Packing Light: Olympic Gold-Medal Layering

I’m in New York about once a month lately for work and pie, so I thought I’d give you a peek into how I pack for variable weather, and a trip that encompasses both business and social elements. Because I like to pack everything into a single carryon and a laptop/camera bag, I tend to plan my outfits beforehand.

These are the quick snapshots I took for my last trip. They were taken for personal reference so I could just look back at my phone to remember how I wanted to mix and match everything. That’s why there are no fresh flowers and globe collections in the background. Still, I recognize that not everyone is this anal meticulous, but most people don’t loathe checking bags as much as I do either.

Packing Light New York: Sweater, Scarf, Skirt | Mighty Girl

Spring in New York is easy for me because it’s exactly how I dress in San Francisco. Two factors are at play: 1. I need to go from business in the day to drinks at night without stopping by home. 2. I need to prepare for a chill when I’m outside, and the heat of a crowded bar at night. And as I shed layers, I’d like to carry minimal crud around.

The outfit above is how I’d leave the house for a day of work.

Silk scarf, vintage
Cashmere sweater, vintage
Rock crystal necklace, gift
Navy mini, Zara
Gray tights
Royal blue flats, Target

Packing Light New Yorka: Sweater + Skirt | Mighty Girl

If it’s warmer than I expect, or if the sun comes out mid-morning, I can stuff the tights and scarf in my tote.

Packing Light New York: Tank + Skirt | Mighty Girl

And then, whuuuut? I find myself at bar in Greepoint that weirdly has steam heat and a surplus of cute guys. Voila. Orange tank is Mossimo brand from Target.

Packing Light New York: Culottes + Sweater | Mighty Girl

Same concept, different outfit.

Hand-knit cap, thrift (again, whoever gave this up is a monster)
Cashmere cardigan, L.L. Bean
Handmade safety pin, Etsy (no longer available)
Cotton skirt, purchased in Buenos Aires
Navy Tights, Target

Packing Light New York: Tank + Denim Skirt | Mighty Girl

Warm bar or restaurant, and the sweater goes in my purse or over my shoulders. Obviously, I can lose the tights and the hat too, but after 8 hours of hat-hair, and the probability that I haven’t shaved my legs? That’s a last resort. This yellow tank top is also Mossimo for Target, which makes the best long tank tops for tall girls.

Packing Light New York: Coat + Booties | Mighty Girl

It was supposed to rain while I was there, so I wore this warm wool coat on the plane. I can wear it belted or loose, and it works with all of the outfits pictured here.

Silk scarf, Hermes
80s Wool Coat, thrifted
Cashmere sweater vest, thrifted
Brass necklace, ALT Summit gift bag
Same navy skirt from Zara
Grey tights, Target
Elf booties, Vintage

Packing Light New York: Layered Tees + Skirt | Mighty Girl

Here are the bones of this outfit, and I can take it down even further by removing the sweater vest. Stripe shirt, H&M.

Packing Light New York: Coat + Pant | Mighty Girl

This is what I wore on the plane. It looks sort of hobo here, but I actually wore it with the belt.

Scarf, thrifted
White T, Zara
Black pants, Gap
Flats, Urban Outfitters

Packing Light New York: Layered Tees + Pant | Mighty Girl

Here’s how the outfit looks without the coat. The grey long-sleeve T-shirt is Gap Body, and it’s the best thing ever. I’m about to order it in every color because it’s so soft and layers so well. Cozy.

Packing Light New York: Tee + Skirt | Mighty Girl

Here’s the same Zara T-shirt without a layering , which I paired again with the unstoppable Zara skirt. In reality I ended up wearing it with the black pants for solo brunch with my favorite novel. The vintage-style half bra beneath is Anthropologie (pervert).

So those are my layering tricks. You’ll note that I dress almost entirely in color blocks, with print coming in as an accessory or base layering piece.

How do you make your wardrobe stretch when you’re traveling somewhere with temperature swings? I’m all ears.

Weekend Soundtrack: Baby Done Me Wrong

Weekend Soundtrack: Baby Done Me Wrong | Mighty Girl
Weekend Soundtrack: Baby Done Me Wrong | Mighty Girl

Did someone hurt you? Because I will cut them. You listen to this, while I sharpen my switchblade.

