To me, magazines fall into two categories…those where every picture is so breathtaking and every article so interesting that they need to be kept whole and those with a few great shots or ideas.

The first category is, thankfully, relatively small and mainly consists of copies of French and British Vogue, Jalouse, and the semi-annual collection issues of l’Officiel.

Any “keepers” are stored flat on bookshelves, sorted by title (yes, I need help).

I used to buy the upright magazine holders that are available but, apart from being expensive, they didn’t keep the magazines in as good condition. Plus, laying them flat on bookshelves means I can store a lot more in the space I have available.

The second category is much easier to deal with. Once I’ve read the magazine I go through and tear out any pictures or articles that I want to keep.

These are then trimmed and placed in my clippings box.

Then, when I have some spare time, I create look/idea-books from the cuttings that I’ve collected. So far, I’m working on my third book and I find them useful in so many ways:

They’re a great place to store wish-list items. I had a clipping of a Lucien Pellat-Finet cashmere skull sweater in one of my books for years. Every so often I’d look at the picture, sigh, and decide that even I couldn’t rationalize spending that much money on a sweater. Then one day I found one in Barneys during the sale, drastically reduced plus a further 10% off for opening a store card.

It’s really nice to be able to put together concepts or ideas for outfits or themes and then refer back to them. You seem to get a better idea of your style as a whole when you look through a book like this. To paraphrase the poet Burns, “to be able to have the gift to see ourselves as others see us”…that’s the thing.

I also keep articles in my books, either people’s thoughts on their personal style or useful addresses. Do I need a 1920’s handbag repaired? I know that I saved an article from Vogue about a handbag repair store in New York.

This Fall I feel like growing my hair. Alright, I'm not turning into Rapunzel but past shoulder length is long for me. More hair means more money on conditioner and "hair accessories" as they're called in drugstores. My one splurge was a ribbon wrapped link headband from Anthropologie. Urban Outfitters provided a mid-price lace patterned plastic headband and H&M came through once more with a plaid barette and red, faux-leather headband.

I would like to say that I'm done but I just got the Barneys Co-Op catalog and there was a black headband with an attached net veil. I'm not planning on attending any funerals, and I think the veil would make me cross-eyed after a couple of hours and yet...

I've never wore dresses much; I like creating outfits from separate pieces and additionally, to be honest, I've never found many dresses that I thought suited me. This Fall however, I seem to be able to buy nothing but dresses. At this point, I have four (yes, four) new dresses in my closet.

A tan, corduroy mini-smock from APC - innocent and cool
A black sweaterdress by Vince (I’m normally not a fan of sweaterdresses as they start off tight around the seating area and then tend to stretch and sag. This one avoids that by being tight in the sleeve and chest but with a tulip skirt.)
Red plaid from H&M with ¾ sleeves that can be left as they are or pushed up to become puffed
A striped, knee-length, pinafore dress by Hengst. This was on sale and is, essentially, a summer dress but I'm looking forward to layering it during the colder months.

I think I can safely say that I have now reversed any dress shortage in my closet and must stop this madness before it goes on.

If I could look a tenth as good as Carine Roitfeld when I am in my fifties I will be ecstatic. I think this could be one of my favorite looks on her…classic, but modern.

Here is the new math...last weekend I saved $1,500...I wanted (desperately wanted...needed...had to have) the Balenciaga "riding" hat.

The only glitch to my masterplan was the fact that the hat costs a little over $1,500. As I neither have a trust fund nor a sugar daddy that much money for a one-season-wonder (however beautiful) is out of the question.

Then I was browsing through Urban Outfitters and found this...$34!!!

It’s 100 degrees outside so it seems like a good time to sit at home in the air conditioning and use some of the beauty products that I love to buy but don’t always get out of the cupboard as often as I should. I recently went to C.O. Bigelow to get some Biotherm Aquasouce Body Mositurizing Spray-Gel (something I use often). Maybe it's because the first time I bought this I was in the South of France but the scent of this moisturizer always makes me think of a sunny, summer day in Nice.
When I stocked up on moisturizer I got a couple of samples, both of which were so good that I'll be heading back to get full-size refills. The summer heat seems to be turning my hair into straw so I was excited, though dubious, about trying Marlies Moller's Overnight Hair Care. I was worried on two counts, 1) that I would wake up and find the majority of the conditioner on my pillowcase instead of my hair, and 2) that it would look so odd that my husband would start making comments about slime monsters. Both concerns were needless; I washed my hair, towelled off the excess moisture, applied the product, and sat reading a book for an hour or so before bed. My hair looked damp (in a just had a swim in the sea kind of way) but not greasy and even though it looked wet it had actually dried enough so that none came off onto the pillows. Next morning, after I'd washed and dried my hair it looked like....hair...no straw in sight.
The second sample was Propoline Sun Care After Milk. I try not to go out in the sun too much, and use SPF 60, so I wasn't sure when I'd get to try this. After an outdoor music festival on Saturday, also in 100 degree heat, I got my chance. As soon as I applied it my skin felt less tight, calmer, and soothed.

