Ack! We’ve been so remiss on the internets of late. Beaucoup apologies to our wonderful readers. Somehow, every year, I forget how insane the holidays are: local events, shopping for the perfect presents, concerts, a house museum to decorate, baked goods to make (and eat and eat and eat), family and friends to visit. We love it all, but it means our blogging, emailing and commenting get left out in the cold.

Well here’s a lovely little warm up: a cozy pair of sweat pants! Yes, indeedy. The girl who wouldn’t even wear sweat pants when required in middle school gym class, is now wearing them to work! See Exhibit A below:

Can you tell how much I love this Nasty Gal shoulder-padded blazer? I’m hardly ever without it. And what better why to dress up sweats, but with structured shoulders and a neutral/minimalist (okay, nonexistent) palette?

So the sweatpants kinda sorta look more like leggings, ’tis true. And many of you reminded me that wearing leggings to work is pretty much like wearing sweats. So no ground-breaking fashion moments here. But I really do love when fashion and comfort collide – not so much in footwear (begone, crocs and uggs!). If my waist band can expand whilst I eat more Christmas chocolate and gingerbread, and I can maintain a certain level of superficial chic-ness, well, I’m all for it!

Here’s how some svelte models (of the non-waist-expanding-variety) donned their sweats on the runway (click image for photo credit).

Below, Chloe creative director Hannah MacGibbon makes sweatpants look so good, you’ll burn your Juicy Couture track suit. Heck, she’s even wearing a sweatshirt- on her runway! A sweatshirt and sweatpants combo to work? That’s the next step.

Cath and I are out of town this weekend, but we promise to respond to all of your wonderful comments and emails – they truly make our day/week/month/year!

Also, stay tuned for an upcoming post on some lovely things the boys over at Epidemik Coalition sent us. Thanks for the early xmas presents, guys!

I know the big shoulder trend made its first appearance many months ago, but I didn’t give in until last week. Earlier in the summer I tried on a shoulder-padded tee at H&M and I looked like a line backer. My already broad shoulders didn’t need the extra padding. Turns out I just chose the wrong item of clothing! This blazer (from Nasty Gal) is very French Editor chic with just the right touch of football defense – haha! (anyone else sensing a sugar low?)

Are you guys embracing the big shoulder trend? Obviously our lovely Lady Gaga is. (p.s. who’s going to see her Monster Ball Tour? Oo, me! Me! Me!). Of course she makes my jacket look like a boring black blazer with non-existent shoulders. Well, I went pantless for you Gaga, but I won’t go shoulder-full for you just yet.

Are you guys pro-shoulder pads or are you wishing 80s revival would die a quick and painful death?

Oh! And it’s Friday!!! Hope you all have a fabulous, fabulous weekend! Cath and I will be mucking it up with the Wren’s Nest folks, decorating the historic home for the holidays. Come see us on Sunday for The Wren’s Nest Victorian Christmas Party (it’s free – yippee)!

Not exactly a new idea of course. We ladies have been wearing (the) pants for decades – almost centuries- now. Cath and I have always admired Katharine Hepburn and her ability to look stunning in a boxy mans’ suit. But here is the great divide between Katharine and I: where she is like a tall coat hanger with beautiful cheekbones, I’m like a smaller, slightly padded coat hanger with smaller, less padded cheekbones. I look downright Lilliputian and curvy next to Ms. Hepburn. Because of this, I always veered away from an entire suit that would overwhelm my frame.

I also think the 100% masculine look doesn’t work with me. It could be because I’m just too damn girlie. So I feel more at home by adding a lace trim shirt (thanks, Aunt Mare!) under a three quarter sleeved shrunken blazer, topped with a fringy scarf (both H&M). I also skip on the trousers. I have finally given into the fact that I look bad and frumpy in roomy bottoms. Even when skinny jeans and leggings go out of style, I’ll wear them with everything.

I really like lacy ruffles with this sharp, hard-lined blazer that Marlene is wearing below. Are poet shirts coming back? Because I am so hopping on that bandwagon asap!

What do you ladies say? Are you for a little cross dressing? And gentlemen, do you like your ladies in a suit (or parts of one)?