Grin and Bear It

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Jean Shrimpton in New York City,1964

My love of a good coat is well-documented on this blog.  Fabulous, teddy-bear inspired coats have been appearing in street style photos for a few months now, and the style is still fresh.  The only thing better than cozying up to a teddy bear is wrapping yourself up in its plush, textured fabric.  With the snowy weather and estimated 18 to 24 inches of snow headed to New York City, there isn’t another coat that I would rather be cuddling.

 

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Carine Roitfield in Max Mara

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Alexa Chung wearing an Isa Arfen coat constructed from Steiff teddy bear material.

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Some of the best runway iterations of the coat came from Burberry, Calvin Klein Collection, and the Queen of the Camel Coat, Max Mara:

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 Burberry Prorsum Pre-Fall 2015

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 Max Mara

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Carven

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Orla Kiely Coat25

Sonia by Sonia Rykiel

 If you want to find a cuddly coat in stores, there are still some options remaining.  The Orla Kiely coat above was one of my favorites.

This coat, by Trina Turk, is similar in texture and hue to the Orla Kiely version:

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Other viable options for keeping the cold out:  a luxe textured cocoon coat by Adam Lippes, a brownish gray version from Asos, a beyond bright Carl Donoghue coat, a fluffy light pink topper from Asos, or a light pink confection of a coat from French Connection, a light beige H&M version, a Freda taupe gray shearing coat, an Ashley B. Mongolian fur coat at Barneys, a Collection B. coat from Nordstrom in either light pink or white, a super furry Zara coat on super sale, an MSGM light pink faux shearing coat, an extra nubby white J.O.A. jacket from Nordstrom, a Bar III shearing coat, a Joseph pea coat, an extra plush Whistles faux fur in pink, a Ganni coat with big pockets, or a Sam Edelman topper in a variety of colors.  Or, for warmer climates, an open jacket from June at Shopbop or an inexpensive version from Forever 21.

You might also try the Trouve faux fur topper from Nordstrom;  I did.  I loved it but it didn’t do me any favors.  I also found that the low neckline would require some serious scarf tricks to keep out the cold.  The only catch I see with this style is that the coats are often cut into a “blobby” form that can be unflattering.  A belt could solve the blob problem.   Try a belted option like this gorgeous Edun coat, an Isabel Marant or Isa Arfen with a contrasting belt, a belted white Rochas, a Carin Wester, or add a belt yourself.

My prediction is that these furry friends will return next year.  Teddy bear coats from the Pre-Fall 2015 collections are already available for pre-order:

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Stay warm and enjoy the bear hunt!

 

 Image Credits from the top of the post: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. 11. 12. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

Ode to Oscar

 

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Oscar de la Renta.   July 22, 1932 – October 20, 2014.  Image via Pinterest.

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Oscar34 Via Pinterest.

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DIANA_HUNGARY

 

 

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WWD.

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Via Tumblr.

Oscar de la Renta's Spring / Summer 2015 collection

 Spring 2015 via Ann Street Studio

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Spring 2015 via thisisglamorous

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Instyle

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Spring 2015 via Pinterest.

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Via Thisisglamorous

Oscar de la Renta's Spring / Summer 2015 collection

Spring 2015 via Ann Street Studio

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Moda Operandi 

“When I started, the woman went to the store to buy a dress. She saw it in pink and red, and then she remembered that the husband, who is probably going to pay for the dress, loves it in pink. So she buys the pink. Today, the same woman goes to the store and remembers the husband likes pink, and she buys the red.”  -ODLR

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Vogue

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Oscar de la Renta Spring 2015.  Harper’s Bazaar.

Credits:  Images 2-3,  Elle.com, Elle.com

Images 5-9 Harper’s Bazaar.

Images 10-13 Harper’s Bazaar.

All other image credits noted above.

 

See also:

Happy Voting and First Lady Fashion

Bow Regard

Derby Dressing

Punk’d

About Oscar… 

Popping Up

Everlane

I thought I’d pop in and sharing a quick find:  the Everlane pop-up store on Lafayette Street.  Everlane has distinguished itself from other retailers by diligently researching its factories and revealing its the true costs of manufacturing.  Don’t worry for Everlane; the company is still making a profit, but their transparency puts into perspective the outrageous markups common in the clothing industry.

Another note I’d like to make about Everlane is that while I appreciate the clean aesthetic, I’m not impressed with the fit of most of the clothing or the overall pricing.  The pricing certainly isn’t offensive, but shop the sales at J.Crew, Nordstrom, Club Monaco, etc. and you’ll find similar items in the same price range.  I found the cuts on the sleeveless button down shirts too boxy and the cut of the silk tank too long.  The sought-after Petra market tote that some claim is the new “It” bag didn’t impress me with its pebbled leather and unremarkable finishes.  I left the pop-up with only a simple tee in hand.  In the fall, maybe I’ll try a cashmere sweater on for size.

If you’re interested in trying out Everlane now, hurry there.  The pop up disappears after today.

