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Legs for Fall

 
 
 
 
 















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Monday, November 19, 2007

Legs for Fall



In the outfit below Louise was wearing a camel cardie under the white coat and red dress - if you notice the cardie matched her shoes. I didn't notice when I took the photo that she had put her hand in her coat and covered that great slice of camel color that added a perfect level of color depth to the look. My bad

The post with Chloe S made me think about legs for Fall.

The weather here in NYC has fluctuated so much lately which has made dressing an adventure.

Last week almost entirely in the 40's and this week it will be in the high 50's to low 60's. Just as the tights were coming out it seems we will still have another week perfectly made for cozy clothes and bare-ish legs.

Here are a few of the shots I took in Paris which are a great example of Fall legs.

I would think that much south of Washinton DC and West/Southwest of Denver that this is about as covered up as you ever need to get in the Winter. Yes?

Comments on "Legs for Fall"

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (10:15 AM) : 

I wish we could have seen the camel cardie, too. In answer to your question-- I live in Dallas and we are still wearing open-toed shoes today. It does get pretty cold here and we can do tights, sweaters, etc. but, we have more options for interesting combinations in the winter.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (10:20 AM) : 

weather in the 50s and low 60s (with a real-feel still in the 50s in the shade or if there is a breeze) + barelegs means that the woman is cold!
women have more or less the same sensitivity to temperature as men. were you wearing shorts when you took their pictures? were you even wearing short sleeves?

 

Blogger meg said ... (10:23 AM) : 

haha, so true sart... the temperate climate in NC makes bare legs [at least during the day] possible til christmas!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (10:26 AM) : 

Cold here in Boston, a touch of snow flakes.
I love the look of the third woman.
The coat is smashing,the smile dazzling.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (10:26 AM) : 

You took the second picture a month or more back, so it was warmer. I recall seeing it on style.com - maybe even 2 months ago.
The woman in the top picture, there is a woman behind her in a warm coat, so one of them is dressed inappropriately for the weather and I'm guessing it's the one who looks cold.
It's very unfortunate, and very subtle, but in your own way, and I suspect unintentionally, you are sexist in your approach/appreciation of women.
I don't say this to upset you, though you are sensitive and compassionate, so I think it may, and I don't say this to inspire a hundred hostile responses to my comment, though that too is likely. I say this BECAUSE you are sensitive and compassionate and BECAUSE I think your intentions and feelings are good, that perhaps you will stop and re-examine. Perhaps talk to someone who won't merely assure you that you're not.
I think/hope you have a lot of potential.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (10:32 AM) : 

she's pretty

 

Blogger The Sartorialist said ... (10:44 AM) : 

for Anon 10:26
maybe it is not sexist maybe it is 15 years experience in women rtw that forms my opinion on women's fashion.

maybe you're sexist for feeling I don't have the right to have and express an honest opinion or even p[point out a theme. I didn't tell them to dress that way.

Do you really think that I am suggesting all women should wear only short dresses and skirts all the time?

This is just a post about an option and trend that I saw the last time I was in Paris and just now have had the time to digest and really comment on all the images I have taken.

 

Blogger Asi Mod said ... (10:44 AM) : 

Louise S is gorgeous in that red and white combo. The red dress really popped in the photo.

And there are great legs all around!!!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (11:13 AM) : 

I have to agree with Anon 10:26. And fashionable or not, bare legs in cold weather is just silly. Those shots were taken when the weather was warmer. C'mon men, show us some skin!

 

Blogger dccaf said ... (11:14 AM) : 

wow! louise is stunning! every part of her outfit is just perfect, and her smile is fantastic.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (11:25 AM) : 

forget the sexist stuff, the girl at the top is making me shiver with cold! Get some clothes on girl!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (11:28 AM) : 

And then today it snows!

 

Blogger Carolina Lange said ... (11:33 AM) : 

Beautiful looks and legs!
I love the first photo, she looks amazing!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (11:53 AM) : 

The Napa Valley area in CA gets SO cold in the winter. 50-something during the day translates to 10 degrees colder in the shade and the 30's at night.

