Now before we get down to the nitty gritty fash thing, let’s make one thing clear. I know my place in this fashion world- behind a pen (or keyboard) or clutching a credit card. Almost NEVER behind the camera. I know to leave that job to some of my fave photogs- Garance, The Sartorialist and my father! Yep, despite my amateur attempts at Marchesa, I fully understand that I am just not naturally camera-chic. Butttt, while scoping out Bergdorfs NY for the SATC crew, I spotted this woman who inspired my inner Avedon.

Takin' it to the streets

Was it her perfect ponytail- Bardot and casual all at once? Or her Goyard bag, slung as effortlessly as a “This is not a plastic bag” tote? Maybe those cargo pants tucked into hightop Converse? While I’ve never been a Chuck Taylor-chicster, for a brief second this total stranger had me reconsidering a Con life. Hmmm…perhaps it was how all of these elements came together seamlessly as she instantly struck a “K.Moss, eat your bloody ♥ out!” pose when I asked to take a picture.

Wait…I got it! What impressed me most was how this remarkably stylish woman reinforced a style lesson I’ve slowly (but surely) been learning for the past few years: laid-back luxe can make just as fantastic- if not more- of a style statement as its dressier counterpart.

Well, Ms. Euro-Fash, thank you for that sense of sartorial validation ;)