flat out wantable

Here are a few flats that I am ogling these days.

Two Shiny

Louboutin at Net A Porter


F-troupe at La Garconne


Two-Toned


Tom's at Tom's


B store at Confederacy

Two Classics


Ferragamo at NM


Chanel Resort


All of them on my list for fall flat fashion.

Ms. Samantha Pleet: you can say you knew her when

If you didn't already know that Samantha Pleet is a fashion force to be reckoned with then today's tallying from everyone's favourite style oracle will set you straight.

That's right my doves, Refinery 29 put our ladylove Sam on a list with the likes of Miuccia, A Wang, Jack + Lazaro, and the Godmother of it all DVF.
These are MAJOR bold-faced-names people!

What list is this you ask?
Oh, just the 10 Hardest Working Designers in Fashion

Look!





Having not worked, traveled or played with any of the others, I can't vouch for them (sorry Stella) but I can tell you r29 got it spot on when they picked SP.

Felicitations my lovely friend!

damn, michelle obama

I have a case of the mean reds these days.
Unexplainable, unshakeable, unfun mean reds.

Usually being around my friends helps me to get back to being myself but even that feels like a challenge at the moment. I loathe feeling like this...
Fortunately, I have friends like Chris McDonald who come to me (or at least send their music my way,) and brighten my spirits with some horticulture/first lady-themed hip hop.


That stop animation is done with great cheek by a fellow ginger named Carolyn Wachnicki. You can also see her work here.


Also of note, Chris produced this track at his awesome farmhouse studio in Connecticut where he breeds goat and bees and sick artsy beats.
Which is uplifting in itself, I suppose.

our parents were awesome

my friend peter o'donnell sent me a link a few fortnights ago to the simple, nostalgic and often inspiring tumblr my parents were awesome.

here are some of these said awesome parents:







and my very awesome own:

Noah and the Wes

Were one to recreate my life on film it would very likely come across as a Wes Anderson production. Winsome threadbare sets, an eccentric and handsome cast, preposterous plots, clever conversation, tragedy tempered by hilarity, emotionally hindered prodigies, bursts of vibrant color, dalmatian mice, and a delightful if peculiar soundtrack, are a few parallels of note.
(The only thing noticeably inadequate in my world would be the Futura font, and that is really the city of New York's shortcoming.)

It is comforting then, to view a music video like this one by Noah and the Whale...


how great is this carpet design?

... which feels like home and looks like an Owen Wilson vehicle.
Aside from being catchy and sunny and adorably wardrobed it offers some inspiring home decor ideas (see carpet above,) and is generally darling.


Here, see for yourselves (or click on this for a better quality video):



Decor idea 1: Steal these pillows. I already have some experience in embroidery and plan to finally use it for good.


Decor idea 2: Make yourself a stage. This I'm less confident I can whip up in a weekend but I do hope that at some point in the future I'll be able to invite friend's bands over/put on more plays/ give charades its due on our own tiny pie-slice of a platform.


Non Decor Idea but equally important: how ADORABLE is laura marling.


love love love.

bags to burn

A while back we enjoyed a viewing of Shabd's gorgeous collection in the cozy setting of Artist Tatiana Kronberg's home. Kronberg is a multimedia artist who among other things, made these fascinating Chanel bag candles as part of her Counterfeit series.

After I get my authentic leather version I will hopefully procure a wax replica so that I might surprise guests by setting my "bag" aflame.

For counterfeit's I think they're really quite good:









Here are some more pieces that I think will tickle your artsy bone.

From the same series as above this is part of a diptych titled Chicken or Beef:


yum

My favourite though might be Mariya 3 an unsettling, if humorous, take on traditional Russian iconography, caviar, self portraits, and tough bitches.




Also of note, Tatiana and her husband registered for only books when they got married which I think is an inspiring example.



Check out more inspiration here: TatianaKronberg.com

love buzz

To answer Kurt's question: yes, I can totally feel your love buzz.



this might be one of the most cheek-pain inducing images of all time.
I LOVE IT.

I want orchid piles and bleach blond snarls and flannel checks and beat up babydolls and ocean background breezes and punk heartbreak dreamscapes and red lips and pale skin and letter crushing and light dashing and serious stares and serious smiles and true blue duos linked arm in arm.
And the wild wonder that was way back then.

And courtney.
And kurt...



In my round-up of 'dope brides of history', this takes the coconut cake.
It also initiates the tag, 'grooms of all-time greatness.'

Jesus I loved these two.

pretty little things

I find these future friendly, geometric jangels by Aesa very appealing.
Almost like something the childlike empress from the never ending story would wear if she had grown up, become an art director and moved to brooklyn?

