Every year, J. Crew makes the best little jackets. This spring I am loving the Washed Ruffle Collar Short Trench Jacket. $158, sale $118. The inner ruffle part of the collar buttons on and off, so it is optional. I would take it off I think.
I can add this one to my collection from past seasons:
Ellie Jacket (2007)
Chino Bowery (2007) (looks cuter in person)
Fiona Madras (2008)
etc. etc.
They've certainly come a long way since the Barn Jacket!
After various delays, TopShop New York is finally opening next week.
They'll be having various things going on at the store to liven things up. DJs, free manicures and make-up application, free personal stylist advice, free magazine.... etc. etc.
You can sign up to win a trip to London on their website, here.
And if you spend over $100, you get this free British crown tank top.
Chanel is showing sun-kissed shades for their Summer 2009 Cote d' Azur collection.
Here are my picks:
Soleil Tan de Chanel, 4 Facettes Brozing Powder, $65
Aqualumiere Sheer Colour Lipshine, in Salina (Limited Edition color), $28.50
Le Vernis Nail Colour, in Golden Sand (Limited Edition color), $23
Ombre d' Eau Fluid Eyeshadow, Seashore (Limited Edition color), $32
The Hermes sample sale at the Metropolitan Pavilion (123 West 18th Street, betw. 6th & 7th) starts today!
The hours are today through Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. Good luck!
Caudalie, one of my favorite skincare brands, is having a friends and family sale later this week! 20% off from March 27 - March 31! I've never seen Caudalie on sale before!!
I love their Fleur de Vigne Fragrance, Gentle Cleanser and Beauty Elixer. But really, everthing they make is amazing!
The Valentino film, Valentino: The Last Emperor, is now playing here in New York, it's at the Film Forum on Houston Street. It's only playing until March 31, so hurry!
The NY premiere was Tuesday night, followed by a star-studded dinner at the Oak Room.
Here is the synopsis: One of the world's most celebrated fashion designers, Valentino Garavani developed an interest in design as a teenager and entered the world of haute couture in the early 1950's, working under Jacques Faith, Balenciaga and Jean Desses. In 1959, Valentino opened his own house of fashion in Rome, and he soon became one of the leading lights in European design, known for his trademark shade of red and his clean, stylish lines. With Giancarlo Giammetti, who has been Valentino's business partner and significant other since 1960, the designer built an empire that remained one of the most prestigious in the fashion world until Valentino announced his retirement in the fall of 2007. Filmmaker and journalist Matt Tyrnauer, who has written about Valentino for Vanity Fair, examines the public and private lives of the fashion icon in his documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor. Granted unprecedented access to Valentino's home and office, the film offers an unusual look at his relationship with Giammetti, how his creations are made, his lavish lifestyle and how changes in the world of haute couture have impacted him.
There's a nice interview in the NY Times by Cathy Horyn and the filmmaker.
I said this before, last season, that I thought Banana was having much better stuff of late... and it continues.
I lvoe this Twist Back Dress, $98 in a gorgeous shade of blue. It's 100% acetate, but looks and feels like silk. If you have green or blue eyes this color really highlights them.
Jersey T-shirt Dress, $69. It's a rayon/spandex blend that has a nice drape. Dresses like this are great to bring when you're traveling. They don't wrinkle and you can dress it up or down.
(wow, that model has huge feet)
Either of these 2 dresses you could belt for a different look.
I don't know about you, but I am so sick of patent leather. I wish it would go away and stay away for another 10 years at least. I just don't understand why they make very expensive bags and shoes out of a material that looks exactly the same as patent vinyl???? It's just silly.
Examples:
$1,350 Marc Jacobs Satchel
These are both very expensive items, but they just look cheap to me, like plastic. I guess it's a matter of personal taste. But I guess a lot of people must like patent leather because it's been around for a few seasons now.
