old and new

I love chunky sweaters but the season to wear them is so short. They don't exactly fit under my winter coats so the window of opportunity falls between the end of autumn and the dead of winter. I am actually considering chopping the sleeves off some of them and turning them into vests so that they fit under coats. I have yet to pull the trigger though - one of the candidates is this Rick Owens sweater so you see why I'm hesitant.

Martin Margiela Line 4 shirt (yoox.com) // Phillip Lim chunky cardigan (Barneys Co-op) // JBrand Houlihan skinny cargo pants (Barneys Co-op) // cashmere scarf // Givenchy wedge boots (Century 21/NYC)

Phillip Lim rosettes dress // Balenciaga leather leggings (yoox.com) // Ann Demeulemeester scarf (aloharag.com) // Vince short-sleeve hooded sweater // Dolce & Gabanna coat (eBay) // Rick Owens boots (brownsfashion.com) // Martin Margiela gold ring set (yoox.com)

backlog

original Helmut Lang top // McQ leather shorts

Ann Demeulemeester shirt and pants // Ralph Lauren Collection sandals

Ralph Lauren shirt // Current/Elliot shorts

summer survival

Winter is by far my favorite season, so you can imagine how badly I dealt with the sudden onset of heat after months of rain. If only reverse hibernation were a viable option - I could stay indoors with air conditioning and a fridge full of ice cream and never see the light of day until the heat breaks and cold weather sets in.

One thing that makes the heat a little more tolerable is this (half)skirt, which is fast becoming a summer staple. I almost look forward to hot and humid days so that I have an excuse to wear it. Almost.

Rick Owens ribbed tank x 2 (Barneys and theoutnet.com sales) // Ann Demeulemeester skirt (luisaviaroma.com) // Don Ciccillo swarovski toe ring sandals (yoox.com) // Hermes collier de chien cuff // cotton bicycle shorts

runway to my way

Ann Demeulemeester S/S 2011 skirt.

Ann Demeulemeester S/S 2011 skirt // Nation Ltd. gray top // Martin Margiela black mini tube skirt //
thrifted Donna Karan sandals // Prada evening bag

Skirt on the runway and on Harper Bazaar Australia's Christine Centenera

Although I cannot imagine a situation where I would let the train drag behind me (that is until I buy my marble-floored mansion and hire a team of minions to keep it dust-free) I still wanted to keep that option open. I saw these snaps-on-a-strip at the sewing supply store and tried them out, sewing the strip along the edge of the skirt and at the tips of the train. It works very well and because the snaps are an inch apart I can actually adjust the length for different heel heights. This skirt is currently my favorite "not-so-basic" basic. It looks great with a plain white tank top in the summertime and I plan on using it as a layering piece when cooler weather rolls around.

better late than never

I've had this coat for many years but I don't wear it often because it's about two sizes too big. I remember the day I bought it. I was running around the department store with my mother growing increasingly frustrated that none of the coats fit (this was back in the day when shopping online was still a rarity for me, and also I probably weighed less than 100 lbs.) Finally I bought this one out of desperation. Needless to say, once I found a petite coat a few seasons later this one just hung in the closet, sad and forlorn. Fortunately I never got rid of it because I recently discovered (thanks to Phosphene's most recent look, in which she layers a jacket underneath a winter coat) that I can comfortably fit a blazer or a jacket inside. I love the slim fit of my JCrew coat but I would never be able to wear anything more substantial than a thin sweater underneath. I'm very happy now that I don't have to give up my beloved jacket collection during winter! And also somewhat miffed that I didn't discover this sooner...



Ann Demeulemeester moto jacket (Bergdorf Goodman/NYC) // Balenciaga leather pants (yoox.com) // Ann Demeulemeester scarf (aloharag.com) // Chanel motorcycle boots (Bergdorf Goodman/NYC) // self-shredded tee and James Perse black t-shirt // Via Spiga coat

mélange

cool in the shade, warm in the sun - last weekend was perfect fall weather.

ITEMS (rollover description to view item detail)

- vintage Yves Saint Laurent blazer (eBay)
- Yves Saint Laurent lace logo tee (INA Consignment/NYC)
- McQ leather shorts (theoutnet.com)
- Alaia grommeted boots (Bergdorf Goodman/NYC)
- Mulberry "Alexa" bag (consignment)
- Ann Demeulemeester scarf (aloharag.com)
- Alexander McQueen skull ring (saks.com)

pale fire

Ann Demeulemeester shirt (from eBay);
Ann Demeulemeester trousers (from Joan Shepp clearance/Philly);
Chloe sandals (from yoox.com);
Mulberry "Alexa" bag;
Alexander McQueen viking warrior skull ring (from saks);
Love Quotes linen scarf

running late

definitely didn't help that i had to document each shoe option for the blog!





finally settled on the Lanvins. i loved the outfit with the Chloe boots, but the flats made it more daytime-appropriate. duly noted though, for when i would need a fancier version.



Ann Demeulemeester cropped biker jacket; T by Alexander Wang pocket tank; Vanessa Bruno Athé tube top worn as skirt; Hermes collier de chien cuff; Chloe boots/Lanvin flats

the look for (a lot!) less

i was lamenting the fact that i had no good reason for dropping $625.00
on a flimsy lace mini dress...


