What happened to me? Seriously, I don’t know.
I was just visiting the Chanel pop-up store on rue Saint Honoré (very, very smart & cool idea from Chanel) when a very talented salesman came over to me. For some reason we chatted (maybe cause I am crazy chatty?) and talked about the espadrilles I shot a while ago on Lara and I was telling him I liked them but I would never wear them…bla, bla, bla…
He was like : “Are you sure?”
I was like : “Oh man, NEVER! They’re cute on others but never on me, ahah, Chanel espadrilles!”
He was like : “Wanna try them, just for fun?”
I was like : “Oh nooooo… Oh well, okay, let’s lol together!”
He was like : “All right. See, they’re nice.”
I was like : “Shit, you’re right. They’re kinda awesome.”
He was like : “Okay, it was just for you to see! I felt you’d like them.”
I was like : “Arrrrrgh. WRAP THEM.”
He was like : “You don’t have to.”
I was like : “I said WRAP THEM AND FAST.”
So that’s what happened guys. And that’s how two years after telling you I’d never wear them, I am the happy owner of a pair of espadrilles.
And you… Did you change your mind? Yes or no to espadrilles?
I have to confess something a little embarassing to you. This spring, I turned into a true fashion victim for a minute. Ooookay, maybe it was more than just two seconds… Maybe two months.
It’s actually weird cause I am pretty relaxed with my style right now. I’m a little tired of the fashion* hysteria and I’ve been going with simple and classic outfits. I’m totally Sophia Coppola** these days.
Give me a pair of jeans and ballet flats*** and I am happy.
BUT.
For a few months now, I’ve been trying to ignore a little voice inside me saying, “Céline Birks. Céline Birks****!!!”
Yeah. These in the illustration.
I swear, I’ve been trying to get it out of my head. It’s like these shoes have possessed me or something, with their “let’s have fun with fashion” look and that “yeaaaaahhhhh I’m so bourgeois and sooooooo chill” that I wear Birks with fur inside.
So one day, when Scott asked me what I wanted for my birthday, my mouth opened all on its own and fashionista hiccups came tumbling out… “Céline Birks!”
Pffff.
Scott said no. Anything but that. You want to annihilate our love life. No. Way. He hates shoes with fur inside. He thinks it’s gross when fur and toes collide.
And normal Garance, the one you all know, she totally agrees. Fur between the toes is interesting enough during a show, awesome in Vogue, sublaaaaaaïme in illustrations, but in real life, it’s a little weird.
But Garashionista, my fashion-victim doppelganger, like all fashion-victims, loooooooves them and thinks that just wearing these shoes would make for a happy woman who you can only ever catch from her left profile (her good side).
And since Garashionista***** has her feminine wiles in tact, she was able to convince Scott that getting her those shoes for her birthday would be the ultimate sign of true-love (she has a split personality AND puts together amazing arguments.)
And she won.
He spent weeks looking for them, such a love he is.
Of course though, he couldn’t find them. All the true fashion victims***** ordered them the second they went up on Style.com, which is to say, a few seconds after they hit the runway.
But you know, after he was able to show his undying love for me, I was kind of able to forget all about being soooooo bourgeois yet sooooo chill with my fit all nice and warm and cozy in the fur.
And one day, we were just enjoying a nice stroll through the streets of Soho.
We made a stop (as one must) at Kirna Zabete****** when suddenly, like a far off mirage, I saw the Céline Birks. In my size. I was barely able to breathe when I asked to try them on.
Haaaaaaaaa…
Big fashion moment.
I turned to see myself in the mirror and I saw….
A haggard looking Garance with Birks on and really hairy feet (And Scott just cracking up in the background).
I moved my toes around a little to feel the effect of the fur. It’s a little weird. I took them off, stared at them, turn them around in my hands like I would with a diamond, considered buying them just to frame them (these shoes have already made fashion history)(wouldn’t these look amazing if they were framed and just put up nonchalantly in the office of our new Studio*******, like works of art?)(Shutup Garashionista!) and then looked back at Scott, who was grandiosely gesticulating, saying noooooooooooo!
So, nope. I didn’t get ‘em.
I let, slightly bruised ego in tote but a little wiser after the experience. I was reassured, the new Garance, cool and put together, Garance Coppola, sometimes you catch her left side, sometimes right, but she knows the difference between a runway outfit and one for the street.
And walking arm and arm with a happy man to boot.
——–
* I know, it’s not like I’ve ever been Anna Dello Russo. But I’m even less Anna Dello Russo than I once was.
** And maybe Francis Ford too, sometimes.
*** Sometimes, I also wear a T-shirt, you know.
**** Sainte Phoebe, forgive me. I know. These shoes are not called the Céline Birks. I have no idea what the name of them is. Do they have a name? Feline Birks? Ha!
***** It’s not enough to just claim that you’re a fashion victim, it’s a title that requires some blood, sweat and tears. You gotta earn it.
****** At some point I’ll have to introduce you to Garidontcareaboutshit, who wears only jogging pants all the time. Whoops! You already know her!