(That scenario is, hysterically enough, sort of the case. Acording to issue no. 1 of Lula magazine she is a dancer living in williamsburg. Who knew?)

Anyway these are full of intergalactic intruige and organic angularity which I'd dangle from my dome, or neck, any day.











Aesa's ascension necklace (above) is particularly doing it for me. Too bad it's on back order at Jumelle.


Call my name!

my milkshake

today is a great day for a chocolate milkshake.

A Whole Lot of Polar Going On

The Samatha Pleet costume party at TG170 was a halloween hoot.

There were batsuits and catsuits, curio collections and sample selections, SP's lovely fall line and feminine fanciful watercolors, all there for sale.

Ms. Pleet made the lot of it, including what might be the cutest tomato costume that I've ever failed to take a photo of. Normally I would have you see, but I was hyperfocused on my own fuzzy find.
A certain polar bear inspired vest that was cozy and chic and stylishly cut and just dying for a good home.



These also wanted to come home with me but they belong to the shop.



The thing of it is, it looks like a vest but it feels like a cape, all drapey and flowy-like in the back. It feels like an ermine number from an empire long ago. It recieved ample compliments on its debut last night.

Speaking of compliments. How GOOD is this gal's tatoo. She works at the shop and is obvz chillin herself.



I think that really says it all.

three year cheer

I've been in love with this one person for 3 years now.

His name is Andrew and you may have heard of him.



Being around him is like this: sunflares + rainbows + mountaintops + featherfinding+ daydreams + endless adventure + droptops + heartleaps + staying in step + getaways + kicking it + laying low + being close + keeping warm + builing life + laughing hard + feeling soft + finding more + sleeping in + staying up + new starts + flattering light + riding high + teaming up + giving gifts + singing songs + getting sauced + hiding out + desertscapes + city streets + photobooths + hula hoops + polaroids + big balloons + ferry boats + sailing + swimming + dancing + digging + the mexican bus + dressing up + old records + making out + making art + tiny notes + truest love + closest friend + Paris + Tokyo + Spain + everywhere else we're going to go + home.



I love you.

easy lover

These are my easy-going antipodean must-haves for spring:


A perfect denim jacket.
Just a little bit cropped and a wee bit bleached.



A tiny floral print dress with pockets and perky cap sleeves.



This nude lace bodysuit/maillot. I can't tell you how many outfits this completes.



One light-as-air black drape-sleeve dress.
It reminds me of my bodkin tank dress from their capsule collection which has proved indispensable.


And summer:


Black lace 2 piece with detachable straps. Such versatility, such classic allure, how can you live with out it?


And Right Now:


My fall personal order just arrived and it contains this!
The zulu circle skirt. A total safari sensation.

Rawr.



All of the above from Lover (which now has an online store, so be careful.)

october outfit hit

I got a little bit dressed up for a day date with E-best--which involved major catching up on her ever-adventurous life + a dyn-o-mite ginger drink called The Killer. (Thank you Liquiteria, I feel much better now)

And an evening date with ADF--which involved fighting over popcorn + a much delayed viewing of The September Issue. (Thank you Grace Coddington, I feel much better now.)

It went like this:



vintage courreges navy top + rebecca minkoff cuff bracelet + vintage chain-lizard belt stolen from mummy's closet + new karen walker lily skirt + hayden-harnett madeline boots

-this top never gets any play, as its a teensy bit tight in my chestal area but the fact that is has a precocious neck bow and tonal polka dots make it too good to give up.

-as for the bracelet, RM will allegedly be releasing them to the public soon. and they are an absolute must-buy for fall. I plan to get at least one more, this time in red. which would have been so good with this outfit.

-up until now I had one decent black skirt and is from the gap. and I bought it in 8th grade. kudos to me that it still fits, shame on me that I still wear it. This KW number has pockets, is made of refined and ladylike wool suiting and thanks to an elastic waistband will likely fit me when my yet-to-be-born kids are in 8th grade.

-I cannot give a glowing enough review of Hayden-Harnett's footwear. Which is sadly no longer being produced. If you come across a pair, buy them immediately. In the meantime keep your fingers and toes crossed that they'll do another run of their great designs soon, and ogle their superb f/w jacket collection to distract yourself from sorrow.




new dries van noten/linda farrow sunshades

-thanks to my dear friend/fashion genius at PolioPolioPolio I fell in love with this shape when he gave me his grey version of these fine frames (on a long-term loan) back in august. they are quite a bit like my Lanvin numbers which is perhaps why I adore them SO.

-also, note the tiny neck-bow.



vintage gold lamé coat inhereted from Miss WL.

-the final touch on what was seeming like a rawther staid get-up? oh just my shiny-sparlin' opera coat. She was more than pleased to see it back in action. I think the short sleeves, with shirt popping out from under, just make it.

