Addicted to YSL

Alexander Wang Shoes for Sale

2011-12-09T22:56:00.006-06:00

Yes, all the shoes are authentic. I don't like fakes.
Jacquelyn boots sz 38, $220 shipped in the US, $210 shipped w/o shoebox.
Constance booties in eel embossed leather, sz 38, $200 shipped in the US, $195 shipped w/o box
Miu Miu suede ankle boots 37.5, barely worn. $165 shipped in the US.
Anabela light brown/cognac boot 38, $180 shipped in the US, $175 shipped w/o box
Alexander Wang Bruna flat oxfords sz 38, $175 shipped in the US
Alana mid calf velvet heels, multiple sizes available. $195
Heidi wedge booties, sizes 6, 8 and 9 available. $305
Alexander Wang black and blue Constance booties, multiple sizes available. $195
Black Addison mid-calf boot, sz 38, $180 shipped in the US, $175 shipped w/0 box

Yoox, Look What You Made Me Do

2011-09-20T19:50:00.005-05:00

Soooo, Yoox had some things by LGB and this was under $300. Unbelievable! I've looked around for stores that carry this brand and their jeans alone are in the $400-$600 range. At Ikram in Chicago, a pair of leather pants was over 5K. It's blowing my mind that I can get an amazing made in Japan leather jacket by a cult brand for so little. Occasionally Yoox makes pricing mistakes, so maybe this is one of them? It's happened in the past. For example, there were a pair of these outre Margiela ankle boots with plastic things all over them, plastic that looked like bits of a shattered bicycle headlight, that were less than $300, but then the price went up to over $1000.

FOR SALE: Alexander Wang Dakota Boots 38

2011-07-21T20:38:00.002-05:00

Asking for $200, and my email is in the contact me bar to the right on the page.----->

Coincidence or No?

2011-07-12T15:05:00.003-05:00

Celine Resort 2012
my vintage 2 tone YSL leather skirt

Awesome Vtg Leather Jacket

2011-06-16T11:33:00.003-05:00

vintage 1940s leather jacket with amazing hardware, and a brown Balenciaga jacket that is another knockoff of EWMI

Loafers/Slippers

2011-06-09T18:51:00.005-05:00

Okay, this Marni oxford is neither a loafer nor a slipper, but I'm a sucker for tri-tone. Still waiting for them to appear on yoox.
Wonderful star print Tabitha Simmons loafers from Garance Dore. Candy Pratts Price selected these amazingly embellished Giambattista Valli slippers/loafers as part of some accessory list. They are compellingly gorgeous!

I'm feeling super slovenly this summer, so comfortable shoes are a must, along with lots of silk pajama pants and softly draped shirts. Or just the entire last look from the Louis Vuitton resort show.
Summer addition: Sipping on a nice drink that has this on top:
At the liquor store, there were not one, but two different brands of alcoholic whipped cream. I didn't photograph the other one.

Passwords for WebCC

2011-05-05T19:06:00.003-05:00

So, I've recently discovered Chip's Challenge again, and there is an online version called webcc that is made up of user generated levels.
Today, I've discovered the passwords to all the levels. All you have to do is click "go to level" and type N, for next over and over. But here are the passwords anyway.

Dgoetz Levels-2903-last level

The Deepest World-(fake walls) XDDX

McGill's levels-1328-last level

Furry Quest-MORE-last level

Quasar Industries-DFGT last level HXVL last demo

Chip's Revenge-MPYI last level

Nerd Alert-BOWE last level

main Levels FIRE-last level

Chip's next thing fdsu-last level

Challenge Series TRPD-last level

Expongeon-LETU-last level

The Unexplored-TBGU-last level

Yes, this has nothing to do with clothes, but is nevertheless a fun little diversion.

Cool Things

2011-04-01T14:53:00.003-05:00

my gray Miu Miu suede cowboy ankle boots, worn with rolled up striped levis that are reminiscent of Isabel Marant.
vintage satchel. Suck it, PS1. haha, just kidding, they're nice but I just don't like the closure on the PS1, and prefer the buckles.

my unwearably high Emanuel Ungaro eel branch booties. They fit weird on me since my toes don't go all the way down to the peep toe. Damn my fat feet.

What?

2011-02-27T22:17:00.002-06:00

There's a piece in the New York Times today about what dress actress Jennifer Lawrence and her stylist Elizabeth Stewart will decide on for the Oscars tonight. But the big news is that this girl, who is 20 years old, says, "I just learned how to use a computer and wouldn’t even know where to find the comments!”

How is this even possible in 2011?

Don't Know What to Make of These

2011-02-25T12:00:00.001-06:00

Margiela assless chaps-jumpsuit

Galanos Silk Chiffon Dress, YSL etc

2011-02-02T22:46:00.006-06:00

amazing vintage knit turban that does not belong to me, unfortunately. I thought this would be a perfect winter hat, something that wasn't a poorly made piece of itchy acrylic. However, it ended up going for over $90 on ebay so I was outbid by quite a lot.
vintage YSL army jacket, worn with YSL sailor shirt, Piazza Sempione Audrey pants, and Prada sandals
vintage YSL two piece set in an op art print
beenebag by Geoffrey Beene vintage "monk's habit" dress, worn with Marni platform sandals
just got these Celine boots from yoox, they're nice, although the toe is a little bit square. The leather lining is so soft. So maybe Ivana Omaziac's designs weren't all bad. The clothes were a bit try-hard and busy though. I've got a feeling that none of the Celine by Phoebe Philo pieces will end up on a discount website.
Another pair of Celine boots, this time with a lace up detail in the back, also from yoox. They weren't available in my size, so I'll keep looking.
Speaking of boots, most of the ones on Yoox are suede, which is a lovely material, but not one well-suited to all the salt and snow around here. I want something else other than my trusty Hunter wellies to wear in the ice and slush, but there are so few options within my price range.
For those who have the money and want warm rubber boots, I recommend Le Chameau. They are made in France, I believe and are lined in leather as opposed to fabric like so many other rubber boots.
Vintage YSL red tweed coat, YSL striped sailor bow blouse, YSL gray wool trousers, and Emanuel Ungaro eel branch heeled shoes.

vintage dress by James Galanos, worn with Prada Fall 06 tortoise platform sandals. My legs look kind of gray, they're not like that in real life.

I haven't posted regularly because I'm lazy, in school and have recently discovered the joys of watching Criminal Minds on certain video streaming sites for free.

Saddle Shoes

2011-01-18T13:28:00.003-06:00

These are amazing vintage Cole Haan men's saddle shoes, so sadly they won't fit me. The red soles are really fantastic. Considering now that they are somewhat of a trademark of Christian Louboutin, I wonder why he hasn't released a version of this iconic sporting shoe (a flat version, that is).
I have been looking for something similar. Ideally, my pair would have similar perforated hourglass detailing in the back, instead of a simple stripe.
Rupert Sanderson has some on his website as the Saddled O's line, but they are 320 GBP and none are on sale. There are some lovely perforated pairs, along with regular nubuck in ivory, red and olive.
Cheaper options are available at Muffy's shoes for around 70-100 USD.

Pearly White

2011-01-04T19:51:00.006-06:00

This Pauline Trigere cape and vintage silk jersey pearl encrusted dress would make an amazing winter outfit, no?

Pair with these intricate Gucci woven booties from Spring 2011.

Donald Brooks Coat

2011-01-02T23:59:00.002-06:00

It's pretty amazing. The fur collar is even more enormous in person.

Yes Please

2010-12-27T13:39:00.002-06:00

This is a lovely trompe l'oeil sweater dress by one of my favorite designers. Guess who? (Hint: not Schiaparelli, although I do love her designs.)

About Victoria Beckham's New Bag Collection

2010-12-23T11:30:00.002-06:00

So, you may or may not have heard that VB has launched a handbag range that started selling on Monday on Net-a-Porter (UK). Various media outlets are saying that things sold out in 60 seconds, etc.
However, if you look today, the crocodile bag, priced at over 8000 GBP that was sold out on Monday is once again available.
The suede and nubuck bag that was available on Monday afternoon is now sold out.
Here's what probably happened with the first bag: Net-a-porter has same day delivery in London and someone bought the first bag and returned it already.

Basically, it's hard to determine what is sold out on net-a-porter because they offer same day delivery in London and New York so the only true way to determine if something is gone is if the item remains sold out for a number of days.
Also, the site may only have one or a few of the items so it's not that hard for things to sell out.

