See through bags are everywhere this spring from top designers like Chanel and Valentino to more affordable options from BCBG. Another must are embellished sunglasses, which could also make for a fun DIY project with some found objects of supplies from your local craft store. For a little bit of sparkle I love purple and green Amethysts, although I wouldn’t turn down jewelry anytime of the year. Statement earrings in bold colors whether they’re vintage finds from the Hester Street Fair or vintage inspired from Bergdorf’s are always a great way to add something fun to your look. Fresh scents are also perfect because we can’t spend all day out reading in the garden, unfortunately, but I think wearing same perfume as everyone else is just as bad as walking into a party and seeing someone in the same dress as you so I either mix my own scent or go for ones that aren’t sold at most major department stores.
1. Leather/PVC Rockstud Shoulder Bag by Valentino
2. Irregular Flowers Sunglasses by Prada
3. Various amethyst rings from My Jewelry Box
4. Tassel Earrings by Oscar de la Renta
5. Various scents by Le Labo
Last night was the Met Gala to celebrate this years Costume Institute exhibit Punk: Chaos to Couture which explores the impact the punk movement had on fashion and vice versa. Some of the guests went way to literal with the punk theme (I’m looking at you Miley Cyrus) and ended up looking more suited for a Halloween party rather than one fashion’s biggest events, but there were many who were spot on. My favorite looks were the night were honorary co-chair Rooney Mara in Givenchy Haute Couture (she arrived on the arm of designer and fellow co-chair Riccardo Tisci), Carey Mulligan whose understated Balenciaga dress featured a giant safety pin just bellow the neckline, Sarah Jessica Parker and her pairing of a Giles Deacon gown with a mohawk inspired headpiece by Phillip Treacy and Katy Perry’s hot off the runway look from Dolce & Gabbana. Cara Delevingne wore super low cut Burberry dress with studded details and I absolutely fell in love with Cameron Diaz’s purple Stella McCartney gown which featured a nod to punk with a gold colored spiked metal belt. I also was obsessed with Moda Operandi’s Taylor Thomasi Hill and her amazing gown by Thome Brown who pared floral and spikes in the most unspeakably beautiful way and I have to give an honorable mention to Lily Cole in Vivienne Westwood (whose designs are prominently featured in the exhibit).
Be sure to head over to Moda Operandi who helped sponsor the night, for exclusive pieces in their “Punk Shop”.
Punk: Chaos to Couture opens at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this Thursday and will remain so though August 14th.
photos via Getty Images and Vogue
leather vest - H&M, skirt - Michael Michael Kors, clutch - Ann Taylor, shoes - Michael Michael Kors, necklace - Chanel
Spring has finally come to New England and I feel as if I’ve been reawakened and renewed. Belle is healthy and so am I after a winter of being sick on and off. I just love this time of year. Finally I’m able to wear a skirt without needing tights and just go out into the sun. For the most part I don’t really like winter clothing, which is a big reason why I probably don’t like winter. It’s lovely to do my yoga a mediation in the morning sun again. Last week a photographer that I’ve worked with many times asked me to be in a short film he was working on. I’m excited to see the results and will hopefully be able to share them on here when it’s all finished.
photos by Joseph Arthur
I’ve been MIA because my dog Belle (who you might recognize if you have me added on Instagram) has been sick and we’ve been back and forth to the vet nonstop for two weeks. I lost my Yorkie a few years ago because her vet failed to do regular testing for common health issues related to the breed, and although Coton de Tulears are a very healthy breed I still want to make sure all the bases are covered just in case. Thankfully her last tests came back normal so and she’s feeling a lot better now so hopefully things are all good.
On a more positive note, spring is slowly starting to show itself, sales are going on and I’m reawakening from the winter gloom. In just over a month the Costume Institute will premier their exhibit PUNK: Chaos to Couture and Prince Harry will be here for a polo match (still not sure if I’m too interested in attending, although my parents will be).
I was looking through the Life Magazine archives and found these amazing pictures of Coco Chanel doing a fitting. It’s always interesting to see shots of her at work, especially because so many designers today aren’t as hands on as she was. A lot of people put Chanel on a pedestal without really getting to “know” her. She was a pioneer business women who listened to her instincts and not what others said which I think is more important to remember about her than just the “classy and fabulous” quote you see all over pinterest. I actually think one of the most interesting things she said (I can’t remember the exact quote) was that you have to wear something that’s expensive like it’s cheap. There are many things I admire about her, and also many things that I don’t, but she really did have an understanding of fashion that is not often found.
coat - Pologeorgis, skirt - NastyGal, tights - Chanel, shoes - Kors, bag - vintage Chanel, sunglasses - Betsey Johnson, rings - antique, bracelets - gift and Cartier
I haven’t been out and about too much this winter because I’ve seemed catch every bug that’s gone around which has also meant there hasn’t been too much for me to post about lately. I (think) I’m finally starting the feel better though and the snow is now quickly melting from Friday’s storm so it’s about time for me to think about coming out of hibernation. Anyways, we had our last big snow so I decided to bust my dearly neglected mink out from cold storage at least once this winter. The platforms probably weren’t the best idea for the snow because I took a major topple and now have a very sore ankle. Maybe it’s time to invest in more practical footwear…but that sounds very boring, so maybe not. The tights I’m wearing I bought years ago, practically forgot about, and rediscovered still in their package when I recently had my new closet done. The bag was given to me when I was 15 and I carried it to school a lot until I overstuffed it and broke the strap. It still works as a nice clutch though. I think vintage Chanel is so effortless, which is the way Coco intended Chanel pieces to be worn (and carried), but they so rarely are anymore. There’s something special about timeless bag that can be handed down, sort of like heirloom diamonds.
