Obssession setting in

So that Polyvore website...errr I might have gone a little overboard. I calculated post-outfit construction frenzy that I spent four hours organizing, editing, matching, and meticulously adding items to my favorites as if it was going to affect my actual life. FOUR HOURS. This is what happens when the bf is away and unable to moderate the insanity levels in our bedroom. I am definitely not going to disclose to either friends or family what I did Thursday night. I'm 99% sure it just wouldn't come across right. Things never do. Sigh.

Here are a couple um fruits of my labor.

I couldn't decide which bag I preferred (never mind the approximate $2,000 that separates them, this is pretend-land!), then I decided that the girl who wears this outfit is scatterbrained and needs different bags for different illogical purposes. Ie., me.

Dress, Kate for Topshop. Bags, Balenciaga and AA. Tights and gold necklace, F21. Mushroom necklace, Topshop. Heels, Burberry.


This is very socialite/model, and not the other way around. Perhaps budding artist too, with such a spacious canvas bag for smushing supplies in. Thus the de-girlifying blazer. Okay I don't know what I'm talking about either.

Blazer, Karl Lagerfeld. Dress, Kate for Topshop. Shoes and bag, Miu Miu. Hat, Topshop. Necklace, Alex+Chloe.

Warm hats are key. As are shiny shiny Anna Corinna products. I have this bag in white. I love it very dearly, but I also have a healthy fear of it because I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't succeed at cleaning it if anything happened.

Top, shorts, necklace, Topshop. Bag, Anna Corinna. Hat, Eddie Bauer. Hoody, AA. Oxfords, Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Top: Stella McCartney
Skirt: Topshop
Tights: F21
Bag: Topshop
Cuff: Chanel
Boots: Chloe

Hmm my first go at making an outfit on Polyvore fun, though a little frustrating trying to nail down the exact items you want. I love how next to "bags", "dresses", etc., they have an entire section dedicated to Chanel.

I made the outfit confusingly casual/not, could easily transition from cold (ie. 62 degrees) California day to random night out. Would probably make the Topshop bag a little more putty/grayish than it's current slight pinkish nude.

Mood Board-ish

All photos from the beloved Fashionspot, French Vogue scans by the amazing Diorette.

Wishlist

So, though my boyfriend has announced that he has finished shopping for both my Christmas and birthday presents (yes, my parents were misguided enough to have me four days before Christmas - most of the time I try not to think that being born on the shortest day of the year isn't some kind of dismal omen) and I'll probably just end up getting the green stuff from my family, I still feel the need to compile my desired items neatly. Perhaps it's the festive December spirit approaching, or just the fact that I always have a wishlist of some sort swimming about in my head. Plus, lists are just fun and satisfying.

I should make note here that part of the aforementioned bf-purchased booty is nesting maddeningly in the corner of our bedroom, with a sender's address clearly denoted "Balenciaga". He has warned me that I mustn't get excited because it's "small" it "only comes in black and white" (?????), and it isn't my main present, or something. Sigh/what the heck is it?

Nevertheless, here are my lovvves.

M by MJ Lace-up Platform Ankle Boot: Clearly, the most perfect ankle boot ever created. Ridiculously high, semi-fierce, and will make any boring outfit not. Luckily, Shopbop is out of my size so I'm not soo tempted...maybe.




Minnetonka Ankle Boots: Hmm, there was a time (albeit about forever ago) that I questioned the flatterability of ankle boots, and now they are apparently all I want. So I have the tall version, and the non-lace up midcalfs, and I still want these. In brown. That is not normal.




Forever21 Red Dressish Coat: I love Forever21. This is adorable, and I recently realized I have a horrific red coat dearth. Must go hunt it down locally since apparently only Medium is left.



Lux After Sunset Dress: Ooh I love slightly tatty things. And also how this looks like the cooler version of that one Kate Moss for Topshop dress. I would probably chop it into a minidress to my boyfriend's horror though. I never end up wearing knee length things. Ooh would be so cute with the moccasin boots and thick tights!