Lanvin Black Patent Boots

2010-11-28T15:17:00.005-06:00

These are not selling that well on net-a-porter, possibly because of the hefty $1775 price tag. Maybe they'll go on sale at the end of the season (sometime in December for the US) for 70% off plus an additional 20% off near the end of the sale. Then they'd "only" be around $426.

Price tag aside, these are very practical shoes. They're crinkled patent leather, making them less of a fingerprint/dirt magnet, and they have a very manageable 2.5 inch heel. Crystals cover the heels, but they are not the matte kind, kind of smoky and grayish, thereby decreasing the tacky factor. I bet you could even do a bit of walking in the rain with these.
Speaking of gaudy, the other version with two different leopard prints is actually the least appealing that Lanvin has made.
You'd have to be some sort of stylistic saint to pull this off.

Been Away

2010-11-26T19:57:00.007-06:00

School's keeping me very busy, but here's a quick outfit. Look at this gorgeous pearl encrusted dress!
To be worn with:
these Alaia hiking boots with triangular grommets and some nice opaque black tights or these patent YSL Palais wedges with two straps.
How would you accessorize it? I don't want the shoes to be too fussy since there's so much embellishment on the dress.
Hypothetical outfit 2:
vintage YSL silk mousseline blouse, fresh from the mailbox
worn with a charcoal gray wool maxi skirt and
Nicholas Kirkwood for Erdem leather hiking boots (also available in multicolored silk at Saks.com)
I don't love the combo of red/black, so I picked gray. Maybe olive,forest green or chocolate brown would work too.
However, there's an exception for this:
vintage YSL silk and lace blouse with ruffled sleeves. This is so gorgeous in person, much better than in photos.

New Arrivals-Ungaro & Chloe

2010-11-05T20:30:00.006-05:00

I got these Ungaro branch heeled eel skin booties back in October, they're amazing to look at but super uncomfortable. The heel is close to 6 inches and the platform is so small.

these are the Internet famous Chloe Fall 2007 Doc Martens style wedge boots in cherry red

They are from Paulo Melim Andersson's first collection for Chloe
Can you believe that the original owner bought these AMAZING Chloe Doc boots for $1125 at Neiman's and decided to let them go, unworn, for an absolute steal? Lucky me.

I had a terrible Friday today with a dental appointment and a missed assignment at school but this is pretty uplifting.

Obsessed with...

2010-10-31T18:44:00.005-05:00

Prada embroidered shoes from fall 06
I've never seen this loafer version before, it's gorgeous. Too bad the seller only has them in size 36.
Wear the black pair with:
this vintage YSL purple ruffle blouse and a pair of slim khakis, rolled up.
Or wear one of the brown pairs with this vintage Lanvin dress:

YSL Rive Gauche Bag

2010-10-18T22:26:00.004-05:00

Why was this great bag discontinued? Why, YSL, why?????? Do you even make any more goatskin bags?
Wear with YSL crocodile embossed nubuck boots from Fall 07. I've only ever seen the Catwalk flap bag with this material before, it's nice to see that it was repeated for these great platform boots.
Gorgeous, no?

Lace Done Right

2010-10-07T10:27:00.002-05:00

Galanos
vintage YSL red silk blouse with black lace
Alaia lace wedge

Chloe Red Studded Boots

2010-09-16T14:20:00.003-05:00

These photograph really red, but they're not quite that bright. The leather is soft, giving them that wonderful slouch.
I'm trying to edit the color so it looks accurate, but the red ends up looking a bit flat. I ended up making it a crazy shade of electric purple instead.
I don't know what to wear them with.

What style Sunglases Are These?

2010-09-12T14:15:00.003-05:00

This is the Gucci Fall 2003 ad campaign starring Dewi Driegen. These sunglasses are black with little gold nails throughout the frame. I need to know the number inside the arms so I can find them on ebay or somewhere else online.

Barney's/Neiman's/Saks pictures!

2010-08-23T23:51:00.011-05:00

Yigal Azrouel leather jackets, side view
Yigal Azrouel leather jacket, $1295, at Saks
detailing of Yigal Azrouel dress, $895
Valextra bag made of ostrich legs
Valextra display at Barney's
This remarkably hideous Prada fringed and studded bag was over $3800 at NM, I believe.
Celine blush colored silk blouse, approx $1200
Nina Ricci clutch, $1495
The leather on this Nina Ricci Ondine bag was particularly nice, and the chain wasn't too heavy. They're on the girlier side, but still my favorite bags there. $2300 for the large size.
Nina Ricci flat clutch with bows, $995 Beautiful soft leather and satin lining on this one!
Marni east west bag with studs
adorable taupe Marni box bag, $1295
Louboutin Freddy studded oxford $995 at Saks
On an semi-related note, the Gazolina thigh high stretch suede boots were at Barneys and they are for people with TINY thighs only.
Semi-related note 2: Saks also had the Miu Miu studded oxfords and loafers. The loafers were made in Italy and had a nice heft to them. The laceups were made in China and felt weird and light.
Hermes window display at the H boutique in the old Barney's location
Guiseppe Zanotti low boots with crystal detail $1360
Givenchy nude dress with pailettes, approx $800
Dolce and Gabbana leather jacket, $2995
Robert Clergerie Cristal wedge boot with rubber crepe sole, $685.
The shape of these really reminds me of the Chloe Doc wedges
Celine brown leather bag, unlined. Approx $1400
Celine shearling "Luggage" bag, $2495
Celine doctor style satchel, approx $2400
Boy by Band of Outsiders blazer, $1400
Bottega Veneta eggplant suede parka, $4400. This was a standout piece. The suede was so soft and the idea is very well executed.

2 Balenciaga leather biker jackets, $2595
Alexander Wang suede jacket and forest green Diego bucket bag, $1295 and $895, respectively.
Alex Wang's bags look cool, but they are very heavy, just to warn you.
Alaia leopard knit dress
Alaia hiking boot with super high heel, approx $1600. Ikram down the street has an even more insane version of this boot, but done in leather that has been laser cut to look like lace, for approx $3200. I liked an earlier version he did that was a bit lower and had triangular eyes for the laces.

beautiful blush colored Alaia dress with glass beading, approx $8800. Alaia dresses, even if they are plain white cotton, have a lot of structure and integrity to them, hence the high prices.

Things of note that have not been photographed: Jil Sander high heeled desert boots $895. Very well made.
A table full of Ann Demeulemeester combat boots being tried on by two women.

Most pictures here are from Barney's in Chicago. A few are from Neiman's.
No, I did not buy anything.

Who's the Designer Behind Theory's Shoes?

2010-08-22T13:03:00.003-05:00

Tabitha Simmons Carla Thigh High Boot

Theory Hudson ankle boot and Waverly suede pump

I personally think it's Tabitha Simmons, the shapes and the color of the sole are pretty similar if not the color scheme or the surface decoration.

Inspired

2010-08-18T10:25:00.008-05:00

When I saw this Celine dress on the runway, I thought that it was nice but didn't really understand why Sarah Mower of style.com and Cathy Horyn of the New York Times declared it a unanimous favorite of the crowd at the show. Maybe it was the tightly wrapped belt.

Several months later I saw a photo on Jak & Jil of Anya Z., a editor for Russian Tatler and Vogue China wearing the same dress, only over a plain black long sleeved shirt with the cuffs neatly rolled up. Her hands are in the substantial looking pockets, another great, previously unnoticeable feature. This time, the belt was tied the same way I tie up my favorite blue trench. I fell in love.
I began to notice details that I'd previously missed, like how there's only one flap on the front and the epaulets on the shoulders, a feature seen on many pieces in Phoebe Philo's second collection.

However, Celine's prices are prohibitively high. At Barney's in Chicago, a simple blue and red sailor shirt in heavy cotton cost $795, and the dress above was $2650.

Onto this vintage safari/khaki dress from etsy. I know it's not literally similar, but I hope it will be stylistically close because of its clean lines and the weight of its fabric. To sharpen it up a bit, I'm thinking of getting it hemmed to an above the knee length and using a bit of the extra fabric to make a set of epaulets. The dress was about $40.
Maybe I'll wear the dress with this new purchase, a pair of Prada patent tortoise mary janes with a triangular heel from Fall 06. These were about $90.

