At the Alliance Francaise, that is.
OK. This is the second clearly fashion-conscious lady I’ve seen stalking around the borough carrying an IKEA tote. Are we looking at a [kinda funny] trend here?
Last week, my trusty Hayden Harnett Gaza bag simply fell off my shoulder–plop! Yes, after years of abuse, the leather strap finally gave way. Instead of having it repaired, I’m dreaming about what new entity might replace it. I have two visions:
* Tie-dyed leather
The idea dawned on me when I saw this one in Daily Candy last week (seriously! Daily Candy actually provided me with some useful information! 
). Luxe tie-dye bags are by no means rare– Miu Miu makes one, and so do Foley + Corinna:
Though not strictly tie-dye, I quite like this Acid Rain bag by Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, too. It’s suede:
(You can purchase either of these bags, or simply borrow their photos as I do, from the one and only shopbop)
* A massive tassel
I’m not going as far as fringe, but I love the oversized tassel I’ve seen on a few bags here and there. Bound to be shoulder-sag weighty? Sure, but hey, I’m blue-skying it here.
(This one, by Givenchy, available at Barneys)
p.s. If you know what you want but don’t know who makes it, ShopStyle is an excellent resource.
Even across a train car…
POP!
Fellas, if you need a new pair of kicks:
This piece of deliciousness by Valentino is what I call a bag:
The young New Year– what a time of happy industry! Holiday returns & exchanges, spontaneous acts of cleanliness, temporary relief from old clutter before the new accrues…
I’m a really big fan of getting the old in good order– of making all my clothes, shoes & bags, however old, seem new. No, it’s not sexy, but here’s an inventory of what’s in my tool belt:
*Leather conditioner
I’ve been known to do crazy stuff like email the people at Loeffler Randall and ask what polish would be an exact match for my caramel-colored Matilde boots. They told me that they use Lexol leather conditioner on everything. It’s colorless, so there’s no issue with matching, and it definitely polishes and protects.
* Saddle Soap
My brilliant orange Mayle crossbody looks downright dirty after it’s been rubbing against my dark jeans all day. But a once-over with saddle soap and a moist paper towel and it’s back to bright.
* Soak
About a year ago, someone handed me a small pink promotional packet that I thought was gum, but was, in fact, a trial size delicate wash (or, as Soak puts it, “modern care for fine fibers”). Frustrated with having to constantly dry clean my ever-growing collection of silk tops & dresses (some of which– brace yourself– spot with water), I took a chance. And, ta-da! It’s been my go-to for silk and delicates ever since (I’d do wool, too, but I get worried about misshaping sweaters). I have the Flora scent and it smells just lovely.
* A lint roller
Have you ever said, “Wow-I just love the pants under all that fuzz and hair!”? I certainly haven’t. I try not to buy anything that’s at all linty– I mean, if it looks sub-par in the store, how’s it going to look any better once you’ve been wearing it to death? That said, certain things, especially dark colors, just need a little de-linting now and then. I have a travel-sized roller that’s great for trips and, for home, a regular-sized one from IKEA. It’s horrible– a real pain to remove the used sheet to get to a fresh one underneath– but the replacement rolls are so ridiculously cheap that I happily put up with it.
Don’t get me started on wrinkles. Can anyone recommend a good starch?
…I would go pick up Ash’s Muse Over the Knee boots. I spied them yesterday at Loopy Mango in DUMBO. With heels measuring just 3″ they might even be comfortable, and can’t you see them as part of a Pirate costume next Halloween?:
Pic from, and boots available on, Endless.com
Shiver me timbers! I saw this adorable specimen on the Brooklyn-bound F train last week. Her boots might even be the Ash ones:
Indeed, I love them. But as the costume reference might imply, these boots strike me as fashion (current, trendy), not style (enduring, timelessly chic). So, worthy of the investment? For me, I don’t think so. But maybe thinking about it is my whole problem!
Oh my, dear fashion friends. It’s been a while and a long road getting back here.
While I was in London, the threadmettle server abruptly shut down– for good! We’ve recovered a fair amount of content, but I’m distressed to report that we lost your most recent comments. I can’t wait for you to weigh in with your typical salty remarks and fill the void!
But now we’re back up and running. And I’m just running back from the cobbler, where I had some extra holes punched into my belts so they can be hip-slung or waist-cinched. ‘Cause that’s what my eye is in on lately– belts at all levels.
Check out these two outfits from French designer IRO:
(Thank you, shopbop.)
I’m going to Marrakech next week for a conference. Think I’ll be able to track down any leather there?
dream on, dreamer
I have a visceral reaction to a good nail color. Wherever I am, whatever’s going on, I just want to grab the hand and say, “Ooooh pretty.”
Unfortunately, I also have an instinctive response to manicures: I don’t like them. I feel like a fidgety child in the chair and ultimately bemoan the expense, or the workmanship, or both.
This weekend, though, I got lucky on both counts:
Friday: seize friend’s hand, wild for her polish. Is it pink? Is it purple? It’s neither. It’s both.
Sunday: at said friend’s house, am shocked to learn that she did her own nails in the color, Dream On by Sinful Colors. Am even more shocked when she paints my nails.
Seth says they look like candy. I think they look like gems. Whatever they look like, I can’t stop nail-gazing.
And apparently, I’m not the only one: check out the post devoted to this spectacular shade on Concrete and Nail Polish.