mmm clothes and stuff

Picking up where we left off!


Alexander McQueen Skull Scarf. I know that I'm "behind the times" with this one, but this is the warmest thing I've ever cuddled up with (and my cat is extremely fond of it as well). Bonus -- I ordered the silk from Net-a-Porter, but they shipped the cashmere/wool blend accidentally!



Rick Owens Ribbed Tank Top. Ordered this from Net-a-Porter and just got it in the mail today, early! Yipee!! Honestly, I just ordered this so I could say I own something by Rick Owens. It is absolutely incredible. The sizing is a little off for me, but I couldn't expect less from ordering blindly from a brand I know nothing about. However, the softness of this tank is beyond anything I've ever seen. And, another yummy NAP box!



Earnest Sewn Wiltwyck Side Zip Cigarette Leg Jean. Still waiting for these to arrive, and I'm praying that I got the sizing correct. My J Brand jet black pencil leg jeans are absolutely incredible, and I'm excited to have a blue denim version of the same tightness.

Last but not least, the biggest love of my life...


Balenciaga Black Part Time with RH. Enough couldn't be said about the wonders of this beauty. After lusting over these bags for the past 3 or 4 years, I checked my bank account, sped over to our local Neiman Marcus, ogled some bags, picked some up, shrugged off the cautious glances of the security guards as I waltzed between 20 feet of space contemplating sizes, ran to the mirror, got the SA's opinion... As I bemoaned the fact that the City was too small and the Work didn't have a shoulder strap, she ran to the back and found this gorgeous Part Time for me and it was absolute kismet. I walked straight out with him and have worn no other bag since that very first day. Balenciaga's leather is truly incomparable, and everyone should at least have the chance to fondle it once (or 50 times) in his or her life.

fashionscout

heels and flats, oh my!

While most people look forward to the holidays, I've got to say I'm sure as hell glad they're over. Working in retail certainly does not do much for the Christmas spirit. As a retrospective on the past few months, I thought I'd show off all the things I've bought recently that I haven't had a chance to blog about, and I could NOT be more excited about these beauties.

Louboutins:


I don't know what I would do without these; my babies. Mr. Louboutin himself once said that the three things that make a woman sexy are "a good pair of legs, a sexy pair of shoes, and the man that loves her." I'll glean over the overt sexism in that response to agree fervently with the shoes bit. The second I put these suckers on my feet, I feel on top of the world -- and not simply because of the near five inches of height they tack on. First up is the first pair I bought:


No. Prive Black Satin Peeptoe Slingbacks. These shoes are probably the sexiest things ever created, and they are accordingly impossible to wear. Unfortunately, I'm that tacky person that will wear these every damn chance she gets, whether it be to an art gallery opening or a trip to the grocery store. These puppies are by far my favorites, and whenever I'm feeling down, you can bet my first lunge will be towards these shoes for a pick-me-up.


Decollete Patent Tortoise Wedges. These shoes were certainly an impulse buy. As I ordered my first pair online through Bergdorf Goodman, I figured I'd run over to Bob Ellis to actually try on Louboutins and figure out what size I am in my shoes (it wouldn't be until much later that I would find out that no one has a Louboutin size; it varies between every shoe). Michael, my SA there, kept throwing animal prints at me (which I absolutely loathe) and I had to try my best not to shudder at the sight of the low heel tiger print pump he presented before me. This shoe is definitely not something I'd pick out myself, but it grew on me after wearing it around a bit. These shoes are incredibly comfortable, and give a little punch to every outfit, considering everything I wear is almost painfully minimalistic.


Brown Suede Simple Pump. These pictures make them look even more beat up than they are, sadly. These were also relatively impulse buys. After a few too stressful days at work in a row, I decided I needed a treat after a long self-imposed shoe ban, so I trotted myself over to Bob Ellis again after work (conveniently located next door) and saw these beauties. Although I wished they had been black, the brown is a really stunning color and I can also trick them into going with black outfits. Color rules? Pish posh.


Lanvin:


I had been thinking about Lanvin flats for months and months on end, but couldn't really justify in my head spending that much on a simple ballet flat (especially when it wasn't even Louboutin!). However, after it had been nearly 6 months of thinking about them, I knew it was time to take the plunge. We had luckily gotten them in at Bob Ellis, so I called Michael and asked him if they had any in my size, and he said they did so I ran over yet again. I liked the black but they were a little too plain; the black patent was a little too cheap looking (even Michael said they looked a little K-Mart); I couldn't justify buying brown leather when I didn't own any brown clothing. Then he pulled out these pups, which some might find atrocious at first glance. HOWEVER, these shoes go with anything and everything, and I wear them every single day for work. More than worth the investment for the comfort level alone.

This post is getting awfully long so I'm going to add just a few more things in the next post.

fashionscout

J Brand!

