I’ve worn a black top every time I’ve worn my Chanel skirt. Here’s how I wore it in 2011.

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Stacy thought the skirt would work with a grey (or as I write it, “gray”) top too. Conveniently, she had a gray top that she got years ago but doesn’t wear now, so she gave it to me. I liked the way it brightened up the look. She also got me to wear hose, which is pretty remarkable, because I hate hose. Normally, I happily go bare-legged in winter.

What Wendy Wore — Stacy Lomman Outfit #11
Top: Prada (from Stacy Lomman)
Skirt: Chanel (2005-ish)
Shoes: Miu Miu (2010)
Purse: Prada (2007)
Necklace: My own design (same as in the 2011 photo)

I wore this to a friend’s holiday party, where I was surprised to be included on a December birthday cake.

I wore Stacy Lomman outfit #12 to dinner with MrB and his colleagues. When Stacy first looked through my closet and said, “Wow! Even your ruffles have ruffles!“, she was gingerly holding this skirt between her thumb and index finger.

There are more ruffles on the back.

I think of this as my gray ruffled skirt, but it’s really a sponge-y black and white knit that looks gray from a distance. Stacy decided this was the one bottom that really warranted the black sweater I’ve been wearing with nearly everything for years.

What Wendy Wore: Stacy Lomman Outfit #12
Sweater: Alexander McQueen (I have reason to think this is from 2000, but I’m not 100% on that.)
Skirt: Charles Chang-Lima (pre-2005)
Shoes: Prada (2010)
Purse: Prada (2007)
Necklace: Same as above

I got that skirt at Bergdorf Goodman. Charles Chang-Lima was one of the many designers who was forced to seek bankruptcy protection in 2009, due to the recession. At the time, his studio produced the Charles Chang-Lima women’s sportswear collection and the REDUX Charles Chang-Lima line of dresses and gowns. I’m guessing he developed the REDUX label after I bought my skirt, because it doesn’t have REDUX on the label. In its article on the bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal said, “Some pieces in Chang-Lima’s REDUX line look like something that ‘Sex and the City’ columnist/fashionista Carrie Bradshaw would choose for a night out …” I can’t really see Carrie wearing my skirt, can you? It’s too conservative for her. Maybe it’s more Charlotte.

I wore lucky outfit #13 for my birthday dinner. I had a few moments of worry because I was supposed to wear it with a particular pair of shoes and hose, but I’d already gotten a snag in every pair of hose (this is why I hate hose!). I desperately wanted to wear the skirt because of a conversation that MrB and I had about it when I bought it. I loved the color but I was very nervous about the high hemline. As I recall, I said to MrB, “What if I spend all this money and can’t wear it in 10 years because I’ll be too old!” (Yeah, I’m always thinking way, way ahead.) MrB was like, “Please, you’ll be 45 then. It’s a long time from now. Who knows what you’ll be wearing.” Obviously, I had to wear the skirt for my 45th birthday, hose or no hose. Stacy, I hope I did okay with the boots.

What Wendy Wore — Stacy Lomman Outfit #13
Top: Vintage Ossie Clark (Not sure when I bought this, but I have a photo of it from 2008)
Skirt: (Versace, 2003. Previously seen here)
Boots: Prada (2008)
Purse: Louis Vuitton (2001)

I used to think that skirt was purchased in 2005, but because of the conversation, it had to be 2003. I don’t see it on Versace’s Spring 2003 runway, but it looks like it would fit in with that collection, doesn’t it? The Fall 2002 had chartreuse in it too.

As we were getting ready to leave the apartment for dinner, my 23-year-old stepdaughter looked at me and said, “Aren’t you going to be cold in that outfit?” That gave me pause because this conversation would make more sense if our ages and roles were reversed. In that case, the only appropriate response would have been a foot stamp followed by an eye roll followed by a shriek of “Oh my God! MOM!!!! I’m FINE!” But I’m supposed to be an adult now, so I smiled as I put on a long shearling coat and said, “I’m not planning on standing out in the cold.” I have to admit that in my head, I added “MOM!” to that sentence.

Remember: If you live in the New York tri-state area and want to enlist Stacy’s help in revitalizing your own wardrobe, you can book an appointment with her through Cross It Off Your List. If you want a Skype consultation, contact Stacy through her website or Twitter.

I hope you all have a happy holiday, no matter what you’re celebrating!