We're seeing white jeans all over the place for Spring '09. What do you think? Hideous or Fabulous? You remember how your Mom always said white clothes make you look bigger? Mabye I just can't get that out of my head. Anyway how "big" can a size 0 look?
These do look pretty cool: J Brand Low Rise Slouchy Cigarette Jeans, $209.
These particular jeans (above) are on Bloomingdale's "Lust List", the Spring must-haves as per their fashion office staff.
J. Crew is showing at least 4 different kinds of white jeans: matchstick, cropped, bootcut, high heel flare, etc.
I tried these on at Bloomingdale's this weekend. They are soooo gorgeous. They come in black and brown, but Bloomingdales 59th Street is only carrying brown. (lucky for me because I prob. would have had to buy them if they had black)
L.A.M.B. "Tammy", $374.
These are made in Brazil. I know I've said before that I prefer my shoes to be made in Italy. But these are really well made. I inspected them closely. The factory that makes these is clearly excellent. Take a look at the nice all leather sole...
It's cool how they embossed the leather with that pattern and it's got a little metal L.A.M.B. plate on the bottom.
I also tried on these (L.A.M.B. Tamika Slingback), but the style is just a little to out there for me. I love the super high squarish heel though.
Maybe I should be more daring. Sometimes things that you thought were weird/ugly or pushing it somehow end up being your favorite.
Here's a classic pump that's very affordable! Calvin Klein Sarika Platform Pump, $97.95. Good grief, I don't know when the last time I bought shoes for under $100 was! (that wasn't a flip flop!)
I love the classic round toe and high heel that has just the right amount of chunkiness. 4-1/2 inch heels with about a 3/4 inch platform. The fishskin texture is a bit weird though. I think I'd like them better if they were just normal leather.
This label seems to be a good choice for nice styling at very cheap prices. I haven't seen them in person though, I wonder how the quality is. If they seem really cheap, then I just couldn't buy them...
You just can't get away from the "boyfriend" trend this Spring. Maybe it's Katie Holmes' fault since she was photographed in New York many times last Fall wearing the look ... But since then this "boyfriend" jeans/jacket/cardigan etc. etc. look has been popping up everywhere... Reece Witherspoon, SJP, Jennifer Anison, even Victoria Beckham.
Here's a shot from Bloomingdale's "Springs Best Trends" mailer.
I think the jeans: Yes and jacket: No. The jacket they're showing above isn't as stupid and 80s looking at most examples. The jeans need to be worn correctly, however. Like above with really cool shoes, I don't recommend the Katie look (flat sandals or ballet flats, and rolled up just to the ankle). I really don't care if they are Lanvin flats, it just doesn't look good.
I like the way J Crew shows them.
(This is their Distressed Vintage Slim Jean in Antique Destroyed Wash, $148.)
Wow, this is a surprise, Lily Allen isn't known for her fashion sense, that's for sure. But check out this wonderful little Chanel ensemble!
I am so jealous. I want that dress, the bag and the jewelry! I suppose they may have dressed her since she was there for the show at the Grand Palais. Again, SO JEALOUS. I would die to be able to go to the Chanel show.
Helmut Lang is now available at Bloomingdale's. The collection available has a very unified, pared down cool minimalistic look.
Oversized White Dress Shirt and "Paper" Leather Skirt, $265 and $620.
Black Silk Jumpsuit
Black Boxy Dress
Spider Silk Printed Dress
I love the aesthetic. Somehow it's retro and modern at the same time.
Gucci's Spring/Summer Shoe Collection is featuring a lot of really high clunky heels. With all the models that have fallen on the runway lately, I'm wondering if maybe this is getting a bit ridiculous. I shocked to hear myself say this... because I'm a 4-inch heel girl and it used to be hard to find high enough heels, and I hated that. That's not a problem any more! But really, 5-inch heels? I don't know...
I think Gucci is mis-quoting the heel heights, it's as if they are not including the platform in the height. For example, the suede wedges shown above are quoted as having a 3.4" inch heel, which is obviously ridiculous. That heel is much higher.
