October 2009 Archives

I saw the black version of these shoes in Self magazine of all places.  (for some reason they do a few pages of fashion, which seems a bit out of place in a health/fitness magazine...) But anyway, I loved the shoes.  The pyramid studs are very on-trend.

Rafe Carine $275

They're leather and also have a leather sole.  4" heel and aprox. 1/2" platform.  I don't like them as much in this ruby color, but it's a dark red at least which I think is more versatile than bright red.

I am wondering though, why they are so expensive?  They are made in China, and since when did Rafe become some great brand? I'd expect these to be under $200.

"THE $300 pair of designer jeans is now, courtesy of the recession, the $200 pair of designer jeans."

- exceprt from Preshrunk Prices by Eric Wilson, NY Times Style Section about premium denim prices coming back down from stratospheric.

This is a horrible day to arrive at, but I'm going to have to buy some flat shoes that are not sneakers.  After so many years of wearing 4 inch+ heels for 10 hours or so a day, my feet now prefer to walk to and from work in flats (HORRORS, how embarrassing).  Even more embarrassing however is the fact that these flat shoes have been over the last year or so, Converse sneakers (yup, the ones preferred by 20 something hipsters in skinny jeans).

Granted, some days I do wear skinny jeans; but on other days I have to admit they look quite ridiculous with what I'm wearing.  I was trying to convince myself that it was okay, with the anonymity of the city, and since it was only back and forth to work.... But after merciless commentary at my office I realize I should get something flat and comfortable and slightly more attractive.

An obvious choice is the ubiquitous Tory Burch flat.

I am fairly certain that almost every girl on the Upper East Side has some variation of the Reva flat.  Personally, I would never get them with garish gold insignia on the toe. The black version above is less obnoxious. These are $195 at Bergdorf.  I think that's a bit excessive considering I am trying to replace a $42 sneaker and these are meant to be primarily utilitarian.  I would NEVER wear them for fashion, I just don't believe in flats, plain and simple.

The only other shoe I can think of was this ballet flat with a Chanel-esque black leather camellia flower on the toe that I saw at the Shoe Box, they were an obscure Italian brand called Prego - - and were $300!  Crazy.  At least those would be more original...

Chanel has a new eye kit, Le Regard de Noir (smoky eye essentials), everything you need for the perfect smoky eyes, all packaged in a beautiful case.  It's a great gift, for a friend or yourself!  I don't know about you, but I need serious help with the smoky eye... I hope this comes with instructions!

It includes Les 4 Ombres shadows in smoky eyes, Le Crayon Khol pencil in noir, Exceptionnel de Chanel mascara in noir, Le Pinceau Ombre #2 brush and a mini size of Demaquillant Yeux Intense makeup remover.  $140.

Vuitton has always been very collaborative with artists and designers from Sprouse to Murakami, to Peter Marino for the massive interiors of the New York 57th Street store...

Their new book, Louis Vuitton: Art, Fashion and Architecture, explores 80 of their collaborations in a beautiful edition designed by Murakami. It features a special cover, jacket and plexiglass slipcase silkscreened in the Damier pattern.  Published by Rizzoli.  $130.

" So, for this dreaded excursion, I paired my newly mutilated motocross pants with a black 82nd Airborne "Death From Above" T-shirt and boots from my "Frankenhooker" collection -- an outfit loosely translated as "No, I'm not interested in a Michelle Obama-inspired, stretch satin, office-party 'mistletoe moment' dress, thank you very little."  "

Cintra Wilson on the prospect of visiting/reviewing Ann Taylor, excerpt from 'At the Office, A Job Well Done', New York Times.

Based on this, you wouldn't expect the reveiw to end up a good one.  But it's a fair bias for her to start with.  As I mentioned earlier this Fall, Ann Taylor has always seemed like boring clothes for office robots with no style... but their new designer Lisa Axelson seems to be bringing them out of this. In her review Cintra highlights better quality in the details like quality fabrics with nice hands, felt lining under collars, pinstripe lining in jackets so you can roll up the sleeves... etc. Nice little extras that make the clothes much nicer.  She sums it up, " Ann Taylor's office-wear may still be 98.9 percent edge-free, but it is concentrating on the right values: timeless lines and longevity. Other chains would be wise to follow in the plucky working girl's conservative (yet spike-heeled) footsteps."

