Button-down shirt, secondhand. Leggings, Forever21. Necklace worn as headband, Banana Republic. Clutch and scarf, vintage. Shoes, Bebe.

Since an obsession with them in 1999/2000 and subsequent overdose and exclusion of them from my wardrobe, I've wondered if the denim jacket would ever feel fresh again. I think I was inching in their direction with this ensemble, and you know, even the revered Ashley Olsen stepped out in a Western denim shirt this week. Scary stuff.

Oh, and to the rather astute reader who asked if I had gotten a new camera, why yes I have! My old Sony DSC-T10 died an abrupt death when dropped (a mere couple feet! but on cement..) during an unexpectedly crazy night out, and I had been using my boyfriend's Casio that I gave him for his birthday last year. This of course wracked me with guilt over being a present-user, as much as he insisted he didn't care. Anyway, I hopped into Target after yoga (to everyone who asks if I work out...yoga with weights) on Monday and purchased a brand new shiny shiny in the form of a Sony DSC-W55(memory card incompatibility with any other camera makes me brand loyal..clever company) and am quite pleased with it. Very little lag time, and pretty crisp quality, no? This Carl Zeiss person is good. I'm not that bitter about my old one...it was over a year old (gasp!) and I got it in Tokyo so was left quite in the dark in regards to menu options..my kanji isn't that good even after years of bitterly endured (Saturday-stealing!) Japanese schooling as a child. So it's quite refreshing to be able to toy with almost overly numerous options...beach setting to make the water appear more blue? Really? I will, of course, be trying it.

Jacket, vintage Levi's. Skirt, vintage. Shirt (it's actually more charcoal gray than black..this matters), Urban Outfitters. Gladiator heels, Nine West. Ankle socks, scrounged up at Marshall's. Rings, Forever21. Bag, Balenciaga.

Relevant pictures:

Okay so I know I'm behind on all kinds of posts, from every fashion week to the Oscars to a thousand other things tumbling about in my head, but I'm going to go ahead and say that a new crop of model street style pics is one of my favorite aspects about the twice-yearly fashion mayhem. The collections can take a little while to settle in and start feeling right, but the models are always dressed somewhere between impeccable and kooky with the end result being a fabulously playful feast for the eyes. My personal favorites are always Lily, Magdalena, Anja, and Natasha..and isn't Behati just ridiculously adorable?

Sources: shopgirl, elle, jukich, thecobrasnake, style.

A few of you asked about the more glamorous sister of the cadet blue/grayish vintage eelskin clutch I debuted this weekend, well it has arrived in my store. This thing is beyond amazing in real life, sumptuously soft to the point of insanity, in mint condition, and quite expensive-looking also I might say (even lined in suede!).

Fashion stylist currently stationed in NYC via Germany and Paris, former assistant of Carine, and undoubted Sartorialist all-star, Julia von Boehm encapsulates all that is chic, sleek, and wildly sexy. She first caught my attention in a military green (men's?) coat with studded Louboutins (pic to the left), complete with knowing smirk, and since then has never disappointed my relatively discerning eye. She works with texture, lengths, and shapes easily, and frequently will offset a bulky statement piece (see mega-tulip skirt, aforementioned boyfriendy coat, gray scarf for a giant, and cozy vest/pompom sweater combo) with skyhigh hemlines and bank-crippling heels.

Her perfectly off kilter home:





One Day in Tokyo, styled by Julia, photographed by David Mushegain for Vogue Nippon Feb/08





















Sources: bird-production.com, style.com, cafe-mode.hautefort.com, gastrochic.com, elle.com, thesartorialist.com, scans by evisu donna, 1karina1, berlinrocks, kanna of thefashionspot

Thank you so much for all the kind words and congratulations! I'm going to answer all the questions in that post today, just want to make sure I address them well. One of you mentioned that headbands/scarves would be fun and it inspired me to dig up one of my favorite vintage silk scarves today. Kind of adds a more boho element to the leather skirt.

T, I forget..skirt, bracelets, and scarf, vintage. Sandals, Urban Outfitters from two years ago. Sunglasses, Forever21. Bag, Charlotte Russe.

Studs can add life to the most staid of ensembles - they're one of the best ways to juxtapose, methinks. A quick search on eBay turned up some interesting options, the leather gloves winning the award for most fascinating. The gold metallic bag's Stam-like shape intrigued me, though it's definitely sort of an "ugly chic" piece that would have be worn carefully. If anything here strikes your fancy, just mix up the search terms "vintage", "studded, and "stud", should be pretty easy to sift through.

I caved. I was starting to feel like I was wearing the same thing all the time. However disconnected that thought might be from reality, the urge for newness conquered me and I painstakingly put together quite a varied order from Forever21. In it are included a men's stripey French-reminiscent pullover, a dropwaist feathery concoction that could prove to be disastrous upon receipt (my first Twelve by Twelve exploration!), weird meshy oxford heels, and a jeweled collar/cuff combo that I have no idea what to do with but promptly decided I needed to own. Will be reporting back upon receipt in 5-10 days.