While the pop-up is going away, the website and look are going nowhere.  We may pin and post on some glamorous things, but in my daily life and in the lives of others I observe in person and on the Internet, fashion is skewing towards simplicity.  Clean lines.  Normcore, if you will, a fashion insider term that I dislike not least of all for the way it sounds.  I’m still trying to understand what Normcore is, but my understanding is that it’s nondescript dressing.  Think more basic than classic.  Some have even debated whether Normcore is actually a fashion trend or a joke.  Perhaps what we are seeing here is just the influence of Normcore on the high fashion world.  My perception of Normcore is that to the fashion set, it’s the high-low combo with a bigger dose of basics.  This Vogue article confirms the accuracy of my perception.

For me, the renewed interest in basics is more about how I feel in my clothes.  As I’ve posted before, I feel more like myself when I’m in streamlined black.  Certainly, part of this is a function of living in New York, but much of it is just the style that I started developing in high school when I introduced black into my wardrobe.

In the midst of writing this blog post, I found a definition of Normcore as it was originally intended.  K-Hole, a NY trend agency that coined the term Normcare states, “Normcore doesn’t want the freedom to become someone.  Normcore moves away from a coolness that relies on difference to a post-authenticity that opt into sameness.”

Being interested in they psychology of fashion, this definition both fascinates and repulses me, as do the words of Normcore proponent Jeremy Lewis, the founder/editor of Garmento and a freelance stylist and fashion writer, who says his ‘look of nothing’ is about absolving oneself from fashion, ‘lest it mark you as a mindless sheep.’  I find the whole concept of Normcore contradictory.  Normcore eschews freedom but still “opts” into sameness.  Whether we “absolve” ourselves from fashion or follow the fashion industry, we still make fashion choices.  The choice to consciously become part of a movement is the biggest indicator of trying to fit in that I’ve heard.

Basically, Normcore reappropriates plain and even dowdy clothing.  What I like about this is the idea of reappropriation, a concept that intrigues me in general.  What I don’t like is the presentation or the superior attitudes that accompany the most outspoken supporters of Normcore.  Even as someone who sees the intellectual side of fashion, I think that its supporters over-intellectualize it.

I also disagree with Jeremy Lewis’s statement, “I like the idea that one doesn’t need their clothes to make a statement.”  True, no one needs clothing to make a statement; however, no matter what you wear, your clothing will always make a statement about you.  How much you need your clothing to make a statement about you depends on who you are. Unless we’re the president or a tech magnate, research shows that we may need clothing to make a statement about us.

At any rate, I chalk up the glamorization of Normcore to the ebbs and flows of fashion; we max out on maximalism and then we crave minimalism.  It’s a cycle that continually repeats itself and is driven by the fashion industry and its publishing industry arm.

 

Bundled

In the midst of cold and snow, the fashion flock donned at lot of fur, some brightly hued, at New York Fashion Week (as well as the London and Milan Fashion Weeks).  The runway shows proved that fur will continue to figure prominently in fall fashion.  Here are some of my favorite fur images from fashion week and elsewhere, proving that fur’s the thing to bring when the weather gets cold.  For more furry fashion inspiration, check out my pins on Pinterest, like this one and that one.
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F23Links:

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12 Jenni Kayne  13  14 DKNY  15  16  17  18 Ralph Lauren  19 Badgley Mischka 20 Carolina Herrera  21 22 Helmut Lang  23  24

Check back next week for a full NYFW review.

*Please note that comments have been disabled for the near future so SA can resolve spam issues.

 

Are You Gonna Go My Way?

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day (and just in case you still need to buy someone a gift), I’ve rounded up some of my favorite arrow jewelry.  You may have noticed that my Valentine’s Day gift post included a couple of arrow items, like these.

Arrows have been appearing with frequency in jewelry design these days, and I first started noticing them in December, when my best friend gifted me with an amazing silver arrow bracelet.  It’s the perfect piece.  It’s something different from the other pieces of jewelry I own, a bit edgy, and a piece I would have picked for myself.  Since receiving this bracelet, I’ve been eyeing other arrow items to add to my collection.  The clean, graphic impact of an arrow appeals to me.

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Anita Ko earring.  Matching necklace here.Way1

 

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Way3Maya Brenner.  Similar from Jennifer Zeuner.

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Eva Fehren

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Delfina Delettrez

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Delfina Delettrez

So, are you gonna go my way and pick up a piece of arrow jewelry?  What type of jewelry are you eyeing these days?

Valentine’s Day Gifts with an Avant-Garde Touch

Unless the giver can find a gift that is personally significant to the receiver, it’s difficult to buy a Valentine’s Day gift that isn’t your typical holiday cliché.  My personal take is that small gifts (i.e. jewelry and other little luxuries like fine chocolates and macarons) are best.  It’s always fun to open a tiny box with a treasure inside.  I generally eschew anything with hearts as too saccharine, but I make exceptions for hearts presented in a novel way.  I prefer to temper sweetness with a bit of spunk, a tongue-in-cheek take on this overhyped holiday.  Here are some Valentine’s Day presents that I suggest.  I know I would be particularly delighted to receive the first item!