Magenta Balenciaga: Love my Stam, but still kind of sad that I sold my magenta First, even though I know it was too small for me...pic from the purse forum.



Topshop Leather Oversize Clutch: I must train myself be able to take a clutch out at night without never seeing it again. This one is fun and looks like art, kind of.



Marc Jacobs Bow Dress: Quickly entering hyper-delusional territory. This is the ullllltimate party dress. Love.



Vintage Chanel Bag: Perfect dressed up but even better with the muckier ensembles. The only obvious logo I seem to be okay with...



Rodarte Heels: Just kidding....kind of. Pic from style.com.



Alex and Chloe Necklace: Sharp necklaces are best. Probably the one on the right, though, since it looks less like a centipede.

Style Profile: Alexa Chung

Mmmmm..encapsulating all there is to love about the British (WAG-exclusive, of course) mode of dressing, Alexa Chung, presenter of some TV show I know nothing of, never fails to please with her tendency to never do her hair and artfully scruff up a gorgeous dress with a boyish little blazer or some slightly screwy shoes. With a style reminiscent of Lou Doillon or my belovedly weird Laura Bailey, she comes equipped with a veritable arsenal of vintagey coats, even managing to make a putrid colored tenty cape look completely necessary to complete one's wardrobe.

To get her look, pair simple, pieces like a striped tee or men's style penny loafers with skimpier gear and look for items that quietly scream "private school" such as ascot ties and pleasingly shiny gold buttons on navy. Add some fun knee high or thigh high socks, a floppily cozy sweater, and a largish almost It-bag, and you'll be passing for a wandering British ex-pat in no time.

Pictures courtesy of thefashionspot.com

Model Style Steal: Erin Wasson

Erin Wasson. I love Erin Wasson. Maybelline contractee, stylist to Alexander Wang, an obvious devotee to the school of "I try just hard enough". And is it just me, or is the sound of her name even weirdly soothing? K just me. She deftly pairs simple pieces with edgy, punk-inspired accessories (see: latex-y miniskirt, Balenciaga giant hardware envelope clutch, impressively fierce ankle boots), producing a look that is guaranteed to earn her the Coolest Girl Present award at any swanky function she might be attending. She has a tendency to not offset her signature slouchy Ts with meddlesome necklaces and instead focus attention on an oversized, gleamy clutch. Unfortunately, my infantile tendency to leave my belongings in mysterious places when inebriated compels me to exclusively wear bags with straps, prefereably cross-body, but for others this is definitely a good look.

In the first three pictures, we see our beloved Texan in a selection of The Row-esque T-shirts with some form of skimpy bottom that highlights her lissome legs, most notably a pair of what I think can only be called "Britney shorts". She plays off the trashiness (miraculously) with a slightly oversized buttondown and some innocent but seriously heeled round toe pumps. The third look from the left is potentially more adaptable to the average human, with a dark boyfriendy shirt and one of my favorite AA lame vendibles, the high waisted miniskirt, and perhaps some buckle-heavy ankle boots in place of the round toeds. To the right we see Wass-y (...) in some similarly pared down yet overtly sexual ensembles that she again keeps from going overboard by going without necklace or earring and instead focusing on some amusingly behemothic rings.

American Apparel Hall of Fame

So, we all love the tri blend tee. It has been blogged about, reviewed to death, and photographed worn in conjuction with all of the scene-y garb you could ever think of. It is genius. Proceeding, I shall instead highlight my personal favorite items from the bastion of all that is jersey.

Hmm I am disappointed that these seem to have been vanquished from the online store, but I must plod on. Bull denim short shorts! Love the high-cut legs, the neither high nor low-waisted rise (great to tuck shirts into..or not!), and the straightforward midgrade denim. If they are really discontinuing these, I must immediately sneak in and buy the red pair that my boyfriend deemed "weirdly bright" and "horrible". Hardly an insightful analysis, though 99.2% of the population would most likely agree with The Descriptive One.


