Summer, or so they say, is a time for laziness...I find this especially true when faced with the prospect of working on a day when the temperatures are in the mid-90's with depressingly high humidity. Time for cotton shirts folded into origami pleats...golden knots...and multi-layered skirts. Relaxed, yet crisp.

Not quite Independence Day...and a not very patriotic outfit (limited stripes and no stars)...but a comfortable option for a (currently rather rare) work-free day...spent, I'm sorry to say, trying to cross some things off my depressingly long  "to do" list.

Even though I can wear (essentially) whatever I want for work I find the idea of a "uniform"...pieces that will easily slot together when I cram them into a suitcase...yet allow me to feel vaguely pulled together...a very alluring concept indeed.

The latest addition to my work wardrobe is this color-blocked sweater from Marni...men's, on sale at Mr. Porter...something that I am more than happy to steal from the boys...strangely colorful and subdued at one and the same time...

Lazy Sunday...actually, amend that to "theoretically lazy Sunday that was buried beneath a landslide of chores and to-do lists"...

I sometimes feel that I'm more interested in the details of an outfit than the outfit itself...or perhaps that's just my way of justifying my interest in bags, bracelets, and all other forms of personal ephemera...

Sunday...denim day...in forms other than jeans...

I'm finding it a little hard to believe that it's almost May and I'm still pulling out the waffle cashmere that saw me through the winter...usually discussions about "seasonless clothes" refers to light layers that work by themselves in summer, or en masse in winter...not an inability to escape from your winter woolies.

It may have something to do with my status as a non-driver but give me a sunny day...and the chance to go on a little field trip...and I'm as happy as a spaniel with his head out the passenger window...

By rights, I should have posted this yesterday but I was a mite...polluted. No, that's too circumspect...I had the Exxon Valdez of hangovers...a dark, inky pool of regret and recrimination...that required intravenous drips of chicken soup and sparkling water interspersed with bouts of sleep and blankly staring at the walls.

The cause...a fabulously festive bash...held on a seasonally appropriate evening where the weather was destined to swing from rain to sleet to snow to freezing temperatures. In other words, a night where the sensible thing to do is put on your pajamas and sit by the radiator...not try to decide which of your party duds will keep you warm and dry.

The final choice...a stiff, black, silk maxi skirt (similar to the one below in terms of cut)...was surprisingly utilitarian. It could be gathered in one hand whilst negotiating puddles...proved effective in blocking the chill winds...and, most importantly, allowed me to wear my day-to-day boots without anyone being any the wiser. The latter enabling me to feel slightly smug as I watched stiletto shod party go-ers first attempting to wade through slush earlier in the evening and stand upright on the ice rink that the streets and sidewalks turned into as the evening progressed.

The rest of the "You be colorful, I'll be warm and gothic and vaguely reminiscent of a raven" ensemble...ALC cashmere cardigan with leather pailettes...Pamela Love talon cuff...Hermes Constance handbag...Frye Chelsea boots...Banana Republic spike stud earrings...

Fur-lined trench - Phillip Lim, plaid shirt - Zara, sweatshirt - APC, jeans - Gap, talon cuff - Pamela Love

It may be making the grass greener...the blooms lusher...and providing the squirrels and birds with a combination sauna/shower...but the (almost daily) summer downpours are beginning to get me down. Cold rain I can handle...thanks to numerous layers and a British constitution...but I just don't know what to do when confronted with varying degrees of heat and rain... One of these square umbrellas...a collaboration between Opening Ceremony and Parisian umbrella-fella Guy de Jean...would do the trick...the kerchief design and shape being a very seasonal combination. Equally cheery...though not quite as user friendly after the temperature hits a certain point...the combined forces of my (newly acquired) terry cloth sweater and (old purchase that I wish I could get more wear out of) yellow rain jacket...

...Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say." - J.R.R. Tolkien

It may be shallow. Heck, who am I kidding? It is shallow...but an outing for life's necessities (sparkling water, Morbier cheese, and toilet paper) is much more enjoyable when I'm lugging everything around in the bottomless depths of the bag that mother bought in Paris many years ago... Jacket - Belstaff, scarf - Urban Outfitters, corduroy jodphurs - Maria Cornejo, suede Chelsea boots - Frye, shopping bag - Ralph Lauren, scorpion ring - vintage, bracelet - Cost Plus

...I like balancing words together like cruel and gentle, sad and beautiful. Life is not all black and white -- it's shaded." - Charlie Sexton

Though I vaguely feel like I shrank in the wash...or mugged a 13 year old school boy...every time I wear them...I'm rather fond of these pants. It must be the fabric...waxed cotton often affecting me that way. Plus, they afford me the option of an "almost suit"... Wool jacket - Jaeger, plaid shirt - Zara, waxed cotton pants - H Chalayan, glitter flats - Me Too, badge - APC

I'm going to blame the horrifically bad Bananarama pun above on the cough medicine that I am downing to try and beat the spring cold that I managed to catch. Why is is that warm weather colds are so much more depressing than their cold weather brethren? Brown top - Max Studio, v-neck - Club Monaco, cardigan - J Crew, crewelwork skirt - Nicole Farhi, suede Chelsea boots - Frye, bag - Miu Miu

A lazy day...and tickets for a boxing match this evening. My first time seeing it live and my only reference (apart from television) is the 1941 movie, Shadow of the Thin Man..."Hey, look at the dame in the screwy hat!" I fear I am doomed to be disappointed... Plaid shirt - Zara, skirt - Alice Ritter, glitter flats - Me Too, vintage wire bracelet

What fun would spring be without the reversion to almost freezing temperatures just at the moment when your body has started to acclimatize itself to the unexpected warmth? Just the day for layers...and textures...corduroy...and suede... Pleather jacket - H&M, sweatshirt - APC, cashmere and lace scarf, corduroy jodphurs - Maria Cornejo, boots - Russell & Bromley, suede clutch - Mulberry