From October 22 - 26, Caudalie is offering a 20% off friend and family sale good on anything! Use code FALLHARVEST at checkout.

This is a great opportunity to try their new Premier Cru anti-ageing cream. It's normally a rather steep $150 for 1.7 oz, but on sale it would be $120.

Caudalie isn't a brand you'd expect to go on sale, EVER, so this is a good time to stock up... you could even start early holiday gift shopping!  My favorite products are the gentle cleanser, creme contour eye cream, beauty elixir and Premieres Vendages moisturizer.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Chanel's nail color, Trapeze... and that I couldn't find it yet.  Well, this weekend I was at Bloomingdale's 59th Street (they've unveiled their new ground floor space with a more deluxe beauty department and a huge new David Yurman boutique) and I found it. 

It seems to only be available as part of a three color gift set, Trio Exclusif de Vernis, $65.

It includes Trapeze (a silvery gray), Allegoria (a pink nude) and Tulipe Noir (a rich plum black), they come in a chic little travel case.

Wow, 2010 already, it's going to take a while to get used to that.  I just sounds weird.  Anyway, Gucci's 2010 cruise collection is available now.  Here are some of my wish list items.

'Croisette' Evening Bag with Bamboo Detail and Metal Beads, $730 (pre-order) It's made with black pebbled leather, nickel hardware and a detachable metal strap so you can also use it as a clutch. Oh, I just LOVE this.  I am such a sucker for their pieces with bamboo!  I also like the metal strap.

Heart Crest Earrings with the Gucci Knight, $385. In aged sterling silver, 1.9" long.  There is also a pendant on a 27.6" chain in the same style for $560.  I wouldn't get both though, it's not good to be too matchy-matchy.  Choose one or the other.

'Icon Bit' Mid Heel T-Strap Platform Sandals with horsebit detail, $675. In brown leather with nickel hardware and a 3.4" heel.  3.4" is a bit low, but it's good to give your feet a break once in a while...

'Bamboo Icon' High Heel Platform Sandals with Bamboo Detail, $625.  In yellow leather with nickel hardware and 4.1" heel.  I'm pretty color averse, but hey, it's cruise collection... Shoes or handbags are a great way to add color.  These would be fun just to be different!  Like a few seasons back I bought a pair of their red shoes because they were the ones I liked, and they didn't come in black... they've been great!  I wore them yesterday in fact.

Now, these, I do NOT like.  They scream fashion victim, you'd expect some cheesy faux celebrity like Audrina Partridge to turn up in these. 'Clemence' High Heel Open-Toe Platform Sandals, $990. In white leather with back zip closure and 4.1" heel.

Cheers. Happy weekend.  If you're lucky... perhaps dashing into Gucci.... ?

Net-a-porter has this beautiful Chloe dress in plum that I love!  I would never spend this much on a dress though...

Chloe Strapless Pleated Silk-Blend Dress, $3,015

That is just a ton to spend on a dress!  For that, you do get some nice tailoring - the all-over pleats, built-in corset and bubble hem.  Also, for this price, I suspect that the belt it comes with is of the super-nice quality of all Chloe leather items. 

I love how they tempered the fanciness of the dress with the brown leather belt. It's like a dash of equestrian English country on a classic dress ...

We all know Coco Chanel loved her costume jewelry.  In the 1930s one of Coco's friends, Fulco di Verdura, created the Maltese Cross cuff for her. He had been hired by her as head textile designer and then in 1927 they began their collaboration for Chanel's costume jewelry collection.  In 1934 he created the Maltese Cross cuff, using a cross given to her by Grand Duke Dmitri of Russia. The design is still used today and Chanel's cuff bracelets are still some of the best. 

But yikes, at $1,620 - - that's quite a bit for costume jewelry, even if it's Chanel.

Kenneth Jay Lane has a pretty nice alternative, which you can get for just about 10% of the cost of the Chanel cuff, only $165 at their store at The Plaza.  Or, I also found it for sale online for just a bit more, $184.

