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I tend to have a lot of fashion obsessions. So I thought I’d start a more regular series chronicling them. Hmm, perhaps I’ll need an intervention at some point! In the meantime, please indulge me as I share them with you.
First up: The Thomas Crown Affair.
I love this movie. And while it might be sacrilege to prefer the 90s remake over the iconic original, I do. Pierce Brosnan always has a place in my heart, but there are really only two stars of this movie (oh, apart from Denis Leary): leading lady Rene Russo and fashion designer Michael Kors.
At the time, this film was probably one of the best representations of how to be completely sexy and alluring while NOT being in your 20s, blonde and a size zero. Rene looks so great in this movie.
I think the Salon.com review pegged it right when they said, “It’s hard to recall any woman in the movies as spectacularly dressed as Russo is here. She wears a series of knee-length coats and matching skirts or dresses, cashmeres and leathers and suedes that define luxurious; they’re so soft and supple they move with her.”
Her wardrobe was pretty much exclusively designed by Michael Kors, and it’s elegant, luxurious, sexy and refined. Just how I’d like my Fall wardrobe to be! So, in homage, here’s a Fall wardrobe themed on the movie and Rene’s looks.
Thomas Crown Affair by Loulala featuring swing coats
Michael Kors Mohair and wool-blend sweater dress, $1,295
Bottega veneta dresses BLACK, 890 GBP
Hervé Léger Side-lacing bandage mini dress, $1,350
Maxmara knitwear CREAM, 178 GBP
Camel Panelled Swing Coat by Jaeger London, 350 GBP
Michael Kors Ribbed cashmere skirt, $995
ETRO 18703 5847 810 CAMEL WOOL N11D04, 320 GBP
Christian Louboutin Big lips shoe, 475 GBP
YVES SAINT LAURENT Boots, 995 EUR
MIU MIU 5IP068 BLACK SUEDE 3169801, 424 GBP
Michael Kors Rose gold-plated stainless steel watch, $250
Bottega veneta dresses BLACK, 890 GBP
Hervé Léger Side-lacing bandage mini dress, $1,350
Maxmara knitwear CREAM, 178 GBP
Camel Panelled Swing Coat by Jaeger London, 350 GBP
Michael Kors Ribbed cashmere skirt, $995
ETRO 18703 5847 810 CAMEL WOOL N11D04, 320 GBP
Christian Louboutin Big lips shoe, 475 GBP
YVES SAINT LAURENT Boots, 995 EUR
MIU MIU 5IP068 BLACK SUEDE 3169801, 424 GBP
Michael Kors Rose gold-plated stainless steel watch, $250
If I could channel any looks for Fall, it would be these. Effortlessly chic, a little bit more structured and very Fall:
Jigsaw Fall 2010
Jigsaw Fall 2010
Great cape! (Via Sartorialist)
I think it’s healthy to obsess over beautiful clothes a little, no? No? Here are some of the things I’m excited about for Fall, following the lead of one of my favorite bloggers, Caitlin of Sacramento Street. I concur on the J Crew thin sweaters by the way Caitlin! Some of my items will definitely remain on the wish list, as they’re waaay out of my price range (J Crew Mongolian Lamb Vest, I’m looking at you – and perhaps better in a fake version anyway), but they all serve as good inspiration for the changing season.
Fall is always my favorite fashion season. I just love the ‘Back To School’ feeling of it, plus the beautiful Fall colors. Makes me want to throw out all of my floaty, sparkly Summer clothes and commit to a clean, structured, polished aesthetic. We’ll see if I can achieve it this year! Except when I’m indulging in San Francisco’s legendary late summers though. I still plan to waft through a winery in white if the weather’s right, even post-Labor Day!
Here’s the first in my favorite picks for this season. More to come:
Michael Kors babydoll hooded camel coat
Anthropologie pleated trousers
Gap band jacket
Everyone has them. You might not admit to them. But there they are. Staring you accusingly in the face every time you open your closet and see 50 variations of the same garment winking back at you. Even as you add “just one more” to the collection. To the outside world, you have umpteen versions of the same item of clothing. But oh, you know the difference. A different-sized stripe here, a slight flare of the ankle there, enough differences to justify the purchase every time.
