Posts tagged ‘fur’
DIY: Stuffed Fur Stole
Having worked in the fashion industry for several years now, prices rarely surprise me. Clothes are expensive these days, but accessories take the cake for several months worth of rent. I still roll my eyes at a pair of shoes well over 1K and find the price of a Birkin bag to be ridiculous, but I normally know what to expect upon walking into a store like Barney’s. However, I was slapped in the face by a price tag a few days ago and I’m not sure I’ll ever recover.
I saw the above photo of the unstuffed animal stole on style.com during Paris Fashion Week and began a feverish online hunt to track one down. Countless Etsy sites offered up similar faux stoles, but I wanted that one. I decided to put the fuzzy friend on the back burner, certain that its online presence would turn up eventually. Well turn up it did but at a price that not even I, lover of all things stuffed animal, could justify.
The stoles are by Vika Gazinskaya and can currently be purchased on Moda Operandi for the hefty sum of $2,000. That’s right, the lemur stuffed animal — which they call a raccoon — that looks so much like the fuzzy friends you snuggled with on a nightly basis as a kid costs as much as a nice studio apartment in NYC.
So what does one do when they can’t afford the real deal? They DIY. Behold three options below that cost next to nothing.
First, we have our stuffed animal hat. Though I have yet to figure out how to secure such an accoutrement on my head, I’m positive that this look will have me street style snapped in no time. Tommy Ton, meet me in 10?
Then we have the Teddy Bear stole; a personal favorite of mine. Notice how my well-worn teddy balances gracefully on my shoulder? She looks like she’s having a much better time than that $2K plush racoon/lemur. Plus she’s versatile and can double as a snuggle buddy and/or pillow.
And last, but certainly not least, we have the real animal. Finn’s longer body wrapped perfectly around my shoulders and his legs even dangled like the fox scarf pictured above. If you don’t have your own dog or cat at home, I fully support you borrowing one off the street that goes well with your outfit.
Consider the Hybrid
Several months ago I caved and bought my first pair of leather pants. I admit they were a bit snug, but I wanted them to have that extra skinny fit. With a couple of wears and a few too many episodes of sweating on the subway, I was not only in love but convinced that all the hoo-ha about leather pants being the number 1 item women most regret buying was a misconstrued statistic. These edgy pants were comfortable, glorious and cupped my butt beautifully!
But then the worst thing to happen to a woman in skinny pants happened. As I was getting out of an SUV taxi in the most unladylike fashion — legs spread like I was doing a grand plié — I heard a ripping noise followed by a waft of cool air around my nether regions. Looking down, my $Did-You-Really-Just-Spend-That-Much-On-Leather-Pants? were split right down the middle. Thankfully this was a taxi ride home to my apartment so I didn’t have to deal with crotch-ripped pants in public, but I was devastated and mortified nonetheless. Not only did I feel like a hippopotamus but my beloved leather pants were done-zo. Finito. Tombstone ready. This is what all those women were complaining about! Their pants ripped! I’m convinced.
Fast forward a few months later and I came upon a pair of pants that were half leather/half leggings. While skeptic given my previous leather pants debacle, I decided to give these hybrids a go. With a wiggle here and a lunge there, I was in my new skinny fit leather leggings and beyond pleased with their flattering cut and pajama-like comfort. But the ultimate test had to be done because God forbid I rip another pair without the luxury of being so close to home like the last time. So, I turned my apartment into a mini ballet studio trying out grand pliés, grand battements, and just about any other “grand” movement I could think of.
After a good sweat and probably one of the better shows I have ever given my neighbors, I am pleased to announce that not so much as a seam popped. I have since worn these almost everyday and am also pleased to announce that they have barely stretched out. So, if you’re one of the women who curses the moment she bought leather pants or find yourself debating whether or not to take the plunge, I urge you to consider the hybrid. And much like a 1980s mullet or that time in 8th grade when you thought that if you only shaved the front of your legs no one would notice the hairy situation going on in the back, these pants are bound to make you look awesome from any angle.
