A Little Dress for Summer

I love wearing a dress to work. I find it so much easier than two pieces - its the ultimate in laziness. Why did we ever start wearing pants anyway? (Just kidding.)

I was really pleased to find Asos.com through another blog because this UK online fashion retailer will ship to "the Americas" for just $6.00. That is about what it costs to ship within the USA from most retailers - maybe even less! Also, British styles just have a different edge which I like. I ordered this cute dress and I will be sitting patiently by my door waiting for it to arrive!

Ghosts of Footwear Past - Part Deux

Last week I talked about the return of the desert boot. This week I was cruising some fashiony type blogs I like and I notice that boat shoes are coming back in style?! Stop the presses! The boat shoe might be making a comeback? I do have a colleague who never stopped wearing them but he is a 50 plus man who may very well hang out on a boat.

If you are this company  you are probably thrilled with the potential return of this fad. Although I have to say, I wouldn’t mind this little sneaker they have. But beware; these guys are also still selling the infamous duck boot! (Okay, maybe it makes sense in cold, wet climates.)

It’s weird. These two types of footwear, which apparently are unisex apparel, may have played too big a role in my wardrobe in the eighties. If I go back to wearing them I might start putting bows in my hair and playing Madonna 24/7 and I am not talking the new stuff ladies – I mean Borderline!.

But personally I don’t trust the footwear that requires two words to describe it – boat shoe, desert boot, cement overshoe…etc. Ballerina flats might be my one exception.

The Desert Boot Makes a Comeback

Cole Haan calls it a “Chukka handcrafted of heavy weight Italian vegetable tanned leather on upper and sock.” I call it a desert boot and you know that you all had a pair. Your boyfriend in 1985 probably did too. I guess everything really does make a comeback?  I am not sure I am ready to revisit this fad - especially at $279.95 a pair.

Fashion Myth Debunked - Stripes are IN!

I read it on the internet so it has to be true:

MYTH: Horizontal stripes make you look fat  - "Although people have blindly believed this myth for decades, it's scientifically proven to be wrong. A psychologist at York University recently showed that horizontal lines do not make you look fatter; and if anything, can make you look thinner. He was confirming the findings from a 19th century physicist who first investigated the optical illusion that horizontal lines look taller and narrower than vertical lines."

Why am I so happy that this myth has been debunked? I have always wanted to have one of these sailor style shirts like the one shown above from L.L. Bean. I blame my French heritage. I guarantee you that if you go to Paris you will see at least one very put together French woman running around in a shirt like this, flat shoes, and some sort of breezy Capri pant looking fantastique.

To be honest, I never really believed this myth and oh so happy a Canadian university has debunked it!

Have a fabu weekend possums!

Feeling Knotty

The French Knot

I have a plethora of scarves that I have collected over the years. Lot’s of pretty silk ones that feel so nice against the neck. That bad thing is that I always feel challenged on how to wear them! Thank god for the web!


That is right, Brooks Brothers has online, step-by-step instructions on how to tie the following:

• French twist
• Square knot
• Neck ring
• Neck wrap – a personal fave
• Slipknot
• Head wrap

All of these work best with 35 inch square silk scarves. I am going to try one out for the office tomorrow!

Assouline

Okay, we all know that I like nice things. And of course I love books, words and letters. During my pursuit of nice things I keep stumbling across the name Assouline. This company, Assouline Publishing has created fine illustrated books, luxury editions and an exquisite gift line dedicated to fashion, photography, art and design for the past 15 years. Women’s Wear Daily calls them, “The fashion crowd's favorite book publisher.”

If you want to look at lush, original graphics please check out some Assouline books. They deal with the most chic, unique and elegant brands. They just opened a store in the new Las Vegas CityCenter and I can’t wait to check it out the next time I am there. In the meantime, I looked at this slideshow tour of their New York headquarters – and I was quite taken with this bookshelf! Despite being a book lover I am not normally a bookshelf fan as I think they usually give off the message: “Dump CLUTTER here!” But, this one is nice and I like the messages it very clearly communicates.

Love These

For a few years now I have been obsessed with Frye boots. The Frye Company was established in 1863 and is the oldest continuously operated shoe company in the United States.