I also think that both of my dates were pleased to see me, I did get gussied up just for them...

record chest

this little number from white lightning (designed for the gang at borders and frontiers) has been getting a lot of play in my wardrobe lately.

it goes well with just about everything- high-waisted rachel comey skirt and marni platforms to elastic-waisted yoga pants, mis-matched socks and a flannel (leave me alone I'm an invalid...)

and in both cases effectively chases my chestycough blues away.







also of note, the old dudes in my hood just adore trying to make out the text, either that or they are admiring the grade A combed cotton and brill-o record design...

read more on cool hunting.
and get your own at the WL side bar.

sick, oh

I did this to myself... and now I need some nursing please.



It was indeed worth staying out laaaaate last night (with an absolutely delightful array of ladies, you know I love you allllll) because we had so much fun.

AND on the upside I got my wish of sounding like Jade from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (see below.)

ps. Ashleigh is here!!

wherever i'm with you

I know I'm not alone in playing this song on eternal repeat these days.
Word on the street, aka my dear friend Gavin, is that "home" has found itself in an advert of some kind. Probably for something unforunate like insurance or a new Honda.

Since I have no TV, I wouldn't know, and as such don't care. I remain smitten. Probably because it has that wonderful quality of listenabilty and familiarity, like you've heard this all your life but still get excited every time it plays. Plus, it feels so true.



On another note. I'm really feeling Alex's hair. It reminds me of many a boarding school burnout crush...



Oh and when I sing I want to sound like Jade.

saddle up

tse cashmere leggings + striped happy socks + saddle shoes from Samantha's pop up shop
= perfectly prepped for a rainy day-birthday week-dance party at East River Bar

I Dye

While the love of Tie Dye never quite left me (thanks to the idyllic and colorful Hippie interludes of my early life and a continued passion for splashes of bright bizness) there has been a certain rebirth of appreciation for it around here. From sporting a skirt when channeling Rayanne Graff, to enjoying a post birthday Tie Dye day partay, it has been a present pattern in my life of late.

So too is it present in the field of fashion (no surprise really, as I've been known to set a trend or two, including the stirrup-pant debacle of '91.)
My darling friend Rebecca Minkoff made some fab bags of it, American Aparel took harem pants to a new level with it, and my pal Shabd Simon-Alexander has made an art form out if it.

I visited a showcase of her works a few weeks back and found a collection worth sharing.


Basically the perfect tiedye t-shirt.





This bikini is a collaboration with another brillo gal Caitlin Mociun. Mociun designed the swimmer, Shabd did the dying, I will hopefully do the wearing...






transparent crop-top, button back love.


red and rad, right?

Here are a few more items of interest from her webshop:







I want them alllll.

See more and shop for stuff at www.shabdismyname.com

decor desire: salmony seating

I want this trope l'oeil chair in my living room and in my life.


Clift Hotel Lobby, San Francisco

There's something about the slip cover and the washed out salmon and the faux caning that makes it charmingly "a WASP grows in Williamsburg." Which seems to be the theme of our flat, regardless of how we try to decorate otherwise.

disco toes

My new shoes won't get a wearing on such a rainy day as this,
but they make it seem so much sunnier inside.



They are Miu Miu (a season or two old, purchaced for a pittance) and deserve better than an iPhone photo and yet I am lazy... Below: a more detailed shot of these sequined, drag queen-dorothy, peepsters.



Notice how they have a sort of ombre effect, going from large to small, bright gold to a tamer tone? I thought that was fun.

Almost as fun as wearing disco balls on your feet when watching the rain from inside our flat.

reviens en rose

Here's a little dream-flecked and rose-hued remembrance of coastal cavorting past. (More to come I swear.)


Vintage Dior Nightgown + Soft Red Chandeliers + The Pinkest of Shags = Petal-like Perfection.


It is so great to be back, but it was majorly dope to be there.

The Toon

Newcastle, the ancestral seat of my half-Brit beloved ADF, is know as the Toon because in Geordie that is how "town" is properly pronounced. Charming, innit? I suppose, less so perhaps if you yourself are british but no matter...


This fine city, home to a very famous football club, some great bridges and a widely available beer, is also represented by one of my most adored crests:



Ah, Mer-Ponies.
I just love how mythically dope the Brits can be from time to time.

But don't get too cozy, these are Geordies and their seahorses will destroy your seahorses any day.

signal search entertainment

I'm admittedly curious as to what the password might be.

someone i know

this video by the delicious Margo Guryan is nothing but a slow-paced sorta boring slide show, the song however is a soft sunny sixties sensation that sounds a lot like long weekends and leaves turning.



visit aquarium drunkards (your guide to all good music) to listen sans youtube.