Oh, and I have a coat obsession. Can't wait for chilly nights, anyways!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:12 PM) : 

I'm in Los Angeles and open toes are not even an option for me in winter-esp. after dark

 

Blogger Cardigans and Couture said ... (12:20 PM) : 

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the red, white, and camel, even if you can't see the camel under the white, this outfit is fabulous. The bag, the shoes, the coat....I think you could do this on a 50+ day. It rains a lot where I live, so it's not so much the cold but the rain that ruins my shoes, pants, etc. and that determines how I dress most days in the winter.

 

Blogger zuccotto said ... (12:31 PM) : 

On weather south of Washington, DC and the southwest -

We had snow on the ground for about a week in Albuquerque last winter, and have been forewarned of the same this coming winter.

Right now we are supposed to have lows of 24 and 25 degrees F on this next Wednesday and Thursday.

So, no to bare legs mid winter.....


It was different when I lived in Los Angeles - Santa Ana wind conditions often brought high temperatures mid winter.

 

Blogger jennifer said ... (12:32 PM) : 

i love legs for fall. too bad in england it has been too cold for that for monthes now.
just got a great pair of over-the-knee socks from gap. cable knit and light grey, very heavy and warm.
any thoughts on over-the-knee socks? and suggestions on how to wear them?

anon 10.26 - how are these pictures sexist? i think all these pictures exemplify beauty and fashion in very different, contrasting, unconventional ways. there is no stereotype of fashion that is put up on this website... that is what is great about it.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:36 PM) : 

Way too cold in NYC right now for any bare skin exposure. I feel like we completely skipped over the entire fall season this year. We had those few warm weeks of Indian summer and now it's 35 degrees and rainy. I miss being able to wear a light jacket, tights and a cozy scarf. These women all look fabulous but it makes me sad that we totally missed out on that great fall weather in NYC. I'm not ready for winter yet!

 

Blogger Brett Svatek said ... (12:38 PM) : 

Cheers to the sexists, and the legs (even if they are cold), and the women attached to them.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:42 PM) : 

With respect to Anon 10:26's point, I think the Sartorialist just has adventurous good taste, and so do many of the women and men he photographs.

If a photo of a man in the jacket and the woman with bare legs had been praised on the same day, I think that might reflect the different parameters of men's and women's style in general (in our society), not just the yearnings of one photographer.

In any case I find it a rare and delicious thing to read male, heterosexual (but not crude, of course) perspectives in commentary on women's fashion.

 

Blogger Unknown said ... (1:15 PM) : 

I'm not sure why Mr. Sart is being singled out for charges of sexism. He didn't dress these women. Yes, he's photographing them, but they chose to leave their legs bare, which (and how is this sexist?) looks good. They're not wearing skirts up to their belt loops. It's just an expanse of calf. No biggie.

I'm sure it's more comfortable than forcing themselves into (ugh) nylons. Besides, fashion shows can be extremely warm.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (1:34 PM) : 

Don't laugh when I tell you it gets chilly in California in the winter and you need to cover up those legs!

-- desertwind

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (1:36 PM) : 

As someone who points out that he's a "top 100 design influencer" according to Time magazine on the top of your blog, I think you must be equally aware that you are a style influencer for your audience, and while no, it's not through what you personally wear but rather what you highlight through your pictures of others, yes, your posts are endorsements and I think it's not asking much that you take responsibility for them.
You are celebrating a woman looking quite uncomfortable - pursed lips, clenched legs, in shorts and a cardigan on a cool fall day. I don't see inspiration in that picture, and if you do, at a woman's expense, then I think the term sexist does apply. If you were a woman, I would say the same thing, so I think I do not qualify for the same label, as you claimed.
If you can apologize ("My bad") for not "noticing" that the woman in picture #3 had posed with her hands in her sleeve, thus hiding an element, the color of her cardigan, that you wanted to share, then I assume you would have asked her to leave one arm out to keep that cardigan sleeve exposed, had you noticed. Perhaps you might notice how many of your subjects decide to stand pigeon-toed for your pictures, a'la Madame Roitfeld, thereby taking a helpless and non-threatening stance to offset the aggressive, powerful, independent vibe their clothing would otherwise imply. And the next time you notice, you might either recommend a good podiatrist/orthopedist for their problem, or ask them to stand like the strong confident women they ought to be, thereby keeping your blog a great place to celebrate women (and men) with style, and not further encourage/celebrate/reward their misguided attempt to assuage a threatened male gaze.

