70's Chic

While sitting at home watching TV Land classic television re-runs, I stopped on an episode of Three's Company which back in the day was one of my must-see picks to not miss Janet in her v-neck sweater vests and brown suede skirts while Chrissy was always in tons of short-shorts and wedge espadrilles paired with tee shirts that could be worn in a wet t-shirt contest.  Jack of course sported corduroys with button down polos and upturned collars.  I would sit attentively on our family's velour couch and pop open a can of RC Cola and wait to see Mr. Roper come upstairs to break up the awkward living situation.  His wife Helen always made a grand entrance in her colorful muu-muus (which I believe lately are referred to as patio dresses), but she never spilled the beans about Jack's lack of interest in men.  Remembering back, while I was sitting there under a macrame plant holder glued to this sitcom, I wonder if my own mother knew of my grade school crush on Jack Tripper!

Feelin' a little retro inspired 

Taupe leather motorcycle jacket with belt by Chloe 

Tiger stripe "shimmer" shirt with self tie by Marc Jacobs and stripe pants by Etro

(For a little updated 70s inspired fashion from today's runways, be sure to check out the spring/summer collections from Marc Jacobs, Sonia Rykiel, and Missoni.)

Pick

Who the hell knows the real meaning of Boxing Day except for my friends from England of course, but I would love to believe it's the day you receive your favorite items wrapped up in the most exquisite boxes.  Whoever is the creator of this holiday - I'm on board, and here are some examples of MY favorites (and they always come in the most delicious orange!)

Hermes boxes

Some smaller ones can hold the best baubles

Even the ribbon makes me happy

Some bigger ones can hold the best bags.  I love this holiday!

Ho Ho Ho

We decided to go to the movies to see Black Swan and then out for a late bite of French bistro food.  Wearing a black Christian Lacroix jacket with ruffle details, I thought it would be ideal for a show about a bunch of ballet dancers wearing tights, tutus, and leotards.

Black jacket by Christian Lacroix, white shirt by Helmut Lang, bag by Marc Jacobs

This flick made me so nervous and "ancy" that I sat there with one eye open and one hand in a jumbo bucket of popcorn.  The ending was shocking to say the least but equally alarming was the empty, greasy container sitting on my lap as the credits were being run.  Feeling stuffed like a Christmas turkey, I waddled my way to the car; however, while on the way glancing into retail windows, I realized just how vulgarly tight my pants were (I hadn't eaten THAT much popcorn).

Jeans by Stella McCartney

Nasty!

Hello!

Honestly if I wear them often enough, I might not be able to produce children (not that I plan to anyway).  I know skinny pants were shown from the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Burberry Prorsum, and Proenza Schouler, but the only saving grace to these jeans are the snap closures near the ankles (for a little X-tra breathing room).

Shoes by Bottega Veneta and red crochet socks by Comme des Garcons

Loretta Lynn's new album - Track 3 - "Rated X"

ho ho - "HO"!

Red-E for Christmas

We ran to the mall and fought with all the suburban driving housewives for a parking space that was next to a freeway and by the time we got inside the building, our calves felt like we had completed a Jane Fonda workout.

A far hike to the mall

Looking to pick up some last-minute stocking stuffers for friends and family, I was sidetracked with a stop in one of my favorite stores - Herve Leger by Max Azria.  The colors for fall for the Max Azria line are in shades of dove gray, black, putty, and rich camels.  The classic banded dresses from the Herve Leger line were in similar colorations but also with some great punches of red that ranged from burgundy to coral.  They were all so chic and timeless, and what they can do for a woman's figure is sinful.

Herve Leger red banded dress

A "cross your heart" can't do that

All dresses above - Herve Leger 

I'm not for sure if it was the altercation in the parking lot or all those fiery tones surrounding me, but my mind drifted to a visit with another lady who covets the color red.  Erin Murphy whirled through town a couple of weeks ago, and I had the chance to catch up with her as she was getting her blonde tresses blown out.  Those of you who don't recognize her full name surely remember her from the role of Tabitha on Bewitched.  She's all grown up now and wearing her form fitting scarlet dress and her super sexy Marc Jacobs black and white pumps.

Erin Murphy

She recently was on RuPaul's makeover show along with Dawn Wells (Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island) and Charlene Tilton (Lucy from Dallas).  She spoke of the fun it was to get glamorously over-hauled and to meet some fun drag queens that she still talks about after its airing.  With her IPad in lap responding to people on Facebook, she told me about her upcoming workout project and her family that brought her to these parts.  With a wiggle of her cute nose to unlock my daze, I found myself putting my credit card back in my wallet unaware of the damage I had just committed with all my amazing Max Azria finds.  Now, I guess I'm just a retail refugee that's red-e for Christmas.

Thought

Holidays are a time of repeating traditions, and putting up the decorations can be a tradition in itself, however, who says those little festive knick-knacks have to be tradition-al?  In fact, they can be anything but.  I usually don't decorate for the holidays, but some items can have a wintry feel without being red, green, and gold and dripping in glitter (except maybe my outfit of course!)  An artist friend of mine created these beautiful sculptural pieces made from giant protea plants and twigs.  They have been covered in plaster and have the most fragile quality about them but still give a lot of impact.  And, if grouped en masse, they alone can make a very modern holiday statement just from their natural beauty.