PS - They are now shipping abroad! How wondrous. It seems that their shipping and handling is sort of more outrageous than Topshop's, but at least the clothes are cheaper I suppose..

All pics, Forever21.

Perhaps the most definitive "je ne sais quois" possessing girl ever, Valentine Fillol Cordier manages to charm me every time, hipster over-affiliation and all. She's hardly drop dead gorgeous, almost plain, but in the best possible, most oddly alluring manner. This makes her both relatable and impossibly chic and I honestly can't get enough. Her personal style is so distinct that she manages to make every editorial seem like she was the only girl that could have possibly been considered for it..or perhaps it's that she acts as a muse to stylists and editors so as to form a symbiotic relationship with her magazine work that blends it all together into one big lovely mess. Or it could be her carefree manner and palpable sense of playfulness that makes everything just work. Who knows...I'm going to stop trying to figure it out.

All pics from her thread on thefashionspot.

Extremely lovely outfit on the ever-intriguing Genevieve Jones. I personally find myself apathetic towards her much wondered about rise on the NY social circuit, it's just fun to ogle her extremely interesting, almost Sevigny-ish fashion choices.



While yammering about Facehunted Topshop collabo fans, here's the loveliest lovely looking all vixenish in Christopher Kane's line.



I want to try this, it seems like a fun way to play with jeans.



So I have pyramid studs in my closet adorning everything from rings to Maryjanes, but this is just extremely noteworthy. I'm not sure who Vanessa's jacket is by (probably Givenchy too), but it's very stop-and-stare, no? It reminded me of this other Givenchy jacket (accompanying pic) from one of French Vogue's En Vogue features last year. They are quite on it, that team of Carine's...



Ultraviolet = the new black? Melanie Huynh and Julia Stegner are as convincing as ambassadors of the look could be.





Kate Moss' style has been somewhat uninspiring for ohhh the last few years or so, plus if I was gifted with that much beauty, I'm pretty sure I would take more careful care of my skin. Anyway, she still manages to produce magnetic photos now and then, these are just fun to look at, what with the juicy colors, semicreepy Americana themed room, and mind boggling footwear.



Marion Cotillard makes this Balenciaga dress not seem insane.



Could these be the hooves of anyone but Anna Dello Russo and Carine?



Geraldine Saglio - a little safe, but always amazing. And I think it would be pretty accurate to say that Emmanuelle Alt has mastered the (quite terrifying) art of pulling off the cropped pant.



I'm pondering breaking out my vintage over the knee boots again...does anyone have any ideas for de-tarting them?

Sources:wmag.com, the facehunter, style.com, theskullset, thefashionspot, nyt.com, mystyle

Definitely feeling inspired by Melanie Huynh's and Geraldine Saglio's latest En Vogue features (a couple posts below). I've had this belt (from Express!) since high school, one of the few items in my closet that's stood that long of a test of time. Though I suppose there are only so many ways to redesign a studded belt.

T, Urbn. Scarf, Target. Shorts, vintage Levi's. Belt, Express. Boots, Marc Jacobs. Bag, sunglasses, and bracelets, vintage. Will wear a khaki military jacket if it gets colder.

Trying out the ankle sock idea investigated in this post. I realized that I sadly don't have any acceptably strappy sandals to try this out with (Kingdom of Style's would be ever so perfect), so I just defaulted to my Nine West wedges, which are fast becoming a wardrobe staple, mirrored cutout sides and all. I don't think I love the effect of the two together so will have to keep on the lookout for more sock-friendly options.

T, thrifted Gap. Shorts, Forever21. Heels, Nine West. Bag, Marc Jacobs.

Admittedly, I am rarely inspired by modeling's new faces enough to post, but after catching a first glimpse of the Argentinian Flo Gennaro in Teen Vogue's Love Story editorial this month, I was fascinated enough to scrounge around on thefashionspot for more photos...the girl is amazing, with the sharp catlike eyes I've always been jealous of and a sort of raw energy that translates through in every shot.




What is it about Lula that makes me want to be blonde and 4 years old?



In a literally ancient issue of Teen Vogue, I tore out this picture and folded it up between the pages of one of my many inspiration journals. I later scanned it, regretting the foolish decision to mar it so. Folds and all, Carine's beauty is mesmerizing, I wish there were more photos floating about on the internet of her in those days.









I look forward to Vogue Paris' En Vogue feature every month. The items are always relatable yet inspiring, and the fringey boho accessories, denim shorts, and spring-appropriate boots are no exception. The spread also reminds me how badly I need an oversized brown leather bag...



Marios Schwab for Topshop. Lust. Once again, immediately sold out.



I'm always weirdly gleeful when new Keira candids surface. She always looks comfortably cozy and masterfully layered while still almost managing to convince me she didn't agonize over what colored beanie and which fabulous bag she should wear. I'm loving the medieval peasant-ish footwear too.



Lily Donaldson would have perfect taste in little black dresses.




And lastly, I just wanted to declare how much I miss Susan Eldridge. This photo sums it all up.

Teen Vogue Carine pic, scanned by me. Other pics, thefashionspot and keirapictures.com, Paris Vogue scans by member Diorette.