Posts Tagged ‘Joie’

5 items the Saks sale makes it much harder for me to say no to

It’s raining Friends and Family events right now, and this week Saks* is having its turn, offering 25% off much, but alas not all, of the store (many major designers have exempted themselves, and beauty is not on sale, as it never is, at any department store—except, I am reliably informed, Nordstrom, sometimes). Still, as is my wont, I had no problem at all finding plenty to desire.

A jacket from French brand Iro is a fabulous thing, but only starts to make sense at a discount.

Lizard-print Helmut Lang sandals I can already picture wearing every weekend all summer.

Stupidly expensive R13 jeans. Stupidly expensive even marked down, but my favorite brand, and a guilty pleasure I was too embarrassed to share the other day (possibly because it would expose that I was being a little elastic with the truth here*). But the denim is amazing: it has the feel—as no denim does anymore—of the jeans of our youth. (I consider this especially noteworthy because they’ve got some stretch in them, and I’ve always assumed the reason our jeans all feel cheesy now is because of all that spandexy stuff.) Were I to splurge right now on a new pair it would be  cropped one, which would look as great with boots right now as it will with sandals later.

A flowy, silky, junk-hiding top from Joie. They specialize in them.

 The Alexander McQueen leopard skull scarf I  have only wanted forever. I have a hunch fashion people think it’s the most tired thing in the world, and I care not.

*Just type FRNFAM at checkout.

Meet the new kicks

I try to steer clear of the whole notion of athletic footwear as fashion (not always successfully) but slip-on sneakers I can fully get behind. They’re like exceptionally comfortable loafers, but so much cooler, as our friend here amply illustrates.

Vince has many and varied excellent options to choose from in this category, and they have been the focal point of my personal slip-on sneaker fixation. So after much browsing and deliberating online, I finally pulled the trigger on Saturday at their Soho store and chose this woven pair. There are suede and leather versions as well, but I love how lightweight these will be come summer.

Of course, a lot of you might say there’s no reason to look further than your classic Vans, and a lot of you would be right. I’d totally go for this metallic  option, even with that pesky front-and-center  branding.

This snakeskin iteration is on the more fashiony side of things, but still nicely understated.

There’s something about this rich charcoal suede pair from Rag & Bone that almost reminds me of desert boots.

Capsule wardrobe: essential tops for spring

And by essential I am speaking here of my essentials, based on a recent and highly scientific study of my closet. First up: something in a print that goes bang.

An ethnic top with graphic black stitching against a white background—so good with an otherwise straightforwardly classic outfit.

A just-so slouchy asymmetrical tee.

A striped tee—natch.

I own a slightly different version of this Helmut Lang top (mine’s several seasons old by now) and wear it so much it’s kind of gross.

I’ve got various iterations of the popover—to borrow J. Crew’s term—in both black and white: they’re my version of the classic button down.  Some skew boho; others menswearish. All get worn endlessly.

A little something in the girly and flowy department.

 

Cheap and chic of the week: shopping the sales

The focus today is on wardrobe classics, because suddenly I’m feeling like I don’t have enough of them and, as the old saying goes, news is what happens to editors. Let’s start out with this wool and cashmere blend coat from J. Crew, which if you’re at all interested in you should not delay in purchasing, because the Crew is currently doing that thing where they take 40% off everything that’s already on sale.

These I already own, and they are the perfect slouchy skinny boyfriend jeans if you really want the emphasis to be on slouchy.

OK, these are still on the steep side, but take a moment to marvel at how exactly right they are and ask yourself if you can really afford to live without them.

I’m not big on referring to any one article of clothing as an absolute must-have, but I know that getting dressed in the winter would be a lot more of a chore without the always-handy style-in-one-step crutch that is my black cashmere V-neck.

You know how some pieces just look like they’d immediately be welcomed into the groove of your wardrobe and worn constantly? That’s how I feel about this top, which I’ve had my eye on all season. It has the clean lines of a basic white button-down, but is so much more feminine, and just seems like it would be crazy versatile.

(More of) my fall uniform

Suddenly, all I want to wear are pintuck tops and their cousins, button-down shirts that only button halfway down (do these have a name?) and allow for a kind of blouson-ish, excellently stomach-junk-camouflaging kind of effect. This silk one is a bit on the long side, and perfect for those who are looking for a little butt-coverage while they’re at it.

A cute, tuxedo-style option.

Really, I think I could wear white versions of this particular style of top every day of the week. So sharp and pulled-together, especially if you elect to tuck. This one, with its sweet gold buttons, is a more straightforwardly feminine option.

I tried this on at the Joie store the last time I was there and truly, the only reason it didn’t leave with me is because I’m trying to institute a New Austerity program, and it involves not buying every single cute top I come across. But it wasn’t easy: the slouch factor is fantabulous.

The ruffle neck is a little more lady than I usually go, but the red on this Liberty print for J. Crew is positively unstoppable.

I’m digging lightweight silky bombers

These are a totally different beast than their bulkier counterparts, and perfect for the weather we’re having right exactly now in New York, when it’s chilly in the morning, too warm for a sweater by noon, and then brisk again once evening hits. Unlike more wintry bombers, these conform to your shape instead of their own, and are as drapey as your favorite slouchy top. And, even though the silhouette is quite tomboyish, in this fabrication they can’t help but come off quite feminine as well. Not long ago, a blue version of this very nearly perfect little number sold out on the Zara site too quickly for me to even share it with you guys; this one will no doubt go fast as well. Do not delay!

This washed silk version will run you more, but  it’s made from the genuine article and drapes like a dream.

I feel certain I’ll catch flack for this one, but how can a houndstooth-into-leopard print be anything but unstoppable? Go ahead and have at me if you must. My skin’s feeling on the thicker side today.

Yes, it’s white, and, as such, likely an accident waiting to happen. But it’s also machine-washable!