Get ready to go behind the seams of Hollywood’s hottest vintage outfit. Don’t miss the all-new Smithsonian Channel series LA Frock Stars featuring Doris Raymond and her team of vintage virtuosos as they give fine vintage frocks a second chance to shine at today’s biggest red-carpet events. LA Frock Stars premieres this Thursday at 8pm ET & PT / 7pm CT on Smithsonian Channel. Go to smithsonianchannel.com to find the channel on your TV.
I watched the first episode and am already hooked! We see the goings on of the LA vintage boutique The Way We Wore, and as a vintage collector I’m in awe of the collection amassed by Doris, the show’s star. I was really excited and surprised when I instantly recognized a gown she comes across as one I was contacted about and passed up over a year ago (at the time I had no plans of visiting the West Coast and don’t feel comfortable purchasing vintage clothing without first seeing the condition close up) and can now stop beating myself up over not buying. But even if you don’t know a lot about vintage fashion LA Frock Stars is a show you can enjoy as they do go into some of the history of the pieces and their designers, plus it has a really fun cast.
To celebrate the premier of LA Frock Stars I have 10 copies of Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style to giveaway to my readers!
Click here for the entry form and good luck!
A few pieces I’m still obsessed with from NYFW…
hat - H&M (similar), cardigan - Boohoo, shirt - Splendid, jeans - Lucky Brand, belt and jewelry - Vintage
I’ve been in the midst of re-decorating so haven’t had much time for blogging. These pictures were taken in my closet right after everything was ripped out (hence the horrible lighting and splotchy walls). I’m still having some trouble picking out a new bed because even though I know basically what I’m looking for all the subtle differences in shape and color are making me a little crazy. Anyways, this is about how close to “dressed down” as it gets for me. I don’t usually wear jeans often, but the winter has been so cold I’ve almost started to value function over fashion. The oversized printed cardigan isn’t my usual style, but it looked so cozy that I had to have it. Now I should probably get back to painting my bedroom since I have to go over a very bright blue that I put up over the weekend and ended up hating.
dress- Tibi, bag - Chanel, necklace - Vintage
I attended The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection show Wednesday night. The Heart Truth supports women with heart disease and I was especially happy to be there because I have two holes in my heart. It was different than most fashion shows as it’s almost more of a party and of course there are celebrities instead of models. Kelly Osbourne wore a gorgeous Zac Posen gown that I’m completely obsessed with and Jillian Michael’s Cushnie et Ochs dress (that I literally almost wore to the event) was another favorite of mine. I’m back in Connecticut recuperating (I’ve been sick and almost didn’t make it to the show) and bracing for the big storm headed this way, but I should be back in the city in few days if the weather permits it.
I had high hopes that this would be my year for NYFW. In the past I actually even spent a ridiculous amount of money to buy tickets from ebay scalpers, only to have to scrap my plans the night before after getting a call that my dad had gotten into an accident with a drunk driver. The following season I did manage to get (beg) a few invites but there a massive snowstorm that closed down many of the Connecticut roads leading to the city and prevented me from getting to most of them. I had all but given up on fashion week by the time the next season came around and was surprised to received an invite from Tibi even though I had attended their previous show. When I RSVP’d I was told it was a mistake. Thanks. I buy a lot of your clothes, that’s really a great way to treat one of your customers. It’s probably a massive understatement to stay that I buy a lot of clothes. As I’ve already mentioned I’m currently re-designing my closet because it just doesn’t hold nearly enough. So when your ignored by brands you’ve been loyal to in favor of D-list celebrities, realty stars and lots of other riff-raff now filling up the seats in Lincoln Center it makes me reevaluate where my money will be going in the future.
Chanel Haute Couture spring 2013 press kit shot by Karl Lagerfeld and featuring model Marte Mei Van Haaster
Chanel transformed the Grand Palais into a forest emerging from the winter frost for their spring haute couture collection. The show started out with the classic tweeds and moved into long beaded gowns covered in camellias and showing the masterful work of the women at Maison Lesage and closed with romantic feather and lace creations. Two brides, representing a lesbian couple, emerged in matching dresses holding the hand of Karl Lagerfeld’s four year old godson Hudson Kroenig (who has already appeared in three other Chanel shows already). Now if only Karl was my godfather too so I could wear one of these beautiful pieces. Sigh.
(photos via getty images and vogue.it)
Just thought I would make a quick update to point out that I’ve just added comments to my blog. It had been bothering me that I was without this feature since I use tumblr as my platform, but with some easy coding I’ve solved the problem.
I love sales!
Yesterday I went out to finally get a flu shot (they were all out) and I ended up doing some shopping instead. While “sale” used to be a dirty word for me, when I stared to be eased off of my parents financial support I had to get a little bit savvy and now I don’t know why I didn’t start shopping them more before. I found a beautiful Kate Spade bag for almost half off, although it’s obviously a spring bag so I won’t be carrying it for the next few months. I also picked up some winter wardrobe staples, a few new pairs of Current/Elliot jeans and a couple fun pieces like a faux fur Betsey Johnson gilet. I did encounter a small problem when I unpacked my purchases though. My closet seems to have shrunk…or my wardrobe has gotten out of control lately. Either way I’m working on designs for a new closet.
