Stella and Dot.. my new best friends.

Sooo most of you probably know I have pretty boring taste in clothing.. much of what I own is black or white. But I get by with a little help from my friends. Meet Stella & Dot. I'm a soon-to-be independent stylist, so keep your eyes peeled for fabulous on-trend jewelry worn to class.. it's most likely from them. A fabulous piece of jewelry can dress up even the most boring skinny jeans, American Apparel low-V white tee, and black Loft blazer. While I tend to wear more chunky, statement pieces (of which Stella & Dot has many), I fell in love with their Signature Clover Necklace in gold. Long and lovely, this gold-plated chain is punctuated with our signature clover cutout motifs. Measures approximately 38" in length with a lobster clasp closure (safety first.. no one wants to loose their fave jewels). It even adorned the pages of the October 2010 Cosmopolitan magazine. Wear it long or double it up. Either way, it's a sophisticated layering piece. At just $59.. which may seem like a few too many workstudy dollars, it will last you long into your law career. You may as well splurge now, before you embark on your "emotionally" rewarding public interest law career.

Stella & Dot offer oodles of matchy-matchy options for earrings and bracelets, but I fell in love (again) with their Pave Clover Earrings. The best thing about them is that they are made with gold and silver. When I wake in the am, I tend to put my earrings on right after my shower, and I try not to think too much. I'm a grab-and-go kinda gal, and these two-tone earrings, with just enough sparkle, undoubtedly go with absolutely everything.

Check out the necklace and earrings at www.StellaDot.com. Browse the line.. if I was sellin' would you be buyin'?

xo

SOS: A call to women..

Ladies.. I have been seeing way too much of this. When you buy a women's suit, most will come with a simple "X"-shaped stitch across the bank slit of the jacket and skirt. There is only one purpose this serves: to keep it looking nice on the hanger. Please, please, when you get home, or sooner.. cut that stitch and remove the thread (see photo if you don't get it). Few things are more annoying than walking behind someone, looking at the thread dangling from their skirt slit, which was not cut, but broke inadvertently from walking, sitting, etc. And this technically doesn't go only for women. Most suits come with sewn-shut pockets on the jacket and pants.. again, just to keep them looking nice in the store.. rip those bad boys open. While these aren't visually annoying, where else would you put your iPhone and lip balm?

White shoes after labor day.. or "The right to bare legs."

In true Federalist Society fashion, the Touro Law Chapter held a Constitution Day celebration to commemorate the anniversary of the ratification of the second greatest book ever written (in my humble opinion). With Sam Adams on tap (and on special), the Executive Board welcomed members, old and new, and provided fabulous appetizers thanks to the SBA. Why Sam Adams? Well, we thought, "WWJMD?" (What would James Madison drink?). They totally were friends.

Many probably scoffed at my choice of the black side-zip mini, a fabulous steal from bebe.. and when I say steal, I meant I paid $30.. But the Constitution includes the right to bear arms. And since I chose a blazer for the day, I needed to bare something else. Any Federalist knows that the proper way to interpret the Constitution is by discerning the intent of the framers. Name one framer that would object from me reading an implied right to bare legs into the Second Amendment.

And what about due process? Who made the rule against white shoes after labor day? In my case, I donned them ten whole days after so-and-so said they should be packed away for the season[s]. But I think the stark white blazer compliments my stark white stacked heel stiletto pumps quite well, and it would be unfair to deprive them of their due process rights to be worn anytime they match my ensemble. America proudly wears white all year long, and man.. that flag is fierce.

Catchin' up.. overdue summer post.

Words to live by.. When in (fashion) doubt, just look to the plain and simple rules of the Suffolk County Courthouse. In the very least, they will prevent you from certain fashion disasters. Anyone who has been in the courthouse hall, however, knows these rules are widely unknown and unenforced. Now, I took a whole class in professional responsibility, and there were no rules about advising your clients to look decent. I guess telling someone to "wear their Sunday best" doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. I may have to work on an addition to the Rules of Professional Conduct.. Lawyers need to look good. But so do those they represent.

Looking this svelte should be criminal..

So it's Thursday, and for most second year law students, it's our last day of classes for the week.. Friday-ish. Many are in sweats, and I'm even in jeans, thanks to the last few sleepless nights I spent writing the Moot Court brief for the Bainbridge Competition.