But none of that has anything to do with you - this seems to be your position. You just take and post the pictures. Interesting attitude. Parasitic, but interesting.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (1:42 PM) : 

NC gets a small dose of winter in Jan, Feb and early March. I think it is cold enough to bundle up with scarves, sweaters, coats etc.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (1:53 PM) : 

Mr. S:

You are assured that you are NOT sexiest! I enjoy your perspective and find you quite the gentleman.

 

Blogger Katie Peters said ... (2:07 PM) : 

As a southern cali girl 60 degrees equals long pants and coats... just seeing bare legs and hearing 50-60 degrees makes me shiver! though bare toes are always acceptable and seen...

 

Blogger fraise said ... (2:50 PM) : 

As an American living in France (Nice) I can back up Sart on this one -- showing legs with choices like he photographed here is very much in style now. It started last year, but definitely gained steam this fall. We were able to go bare-legged up until last week. (Finally got below 60F/15C.)

I've been enjoying styles such as these and the sweater dress immensely! (fyi, I am a woman)

 

Blogger NotRealName said ... (3:02 PM) : 

You're definitely not sexist, Sart -- just making insightful observations. I love you work and this site!!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (3:04 PM) : 

I think the outfits look great. It's up to the individual to decide what they feel comfortable in at what temperature. There are plenty of examples of fantastic warm outfits elsewhere on this blog.

Women often choose to suffer for fashion. I'm not saying it's a good thing, but it's what people do. Some women will bleed for fashion. I'm a woman (and am pretty practical and way frumpier than anyone pictured on the blog), and even I've done it...and usually regretted it. But then I do it again...

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (3:56 PM) : 

Sart, I find it fascinating that all these harsh comments come from people (or is it just one person?) who chooses to remain anonymous. This is your blog. It's not a democracy. If they don't like it, stop reading it. As for my own legs, I just heard it'll be 50 in New York this week and maybe next, but I've been chowing down in winter hibernation mode so I guess I won't be dressing for it!

 

Blogger eeps. said ... (4:27 PM) : 

personally once it gets below 62, i bring out the tights with my dresses and skirts. but last year in nyc, i saw girls going barelegged in january while wearing down jackets and uggs. all a bit confusing and certainly didn't look very good. but in the end if someone wants to sacrifice health for fashion, that's her decision. what i get from sart's barelegged photos is that i can wear similar items, colors or shapes -- and make it weather appropriate for me. and i think that was the point of such posts.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (4:33 PM) : 

i personally dislike a bare leg for fall especially when:
a) it is remotely cold, i hate being cold
b) the outfit frames the knee, causing it to become central, and knees are tricky little things and they tend to look messy
c) one's legs are pale
I find that they often look glaring, naked, messy and can ruin the clean lines of an otherwise perfect fall outfit, while tights can make an outfit look pulled together. And I'm not referring to grandmother's hose, I mean opaque tights, or wooly grey, or Kate Spade-ish reds with pink shoes.
But then again, maybe it's just because I'm wrapped head to toe in wool at the moment struggling against the beginnings of a Montreal winter....maybe i'm just bitter that i can't curl up in a chair in the sun in my bare legs and cableknits. in Paris.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (4:43 PM) : 

wow. well, i guess after reading all the comments, i do notice that this series is sandwiched between 2 shots of guys quite cozy in their jackets.
if the pictures are from some months ago that you're only getting around to commenting on now, your title "legs for fall" implies you are promoting it as a style for the season. i'm sitting here freezing in jeans and boots and cashmere...

 

Blogger S. said ... (4:49 PM) : 

I wish I lived where "(bare)legs for fall" was an option! (sad tear)

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (4:50 PM) : 

There is a lot of truth in Anon 10:26. I have always felt the same way about the pigeon-toe pose --hate it. And,yes, in so far as fashion shapes and adorns the body, it can make women look "good" by making them suffer. And for sure this holds true for women's fashion to a much much greater extent than for men's --so, yes, fashion is sexist.

It seems strange, however, to single out the Sartorialist and one particular post.