Yep, i’m talking about fashion obsessions. The one thing you always need more of, regardless of what sense, practicality and your finances tell you. In the spirit of sharing my secret shame. i’ve decided to out mine to the world. Here’s a peek:
1. Striped tops – maybe it’s the omnipresent image of Coco Chanel, so alluring in her Breton sailor top, but this one tops the list for me. And i STILL haven’t tracked down the perfect version. Until i do, i’ll keep adding to my ridiculous collection. And i’m not the only one. I spy that Jigsaw has one that could be a contender though… And check out style crush Alexa Chung rocking one at a festival:
2. Black dresses – a very common one this. My rationale is that they are the one thing you can always throw on and it will look good. I’m definitely someone that loves the idea of jewelry and handbags, but then in reality, ends up hitting the edit button and always ends up taking off pretty much every accessory. So for me, a good black dress with some nude or black shoes, is a real staple. I even wore one (ok, two), for my wedding. Check out this beautiful version from UK outlet, LK Bennett. I once spent a considerable amount of money on a wool black dress from their winter sale, and i can’t count the value i’ve gotten out of it in terms of cost per wear.
3. Retro style Anthropologie patterned dresses – ok, this one is quite specific! But i bet i’m not the only woman with this, ahem, problem. Anthro does a lovely line of floral, or quirkily patterned dresses, that are often 40s or 50s inspired, and very flattering to curvier figures. I’m a fan of a random pattern, like birds, or bicycles, as well as a lovely floral, so always find something there to feed my obsession:
So now I’ve outed myself completely! Feel free to laugh if you see me out and about in one of these three items. Or shoot me a warning look if you spot me at a cash register about to add to my collection!
Now I’ve shared mine – here comes the hard part. What are your fashion obsessions? Please share! (I promise i won’t tell…)
It’s a known fact that the star of American Vogue fly-on-the-wall doc, The September Issue (see my review of it here), wasn’t Anna Wintour, its fearsome editor. It was Grace Coddington, Vogue’s creative director. She is the soul and the heartbeat of the magazine.
So I was delighted by Vogue’s thoughtful article on one of its own, in the latest issue of British Vogue. Pure bliss for me, reading about inspiring style while getting over a nasty cold, in the Sonoma sunshine!
Grace is an original, and a rare person in the fashion world that hasn’t let changing times, new technology and commercial pressures, muddy her pure point of view. Grace creates the most inspiring fashion tableaux, and will to go any length to get the perfect shot. Driven purely by her artist’s eye, her pictures sell clothes more effectively than any number of Z-list celebs with a massive Twitter following could ever do.
One of my favorite ever shots of her, (sadly i can’t find it online to share with you), was of model Stella Tennant, snapped mid-dive into a swimming pool, wearing a tweed suit and rainboots, yet somehow the epitome of chic. How does Grace do it?? And how much work must have gone into getting that shot?
Here’s to an inspiring original.
Turns out our honeymoon delivered more than an endless stream of the world’s best cappuccino and most delicious gelato. It also delivered a much-needed creative shot in the arm. A dose of inspiration, in terms of color that slaps you around the face, an awe-inspiring sense of history (enough to remind you of how small your place in the world really is) and in shapes that would intrigue and delight even the most ardent minimalist fan.
So, after my favorite colors of Italy, here are some of my favorite shapes. Shout out to our beautiful hotel in Amalfi, the Luna (an old convent), for providing most of these, although the Vatican museums were kind enough to donate a few…
During our fabulous Italian honeymoon, color was one of the things that made me feel alive again. Even in San Francisco, the city by the bay, with a riot of natural beauty all year round, day to day life can sometimes prevent you from living in full color. I realized this when we got to London on the first leg of our trip, and I realized that most of my clothes were variations on black stretchy cotton. So sad! Yes, kinda stylish, but a little sad too.
So, i was delighted and inspired by the range of color on display – some natural, some not, some vivid, some muted. Here are my favorites:
So i’m now firmly entrenched in my yoga practice again. And after so many years, it feels great. Today I even suffered my way through a very hot, Sunday morning class, while it was 72 and sunny outside! Now that’s dedication! What’s more, I loved it, and practically bounced out of the studio afterward. I’m really hoping I’ve found my exercise path, and that I can stick to it.