Cool Vintage Find-Burgundy Slippers

2010-08-13T00:28:00.004-05:00

These are so cool, but they are at the shoe repair guy's place right now having a protective black sole put on them. They are a ruby red suede, with a bronze oval and thick black decorative stitching at the toe box. I just thought this hypnosis motif was so cool, along with the upwards pointing shape of the vamp. It's so nice to find flat shoes that are not ballet slippers or oxfords.

Something Special: Margiela Mesh!

2010-08-09T11:33:00.003-05:00

super amazing Maison Martin Margiela Line 22 thigh high boots with suede mesh
this gives the appearance of wearing tights

The interior is suede.
Does anyone else feel that Margiela runs small? I got these in size 38, but normally wear 37 to 37.5.

Large Tacky Wine Glasses, etc.

2010-07-28T22:29:00.006-05:00

Just saw this glorious object at TJMaxx the other day, it was $12 on clearance but I passed on it.
You could probably put a whole bottle of wine into this cougar pimp chalice, but then you could slur to passersby that you only had "one" glass of wine today.
Thinking of getting these YSL Folies sandals in nude. The photo above is from Jak & Jil, where Tommy Ton photographed Elizabeth Saltzman Walker during Spring 08 NYFW.
I got these silver Chanel sneakers in a 38. Hopefully they won't be too big, since I usually wear a 37-37.5.
Another picture of the black patent Manolos. These are so delicate and pretty, yet surprisingly comfortable.

Manolos are Here!

2010-07-27T21:33:00.003-05:00

Vintage YSL pics

2010-07-24T20:56:00.004-05:00

This biker jacket is beyond amazing. Look at how far the zippers go up the arms. There's even quilting on the shoulders and the back, but they're angled in different directions.

Wear with these dramatic Alexander McQueen pre-fall shoes with scrimshaw detailing, available on their website. The version in department stores does not have as high a heel or the carved details.

Some Outfits, Mostly YSL based

2010-07-13T17:03:00.004-05:00

vintage YSL blouse and gray wool pants, worn with vintage Coach belt and YSL mary jane wedges

vintage YSL dress with bow and balloon sleeves, worn with Margiela big belt from Spring 09 and the same YSL patent wedges as above
vintage YSL tuxedo jacket/dress in a deep wine color, worn with Marc Jacobs oxfords from Fall 07
vintage YSL leopard sweater and trousers, with the same MJ shoes as above. Grrr, the pants are so wrinkly.

Like a More Glam Version of the Vivienne Westwood Pirate Boot

2010-07-01T01:08:00.004-05:00

Fall '10 Balmain flat boots with 5 silver buckles. Available at Mrs. H (a Swedish e-store) for approx. $1480 or 11.600 SEK.
Also available in a high heel version with 3 buckles, but flat shoes are looking more fresh to me now.
Wear with a vintage East West Musical Instruments silver leather jacket, and an old t-shirt and jeans.

Shoe Pics!-Chloe, Proenza, YSL and More

2010-06-25T00:33:00.012-05:00

The infamous Chloe Susan studded booties from Pre-Fall 08. They were used in 14 looks.
I have seen them in black, cream, and red, but never in green. Paulo Melim Andersson, if you're out there, please somehow get these back into production! You're so much better than Hannah MacGibbon. It's unfortunate that you created these cult objects during your last collection, but it just goes to show how talented you are. The Chloe Doc Martens are also a blogger favorite.

The Chloe Susans were already a pricey $1250 when they were in stores, but I have seen pairs go for up to $2400 on ebay and a knockoff pair from Sweden go for $400.
There is also the taller, slouchy version, shown here on Camille from Childhood Flames:
This version retailed for about $1800. I do not remember the name (starts with r), but it comes in black, red, cream, and a grayish-teal. The heel is approximately 4 inches. Above is the black version, from ebay a while ago. I posted this before, but I tried sharpening it now.

These Roberto Cavalli heels have great proportions and a Swarovski covered chunky heel. They're glamorous without being spindly/strappy/skanky 90s thing that Cavalli can lapse into.
Once again, Alexa Chung manages to outdo everyone again with her Chanel mary janes. This version seems to be very rare, with its two buckles and blush satin composition instead of the usual leather. I did not see it on the Fall 08 runway either.Photo from MTV.
Jil Sander cutout wedge sandals from Spring '10. These look comfortable and study because of the rubber covered sole, but still directional and modern. Other nice Jil Sander shoes from this season came with a cork sole, much like a Birkenstock, but with more thought for design. Photo from Saks Fifth Avenue.
These three pairs are Proenza Schouler from the Fall 09 runway. Photos are from style.com. I never saw these for sale, or even any rich/connected people wearing them, so maybe they weren't put into production. I want to call their office in NY but am afraid, coward that I am.
It's always disappointing that something that's so hyped about on the blogs does not make it to stores. Another case in point are the Jean Paul Gaultier Doc Martens boots. Pictures floated around, they were featured in a Marie Claire editorial, but I don't know anything about them other than that, and have not seen anyone wearing them.

This is a rare version of the YSL trooper boot from Fall 08, my favorite YSL show so far. It has a narrower shaft and 2 zippers. I love the tough look from the lug sole, combined with the spindly heel.
This is the YSL Lauren pump in nude. What a beautiful shape and great proportions this shoe has! The strap is not too thick or thin, and the platform is not enormous or clunky. I wonder why this shoe wasn't as successful or the Tribute or Tribtoo, considering how good looking it is and its price of $595 USD.

No need for explanation here. These are the highly coveted Isabel Marant Bardu/Dana boots. I don't know if there is a difference between those two styles. The last picture is taken from a lower-heeled version of the boot called the Badel, because I wanted to show a picture of the chain from the front. A skilled person could DIY this, but it would take some effort finding a pair of boots with similarly distinctive triangular heels.

My taste in shoes runs from girly, to flashy, to sculptural. How about you?

Just A Taste-Ann Demeulemeester

2010-06-16T13:06:00.004-05:00

Just finished airbrushing my toes and learning how to put watermarks into photos using gimp. Anyway, these got here yesterday, along with a big Margiela belt with a trapezoid buckle. The first photo is from the store, the second is mine. I got the open toe version with a heel, as opposed to with a wedge. These shoes are really comfortable because of how well padded the footbeds are and how wide they are. Maybe more designers should make shoes with 3.5 inch wide footbeds that still manage to look amazing and not orthopedic. Or maybe Ann D. simply spoils her customers.
I sold off my first pair of Ann D's, the lace up ones. The suede dye always bled a bit and the skinny wedge was not nearly as comfortable. I should have better luck with these.

YSL bags-Uptown and New Rive Gauche

2010-06-14T01:00:00.006-05:00

from the Sartorialist

The YSL uptown is so structured and ladylike. It is very different from what I usually prefer, which are big slouchy ones worn crossbody. It has been discontinued, I believe, because it was not very popular. People on the fashion spot and the purse forum also say that the patent leather was a fingerprint magnet, but it also came in matte lambskin as well. Maybe if it came out in the textured patent, it would have done better. Above, you can see model Milagros Schmoll wearing hers, as well as a croc one that a SA at Nordstrom's sent to a customer.

Here are pictures of the New Rive Gauche from YSL. It's completely different than the original Rive Gauche, but Stefano Pilati is resistant to naming bags, "because they are not children." He has a point. What's puzzling here is that I thought the original RG was discontinued because of its high price, $1795 USD, but the new one costs $2895. It looks nice, but is essentially a big tote bag with some surface decoration. The original RG was more sophisticated from a design standpoint, with the top flap and the barrel lock, and the long straps with the swivel clasps, and so on.
I have a large black RG and really like it, but think it could be improved in the following ways: have the short straps be removable as well, or at least the one in the back. It sits better against the body and the strap doesn't have to get squished.
Make the long shoulder strap adjustable, or have it come in different lengths that customers can pick out. I find mine a little too long, I like the length on the medium RG better.
Having two zippers at the top, not just one.
Changing the cell phone pocket so that the cell phone actually stays in. This can be done by making a deeper pocket or putting a flap over the top.
Treating the leather to make it more stain resistant. The bag is made out of goatskin and light colored bags will have blue marks by the piping if you wear them cross body, with jeans.

I will leave you with these pictures of a lovely vintage YSL tiered silk dress, which I don't own, unfortunately.