 

Blogger Johanna said ... (4:57 PM) : 

In my opinion, some dresses can't be worn to their greatest potential other than when they're paired with a bare leg. Most cocktail dresses, for example, are this way. While I may not go bare during the day once November rolls around, I'll always be that girl with naked legs in the middle of February begging for pneumonia if I'm on way to someplace fabulous.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (5:15 PM) : 

Love the first pic, long cardie over shorts, bare legs and silver pumps! Not sure what's so sexist about that? Fashionistas (male and female) have been dressing seasons ahead for decades! Lighten up people, it's only fashion! When last I checked, it was still meant to be fun!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (5:38 PM) : 

Having seen you in action Sart, I don't think you direct your subjects to pose in a certain way (the aforementioned "pigeon-toed pose.") This is a stance beloved by models and socialites alike (turning the feet inward makes the hips and thighs appear slimmer or at least that's the logic). Presumably, the women think it's a flattering look, but I don't see how this pose has anything to do with your attitude towards women or sexism in general.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6:25 PM) : 

They all look great & Sart is very true in his observations. It all just depends on the weather...my Mom used to say "No one will notice how cute you look if you're not dressed for the weather...everyone will just ask if you're cold." So true! That said, I love these pics.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (7:07 PM) : 

In my experience the ambivalent courting of attention is part of the fun of fashion. It can go wrong in various ways but without the risk it would be boring. Plus, fashion is a pretty safe area of life in which to take risks, all things considered.

The anonymous "analysis" of how these women feel as they face the camera (and the wind and "the male gaze") strikes me as patronizing, whereas the photographer's photo is an artifact of a dialogue in which they were free to respond.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (8:28 PM) : 

Anon 1:36, I don't know where you came from, but please don't come back to this site. This is the wrong place for a post-feminist critique! If you're looking for a sexist male blogger, I can assure you that there are loads out there who would make better targets.
Sart: the woman in the top pic looks freezing, but I too like to get away with bare legs in the winter when I can, so thank you for showcasing this option.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (9:01 PM) : 

i think her tensely sour facial expression and blue lips say it all - the girl is cold. however, i really admire the styles in this post. the last one knows how to handle red. it evens warms her complexion nicely. i want the second one's fabulous shoes. i think i have an inkling as to who makes them, but to avoid being mistaken i'm just gonna go ahead and ask: anyone know?

 

Blogger Françoise said ... (9:11 PM) : 

I think that people are reading sooooo much into a pic. I'm a woman, i think these are beautiful pics and legs, especially #1 and #3. I don't think Sart is a sexist (and I'm a woman). I think being a photographer requires loving people, men, and women, and children, and it helps celebrate and showcase their individuality. Period.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (9:19 PM) : 

She looks lovely in the red and white! I like how daring she is with such vibrant colours.

"I would think that much south of Washinton DC and West/Southwest of Denver that this is about as covered up as you ever need to get in the Winter. Yes?"

Yes, I suppose so... If you want to freeze to death. We may not have proper seasons like you do on the east coast, but even in southern California the temperatures do drop, and it would be insane to dress like that in the winter.

 

Blogger Q said ... (10:30 PM) : 

Legs. They're accessories for free. =P

 

Blogger _ said ... (11:39 PM) : 

anon, all the pigeon-toed girls and boys of today are not primarily plotting to offset the "aggressive" vibe of their clothes with an awkward pose. rather, they just think it's cute. sadly.

charges of sexism - to be honest i can see how you're drawing this conclusion but i also recall Sart discussing options for men to go sockless in summer, and different pant lengths etc which deal very much in the conscious fashion decision to _omit_ an article of clothing (tights, socks, etc.) and which is how I read his interpretation of the trend.

as for the trend itself I think it's silly. You can go bare-legged in Texas where it is currently 80 degrees but in New York? It always struck me as a bit of a mark of a tourist to not be properly dressed for the weather. and there are a million ways to look brilliant and stylish in the winter without omitting tights and freezing your buns off.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:14 AM) : 

Living in New Mexico, I wish this was all I ever had to wear! Today I was bundled into a knee length dress, opaque tights, a cardie, a scarf, a peacoat and I still got the shivers in the morning! Of course, it warms up nicely in the afternoon still, but the dry cold is killer in the mornings.

 

Blogger Sneaux said ... (12:40 AM) : 

Oh I covet that red dress and her entire outfit - how absolutely beautiful!