Some of us, however, raised the bar (pun intended). On my way into Constitutional Law, I was uncontrollably compelled to bust out the iPhone and take a picture of one of my favorite law peeps. She happens to be President of the Criminal Law Society, (one of, if not) the largest student organization[s] on campus. And while she and I tend to be on the opposite side of the spectrum, politically, we are one hundred percent on the same side today, fashionably speaking.

Perfect daytime makeup, a sleek ponytail, and a rocking royal blue satin shift dress set the stage.. Note, not only is she wearing colors that match the Touro Law logo, but also the gold and blue lapel pin adorning the Criminal Law Society Logo.. (And I thought I was the only one that matched my outfit to my lapel pins). Finally, she finishes it off with great bronze flats with a fabulous punch-out oversize mesh design, and a brown button-down sweater in the same hue as the shoes. Fierce.

No doubt she will be the most fabulous-looking individual at the Criminal Law Society Meet-and-Greet tonight. Certainly, the fashion police will not be present.

Bags I roll to class.

So I finally took the plunge. After a full year of lugging totes around, and a miserable few months of summer classes in the city, again, schlepping texts around Manhattan, I have finally done the unthinkable. I bought a "rollie bag." My dislike for them is fairly unfounded. The variety just isn't there, and I'd rather fall in lust with and buy a new tote each season than wheel around a bag I just am not crazy about. Not to mention, they can be a bit pricey, and most are downright manly. Well this semester, the books are just too much to handle in a bag with, well, handles (only). Case in point; I scored a fabulous kahaki green, nylon Sequoia tote with a great cross-body strap at Marshall's this summer. The price was unbeatable, and the bag looked like something that would survive the Gulf War. Sequoia is a little-known (to me and mine) French luggage brand, and because the average Marshall's shopper probably hasn't heard of it, I got it at less than 10% of the online retail price, way in the back of the clearance rack (I meet most of my steals there). However, looks can be, and are deceiving. The handles began to tear after just a twice-weekly LIRR-to-Subway trip from Center Moriches to Wall St. Not ok. The bag is now in a discarded pile on my floor, undeserving of even a photo on the blog.

Back to my new pal on wheels.. Black or taupe, black or taupe, black or taupe? The choice was hard, but I went with taupe. This fabulous bag is adorned with black and white snakeskin, so it will coordinate with anything black, and the black bag was a bit severe looking. And with my black locks, I didn't want to channel my inner Selma Blair (Elle's Legally non-blonde nemesis) in my attempt to avoid looking like law school Barbie.

So taupe it is. Going with a rolling duffel, rather than a rolling briefcase bought me a generous 20" x 13" x 10".. and don't worry, I measured the books.. it will be a squeeze, but without upgrading to a carry-on, and looking like a flight attendant any time I decide to wear a skirt suit, this was the best choice. Really, on Wednesdays, with Constitutional Law, Evidence, Property and International Sales Law & Arbitration, and few breaks between, I needed a bag that does its job.

So kudos to my girl Diane von Furstenberg for producing fabulous, (mildly) affordable rolling luggage. The woman is walking fabulousity, and the epitome of class. And now I can be too, on my way to class. So this gorgeous bag.. she's mine, all mine, thanks to www.ebags.com. So if you want one for you, and especially if you go to Touro, opt for the trendy "Betty." She's covered in zippers and comes in an array of colors. Further, in effort to fend off any copycats out there, a gorgeous, vintage DvF scarf will be lovingly tied to the handle on my bag. So authentic, so fierce. Printed with the DvF logo, and her very own mantra, "life is love." Word.

Thanks, Di. www.dvf.com

My latest accessory..

As many of you know, I'm a lover of all things mac. My MacBook, my old iMac G5, my collection of iPods.. the list goes on. (Well, once you go Mac, you never go back). After years of waiting patiently for Verizon to get the iPhone, I finally caved and switched to AT&T. I'll pardon you the story of the fiasco that was my day at pick-up and the obscene amount of time I had to wait to even place an order. And let's not even mention the percentage of calls that drop.. The phone is basically an iPod touch, with unlimited wifi and a serious camera (annnnnd a monthly bill that is so not pretty). Regardless, I'm in love, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. See the funniest video my man posted on my facebook wall that is a perfect depiction of my attitude towards the iPhone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg


