Move Over for Marlova

Say "sweater" and what comes to mind? If it's a bulky, boxy, pilly, itchy top of sorts then you haven't met Marlova. Soyun Shin's line of luxe sweaters are like butter. The cashmere is the absolute snuggliest thing against your skin and her draped designs conjure utter gratitude for avant garde warmth. When you've slipped into Marlova on a chilly sweater day the only thing brought to mind will be visions of sugar plum fairies dancing...in cashmere.

Too Hip to Be Square

Rather than settle for another vanilla overcoat, add some heat to a winter ensemble with these novel jackets that play up geometric proportions and flirt with crafty design details.

Publicka zip front cape, oaknyc.com

Mara Hoffman cape jacket, shopbop.com

Geren Ford ruffle neck coat, shopbop.com

BB Dakota nika jacket, tobi.com

Prairie Underground moth coat, tobi.com

Acne huge zippered jacket, oaknyc.com

Twinkle bundled up jacket, shopbop.com

Elizabeth and James cape coat, shopbop.com

Penchant for Pencey

Holden Caulfield may have famously said, "People never notice anything," but the collection Pencey, named for his boarding school in Catcher in the Rye, begs to differ. Designers Christina Minasian and Tora Lopez, former stylist/Kitson buyer and former L.A.M.B. designer, have tastemakers taking notice with their knack for tailoring whimsical punk. 

Holiday '08

Spring '09

Rip It, Rip It Good

Take inspriration from Edward Scissorhands

and Alexander Wang

and snip some style into your jeans, tees, and tights.



And lucky for those of us surgically challenged, you can just buy that "oh I've had these for years and wore them to paint my garage" kind of history straight from the source.

Go on, chop chop!

(from top: image from spread in my scrapbook, pages from Barney's Co-op fall catalog, Oak midskinny black trashed jeans, Current/Elliott skinny slouch in loved destroy)

Drop Trou

The other day I saw one of the coolest outfits in months and it surprised me that what made it so hip were her dropped crotch pants. These pants made a reappearance on runways and in stores calling back regaling memories of "Hammer Time" but I quickly passed them over as an unflattering frivolity. Now I'm reconsidering. The outfit of inpsiration was an extremely baggy pair of white and blue striped seersucker dropped crotch pants, a deconstructed gray jacket over a plain white tank, very high tan booties, bedroom hair and an oversized men's watch. It was a perfect polished mess!

(Rick Owens drop crotch denim stretch pants, Mary Meyer grey sahara pant- Oak NYC)
I loved what the disheveled jacket did for her outfit but beware of falling victim to too much fabric. This Robert Rodriguez ensemble (showcased in the Cooper Design Space) is a good example of how to pair the two together.
Pants of this sort will disguise most of your feminine figure and bring whole new meaning to leaving the boys with enough room for imagination. Wear them with a fitted shirt and a high heel for a dose of bedraggled sensuality. If the guys do dig it and try to pass a smooth move, you need only say "You can't touch this".

In Her Running Shoes

Ok I'm taking off the fashionista hat/boots and putting on my athlete hat/running shoes.
After living most weekend mornings the past few months in my favorite running tights and many trips back to the source for more goodies, I simply must share this new line of workout gear of which I'm such a big fan. Splits 59 is a new athletic store in Brentwood, CA focused on women's athletic apparel. This isn't like the corporate cookie cutter garb every other girl is sporting around the gym. Splits sets the bar higher in the way they've brillantly blended superior performance with a fashion edge. The Sheri foldover run tight pictured at left is my obsession (I've been told they are adding hip zippers to the style for fall) and they stock an expansive collection of other bodies which include sexy sport bras, breezy running shorts, chic tennis skirts, edgy racerback tops, hip oversized backless tees (great for yogis), and futuristic wind breakers (very Y-3) all in the most gorgeous color palette and delectable fabrics.
I'm telling ya, this company is going places! And you'll have further proof beyond my testimony, when you see them appear in the upcoming issue of Vogue (yes that's right the Vogue). Splits59 offers online shopping and direct shipping to those sisters that don't live in the country's west coast fashion capital. Go ahead and bookmark http://www.splits59.com/ now.
As write this entry I hear echoes of my dad hurrying me along as an adolescent getting ready to leave the house. "Come on!", he'd say. "It's not a fashion show." But really, isn't it always?!? Sporting Splits59 gear will make that next run down the sidewalk feel more like a jaunt down the catwalk. So come on ladies, strike a pose, vogue.

