Molly Bloom knows style

If you like nice things and have a hundred or two to spare, it’s time for Neiman Marcus summer sale. Woot!

Sometimes these sales are super sold out in normal sizes but a quick perusal showed this tunic-inspired dress in a range of sizes and marked down to $149. It looks like something I’d design, yes? Also on sale is this dang cute bag from Michael Kors, a real find because the handbags never go on sale. I’m thinking this bag would look great with my resort wear.

If you can do it with cash (not credit), I say it’s time to stimulate the economy and your closet. One bonus with shopping NM online is that you can use your Visa or Mastercard debit, which you cannot do in-store. They’re Neiman and AmEx only.

When was the last time you bought a tie? You need a new one. Women like men in ties and we notice how often you wear which ones. I’m just saying.

These printed ties from Cyberoptix Ties (pictured above) are fantastic. The designs are smart — get one for the DJ or hypochondriac in your life. There’s a group discount if you want to trick out your wedding party with, say, the meatgrinder ties. There’s even a tie for Scott Beale. Only $30!

This dotted Brioni tie is classic and looks expensive without being too outrageously priced for a luxury item. Monaco, Montana — you could get laid anywhere in the world with a tie like this. Someday soon, when I make a pile of money, I am going to buy Ted a Brioni suit. James Bond wears Brioni suits. Hot.

Some other ideas: Geoffrey Beene makes kicky ties. This black on black Emporio Armani tie would look sexy with a black suit.

Tie styles come and go. Most men opt for the more classic narrow to medium shape. Skinny ties are still in vogue for younger dudes but you need to have the complete skinny-tie look: trim shirt and pants, and if you wear a jacket it better be slim and almost too small. Since the 1970s wide ties have been the provenance of clowns but I say wear what you dig.

One last thing: no sheer shirts with ties, OK? If you put on a dress shirt and you can see the outline of the outline of your torso, your undershirt or chest hair, it’s too thin. Thanks.

For the curious, here’s a look at my fashion line. It’s called First Resort. I hope you like it.

I’m not in the market for a new bathing costume, mostly because this one is sold out in my size. Love those big bottoms and the separately sized bra top. Swimwear should be sold individually for the best fit, unless you’re buying one of those tiny triangles-on-string concoctions, in which case screw you for being skinny. Kidding.

This coverup is adorable, you should get it.

I’m of the opinion that zippers should be used and not seen. Hidden under the arm or enveloped in a back seam, dresses don’t need a clearly marked exit.

Enter a new trend: the ugly zipper. A too-heavy zipper with large metal teeth or unsightly contrasting border seems to be the zip du jour for some of fashion’s au currant designers.

Phillip Lim 3.1
Dang cute from the front, right? Love the pockets. I wonder if that metallic tissue fabric is scratchy; I’ve sewn dresses with similar material and I constantly felt it against my skin. Now click on the back view and tell me you don’t suddenly hate the whole thing.

RM by Roland Mouret
This kooky dress is a pattern-makers dream. It’s like origami. Then you see the back view. That thing is obscene. The zipper looks cold and hard. You need bloomers to wear this. Fail.

This special edition of Guy Friday comes at you on Monday. Special shout-out to dapper dresser Jackson West, who’s right — I should write more Guy Friday posts.

Spring 2009 was not the strongest season. Things got crazy in a way that menswear doesn’t wear well. I’m not going to say much about Fendi’s ridiculous wedge shoes — they write the jokes themselves.

Bottega Veneta, a brand I will wear when I become a rich lady, had a strong showing. As pictured above, the proportion of the pant leg looks great. It’s a full leg but it’s not flared and even translates to more traditional looks. And the one-color/multiple-patterns thing is working. I’m not sure what’s going on with the blazer-shirt thing; looks as though the sleeves are sheer, exposing the short sleeve of the top worn underneath. I imagine the sheer sleeves won’t translate to ready-to-wear but I’d like to see the blazer-shirt take off. Bottega Veneta makes legendary leather goods as well, hence the upscale cases and man-bags toted on the runway.

Dries Van Noten, Prada… Labels I usually love, showing ugly things: sandals with socks (Dries Van Noten), ballet necklines and superfluous halter straps (Prada).

Vivienne Westwood really turned it out with her collection. Not every guy could pull off this piped-in-white jacket but it’s fantastic. I’m not a fan of knit polo/golf-style shirts with suits because it’s a slippery slope to unacceptable pairings, however this look makes it work.

Who can afford $300 sunglasses when it costs $75 to fill up the tank? I’ve had my eye on these Chloe stunnas for months now and the price hasn’t budged — only the worst, what-were-they-thinking designer sunglasses go on sale. I bought this pair from Anthropologie — the shape is similar enough, the lenses are light and gradated, the frames are beige. They aren’t as fab as the Chloe pair but they aren’t trying to be. The rose-tinted lenses are a treat. They feel a bit brittle and probably aren’t too durable but they are the closest I’m getting to Chloe for now. And they’re on sale at the downtown San Francisco location for $10.

A raglan sleeve extends to the neckline of a garment; most sleeves are set into the shoulder seam. Classic baseball T-shirts are a raglan style but this sleeve design can give great shape to dresses and blouses as well.

There are safety pins in all my purses. If it’s been carried to a wedding, it’s got pins inside. I don’t even have to double-check anymore, although I do, because what if there were a fashion emergency? I am occasionally called to duty at functions, helping with slipped hems or bursting necklines.

These multi-colored pins are a great idea. I’ve seen metallic colored pins at the fabric store but never had a need for iridescent jade. I imagine the black pins will be big sellers. A nice companion to Hollywood Fashion Tape in your beauty tackle box.

Promise me you’ll be careful pinning; I usually try tape first if the fabric is thin, sheer or silky. Always use the smallest pin you can find.

The black BCBG shirtdress I featured a few months ago has turned out to be so versatile I wear it as soon as it’s clean. I’ve worn it with a light sweater underneath, with red sandals and to brunch with hot pink tights and mary janes. A great dress will take you far. Here are some more.

Look past the boring styling of this photo — this shirtdress is cute in black or khaki. I love the way khaki looks on dark or tan skin. Giant sigh because I am neither. This dress would be cuter hemmed above the knee and with a bright, chunky necklace or arm of bangles. I imagine most of us have a cuter belt than the elastic number that comes with it — red leather or one of those preppy webbed dealies.

I’m fond of this orange dress. It has pockets and cute top-stitching. If I owned this dress I would wear it too often. I used to wear a 1960s orange and pink dress twice a week. It became a problem.

This drapey jersey number is a great go-to dress for summer wedding season or date night.

If I were spending money on a dress right now it would be this one from Phillip Lim (pictured above, from Pinkmascara). I think it would look fantastic on a petite woman, even a curvy girl. Yellow looks great on freckled blonds, redheads and African-American women. The dress isn’t so short — it’s 32 in. long and it’s shown on a nine-foot tall model. I know it’s bright yellow and fashion-forward — experimentation is the mother of style.