******* Yep, my man loves window shopping. More than I do actually.
******* Yeaaaaaah. We’re not in the new Studio yet. Ok ok. I can say I’ve got the totally chill part down, maybe not so much the bourgeois, but chill I’ve got mastered.
I know, I messed up my asterisk count, TOTALLY CHILL, I told you.
Translation : Tim Sullivan
Remember my Laurence Dacade boots? Well they’ve proven to be so cool and comfortable that I love them even more a year later.
The only thing is, the gold ministuds are a little bit much for me now – I wish I had picked them a liiiiiiiittle more low key.
So here’s what I saw at the presentation the other day… Which ones do you prefer?
My friend Violaine is pregnant (Yeeeey!!!), and all her outfits are so simple and cool that it gives you the feeling that figuring out what to wear when your belly is round is the easiest thing in the world.
Which isn’t true at all, even if Violaine, being naturally thin and can still wear most of her old outfits, there are still a few things that you really can’t avoid. Like maternity jeans for example. These ones are from J Brand and what is funny is that in the beginning, Violaine didn’t even want to hear about it.
It’s funny, I think it’s happened three times now where friends swear that they’ll never walk through the doors of a maternity shop (I don’t know why?) and then finally end up cracking and buying maternity jeans. They put those jeans on and feel alive again.
Interlude I love her shoes.
Voilà!!! Big hugs to Violaine and to all the little babies out there!!! (???)
Translation : Tim Sullivan
Big, huge gigantic crush on these.
I obviously LOVE these slip-on style Vans…
(Ok, I admit, they’ve been brought back to my attention by these Céline) and I was about to buy them in white.
And I obviously love that Kenzo print, as you may have guessed on Tuesday.
Shoes that I LOVE? In a print that I LOVE?
Oh yes.
PS: You can get them here!
I’m so against the concept that “it was better back in the day…” that every time I get a better back in the day thought I give myself a slap (only in my head though, sheesh. I’m not masochist, nope.)
That said, I have to tell you : It was better back in the day…
It was better back in the day when every downtown didn’t look exactly the same and when you couldn’t find the exact same shops in Tokyo and Paris and New York. One of the best parts about traveling was bringing back things you couldn’t find back home.
It could’ve been trinkets, books, clothes, whatever…
For me, of course, it was outfits.
We’d bring back J.Crew from New York, Doc Martens from London, Invicta bags from Italy (please don’t google those if you want to keep any sense of confidence in my taste level)(Aaaalll right, go for it, Google them), Birkenstocks from Germany, and APC jeans from Paris… The list goes on.
We’d bring back suitcases full of stuff, bring back presents for our friends. It was enough to immediately transform you into a fashion hero. Oh, it was so good back then…
Now, you can find everything everywhere. And if you can’t find it in your city, you just have to go online.
I know… I mean… It’s pretty great. No more yearning, no frustration.
But let me tell you, one of my favorite things to do when I go to Milan is to go to Porselli. I love their ballet flats and get totally caught up in the non-marketed charm of the place.
The boutique has two Italian women who don’t understand a word of English. The logo obviously didn’t wasn’t born from a creative brief. Their website still uses Flash (so 2005). They fit it a little random, you have to try on the shoes. The colors too, meaning they ask for your size and then look in the back, climb a couple ladders (the ladders may or may not be random as well) and see what colors are left in your size.
You can order them if you want though: deliveries come in every Thursday.
And the cherry on top is that they’re pretty difficult to find outside of Milan, so the shoes alone are worth the trip.
A real asshole snobbish item, I mean. I love them.
Wait… Shit. Was I just trapped by non-marketing marketing ? Aarrrrrrgh.
Translation : Tim Sullivan
White pumps are really the kind of item that can take an outfit to the next level.
I’ve already jumped into it, and my favorite thing is to wear them with my black Zara boyfriend jeans (don’t tell me you haven’t spotted that extra cool pair…) and a little black Equipment sweater.
Very simple but that’s what I love.
PS : I am pretty sure that these are from Manolo. Very, very cool.
Adding these animal print flats from NewbarK to our fall shopping list!
Here is a new This Is Trending! Kissseeeeeeeeees!
Do you remember when I was telling you about wearing your blanket?
Do you remember when I was telling you about wearing plaid?
So, what do we say about a plaid blanket? Yeyyh! (Even more when it involves a sublime pair of boots…)
I went by the Jimmy Choo presentation the other day and fell in love with these ballet flats!
So feminine, so precious, so delicate that I perfectly imagine them with an evening gown or even a tuxedo. Super, extra chic, with a special “dance all night” option. Yay!
Kisses! Garance
Rochas was a dream !!! Just look at these pictures and tell me what you think. I loved it!
Click on the arrows to see more images…
Sometimes, there’s virtue in not quite matching. More often than not, I look at people wearing multiple pieces that are obviously from the same collection and seeing a fashion victim that would do well to think a bit harder about how to assemble an outfit. (There are, of course, exceptions.) People who’ve found their sweet spot stylistically often look great because they put together pieces that don’t necessarily look like they belong in the same outfit until you see the finished product.
