Charlotte Dellal…

charlotte-dellal

I think I have a girl crush on Charlotte Dellal. I’ve never met her or anything, just saw her on the street and now I appreciate even more her very particular mix of humor and mystery. Really, to wear a hat with such confidence, it’s just so classy.

That said, thinking about it, I’d wear the cat-shoes she created without missing a beat (Charlotte is the designer for the brand Charlotte Olympia, you remember these?), which I couldn’t stop going on and on about a few days ago on Twitter:

I mean, how cool are these?

Charlotte Olympia’s Star Footwork


Charlotte Olympia deserves that ‘Accessory of the Year’ label label ten times over really. Between her feminine, courtly traditionalism (making the round toe a staple in the mix), and her maverick skills for detailing- cats on toes, trims on heels- it’s all just a bit gorgeous. And here is a footwear designer who also seems to embody the style fantasies she creates around her. Charlotte Dellal- la bonne vie! Non? Plus, this lady can work a vintage hat like nobody’s business, let me tell you.

charlotte olympia british fashion awards

So who wore Charlotte Olympia to the British Fashion Awards this week? Well we think we spotted, alongside Samantha Cameron and the designer herself….

 charlotte olympia british fashion awardsGeorgia Jagger

Yeah so those ones up there, straddling Georgie’s tootsies, also happen to be available buy at Matches; and by the sheer strike of fate’s hand, there’s a Promo Code to match. Use ‘NOV15′ to claim 15% off online (available on all women’s items) before the end of the month. Which is tomorrow, no less!

charlotte olympia british fashion awardsAlexa Chung

Shop all Charlotte Olympia shoes now at LynkU.

I think I’m in love with the Charlotte Olympia Pandora Feather Clutch

Charlotte Olympia Pandora Feather Clutch, $995 via Moda Operandi

In general, I’ve always been a fan of little lucite (or perspex, if you’re British) clutches. Making the things you carry part of a handbag’s visual design is an interesting move, and a box clutch is small enough that you’re unlikely to be carrying anything particularly messy or embarrassing. Choose your phone cover and card case wisely, but other than that, there’s little over which to fret.

For those who are made slightly more nervous by the prospect of a see-through bag, the Charlotte Olympia Pandora Feather Clutch would be a beautiful way to dip your toes in the water. This new version of the Pandora for Spring 2012 features a little bit of privacy through inlaid feathers, but your bag’s contents will still be on display.

Texture, including feathers, is an ongoing trend in fashion, and these clutches allow you to experiment without running the risk of buying a handbag that’s prone to molting. For $995, this clutch may seem a tad pricey, but it allows you to try out two huge evening bag trends without committing wholeheartedly to either of them, which is not without its charms. If you’re so inclined, both colors can be pre-ordered via Moda Operandi, for those who have an account. Sale ends 10/21.

Fashion Week Handbags: Matthew Williamson Spring 2012

Images via Vogue.com

I need to have a moment of honesty here: I know it’s been a couple of weeks since London Fashion Week, but I completely forgot that I had these photos from Matthew Williamson Spring 2012 to show you. Williamson isn’t known for his bags, but I adore his sense of color and pattern so thoroughly that I wanted to put them up for discussion anyway.

As his his wont, Williamson went a little bohemian with his handbags for the runway show, and the two intricately detailed clutches are of particular note. They’re big enough to be carried to a daytime event but still special enough to go to a nighttime pool party in the warmer months. If you’re looking for a true day bag, I hope you like fringe, because Williamson has it by the fistful. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Williamson also included a few of Charlotte Olympia’s perspex clutches on the runway. (She also made the excellent shoes that he showed with the collection.)

Matthew Williams Spring 2012 handbags (1) Matthew Williams Spring 2012 handbags (2) Matthew Williams Spring 2012 handbags (3) Matthew Williams Spring 2012 handbags (4) Matthew Williams Spring 2012 handbags (5) Matthew Williams Spring 2012 handbags (6) Matthew Williams Spring 2012 handbags (7) Matthew Williams Spring 2012 handbags (8)

Want It Wednesday: Everything Yellow

Photo via Style.com

Normally for Want It Wednesday, we pick a specific item (which may or may not be a handbag – we like to switch things up around here sometimes) over which we’re lusting that week. But today, we’re doing things a little bit differently. While paging through Tommy Ton‘s always-excellent street style photos from Style.com’s Paris Haute Couture Week coverage, we came upon this photo of a group of young fashion luminaries that had us rummaging through our closets to see if we could recreate some of the colorful looks.

I work from home at a desk that’s right next to my closet, and because sometimes New York apartments have some, um, “quirks,” my closet doesn’t have a door. As soon as I saw this picture, my head ratcheted to the side, as if I were some sort of cartoon character, to swiftly survey the contents and see what kinds of things I would need to add in order to achieve this level of sunny wardrobe perfection.

Clearly I need to up my skirt game, but not just with the yellow midi that you see here. No, I need the purple maxi too. And also, the red and purple flowered Giambattista Valli dress on the woman to the far left. And both pairs of Charlotte Olympia gold platformed heels on the girls at the center. And a breezy yellow summer dress. And a trip to Paris. I’m going to stop there, lest I pass out from sheer envy.