I've always felt that, whatever else, I'm a hat girl...then I saw these floppy, satin chapeaus from Marc Jacobs' 07/08 Resort collection.

Words fail me...well, almost...I'm sorry, but this is like fabric looking for a place to die.

The only flattering comparison that I could get for these is that they (vaguely...if I squint) remind me of a picture I once saw of director Akira Kurosawa. He was wearing a sunhat with a bandana underneath which fell down like a curtain to protect his neck from the sun. The thing is...he looked good...and there wasn't a scrap of satin in sight.

Have you noticed that sometimes, despite all your best efforts, you seem to be literally haunted by a piece of clothing? You see it in stores, online, in magazines, wherever...the point is that you manage to talk yourself off the shopping ledge and stop yourself buying it and yet, there seems to be no escape. Personally, I've been stalked all summer by a See by Chloe denim dress. It seemed like everywhere I looked...there it was...looking all laid back and cute. But I resisted and kept my credit card firmly in my grasp. Quite frankly, after I avoided the dress in the Net-a-Porter sale, I figured I was safe. But no. When I was checking out garance doré's blog, there it was...if you'll pardon the pun, I am still drawn to it...but this stalking must cease and desist.

Call it a mental hang-up, an aberration, what-you-will but where I was perfectly happy to paint my fingernails in the deepest, darkest, black nail varnish that I could find I'd never considered painting my toenails the same shade. The words black and toes brought to mind decay, frostbite, and a severe lack of hygiene skills... And then, don't you know, Jalouse had a feature on the back-room girls at Chanel. Beautifully dressed women with very good legs and...did my eyes deceive me...black toenails peeking out from a pair of sandals and looking, dare I say it, very cool indeed? Call me fickle...a feather blown on the capricious winds of fashion...but I may need to re-think my stance on the whole black toe issue...

Okay, I will admit that Marc Jacobs' Pan Am bag is a little label whore-ish with its two, two, two logos for the price of one. But as air travel is such a dull, plodding pastime at the moment I'm pushing the virtues of the kitsch carry-on.

Anything to inject a little fun into the whole shoes off, lip gloss in a plastic bag process...

Here's a question...why are we limited to just one wedding ring? I have one which I love...a silver ring from Wright & Teague inscribed with "One Love"...but Dior's "oui" ring strikes me as so romantic (in a cool, funky way) that I can't help but wish that it could be wedding ring #2. I'm not a person who goes in for anniversaries...it seems so forced to say that on this day you're going to "celebrate your love"...but maybe this could be a sort of cumulative "hey, we're still together" ring...

If, like me, you fell for The Sartorialist's pictures of Giovanna Battaglia (fashion editor L'Uomo Vogue) in two outfits based around a Balenciaga striped shirtdress you may be interested to know that the dress in question is currently on sale on Brown's website. Considerably reduced from £695 to £350 it still doesn't fall into the cheap category but, as Giovanna showed, it's a dress with a wealth of possibilities...

An article on the Times' website today irked me beyond belief. The gist was that "real" people should not wear "fashion" to places where it won't be appreciated and/or recognized...and that we should essentially dumb-down our clothing choices for whoever our audience happens to be that day.

A few sentence in particular got my goat...

"Ordinary civilians aren’t meant to buy this stuff, because they cannot hope to carry it off."

and

"Those clothes are meant to make you think, first: the designer’s name. Then: “How much?” And finally: “Best leave that to Sienna. I’ll settle for the bag.”"

A little pessimistic, don't you think? The overall message...don't bother looking at that dress because you can't hope to carry it off...best settle for something dowdy and safe. Aren't we selling ourselves short if we keep falling in with other people's perceptions of what is appropriate? And aren't we selling other people short by assuming that none of them have any interest in fashion and couldn't possibly appreciate what we're wearing? Baseline, if you love your outfit why should it matter what anyone else thinks?

Of course, there are some things that just aren't going to work for every individual...but that's more a matter of knowing what suits you and not hurrying to Brown's website to pick up the PVC leggings by Les Chiffoniers that Kate Moss wore at Glastonbury. It doesn't mean you shouldn't wear a Marc Jacobs dress to a christening (as the writer of the Times' article suggested).

Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to put on something that screams "fashion" and go for a long walk to calm my nerves...