Goodies

2010-06-07T22:28:00.007-05:00

These are some YSL patent mary jane's from Fall 05, I think. They are very similar to my Ida wedge, except for the detailing at the toe, the ribbon, and the small ankle strap. I will be getting these in the mail in a few days. They would look great with some slim black pants and these:
Marc Jacobs twill tie silk blouse. The picture is from Luisa via Roma, but I did not buy mine there. They have two versions in stock, this one, and a yellow and gray dress version.
I love how the ties are extra long, and not rectangular.

Shown tied and untied.
Lesson of the day: thrift stores rule!
On another note, there is no debate in my mind that this is THE leather jacket of the season.
The prominent silver zippers, lambskin and funnel collar are all I want. From MMM fall 10, from LVR.
The accessories are very interesting too, like these shoes and booties with a curved area underneath the arch of the foot.

Also interesting is this wood patterned boot.
All pictures from Luisa via Roma, prices range from $695 to $900 USD.

Shoe Pics and More

2010-05-30T11:44:00.011-05:00

These are the Marni striped platforms from Spring 09. They have a 5.5 inch heel and are reasonably comfortable to walk in. I feel that they run true to size. There are 21 leather stripes running down the sides of the heel. I wore these to a wedding with an Anna Sui dress.

Lanvin blush satin platforms with purple patent leather. I love this particular shade of pink. These shoes are not very stable, as the platform is recessed in the front, but that problem can be mitigated a bit by adding a rubber sole. These shoes retailed for about $1040, so I'm really glad I bought them used.
Now on to this gigantic (for a wristlet) from Ferragamo. I bought this on etsy for about $54. It's very nice and although quite big, I think I will use it often. The second, weird looking photo is from messing around in gimp.

This Pauric Sweeney taupe Overnight Sport bag is also a new purchase. I took it out to dinner and it got an oil stain of some sort on it from the booth. Then I tried to clean it with leather cleaner, but the spot became much larger. Then I used a suede eraser and everything was fine, as you can see from the picture of the bottom. lesson learned.
This bag is very nice and much lighter than my YSL Rive Gauche. If I may offer two criticism, it's that the pockets inside are too shallow! You can see this in the second to last picture. Also, I think the shoulder strap should be a bit longer and attached slightly differently, not with big rectangular metal clips. But there are other great things about the bag, like the shape, and how the two zipper pulls at the top are different; one is a standard looking shape and the other is a long tassel.

Now onto this crazy pink brocade YSL jacket. I don't know what I will wear it with, or if I will keep it. But it certainly looks fun.

On a more serious note, the massive BP oil spill has gotten me thinking about how to consume less. I know that sounds hypocritical and silly on this wildly consumerist blog, but I'm serious. I want to buy fewer things with lots of plastic packaging, because plastic is a petroleum product. I want to spend more time outside and less on the computer because my laptop uses a lot of electricity. My provider says the electricity it generates comes mostly from coal, a dirty power source. I don't own or drive a car, but there's a feeling that I could be doing much more.
I want to encourage readers to not use plastic bags, take public transportation when possible, and buy fewer new things. Four of the six items above were used. It's also a great way to snag a bargain. Go go Goodwill. I have found old Dior and a blue silk YSL blouse there. There are great things in thrift stores, you just have to look carefully, and you can get high quality items as well as basics like t-shirts for very little.

Vintage Norman Norell Dress and Other Goodies

2010-05-17T20:06:00.008-05:00

Just got this incredible ivory and red wool jersey Norman Norell dress. Hopefully it will be coming in a few days. The detailing is immaculate, and the pockets are nice and big. I love the little hammered details in the buttons, all 18 of them.

What shoe should I pair them with? Maybe if I had these YSL tango pumps, I would put the two together. This is a very ladylike dress and does not need a super-aggressive shoe. I also used GIMP to put in a pair of Alaias in the first picture.

The dress would look great with this destroyed patent Valextra Boston bag. I saw this bag a couple of years ago, and do not own it, and seriously regret it. I don't recall who the seller was, but there was also an ivory croc Rive Gauche dyed in a similar way.

Here's something else that I got the other week: a giant vintage YSL scarf/wrap. It is 37 inches wide by 110 inches long; it's really really big and cozy.

Another thing that I've acquired recently is this wonderful little YSL leopard print sweater. The knit is so thick and plush, really lovely.
I will post more detailed pictures later. There is a glossy yarn used for the blue/gray parts and matte yarn used for the rest of the sweater.

Marni-Yes and NO

2010-05-05T17:29:00.005-05:00

I was looking at style.com after buying a pair of Marni platforms on yoox. These are from Spring 09 and supposedly have a 5.9 inch heel.

Below are two looks from prefall 2010.

Here's a yes:
The color and cut of this quilted jacket are superb, like a biker jacket or a trench but more modern. I'm also a sucker for furry gloves. The wedge clogs are also adorable, including the studded ones worn with some of the looks.

and here's a resounding NO:
Not even the model can pull this one off. Incidentally these two looks were next to each other.

There's a story here somewhere

2010-05-04T16:41:00.005-05:00

Matthew Morrison of Glee with Natasha Poly at the Met Ball after party. Wonder which gossip blog will pick this up first and say that they're an item or something.

Anywho, my vote for best dressed goes to Naomi Watts in Lanvin (or Stella? photo credits don't agree). The color was beautiful, the fit perfect. It's not even wrinkled from the car ride, how is this even possible?

Sienna Miller also gets a nod for her Pucci dress and heels. It was a slutty, fun dress, very her.
I also see that Jude Law got his hair back.

Elisa Sednaoui, in a Chanel haute couture with multicolored embroidered circles.

Chanel Iman in a gold Michael Kors jumpsuit. The silhouette was lean, mean and slouchy. She was walking up the stairs in the background of a photo featuring Kerry Washington, but Chanel took the spotlight from Kerry.

Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte for Gap. The white pointy toe ankle boots are an interesting touch.

Anne Hathaway with her Valentino princess dress. Just goes to show that it's a combination of the right dress and the right woman. Plus she kept her hair fairly natural.

L'wren Scott in her own design. She looked powerful and a bit sultry.

Worst: Tina Fey in a YSL jumpsuit that was incredibly ill-fitting at the legs.

Janet Jackson, for massacring that black Lanvin dress with her boobs. It's not so bad from the first angle, but from the front, it's really awful.

Diana Taylor, (mayor Bloomberg's girlfriend) in ODLR that looked like a decorative pillow on clearance at Pier 1.

January Jones for the eye makeup and the over the elbow suede gloves. Her shoes are magnificent though. Thank goodness she wasn't wearing the fringed version. Stefano Pilati is impeccably dressed, as usual.

Karolina Kurkova for ruining her Altuzarra with yellow satin shoes.

Christina Hendricks for too much, too tight boobage.

Caroline Trentini. Too see through.

Kristen Stewart for everything. That Chanel haute couture dress aged her horribly.

Elizabeth Banks. What an utterly absurd quantity of snakeskin.

In all honesty, I thought many of the looks were a bit "off", and that removing some component would greatly improve them. For example, Gisele's Alex Wang dress could have benefited from a trim to remove most of that long, stringy fringe.

Jamie Bochert -the horseface (Impossible, I know)

Alexa Chung in Philip Lim should have worn different shoes, hers were clunky in a bad way. I do applaud her for being one of the few women in pants, though.

Jessica Alba wore Sophie Theallet for Gap. The dress was gorgeous, but her face was so shiny and she's a rather terrible actress.

Sometimes the hair and makeup are a bit much. Kate Bosworth had a beautiful, flowing Valentino couture dress embroidered with coral, but her wavy hair did not complement it.

People should take a cue from the Balmain/Isabel Marant runway shows (both styled by Emmanuelle Alt), and pair elaborate, heavily embroidered dresses/jackets with simple, natural looking hair and minimal looking makeup.

Martin Margiela Tabi Boots

2010-05-02T15:13:00.007-05:00

I know these are not tabi, but these twisted boots are amazing anyways.

silver
black patent
champagne satin
platinum
charcoal wool
camel

brown low heel tabi
most photos are from 1stdibs.
All but the top 2 photos show shoes from 1 vintage collector named Marcia Berger. Her estate contacted Resurrection, a vintage store, and these are now online. Most have been sold, but there are some heels and boots remaining. Prices range from $400-$2200. Most of the ankle boots are about $1400.

