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Yes, it’s finally on its way. One of the most buzzed-about Designers for Target collections ever: Missoni For Target, hits stores on September 13.
I’m actually more excited about the homewares than the clothes. And I think a couple of things might sneak their way into our apartment… (All photos from the Target lookbook.) What do you think?
For my English readers, I mean trousers of course…
Many years ago, I stumbled across the perfect pair of wide-leg, bright pink trousers, in the now defunct (and much-missed) Minx magazine. Paired with a fawn-colored cashmere sweater and stack heels, it was the perfect outfit. The perfect blend of classic style with a pop edge. And I’ve never been able to find such a pair. (At least, not that I could afford…) Until now!
Many thanks to Taylor Sterling over at Sterling Style, who debuted a pair of just such trouser-shaped lovelies from Zara. And yes! San Francisco being the international cosmopolitan city that it is, there are not one but two Zaras downtown. They will be mine. Oh yes…
Pink trousers from the delightful Sterling Style
Photo credit: Sterling Style
Even though our apartment is a rental, there are still some interiors projects I’d like to tackle this year. But with time and money both at a premium right now, I’ve been finding cheap and cheerful ways to brighten the place up.
There’s really nothing better than a luscious pink bloom, is there? Like most women who devour shelter and style blogs and magazines, I adore peonies. They can be hard to find in San Francisco, but Trader Joe’s, that epic grocery store full of many things you didn’t know you wanted to eat until you see them, glistening on the shelf, is now stocking them. And being TJs, they’re of course at a very reasonable price.
Aren’t they beautiful?
We all know I love to shop. L.O.V.E. But, as I strive to get both myself and my finances into fighting shape, it’s time to say goodbye to the hallowed doors of J Crew, Reiss and Jigsaw. For now.
Instead, I’m looking for ways to update my summer wardrobe on the cheap. Summer being kind of a misnomer, because I live in San Francisco. But whatev. It’s officially the season to wear white and floaty clothes.
Here are three ways I’m thinking about extending my wardrobe and making it look like it’s summer:
1) Accessories. Ok, i admit it, I did invest in J Crew for this one. And it’s something I’ve rarely worn in the past but am now re-thinking. The J Crew Panama. I’m not a huge lover of hats unless they serve some practical purpose. And given that on any given day, my skin is paler than an eskimo’s camouflage suit, it was high time I got myself a good sun hat. Boy, did J Crew deliver. I love my new Panama sooo much. It’s made its way to Hawaii and Sonoma, and adds that jaunty air we all strive for. (Yes we do, admit it.) One of the great things about it is that you can’t squish it into a suitcase, so have to either wear or carry it through the airport, which always signals to everyone else that you’re on vacation and not taking the red eye to somewhere awful for business. So yes, I will take that margarita on the rocks even though it’s only 11:00am, thank you very much…
Hats are a great accent piece. Ditto delicate gold jewelry. Which for some reason just looks right in the summer sun. I love my hat.
(Credit: J Crew)
2) Proportion. One of the things I love to do is play with shapes and lengths when it comes to putting together good outfits. Taking a creative look at how something hangs together can reinvigorate even basic pieces. And you can do it with cheap clothes too, sometimes just by buying a different size than you usually wear. Think slightly cropped tops made swingy and voluminous by buying in a larger size, paired with neat, slim pants and heels. Or a fitted bodice with one of those beautiful 50s style full skirts that makes us all channel Mad Men (the good stuff, not the crazy Betty Draper behavior). This approach works really well in the summer, as you can fool people into thinking you have a ton of new cool clothes, when in reality, you just bought a $10 white T-shirt from H&M and made it look hot. Sneaky. But Effective.
(Credit: The Sartorialist)
3) The Wedge. Come Summer, there’s only one heel I want on my feet. And that’s the wedge heel. If you’re ahem, blessed with shorter legs than the average female, but don’t want to be constantly crying out in pain due to the vertiginous spikes that people call stiletto heels, then the wedge is for you. As we all know the wedge is not a winter shoe – it begs to be worn with bare legs and floaty skirts and tapered harem pants (yes, harem pants.) And a decent pedicure. I own three pairs of wedges in highly functional summer shades: black, burnished brown leather and gold. At no other time would I wear a gold shoe (ok, I might – I do love glitz), but in the summer, just like gold jewelry, it just looks right. And I wear them all the time. They just go with everything, make your legs look great, are comfortable, and will get you endless compliments from men (and women) that never usually notice shoes. So get some.
Enjoy the summer! And don’t fall off those wedges onto the sidewalk.
After a lazy Sunday spent doing a few chores, re-watching the awesome film “Amadeus” (inspired by spending Friday night watching the Smuin Ballet perform to Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor) , and catching up with a friend over too-good Strawberry and Rhubarb pie, I spent a delicious half an hour browsing my back collection of Lucky Magazine. I know that women everywhere who have a yen for shopping, have a very close relationship with this magazine! It’s shopping porn, and we all know it. I just can’t bear to throw any of the old issues away.
I was rewarded for my non-recycling efforts by a mesmerizing image of my ideal look! Rachelle Hruska is a 28 year old girl about town, with a generally fabulous Hamptons/New York lifestyle. In her Spring look (this was March 2011), she was all ethereal ballerina, with a hint of New york grit and a touch of California blonde.
After my Friday spent watching ballet dancers at the top of their game, this was an inspired piece of timing as I plan my “weekend in Sonoma” dream looks. See what you think!