So, I just bought my first pair of skinny leg jeans, and by God, they sure as hell mean skinny. After spending five minutes slithering into my J Brand Pencil Leg jeans in "Jett" black, there's not a soul in the world who could pry these off of me. Well, quite literally also, but seriously -- these are to die for! They are so skin-tight that they make your legs look as slender as possible, and the black really emphasizes the slimness. Damn right I wasn't going to get any other color; these suckers would have been ruthlessly unforgiving elsewise. They also give the illusion of wearing leggings without allowing the "oh my god, she's wearing a shirt and NO PANTS?!" reaction that so many give Mary-Kate Olsen. After tucking these babies into my satin Louboutin slingback 5-inchers, I feel ready to hobble right into the crowd of Hollywood celebutantes.

Phillip Lim

Phillip Lim. Phillip Lim, how I love you. I know we were destined for each other because he prefaced his line with two specifically chosen numbers: 3.1. 31. My favorite number. I fell in love with one of his dresses on Natalie Portman, forgot about it, then scooped it up at Nordstrom when it went on sale nearly half a year later. To this day, it's one of my favorite dresses. He is now a perfectionist in the world of minimalism, and brings in subtle detailing when and where it really matters. Not to mention, the swing of his dresses are absolutely fantastic, as seen in this new colorblock beauty:It's the perfect length to take it from casual to dressy, with sleeves pre-rolled up above the elbow to make it supremely comfortable. And while some may be deterred by the boxy shape, the neckline offers a tantalizing sight of the ever-popular and alluring collarbone. 3.1 Phillim Lim Swing Dress, $495, Neiman Marcus.

For those who are more into the sensual than the fun and flirty, Lim's Organza is a definite teaser. The tank shift is somewhat reminiscent of olden wedding gowns, with frilly organza and cascading ruffles. However, to contrast the somewhat traditional appearance in the front of the gown, Lim placed a slit in the back of the dress to give the illusion that the piece is about to slink its way down to the floor for a night of honeymoon passion.

3.1 Phillip Lim Organza-Trim Dress, $675, Neiman Marcus.

Yves Saint Laurent Patents

Now, I know I'm a little late on the curve here, but I just can't resist YSL's new patent choices. After finally getting my nearly-five-inch-high-impossible Louboutins, I've been searching for the perfect medium-rise pump, and I have to say I may have found it!


The heel comes in at a much more comfortable 2 9/10", and is tinted with a decadent gold tone. But for those of you for whom even this heel is too high, there's...


The Holly Ballet Flat. Apart from the patent, what really draws me to this shoe is the gorgeous insole. The quilted pattern is just to die for, and not to mention that cute little gold ribbon and line throughout! But, just for fun, let's take it in the complete opposite direction and take a look at the...


Tribute Mary Jane. I've never been huge on Mary Janes, but these take all the cutesy out of them and make them completely sexy. With a suede base and patent trim throughout, they're definitely going to be an eye-catcher.

YSL's Peep-Toe Pump, $490; Holly Ballet Flat, also in red grape, $390; Tribute Mary Jane, $680. Buy them at BergdorfGoodman.com.

Elizabeth and James

Elizabeth and James is the second high-end line to come out of the talented (and fashionable) Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. After seeing their line, "The Row" come into manufacturing about a year ago, they are now debuting their slightly less expensive line, aimed towards women in their late teens and 20s who have not only impeccable taste but hefty wallets as well.

When I woke up this morning, I was delighted to see that the line is now available at NeimanMarcus.com. You can see the full line here, but here are a few pieces that I've already got my eye on:

This minidress, seen here in "lipstick pink," is absolutely perfect in its simplicity. The color is breathtaking, the length of the sleeves is exactly what I've been looking for all over, and the neckline is the most flattering you could ask for. However, it also screams "look at me" with its length, which definitely deserves the title of "mini." The dress also comes in an opulent purple and black, and costs $275.

Even though at first glance this outfit doesn't seem like something I'd wear, I'm still madly in love with it. The pants are perfectly fitted, but the piece that I'm falling for is the top -- and it's all in the details. On the back, you can decide whether you'd rather go with a loose, more androgynous fit for the day or you can button it together to create a more fitted look, as seen here on the model. Brilliant. Bonfire shirt, $225; Super Skinny Pants, $275.


Just as the goal of the line stated, this outfit has perfectly married femininity and masculinity. By shrinking the blazer and making the pants so skinny as to be able to see every womanly curve, the idea that you borrowed this look from your boyfriend's closet will be far out of thought. However, given the practically-legging-style of these pants, I'd recommend that your stems look just like this model's, because they don't appear to be all too forgiving. Button leggings, $145; Boyfriend Shirt, $225; Shrunken Blazer, $375.

Whee! Fashion!

Just started my own fashion blog! My goal here is to post great finds and obsessions of mine and give readers as much information possible about how to get their hands on them. I'm off to start posting!

Ashley, "the fashion scout"