In my mind, the Fendi 2Jours Colorblock Tote and the Pierre Hardy Colorblock Suede Sandals have the potential to be one such pairing. Although the colors that occupy both pieces are completely different, the products feel similar. They occupy the same aesthetic space, with their extremely modern lines and tritone constructions. The shoes are brighter and more textured, the tote more neutral and lacking suede’s tactile qualities. With a smart, modern shift dress, for example, both would likely sing in the same key. Only if you have the confidence to pull off such a bold look, though.
For more shoe coverage, please visit our sister site TalkShoes!
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I’ve never been much of a heels girl. Yes, I am a measly 5’2″ which constitutes as pretty petite in an industry of tall, leggy models and fashion girls…
But I have always opted for comfort over height.
Now I’m not opposed to a heeled bootie, but we’re talking an inch or two (yeah 5’4″!! That makes me about average…) but when I saw these Prada pumps, all of my anti-heel thoughts were tossed aside for visions of myself as Emmanuelle Alt, our studio obsession. A Prada pump and a skinny jean and immediately I could picture it: running from show to show in the streets of Paris, being the perfecta fashion girl gliding through New York in 10cm heels.
For a flats girl, these were still a no brainer. I knew when I saw them that it was time to treat myself to something good, something that would become a staple in my wardrobe. (Note: they were still on sale, so not totally breaking the bank, kind of…)
So if Prada can get me into a pair of heels, who does it for you?
xo Emily
Happy Day After Valentine’s Day! Whether you are reveling in the love and gifts showered upon you yesterday or are just glad it’s all over, we thought it would be fun to visit some Valentine’s Day reveals around the PurseForum today. We selected the best of the best from Mulberry, Hermès and The Jewelry Box. Of course, there is more to February than Valentine’s Day (thank goodness) and more to this Roundup, including a sneak peak at the Balenciaga Spring colors, fun with Christian Louboutin’s new styles, jewelry from Van Cleef and Arpels and some great ideas for building your wardrobe. Grab some leftover chocolates and join us!
PurseForum member and Mulberry lover Ruby C stole our Valentine’s Day construction-paper heart with her darling Mulberry Woodland scarf, presented to her by her thoughtful boyfriend. Visit her thread to see why this rabbit-themed scarf was the perfect choice for Ruby C! Elsewhere, Sweetyqbk got a great Valentine’s Day surprise this week, and shared this breathtaking Bulgari rose gold ring in the Jewelry Box. On top of that, Hermès lover *Sai* got a nice surprise from her husband and Sales Associate after a rough start at the boutique, visit her thread to see her stack of new treasures! You will find many more Valentine’s Day reveals throughout the PurseForum this week, so pick your favorite subforum and dive right in!
Have you been scanning the Spring 2013 threads? The Balenciaga Spring 2013 thread, in particular, is a feast of color. We love color, and this is the place to be as our members share their latest inside information, and, more importantly, their latest purchases. Member Ciaciasg got our attention with this beautiful Bleu Mineral Town bag, which got us thinking that a rich saturated blue would make a great addition to almost any wardrobe. Will you be adding a colorful Balenciaga bag to your collection this spring? Perhaps in Dune, Rose Corail, Bleu Tropical, or do you need more time to decide?
Christian Louboutin aficionados have also been hotly discussing the spring styles and colors in the the New Styles thread. Even if you are not in the market for a new pair of “CLs,” watching members track down their favorite shoes among the season’s latest offerings makes a great spectator sport. Speaking of which, have you seen the Au Hameau in silver member konfekta24 posted on page 280? Be sure to also stop by 318Platinum’s Valentine’s Day reveal thread, as a pair of fabulous black new-this-spring Pigalles finds a new home with a happy PurseForum member.
Back to the Jewelry Box, a visit to the always-busy Van Cleef and Arpels thread kept us occupied for quite some time. This week, member 628628 shared an epic tale involving three cities and her new holy grail malachite three-motif earrings with a most appreciative audience. Be sure to also have a look at sfshopgirl’s splendidly simple blue porcelain single motif necklace and einseine’s gorgeous Sweet Alahambra earrings in Onyx. This thread is always fully stocked with stunning VCA pieces of every kind, and even if you are not in the market, the visuals are certainly worth a visit.
Finally, we got a nice treat in The Wardrobe’s Outfit of the Day thread, with hellokatiegirl’s fresh and cute outfit perfectly framed by an orange tree in full, glorious fruit. Making this thread a regular stop on your PurseForum visits will offer you endless inspiration! Also in the Wardrobe, a new thread has gotten some nice traction this week and certainly gotten our attention as well. Member BagsNBaubles started the One-ish a Month thread with an interesting premise: to purchase one (or slightly more than one) “thoughtfully planned” wardrobe item per month. The idea is to shop carefully for quality pieces. Members have been giving advice and sharing purchases and tips on paring down their wardrobe to their very best essentials. We will definitely be joining this conversation in the coming weeks, and hope to see you there!
