Famous among dozens
Say! Wired magazine just interviewed my genius friend Margaret Stewart for 5 Secrets of YouTube’s Success, and they used one of my photos.
This:
became this:
So for the next month I’ll be dressing in psychedelic hues and accessorizing with a copy of Wired casually opened to that page.
This is Margaret’s cocktail dress by Trina Turk. I think it might be a metallic peacock feather print. This is Margaret pulling that off.
We thought it might be funny to take glam cocktail dress photos out back with the kids’ toys, but instead she just looks hot.
Then again…
Some of them were pretty funny too. Though they do look a little like someone took them for a highly specific fetish site.
But back to the dress, which is so understated sexy. I think it’s the exposed clavicle. Clavicle beats cleavage any day.
The bracelet is a sentimental favorite because it belonged to her husband’s mother. Her clutch is by Felix Ray.
Killer ’40s-inspired platforms by Banana Republic.
And thus concludes our closet tour with Ms. Stewart. Margaret, you have approximately a year to purchase a whole bunch of new stuff so we can ogle your good taste anew.
This summer dress is Marimekko for Anthropologie, and are you seeing those pockets? I would totally make her hold my lipstick. The tank top is by Ogle.
I should mention that Margaret and I are like minded in that neither of us ever pays full price for anything. She’s one of those shoppers who checks in to her favorite shops a few dozen times so she can snag a favorite piece right when it goes on sale. Purse is Angela Adams.
Wood and shell necklace is from a boutique in Ashville, North Carolina.
These shoes are Aerosoles. Surprisingly cute, right? Plus I think she could technically bowl in them.
Sorry for the relative silence over the last few days, I’ve been Christmas-ing. A bunch of you had questions about Margaret’s hat and necklace, so I went digging and found some better photos I had misplaced. Margaret’s killer fedora is from Target (there are a lot of similar ones under that link, so head over if you want one).
And here’s a close-up of Margaret’s handmade necklace. A bunch of you had questions about how it was made. It’s a bib of fabric with stacked circles of fabric sewn on top. Each concentric circle has a stitch or two in the middle to attach. The material is floppy, probably poly or a poly-cotton blend, so it lays more like a collar than a felted necklace would. If you make one, send me your how-tos and photos and I’ll post a tutorial or a link to yours.
Look for Margaret’s last two outfits later today. Hooray!
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Are you seeing this, Internet? This is Margaret Stewart prevailing. Right after we took these photos, she performed a brief tap number.
It would never even occur to me to purchase that vest, let alone tie it jauntily and pair it with wide-leg trousers. Also, wouldn’t it make a great maternity piece? It would. Vest is by Splendid, and the open front knit cardigan seems to be a signature piece for that brand. Trousers are from H&M.
Two-tone shoes are by Greater LA.
The necklace/collar is handmade by an artist in Buenos Aires. Margaret bought it on the street a couple years ago. You’re already plotting how to make one for yourself, aren’t you? Me too.
We took these last summer, so of course there was a romper involved. This one is from H&M. Man, rompers are really representing on Mighty Girl of late.
The side view on these kills me. Again, I think I need more interesting shoes. I lost my notes on where these came from — Margaret, let us know in comments if you remember.
This brooch was a birthday gift from me, and it’s becoming my sisterhood pin. Everyone I love gets one whenever there’s cause for celebration. It’s by Elefante è Vida, whose shop I’m always loathe to share, but Margaret has forced my hand. I would shake my fist at her, but I’m too flattered by her sweetness in wearing it. Aww, Stewart.
You may remember my friend Margaret from the Mighty Closet I did with her a few months ago. Ms. Stewart is one of my inspirations when I get dressed — she has a great eye and such a sense of fun — so when I took her photos, we did two sets. Here’s round two:
I covet this skirt. It’s so versatile and swishy.
When Margaret tried on this outfit, she wasn’t sure about the puffy Diane von Furstenberg shirt. She often pairs this skirt with a fitted black T-shirt. I felt like it depended on what she was going for; Margaret said she wasn’t sure she wanted to go for Eva Peron:
But come on. She rocks this.