Obviously, though, it's super important to carry the phone in style. This is not only to protect it like the expensive piece of garbage that it is, and to make the antennae work, since you can't place your human finger directly on the bottom left corner (not that any case really makes a difference at all), but for pure chicness. At the time of purchasing my iPhone, the Apple store was completely out of cases, screen protectors, etc., and the AT&T store had three in stock. It must've been fate, because I found a case that was both functional and fierce. Enter, the Belkin soft touch leather case. It's really hardly leather.. it's some form of plactic-ish/rubber-ish stuff with a nice leather piece on the back. Mainly black, it matches the body of the phone, yet features brown threads, so you don't look totally terrible if you have no black on that day (but why anyone would go a day without any black on is beyond me..). Since I was literally unable to find a stock photo of the case, I had to remove it (eek!) and take a photo of it myself.

Aside from that, you must must must download my fave apps: IncrediBooth, which simulates those fabulous photo booths I can't walk by without going in, and comes with three different exposures for the photos; Hipstamatic, which turns your phone camera into a terribly groovy retro camera with various different films and effects.. it automatically makes whatever you're doing that day look that much cooler; and finally, foursquare (even better because it's free!) which allows you to "check in" to restaurants, shops, etc., which does make it much easier for people to stalk you like a crazy GPS, but also earns you free chips and salsa when you check in at Chili's and show your server that you did.

Shoes (I Can't Buy Because I Can't) Wear (Them) to Court

So my heart is breaking.

I went to Nordstrom Rack on my lunch break before returning to Nassau Family Court. Let me tell you, the court closes from noon to 2:00 daily, leaving ample time for a good meal and some serious shopping. If I worked here full time I would be in big trouble. So while I was cruising the shoes I came to a screeching halt, spinning around, sustaining a minor case of whiplash for the most beautiful pair of Steve Madden sandals.

Royal blue suede, peppered with shining gold grommets, and featuring an open toe with an inch and a half platform, and an elastic slingback.. And I kid you not, they were insanely comfortable. At $65.00 they were probably a steal, but unless I planned on stealing (which I would never) I sadly had to leave them behind. Of course, I walked up and down the aisle for a good 20 minutes before returning them to their box and hiding them in the back of the rack.

It's unfortunate but simply impractical to buy shoes like these that I could neither wear to court nor to school. So sad.

On a lighter note, the black open toe pumps that you see discarded on the floor are the most comfortable shoes I own. They are also from Nordstrom Rack, and are over two years old.. heels still intact. The important thing to notice is that the peep toe is extended toward the end of the shoe, rather than starting up higher. This makes for a more professional look, with much less visible toenail (you all know how I feel about toenails).

And I suppose I should mention the pink, salmon and gold skirt in my hand behind the blue shoes went home with me.. stay tuned.. you will meet it in a later post, somewhere around the first day of school. OXO

Location:Old Country Rd,Hempstead,United States

I like my handbags like I like my men..

..Older and Italian. Meet the newest addition to my wardrobe.. One of the best pieces of advice I can give to a fellow female law student is to have a spare clutch in her car at all times. By the end of the first day of classes, I resolved to give my handbag a break for the semester. Since Louis was a bit too valuable to leave in the front seat of my car in a parking lot so close to the court house (you get my drift), I decided to forego carrying any bag other than that which carried my textbooks. I ended up with my license, school ID, debit card and coffee club card in a business card-sized leather case which lived in my school bag. I encourage you all to do the same..

But let me save you the agony of the day when you forgot about the wine and app mixer with the Suffolk Bar Association at the steakhouse you can't afford to eat at otherwise. If you're smart, you're dressing for law school in a way that you can toss on a bigger necklace and head straight there. And then what happens when you go to grab your ID and some singles for tipping (yes, always tip for every drink)? I never encourage cheating, unless it's on handbags. Keep a spare clutch in your car, specifically for moments like this. Louis (or your version of him) won't mind. He likes to rest anyways.

Last year I ebayed a fabulous envelope-style vintage Fendi clutch. You will die when you see just how cheap you can get a legit, authentic Fendi purse online. If you need help, just ask. Today I won an auction for my newest stand-by.. a vintage Bally clutch. Slightly more feminine than last year's model, still of the Italian persuasion, and complete with a detachable shoulder strap for nights when I have to carry something.. I suggest choosing something with a scheme of black and brown combined, so it will match anything.. opt for understated metal elements, so you don't show up with silver hoops and gold handbag hardware. On a less-fashionable note, I also keep one of those nice cloth storage bins in my back seat, to toss things like my umbrella, spare flats, hairspray, etc. in, to which I add tomorrow's textbooks and whatnot, so my backseat is less of a terrible mess. Toss the clutch in too, and you're never unprepared.