Wonderful Vintage Pieces+Modern Shoes

2010-04-28T14:12:00.015-05:00

Wear this vintage red YSL dress with these Manolos.
These have a slightly thicker heel, which I love.
vintage cream YSL dress with cloud print.
Wear with Dries van Noten suede and python heels.

wear these with cropped khakis/cords and these Versus safety pin heels with great lion's head detailing.

This black blouse has beautiful pleated details at the sleeve. So gorgeous!
wear with a black mini and these Siegerson Morrison sequined silver booties.

3 YSL bow blouses. I have been totally obsessed with these lately. They are very versatile and can be worn with skinny jeans, a skirt, charcoal trousers, etc.

Vintage YSL knitted peplum jacket with a chevron design
vintage YSL tunic dress in fuchsia velvet
Toughen up the look with black tights and these Gianni Barbato zipper ankle boots.
from yoox (sold out)
YSL ruffle bow blouse with dots and ruffles
vintage YSL military jacket
Be a modern dandy by pairing the blue jacket with a black linen t-shirt, skinny black trousers and these silver Gucci boots from Spring 07.

fun Moschino leather jacket with various flags
Wear with a long flowing black dress, like this vintage Galanos example, and
Spring 10 Miu Miu satin Mary Janes.

incredible vintage Jitrois leather jacket

vintage Fortuny stenciled tunic

Edwardian lace dress

vintage Donald Brooks dress with fringe

2 vintage Chanel haute couture lace dresses. I recall the black one on top going for about $13,000

YSl peasant blouse (why do designers not make stuff like this anymore? It's so simple and easy to wear.)

YSL necklace and cuff

vintage YSL African inspired dress with tons of beading and embroidery
Wear with these voluptuous Jil Sander pumps (from Altantis Home)

wear with vintage jeans, rolled up, and these Balenciaga Fall 09 stingray sandals.

the piecing is unequaled. Do something monochrome with khaki and wear these Scorah Pattullo for Marios Schwab ankle boots.

two east west musical instruments leather jackets and 1 ewmi belt buckle

Note: These items do not belong to me. (I wish they did though.)

For Sale: Alexander McQueen Leather Leggings

2010-04-21T18:43:00.004-05:00

Size 40, from the fall 08 runway show. These are so amazing, and have quilted knee pads and a silk lining, but my legs are too short for the 31 inch inseam! :(

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200463015207&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Please view the ebay link for more pictures and measurements. You can contact me directly if you wish to purchase.

Perfect for Summer

2010-04-08T22:46:00.005-05:00

a vintage Chloe silk dress
Look at those wonderful little sparkly details at the neckline.

Layer this with a jacket and gray tights to channel Paulo Melim Andersson's last collection, pre-fall 08 (the one with the infamous studded booties)

Still obsessed with this collection. It's so much better than Hannah MacGibbon's oceans of beige. She's done like 5 collections of that, right?

DIY Comme des Garcons Toe Shoes

2010-03-26T02:33:00.008-05:00

I've wanted to do a DIY version of the infamous toe shoes from Fall 09 for a long time, but have only recently found a good shoe for it. In order to make drawing a bit easier, you need a shoe with a round toeline. The originals are very rounded, hence the toes are closer to the ends. I saw them at Colette for around $800, but they're sold out now.

What you need:
Fabric paint (I used white Scribbles fabric paint from Michael's)
leather/suede dye (optional)

I started out with these Naif desert boots, from Yoox. The suede and the leather lining are both of high quality, nice and soft, and they have a small 1.6 inch heel. I liked them so much I bought 3 pairs and dyed one of the brown pairs black.
Here are the two other pairs.

the suede dye is a little thin so several coats are needed
I also dyed the crepe soles black with some leather dye left over from another project.
the original brown laces have been replaced by black velvet ones
Finished! This wasn't so bad, except the redying took a while and I did mess up the toes on my first try. That's why the toe caps are shiny, as I had to cover up my mistake in black fabric paint. In order to draw them better, I wore the shoe and tried to trace the outline with a silver pen, and then went over that with the fabric paint. It's important to squeeze gently, as wiping off mistakes isn't easy.

The McQueen Knuckle Ring is Here, But...

2010-03-25T00:34:00.002-05:00

It's missing a crystal in the skull.

Hard + Soft

2010-03-22T20:19:00.003-05:00

1. Ann Demeulemeester 19 cm belt, at Antonioli.eu

vintage YSL silk dress in a Navajo print (not mine)

2. YSL block boots,
vintage Chester Weinberg metallic tiered dress (I wish)

Vintage Shearling

2010-03-19T19:28:00.006-05:00

I've been searching for the perfect shearling coat, and have found 2, one short and 1 long. These are both from the 70s. If you want to buy and don't know what to look for, here are some factors to consider:

How thick the shearling is, as that is a good indication of quality.
A handwritten label that also says made in the US or UK. In the 80s and up till today, leather production is too expensive in the US and is outsourced to Asia instead.
Buttons that are made of real antler, not plastic.
Condition. Ask if there are any tears to the shearling. A damaged coat will be cheaper, but fixing it could cost a lot.

this one has great proportions, and has a belt with 2 buttons in the back.

large slanted pockets and antler buttons
this one has an exceptionally thick collar, and a handwritten label inside.

Studly

2010-03-19T19:11:00.003-05:00

I'd been lusting after these for months and finally got the last pair off of Amazon for 60% off. They jangle when I walk because of the zipper and I hope they'll wear in nicely.

PS: The reason Amazon has nice shoes is because they bought endless.com, a shoe website. The deal happened a few years ago because Amazon wanted to compete with Zappos. Now, Amazon and Endless share inventory, but I've found that Amazon's prices are much lower.

Stuff for Sale, Round 2

2010-03-14T20:37:00.004-05:00

YSL vintage suede skirt
YSL Tom Ford tuxedo jacket size 34

Alexander McQueen ring sz 5.75

vintage Balenciaga beret

With the money from those, I'd like to buy this:
I've become totally obsessed with old hippie sheepskin coats, and this one has great proportions and pockets with an interesting shape.

Stuff for sale

2010-03-02T21:29:00.005-06:00

Pucci rainboots
Chanel temporary tattoos
Robert Clergerie Oxfords

YSl printed dress

YSL jeweled beret

Alexander McQueen Skull Ring (2 sizes available)

YSL blue bolero
vintage Char cape

Celine wedges
vintage military cape

please email if interested

Coincidence or Not?

2010-02-21T03:54:00.005-06:00

So we all know that designers do get inspired by vintage pieces, and have people scour stores for the really good stuff. Store owners also alert designers when something particularly special comes in.

vintage James Galanos alpaca coat with stone marten collar
yes, I'm in a mall standing next to a taxidermied bear. But anyway, here are Philip Lim's Fall 2010 opening looks. This isn't really a case of copying, but I was wondering as a result of how similar the fabrics are. The runway pieces have the same pattern as the coat, only way blown up and replacing the blue stripe with black. I love the shorts.

I like to fork myself is back up

2010-02-17T17:23:00.002-06:00

For a while after Daul Kim's death, permission to enter the blog was denied but I discovered that it's back up today.

So Sad

2010-02-11T15:28:00.003-06:00

Alexander McQueen was found dead in his home today. He made such beautiful clothes, sometimes filled with romance, sometimes with aggression, but always compelling. I have read that analysts say PPR will abandon his company, as it was not profitable enough, and would have a lot of difficulty surviving without its founding designer, especially in the current economy.
His company became profitable just 2 years ago, and I think it would have done better and better with him continuing to be at its helm. Recently, he created many desirable accessories, like the Faithful bag, and the open toe boot of the same name.
Some British commenters have claimed that he is the greatest designer of the 21st century. While I think that Nicolas Ghesquire or Phoebe Philo deserve that credit more, Alexander McQueen's singular vision and superb tailoring skills are something to marvel at.

Also, I saw this ring on Saks sometime around the 15th, and today, the 17th, it is gone. I called Saks in NY and they said this was online only. It is $550 and I can't find it anywhere.

Here is the pewter version I posted a few months ago.

70s Mood

2010-02-02T18:08:00.005-06:00

Thinking about Sawyer of Napa shearling coats, olaf daughters clogs, and low wedge sandals.
These Celine sandals have similar proportions to ones by kork-ease. The label is now headed by Phoebe Philo, a person who brings a fresh minimalism to the brand. Their prices are really high though. A simply pair of sandals with one toe strap, an ankle strap and a thick metal heel costs over $800. I wonder how much the ones below weigh. If they're fairly light, I'd love to get a pair.