Frye’s footwear has a pretty interesting history. Frye boots were worn by both Union and Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War, and during the Spanish- American War. Today you see all kinds of people wearing Frye boots. Needless to say this footwear has a long history in America.

I finally broke down and bought a pair from Nordstrom and I love them. So far I have only worn them with jeans but I have a casual dress that I think these might add some funk to when paired with tights.  I love the outside zipper and the best part of these boots is that my toes have lots of wiggle room.

Project Runway - The Dee List Winner and Loser

I told you I would come back with my Project Runway opinions. Well, I pretty much agreed with the judges on the winner. Of course you would need a fierce body to pull of this edgy, yet super fashionista look.  I thought the potato sack/burlap challenge was a cool idea and I loved how modern Mila was able to make this look.

My least favourite look was Ping’s and in my opinion she should have been aufed! There is no excuse for heinie exposure.

Can’t wait to watch again this week! This is something the parental unit and I are watching together.

Guilty Pleasure

I am still coughing.  Coughing is kind of tiring and I can't take cough syrup during the day because it makes me sleepy.  Add tiring cough to a week's worth of grey, rainy days and all I want to do is curl up under my granny quilt and indulge in guilty pleaures.  My favourite gulity pleasure is TV.  In particular I am talking about Project Runway.  The new season starts tonight - woohoo!

You know I love fashion and that is because my mom was an incredible seamstress.  I have some pictures with dresses that she made for clients before she married my dad - those frocks were pretty darn amazing.  I wish I had inherited some of that talent. 

I will report back tomorrow on what I thought about the new herd of designers.  Cheers my sweets!

The Ability to Accessorize is What Separates Man from the Animals

I have always loved that quote from Steel Magnolias.  Personally, I never have a problem when it comes to accessorizing with shoes, purses and scarves but jewelry poses a challenge to me. I always admire it when I see someone sporting a great necklace or bracelet, especially with a heavily patterned outfit. Check out this funky onyx and silver necklace my good friend D wore for our girls’ night out. I love this particular accessory with the teal argyle.

My jewelry statements are more murmurs than out right proclamations.  My silver hoop earrings are classic but they don't exactly call out, "hey look over here, I have a great rack!"

My style resolution for 2010 is to accessorize more. I will try to not be afraid of chunky necklaces, funky earrings and bold bracelets. I will court the “statement piece” and I will leave my signature silver hoops home.

Check back January 1, 2011 to see how I have done!

More Foot Fetish

When I was a teenager I spent quite a few summers working as a camp counselor. I wore shorts and t-shirts everyday, and probably banked forward a few instances of skin cancer.


One year, specifically for camp, I had a pair of Tretorn sneakers. They were white and the little loopy, anti-swoosh was navy blue. All the other counselors were either jock types with Nike swooshes or Chuck Taylor high-top, hippy types. With my Tretorns, I felt I was remaining true to my individuality. Tretorn is a Swedish brand and anything Scandinavian has to be cool and individualistic right?And frankly, the white with the navy was just so darn cute that I loved them. Sadly, like all articles of apparel that I loved when I was a teenager, I wore them until they fell apart.

But now, no need to mourn my beloved sneaks of my youth.   Flash forward to fall 2009 and Tretorn has introduced what I think are the coolest sneaks ever in conjunction with the very fashion forward, Japanese label “Comme des Garcons”. There is a high-top version too – but I think these low-top, polka dot shoes are perfect - cool, funky and comfy. Just the sort I want to wear when I am running around doing errands on the weekend.  (You can check them out at Farfetch.)

Old Navy - Je t'adore!

I decided my first winter trip to Canada in five years called for flannel. I got these cute holiday printed "lounge" pants online for $8.00 on Black Friday - with free shipping!  That is less than the cost of a coffee date and probably a better investment.  I love Old Navy for this type of apparel.

I am going to pair the loungers with a bunch of soft, fluffy socks like these that I recieved from a friend as a birthday gift and some old, soft tshirts.  And a blanket - definitely a blanket!

Dear Diary - I am so into Big!

