Dare I do a post on shorts?

Few issues divide the GOACA community quite like shorts do: some of you like them just fine, others find them to be nothing short of an instrument of the devil. And I understand the loathing: they can be tough to wear and unflattering too. But if you wear a shoe with some height, I think even the less-than-perfectly-willowy can get away with them. I love the way a Bermuda-length short looks with a button-down—very casual preppy chic—and this pair is nicely slouchy.

This red pair is awfully snappy.

I showed you these Vince shorts last week in black, but I think they’re pretty classic in the khaki too.

I bought a version of these James Perse shorts a couple of years ago, and they are insanely comfortable.

This chambray pair is pretty cute.

And I’m a big fan of the check pattern here.

These are linen, which is a nice material to have next to your skin when the weather turns toasty.

I almost didn’t include this pair, because the last time I showed denim cutoff shorts, a whole flotilla of you complained that they’re the easiest thing in the world to make yourself and not worth the cash, but every time I try to make my own cutoffs I screw it up somehow, and possibly you are the same. Anyway, I like how these hit right at the knee.

Same here.

 

Tuesday links

• Here’s a gorgeous short film with the most graceful underwater dancing, created and performed by Julie Gautier. (Kottke)
• And I liked this animated short on the life of Marie Curie, the first female female Nobel laureate. (Open Culture)
• Well this is nice news: a new study finds that sleeping in on the weekend helps you live longer. (My Modern Met)
• This cultural history of ugly sandals amuses. (Racked)
• A moving piece about one woman’s efforts to rebuild her life after her husband’s suicide. (Vogue)

Friday links

• These collages by artist Lorna Simpson are pretty spectacular. (Colossal)
• Sephora will soon offer makeup classes for the transgender community. (Elle)
• Creepy-cool vintage covers of classic crime novels. (Dangerous Minds)
• Check out this butter art made by Tibetan Buddhists. (Atlas Obscura)
• RIP Philip Roth, one of my favorite writers. Here are 20 of his books, ranked. (Vulture)

 

 

Join me in my annual search for a reasonably clean-lined skirt

I don’t know when exactly it got so hard to locate a simple, unadorned skirt, but I feel like it’s been quite some time and I am frankly growing quite frustrated with the search. Why must designers add so much unnecessary frippery—ruffles, hi-lo hems, tricky belting—to this most straightforward of garments? I did manage to find enough good ones to bring you this post,  but I had to look at so many bad ones in order to do so that I’m feeling a little dizzy. So please, enjoy this very pretty front-twisted number from Vince while I go drink a nice big glass of water.

A straightforward, nicely flowy silk number from Anine Bing.

I haven’t included a lot of prints here—I really do like my skirts nice and simple, maybe even borderline boring—but the floral here is so subtle I decided it cleared the bar.

This Theory skirt is almost too tricky, but I think if you wore it with a simple white tee, it’d be aces.

The shirttail hem here is a nice casual touch.

I am not mad for wrap skirts—I live in fear that a big gust of wind will expose me to the world as I walk down the street—but I’d make an exception for this one.

 

True A-line denim skirts are tough to find, and this one is a touch flowier than that, but I could see living out all of my summer days in this.

I always like a button-front skirt.

And here’s another button-front, nicely priced.

It drives me crazy how few denim skirts have grown-up hemlines, so when I find a good one—like this—I feel it is my duty to share.

A few picks from Nordstrom’s rather huge sale

I’m pretty sure I showed you guys this suede tote before, but the fact that it’s now nicely marked down merited a repeat.

Who doesn’t need a pair of pink Vans?

I like a twist hem top—so much easier than tucking, and they provide excellent stomach pooch camouflage.

This Isabel Marant Etoile embroidered top looks so light and breezy—perfect for the scorching days soon to come.

And here’s another embroidered Etoile top that has actually been in my shopping cart for weeks now.

Such a good electric blue on this bucket bag.

 

There are so many tops I want at Vince right now

As a brand, Vince is a little unpredictable. Sometimes, I feel like they churn out unspectacular-but-well-executed basics, nothing to get too excited about and definitely not worth the cash. But other times—like this season—they really hit their mark, and offer modern-looking classic pieces that somehow manage to get it exactly right. This top has the kind of print that is good for people who are mostly afraid of them.

This pleated shell could be dressed way, way up—or, conversely, worn with jeans.

I’m a sucker for a drawstring sleeve: so excellently 70s.

A pullover that I could see taking on vacation: you could throw it on over your swimsuit at the beach, then wear it to dinner.

 

I like the tiny bead detail on this flutter-sleeve top.

A perfectly unadorned poet blouse.

A nice and crisp tunic for when you want to look especially put-together.

A great, graphic floral print on a silk button-down—so perfect.

This shirt is fabricated with a combination of cotton and silk, and I think it is probably the softest thing ever and has really nice drape.