This is a longer shearling coat, which is the length I want. Sawyer of Napa designs great face-framing collars, nice seaming details on the back and real antler buttons. They were made in the US in the 70s. You might have also seen one of their rancher jackets featured in the Marlboro Man ads.

Also on my wish list are classic Clarks desert boots and Wallabees. My feet are really too wide for heels, and I'm slowly coming to term with that.
Here are more great examples of 70s flair, a mixture of sleekness and decadence.
YSL brocade coat with fur collar and cuffs
YSL haute couture peasant outfit from Decades' blog
YSL blouse with intricate pattern (so sad I don't have one like this)

Bits and Pieces

2010-02-01T02:31:00.010-06:00

YSL black suede ankle boots, with great proportions

vintage Robert Clergerie "desert boots." That's what they basically are, with a low wedge heel. If the toes were a bit more tapered like the Clarks ones are, they'd be perfect.
Vintage Pucci pleated silk dress
This is an old pic from last summer. Narciso Rodriguez for Barack Obama tshirt and Philip Lim ruffle zipper skirt.
black/beige leopard ruffle dress

YSL orange and blue bow blouse, with an old belt and gray pleated pants
crazy vintage silk velvet Diane Fres dress

vintage YSL saffron cardigan
YSL sailor jacket (I no longer have this)
60s YSL safari dress
YSL ivory jacket with gold buttons
YSL haute couture suede and fox coat (bought as Christmas gift to self)
YSL silk and gold lurex dress
YSL silk velvet and velour cocoon jacket

YSL tuxedo bib blouse in slubbed silk wit polka dots
YSL silk pleated blouse (has matching skirt and separate tie)
YSL wool and lurex Russian peasant skirt

YSL pewter silk tiered skirt
YSL paisley silk camp shirt
YSL plaid wool Russian jacket
YSL challis blouse
YSL b/w polka dot blouse

YSL red silk robe dress (terribly evocative of Hef)
YSL slubbed silk safari shirt

YSL silk velvet cardigan
YSL gray suede skirt with gold whipstitching
YSL black wool sweater with sequin sleeves

YSL wool and velour smoking jacket

Sorry, can't take photos of clothes on myself anymore. I've turned into a whale as of late and am going to the gym to turn that around.

Ebay Psychosis -Hi Nigel!

2010-01-09T18:42:00.003-06:00

This following Q&A really happened in the listing for the shoes pictured above. Some psycho called Olivia Winslow has no idea how ebay works and starts freaking out when she is outbid. The seller is polite and then gets mad by the 4th question. (the end result of the auction is rather anticlimactic, since the winning bidder was not olivia winslow nor did they pay), but this middle part is comedy gold.

Q: hi miss melbourne. will u cancel my bid if i have no feedback? i just started an account to buy the shoes but my maximum is 699. can you sell it to me for 699? do i have to pay postage if i can come and collect from your house? what is the reason for selling them? are they defectives? xoxo olivia. Dec-21-09
A: Hi Olivia, Thanks for checking in with me first, I appreciate it. Feel free to bid, I won't cancel it. Unfortunately, I cannot do a BIN as a number of people have emailed me in the last 12 hours asking the same thing. I feel it would be unfair to end the listing for you when I've said no to three other people already. I'm very sorry if that disappoints you. If it's any consolation, everyone is telling me that 699 is the maximum they can bid, so I suppose it will come down to the first person who does put that number in (I have a feeling this is going to be a last minute thing). If it helps bring things along, I will lower the starting price for the auction after this reply. No, you will not have to pay postage if you come and collect them. I have homes in Port Melbourne, Toorak and Brighton so you may collect them there, or from either Hawthorn or Mount Waverley if you like. The reason for selling is that my husband and I are expecting a baby and are converting his dressing room into a nursery. He is moving his things into my studio so I need to make plenty of room. As I have explained in the listing, we made a deal that in exchange for a 100k renovation :D, I would be more practical about my fashion choices. :( As these don't fit me, they have to go. They are not defective at all, other than natural wear to the bottom of the soles-- if you would like to inspect them, you can come and see them in person. :) It's purely personal reasons that they're being sold. If you don't mind, I'm going to post this reply publicly, so I don't keep having to answer the same questions. Thanks and happy bidding, Emmy

Q: pleeeeeeease will u let me by these now, someone is bidding and everytime i get my bf to agree to pay more the other person is straight bidding against me!1! i really want these shoes please help me!!!! Dec-23-09
A: I understand your position because I love these shoes, too. If someone had them listed in my size, I would be eager to buy them outright before anyone made a bid. However, I will not end the auction now that it has started. It's not fair to the other person who is bidding responsibly and in good faith and it wouldn't be fair to the other people who have emailed me with the same kind of plea. I wish you good luck with the auction and regret disappointing you. If I can say one more thing, it may help you to read up on bidding practice on eBay. I don't think the other person is sitting at their computer, vindictively upping your bids, I think it's because their highest price is more than yours. It's just the automatic bidding system at work. Don't take it personally. Thanks. Emmy

Q: who is the other person bidding against me then?!? can u give me their email address?!?! it is very frustrating i want these shoes badly and they are ruining my holidays. can u ask them to stop bidding? Dec-23-09
A: Olivia, there is no way I am going to disclose that to you. For all you know, they want these shoes very badly, too. Please stop asking me these questions. I will post your most recent question publicly, so they will be able to see it. If they are happy to stop bidding, then they can. I'm sorry that you are frustrated but this is just how ebay works. Take care.

Q: EVERY TIME THAT IM PUTTING IN A BID THEY INCREASE IT AND I CANT BEAT THEM!!!!!!!!!!!! if i bid more can u let me have them for less ((like to get cashback) if i pick them up remember u said that i dont have to pay shipping so will u let me? i neeeeed these shoes and the person is making more bids... i will bid more if you give me cash back when i pick them up from u? like at electrical shops wen u get cashback when u buy!!!! Dec-25-09
A: No. You're really pushing me to the point that I don't know if I would be happy selling to you. If this kind of behaviour went on at an auction that I was bidding on instead of selling, I would be very upset. Please take a step back and look at the situation from an objective point of view. Do you think you are being fair to the other bidder? They haven't done anything wrong to you, they are just bidding on shoes they also want. I don't know how many emails I have received from you now, but if you make this kind of suggestion again, I will cancel your bids and sell to the other bidder for their starting bid. I'm serious, Olivia.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Christian-Louboutin-Heels-Pink-Python-Alti-160-EU-41_W0QQitemZ280440827405QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Women_s_Shoes?hash=item414b936e0d

Frippery is Fun

2010-01-06T12:54:00.007-06:00

This is the most beautiful vintage YSL bow blouse ever! It has such a nice pattern of feathers, and the silvery color is so soft and flattering.

Another recent purchase is this spotted YSL silk dress. I love the ruffles and the fact that it has pockets.
This one's not new, but this Tom Ford for YSL tarapunto leather jacket is so beautiful I thought I'd photograph it anyway.

YSL fall 2002 gladiator sandals. The design of these shoes are very innovative, and I love the fact that these have lace-ups in the front years before other notable designers did them. (Ann D. Spring 09, Manolo Blahnik for Band of Outsiders Spring 09, Narciso Spring 10, etc)

Tina Chow Jewelry Pictures

2009-12-19T14:59:00.008-06:00

Tina Chow's jewelry pieces are very hard to come by. I have rarely seen any of her crystal and bamboo pieces up for sale, and the few pieces that are go for thousands of dollars.

These three photos are from a Japanese website made by the son of Shouchikudou Kosuge.
"I like the idea of wearing very personal jewelry and not so much decoration," Tina Chow says. As a result, there is a Oriental spareness about her jewelry-- a sense that every detail has been considered, every element is as it should be. (Tina worked closely with Japanese master tea ceremony basketmaker Kosuge Shochikudo, who created the encasements.) The pieces--like Tina--defy categorization. Shapes are simple, straightforward--often dictated by the stones. Chosen materials are hardly standard fare; that too is characteristically Tina: "Uncut stones are so wonderful, why muddle about with them?"