Okay these shouldn't really still be exciting since every fashiony (Lucky Magazine's word, not mine) humanoid owns these, but their shininess continues to awe me. This photo is a little humdrum and woefully deplete of accessorization - I would probably add in a chunky black or gray tunic sweater and my almond MJ Stam for good measure. And one of those trapper hats I keep on meaning to buy at Marshalls. Also, they probably aren't actually called that.


Summer is long over and living by the beach has lost at least half of it's allure. No longer do I wake up to get dressed in a bikini and intermittently romp and loaf. But this bikini top was quite the obsession and pretty much my beach uniform paired with the magenta palm print Proenza for Target bottoms, oversized aviators, and my pretty white beach cruiser. Sigh.


Refocusing on season-relevant gear, I love love love these socks. The only acquisition in my entirely unreasonably large socks/tights collection that keeps me warm! Quite a feat, I am thinking. They are weirdly long and can look like full on tights with a minidress, but also cute slouched down with some hefty boots. And, it is fun to spontaneously readjust the length in public and confuse my boyfriend's easily confused friends. "Yes, they extend!" Anyways, I'm pretty sure I need them in asphalt and taupe too.

So so hot. Simultaneously body hugging and flattering, this dress is the perfect solution to wanting to achieve the high-waisted look without incessantly re-tucking. Perfect with ankle boots or shiny shiny pumps. And for getting dressed to go out when the bf is hurrying you so much you can't even do your eye makeup right. Argh.

Sweatshirt hoodie dress! Who would have thought such nonsense would fill such a wardrobe void. Perfect comfy, rainy day outfit with tights and boots. Mine is navy, and amazing.

Melanie Huynh

Melanie Huynh, assistant stylist at French Vogue, ie. the girl with the perfect everything. Unlike her overseer Carine Roitfeld, who dabbles in extreme proportions and looks with aplomb, Melanie demonstrates a sort of restrained elegance and French-girl aptitude for looking completely comfortable and un-calculated (hate her). She frequently (always?) showcases her lithe legs (most likely never made to exercise) but keeps the top half of her ensembles more covered-up, to abide by one of the fashion rules I actually agree with. Her look is surprisingly attainable, since it is more about accenting neutral tones in fun shapes with standout accessories. Though it seems she shuns the oversize It-bag trend, spotted here even carrying a blandly lowbrow paper shopping bag filled with a bulky something-or-other, she occasionally favors the oversized envelope clutch for stowing her no-makeup makeup and commandments from Carine. She always manages to inject her outfits with a shot of edge, in the form of anything from beyond-studded sandals to an almost-patent skirt to an unexpected green plaid button-down.

I recommend toying with a miniskirt daring in length but plain in color and style, a slouchily chic long-sleeved top, some pseudo-dominatrix ankle boots or sandals with tights and a neat, structured jacket. Now to work on moving to Paris and becoming the next French vogue minion...

all images from thesartorialist and facehunter...i love you scott schumann!

Erin Fetherston for Target

For some relatively inexplicable reason, the newest Go Collection at Target by Erin Fetherston arrived at my nearest location approximately 2 weeks early, realized only when I rushed by to get some much needed cardboard boxes only to do a double take and then slowly examine the selection to see if I absolutely needed anything Fetherstonian. Though the most recent collaborations have left me jaded and generally over the entire fervor they generate, I am still curious and hopeful when it comes to potentially adorable cheapie designer items. Fetherston applies her cutesy/ethereal almost-creepily-little-girlish aesthetic to this collection with zeal, and I was disappointed in the amount of cheap middle-school-reminiscent velvet and oversized, completely not-subtle usage of hearts, and the pants and blazers struck me as hidebound at best. However, some items definitely had potential, mostly the minidresses and one black coat in particular, and since I was feeling a little Susie Bubblish today, I took some photos of the pieces I liked enough to try on. I didn't end up actually purchasing anything, since I am not 15 years old and therefore not the apparent target audience, but if I was suddenly forced by some incontrovertible power to at least purchase two things (why would this happen?), they would probably be the black/cream babydoll pleated dress and the weird silver pinafore device. I kind of loved the black coat but argh! Those huge velveteen hearts! Sigh. I will desperately hope for a skirt to show up when they restock at least somewhat reminiscent of this gray high waisted number from her spring 2007 collction....

