Archive for February, 2018

20 backpacks to have you reconsidering backpacks

I love the look of a backpack—so urban-chic and no-nonsense. Plus, they are so much kinder to your back than carrying your life around in a handbag. I am thinking about getting one for travel, because I hate dragging a huge tote around the airport, and like the idea of being hands-free.

The dark green on this option from Everlane is really good, but it comes in a couple of other colors too.

A poppy red choice from Mansur Gavriel.

I love classic Fjallraven backpacks: they’re cheap and stylish and there’s something kind of Euro about them (they’re from Sweden, so that follows). I also like this one, which is meant for laptops.

Another Fjallraven model worth considering.

A simple, straightforward backpack from Clare V.

 

Kara’s backpack is a favorite of mine: so streamlined, with an oversize zipper that makes a big statement.

The natural leather here will age really well.

An understatedly elegant choice from Rag & Bone.

Just your basic black backpack, from Herschel.

This is faux leather and a great deal.

I didn’t used to like it when backpacks were shaped like something other than backpacks, but now I can see the utility of having a backpack that reads like a handbag, and for that reason I like this one from Allsaints.

This is actually a gym bag, and it’s nicely big, so I’m thinking it would be great for travel.

A cute little canvas number with touches of leather.

This could easily go from work to evening.

You know how geeked out I am lately on Longchamp bags, so I am loving this. It comes in black and a couple of other colors too, but I think the blue is kind of fun and less-expected.

I’m not typically the biggest fan of hardware, but I really like it here.

This looks a bit like what the woman in the top picture is carrying.

A leather backpack that’s pretty reasonably priced.

And finally: something gorgeous, spendy, and French from Jerome Dreyfuss.

 

Did you miss my post on excellent everyday handbags?

Its a big Shopbop sale, everyone

Shopbop is having one of their the-more-you-spend-the-more-you-save sales starting today (it ends Saturday) and I like to employ these sales as an opportunity to buy something splurgy that might otherwise never go on sale, like this bomber jacket from Phillip Lim. I think this is structured and sophisticated enough to wear on an evening out.

It’s also a good time to think about picking up a nice Jerome Dreyfuss bag like this luscious brown specimen.

I like the grey-on-black color palette of this camo jacket.

A gorgeous, easy dress from Nili Lotan.

This striped blazer is just a kick.

And this blazer-ish jacket looks like it would be great for kicking around in.

What are you looking at?

What are you feeling visually stimulated by these days? I’m loving Signs of Resistance: A Visual History of Protest in America, a book by my friend the genius graphic designer Bonnie Siegler (she has created logos for SNL and about a million other shows, and co-designed the original Lucky). Her eye for protest in pop culture is super-sharp, and there is so much here, including this now-iconic piece by Barbara Kruger.

I would totally hang this 1975 poster in my home.

And I’m quite fond of this one too. Now what about you? I very much want to know what’s got you inspired.

A note from the GOACA sickbed

Excuses in advance if things are a little slow this week: I had a bunch of posts conveniently prepared in advance before I got sick, but am now working to bring myself up to speed while still not feeling 100%. Meanwhile, this picture of Natalie Wood pretty much sums up the last week at GOACA HQ: just nonstop glamour with me and the dogs, fine china, and very strong antibiotics. Tell me, because I’m craving entertainment: what the most exciting thing that has happened to you so far this year?

A bunch of pretty silk tops

I’ll just start out by saying that silk tops are not a cheap category. There’s nothing too outrageously splurgy here (at least by my—admittedly skewed—standards) and I did manage to unearth a couple of reasonably-priced choices, but for the most part, a nice silk blouse will cost you. But I think they’re worth it, because it always feels a little bit special to be wearing silk, even if you’ve got no bigger plans than lounging about at home. Why not let’s start with this divine leopard print?

I sort of wanted to save this red top for a “Things I bought, things I want” post, because I do want it a lot, but I haven’t bought much lately so it goes in here. Just such a good red, and nice slouchy fit.

Well-priced, deeply office-worthy, covertly kind of cool.

This popover has all the crispness on a freshly-ironed white button-down shirt.

This shirt comes in a few colors—including always-handy black—but I like it best in this vibrant red.

A pretty dark floral, just how I like them.

Small touches—the deep cuffs, the covered buttons—make this an elegant option.

Another pretty floral print—because spring will come, eventually.

I’ve thought about buying this easy top so many times: it just looks like a good solid option for those days when nothing else in your closet seems quite right.

The gentle gathers on this blouse make it quite feminine.

This top is a bit girlier than I usually go, but I like it.

I just really love this green.

I saw a striped shirt like this from Isabel Marant recently that costs about twenty times what this one does.

I like the very subtle stripes here.

Another top I surprise myself by liking because a high neck like that is usually not for me. But I think the smocking is a cool touch.

I love the graceful neckline here.

 

In case you missed it: my post last week on tops with great prints.

GOACA home basics: Table and floor lamps

Technically, this is a Taking Requests, because a number of you have written in asking for a post on lamps. And I’ve been meaning to get around to it, too, but am pretty certain I was avoiding it, because I am picky, picky when it comes to lighting, and feared I wouldn’t find much to clear the bar.  But in the end I did find a number of pretty good specimens, like this blue domed number from Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.

I like this dome lamp too, and it’s a better buy than the blue one.

Here is the classic Task lamp, which works on just about any desk. Here is another variation I like, and here’s a cute, bright one from Paul Smith.

Here’s something Task lamp-ish that rings in under $25.

And then there’s this graceful iteration.

This George Nelson Cigar lamp is another classic (sorry, but this is a category I don’t take a lot of risks in). When I lived in a brownstone, I had the cigar shape hanging from the ceiling and it was divine.

You really have to see the Arco floor lamp in action in people’s homes to see how genius it is (happily, you can do so here). It is something I would buy if I could buy anything I wanted, but for now I will content myself with considering this cheaper version, as well as this also cheaper version.

More retroish than I usually go, but I like it.

The George Nelson Pear Lamp is like the cigar above, but maybe a little more graceful.

A Globe lamp is nicely unobtrusive, and this one is a lot more well-priced than others I’ve seen.

This is kind of  1970s teenager’s bedroom, in the best possible way. Here is a cheaper option that is kind of different, but reminds me of it somehow.

I don’t just inevitably love a tripod lamp—they can be clunky— but this one is quite appealing, with its skinny legs and excellent blue shade.

 

Catch up on my post covering items for the home office.