From the few images that I've seen, Stefano Pilati's newest line for YSL "Edition 24" looks interesting. A kind of season-less capsule wardrobe comprised of 50 styles which, in turn, create 24 outfits. Primarily created for the traveler, but a great way to add designer basics to your wardrobe, the line even includes a roller suitcase and passport/document holder that can be used as a clutch. How's that for multi-tasking? To see the entire collection, log onto SHOWstudio today. Currently in progress is a 24 hour interactive shoot with Nick Knight and Jessica Miller structured around scripts sent in by the public. So grab some popcorn and settle down to watch the show...

It's true...I'm regressing back to childhood but, in my defense, so is Harper's Bazaar. The images below are from their August issue and just the thing for a Saturday morning. The rest of the editorial can be seen here...here...here...here...oh, and here.

As I've had enough of summer 07 at this point it's probably a little premature to be fantasizing about spring of 08 but...what's a girl to do? Especially when she comes across something as utterly perfect as Givenchy's pre-Spring/Summer 08 collection. I seem to be entering a neutral phase right now...casting covetous glances at blacks, whites, taupes, and tans...so this collection fits my mood to a tee.

Overall it strikes me as a kind of luxe APC...which is lucky as that means I have quite a few elements that I can use to pull together my own "knock-off" versions. A matching APC coat and skirt...a silk Max Studio top (which I bought because it was vaguely Sophia Kokosalaki and is now vaguely Givenchy)...and my new gladiator sandals ...will give me an outfit inspired by the first look above, without spending any cash. Now if only I could find a tiered skirt like outfit number 3...

Some people read the newspapers with breakfast...I read blogs. As I was perusing Jean Touitou's I came across a post in which he says that "The Beautiful Fall" by Alicia Drake is the "best book about fashion ever written". How can I disagree with the man from APC? (Hello...I'm a poet and I didn't know it).

A quick shuffle over to Amazon and I found out that the book "stitches together the lives, loves, personalities and obsessions of two iconic designers, Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld, into a work as finely detailed as any outfit they ever sent down a runway. Through interviews with dozens of the designers' friends and colleagues, fashion journalist Drake offers revealing inside anecdotes and perspectives from those who were there for the Paris "fashion revolution." Drake interprets the rarefied and decadent 1970s French fashion scene Saint Laurent and Lagerfeld helped create with insight and vigor, as well as germane commentary on the collections and the trends they set. A period when couture was faltering and ready-to-wear rising, Drake crafts clear yin and yang portraits of the introverted, passive and magnetic Saint Laurent, and the exhibitionistic Lagerfeld, known for wearing high heels, sporting monocles or wielding a fan. With a large entourage of colorful supporting characters-from fashion muses like Loulou de la Falaise to socialites like Talitha Getty-and exotic locales-from Paris to Marrakech to the Blenheim Palace and back-the story of the competing and capricious fashionistos becomes the account of one glittering party after the next, interrupted occasionally by fashion shows, and sprinkled with celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol. The two tastemakers' homosexuality is dealt with frankly and the storied roots of their aesthetic senses and public personas is nicely detailed. De rigeur for the fashion crowd and those interested in the pop or gay culture of the era."

One more item to add to my ever expanding Amazon wish list...

Everyone seems to be talking about Topshop's latest foray, the launch of their Archive collection of vintage pieces...available online as of today. On the collection overall I'm not going to say much...except, gosh it's expensive. The number of people who can, or will, spend this much money on vintage clothing without being able to actually touch or try the pieces on may be severely limited...but good luck to them on this, their next step towards world domination.

The one thing that really made my day about the pieces on offer though was the inclusion of Jean Varon, who is best known as the designer of Emma Peel's wardrobe for the second half of the 1965-66 season. As a massive Avengers fan in general, and a besotted Emma Peel fan in particular, the thought of owning something by Varon is very tempting. Not tempting enough to brave the horrendous pound to dollar exchange rate unfortunately but still, very tempting.

Iris Print Maxi Dress by Jean Varon	Jean Varon Geo Shirt Dress	Crazy Print Maxi Dress by Jean Varon

I have a small problem. Well, to be precise, I have about 250 small problems and they have finally combined to one large problem. What are all these items you ask? The sad fact is...they're magazines. The even sadder fact is that I'm actually pretty good about culling the herd. If a magazine only has a few images or articles that are "keepers" I cut them out and paste them into one of my idea books.

The issue occurs when the magazine itself is so full of goodies that it becomes a must-keep item. Add to that the cost of foreign magazines...once you've spent the requisite amount on the latest issue of French Vogue, Jalouse, or Lula it's difficult to throw it in the trash once you've read it.