Back to the Gypsy

If my alter ego wasn't so set on fronting a rock 'n' roll band, she'd otherwise be a free spirit floating about St. Germaine with some painter of a boyfriend. So lightning struck me maybe once, maybe twice when I saw the styling of this poetic shoot in October's Elle UK.

This winter my gypsy ying and rocker yang outfit will consist of a pretty floral dress under a tough little leather jacket, a combination that marries the winter floral trend with the little leather jacket fetish that exudes the ever cool "I'm with the band/model off duty" kinda vibe.

You can also accomplish this look wearing a denim jacket with a short flowy print dress and beat up boots much like the model in this Pepe Jeans ad.

There are lots of dresses out there as floral prints will be en vogue through spring '09. These are two of my current favorites (on shopbop of course!)

(Daughters of the Revolution Happy Long Dress; Haute Hippie Beaded Dress)

But don't think you have to don a dress for your gypsy to dance.

(Free People Velveteen Lead Vest; Muxo by Camilla Alves Totisse Cross Body Bag)

These inspired pieces will let you face your freedom without fear.

Nice Stems

Get a leg up with new leggings

It's the details of these slinky Olivia Leggings by Nightcap that make them so covetable - ruched bottoms, ribbed pattern, and foldover band. Wear them with a funky tee and flats or boots for daytime downtown, then swap a sexy top and killer heels for a night out.

Do a pirouette or two when you're channeling a prima ballerina in these sublty sexy Suh-Tahn mesh leggings.

Mic Jagger would be jealous if he spotted you in these bad ass glossy snap leggings from La Rok. Tip: Break a sweat rockin out in these babies and you may be on a mission for baby powder to get them back on.

LnA's zipper leggings are a mega hit with celebrities and will be with you too when you see the darling gold zippers and sensational smoothing effect.

Not your grandmother's lace. Add some texture to an otherwise conservative outfit with Kova & T's Lace Leggings.

You'll be swimming in compliments if you add Members Only Liquid Fold Over Leggings to your ensemble. I like them best with an relaxed tee and fetish footwear.

Gonna see my picture on the cover

...well not the cover of Rolling Stone, even better...

This Elle UK cover of Sienna Miller for the July issue is absolutely gorgeous. I want to copy everything! Her nail polish has been bloody hell to find as the mag gives no credit to the one that was used for the shoot. But you don't have to get your knickers in a bunch because I've sussed out a couple of options.

Lippmann Collection's Hit Me With Your Best Shot is a glistening gunmetal color and was created by Pat Benatar. Groovy! This little bottle of rock'n'roll doesn't come cheap though- more than £8.
For us recessionistas, Essie has a wicked shade too. Over The Top is a dramatic metallic midnight grey and only around £4.

As for those tats, I think I'll stop being a copycat nutter there (mum would kick the bucket!).

Cheerio darling

Favorite Off-Runway Looks Fashion Week S09

Diane Kruger is always best dressed in my book. She plays perfection in her front row ensemble of a plaid tie-neck blouse, radiant makeup and those killer over the knee boots.

This simple mix of black on black, subdued hair, and statement heels has a certain je ne sais quois.

Love the cozy cafe sweater, sloucy bag, and pop of purple from the shoes.

Oversized boyfriend denim + white tank + leather jacket = cool concert attire for Prps/MGMT afterparty. Her belt, necklace, and shoes really take it up a notch.

Gladiator sandals, liquid leggings, and a scarf- is this model fresh off the plane from LA? Maybe that's why I love it so

Can't get enough of that rolled boyfriend jean! Great contrast to the structured jacket and bag.