 

Street Chic

If you've seen "Kell on Earth", you've seen Andrew.  The assistant who has the most wicked style ever!  He is perhaps a bit goth for me, but I must say he knows his fashion and does wear some amazing pieces.  In fact, we have the same Hermes collier de chien bracelet in black, and he has a great pair of Balenciaga track pants that David also has, and when we were in New York for fashion week he was wearing a red Burberry Prorsum trench in red that David has in aqua blue.  Now that I think about it, maybe David is more goth than I realized!  Anyway, seeing Andrew in person for fashion week just confirmed that he has amazing style and wears his major labels with the utmost ease and confidence.  I love the Rick Owens wedges that he wears and tried on a pair in cream while at the store, but unfortunately they weren't my size, and given all the platform boots that David wears, I tried talking him into a pair of wedge boots as well but to no avail.  All that being said, here's to Andrew Mukamal who is a refreshing sight on a sometimes otherwise boring fashion scene.

Andrew at Lincoln Center for fashion week

Andrew (in red) wearing Burberry Prorsum trench, Celine bag, Florsheim by Duckie Brown laceups

Burberry Prorsum trench and Balenciaga pants - David's own

Pick

Sunday, December 12, 2010

I adore Jonathan Adler (and his partner Simon Doonan too).  I bought some of his early works of art before he had his first store and still have them in my home today.  I love the graphic stripes and the mix of shapes.  These vases are "vintage" because they are no longer produced in this coloration combo and have been personally signed by Adler himself.  Nonetheless, all of his snazzy pieces can be found in a variety of stores, and his items make the perfect gift.  Be sure to even check out his dog accessory line.

An array of vintage and new pieces

Graphic stripes in black and cream

A new piece (gourd relief vase) mixed with an old piece

www.jonathanadler.com

Oldie but Goodie

www.archivevintage.com

I wanted to check in on one of my favorite vintage stores Archive to see what treasures owner Kerry Bonnell had tucked away with me in mind.  She has been active with her on-line business for three years (which is longer than most marriages) but decided to plant her store roots in Dallas about two years ago.  She explained that Dallas has a sense of ease about it compared to the hustle and bustle of New York city where she did similar work for years.

Jacket by Yves Saint Laurent, felt hat by Lou Lattimore

Belt with mother of pearl buckle by Judith Leiber, bracelet (my own) by Hermes 

She also said she gets most of her hardly worn Chanel pieces from a wealthy girl in Manhattan, and her YSL and Trigere pieces surprisingly come from a lady in Kansas (of all places).  According to Kerry, she  tries not to let her personal taste influence her buy for the store.  Being up on current trends and having a savvy eye is always helpful.

Neon jacket by Christian Lacroix and heart pin by Moschino

Gucci duffle bag

Nearly shitting in my shorts over a Lacroix neon military jacket, I had to try it on.  She also confesses that she ships boxes and boxes to Rachel Zoe who shares my same love for yester-year clothing,  and designers like Marc Jacobs order pieces from her to draw upon for inspiration for future collections.  The authenticity of jewelry is difficult to track so she doesn't mess with much of that, but bags and belts are another story.  Every piece has some sort of history or significance in the world of fashion.  Wishing she had lay-away, I can only afford a piece or two (or maybe three), but that's all.  Since she gets new stuff all the time, I will just have to pray that Rachel doesn't grab that new Gucci before the next time I come in.

Spotting another find across the room

She's an Animal

I have a love for leopard.

Prada leopard print fur pump

They're an oldie but a goodie

It truly is one of my favorite prints to wear.  In fact, Dries Van Noten showed the print for winter in all sorts of pieces and his leopard print fur scarves  are a must-have.  Guiseppe Zanotti designed a leopard print fur wedge that is so tall and so wild - it's wicked!  And menswear was not left out of the pack.  Frida Giannini showed jackets and briefcases for Gucci that were anything but tame.

Alexander McQueen leopard print fur cardigan

Industrial rubber band conical tree

Turtleneck and belt by Prada

Growing up and going to garage sales and thrift stores with my mother, I looked for anything animal print and ensured it would be going home with me by using my monthly allowance from mowing a neighbor's yard or raking up leaves.  My mother has suffered with feline allergies for years so we never were allowed to own any kind of animal.  In fact, she said (and I quote), "the only good cat is a dead cat."  Maybe that's why I choose to wear fur, not pet it.

Years later, my family found a feral cat that started coming around the house from time to time that I was told looked very sickly and its fur was all matted together, so they bought it a can of Fancy Feast.  Two days later, it showed back up in the yard looking for another can of that chicken flavored delectable delicacy.  Two years later and many, many cans of cat food later, this frisky fluff ball has found a comfortable home.  Mom still won't wear animal prints (God love her), but maybe a Valentino leopard wallet that she can whip out when she's at PETCO might be a subtle push in the right direction.

Yves Saint Laurent leopard print fur boots

Pants by Jean Paul Gaultier

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