Lover lace mini dress and Acne leather jacket from net-a-porter.com


...and then i realized i already had something similar, a dress i picked
up at a thrift shop a couple of months ago. yeah!!!


thrifted lace mini dress; Ann Demeulemeester cropped biker jacket

back to non-basics

took a break from the pretty dressing i've been showcasing lately. this weekend was all about designers who inspire me the most.


Comme des Garcons cropped top with felt appliques;
Ann Demeulemeester blush-colored pants;
vintage beat-up leather belt;
Chloe platform sandals





Junya Watanabe "apron" dress;
Christian Louboutin espadrilles (yay! cobbler was able to resurrect them!);
Marc Bernstein leather and metal wrap bracelet

luxirare

my new favorite accessory: luxirare consolidated bracelet







i love the packaging.



love her blog, love her shop.


ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
Kiki de Montparnasse leather bikini top (from gilt.com)
T by Alexander Wang pocket tank (from Petulia's Folly/Philly)
Ann Demeulemeester trousers (old, from Angel Street Thrift/NYC)
Luxirare consolidated bracelet (from shopluxirare.com)
sword pendant (old, from etsy.com)
Ann Demeulemeester cropped biker jacket (from Bergdorf Goodman sale/NYC)
Donna Karan gladiator sandals (secondhand, from Vagabond/Philly)
Chanel quilted purse with charms




P.S. selling a few things on eBay!

super score

i was too busy to snap any outfit pictures this weekend. fortunately for times like these i have a few old outfit pictures sitting pretty in my hard drive that i never got around to post. here's one of them:



ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse leopard scarf
Yves Saint Laurent upside-down Eiffel Tower logo tee
3.1 Phillip Lim wide-leg trousers (old, from Barneys Co-op sale)
Ann Demeulemeester cropped biker jacket (from Bergdorf Goodman sale/NYC)
Christian Louboutin patent leather leopard print wedges (very old, from Barneys clearance/NYC)




thank you to everyone for your suggestions for work shoes! i did like the Dandy Slip-Ons that a few of you recommended, but i was too unfamiliar with the brand and quality to drop that kind of dough on them. i was glad i didn't because on a recent trip to Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets in upstate NY, i nabbed two pairs of Tod's loafers from the clearance rack - the cost of both pairs together was less than half of one pair at full retail! SCOOOOOORE!!!



i am all set for spring work footwear now.

randoms

some random outfit pictures which i dug up from my computer while attempting to free up some disk space. for one reason or another these have never gotten their own dedicated blog post. i think the first set i just forgot about after downloading from my camera, and the second i'm pretty sure i didn't like the shoes and ended up changing them but didn't bother to re-take pics. oh well, here they are anyway.





Alexander McQueen padded shoulder tee (from net-a-porter.com) - the "tails" are tied in the back in the last photo; Balenciaga leather skinnies (old, from yoox.com); Rick Owens boots (from brownsfashion.com sale); Ann Demeulemeester cropped biker jacket (from Bergdorf Goodman sale/NYC); Alexander McQueen pashmina (from Alexander McQueen/NYC); Hermes collier de chien cuff; sword pendant (from etsy.com); Hunter "Huntress" wellies (old, from zappos.com)




D&G dress (from Joan Shepp clearance/Philly); Balenciaga blazer (old, from eBay.com); Marc Jacobs shoes (old, from Bergdorf Goodman clearance/NYC); Tres Fluo leather bag (very old, from oogaboogastore.com)



*** not sure how many of you noticed, but i added a new page for my old StyleDiary outfits, which you can access by clicking the link up top, right under the header. those pictures aren't linked so if you have any questions about specific items, just ask! maybe i should be real nerdy and edit to add row and column numbers or something...

in memoriam II

Alexander McQueen skull print t-shirt. skulls and butterflies, two recognizable McQueen motifs. i think that's part of the reason why i love him as a designer - he makes beautiful things with a touch of the macabre. rick owens is similar in that regard.




this t-shirt is the only thing i have ever been able to afford at the actual Alexander McQueen boutique in the meatpacking district, and it was on sale at that.





Alexander McQueen skull print t-shirt; Rick Owens leather skirt; Ann Demeulemeester biker jacket; H&M denier 40 tights; Rick Owens ankle boots; rings by Elizabeth & James and Iossellani

in chains

last weekend i finally went down to the craft store and bought chains for two pendants. it's about time i did, the cross pendant has been hanging on a makeshift chain, which is actually a thin cloth belt from one of my dresses, for over a year now.



i chose a thin yellow gold chain for the silver sword because i liked the contrasting metals. the chain for the cross pendant is a perfect match with its tiny opal beads - kind of reminds me of a rosary.

the folks at Beadworks were very helpful - they showed me how to crimp the ends of the chains and attach lobster clasps. i would have been lost without them. (d.i.y. is not my forte.)





The Row maxi dress (old, from Barneys/NYC); Ann Demeulemeester biker jacket (from Bergdorf Goodman/NYC); Alaia studded boots (old, from Bergdorf Goodman/NYC); Elizabeth & James knuckle ring (old, from Intermix/NYC); vintage cross pendant (from Portobello Market/London); sword pendant (from etsy.com seller sucarjoia)