The post PurseForum Roundup – February 15 appeared first on PurseBlog.
The brand Stubbs and Wootton is known for their cheeky embroidered slippers and we had a good laugh when we spotted these on the street yesterday…
The joke might not be as funny for our non-English speaking readers (and there is always the issue of the message you send when you cross your legs…) but we are fans :)
Click on the arrows to see more images…
Fashion week is in full swing in New York. It’s fashion tiiiiime!!! Yahoooo! Camera flash! Stilettos!!!
Okay. Don’t you go forgetting that we are creatures of intellect and reason.
We’re aren’t only defined by our sublimity and perfect outfits, no. (Yes yes yes, I’m talking about all of you and me, of course, of course!)
We are thinking beings as well. We intellectualize.
So that’s why it’s high time we answered to the…. Big Questions of Fashion Week.
Drum roll please…
Is one well dressed if she is dressed in winter as she would be in summer?
Let me explain. Let’s just say, for example, that we’re in New York during fashion week and, again, hypothetically, there’s a blizzard named Nemo that just hit the city the day before.
There are mountains of snow on all the sidewalks and frozen puddles everywhere rivaling March of the Penguins. A freezing wind sweeps down the avenues like a tunnel and there you are in your little sandals with your toes poking out and a short skirt with your shirt open half way down your chest.
You have to be carried to go over puddles and you live in constant fear of death by black ice.
Your outfit would be perfect if it were August, but even my neighbor’s bulldog is more covered up than you (it’s wearing mini-boots)(just looking at your frozen feet makes it cold).
Yet there you are, shivering for the photographers.
So I’m wondering, even if you’re really well dressed… Are you really well dressed? Or does it just totally miss the mark? Is a stylish outfit always a stylish outfit no matter the context, or should one dress according to the circumstances?
What’s this supposed to mean on the Phillip Lim invite? Who’s this Sono Mama?
Here’s what Phillip explained at the show… Sono Mama, in Japanese, means “stay as you are.” I like that thought!
Oh, by the way, here is a little video I caught of Susie interviewing Phillip after the show.
What are we going to be wearing next winter?
Yep! I found a trend!!!
We’re going to wear heavy boots with really short skirts.
Today already I saw it at Phillip Lim (love him forever) and Theyskens (really good show ! I’ll post about it ASAP).
What does everyone talk about in the first row of the shows?
(or the second, or the third?)(Or in standing?)
“Do I look like a car ? I feel like look like a car!”
(Bryan Boy, not quite confidant about his outfit)
“When is this gonna end?”
(The magazine editors, talking about all the bloggers who now have seats at all the shows.)
“Want a ride? Come up in my car!!! Well actually it’s more like a Chinese mini-van. But China is trending!!!”
(My friend Daphné)
How to patch up a bruised ego?
Was your seat at a show just stolen from someone more important than you?
Did you just get yelled at by Rihanna’s bodyguards?
Did you just realize that your outfit is a total fail, just as you’re in the middle of talking to Emmanuelle Alt? (The Goddess of Coolitude)
Here’s a miraculous solution… Amnesia. Pure and simple.
I let it sink in for two seconds, think about what I can do so that next time, it doesn’t happen, and then I tell myself that there are moments in life that are out of my control. At the end of the day, they’re not going to change my life at all.
I don’t know if it’s because of situations like this (it happens every day with fashioooooon) that I’ve had to develop a thick skin (If it’s the case, then cool. Back in the day I would’ve dwelled on the thing for hours imagining all the possible responses I could have given. I know now that gets you nowhere. I’ll never have the perfect response.)
Or maybe it’s the meditating I did in January back when my New Year resolutions were in full force, helping me to distinguish which thoughts were worth my time and which ones don’t deserve any energy.
Whatever it is, let’s hear it for selective memory!!!
Why are flash photos not allowed at Marc Jacobs?
What’s the set going to look like? What’s the show going to look like?
What are they going to do if the flash on my phone goes off accidentally like it so often does?
And a follow up question:
Have you figured out a tecnhique to not get blurry photos of the shows or anything in motion? Please? I can’t figure it out and I need to be able to share my profound comments on Instagram…
NEW IN. Isn’t it ironic that the very same day I got these stunning heels, a snowstorm hit New York? Damn you Nemo! Keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will get better soon so I can wear these beauties!
SHOES Sigerson Morrison
I’m a big fan of the d’Orsay flat. They are simple, chic and I think the cut makes them sexy (yes that’s right, sexy flats!). I spotted these at the Jenni Kayne presentation yesterday…
Bonus: she makes them in about a bajillion different colors.
If there wasn’t a blizzard happening right now, I’d want them on my feet!
