Friday, March 27, 2009

The Sneakers

I'm finally taking a break from the cleaning frenzy I entered a few hours ago. The dishwasher is running. The bathroom smells like cleaning products. But my shoes, as always, are still scattered all over my apartment. They're always the last things I organize. And the first things to return to their original state. I can see beneath my futon from where I sit, and there are at least seven pairs residing there. Mostly forgotten as things that are partially hidden have a tendency to become. Living there now are my favorite pair of sneakers. Beat up blue and orange Sauconys.


Also featured: an old H&M bag, a pair of Marc by Marc Jacobs flip flops I never wear and the leg of my Gap skinny jeans.

I've never really been a sneaker person. Flats and boots and the occasional heels are my loves. In my life, sneakers are for the gym or really, horribly, nasty rainy days. When I do wear sneakers out, they're usually of the more fashion variety. A pair from Lacoste that would never make it through a marathon, much less a light jog. Or a pair of light green plaid Chucks.

But this old, ratty pair has been around longer than all of those. Actually it's been around longer than any of the shoes currently in my rotation. They've never seen the inside of a gym, but they have seen rain, snow, sleet, wind and beer to the point where I actually had to throw them into the washing machine (don't ask). If they were a child, they'd be wrapping up the first grade and preparing for a summer vacation filled with mud pies and hopscotch.

In the past, I would sometimes leave them alone for months before happily rediscovering them on a day when none of my many flats would do. When I wanted to be able to wander my neighborhood without wincing and cursing under my breath. But now, they don't go long without being worn. Even on days where there is no rain.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Spring Forward

Because the change of seasons is always a good time to add new pieces to your wardrobe and the sales continue unabated, I bring you, without much comment and in no particular order, Things I Want for Spring And Could Maybe, Kinda Afford If I Had a Job Right Now.

Dresses

One:


Two:


Three:


Four:


Bottoms

One:


Two:


Three:


Tops

One:


Two:


Three:


Sweaters

One:


Two:


Three:


Shoes/Bags

One:


Two:


Three:


Four:


Five:


Paris is next. I cross my heart.


Photos via, via, via, via, via, via

Thursday, March 19, 2009

When in Milan...

After finally reading the March issue of Vogue and spending a good amount of time stressing about the direction my life is taking, I got down to the business of addressing Milan and Paris.

Of all the fashion weeks, I have to say that Milan is probably my least favorite. The clothes are beautiful, as they are in all of the cities, but they're just not very me. And though the clothes shown in London are even less me, the innovation and originality seen in that city's offerings excite me.

In Milan, the allusions to the 1980s were there (as they were everywhere) but more in the shapes and cuts as opposed to the searing colors that were a signature of that time. There was, as always, individual pieces that I fell in love with.

A slim fitting suit and an equally slim dress at Jil Sander.



A lengthy clutch at Bottega Veneta.


The embellished cocktail dress at Prada.


A royal blue dress at Salvatore Ferragamo.


And because I can only like things two at a time, there were, again, the two collections that I loved. One for the clothes and one for the accessories.

I've been a fan of Burberry Prosrum and its Creative Director, Christopher Bailey for awhile now. This season was no different. There were allusions to the Bloomsbury Group there, but, unlike when so many other designers reference past decades, the inspiration was subtle and stayed out of the realm of costume.





Though I was a bit something about the clothes at Marni this season, that feeling did not extend to the accessories. The necklaces are similar to the ones from Lanvin a few seasons ago, but these, for some reason, are more appealing to me. They seem lighter in some way. Maybe it's that I don't feel sophisticated enough for Lanvin. Marni would be easier for me to pull off.


Besides the necklaces, I fell in love with the tights. Simpler and more every day than those shown at Doo.Ri earlier in the month.


And then there were the bracelets.


Hopefully the break between Milan and Paris won't be as long as the one between New York and Milan. Hopefully.


Photos via

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

City Lights

With London finished, Milan about to wrap up and Paris on the brink of opening, I've finally made my way through all of the shows from New York's Fall/Winter 2009 offerings. Usually I slog through them all in one day and am left with a thousand bookmarks to remind my of what I've seen and very sore eyes. This time I took it in fits and starts. It wasn't that I didn't like what was on offer. I did. In fact, I preferred it to last season, but life got in the way a bit more this time around.

Even though it took me much longer to digest everything because of mounds of other bullshit that got in the way, I liked it better than the speed rounds I've done in seasons past. I was able to soak everything in. To live with the photos and really take my time.

But, as with last season, it appears that I can only like collections in twos. There were pieces here and there throughout many of the other shows that I coveted.

The embellished tights at Doo.Ri.


A simple shirtdress at Jenni Kayne.


A slouchy, menswear inspired look at Richard Chai.


The blue patterned dress at Bibhu Mohapatra.


A pair of elbow length leather gloves at Tracy Reese.


But in terms of complete collections that I hope, in some far off fantasyland, will be in my closet come September, there was only Jason Wu and Chris Benz.

Wu's star has rocketed recently for obvious reasons. But I started paying attention to him when browsing through all of the nominees for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award last fall. I love a ladylike dress, but I feel like I'm still a bit too young to give myself over to Oscar de la Renta. Wu offers beautiful, classic pieces that won't age me 20 years. This season there were dresses and separates in deep, vibrant colors.




I was a bit shocked by how drawn I was to the Chris Benz collection as I clicked through the images. Even with the touches of metallics and florals and animal print, I wanted to bookmark almost everything. I cycled through several times. And as with last season's Boy by Band of Outsiders collection, I spent far too long remixing the many separates in my head.





And on to Milan...


Photos via