In 1939 Verdura opened a shop in New York under his own name, and the Maltese Cross became one of the brand's signature motifs. Incidentally, the Verdura brand is celebrating 70 years in New York this year with a re-creation of the Maltese Cross cuff and a pendant version.  These however are not costume jewelry -- the pendant is $22,500!  (below a Verdura Maltese Cross cuff)

Shop your style at Shopbop with their new style boutiques: bohemian, girly, casual chic, edgy and classic.

Which are you?  I think I tend towards classic and casual chic. Definitely not bohemian...

J. Crew is offering 20% off orders of $150 or more with code SHOPFALL at checkout. It is valid today through Wed. 10/14.

A good opportunity to fill in any holes in your Fall wardrobe...

 Just to stay on the topic of Chanel for another day... here's what I'd like to buy from the Chanel beauty counter:

Blush Duo Tweed Effect in Tweed Sienna, $45

Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour in Ardent (limited edition), $30

And, I saw this gorgeous color, Trapeze, in a magazine but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere yet.  I asked at the Chanel counter at Bloomingdale's and no one knew what I was talking about... and the Chanel website doesn't have it either.  The only place I could find other evidence of its existence (and a picture) was an ebay auction that had it selling it for $49.99!  I would just wait, it should cost $23. The ebay auction says it's a Holiday '09 color so it should be out soon and hopefully it will turn up here on the Chanel site.

I'm having a bit of Chanel day myself... I'm wearing my only Chanel jewelry - a double chain necklace with a double C pendant and double C hanging earrings with camelia flowers.  I don't usually wear them together... but what the heck...  I bought them both at the Chanel store on 57th street, and what a great experience that is!  They are SO nice even to plebians like me who could never afford their clothes.  I was impressed by that.  I would never buy Chanel on ebay because there are so many fakes, and the real items are usually totally overpriced (like the above nail color).  I used to be a bit of an ebay addict, but I've largely given it up.  I do not want to support the trade of counterfeit merchandise in any way, and we all know that ebay is a huge facilitator.

Chanel's show was on Tuesday.  They decked out the Grand Palais in a farm theme inspired by Marie Antoinette's Petit Hameau at Versailles.

Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times

There is a good slide show of the looks at the New York Times, here.

Of course there were a lot of tweeds, that's pretty standard Chanel.  What I really did not like are the following:

Clogs (nearly every model in the show wore clogs), many with strange lace-up legs

Exaggerated Bell Shaped Skirts

Pink with lace

Crochet Looks

I guess I'm alone in this, the critics liked it.  The New York Times' Suzy Menkes says "...expressed such a fashion joie de vivre and a dizzying desire to buy".  And Cathy Horyn: "...was completely charming; the clothes were great, too".

The 2009 Christmas book is now available to browse online.

It's always full of the most decadent gifts, the stuff people really want!

Here are some hightlights:

Valentino boots and hobo. (bag comes in taupe, red and black) Boots $1495, Hobo $2395.

Gucci Icon Bit Tote, $1190.

Milly Panne Velvet Dress, $495

Roberto Coin Capri Plus Earrings, Necklace and Bangles, $1750 - 13500.

You can order a copy of the catalog for $15, here.

Topic: Lindsay Lohan as muse for Emanuel Ungaro

"...let's just say her arrival was greeted by critics as if a McDonald's fry cook had been installed as the chef of a three-star Michelin restaurant."

excerpt from 'A Rocky Debut for a Hollywood Star', by Eric Wilson, New York Times

Saturday Chanel releases their new collection of casual handbags and travel bags, Coco Cocoon. The marketing campaign is featuring Lily Allen.

I think Lily Allen is a rather curious choice, but I guess Karl is fascinated by her.  Just a couple of years ago she was a chubby mess, hardly a paradigm of beauty; but she does look pretty good these days, especially when decked out in Chanel!

The bags are available in nylon or lambskin.  I see why they say "casual" they are most certainly that.

This bag reminds me of some very inexpensive bag, I'm not really sure, Le Sport Sac or something?  Or a Member's Only jacket sewn into a bag?  I don't know, not so good...