Posts tagged ‘spring 2012’
Love At First Sight
A lot of people don’t believe in love at first sight. I am not one of these people. Though never with a human (I didn’t even look twice at the boy who wound up being my first boyfriend), I have fallen in love at first sight many times. My heart flutters in virginal excitement almost every time I see a slice of pizza, and I have fallen into deep, immediate love with more pieces of clothing than I can keep track of. However, unlike pizza and even humans, the unstoppable heartbreaking emotion that comes when I see a piece of clothing can almost never be immediately satisfied. More often than not this new love interest is walking down the runway, thus a season ahead of my acquiring schedule, or labeled at a price that would require a loan from the bank in order to obtain (see everything Chanel). But thanks to the beauty of sites like eBay and Copious, and consignment or thrift shops scattered about, finding “the one that got away” (or the one you just couldn’t afford when it was staring you in the face) is actually possible.
One of my favorite ways to kill time between meetings, appointments, or just to avoid doing the thing I’m supposed to be doing, is by dipping my nose into random consignment shops throughout NYC. Not only is such an adventure time consuming (you just can’t go into a thrift store and sift — it’s an archaeological digging process), but the gems you can find are just unbeatable — like that time I scored this Bottega Veneta bag for $25.
While in between a teeth cleaning and my own dermatological stripshow, I decided to lift my spirits (I loathe doctors appointments) with a jaunt through a consignment shop on the Upper East Side. I didn’t go in with the intention of purchasing anything — I get as much thrill from looking at clothes as I do with buying them — until my eyes bulged and my body B-lined like Frankenstein on Speed toward this Dolce & Gabbana tomato skirt.
The skirt is from the designer’s Spring 2012 collection and was originally the cost of a nice studio apartment. When I first saw it on Style.com, I twitched and drooled like I’d just been tasered (my normal “love at first sight” reaction). Joseph’s beard and Veronica’s eyebrows! This skirt wasn’t just for me and my love of vibrant prints! It spoke to my tastebuds and stomach as well! I could hear both my mouth salivating and my stomach grumbling, “Is that an heirloom!?”. But one glance at the hefty price tag not only left me with the reality of never owning such a beauty, but also considering a DIY where I would glue tomatoes onto a white trash bag and dub it couture. We do desperate things when it comes to love, don’t we?
But the stars aligned for me that day, and my beloved tomato skirt wrapped itself around my waist for $150. Some of you may consider this “meant to be”, but I like to think of it as a reward for getting an A+ on flossing from my dentist. Let this be a lesson in never neglecting your gums again, because you just never know when the love of your life will show up.
Malika sweater | Dolce & Gabbana skirt | Proenza Schouler heels | Bottega Veneta bag | Vintage sunglasses
// photos by Emily Malan
Doily Doily Do Da Da
I never considered doilies on clothing until Louis Vuitton’s Spring 2012 collection. After that it was like “Grandma, remove that doily from beneath your vase (editors note: pronounced vah-zz) and stitch that to my body!”
While the Louis Vuitton collection is about as unattainable to me as the crown jewels, my beloved Asos happened to create a skirt that’s almost an exact replica. It’s a bit rogue of me to have something so dainty in my closet, but I have not a single ounce of buyers remorse.
We’ll see how I translate this into the cooler months though. Perhaps I’ll go totally offensive and pair it with a flannel and combat boots.
WHO KNOWS.
Joe Fresh shirt | Asos Skirt | Proenza Schouler bag | Ecco heels c/o | Vintage sunglasses
// photos by Gillian Smelick
Perfect Summer White
{ Suno Dress }
Is this not the perfect white summer dress? I can already imagine pairing it with a pair of Superga sneakers, a straw fedora, and some grass stains.
One of my best friends just booked her ticket to come east for the Fourth of July and I’m thinking this may just be the dress to sop up the holiday’s inevitable BBQ stains.
What do you think?
Embracing Pastels
Holy mackerel! I’m wearing pink again. Albeit a light pink, but still a girly hue that is almost as absent in my closet as a pair of ballet flats (which happen to not exist in my closet; FYI). I can say with complete and utter honesty that the last time I wore pink as the focal part of an outfit was last summer (see here). It’s not that I don’t like the color pink — hell, my room is pink! — but I just dont identify with the color from a sartorial stand point.
I picked up this pair of pink pastel jeans at a 7 For All Mankind event earlier this week, knowing they’d be a challenge but determined to embrace this spring’s trendy ice cream color palette. It wasn’t easy venturing away from my darker pieces, but I ultimately went with an overall pale ensemble, which felt fitting for the 60° weather we’ve been having these past few days. I admit I didn’t really feel 100% like myself while wearing this outfit, but it was a welcome change and I plan to continue exploring lighter hues until they feel juuuuuust right.
{ Raurent Coat, Joe Fresh Sweater & Shirt, 7 For All Mankind Jeans c/0, Dolce Vita Boots c/o, Mulberry Bag, Jewelry by Noir, Forever21, and random boutiques }
// photos by Emily Malan
Designer Spotlight: Charlotte Olympia
I’ve decided to add another element to my blog. Meet the “Designer Spotlight” where I plan to showcase designers that put me on an emotional roller coaster with their beautiful creations. First up, Charlotte Olympia. You may know her because you stalk her designs like me, or perhaps you recognize those kitty heels frequently seen in flat form on Alexa Chung, but in the chance that you don’t know who she is or what she makes, allow me to show you a few of my recent favorites.
Along with sky scraper heels that will put you face-to-face with the Jolly Green Giant, she also designs structured clutches that are simultaneously architectural, modern, and elegant. Check out Miss Clear Lucite down yonder ↓ — ain’t she a beaut?! But if a see-through clutch has you fearing that the world will see your Hello Kitty iPhone case or tampons, fear not because it also comes with clothed inserts of snow leopard, denim, and all those other must-have fabrics.
As for the aforementioned sky scraper heels, she’s quite well known for her golden mega platforms, but I’m obsessed with her mix matched booties made of two different animal prints. While I don’t own any Charlotte Olympia – she’s one of those Wish List/Save-up-to-buy designers for me – I’ll have you know that those kitty heels have been high on my list for quite some time, and her Spring 2012 collection (see bottom photo), well, it should come as no surprise that I want leaves on my feet.