Who What Wear Daily Feature

Here's my WWWD Myspace Muse feature that was up on their Myspace page (should I say Myspace again?) in October. Sadly they didn't run it on their actual page...not yet anyway. Still all very fun though!

Article:

1) Favorite designers (daily, going out, events)?

I LOVED what Paulo Melim Andersson did for Chloe this fall - sheer orange dropwaist minidress, black zippered dress, high waisted mirrored miniskirt, ink-splotch abstract dress, slitted ankle boots...so on point (realized only after I properly lamented the end of Chloe's ethereal/girl about London dresses and '70s inspired accessories. Sigh.) Also loved Burberry Prorsum's silhouette with the belted coats, opaque tights, and elbow-length leather gloves. Miuccia for consistently glorious accessories, Olivier for Nina Ricci because if I was a fairy princess with access to modern design I would dress solely in items from his most recent collection.

2)Favorite up-and-coming designers?

I have been waiting patiently for Uli from Project Runway to come out with a line of non-cheesy beach-appropriate garb - where is she!!

3)Favorite stores (clothes, shoes, cosmetics, accessories, vintage, home, gifts, ONLINE preferably)?

Shopbop for wistfully adding items to my shopping cart that will never actually be purchased ooh and browsing their highly inspiring lookbook, FCUK (have I been unjustly ignoring them for the past ten years or did they just step up their game about 68,000 notches?) for cheeky detailed almost-too-short dresses, Aloha Rag ( aloharag.com) for obscure jewelry, being able to grope so much Balenciaga at the same time, and their adorable Japanese staff who tolerate said groping, Topshop when the desire overcomes my resistance to $20 shipping, freepeople.com for insanely pretty pixie-ish dresses, American Apparel for basics, the occasional semi-questionable lame purchase, and the best actually-warm thigh highs I have ever owned, eBay for unique vintage jewelry and vintage boots and the occasional board game (and my beloved vintage ebay store - Treasure Chest Vintage!!), St. Tropez Leisure ( sttropezleisure.com) for lingerie that kills, APC for smugly thinking "I'm wearing APC".


4) Who are your personal style icons?

Melanie Huynh at French Vogue - fellow half-Asian girl that gets to absorb Carine all day? Yes I'm jealous. Natasha Poly - complete mastery of the tough/pretty thing that Lucky magazine is always going on about and her seemingly vast collection of Chanel bags. Ashley Olsen because she doesn't annoy me when she wears leggings. Also, Clemence Poesy, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kate Hudson, Melanie Laurent, Lily Donaldson, and Valentine Fillol-Cordier, all for knowing how to wear clothes that suit them.


5) Favorite new trends?

The shrunken leather jacket, high waist but not for jeans, riding boots, long sleeved minidresses, oversized clutches, feathers, nude patent heels, LWDs, stained lips, black sequins, plaid, lack of color in outfits (black, gray, cream, white palette), t-strap or ankle strap flats (so sick of plain ballets, sorry), metallics, big annoying chains on bags, non-matching bikinis, leather bags with wide canvas cross-body straps, the new Prada stockings, mirrored shades, textured shift minidresses, pyramid studs.

Still loving: electric blue, beach hair, sweater dresses, gladiator sandals, playsuits, Chloe's platform Oxfords from last winter, Maryjanes, tent dresses, slouchy berets.

6) Trend you're over?

Always looking like you might be going to the gym at any given moment, denim skirts with leggings (duh), Wayfarers, fake bags, ahhh and those WEIRD Vera Bradley bags that I will never understand.

