seeing spots
Tuesday, August 28
These days I often find myself carrying not just one bag everywhere but two--one for me and one for my kids' snacks, Legos, trucks, stuffed animals, change of clothes, you name it. I figure I might as well do it in style with one like this.
1. Equipment sweater, $356, matchesfashion.com
2. Etoile Isabel Marant tweed boucle jacket, $685, netaporter.com
3. Forever 21 metallic canvas cheetah tote, $19, forever21.com
4. Nine West slippers, $69, piperlime.com
5. Topshop vintage wash jeans, $80, topshop.com
getting the boot
Monday, August 27
Chloe's studded ankle boots (and their less expensive kin) might be having their moment in the sun right now, but come this fall, Isabel Marant's Blackson boots will be IT. (They're $1325 and not available for purchase yet.) Bet on seeing them on high-fashion girls like Taylor Tomasi Hill. Zara took inspiration and offers this pair and Nine West are coming out with these.
sew good
Monday, August 27
Thanks to Dolce & Gabbana's sumptuous embroidery-laden fall collection, needlepoint is having a moment. It's showing up on everything from Valentino bags to Doc Martins. This trompe l'oeil tapestry t-shirt is the season's instant update with...
1. River Island tapestry t-shirt, $20, asos.com
2. Madewell varsity jacket, $298, madewell.com
3. Clare Vivier duffel bag, $575, shopbop.com
4. Gucci tassel ankle boots, $895, netaporter.com
5. Topshop wool skirt, $140, topshop.com
cool in the shade
Friday, August 24
I stayed at the uber chic Sunset Beach Hotel in Shelter Island, New York, last weekend (snaps to come!) and felt like I was in the capital of coolville. Every person there was more beautiful and hip (and, in some cases, more French) than the next, dressed to the nines, even at 8.30 on Sunday morning! The most ubiquitous accessory was a straw fedora. Some of them wide-brimmed, others were tattered and ratty but the effect was all the same: high glam. Here are some options to consider from Eugenia Kim, Billabong, and Urban Outfitters.
Photo: thistimetomorrow-krystal.blogspot.com
houndstooth
Friday, August 24
Whizzing down Fifth Avenue in a taxi the other day, I was reminded that houndstooth may be this fall's alternative to stripes: the graphic print appeared in virtually every store window, and it's versatile. Try this easy sweatshirt with...
1. J. Crew houndstooth sweatshirt, $65, jcrew.com
2. Bauble Bar pave stud earrings, $26, baublebar.com
3. Topshop quilted chain clutch, $96, topshop.com
4. Edmundo Castillo silver pumps, $795, shopbop.com
5. Balmain motocross jeans, $1252, netaporter.com
painted bird shoes
Thursday, August 23
I was in Montauk last week and was once again amazed by its continued march toward total California-zation. In addition to the crazy surf fever, the fashion was quintessentially Southern California-beachy: Vans sneakers, board shorts, see-through crochet dresses, and Mexican hooded ponchos were everywhere. I'm thinking these new Painted Bird crochet shoes, straight from Laguna Beach, will fit into the scene perfectly. They're artisan crafted, vibrantly hued, and Cali-comfortable. And they just so happen to dovetail with all crochet stitched bags and sandals that were on the spring runways at Dolce & Gabbana and Tory Burch. Check out the various styles here.
leather peplum top
Thursday, August 23
The peplum top is still going strong for fall, but in leather the silhouette looks especially fresh. This one is rendered in faux leather and costs a lot less than the real McCoy. Wear it now with a slim-fitting pencil skirt or a pair of tailored trousers, or later in the year with more layers, like this:
1. Oasis peplum top, $74, oasis.andotherbrands.com
2. Topshop faux fur bomber jacket, $500, topshop.com
3. J. Crew shoulder bag, $238, jcrew.com
4. J. Crew heels, $248, jcrew.com
5. Theory cropped stretch wool pants, $245, netaporter.com
big burgundy
Wednesday, August 22
This fall, oxblood will be flowing, and I'm planning to sport the season's trendiest hue head to toe for a look that's completely fresh and polished. Consider this leather Madewell skirt and this J. Crew cable knit turtleneck to pull it off yourself.
Photo: 9 to 5 Chic
fall flowers
Wednesday, August 22
Is it just me or is anyone else feeling back to school anxiety? I remember how I used to fret about what I'd wear on the first day. Whatever it was, it had to be new and indicative of the season to come. Nowadays it's more about back to the office, of course. Post-summer, the goal is to look refreshed and up to date. This floral skirt would make the cut. It's vividly hued with lush brocade--appropriate for the office and dinner afterward. Deep into autumn, I'd wear it with...
1. River Island metallic sweater, $55, riverisland.com
2. Katie Diamond black garnet studs, $150, catbirdnyc.com
3. Marc Jacobs quilted leather shoulder bag, $795, netaporter.com
4. Aquazzura cut-out pumps, $495, shopbop.com
5. J. Crew floral brocade pencil skirt, $168, jcrew.com
fall checklist
Tuesday, August 21
With summer quickly winding down, I am really starting to assemble my fall wardrobe. Typically, I make a checklist of the season's top must-haves. This year, my list includes: a statement sweater (or two or three!), a low-heeled boot, leather pants (which I already acquired from H&M in both black and oxblood), a boxy, oversized motorcycle jacket (a la Proenza), a sleek coat (check, with some leopard trim, no less!), a fashion week and beyond-worthy choker necklace, a layer-under-everything lightweight turtleneck, feminine black loafers, and something furry. Every week from here on out, I will round up my favorites in each of these categories and share them with you (as I've been asked by many of you to do). I begin with the statement sweater--the chicest way to keep warm this winter.