- Alex
This is how the Tabitha Simmons for Creatures of the Wind shoes got me:
(Seated, at the show)
- First sighting of the shoes… “Hmmm, those shoes with built in socks are pretty strange…”
- Second sighting… “Kinda cool actually. I like their shape and they’d be awesome with jeans.” (says the girl who tries to imagine EVERYTHING with jeans)
- Third sighting… “Those shoes are pretty cool, huh?” I say to my neighbor. Her response…”Really cool!”
- Fourth sighting… “Loooooooove them!”
There you go. A fashion week moment that was really worth sharing. Don’t you think ?
From Kate’s wish list: a pair of Isa Tapia platforms.
Somehow, my years of writing about fashion on the Internet have made me simultaneously less sensitive to prices but more stingy with my fashion money. When you’re lucky enough spend all day looking at the most covetable bags and shoes in the world, you become acutely aware that the next Next Big Thing is always right around the corner, and knowing that makes it difficult to justify committing money to anything other than the pieces that you just can’t picture yourself living without. Somehow, Loeffler Randall has managed to pack its Spring 2013 collection with exactly those kinds of items.
I went on a mini shopping spree at LoefflerRandall.com at the end of last week, and two of the three pieces I ordered were from Loeffler Randall’s perfectly printed collaboration with Tucker. (If you want to know about the other pair of shoes I picked up, check out TalkShoes.com.) The bags and shoes, in a black-based floral or black-and-white geometric print, are exactly the kind of thing you’d want to wear on a sunny spring or summer day. For the bold among us, the two prints also mix quite well. For my own wear, I picked up the Loeffler Randall Mini Rider and Loeffler Randall Odile Espadrille Sneakers, both in the floral print. (I love a black-based floral.) Check out the collection and prices in the slideshow below or skip straight to shopping via LoefflerRandall.com.
The post Loeffler Randall and Tucker team up for the season’s most covetable bag and shoe collaboration appeared first on PurseBlog.
Fortunately for everyone who loves handbags, Valentino has been absolutely killing it lately. The Rockstud collection is as popular as ever, the new bags that come out every season are somehow more covetable than the ones that came before them, and the brand seems to have really found its overall aesthetic stride. Valentino looks very Valentino lately, and that’s a wonderful thing.
The post Shop tons of newly discounted Valentino at THE OUTNET right now! appeared first on PurseBlog.
I am a big fan of sneakers – especially in the winter, they’re good and warm for the feet. Right now (= snow) I am wearing my black Nikes a lot. So much that they are going to fall apart, and I am considering replacing them with these ones (no, these are not the super expensive I was telling you about this morning)(I’ll tell you about those soon).
Do you like them?
Here are a few questions I’m gonna have to answer this week.
Maybe you can help me:
I ended up being convinced to try to juice. Tried last week, lasted for 3 hours.
Story of my fail :
Hour 1 = Super excited, delicious juice.
Hour 2 = Super tight deadline, feeling jitery.
Hour 3 = Making myself a bowl of oameal.
Pfff, I totally know what you’re gonna say, and it’s NO!!! and me and my good conscience will tell you you’re totally right.
But I’ll still think about them deep inside me and how my life would be much more perfect with these sneakers in it and about that neither you nor my good conscience can do anything. Unfortunately.
Fashion week is upon us and, following my new year resolutions, I totally cleaned up my closet. I gave, sold, made way. My closet is so good and organized now, it’s real happiness.
Problem though : I have nothing to wear.
I need a plan. What would you do?
I think it just happened to me. I didn’t really want to stop cause I was down to one or two cigarettes a day, which I thought was ok.
Then a friend showed me electronic cigarettes.
They’re clean*, they don’t smoke up everybody around you (it smells like nothing), it’s pretty perfect for me.
This week, I am looking for one without nicotine.
Next week, I’ll look for a cigarette without a cigarette.
My Stella video hair was created thanks to a special curling iron, that has two warming barrels instead of one. The haidresser told me the tool was awesome.
It’s sold at Ricky’s just around the corner.
Do you think I should try it?
Or is it just going to end up with my warming brush, my negative ions blowdryer, my professional blowdryer, my two curling irons, my straingthening iron and other curiositoes in my hair accessory cemetery?
Ouuuh, I feel like I have a busy week ahead.
Because on top of aaaaaall these major questions I have… I am gonna have to work. Ugh.
With New York Fashion Week coming up in just a few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what we can expect to see on attendees at Lincoln Center. Even an untrained eye can spot the high-powered magazine editors in the milieu; there’s a level of refinement that they’ve mastered that few others possess. (Contacts at the best brands in the world don’t hinder that pursuit, obviously.) Other than a few over-the-top street style stars, editors mostly look luxurious and stylish, but also somewhat nondescript. When you look at and editor for a Conde Nast glossy, it’s not hard to imagine that she looks like that every day at work. There’s no sense of trying too hard, even if they’re actually trying very hard.
