freddy&ma

make a wish

make a wish, originally uploaded by amypigliacampo.

to celebrate my bf's birthday this friday, I made a favorite but sinful treat...magnolia bakery's vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting. The combination of butter and sugar is like crack. (I'm assuming based on research. For the record, I have never smoked crack, even though I use the expression often for emphasis) In order to burn off one of these lovelies, you need to run 4 10-minute miles. If you don't have time to run, you should just slather that frosting on your thighs since that is where it will take up residence. Come to think of it, you would probably get a great unhealthy tan that way and you would smell amazing. I digress...the cupcakes were so lovely, I think I might have impressed Martha...I made regular size and mini's, and honestly I don't think that I will make the full size every again...the baby cupcakes were soooooo good and the perfect size to satisfy. I've posted the recipe for anyone who's interested. Bon appetit!

can't touch this

I love new and different clothing shapes...I like to experiment and play with different styles.  Body-wise, I have my limits as I am not 6 feet tall and 110 pounds so I try to be realistic.  This year, I've been obsessed with finding a pair of harem pants.  When I was about 10 I had 3 pair of them, same style, a black pair, hot pink and aqua (which seemed to be my standard colors at that time).  I think the reason they worked for me at age 10 was that I still had a little girls body and my thighs and bum were nothing to be concerned with...not the case today, where I try to avoid things that make my thighs look as if they were 10 times the size of my ankles.  Which takes me back to issue of harem pants or more specifically the harem/hammer pant, tapered leg combination, which might honestly be the most unflattering silhouette for any woman short of giselle or agnes since they are basically the polar opposite of the boot cut trouser, which is universally flattering because they are fitted in the thigh/bum area and wider near the ankle, creating a balanced silhouette.  Nevertheless, I have been hell bent on finding a pair for myself because there's just something so cool about them.  My father, who likes to tease me about my fashion choices, some examples of this being, "hey girl, you have holes in your pants!" or "your skirt is crooked, I would return that", would certainly find many things to say about these, most specifically the fact that the crotch area hovers somewhere between where it should be and your knees, creating a blouson, baggy effect in a strange place.  But I am a girl on a mission and over the last 3 months have tried on variation after variation determined to find a pair that is modern, comfortable and flattering.  I found exactly what I was looking for in an unlikely place, madewell1937, a small company owned by jcrew, who for the most part makes jeans and tee shirts.  They've been in my closet for about a month and today is the day I'm finally going to bust them out with a favorite skinny studded belt.  I can only imagine my boyfriend's comments, who remarked on a recent jumpsuit ensemble (which I thought was extremely cool), "you look like you're about to jump out of an airplane"...but I don't care.  I LOVE these pants, and I will wear them proudly with confidence...even as strains of "can't touch this" rattle around in my head.

co·nun·drum

, originally uploaded by amypigliacampo.

I have a terrible habit of spending money on shoes...except when it comes to probably the most important shoes in my life, my running shoes. I will procrastinate buying these essentials until the pain in my knees from pounding the pavement in ill-fitting worn out shoes is unbearable. I decided to break my habit by checking out the new JackRabbit running store on the UES, where they take video of your feet running on the treadmill and you can actually see what shoes are doing their job. It was a very cool experience and I would highly recommend this to anyone who runs. Freddy told me to go to this store a year ago (the 14th street location) but I somehow pushed it off until now, mostly with lame excuses about how difficult it would be to get to 14th st (as if). My feet are very happy in my new Asics and Brooks, yes, I got 2 pair. Happy trails!

tough is chic

I cannot get enough of big black studded shoes...really tough, lots of metal, wrapped leather, ankle detail, bold without being too chunky or too dainty...rock on.

i'm bad by freddyandma featuring Pour La Victoire shoes

love story

I must have seen an image recently from  "Love Story" because I've been wanting to wear an outfit like this all week but the pants&blazer are sadly missing from my wardrobe. I'm now desperately seeking brown corduroy pants (I used to own a cool pair but then I had the breakup diet and they were huge so now I am sans tan pants, among other things) and a navy blazer with a cool patch, or better yet, my initials...I suppose I could try to do something like this myself with our embroidery machine but since it pretty much kicked my @ss last week I'm going to really have to work up the courage to try something this ambitious.  The Antonia bag in this photo is absolutely fabulous and I've been carrying it for the last 2 weeks (not quite true, I've been alternating between this one, a pear green one and a navy 2 tone, but you know, same style).  Freddy's girl is also rockin' an "Antonia" in Colorado (hi N!).  You can get yours here, it's incredible. word.

pièce de résistance

I have spent the better part of the last 8 days working on our bridal catalog, designed to inspire and delight.  The catalog is broken down by color, making it very easy to make your choice.  These bags are so pretty in person and they look fabulous at the wedding and after.  Our wedding bags are "the" gift for bridesmaids (if I do say so myself!).

watch this weekend

My very cool Aunt Rita (yes we named a bag after her) indulges my obsession with old Hollywood and one of her fabulous gifts was a box set of Elizabeth Taylor movies, my favorite one being Butterfield 8. 
I think this could be a potential halloween costume idea...just have to find the right wig.
"Beautiful Gloria Wandrous, a New York model/call-girl engages in an illicit affair with married socialite Weston Liggett. Their turbulent affair soon runs out of steam when our heroine, under the mistaken impression that he'll never divorce his wife Emily and marry her, decides to begin a new life in Boston."

867-5309

I go thru fazes where I'm really feeling a certain look and can't get enough of it...last spring it was 70s secretary dresses and high waisted jeans...right now, it's 80s prom dresses.  I can't get enough of them...and they're perfect for spring...and because most people don't want them, you can get them really cheap. They look awesome with my motorcycle jacket and some tough shoes...and I love the irreverence of wearing something dressy and bold during the day.  Here are my recent acquisitions.

if I was going to brave the crowds at topshop...

...I might buy these items and wear them with my new f&m hazel purse.  In case you didn't know, TOPSHOP is finally opening today in NYC and from what I hear it's already a zoo down there...and they're not opening until 11am.  This morning on the subway, I debated whether or not I should venture south, since I've been checking their site for a year to see when they would open...but I decided that there is too much to do here at FM for me to be waiting in line like some kind of groupie...but I will be heading down there next week for sure.

waiting

, originally uploaded by amypigliacampo.

my blogging of late has been very inconsistent...but as always, this is because we are working on so many new things for f&m...and by new things, I mean new products that everyone can afford, even in this tough economy...it's not so bad working all the time when the weather outside is still way too chilly! I'm very much missing last year's habit of sneaking down to Miami once a month...just want some sunlight...and a chance to show off all of my crazy printed dresses and *handbags* (of course!). Since our office is 1 block away from the main street of the flower district, I get to walk by lovelies like these ranunculus on a daily basis. They keep me going :)