Anyway, none of the shoes in this collection are calling out to me. Lucky me, I just saved a lot of money!
I read about this trio of new scents from Guerlain in February's Town & Country and I've been dying to smell them ever since. I'm going to have to dash over to Bergdorf's because they have an exclusive (other than Guerlain boutiques).
Each of the three scents is aimed at producing a certain mood, a certain fantasy: the femme fatale of cinematic tendencies; the truly erotic, sensual woman; or the playful woman-child.
Gourmand Coquin, aimed at producing the playful innocence of the woman-child, who might be not so innocent after all, is playing on two terrains, with notes of chocolate, piquant pepper, soft vanillic rose and lively rhum. Notes: black pepper, rose, rum, chocolate.
Chypre Fatal is geared towards the Hitchockian heroine, a femme fatale with a disposition to match. Its intense sillage, full of confidence announces a fiery heart under an exterior of icy demeanor. To make this woman unforgetable the composition is lightly woody and spicy, softened with vanilla and white peach.
Notes: white peach, rose, patchouli, vanilla
Oriental Brûlant is composed for those women who produce an instant reaction to men, that is them loosening up their ties. This soft oriental is evoking the colour red and is sensual and feline to the extreme in its ambience, with its warm tonka beans and the soft caress of soft almonds. The impression is one of a soft and appealing oriental a la maniere Guerlain.
Notes: clementine, almond, tonka beans, vanilla
The writer of the mention in Town & Country favored the Gourmand Coquin, saying that it was "more grown-up than most sugar-inspired perfumes. With a splash of rum, a pinch of peppercorn and a sprinkle of rose, it's cozy and enticing."
I am such a sucker for beautiful things. Whether that means having fresh flowers around, a bed (made every morning) with crisp quality sheets, using sterling to eat pizza..... or the most beautiful product packaging, I appreciate beauty in the day to day things some people may ignore. Thus my love for Guerlain - they must have the most beautiful packaging in the industry, not to mention great products... Look at these things: beauty and functionality - - you've got to love that.
Meteorites Pearls Compact, $65
Terracotta Brush, $35
Terracotta Kohl, $34
Kiss Kiss Lipstick, $30
[I also love Chanel's packaging... of course. Can it get more classic than black and white and a dash of gold here and there?]
Okay, here's a very reasonable shoe to follow the beautiful but ridiculously expesnive Jimmy Choo.
J. Crew Cate Leather High-Heel Slingbacks, $198, on sale right now for $150
The models are wearing these throughout the March catalog. (the March catalog is great btw, I want like 1 of everything!) They look especially good with shorter pants like capris. They're a beautiful tumbled Italian leather and are made in Italy. They come in blush, black, deep brown, light chartreuse and dusk. The heel is only 3 1/2 inches though. It would be perfect if it was 4.
Wow, what an elegant shoe! Jimmy Choo Proud Elaphe Pumps, $860. The heel is just such a thing of beauty! 120mm, that's about 4.7 inches.
The London based label Preen is doing a line for Topshop. Here's a nice strappy sandal. All leather, $160. That's a pretty good price for a shoe with a leather sole. Although it may seem expensive for Topshop.
Speaking of Topshop, they will finally be opening their first US store this Spring. (It was supposed to have opened last Fall but has been delayed. It will be in Soho at Broadway and Broome.
This looks like a great work dress, the Ayana dress in cactus flower.($365) Diane wore this dress in Feburary's Town & Country issue, it was also look #31 from the DVF Spring Runway Show. The fabric is 85% viscose, 15% polyamide for excellent drape.
I'm still totally into dresses. In the past I wasn't, but the last 2 years or so definitely. It's so great to just throw on a dress when you're running late - and then accessorize with jewelry and maybe a scarf. You don't have to worry about creating an outfit. How wonderfully simple!