-from Vogue US August 1987

I googled Kosuge Shochikudo, and he passed away in 2003. This is really unfortunate, as his basket making techniques are very elaborate and there are not many artisans like that in Japan today.

Here is an example of his work on a bamboo bodice for Issey Miyake, in 1983.

Here is an excerpt of a NYT article on on crystal jewelry:

FASHION; In Jewelry, Choices Sacred and Profane, Ancient and New Age

By DEBORAH HOFMANN Published: May 7, 1989

Her pendants, wrapped in bamboo or sterling or gold wire, dangle from heavy silk cords. The highly polished and tapered quartz ''Miwako'' pendant is $1,500; a smaller oval quartz pendant is $600. The ''Temple'' quartz ring is $550 and is ''good for zapping people with good energy,'' Ms. Chow said.

Perhaps this is the ring? ($1500, ebay)

Although the new age stuff is absolutely bunk, I think her jewelry is timeless and unique. It should be appreciated on its own merits as small, wearable sculptures. Here are some pictures from the fashion spot, and ebay. I have tagged the pictures so it's easier to find them on google image search. People who aren't members of tfs would not be able to see some of these pictures otherwise.

asymmetric earrings made with quartz and sterling silver, from trocadero.com

bamboo pendant, quartz cuff and bamboo woven braceletFrom Flair (an out of print book about her vintage collection)

Vogue, 1987 photographed by Helmut Newton
clear quartz cuff, signed T. Chow

A similar necklace went for about $4500 on ebay in November. This one is from trocadero
crystal ring, at Nalia de Monbrisson in Paris (she has a great gallery)

these crystal spear earrings went for $3639 on November 10th. The quartz is lovely and very clear. Both the earrings and the spear ring come from the same seller.

Here are some photos of the Kyoto bracelet with amethyst pebbles, from Rare Vintage. Price upon request, but I'm guessing it's long gone.

Lohanhouse.com Reeks of Desperation

2009-12-16T01:56:00.005-06:00

Okay, tawdry desperate famewhore time!
I was curious about this site after reading about it in Page 6 of the NY Post. Its motto is "Real people live here". So what horrors would be fished out of this sad Long Island coke den and put up for sale?
The merchandise in the store is less than mediocre and ridiculously overpriced. There's old
old Luella for Target stuff for full price! A YSL fringe bag is $800, something you can easily get for 300 or less on ebay. Many things are outdated looking. Pastel puffer vest, anyone? Another quirk of the website is its drug-addled misspelling of many designer names. Here's a sample:

Diana von Furstenbrg
Marc Jacob
Emillio Pucci
Lauren Muffet (mother goose on crack or something)

Strangely enough, there is a pair of Dsquared2 black heels for only $10. This is the only bargain on the whole site.
The link to each person's room are not actually pictures of their rooms, but rather pages with information about current projects. I was sort of disappointed to not be able to see a 90s Whitney Houston crack pipe on the dressing room sort of disaster. I could totally see Dina wandering around in a pill induced haze in her trashed bedroom before issuing some ridiculous denial about her oldest daughter's drug induced behavior.

ROBERT CLERGERIE Patent Booties 6.5 Pierre Hardy Box

2009-12-13T21:33:00.002-06:00

Proenza Schouler Wallets Are Here!

2009-12-08T15:51:00.004-06:00

Moro Brown

Blackberry-dark purple

They measure 7.5 by 4.5 by 1 inch, at the top. Functionally, they are rather like a clutch, since there is only 1 interior compartment, lined in jacquard, and 1 compartment in the back.

These colors are now both sold out on the website, so I was quite lucky.

Allegations In the Comments Section of NYMag About Daul Kim's Death

2009-11-29T21:51:00.004-06:00

I liked Daul Kim as a model and always thought she was smart as well as a fantastic dresser, and was saddened to hear about her untimely death.

Here are some interesting comments from a thread in The Cut. The name of the thread is :Daul Kim IMed With a Friend About a Physically Abusive Boyfriend Hours Before Her Death.
Please keep in mind that these are semi-anonymous accusations, but they sounded very interesting, and if indeed Guillaume Chaillet was her boyfriend and is as powerful as these commenters claim, I wanted to put these comments online in case the ones at nymag get taken down.
Here's a picture of him.
from asvof

Boyfriend was Guillaume Chaillet. He's super well connected in the fashion industry and comes from a "good" french family. http://neo-cffoundation.org/new/?guillaume-chaillet,9

-voisla 11/25/09 2:14 Am

It makes me very uncomfortable that a possible murderer is running free around in Paris.
Daul Kim's boyfriend was abusive. I also do not believe this was a suicide.
Her boyfriend's name is Guillaume Chaillet. He is high profile in fashion, head of Pressing PR Office. He is wealthy and well connected.
He is 20 years older than her.
It was not Daul Kim's apartment, It was his.
He was present, inside the apartment when she died. Authorities were quick to close the case as suicide and he was never a suspect.
The investigation has been transferred to another department handling criminal activity.
Possible Homicide.

Daul's death has not been confirmed a suicide. Most of the press have taken excerpts from her blog grossly out of context.

Daulsbestestfriend 11/25/09 2:51 PM

How do you give citation to information you know via being best friends with someone? I can corroborate that daulsbestestfriend was indeed her best friend. I knew her and a lot of my friends knew her. She may have been emotionally volatile, but she wasn't suicidal, and based on the contact she had with them, none of them can believe that she was suicidal in the days leading up to her death. She was planning on breaking up with her boyfriend and coming to new york to be free of him. Things are not adding up.

voisla 11/25 5:28 PM

This is why I am letting the netizens know. This information is not being disclosed publicly because of French policy. The authorities cannot name Guillaume Chaillet. You do not know Daul. Maybe she never smiled in photos.
What high fashion model does? I think models do tend to photograph looking stern, pensive, or in pain...i mean, unless they are in a catalog.
As her friend, we smiled all the time...and guess what? She can laugh too.

It is not wrong to call her a boyfriend an abuser, especially when he is a one and his girlfriend is now dead. It also seems likely that you too missed the whole point of her blog: a darkly humorous, sometimes cynical, but mostly celebratory take and sharing of a life behind fame, full of rants, and random thoughts, all for a hobby and your entertainment. I doubt her blog was a cry for help. Do people cry for help from strangers on the internet?

daulsbestestfriend 11/28/09 4:16 PM

Fun New Stuff

2009-11-29T16:46:00.003-06:00

Just got this Rag & Bone safari jacket in the mail the other day. It's gorgeous and so light (because it's not lined)! Love the nipped in waist too.

On a somewhat related note, how gorgeous is this Rag & Bone leather jacket with zip off sleeves? photo via NYmag/The Cut
Another new purchase is this vintage Chanel camellia. It's so delicate and has a tiny oval plate on the back with the hallmark.

The 3rd thing is something new from the 90s. This pair of Helmut Lang suspender pants is very Marlene Dietrich, no? The suspenders are removable.

4th new purchase: a YSL tuxedo jacket!!!
so excited.
Looking at style.com's accessories for Spring 2010, I was struck by this printed Givenchy Nightingale. What a beautiful print.

These silver Gucci low boots from Spring 07 also look very intriguing.

Did You Know ?

2009-11-22T22:15:00.009-06:00

That these Eileen Shields Tara boots are a sensation in Sweden? (This is what popular bloggers can do these days) I was reading about this the other day. They are in stock on the designer's website for $300 and on garde-robe in Sweden for more. (Pictures via garde-robe's website)

While searching for more information about these boots, I saw that Florence the Shoe Goddess gave them a terrible review, but she seems to be big on stilettos. These look comfortable and utterly unlike all the spindly Louboutins that assorted "starlets" and reality show D-listers wear in LA. They are also definitely meant to be worn tucked under pants, or alternately with a long dress. This got me thinking about low wedges that give a decent amount of boost, height-wise. That lead to ebay. (All roads lead to ebay.) There is something similar here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Robert-Clergerie-Black-Leather-Platform-Wedge-Boots-7-5_W0QQitemZ290372450542QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Women_s_Shoes?hash=item439b8bf8ee

But I wanted to be cheap.
the Clergerie boots appealed to be because they had crepe soles, like desert boots do. In the end, I got a pair of brown Robert Clergerie desert boots with a black platform and wedge heel.
They look really dusty, but they'll most likely be better in person. I'm thinking about sponging on black dye on the edges of the soles so they'll be glossier and not as grayish.