I, like most of you, loved Sex and the City. I loved all seasons of the show, I loved the movie, and I even loved the book. I am excited about the second movie  and today I learned about something else exciting!

Candace Bushness is releasing a new book, The Carrie Diaries, which will be a teen prequel to her famous franchise. It’s set during Carrie Bradshaw's high school years, detailing early relationships and how she became a writer. The Carrie Diaries will be published on April 27, 2010 and I grabbed this image from people.com. I love the cover art! It’s edgy and girly all at the same time.

I think this is a great gift for women to give their teen daughters who might be too young for the show.  I wonder how old Carrie was when she mastered stillettos?
xo

Rain Away

We are moving into rainy season here in the bay and for some reason this year I am obsessed with the idea of getting rainboots.  I think it's the whole resurgence of the Hunter boot - they did the original wellingtons that you might remember if you read storybooks about English schoolchildren like we did growing up. 

I was walking by Kate Spade and I saw this cute rainboot in hot pink!  What better way to brighten up a dull, grey day?  The bow is made out of rubber too but it looks like a ribbon.

For myself I want these boots which were a collaboration between Jimmy Choo and Hunter.  Gorgeous, hip and easy to care for!

Meow!

Dear Michelle - I want you to know I have forgotten and forgiven the dubious black and red Narcisco Rodriguez you chose to wear a year ago at the victory celebration.   Your fashion choices are admirable and appropriate. The J. Crew outfits and cardigans definitely work for me.  In particular I want you to know that I admire any women who gives out candy at the White House in leopard print, cat ears and a touch of marabou.  By the way, that mentor program you announced yesterday?  Bad ass too.

Best,

d

Shoe of the Month!

If you are reading this blog you know me well.  If you know me well you know that I work primarily to keep myself in shoes and handbags.  Okay I may work for a few other things - food, shelter, etc...

When I first moved to California I abandoned all my winter apparel pretty darn quick.  Now, I find that my feet start to get chilly in my sandals at the end of October.  So I went off to Nordies to get something with a closed toe and I found these red patent lovelies from Ecco.  Perfect for all the running around I do at the office.  

Is it really bad that I want this Tory Burch tote to go with them?

Staying Warm in Style

It’s 2:00 AM on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. I am waiting for a call from Ben for a work related project taking place in less than 24 hours in Asia. Labor Day is not a big deal in Asia so Ben and I need to hash out some last minute issues.

While I wait for Ben to call me back I am thinking about my upcoming sojourn to Canada for the Christmas holidays. I have not been there for winter in five years. I need to start planning out my strategies now for staying warm! Yes, my blood has thinned considerably during my time here in Cali – I barely own socks.

I tried this coat on at Nordie’s and I loved it. Bonus that it is on sale. Bonus that it will work for casual attire and being a bit dressed up. (Don’t worry, there is no way I will be wearing a skirt in Canada during December.) Bonus that I can use it for winter evenings out in San Francisco.

What I need to go with it is that beautiful, blue cashmere pashmina a certain short French Canadian senior citizen procured from me.

New Shoes

Here is a photo of my new shoe. Hopefully, it will arrive along, with its mate, chez moi tomorrow. I ordered them from the Nordstrom anniversary sale so as to get 30% off.

It’s the Söfft 'Carma' Mary Jane Pump in black. It came in patent leather too but I thought that might be a bit to schoolgirlish. It is a little higher than I normally wear – 3”. But, I have come manage with higher heels if I don’t wear them for too long, they have a chunky heel and bonus if they come from a super comfy line like Söfft.

Bag it!

The last time I was in Montreal I neglected to hit up the Matt & Nat store in Laval. Such dommage!

I just love Matt & Nat. I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on being eco-conscious but I try to be responsible. Matt & Nat create gorgeous bags like the ones above from recycled water bottles. One bag can contain up to 55 recycled bottles! Now, thanks to Matt & Nat I can indulge my handbag fetish without feeling too much guilt. Right now I have a couple of these bags in my collection. I am looking forward to adding another when I get back to Montreal. In the meantime you can find them occasionally at Bloomingdales and Nordstrom.

I also love to support my fellow Canadians. It’s easy to do when they create such yummy arm candy.