Baby Done Me Wrong on Spotify
Baby Done Me Wrong on Rdio

Playlist:

The Walk, Mayer Hawthorne
Messin’ With My Head, K. Flay
Heart Skipped A Beat, The xx
Fucked Me Right Up, Sean Hayes
Golden, The Tontons
We’re Not Friends, The Daredevil Christopher Wright
Telephone, The Black Angels
Hey Boy, The Blow
Heart In Your Heartbreak, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Hang Me Up To Dry, Cold War Kids
Concrete Wall, Zee Avi
Next Girl, The Black Keys
The Clap, Thao With The Get Down Stay Down
How You Like Me Now, The Heavy

What have you been listening to lately?

If you like this post, you should also check out:

Yep. Yep. 2012 Victory Mix
Dancing in Your Undies Mix
Dolores Park Summer Mix

Mighty Thirst: Sassy Lassi

Sassy Lassi | Mighty Girl

Were you ever watching So You Think You Can Dance, when you thought to yourself, “I need a signature cocktail to get me through this Bollywood routine.” Friend, I’ve got your back.

Sassy Lassi serves 3
• 6 oz mangos
• ½ cup coconut water
• 4 ice cubes
• 6 oz plain yogurt
• 3 shots Kraken rum
• Pistachios to garnish (These are good and crunchy. Do not skip them.)

Put everything in a blender except the pistachios and mix it up. Garnish and enjoy.

AB Chao is still in town, so here’s to Louisiana Iced Coffee in the sun, dancing around in your swimsuit, and sneaking smokes. What are you toasting this week?

Tiny Project: Bourbon Cherries

You know what’s easier than you expect? Making delicious Bourbon Cherries for your cocktails and ice cream sundaes. It’s like fifteen minutes of work before a little wait. Here’s what you need:

• Some cherries
• A cherry pitter
• A canning jar
• Bourbon
• A label (if you’re fancy)

First, you rinse the cherries — durr.

Next you pit the cherries with your trusty cherry pitter. This is the delightful Miss Anna Beth Chao getting all Vanna White with mine, which is called a Cherry Chomper. His name is Nigel, and I love him.

Well done. You pitted those with prejudice.

Now pour some bourbon up in there. Make sure all the cherries are covered.

What? You’re done. The hell, right?

Well actually, you’ll want to store the jar in a cool, dark place, and give it a shake once a day or so for four weeks before you crack it open. But still! So easy.

Camp Mighty: Brian Piotrowicz on Intention

Brian Piotrowicz is currently the Co-Executive Producer for Oprah’s Next Chapter and was a co-producer for the Oprah Winfrey Show for eight years. Also, he is a delight. Just a really nice guy who’s doing work that makes the world better. Have a listen to his Camp Mighty 2011 interview with me, and see if you don’t agree:

Camp Mighty – Brian Piotrowicz Interview from Rcom Creative on Vimeo.

Camp Mighty is November 15–17 at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs, California. Tickets are available online at CampMighty.com.

Video courtesy Cameron Barrett of R/Com Creative.

Mighty Closet: Janna Stark

I met Janna through my long-time friend Mai Le of Fashioni.st. She has that kind of thinky style that makes me want to take notes on her outfits. I’ve always wanted to do a maternity Mighty Closet, and when I found out Janna was pregnant with twins, I was thrilled for her, of course, but also pretty thrilled for us. Janna recently moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles, so Mai did a quick photo shoot while she was in town visiting.

Take it away, Janna:

Let me just start by saying that being seven months pregnant with twins is exhausting! But, of course thrilling at the same time. Mix in selling a house and relocating to a new city, and well, you have yourself one tired pregnant mamma to be!

I work in the fashion industry as a trend consultant, sometimes trend forecaster and, my favorite title is “futurist.” Who doesn’t want to be a futurist! Lucky for me I work for a company in Paris, called Promostyl, which means that I get to work from home and email in French a lot. I love what I do, and wouldn’t trade it for the world. I get to work with design teams from a bunch of industries including fashion, tech, and industrial design, and get to conversate and debate the future of design with some intelligent and enlightened folks. As an indulgence, I sometimes teach at a few colleges and am constantly inspired by students and their creative ideas.

Janna Stark Tie-Front Dress | Mighty Girl

This is a little more of a San Francisco outfit. Something I would wear to do a trend presentation or seminar, or meet up for dinner with folks to discuss the future of ladies neck ties, or the influence of the corset in modern day. If I weren’t pregnant, I’d wear this with a tight denim vest.

I come from the land of high-waisted jeans and jumpsuits, and of course heels, so this transition has been interesting! But I have some good finds and have managed to keep rockin’ the heels in the wedge/platform style that seems to be working out just fine.