Ballerina Spring Chic by Loulala featuring a sleeveless dress
I’ve put myself on a shopping diet. No more new clothes until I can lose some pounds and save some dollars. The saving $$ I can do. The losing pounds? A little more challenging, but I’m making some encouraging progress. As long as I stay away from surely, one of the greatest pleasures of modern life, the Pepperidge Farm Montauk cookie, microwaved for 25 seconds (yes, I like to be exacting in such things), until the cookie crust turns to sugared crunch and the chocolate chips just start to melt. Oh, sorry, got lost there for a moment. This was a post about fashion, right? Right. No more chocolate chips.
So, as I merrily file my Gap daily discount deals in the trash, and vow not to enter the hallowed doors of Anthropologie anytime soon, I’m resigned to merely daydreaming about my ideal Spring look.
In my dream world, I’m feeling a spare 70s aesthetic, almost preppy, with wide-legged trousers and pulled-together, pared-down separates. A little like this:
Or this:
Photo via Sterling Style
Or how about a cutting-edge Trench?
Photo via The Sartorialist
Or finally, the pretty much perfect spring go-to outfit for running around town and looking awwwesommmeee:
Photo via Sterling Style
I think we’re all clear about my complete and utter obsession with stripes, yes? There’s just something so utterly French and sooo chic about them. And that’s a style I always aspire to. Even when I’m schlubbing around in my Old Navy sweatpants and hoodie.
So it’s a mere hop and a skip from just a little ooh la la, to becoming fixated on a certain French lady’s style. She may not rock the stripes a lot, but French actress Clemence Poesy has been edging her way into the style pages a lot recently. And with good reason. She’s all great hair, impeccably flared jeans, interesting proportions, sweet skirts and feminine heels. The essence of chic, but in a very youthful, undone way. Check out her recent shoot with Marie Claire for proof:
Copyright: Marie Claire.
Love.
I definitely moved closer to the goal of having a great capsule wardrobe last year. Is it perfect? No. I still pull out clothes every morning that have me shaking my head and saying, “Perhaps when I’ve lost 10 pounds”, “Oh, now I remember why I don’t wear this” and “Why do I STILL not own any perfect layering jersey in different colors?”
But, I did manage to prune my closet of a lot of the really bad stuff and give it to charity. And I also managed to buy a few new essentials, like a fantastic white “boyfriend” shirt from Banana Republic (goes with everything, can be dressed up for work, but you can also wear it as a beach cover-up), a fabulous pair of navy peg-leg trousers from Anthropologie (again, can be smart enough for work, but also look glam for a night out with killer heels) and a couple of really cute dresses. And another couple of navy striped tops. But of course!
This year, I’m determined to get even closer to my goal. It’s time for another big clear-out, and I’m going to use this guide from UK newspaper, The Times, to help me. Their take on “detoxing your wardrobe” is pretty extreme. But it all makes sense. Why have 100 things taking up space in your closet that you never wear, when the right combination of 20 perfect pieces could give you hundreds of outfit options?
When I’m done with the next round of closet clearance, well, it might just be time to shop again! Thanks to the wondrous Polyvore (an amazing tool for online styling fiends), I’ve already created my dream wardrobe for 2011.
What’s in it? Some classic neutrals, a hint at the wide-leg trouser (much needed after all the skinny hype), nautical accents and stripes, killer heels, a few pops of color, the odd quirky print and lots of sparkle!
New Year, New Inspiration by Loulala featuring black dresses
A few of my friends and I were fortunate enough to catch one of the last nights of the De Young’s fabulous exhibition, Post-Impressionist Masterpieces. This was phase two of the De Young’s Impressionist focus, and really, impressed.
This exhibition shone a spotlight on Van Gogh, Cezanne, Gauguin and Degas, among others. I loved the paintings by Degas, as they are famous for depicting a dancer’s life, and are just what I would like to have hang on my wall, if I was lucky enough to have my own dressing room! And Rick and I were both stunned by a series of paintings and sketches that highlighted pointillism, a technique we’d never seen before.
I often find that the lesser-known paintings, or often just the small sketches and vignettes, are my favorite. And this was true again at this exhibition. But I have to say I was completely floored by the true star of the show, no pun intended, Van Gogh’s “Starry Night Over The Rhone.” It gives you chills to see such a famous and beautiful painting up close.
The colors? Stunning. The composition? Flawless. I definitely walked away feeling inspired, and taking a look around me on the web, looks like plenty of other people as well.
Here’s the painting itself:
(Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), Starry Night over the Rhone. 1888. © RMN (Musée d’Orsay)/Hervé Lewandowski)
And look at this bottle of San Pellegrino. New design, and definitely channelling…
What about for a wedding table?
From Junebug Weddings
Or a fashion fix?
From College Fashion
There are a few films that I can watch again and again. Some for that feel good factor (paging Love, Actually). Some for amazing dialogue (When Harry Met Sally is my fave for relationship zingers). And some for their amazing aesthetics.
The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of those films. It has also a great storyline and superb acting. But spanning some of the most beautiful places in late 50s Italy -The Riveria, Rome, Venice – it also has some fabulous styling. I want to step into Gywneth Paltrow’s character Marge’s life, her wardrobe and her effortlessly chic villa, and write a novel of my own! And of course, that fabulous blonde hair.
Inspired by her breezy, preppy, feminine, vintage style, I’ve put together my own fashion take on the film and on her character, using my new fashion styling obsession, Polyvore. A nautical stripe that channels Coco Chanel, full floral skirts and bright summer day dresses, classic accessories, and of course, a pop of color on the feet. This is Marge in her happier days, soaking up the sun and the good life by the sea. I’m also intrigued by her evolving style as the story unfolds, and the seasons roll on. She becomes at once more pulled together and stylish, but also more brittle and closed off, as the realities of what happened to the love of her life become clear. Perhaps that’s another post…
(Image copyright: Miramax)