In a little over a week I’ll be in London. Of course (apart from the culture, food, and just sheer sense of joy that I get whenever I’m there) my mind is turning in the direction of clothes. I decided to come up with a shopping wish list, which can be disastrous because you heart will be set on the one thing which you can’t find. Like Jason and the Argonauts you’re on a quest for your own particular golden fleece or, in my case…

APC military jacket with a removable patch that reads "Shoot them in the back" (I actually ordered this from APC in NY, waited a couple of months, and then was told that they wouldn’t be getting any more from Paris). During the months of waiting I compiled numerous outfits in my mind which were made so much cooler by this jacket…it is now an obsession.
Paul and Joe lace trimmed blouse - this reminds me of a vintage find, very pretty and able to be dressed up or down.
Les Bijoux de Sophie necklace – I love her pieces and am hoping that there will be more stockists in London…as long as I can find something with skulls and chains I will be happy…

I love living in a city; and I’m getting marginally more comfortable with the temperatures that we experience during the summer months. My problem comes when I try to put together office friendly summer styles. The heat means farewell to my favorite jackets, sweaters and scarves (except the very lightest)…it’s heart wrenching. The fact that I loathe most of the “acceptable” options so thoughtfully displayed on my company’s dress guidelines make it doubly difficult. I will not wear Capri pants. I will not wear anything so floral it gives me hay fever. We’ll not even mention the vaguely orthopedic sandals…

In times like this my initial response is “buy something”…but what? What few pieces can I purchase that will make it in the work environment but also hold potential in the outside world? I refuse to buy clothing purely for work; it makes me think of school or prison uniforms. As Patrick McGoohan said, "I am not a number, I am a free man".

A couple of items have already made it out of the stores and into my closet. Namely, a black three-quarter sleeve dress from Barneys own label. A low-ish neckline (tank underneath at work), buttons down the front, and two bands of black lace near the hem. Very Italian widow…the one who’s mourning but also looking out for husband number two… In addition, a pair of flat brown leather peep-toe sandals with ankle straps. Potentially a dull, standard basic…except for the brass studs, which add an almost punk feel.

A good start, and the quest continues...

Why do I return to the twice yearly love affair that is the sales? Possibly because it is a faithful love. No matter how many times I turn away and pay full price it welcomes me back...wraps me in it's arms (possibly cashmere, or avant garde, or puff sleeved) and wipes away my tears (yes...with an overpriced handkerchief).

Our last rendezvous was at the final markdown. I'd passed by the embellished Marni skirts, Prada dresses that were still well into four digits even when reduced, and a Proenza Schouler dress that screamed "last season". Then I saw my new transgression. A Chanel cardigan jacket in black cashmere, single hook closure, lace around the cuffs and edges, Victorian style medallions with the interlaced C's on the pockets and sleeves...gothic, classic, punk and prim at the same moment.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore-
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

The Raven - Edgar Allan Poe

Yes, quite an amount of time has passed since my last post. Maybe I had nothing to say...maybe I had too much.

Anyway, with a new season's clothes about to appear in stores it seemed like a good time to start posting again. I'm focusing on my "character" or theme for 06. I like to try and have a central story in my wardrobe, though of course allow myself the luxury of days that are off (I'm a sailor, a soldier, a beggar, a thief).

Last season I was feeling very French. Perhaps it's better to say I was focusing in on what the classic concept of French chic is...or at least my idea of that classic. The picture on the right is an example. I think for Spring/Summer I'm going to continue this.

I will be the girl on the vintage bicycle wearing a full skirt and ballet flats.

I will be Catherine Deneuve.

I will be the girl walking through Paris in the rain...passionate, dark, and brooding...and effortlessly cool!

Initially I would only shop in stores. I liked the whole experience and wanted to be able to touch and, in the case of handbags, smell the product before I bought it. My theory was that if you're going to spend a lot of money on clothing you should get your money's worth. Then I tried online shopping and it was a different, but not wholly bad experience. The sensory portion was almost entirely gone but there were no snotty sales assistants and I could comparison shop quickly and easily. Although I still won't buy shoes online (too many slight variations that can cause agonizing pain the first time you put them on) my handbag fetish ran amok.

Now I've discovered something far easier; the telephone. I saw an APC cape in a magazine...I've wanted a cape for several years now. I tried to get my hands on a Miu Miu one but it proved elusive. I checked APC's website but, no cape. Several other very nice items but, no cape. I called. Within 5 minutes (yes, 5 minutes...maximum) I not only bought the cape but ALL the other pieces I saw on the website. This could be dangerous. Very, very dangerous.

It's that time of the year again. Yes, the days of the final markdown are upon us. Purchases made during this time fall under several categories:

1) the elusive "I've wanted this all season but it was so overpriced that I wouldn't buy it...until now."
2) the more frequent "I like this. I managed to hold out when it was only marginally reduced but, come on, it's 70% off now. I have to buy it!"
3) the all too often "Sale! Sale! Sale! Must...buy!"

Happily, my purchases during the last few weeks have fallen into one of the first two categories. I picked up a lovely, just below the knee, full skirt made of vintage fabric at Barneys. In muted blues and greys with birds sitting amongst floral trellis' it's a little like a sofa cover but, I have to say, it's amazingly wearable. With a black cotton shirt and a blue/grey thin cotton v-neck sweater I can wear it to work and manage to feel appropriate but still me.

So, there I was. I'd managed to successfully navigate the sales without too much wear and tear on either myself or my credit card. Then it came in the mail. Saks...final discounts...50% off the sale price. I'm sorry, did someone say 50% off the "sale" price? At that point you really can't not go and at least look. Can you? Well, your willpower may be stronger than mine but I couldn't. And there, amidst the flotsam and jetsom of unwanted merchandise I saw it. A Miu Miu tote bag, canvas with leather trim. Suede and canvas badges attached. 1930's meets 1960's in browns, oranges, and taupe. I'd been eyeing pictures of it in magazines all Spring but the original $800 was too much for a canvas bag, but now...

How do I start off? With a bang...or a whimper? Bang! Lanvin Spring 2005. Not only an incredible outfit but modelled by Louise Pedersen, one of my favorite models.