And I’ve also written about the broader benefits that a regular yoga practice can bring. Increased mental clarity, more focus, and a greater sense of control over the things that well, you can’t control. It’s very different to the Lindy Hop adventures Rick and I went on last year, but I’ve experienced similar benefits. Dance and yoga – I always hoped I’d find my way back to both.
So, now that we’ve discussed these benefits, can we get to the good stuff? Because girls, really, when all’s said and done, yoga is all about the clothes…
I joke of course, but come on! Admit it, there’s definitely a culture of yoga style out there, and even just looking at some of it makes you feel healthier, more glowing and more zen. Or at least that’s what the advertisers will have you believe! And even though I consider myself a fairly savvy consumer, and am definitely into yoga for the holistic health benefits, I’m not immune to some gorgeous yogi style.
So I was thrilled to discover Athleta, a Gap offshoot, very similar to the ubiquitous LuLu Lemon in style and aesthetic, and a brand that seems able to balance the practical needs of various sporting activities with every girl’s need to look cute while doing them!
So far, i’ve only plumped for the black harem pants pictured below, hoping that they look a fraction as cute on me as in the picture, but there’s a whole long list of things I’m lusting after. Of course, that would be denying my yoga principles, but a girl can dream while she takes a few long breaths from the diaphragm. Right??
(Photo credit: Athleta.com)
I was downtown yesterday, shopping for my husband’s birthday gifts. (Sidenote: i still default to starting to type ‘boyfriend’ instead of ‘husband’!) After a successful haul (will share what they are, once the day is done – Feb 26!), i somehow found myself sidetracked into H&M. I still love H&M. Knowing that i’m a good 10 years older, at least, and several dress sizes larger than the majority of the clientele, still doesn’t deter me from bargain hunting when i feel so inclined.
Yesterday however, the usual Saturday scrum was even worse than usual. The reason? Super chic French designer Sonia Rykiel was debuting a new collection for the mega giant Swedish brand. On entering the store, i was thrown headlong into the melee, finding myself fighting over items with 16 year olds and 65 year olds. Of course, the size meant for normal women were the first to go , leaving a glut of XS and S on the shelves, but I still managed to find a few items to feed my nascent longing for French chic. I purchased the first two, but sadly, the last one will have to wait until i lose, ooh, about 50 pounds! All pics are courtesy of the official H&M Website:
Don’t these clothes just make you want to move to Paris, spend all your time in side-street bistros, drink wine and smoke a Gaulois? (Another sidenote: that could be one of the ways to lose all those pounds and look super skinny French chic, were it not for the very obvious fact that cigarettes can kill you – not to be recommended!) I was reminded of the way Carrie Bradshaw fell head over heels for Paris, pulling out all her special ‘French chic with a touch of whimsy clothes’, before of course getting her heart broken and finding her way back to Mr Big. And who do you think provided the clothes for those scenes? Well, Ms Rykiel of course.
So, my new fashion kick is going to be French chic all the way. Well, all the way that someone British with very un-French curves living in America can go… Think stripes, black, white and navy, with the odd touch of a bright pink or red, feminine and a little quirky, but with a few structural touches. My other inspiration, the beautiful Audrey Tatou in Before Chanel. So-so movie, amazing style! I might not pull this off all the time, but for special nights out, it’s definitely going to be my aesthetic of choice. Vive Le Chic!
Photo credit: http://cherriesandpearls.wordpress.com
Rick and I are finally moved into our new apartment and it’s slowly starting to look great. The emphasis is on slowly though! And no matter how hard we tried, we still arrived at our new place with more clutter than we knew what to do with.
But the next few weeks and months will see us start the endless process of ‘tweaking’. Now that everything is in place, we now need to make everything look great.
For inspiration, i turned to a very stylish pair of friends, Jess and Tim, who have managed to capture their diverse styles and eclectic tastes together into a cohesive whole in their London apartment.
I hope they don’t mind me sharing some of the design elements that make their space so cool, and won’t mind when Rick and I start ‘reflecting’ them in our own place! Flattery guys, flattery!