Yay, I found a stylin' girl in court.. and I KNOW her!

You have no idea how excited I was to walk into the court room and have shoes to admire. It gets better.. She's a classmate and personal friend. Gina Rizzuto was looking fabulous and fierce the less-than pretty Nassau Family Court where she is interning for the Summer. Go girl. Gina rocked a classic black pantsuit with a single-button jacket, and added a splash of color with a turquoise cami. Fierce. Black stilettos, with the leather gathered and rouched at the toe completed the look. Not only were they cute, but they were functional.. Can you say "ankle straps?!" Let's not forget the fabulous black glasses.. although I'm sure those are for fashion, and for improved vision. Kudos, Gina.

PS: Don't hate on my tweed Summer suit.. It was a rainy-ish day, so the fabric was totally appropriate. Thank you, Banana Republic.

I found true love.. (Shoes I Wear to Court: Emergency Edition)

..in the form of a handbag. I know I've got some serious catching up to do, and I promise to do that, but an email I received today prompted me to interrupt your regularly scheduled blog readings.. The email was entitled, "Introducing the Multitasker." Anyone who knows me understands that this totally speaks to me, especially because the email was from my good friend Kate Spade. So naturally, I clicked in to find my newest love affair, crafted of Italian goathide and fourteen karat gold. While the name piqued my interest, it was a little unorthodox.. Traditionally bags are named after girls, not adjectives that describe us. Much to my pleasure, when viewing the bag fully, via the Kate Spade website, I was officially reintroduced to "Five Points Camille." Music to my ears, and my eyes.. From Kate's mouth to God's ears; "bright, bold and passionate were the personalities that charged new york city's five points neighborhood during its heyday in the early 1900s, and this bag's vintage-inspired aesthetic harkens back to that exalted age. Generously proportioned to fit your everyday essentials, with room aplenty for a bottle of pink lemonade and a read for the train. A removable strap can be worn cross-body to keep hands free." With 14 karat gold-plated hardware and feet, silk interior, and a 10.8" by 13.2" body.. ie: perfect for a MacBook, a day planner and a handful of highlighters.

And at $475, it's simply the cost of half a semester's bookstore bill.. Maybe I'll buy my books used online in the worst condition I can find, and save enough to splurge.. How great would it be to spend my semester with Camille? Plus she's mature enough to bring to court someday when I'm all done with this thing called law school. Comes in antique bronze, beyond-fantastic tangerine, and my personal favorite, graphite (pictured).. We all know I love the look of grey tones and gold hardware. Love.

http://www.katespade.com/sm---pi-4298772.html

Don't even get me started..

Ok, get me started. (Isn't that why we're here?) First and foremost I should note that at no time am I taking photos in the courtroom, or any restricted areas. All photographs are taken in public areas of the courthouse (although not necessarily with the consent of all "soles" involved..). Today was a perfect day for a blog post. As I was observing a settlement conference slash negotiation session, I became all too aware of the shoe issues around the room.. Un. Believable.

As the blog is called "Shoes I Wear to Court," let's start with moi. The picture indicates I'm wearing my fave navy pantsuit, which I almost always pair with my royal blue ruffled blouse and gold, nine-strand necklace. My navy patent pumps give me serious Barbie-foot, which I wasn't in the mood for today, and they were too tall to be worn with these pants anyways. Thus, I opted for one of my most favorite pair of shoes.. Tan, patent stilettos, pointed toe and all.. They literally go with anything. One of the first things we learn in the "pageant world" is that legs look longer when you match your shoes to your legs. True business. Still, I was wearing pants, so that lesson isn't technically relevant. Anyways, as the focus of the outfit was on the contrasting blues, and the statement jewelry, I didn't want to take away from the outfit by distracting with a flashy shoe. These are perfect. Again, Nine West, about a 3" heel. Unbelievably comfortable, and were broken in in no time. The patent is essential. Totally dresses up any outfit.