The skirt is Marimekko for H&M, and it has me convinced that long skirts and T-shirts are the perfect San Francisco uniform. As User Experience Manager for You Tube, Margaret needs a lot of day to evening looks that don’t seem strange when the tech guys are still wearing sneakers at cocktail hour. Separates are the perfect option if you need to look presentable, but not overly fussy.
This antique ring is a tiny frog resting on a lilly pad. Margaret’s little girls are already fighting for ring rights.
Her versatile pointy-toe pumps are BP from Nordstrom. You may recognize them from my site banner.
The lacquer Bean Pendant is Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. The hair is from God.
Le sigh. This is Margaret’s fancy cocktail attire. Observe how she could eat a few platters of hors d’oeuvres and no one would be the wiser? Genius. Dress is Diane Von Furstenberg, bought on super-uper sale at Barney’s. Margaret is the queen of 75 percent off.
Just a little detail on the front of the dress. It’s refreshing to come across clothing that looks as though someone has put work into the construction. Also? The light in Margaret’s hallway is heartbreakingly good. She looks like she could ascend.
Her shoes are by Farylrobin, and she got them on Endless.com, which is Amazon’s version of Zappos. Hose are Spanx from Nordstrom. I rarely think to wear patterned tights, but they add so much interest to the right outfit. Chicka-boom!
This is my favorite photo from the whole batch — doesn’t she look coy and classic in her little veil? She bought it in Montreal, and got me a chic cocktail hat by the same artist for my birthday. People stop me to exclaim over it, leading to many pleasant party conversations with folks who have great taste. You can find your own version at Ophelie Hats.
And that’s all folks! Thanks for sharing your inspiring closet with us, Margaret Stewart. You are legendary.
We photographed a lot of upscale outfits, so Margaret insisted on one “what I’d throw on to meet you for brunch” set. Fair enough.
The jeans are Gap, shirt is Paul and Joe for Target, and the jacket is Proenza Schouler for Target. She got it on super sale for $6.
This, again, is why I take Margaret with me when I go shoe shopping. She purchased these boots at Paolo in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley.
These are actual Girl Scout patches, which Margaret ordered according to her interests — design, nerdery, color, sewing, cooking, and photography. I said:
-“They just let you order them?”
-“YES! I know. I was kind of scandalized. I guess they figured people old enough to have credit cards have no use for Girl Scout patches.”
-“Wrong!”
-“Dead wrong.”
Hello, cutie. Get a load of those eyes. Hat by Boden, which we both agree has grown a little bit ho-hum of late. Reinvigorate, Boden! We want to love you. Help us love you again.
On Monday, we conclude with a peek at one of Margaret’s ludicrously good evening dresses.
Margaret layers with divine inspiration. I would never think to pair a Grecian sheath with a pinstriped, tailored vest. It’s genius, because the dress is a little loose, but the vest defines her waist beautifully.
So many of us wear clothes that don’t fit, but Margaret has really figured out how to use clothing to bring balance to her figure. Her pear-shape requires higher waists and fuller skirts to flatter her tiny waist, and skim over her hips. She tries to emphasize her torso and defined arms, and the effect is lovely.
The dress, which is by Target (!) , is my favorite shade of purple, and so flattering on her. The banker vest is Gap.
(By the way, Target and Gap are both Mighty Girl sponsors, and apparently well-placed ones, but this post isn’t part of any campaign. As always, I’d tell you if it were.)
These shoes are Stuart Weitzman as well. I sense a pattern here. By the way, who rocks iridescent sandals? Margaret Stewart, that’s who. Also, I didn’t get a full-body shot of this, but the orange toenails look great with her clutch.
Margaret got this necklace from a street vendor in Buenos Aires. I got a few hand-painted butterfly brooches by the same artist. I know lots of you are travelers, does anyone know her name?
This clutch is a Martin and Barnett makeup bag. Do you see her working that out?
Margaret doesn’t worry much about the matchy-matchies. I lean a little more Doris Day, and used to be confused by artistic types who used surprising color combinations in their wardrobe. For me, it’s good to remember to loosen up once in a while. Hence, I’m carrying a clear ziplock bag as a clutch from now on. I can go from Day to Airport in no time at all, and that’s pretty much my entire goal in life.
Tomorrow, Margaret’s roll-out-of-bed wear, and her scandalous Girl Scout bag.
Mighty Girl 