My previous storage system (laying the magazines flat on my bookcase) has failed...I've run out of shelves or places to put another bookcase...and my husband is pleading / asking / cajoling / protesting that some form of storage is found. Apparently piles of magazines growing like stalagmites from the floor is not his idea of neat and tidy.

I've been searching but haven't found any good solutions so I'm asking for help. Where do you keep your fashion bibles?

"I rejoice that there are owls. Let them do the idiotic and maniacal hooting for men. It is a sound admirably suited to swamps and twilight woods which no day illustrates, suggesting a vast and underdeveloped nature which men have not recognized. They represent the stark twilight and unsatisfied thoughts which all [men] have."

Henry David Thoreau

I'm a huge fan of New Zealand designer Karen Walker's clothes but (shame on me) I hadn't realized that she had a jewelry collection. Of course, now that I've found it I'm pondering which piece I want to put on my wish list... Rocket-ships, carrots, and runaway girls dangle from necklaces but this owl cocktail ring took my fancy. Unusual but sophisticated...perfect for a twilight tryst...

So the question is...you pick up this little number from Givenchy's Haute Couture collection...you need to get around town...but how do you get from point A to point B? Obviously you could go with the flow followed by all the other millionaires and do the whole chauffeur driven car thing or...there's my suggestion... In honor of the Tour de France, and in the name of eccentrics everywhere, you could ride your bike. Of course, it couldn't be just any old bicycle. Instead it would have the leopard print handles that I "spotted" on Undercover designer Jun Takahashi's blog.

Warning: prepare for gushing and general behavior that should be left to 12 year olds.

Ready? Ok, here goes... But I really can’t help myself because I am head-over-heels in love with Keira Knightley’s latest shopping ensemble. It’s a very classic color palette but, to me at least, she looks incredibly fresh and modern...and comfortable. The shoes wouldn’t necessarily be my choice (which could be due to my lack of balance) but I’m not going to nitpick. All in all it’s one of those “I’m going to save this to a folder on my laptop so that I can gain inspiration when I’m feeling style starved” images. Gushing over...normal posting will resume shortly...

I feel a new fixation stirring in my bones. Well, actually, it's a sensation that started a couple of years ago but these things need to build up speed...

Yes, back in the Fall of 2005 I fell for a pair of fingerless suede gloves from Prada. They came to mid-forearm and were made from incredibly soft suede. They were also slightly less than practical...rain would have ruined the suede and once the temperature dropped below a certain level they were impossible to wear without getting frostbite. Not to say that they were unworn or unloved, I just acknowledge their lack of practicality. And now, for Fall 2007? Well, these taupe tube gloves from Martin Margiela's MM6 line have caught my eye. One small step up the ladder of practicality...after all, they are wool...

I shouldn't have done it...I made the Wombles joke and now the Prada
gods are taunting me. But how, you ask? Well, Prada has come up with the interesting idea of auctioning of prototypes from their Fall/Winter collection, thereby giving us all the opportunity to own one-off, original pieces which were never shown on the catwalk. Currently up for sale are a mohair coat with a fuschia skirt, yellow gradient Mary Janes, and an incredibly beautiful wool/silk dress with an organza petticoat and Shetland belt.

The clock is ticking...there are just under 7 days of bidding left...and, for the time being, prices are still relatively low. If nothing else it will be interesting to see what the bidding war will go up to; though I can dream about getting the dress...at least for another 6 days, 18 hours, 15 minutes, and 32 seconds.

If you've been reading this blog for a while (or had nothing to do one wet afternoon and went through the archives) you may remember my long, drawn-out search for the perfect trench. After many false starts I found one from Built by Wendy and have worn it pretty regularly ever since (well, at least until the temperature started resembling a sauna in Hades).

I am longing to wear it now but until the weather gets cooler and I can venture into my coat closet again I'll have to content myself with these recent pictures from Paris...and long for the end of summer...

Images from Blog Sorbeta and Cafe Mode

"Underground, Overground, Wombling Free,
The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we.
Making good use of the things that we find,
Things that the everyday folks leave behind.

Wombles are organized, work as a team.
Wombles are tidy and Wombles are clean.
Underground, Overground, wombling free,
The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we!"

It may just be that the heat (close to a hundred degrees today, thanks for asking) is addling my mind but does anyone else see a disturbing similarity between the fur in Prada's Fall/Winter collection and "The Wombles"?

Great Uncle Bulgaria, Tobermory, et al may have been cute but I had never considered them fashion icons...which just goes to show, you never can tell.