So how do you get the editor look? Having a lot of money helps, but so does a keen eye for modernity and an appreciation for what’s going on in fashion right now. The Saint Laurent switchover is still one of the biggest stories going on in the industry, and you can expect to see a lot of editors donning a piece here and there from Hedi Slimane’s inaugural collection for the brand. The Saint Laurent Paloma Sandals are almost an obvious choice – they scream Slimane, and the single-sole construction and thick ankle strap are two of the biggest things happening in footwear right now. (For more on both of those trends, visit our sister site TalkShoes!)
And then there’s the bag. I’ve seen editors carry bags of all kinds of sizes, but the secret seems to be choosing something super modern and clean and leaving the fussy stuff to the rest of the fashion pack. Finding something great that’s not immediately identifiable is always preferable to having something that everyone’s already seen. For that reason, I’d go with the Maison Martin Margiela Chrome-Handled Tote. Not only does the combination of black and silver work wonderfully with the Saint Laurent shoes, but the simple shape and spare details are exactly the kind of thing that a woman who’s comfortable with her own personal style would choose.
The post Perfect Pairs: Maison Martin Margiela and Saint Laurent appeared first on PurseBlog.
LOVE. How awesome are these boots from Tibi’s pre-fall 13 collection?! Love the buckles + contrasting materials!
BOOTS Tibi.
I love Alice and her beautiful red hair.
I saw her on the streets on Monday, right before the biting cold made its come back.
I don’t know if you remember, I had met her in 2008 (Ooooold!! At that time my blog was not even translated in English!) and already had loved her style.
Oh, by the way, doesn’t she remind you of someone?
As some of you know, we have a sister site called TalkShoes that’s all about…well, you guys are smart. Designer bags and designer shoes go together like peanut butter and jelly (and maybe even better, because hey, fewer calories), so it only seemed right for us to head in that direction. Now that we’re in the shoe business, we thought we’d combine the two once a week for your pleasure in our new Perfect Pairs series.
Perhaps because of the business I’m in, I always start thinking about my outfits with bags and shoes. There’s usually a bag I’m jonesing to carry or a pair of shoes that I think would be perfect for a particular occasion, and if I’m lucky, the bag and the shoes both look like they might even belong in the same outfit. (That’s not always the case, though, and then some tough decisions need to be made.) Creating unique combinations is the basis of personal style, though, which is why I tend to shy away from buying shoes and bags that already look like they go together, particularly if they’re form the same designer. It’s the accessory equivalent of buying and wearing a full runway look, and that’s just not what gets me excited about style.
It would be tempting to pair a gold shoe with a gold clutch for an evening out, but I was impressed at the way the strap-and-mesh construction of the Robert Clergerie Querrye Sandals reminded me of the wing structure of a butterfly or dragonfly. When I saw the dragonfly print and gold tones of the Alexander McQueen DeManta Silk-Satin Clutch, it was clear that the two were a match made in accessories heaven. They don’t “match,” but they do coordinate, and I think that’s a much more stylish goal.
Do you like these pieces together? Don’t forget to check out all of our favorite shoes at TalkShoes.com!
The post Perfect Pairs: Alexander McQueen and Robert Clergerie appeared first on PurseBlog.
I’ve been in a mega-long phase in my life where my approach to a given outfit goes in order of the following criteria: comfort, chicness, coolitude, sexiness.
Aaaaaah! Yep.
No good.
See, it’s the order that worries me cause when you start with comfort, I heard it’s a bad sign. It always seems like to be chic, you have to accept a certain amount of discomfort with every outfit. Otherwise, you’re flirting with laziness.
Pfffff, means I am on the wrong path. I do flirt a lot!
And that is why, whenever I pass a girl on the street who seems to have the same priorities as I do, I literally fall all over myself. For example, here you have Katharina. She’s not cold and she could practically run a half marathon in her outfit, but she still looks super cool!
Look how happy she looks!
At the same time, I am finding that I end up asking myself all the time just how far I can push it…
With my status as a freelancer, I don’t have much of any wardrobe constraints…
Should I push myself to wear something other than jeans and ballet flats? Should I really get myself into a pair of heels and a skirt just for fun? Mmmmmm…
How would you negotiate it? What are your priorities when choosing an outfit?
Do you put comfort first or are you trying to make a little effort everyday, even if it means being slightly uncomfortable?
Happy New Year and a warm welcome to the first PurseForum Roundup of 2013! Now that the holidays have wound down, many of us are getting back into our routines, and our routine includes a whirlwind tour of the week’s happenings on the PurseForum. Grab a cup of something and come along to see what our members have been up to!
Join us as we ring in 2013 with a brand new Dooney and Bourke subforum! Let’s a peek into the “Which Dooney Are You Carrying Today” thread, where member Jadite wowed us with her bordeaux mini satchel, pictured here. Dooney and Bourke fans are enjoying this new gathering place, and we hope you will stop by for a visit. A new subforum is always something to celebrate!
Popping over to the Glass Slipper to see what’s new in shoes, we spied some new posts in the Chloe Susan-Susanna-Suzanna boot thread. PurseForum members have been wearing these with flair, and showing us how they style these fun and funky boots. Peppers90 picked up a great pair in grey and they’re a match made in heaven they make with her gorgeous Hermes scarf, wouldn’t you agree?