Dress: Was my mothers, but is from I-Magnin
Shoes: Chloe (5″ heel)

I am so thrilled at the prospect of becoming a mother, and can’t wait to meet these little ones. Pregnancy has been an interesting ride for sure. No one told me about the morning sickness, and apparently I am the only one of my friends to ever have this, because none of my friends that are already moms could relate. But I love the “bump,” or maybe we should call it the “small mountain” at this point, and figuring out what to wear has been interesting, and fun. This dress has been a dream while I’m pregnant. I found it at a vintage store in Oakland (Mercy Vintage), but coincidentally it is also from I-Magnin.

My husband and I were living in San Francisco (one of my favorite places), but in the last few months we relocated to LA, where I have a bigger client base, and also where there is a little more sunshine (no offense SF, I still love you) and some space for these kiddos in my belly to play around in the grass and run through the sprinklers. I’m already sourcing and making cute little swimwear outfits for the two of them — a boy and a girl! I wear this to go to art openings and to meet up with people for coffee in my new neighborhood, Silverlake.

The necklace is one of my new favorites, and reminds me of something my mom would have made in her pottery days, but it’s from a great boutique in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley, called Reliquary and is designed by a woman in Philly. I’m inspired to make some clay beads!

Shoes are my go-to clogs by Swedish Hasbeens.

Janna Stark Green Dress | Mighty Girl

This is an all-time favorite: Maxi dress by Isabel Marant. This was one of my first pregnancy purchases before the bump started showing, and it has served me well. Comfort and style! This dress is pure class. Great for waltzing into the Chateau Marmont for a cocktail.

Necklace is vintage.

Shoes are by Belle by Siegerson Morrison.

Janna Stark Dress + Vest | Mighty Girl

This outfit is a bit of an amalgam. Mostly vintage. The dress is one of those moo-moo maxi hippie dresses that can be quite terrible if worn the wrong way, but I have been able to rock it for a while now. Hhere I am still trying to rock the leather vest, but this may not work for too much longer!

This is kind of a farmers market outfit, followed by a long brunch on a hot sunny Sunday.

The necklace is a gold collar with a leopard on it and is one of my favorite jewelry pieces of all time. It’s from Bird in Brooklyn.

This dress must be worn with heels, these are some of my favorite vintage 1970s clogs.

Ah, next to the Isabel Marant dress, this was a fantastic pregnancy purchase. It is by the brand Hatch, and has fulfilled my pregnant lady jumpsuit dreams! It is so comfortable and versatile and also comes in a cool cotton version. I love this. Cute for after pregnancy also with a belt.

Janna Stark Romper | Mighty Girl

I think this outfit is something I would wear when I want to make a good first impression. When I want to leave a room and have people say, “Who’s the cool pregnant lady?”

The shoes are by Fiel, and I call these my pregnancy platforms. I love the mesh that is airy and cute but also great if my little feet are a swollen.

Necklace is from a friend’s shop in Highland Park (LA), called Platform. It’s a fantastic store with just exquisite style and home finds from all over the globe, as well some great local LA designers. I love turquoise, so this piece caught my eye right away.

All my outfits are things that I want to be able to still wear when the bump is gone and the babies are in my arms, and when I have a waist and can walk more than a block in my heels. I think all of these fit that bill just fine!

BAM! Janna, you are going above and beyond, my friend. Wearing heels while pregnant should be an Olympic sport. Which is why I’ve sent you a medal, please look for it in the mail.

Huge thanks to Mai (@mai) for the photos, and to Janna for letting us into her closet when obviously could have used the time to nap. Hooray, ladies!

Weekend Soundtrack: On the Water Mix

Weekend Soundtrack On the Water | Mighty Girl

This weekend is girlfriends in from out of town, my first solo-hosted cocktail party, and tubing on the Russian River. Here’s what we’ll be listening to on the water.

On the Water Mix on Spotify
On the Water Mix on Rdio

Playlist:

Go to the River, Yael Naim
Never Going Back Again, Fleetwood Mac
Punching in a Dream, The Naked and Famous
The Honest Truth, Typhoon
Long Distance Call, Phoenix
California, Joni Mitchell
They Always Fly Away, Blouse
Kate, Ben Fold’s Five
Jagadamba, You Might, First Aid Kit
Harry and Bass, Ferraby Lionheart
American Daydream, Electric Guest
Milwaukee Protocol, Bright Moments
Laugh at Sex, Not Her, The Strange Boys
Jessica, Regina Spektor
Undercover Martyn Flexin It, Two Door Cinema Club
Give Me One Reason, Tracy Chapman
Teenage Crime, Adrian Lux

What have you been listening to lately?