APPAREL

There’s no wardrobe staple that’s as multifaceted as a t-shirt. Whether worn with jeans and flat sandals or a blazer and heels, a t-shirt can transform from day to night and back again with the switch of an accessory and addition or removal of a cardigan. A quality t-shirt, to boot, will not only last longer than your boyfriend’s Hanes undershirt (which, admittedly, may be comfortable to sleep in, but should be left out of the light of day), but is typically made with higher quality fibers that guarantee a fit that’s second to none.

City girls and cowgirls: let The Vogue City take you down the path of effortless comfort with reviews of the best big girl knitwear labels for your buck.

James Perse makes a multitude of jersey knit tops that are soft, pliable and ultra chic – not to mention a color selection that ranges from soft washes of pale color to eye-popping, bold pigment. Prices start at $45 for a supima tank and run upwards of $105 for a long-sleeved off-the-shoulder top.

Michael Stars a favorite amongst college coeds and hipster moms alike, has a penchant for creating the form fitting, flattering pieces that work with every season. We’re especially fond of the Shine line, a cotton/nylon blend that adds a bit of sparkle without being overtly glittery, which ranges from $40 to $60 per piece. A disclaimer of “One Size Fits Most” is sewn into the labels; ladies on the slimmer or fuller figured sides may have trouble finding a perfect fit.

“Michael Stars is the 20-year old T-shirt company many credit with giving birth to the trend for fitted T’s.” -Los Angeles Magazine

C&C California  adds a punchy, West Coast feel to their line of tanks, tees and tunics. Prices, again, range from $40 to $100; bulk purchases are rewarded with discounts of up to 40% off when placed online. 

“C&C California was created by two young women who grew up on the beaches of Southern California during the 1970’s. Their mutual love for the styles, colors and comfort of that decade continued to evoke and inspire them. Inspired from the cultural icons of that era that included Ali McGraw, Raquel Welch, Natalie Wood and Jacqueline Kennedy, the concept was dedicated to making The Perfect Tee Shirt.”

-Karyn Polewaczyk

Lycra, cotton blend, polyurethane and spandex: when it comes to leggings, you (and your calves, thighs and rump) can have it all. Or can you?

Re-introduced to a younger generation of Madonna wannabes sometime around 2003, leggings are the comeback kids that have no plans to shrink into the corner anytime soon. Thanks, mostly, to Lindsay Lohan and her seemingly endless fashion budget. But, I digress: are oversized t-shirts, knee-length sweaters and billowy blouses, a.k.a. the prototypical legging pairing, also here to stay; or will they, too, wash up on the shore of flared jeans, too-tight logo baby tees from Abercrombie & Fitch and other styles from fashion past?

Let’s start with every girl’s best friend – Spanx!

See, i.e., their Footless Tights, $26. See, also, the extremely obvious control top. While shaving inches off of your waistline and hips may inspire you to frolic gaily through a flower market or to tapdance down 8th Avenue, I beg of you: keep your Spanx covered, or, save it for the comfort of your living room after a Ben & Jerry’s binge.

American Apparel, with whom I have a love/hate relationship, takes the term “shiny little things” and brings it to a whole new level with their Shiny Legging, $42 (!).

First of all: if I wanted to spend $42 to make my rear end look as wide as humanly possible, I’d be at McDonald’s, bingeing on Happy Meals and milkshakes. Second, gold lame pants, paired with what appears to be a cotton oxford shirt, is neither office nor nighttime appropriate. In fact, I’d say that the only place I’d be caught wearing something like this would be to my therapist’s office, who would understand such a tragic and failed attempt to be cool.

Now, now. Before you decry me some sort of trend-basher, I’ll throw in these footless wonders from the Gap, but only because they’re on sale (for $43, which is no bargain to me):

These, to me, look more like glorified sweatpants; to sell them as “tailored” leggings is a bit misleading. But, I suppose if you add a “cropped” hooded sweatshirt and “fresh” sneakers, you’ve got yourself a date… to the gym, that is.

For these reasons, and for many others that would fill endless pages, I rest my case: leggings belong under clothes, not under the spotlight.

-Karyn Polewaczyk

Skinny jeans, graffiti prints and an obsession with Charlie Sheen: with 80s-inspired trends staying strong through 2009, is it any surprise that the jumpsuit, that not-quite-a-top, not-quite-a-bottom concoction of fabric, has made a comeback? My own recollection of such attire involves the pink polyester jumpsuit I dutifully dressed my Career Barbie in for dates at The Bellagio (or, my playroom) with Ken, as well as the seersucker getup my mother referred to as a “romper” that I wore while ponying around on the swing set in our backyard.

For babies of the ’80s or those just hoping to reincarnate the decade of excess, The Vogue City presents a plethora of jumpsuits for your fashion palette.

Lanvin worked their ready-to-wear runway collection with this silk piece (price upon request at Lanvin). Of course, it looks ridiculously cool on a Russian supermodel; I question a woman with hips (i.e. 98% of the female population) looking quite as sleek. The phrase “price upon request” usually also translates into “we can work it, but you, working girl, cannot afford this.”

Free People, label of surfer girls and all things cozy, spices things up with their Ibiza jersey jumpsuit ($88 at ShopBop.com). While costing a fraction of Lanvin’s version, it also cover a fraction of exposed skin. Keep it classy by pairing with a lightweight cardigan or a visit to your plastic surgeon.

Theory proves you don’t need to jump ship to jumpsuit with their Tailor Olalia number ($345 at Bloomingdales). Besides being both work and weekend appropriate, it’s cut is drama-free, ensuing its wearability in 2010.

Jumpsuit: friend or foe? Only you (and your wallet) can decide. As for me, I’ll stick with Charlie Sheen.

-Karyn Polewaczyk

 April showers bring May flowers – and with them, floral prints on gauzy skirts, perfectly prim tops and a host of other fashionable, adult-friendly florals. Whether you’re on a long-stemmed budget or that of a mixed bouquet, The Vogue City will pluck a basket of fashion picks that will bring your wardrobe into full bloom – while nipping overpriced duds in the bud.

Spring wouldn’t hold such a mild temperament without picnics, bike rides, and the epitome of preppy prints, Lily Pulitzer. Their Ollie dress, $248 at LilyPulitzer.com, is a fresh blend of white and yellow:

The ruffle at the hem adds a demurely sweet-yet-age appropriate touch (is there anything worse than a woman over the age of 5 stricken with ruffle overload?), while the combination of yellow and white looks crisp and fresh. Pair now with a lightweight cashmere cardigan in a contrasting color, like a light plum or kelly green, neutral peep toe pumps and a silk clutch for dinner downtown; transform it into a summer staple come June with strappy metallic flat sandals and an oversized straw tote.

Missoni splays a delectable blend of sunwashed floral plus the eponymous Missoni hexagonal signature print in their silk Ethel dress, $1975 at Neiman Marcus:

Nevermind picnics and bike rides – with a dress (and price tag) like this, you’re better off spending April on a yacht off the coast of Capri with men named Carlo and Maximo feeding you prosciutto-wrapped melon by hand. Buon giorno!

Old Navy hits a home run with their maxi dress, $32 at Old Navy stores (a steal like this is not surprisingly sold out online), in hues of mixed cobalt, aqua and cream:

Add flat sandals of your liking (heels with a maxi dress spell trouble, unless you’re Diana Ross and it’s 1975) and top with sprinkles, and you’ve got yourself one tasty springtime treat.

As a rule of thumb, small prints – whether they be floral, herringbone or polka dot – work best with small body shapes, while larger prints help to balance a fuller frame.

-Karyn Polewaczyk