We will bet that a construction site is not something you expected to see on the PurseBlog, right? Over time, the PurseForum has added many lifestyle areas, and the Home and Garden subforum offers a great place to share projects both large and small around the house, including Building a New Home from the Beginning. Longtime member dr. twiggers has taken us along as her VERY large project has gone from vacant lot to drywall, and it looks like her new home is nearing completion. Come on in and cheer her on as she gets closer and closer to move-in day!
Bottega Veneta is of course best known for its incredible woven bags and classic knot clutches, but the brand makes lots of other covetable goodies too. We stopped in to see the latest posts in one of our favorite threads on the PurseForum: the absolutely amazing reference thread dedicated to the unique weaving processes and treatments of this venerable house. Before heading out, we spotted a reveal and were absolutely floored by these stunning tourmaline boots scored by member mnl. Have you gotten acquainted with Bottega Veneta yet?
Are you thinking about improving your health habits in 2013? If you are, you are certainly not alone! The Health and Fitness subforum is absolutely brimming with “healthful” and supportive tips from members. Whether you are thinking of taking up yoga (check out ladysarah‘s helpful tips on what to wear), running, a spring slim-down, or even juicing, you will find lots of company to help you on your journey. Here’s to a healthier us in 2013!
The post PurseForum Roundup – January 4 appeared first on PurseBlog.
Welcome to the Roundup for December 20. We wanted to start the week off with something a little different, so we spent some time over in General Discussion to see what members were talking about. Sometimes on our busy fashion forum it’s nice to spend some time chatting about friends, family, and even the random things that make up our busy and varied lives.
What are the littlest things that make you happy? We thought about this a bit this week, and stopped by this thread to see what “littlest things” make PurseForum members happy. Yes, we love shopping and fashion, but it turns out we love the small moments that make life precious. Like thunder, a road trip, watching a pet, or hearing children laugh. (And a lot of members seem to really love coffee!) The Random Photos thread in General Discussion is another PurseForum destination that never fails to remind us of the small moments in life that pass far too quickly We hope you are enjoying some of these “little things” during this busy and stressful time.
‘Tis is the season for shopping, parties, and, if our Nail Care subforum is any indication, ’tis also the season to find fantastic nail art by some of our talented artists. Member irishlass1029 outdid herself (and that is not easy) with some truly amazing work in this post. And, if you are already anticipating spring, you will be enchanted when you see this design, we guarantee it!
Are you running more errands, attending more functions, and changing purses more often now that it’s winter? We certainly are. Whether it’s because of a turn in the weather or a desire for a much-needed bit of color, our members appear to be doing the same. So, what bag are YOU carrying today? Member tatertot selected this gorgeous Mulberry earlier in the week, and we have to agree that is was a perfect choice, even without seeing the rest of her outfit! We would love you to drop in and show off your bag pick of the day!
It is always busy in the Celine subforum. If pressed for time, we try to make sure we visit the action thread because we simply love seeing members modeling their pieces. Sometimes, when the “action” stops, a lovely purse or accessory is captured in glorious living color; here, member Sugar Cane can’t resist a shot of her Celine at rest. Keep an eye out for more Celine in action in this popular thread!
PurseForum members are still getting their trees up, and we visit the Christmas Tree thread faithfully each morning to see the lovely trees and other decorations (and the occasional glimpse of a family pet or two!). This week, we were treated to several gorgeous trees, but anthrosphere‘s little tree stole our hearts with its sweet simplicity. All of us at the PurseBlog wish all of you and your families peace and joy throughout the coming year. Happy Holidays!
The post PurseForum Roundup – December 21 appeared first on PurseBlog.
Here are a list of my essentials, as published in the last issue of Self Service.
Click on the arrows to see all the images !
Sometimes, instead of focusing on precise elements of my wardrobe, I like to think of my look as a whole. Actually that’s how I dress most of the time, maybe that’s why I am not very attached to the season’s latest it-items, but rather to pieces that will combine nicely with my wardrobe.
Sometimes I’ll think of volumes, but mostly what I love is to imagine colors stories. It can be a total burgundy look (a little extreme, but when it’s very casual, jean, tee-shirt, shoes, it looks pretty cool) or just to combine colors that work well together, like in these pictures.
I know, it’s totally the contrary of the color clash trend that’s going on right now, three million colors in one silhouette, the what can I add on top of that outfit? Crap, I only have fifteen colors and 45 accessories! I don’t know if that’s gonna work style that I see everywhere right now (even though it happens to me sometimes and I like it), but it’s a nice rest for the eyes and that’s maybe why I like it a lot.
What about you are you more a color clasher or a color combiner ?
Not to create a panic or anything, but Christmas shopping season (online, at least) is almost over. The whole gang here at PurseBlog has spent the past month scouring the web for the best and most giftable (that’s not a word, but we’re going to call it a word for now, ok?) items for people who love luxury accessories as much as we do. Naturally, in the course of all that searching, we’ve come across some stuff that we wouldn’t mind finding under our own trees.