Oh and one other thing: I bought a really cool vintage jacket today for $17. The pattern is woven into the fabric and the lining is bright tomato red. There's no label.
Other purchases include a pair of YSL suede ankle boots. My closet has been missing these for a while.

Vintage YSL Velvet Cape Coat

2009-11-18T20:24:00.005-06:00

2 pockets, no closures

white trim with a triangular pattern90s label

Just got an exceptional piece in the mail the other day. I'm so excited! This cape coat was even nicer than expected and it's in great condition too. A lot of older velvet pieces have press marks, but I have not seen any on here. The white yarn trim is a great touch too. The cape part is cut on the bias, hence all the ruffles that fall against the back.
What's so great about YSL is that you don't have to choose between fantasy and practicality. He made a great pair of trousers and wonderful bow blouses, but then there are opulent, more baroque pieces like this gem of a coat.

Maybe I'll wear it with this YSL patent leather hood from Fall 07. (coming in the mail)
It looks very urban and sleek. I really liked that collection, from the big swingy coats, to the Charlotte ankle boot, to the Catwalk bag, and all the great textures in the clothes. This hood looks pretty warm, as the outside is leather and the inside is 70/30 cashmere/silk.

A Bag Post (Mostly Mombasas)

2009-11-10T21:41:00.008-06:00

4 of my previous bags, YSL Money, YSL medium Rive Gauche in camel, YSL crossbody Mombasa with no horn, and gold Givenchy python bag
small one with metal handle (rather uncomfortable)

My favorite one, because of the shoulder strap
basic black Mombasa, large size
green lambskin pleated
blush suede, studded
black lambskin, pleated
These are the 6 Mombasa bags I've owned. I've gone through a lot, but only have the purple crest bag and a large Rive Gauche in black left.

in tooled leather (red and beige)

jeweled suede Mombasa
rattan Mombasa

A Change of Mind

2009-11-09T22:44:00.004-06:00

YSL purple crest bag from Spring 06
This is an artificially elongated me holding the bag. Isn't Gimp great?
I was going to sell this on ebay because I never use it, since I prefer crossbody bags and this one's strap was too short. Well, today I used one of the ties from my YSL bow blouses to fix the problem, so with me it stays.
I removed 1 end of the long strap attached to the d-ring and looped a long tie twice around it to make the strap longer.

On another note, I am very full from eating barbecue for dinner today. I had beef brisket and a twice baked potato casserole. It looked something like this:
This is actually a smoked potato and catfish sandwich, an old pic since I didn't take pictures today. It was amazing.

Delvaux

2009-11-08T22:23:00.004-06:00

My new (to me) Delvaux bag. I learned about this brand from Style Bubble. With my interested piqued, I bought this on sale. It's 18.5 by 13.5 inches, although with the asymmetry, I'm not sure exactly how the sizing will work out. I would like to learn more about this bag (name, leather, etc). Can anyone help?

ALAIA is here to stay.

2009-11-07T17:56:00.003-06:00

vintage Alaia sweater with HUGE batwing sleeves. The piece is very versatile, it can be worn as a dress or a sweater, if you roll the bottom in a bit. I'm obsessed.

Love

2009-11-04T17:54:00.004-06:00

Someone in England put these amazing Haider Ackermann booties from Fall 07 up on ebay. They are savagely architectural and completely stunning. If they wern't $800 and a size and a half too small, I'd definitely get them.
Here are 2 of my favorite looks from the show.

You Know What I Want This Winter?

2009-11-02T23:19:00.005-06:00

the loudest, most decadent fur coat EVER.
Galanos
Revillon
I already have a vintage Galanos llama and stone marten coat, but a girl always could use more vintage fur.

Also, I want this. The collar is amazing.
vintage 1930ts Robert Piguet coat (from enokiworld)

Proenza Schouler Boots

2009-10-22T23:24:00.010-05:00

I finally found these online at Zappos and Endless (which is powered by Amazon, so you can find the same shoes on both). They are available in black patent with white trim, brown with neon orange trim, and brown tapestry with neon yellow trim.
The tapestry ones are $1295, and the other two are $1360.

Yesterday's Outfit

2009-10-22T21:00:00.004-05:00

Finally, these harem pants were 9.99 so I ended up getting a pair. Worn with dark blue YSL jacket with gold braid and vintage CJ bis lace-up boots.

On an unrelated note, why are leather leggings so expensive? 700 euros ($1052) is the cheapest I can find, and the more expensive styles are closer to $2000. Pictured above are Haider Ackermann limited edition leggings with zips (close to 2k from LVR), and Givenchy jersey and leather leggings from Farfetch.

More Favorite Vintage Dresses

2009-10-21T02:31:00.010-05:00

Vintage Chester Weinberg sequined dress. The quality is wonderful, and there is a single file row of sequins on each strap. All of the sequins on the dress appear to be sewn on by hand. It's very heavy and moves beautifully.
Vintage Chester Weinberg wool and suede dress. The bottom half is so soft, and I love the skinny sleeves. Unfortunately, I've never been able to fit into this dress, even when I bought it the neck hole was too tight.
This Donald Brooks dress features some very interesting construction, as well as super-skinny sleeves with a zipper at the end. The concentric circles at the collar and chest are made by putting white string underneath the fabric, and sewing them in place. I've never seen this effect elsewhere, but it's a great way of creating texture.
This is a Donald Brooks dress in cotton (top part) and wool jersey (bottom part). Like some of my other favorite dresses, it has concealed pockets. The vest is also reversible. It reminds me of 70s Charlotte Rampling.
Here is a rare 60's YSL safari dress. Notice it has a large label. There are wonderful details such as the little bit of quilting at the bottom of the row of buttons.

vintage YSL peasant skirt with tiers, concealed pockets, and silver lurex threads running throughout. Probably the most decorated of all my skirts.

vintage dress from Joseph Magnin, a store in California that went out of business a long time ago. (thanks, Macy's.) I forgot who the designer is. The material is a beautiful midnight blue satin with crystal buttons.
This is not a dress, but it's a Dior Jeune Homme blazer that is pretty cool. Unfortunately, this pic was taken in front of my old bathroom. Ew.

Chester Weinberg and Donald Brooks are two of my favorite designers. Unfortunately, not many of their dresses are available for sale. I like their clean, sometimes sporty aesthetic, and the fact that there are pockets in their dresses. The craftsmanship is also meticulous.
Soon, I will show some pieces by my other favorite American designers: James Galanos and Norman Norell.

So Good

2009-10-17T08:56:00.006-05:00

Chanel silver heels, flats and boots

Chloe studded boots (not the Susans, but those are completely impossible to get now)

alaia nude patent heels

Louboutin Donjon studded boots, first pic from net-a-porter, 2nd from a long-gone ebay listing
strappy satin sandals

Perforated flat boots (Jeffrey Campbell knocked these off a while ago, ugh)

suede ankle boot (decadestwo on ebay a while ago)

Browns

Matches

last 3 pictures from Browns.
Alaia heels, sandals, ankle boots.
Last 5 pics are from this season.

bourgeois

2009-10-13T15:57:00.005-05:00

vintage YSL bolero, Anne-Valerie Hash dress, Wolford striped lace tights, YSL tribtoos.

sweet shawl collar
Same as above except for the vintage Oleg Cassini velvet smoking jacket. (Bit like a cross between Hugh Hefner and Balenciaga Fall 09).

Loving This Dress at the Moment

2009-10-10T17:51:00.005-05:00

my vintage Lanvin print dress, very comfortable and easy to take care of.

Wanting these:
Alexander McQueen knuckle duster ring (it's cheaper than the clutch)
YSL Tom Ford 2002 caftan
chinchillas with birthday hats,
Giles Fall 07 giant scarf (I saw someone on flickr make her own version, impressive)

New Shoes (Practical Ones)

2009-10-06T21:20:00.005-05:00

such a pretty floral insignia that will disappear with some wear :(
worn just so at the toes

I've been searching for the perfect oxford ever since I saw the Christopher Kane Fall 09 show. Preferably they should be black, like these ones.
So far, I only have pairs in beige and dark brown.
Have to keep looking, or maybe I'll dye these. Yoox has a nice selection of handmade Italian oxfords, but so many are terrifyingly expensive.
I've also contemplated buying a cheap pair and carefully doing a DIY to turn them into these.