 

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Delfina Delettrez 

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Clare Vivier.  Other color/print options available here.

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Gorjana

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Miu Miu

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Stella McCartney

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Shop Dandy

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Bella Freud

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Lizzie Fortunato

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Kiel Mead


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Kelly Wearstler

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Smythson of Bond Street

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Alice & Olivia

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Fornasetti

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Marc by Marc Jacobs

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Stella McCartney

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LaunerV20Cy Twombly:  50 Years of Work on Paper

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Lulu Frost

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My planned holiday posts fell by the wayside, but I hope that my readers enjoyed a marvelous holiday season and are having a splendid start to the new year!
For my first post of this year, I’d like to share my last purchase of last year, made on December 31.  I know I still owe you a full recap of my 25 Things Project, which will take some time to create, so in the meantime, I thought I’d start with this.
As much as I love jewelry, it took me until the last day of the year to actually buy a piece this year!  Of course, I swooned over so many pieces, but I ultimately focused on filling my 25 (-+?) slots with clothing and shoes.
I definitely chose something different.  For the past couple of months, I’ve been captivated by the ear cuffs popping up on Netaporter, though we first saw the ear cuff at the Punk:  Chaos to Couture Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala.  I hunted down a cheaper alternative at BCBG.  This version will allow me to try out the trend before deciding if it’s worth committing more cash.
Earrings are typically studded (my usual) or dangly.  While I’ve seen small cuffs that hug the ear horizontally, an ear cuff that runs the length of the ear is something new.  While it won’t be a wear to work piece, I think that an ear cuff is just what I need to add a bit of edge to my outfits.  Ear cuff earrings sometimes come in pairs, but to add extra interest and create the impression of wearing a piece of art rather than matching pieces of jewelry, I prefer the single cuff.  I love the sculptural quality of the ear cuffs, that’s probably why I’m drawn to them so much.
Here are my cuff picks :
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Pamela Love

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Ryan Storer.  Another great Ryan Storer piece here.

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Linn Lomo

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Sabine G.

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BCBG

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Ana Khouri

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Kismet by Milka

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Vickisarge

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Sophie Bille Brahe

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Capitol Couture by Trish Summerville

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Elizabeth Cole

What kind of earrings do you fancy?  Have you tried the ear cuff?  Would you?

 

Holiday Wear

Normally I like to scour the internet for my favorite images when crafting a post.  Given the holiday season and my usual time constraints, however, tonight I’d just like to share a few holiday dressing ideas that have garnered my attention.

I don’t typically attend a lot of cocktail attire events during the holiday season; rather, my holiday social schedule consists of casual gatherings of family and friends that provide a welcome sartorial respite from my week days of suit dressing.  So my go-to attire for holiday gatherings is usually a sweater (I adore Ralph Lauren cashmere) or a button down plaid shirt from J. Crew in darker colors and a pair of dark skinny jeans, or more recently (the past two seasons), a pair of coated skinny jeans from Zara, my first Zara purchase, made on a whim.  I like to add a pair of riding boots or short motorcycle boots with my ensemble.  Lately, I’ve been trying to change things up a bit.  I’m occasionally replacing the plaid button downs with feminine tops and the boots with a pair of smoking slippers, one of my obsessions that’s worthy of its own post.

I picked up these babies in black, a bow version of the Miu Miu smoking slippers I spotted last spring:

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Some other smoking slipper picks:  Charles Phillip Shanghai, Ann Taylor, and Charlotte Olympia.

I learned this past week that my holiday attire picks are in good company.  I was delighted to see that Preston Davis of Keep it Chic favors similar attire for the holidays.

I know that most people equate holiday dressing with some glitz and glamour, though, and for those of you wanting a bit more of that, I have a couple of other ideas…  The key is to create a simple base and add some pieces with impact.  The holidays are just the right time to break out the plaid, fur, jewels, and feathers; add a bit of whimsy to a sleek ensemble.  Lately I’ve even found that the addition of a tartan silk scarf to a black outfit adds just the right amount of Christmas cheer.

A sleek blazer is just the right base for casual to formal holiday wear.  Try pairing it with one of these feminine, silky blouses.

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Tory Burch

Or go with a classically constructed dress with opulent details, holiday hue optional.

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Rebecca Taylor.  Another amazing option from Alice & Olivia here.

Or, if you prefer to go a bit more casual, pick a feminine top to pair with a simple pair of pants or skirt:

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Robert Rodriguez

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Club Monaco

If your clothing volume doesn’t go above a whisper, be sure to make your exclamation with accessories:

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Kate Spade

Fenton

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BCBG

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Alexander McQueen

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Shourouk

Asos

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Valentino

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Brian Atwood

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Jimmy Choo

And because I always appreciate fashion with a dose of humor, check out Elle’s guide to holiday movie inspired dressing and my favorite holiday accessory:

GrinchNet a Porter
It’s a classic.

What are you wearing this holiday season?