Practice Makes Perfect

I'm a total sucker for labels that focus on one item of clothing or one accessory in a quest for perfection, and I'm also a proud Canadian, so I really don't know why I've only just learned about Smythe. This made-in-Canada line, designed by Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe, consists entirely of jackets (and some vests). Aren't the ones below, from Smythe's Fall 2008 offering, just divine?

Lovely

Alexander Wang at Creatures of Comfort.

Some Sick Kicks

These Gucci shoes are r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s. Apparently they're men's sneakers, but I think they're pretty effeminate... And I want a pair. Of course!

New Fling

Favourite casual line of the moment: Something Else. Designed by Natalie Wood (who is, of course, Australian), Something Else offers a nicely edited collection of t-shirts. Another plus: Ms. Wood appears to have a thing for wolves - like me! (See above). How could I resist? I first took note of her while browsing the OTTE website, where you can find some of her shirts.

Ewww

Apparently, American Apparel ads now come entirely "stripped" of any disguise of their usually more "subtle" exploitation of female sexuality. I'm boycotting this shit. Jezebel has written a much more in-depth and well-articulated article. Check it out. 

Erica Weiner Jewelry

So, for some reason, I decided to look through all the websites of the vendors at last year's Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn, and found the best little jewelry-maker. Erica Weiner, based in Manhattan's Lower East Side, makes lovely vintage-looking jewelry, that's cheap, too! I'm enamoured with her long gold necklaces, all of which are under $100. 

My Picks From...

The Totokaelo sale:

ACNE bird shirt

Les Prairies de Paris Bali Lezard Shoes

Pinkham Millinery Sloper DC with Vintage Trim

Ebay Store

So recently I've been spending a lot of time on Indie Cult Vintage's ebay store. I just bought another piece from her (see below), and find her store incredibly well curated. BUT, I also did a quick search on her and have been spending the past hour or so reading some disturbing comments made on various blogs and vintage forums about her selling practices. Hmmm... Haven't decided definitively about whether or not I will be buying from her again, but I will certainly continue to eye her store. 

A New Year's Present for Yourself

If you can afford this, buy it. I love the structure, and rompers have been "in" for a while but are gaining even more ground. I sigh over its beauty. Just posted on Nasty Gal.

My New Baby

I just purchased this UNBELIEVABLE dress from Indie Cult Vintage. I CANNOT wait until it gets here. I feel guilty, ridiculously extravagant, and selfish. Shit. I've promised myself I'm not going to buy anything at all next semester. We'll see how that goes. 

Hawt

McQ at La Garconne and Belle Sauvage at Pixie Market. 

Yes...

... everyone loves to hyperventilate over Rachel Comey. I am no exception. This gorgeous dress is from her Resort collection and now at La Garconne.

J'adore...

Fremont Apparel's Spring 2009 collection is diviiinnneee. See some of my favourites below...

Perfect model too. 

WTF?

From Pixie Market. 

OMG

From Creatures of Comfort. 

Just Had To

I know I haven't been posting. I have  whole list of stuff that I want to write about but I'm just so stressed with school!!! Ah!!! However, I saw a little write up of this site in NYLON and it's so amazing I just had to share it with my limited readership. Beautiful beautiful beautiful handmade hair accessories. GO HERE.

Um, Jewelry

So accessories aren't really my "niche", for some reason, I'm really liking bangles (like this Moritz Glik bangle I found at the auto. online store) worn snug on the upper forearm. Trop beau!

THE Coat for Fall

I freaking LOVE coats with (faux) fur trim collars . They're everywhere too. I know they're around every fall/winter, but for some reason I am getting a "special feeling" about them this year. I'm still searching for one that I like AND (key point) can afford. The one above (A Les Prairies de Paris coat seen at La Garconne) is beautiful, but made with real fur and out of my price range. Sigh.

Beauty

I know I haven't posted in a while. And to be honest I haven't been eager to post (I've been busy!). But my heart skipped a beat when I saw this Preen jacket and I had to tell someone about it. I don't think the picture does it justice, and though that statement doesn't have any real value since haven't actually seen this jacket in real life, I just know I could rock it, and I can picture myself enveloped in its folds. Mmmm. Encountered at La Garconne.

Over It

Long Halter Dress by T-Bags. Image from Shopbop.com.

Chiffon Shirt by Diane von Furstenberg. Image from InStyle.com.

I hate to be Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls, but sometimes I feel like telling fashion magazines to stop trying to make certain trends happen. Trend #1: casual floor-length dresses. Fashion editors have been shoving this silhouette down my throat for ages. A few people can pull it off, but I really don't understand how anyone finds this style flattering. Fashion editors need to be honest with themselves and their readers; the only people who can actually rock this dress are women who were hippies in the 60s, still live on a co-op or somewhere in India, and like to share amusing and surprisingly insightful new-agey advice with anyone they come into contact with. Trend #2: art prints. As I was reading the September issue of InStyle, I suffered from a mild episode of deja vu. The only explanation for this irritating sensation was the "Clothes We Love" article that listed garments fashioned in art print fabrics as worthy of adoration. I swear I've been seeing this trend listed in fashion magazines as one that should be taking off soon for over a year, and I just can't wrap my little brain around the reasoning behind this redundant prediction. When looking at these so-called "art prints," Benjamin is the only person that comes to mind: art reproduced on fabric is deprived of its aura and can only be classified as kitsch. Just because Rodarte is doing something doesn't mean you should too.

...And I'm done.

Hats

Alright. Hats of all sorts have clearly been the "it" accessory this summer, and I'm a sucker for this trend. I also believe it will be around for a while. As far as I'm concerned, Eugenia Kim has had the monopoly on this market thus far. But browsing La Garconne today I discovered a designer called Victor Osborne for whom I have already fallen head-over-heels. He even worked for Eugenia Kim once upon a time. He and his partner Zachary Barnett create ridiculously extravagant (and, therefore, amazing) styles, as well as wearable ones (such as the Ruffle Cloche hat pictured on the bottom that is now available for pre-order on lagarconne.com...uh, or not, since it seems to have sold out as I was writing this post [!!!]). Custom hats are also an option. Visit his website or his store at 364 Leonard Street in Brooklyn.

So Prrr-etty

This Vena Cava Zenith Dress is feminine, bohemian, and subtly sexy (i.e. perfect). And, it could definitely work in both summer (worn alone with some heels and delicate jewelry maybe) and winter (belted with some dark stockings and a cardigan perhaps). From La Garconne. 

Newly Bookmarked

Risto Bimbiloski is my current obsession. His chunky pieces are so so perfect, and look comfy too! Check him out! Pictured: my personal favourites from his Autumn/Winter 2008 collection. 

Mmmm. Boots.

Top: Golden Goose Charlyle Boots (Totokaelo).

Bottom: Belle by Sigerson Morrison Suede Moccasin Boots (Shopbop.com).

I Covet Covet Covet Covet

I really love this Y's by Yohji Yamamoto Cross-Check Stole in black and white. Of course, by the time I decided it was worth the money, it was sold out on the only I site I know that it exists on (Totokaelo). My taste is just that good. Just kidding. But if you know any other places I can buy it, let me know.