Rag & Bone jacket | Sahar Dada fur stole c/o | Zara shirt | Paige leather leggings c/o | Khirma Eliazov bag (borrowed) | Pamela Love x Nine West boots | Celine sunglasses | Saks beanie
// photos by Emily Malan
Worth the Wait
With each season comes a trendy silhouette; the satchel bag, the ankle boot, the wide leg pajama pants, etc. And under this silhouette “umbrella” reside specific must-have items: the Mulberry ‘Alexa’ bag, the Alexander Wang bootie, the Marc Jacobs pant.
Sometimes I stand beneath this umbrella, decorating myself in as many trendy silhouettes as I (a.k.a. my bank account) can manage. Other times, I stick my nose in the air and let the rain fall in, unmoved by the current fads. And then there are those times that I am so late to the trend that I may as well have been living in a mole hole for the past few years unaware of any popular silhouettes settling beneath a season’s umbrella. Such is the case with my recent acquisition of this green parka jacket.
The selling point for me after all these years was the furry hood. I love how giant it is, and that it sits upright and perky around my shoulders (wow, it really sounds like I’m talking about an erection here, but let’s move beyond my word choice).
Growing up, I loved watching old movies with women dressed in luscious fur coats that practically engulfed them with their volume and buoyancy — kind of like a squirrel tail. So, when I saw how this fur hood encompassed its model, I knew my search for the human eating furry parka coat had come to an end.
This trend may have been around for awhile, but I’m glad I waited until I found the exact parka I was looking for.
Minusey coat | Zara shirt | Madewell jeans | Acne boots | Proenza Schouler bag | Céline sunglasses | House of Harlow bracelet
//photos by Emily Malan
Win Win Accessories (on eBay!)
I’ve always said that with the right accessories any outfit can look chic and refined, especially in the fall and winter months.
While bags and shoes are the bread to my butter, I also have an affinity for scarves, hats, gloves, etc. I don’t enjoy the cold all that much, but I do love a good pair of mittens or mukluks.
I find a sufficient amount of my accessories by shopping/bidding on eBay, and consider myself to be quite the eBay scavenger — I’ve scored everything from a Marni clutch to a Hermes bracelet on the site, and at discounted prices no less!
Using keywords like “authentic” or “NWT” (stands for “New With Tags”) is helpful when searching for designer pieces on eBay, but I also find that looking a seller’s history is crucial to knowing that what you’re bidding on is coming from a good and honest place.
Another tip for eBay hunting is to not bid until the very last couple of minutes. The prices go up pretty quickly (especially with accessories) once you start bidding, so the longer you wait the better. I add things to my “Watch List” on almost a daily basis, and currently have my eye on the 8 pieces below.
I have yet to go into a bidding war on any of these, but mark my words, I know how to watch and win. It’s all about knowing your limits.
2. ISABEL MARANT WEDGE SNEAKERS
3. CHANEL GINGHAM WHITE RESIN CUFF
5. MIU MIU SPARKLY CAT EYE SUNGLASSES
8. NORDSTROM RABBIT FUR LONG SCARF
DISCLAIMER: This post is part of eBay Finders, a new partnership that present collections of items curated by a carefully selected group of style setters. Find more information at eBay Fashion #eBayFinders
Walking Pillow
I bought this vest at one of my favorite thrift stores in the East Village back in March. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to wear it for awhile since spring and summer were quickly approaching, I stored it in the back of my closet for far.too.long, impatiently awaiting the day it became just cold enough to wear it.
Hurricane Sandy brought winter to New York and since most of my winter clothes are stored at my mom’s, I’ve been making do with whatever cozy goodies I have in my closet. Since this furry vest is a perfect combination of blanket meets mongolian fur pillow that I recently purchased for my living room makeover, it was a no brainer to wear this out and about this past weekend while running errands.
I acknowledge that I look a bit like a lamb/chicken/pillow hybrid and a small child actually came up to pet me; but the vest served its purpose in keeping me nice and toasty, and I personally believe it’s quite chic(k). See what I did there?
Joie vest | SWORD jacket | Rag & Bone jeans | Nine West boots c/o | vintage clutch | Saks 5th Ave beanie | Karen Walker sunnies