 

Blogger 975089 said ... (2:56 AM) : 

If you're inside all day its perfectly sensible to wear as comfortable clothing as you can - and comfort to me is as little fuss as possible, not tights or pants with nagging seams and buttons but a simple dress and cardigan would be the best option.

I personally can't stand it seeing people walking around in the middle of summer wearing spray on jeans and warm tops. I feel like i see these people all the time and it makes me feel like i myself am suffocating! But i guess if they're comfortable...

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (4:05 AM) : 

Seriously love the woman in the first photo! I did a double take when I looked at it because I could've sworn she was wearing a blue dress...then I saw her hand in her shorts/skirt (?) underneath. I love that the look could go either way!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (4:52 AM) : 

I really don't understand how one can not tell instantly that the woman in the first picture is terribly cold - and/or ignore the fact for the sake of style. It almost hurts to see her stiffling like that. What is winter fashion for? On my part, I love warm clothing, and it is a challenge to look good without looking sloppy and still feel comfortable and warm. In the end, what's the fun about spring time if you wore your light clothes all winter?

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6:18 AM) : 

I think bare leg in cold weather and pigeon-toe poses is women's own responsability!

Are we doing it for men or are we doing it for ourselves?

If I ask any heterosexual man I know what he think of the pigeon-toe pose he will say that it is silly! (I don't know a lot of men interested in faschion though...)

And if I go out with bare legs in the fall it's my own choise.
I'm a feminist. I see the women in your pictures as probably over-average educated, earning over-average income. And they are adults. They are not the victims anon 10:26 is trying to make them into.

The woman in the first pic looks as if she misjudged the temperature when she dressed in the morning. Or perhaps she just wanted to resist the coming winter as long as possible? Who hasn't done that?

Being a feminist you must also trust women to be able to make their own decisions!

On another note, I live in Sweden and I'm so happy about the big trend for tights, layering of tights and stockings etc! I love having seasons that call for very different clothing. And I love fall/winter clothes, all covered up and cosy!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6:26 AM) : 

Forget it. Today its snowing out here in Montreal, Canada. Even pigeons are hiding their legs...

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (7:58 AM) : 

a lot of -isms raise from a need. maybe feminism could do with being taken more seriously, but comments like these certainly do not help. it's simply ridiculous to deny these women the ability of making their own decisions about what to wear. let them be cold if they want to. does sporting a sexy look automatically make me a victim of male society? no way. get the barriers and dogmas out of your head and enjoy being a woman in every way. sartorialist's interested to loving glance through the camera is nothing but a celebration of fashion for people who love it . don't be bitter, be better!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (4:39 PM) : 

I don't understand what's sexist or parasitic about showing that bare legs look nice in transition weather.

 

Blogger Unknown said ... (7:31 PM) : 

Probably if someone from a colder climate spent the winter where I am--in the SF Bay Area--they would feel like they were on a tropical vacation. However, since I was born and raised here, and apparently my body has grown used to the mild "winters," I wear wool coats, thick tights, scarves, and mittens in the winter. We are spoiled here, but a girl's gotta wear the layers once in a while, even if the mercury drops below 40 degrees for about one week out of the year.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (8:16 PM) : 

She is wearing good legs there, are they anywhere on sale at the moment?

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (10:53 PM) : 

Absolutely! I live in Houston, TX, and one day will be in the 70s, and the next will be in the 40s or 50s. That, to us, is very cold! I love wearing coats or scarves and blazers with little shorts. Boots are the best, because you can either layer them with tights, leggings or knee socks when it's chilly, or just go bare underneath when it's warmer.

 

Blogger magnolialovely said ... (11:04 PM) : 

flawless... her outfit is absolutely brillant... what a lovely girl

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (12:57 AM) : 

the second girl has a gorgeous bag.. i have been drooling over it, does anyone know who makes it? I thought furla but i can't seem to find it...

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (10:19 PM) : 

I think I'm in love!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (1:42 PM) : 

yeah.. in los angeles it gets pretty cold.


it's those winds that come down from alaska.

but I guess it also depends where in l.a. you are, too.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (9:52 AM) : 

The second bag is Hermes Bolide 37 cm in Rigide. It's so gorgeous.
Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Under the radar Gorgeous

 

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