So let's go clockwise.. starting with the man on my left. Two thumbs up.. Simple, professional, yet utilitarian black shoes, and matching "big boy socks." 'Nuff said.

Next.. I need serious slow breathing to get through this one. Not ok. Let's state the obvious.. Come on with the gym socks. That is never ok. This is a private lawyer.. No excuses for white socks. Note also, this person always crosses his legs so that not only do the socks show, but significant amounts of leg hair as well. Lord help me. Additionally, these are black shoes, made of Lord-knows-what-material (not leather at least..). This means they don't even have the opportunity to be shined. Poor things. And his suit, like mine, was navy. The debate on black shoes with a navy suit is to be had on a later day. Today, it was the wrong choice.

Moving right along. Note the next woman was the third of five in the room also wearing a navy pantsuit.. Overall, the sandals are acceptable. Note, the only reason I feel this way is because she had a fresh, French pedi. However, I personally feel that sandals have no place in the court room. Correction: Toenails have no place in the court room. One minor exception is a well-chosen peep-toe pump in the warmer months.

Finally.. black flip-floppy slides.. Again, I really feel a closed-toe, closed-back heel would have suited both of these ensembles better. I think these may have gone a little far.. I really don't want to see so much foot. And you should never be taking your shoes off during negotiation sessions.. that's gross and wrong.

So that's that for today. I think I've opened the Pandora's box when it comes to male footwear in the legal setting.. more on that next time.

Trial day two.. Blisters on the heel mean only one thing:

Slingbacks. Ivory patent open-side sligback stilettos proved to be the perfect choice, and coordinated beautifully with my black knit Ralph Lauren blazer with ivory trim. They were so comfortable that I was able to wear them from court to class in the City and back without wincing. Shoes like that are a must for any wardrobe. These happen to be Nine West. And the fabulous bag you see on my lap in the foreground is a vintage Saks Fifth Avenue document carrier from nowhere but ebay. Fabulous.

A blog newer than my newest pair of heels.. but only by a few hours.

So many of you know that I left a tres glam marketing career to pursue a law degree. Trading fashion and makeup for casebooks and study guides wasn't easy, but it had to be done. Now, the most stylish part of my day includes matching my highlighter to my blouse. I soon realized I wasn't the only one in need of a bit more style in my life. While "anything goes" in the classroom, from sweat suits to business suits, I try to look my best, which helps me feel my best and do my best.

Unfortunately, some of my fave ensembles include bright colors, endless embellishments and retro patterns, which aren't technically "law school friendly." Thankfully, much of my wardrobe is black and white essential pieces that can go from the class room to happy hour quicker than the bartender can pour a Stella. And jewelry is key. And shoes are the main event.

I've struggled this past year with the idea of blending my career past, with my career future. It all came about when I had to ruthlessly delete years of blood, sweat and tears from my resume, because the work I had done was basically irrelevant for my legal resume. So.. when talking to one of my best girlfriends (you know who you are) from school about summer swimwear, specifically, mix-and-match prints, she happened to mention that she loves how I know "what to put together." Days later, another friend asked me what on earth she should wear to a party that indicated a dress code of "casual chic." I used to assume people just asked because I'm clearly a shopaholic.. but they were on to something.

It came about as fast as the urge for a new short haircut.. Visions of style-deprived women flooded my head.. You've seen them. The women in Aerosoles, with pantsuits that have elastic waistlines. They are everywhere. They are in law, in politics, in public interest. I may never end up with a fancy fashion consulting career with every female attorney in my little black (patent leather) book. And while most (if not all of them) will never read my blog, in the very least I can impart my advice, opinions, and shopping tips, so that I can prevent my Touro girls from ending up like that ten years from now.

I took a chance on Tuesday, abandoning the advice we've all been given at school, and wore my favorite new heels (photo above) to Nassau County Family Court. I was a bit nervous, imagining the judge pointing at me and screaming at me to leave her court room. But I had to follow my heart, and my intuition. When I arrived, saw, and was introduced to the most fabulous female lawyer I've ever seen in my life. She was the epitome of what I strive to be, and I can't wait until I have the iPhone next month, so I can grab a shot of her for the blog next time she's there.. In the meantime, I was so glad I wasn't wearing boring shoes when I met her.. what a disaster that would have been..

Some style lessons are timeless. But I've come to learn that the greatest accessory is a J.D. degree. Fierce.