7) What is the best purchase you've ever made and why?

Well it was a gift but my black Balenciaga city is by far my favorite - suits my wardrobe perfectly and just gets better with time. And my vintage woven leather Bally shoulder bag with gold chain straps that I scored for $3 at a thrift store in San Francisco.


8) Beauty tips? (favorite products, how you keep your skin looking great, the best colorist/facialist/manicurist in town)

Tips I've gotten from other girls that actually make a difference - use a Sonia Kashuk eyelash comb to realize how pathetic (and tame) all the plastic ones you've used are, ELF's eyelash curler is perfect and um 99 cents, white shimmery color at the inner corners of the eyes to instantly look made up and alert, that aspirin honey mask really works, Almay makes the best eye makeup remover, Maybelline waterproof Volum' Express mascara won't kill the curl, Milani's blushes (especially Luminous and Glimmer Stripes in Honey) are really finely milled and induce "the glow", if I use Tigi's After Party or Paul Mitchell's Skinny Serum it doesn't matter how awful my conditioner is, Urban Decay liquid eyeliner won't budge after a full night of partying, and the only red lip color I'll go near is L'oreal's Colour Juice Stick in Cherry Freeze.

9) Right now, every girl needs a _____ ? (gold metallic clutch, pair of black platforms, deep red lipstick etc.)

pair of Tom Ford sunglasses.

10) If you could raid anyone's closet, who would it be and why? (ideally not obvious icons like Sienna Miller, Kate Moss)

Melanie Huynh's, so I could dive Ebenezer-style through a mountain of holy grail ankle boots, perfectly cut military coats in navy and black, cozy slouchy sweater dresses, Chloe wooden platforms, Miu Miu pumps, and sparkly Paris-worthy party dresses...that Givenchy Nightingale bag looks handy too. And in my mind she is a beneficiary of Carine's cast-offs and shops in the French Vogue sample closet.

11) Favorite places to go out?

My secrets :)

12) Music that's on your iPod right now? (Top 5 bands/songs you're obsessed with and why)

I'm kind of bored by a lot of the music out right now. Which probably means I'm boring. But a lot of Middle Eastern and Portuguese music lately. Secondhand Serenade when I'm feeling plaintive. Country music for driving. Kylie for the gym.

13) What do you buy at the newsstand?

LULA!! W, Nylon, British Elle, Lucky, Vogue, Bazaar, i-D. And Junior Mints.

14) Where do you go to stock up on great, inexpensive items?

I honestly think I have more fun hunting around for treasures at Forever21 or thrift stores than being surrounded by widely coveted goods at Bloomingdale's or something. I peruse one particular Forever21 outpost so often that a salesgirl there sees me carrying my booty around and proclaims things like "That is so you!", proceeds to show me other items she thinks I might appreciate, and is actually right. I should probably consider paying her. Some of my most prized items in my closet are from there, from embroidered cutout detail tent dresses and perfectly cut skinny jeans to floaty bohemian printed dresses and black opaque tights. I pretty much only buy their cotton and silk things though. Nine West wins hands down for well designed heels at affordable prices...plus their 4-inchers are almost weirdly comfortable.

15) If you had $1000 to blow on one item for Fall what would it be?

Burberry nude patent ankle boots..I would wear them with EVERYTHING. Or a vintage Chanel bag.

16) What item of your wardrobe do you rely on during the fall?

Flat boots, with dresses and tights, jeans, and shorts - I find them sexy in a noncommittal, semi-nonchalant way. Especially if there are buckles involved.

17) What style secrets do you have right now?

One look I've been loving is cozying up a made-for-summer Missoni looking knit dress with a gray slouchy beret, opaque tights, patent platform Maryjanes, a smart cropped jacket, and a bunch of layered short necklaces. I also really want to find a longer military-ish parka to toughen up little dresses with.

November: Inspiration