Megs and I will both be sharing our personal holiday wish lists with you, and I’m up first. Below, you’ll find a selection of the things I’d most love to receive this Christmas, or, alternately, a good start on your PurseBlog Amanda costume for next Halloween. If I remind you of your niece or someone, well, now you know what to get her. (If you don’t like her that much, proceed directly to the lipstick portion of this guide. It’s the least expensive thing on the list.)
The post Amanda’s Wish List: All I Want for Christmas is Everything appeared first on PurseBlog.
Well, let’s say this is the week of minimalism!
Here is a picture I took in Miami last week – yeah as you can see, it’s not below 0° everywhere – I love this very Margaret Howell look, even more because the girl wearing it has the perfect attitude to go with it, a little tomboy, a little gallerist (yes, that’s an attitude) with a few very discreet tatoos AND the haircut.
No, seriously, the bob is really THE now haircut, don’t you think ?
Loeffler Randall, Joanna Welted Oxford.
I’m crazy about coats.
During a recent interview I did about my style*, they asked me what I bought the most of.
Mmmmmm… It’s not shoes, not bags, nope. It’s coats. Whenever I see a beautiful coat, I just can’t resist. There’s something in me that says, YES! Go for it!
As soon as it gets a little cold outside, it’s really the piece that brings everything together. Sorry shoes.
I’ve got fifteen** of them at least and that’s not counting all the cool coats I steal from Scott, like his Barbours. This year, I got a giant Stella McCartney coat on sale (you can see it here) but then also wondered if this Isabel Marant jacket is a must or if I can live without it. For the moment, I decided to live without it, but… Well, it’s just the beginning of winter..
What are you wearing this winter?
On the picture, You can see my friend Giorgia in the sublime New York autumn light wearing a coat she designed herself (she just started her own brand called Rêve) that would be a perfect addition to my collection. She’s wearing vintage leather pants, a Céline bag, an American Apparel sweater and Zara heels.
——-
* I always think it’s weird to answer questions about my style. When is the time you start thinking, “yeaaaah, I’ve got a style, go ahead and bring on the questions!”
** They never really go out of style. You can wear them for years!
Translation : Tim Sullivan
My awesome Van Alpert custom Vans!!
It seems that Christmas has come early this year, in the form of markdown miracles. Nordstrom kicked off its designer clearance sale yesterday, and it is good. Rather then waste time describing it, let me show you what I mean. Here are our picks from Nordstrom’s Designer Sale. Need to skip that and scratch your shopping itch in a hurry? Head directly over Nordstrom to shop the sale now!
You will carry this hot pink bag all winter and through all of next summer. Plus the leather is SO soft. Lanvin Amalia Leather Shoulder Bag in Fushia was $2,250 now $1,349 via Nordstrom.
These Manolo’s remind me of that episode of Sex and the City where Carrie gets a job at Vogue. These shoes looked good then, they look good now and they will be a classic you won’t regret. Especially with this discount! Manolo Blahnik Campari Cap Toe Pump was $735, now $440 via Nordstrom.
Love this cherry red clutch. Dress it up or down – it’s versatile and so luxe. Lanvin Leather Clutch was $1,890, now $1,133 via Nordstrom.
This bag is so functional – you can wear it as a shoulder bag OR a backpack. Marni Leather Shoulder Bag was $1,370, now $821 via Nordstrom.
I’m having a clutch moment. I keep finding clutches I want, no need for my personal collection. I love this shiny clutch. It’s somehow vintage and modern. Jimmy Choo Calista clutch was $1150, now $689 via Nordstrom.
Got holiday parties? Get these shoes. Seriously. These are showstoppers. Nicholas Kirkwood Glitter Sandal was $1,050, now $629 via Nordstrom.
The post Our Picks from the Nordstrom Designer Sale! appeared first on PurseBlog.
I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend (Yeah, ok, I know it’s a super American holiday but a day to find gratitude for everything around you, it really should exist everywhere…)(I love it.)(And you’re lucky, I spared you from all my weepy gratitudes.)
I went and spent the weekend doing my best Gorillas in the Mist impression in Costa Rica. I’ll tell you all about it soon as soon as I get my emotions back in order.
Right before leaving, I got to spend some time with Mary Kate Steinmiller.
Mary Kate is the Senior Fashion Market Editor for Teen Vogue so we see each other often during fashion weeks. I’ve taken her photo in the past but for a while now, I’ve wanted to do a little fashion mini-series with her to show you the elements of her style.
I am a big fan of her style, of her way to mix and also, I am extra jealous of her Supreme caps.
I love the way she wears skirts.
And the very street elements of her wardrobe.
I am preparing and Essentials post about Mary Kate… Any questions to ask her?
Hat, Carhartt. Leather Jacket, Dallin Chase. Skirt, Organic by John Patrick. Boots, Gucci. Sweater, Michael Kors. Leather pants, J Brand. Shoes, Nike. Hat, Supreme.
