pour l'amour de paris

photo by the sartorialist

Paris Fashion Week is here! Yay, yay, hip, hip, hooray!
Yes, that's right, we can always count on fashion to cheer us up, even as the world falls apart around us.

This one is for you, The UE...
Gareth Pugh
"Pugh talked about the duality of outfits that were all white in front, all black in back. The notion of emerging from darkness was his contribution to the irrational optimism of the Spring season as it has unraveled in New York, London, Milan, and now Paris. But there was also an inescapable subtext of protection in outfits with breastplates that jutted up over the face." - Tim Blanks

Put on your armor and be brave. It's going to be a battle but you will emerge from the darkness, the warrior that you are. - xo

Shows I am most looking forward to in the coming days:
Yohji Yamamoto - today (pics tomorrow)
Balenciaga - tomorrow
Junya Watanabe - tomorrow
Comme des Garcons - tomorrow
Jean Paul Gaultier - tomorrow
Karl Lagerfeld - Wednesday
YSL - Thursday
Chanel - Friday
John Galliano - Saturday

cfda/vogue fashion fund

After watching & loving the film, Seamless, which documents the first CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award nominees and winners in 2004, I have enjoyed keeping a close eye on the competition every year since. Past winners & runners-up include Proenza Schouler, Travota, Derek Lam, Doo Ri, Rodarte, Thakoon, Rogan, and Phillip Lim.

Checkout the 2008 finalists below, the winner and two runners-up will be announced on November 17th.
Who are your picks?

1. Albertus Quartus - Albertus Q. Swanepoel
Swanepoel is a South Africa-born milliner who has designed hats for the likes of Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Erin Fetherston, Caronlina Herrera, and Peter Som. In 2006 he started his own collection for women, which sells at Barneys in New York, Louis in Boston, American Rag in Japan, En Suite in Russia, and other high end boutiques throughout the US. He also has a men's collection that sells at Paul Smith and Odin in NYC. He draws his inspiration from the various cultures and buildings in NYC, the opera, and his native South Africa.

2. Alejandro Ingelmo - Alejandro Ingelmo
Ingelmo is a Parsons educated, New York based shoe and accessory designer. His first women's shoe collection debuted for the Fall/Winter 2006 season. Since then, he has launched a men's shoe collection, which includes trainers, dress shoes, as well as small leather goods and bags. His signature style encompasses the sexy allure of his Cuban-influenced heritage and a powerfully directional New York edge.

3. Alexander Wang - Alexander WangBorn and raised in San Francisco, California, Wang moved to NYC at 18 to attend Parsons Design School. He designed his first collection by his sophomore year, which consisted primarily of knits. He launched his full women's collection in 2007, which sold internationally to over 150 boutiques and retail stores.
"Anyone can get all dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their off days that is the most intriguing."

4. Irene Neuwirth - Irene Neuwirth
Founded in 2000, Irene Neuwirth's jewelry designs are recognized by their uniquely modern and sophisticated designs in 18 karat gold and a wide variety of unusual gemstones. She received the Town and Country Couture Design Editor's Choice Award in 2006.

5. Jason Wu - Jason WuBorn in Taipei, Wu has lived in Vacouver, Paris, and Tokyo and he attended the Parsons School of Design and interned with Narcisco Rodriguez. Jason Wu combines modern evening dressing with the spirit and detailing of haute couture. Influenced by the classic photography of Richard Avedon and the collections of Charles James and Jacques Fath, Wu's collection aims to revitalize the art and perfection of dressing with a relaxed and youthful attitude. His collection debuted in February 2006 and is now carried at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Ultimo, and Holt Renfrew.

6. Juan Carlos Obando - Juan Carlos ObandoA native of Baranquilla, Colombia, Obando attended the University of Miami where he transformed himself from an art student to one of the most sought-after art directors. His two major influences are photographic legend Helmut Newton and Alfred Hitchcock. After years of working with advertising powerhouses he decided to create his own fashion company in 2003, Bureau Beaute, LLC, which houses the Juan Carlos Obando label. He debuted his first collection at Los Angeles Fashion week in 2004.

7. Obedient Sons & Daughters - Swaim & Christina Hutson
Swaim started a T-shirt brand called Obedient Sons in San Francisco then he met Christina on a trip to NYC and fell in love. He moved to NYC and they started working together to transform Obedient Sons into a tailored collection in 2006. They then launched their woman's collection called Daughters.

8. Organic - John PatrickPatrick lives in the Hudson River Valley, which inspires him to think and wonder about the elements of nature, art, fantasy, and fashion. His heroes are Thomas Cole, the founder of the Hudson River School of Painting, and his most famous student, Fredrick Church. John Patrick spends a lot of his time traveling to the jungles of South America to source the certified organic textiles he uses in his collections.
"I envision a world in the near future where people won't ask 'is it organic?' but say 'of course, it's organic!"

9. Richard Chai - Richard Chai
Chai jumped into the fashion spotlight when he helped launch the Marc by Marc Jacobs line and was awarded the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation award. He then moved to Creative Director at TSE, where he helped take the fashion house beyond the basic cardigan. In 2004, he launched his own line, which has received great praise and acclaim.

10. Vena Cava - Lisa Mayock & Sophie Buhai
Lisa is from South Pasadena and Sophie is from Los Angeles. They both moved to NY in 1999 to attend Parsons School of Design. Three weeks after graduation, in 2003, the pair created the first Vena Cava collection. Their designs are now carried by Barneys and other high-end boutiques and retail stores across the US.

i heart art...angela

I Heart Art is back! Yay, yay, hip, hip, hooray!

Angela, my sister-in-law and author of the great Mommy in Manhattan blog, kicks-off the great I Heart Art comeback with her artsy picks!
Take it away Ang.....

My husband & I have been lucky to find great artists on the streets of a few places we've visited. The first one is a painting we got in Hawaii. We were in our Latin dancing stage so when we saw this one we fell in love. The artist captured the strong & passionate connection between dancers. They seem to be the only people in the world & the only ones that matter to each other. Every time I look at this painting it reminds me of our "courting" days & an awesome vacation!

In Paris, artists are flooding the streets, but the vibrant colors of this Paris scene caught my eye. The warmth of the red emits passion & excitement, which mirrored my reaction to "La Ville-lumiere."

And last, but definitely not least, this drawing hangs in my son's room. It is especially meaningful because it is the drawing that my in-laws purchased when my husband was born. The caption reads, "Castles are made of dreams and sand." It echoes what we want for our sons...to maintain their playfulness, to dream big & follow their dreams whatever they may be.
- Angela

Thank you Angela!

oh no, rachel zoe

I start this post by professing my love for Rachel Zoe's amazing talent to dress herself and others with impeccable taste and style. She is a style genius, to say the least, and rarely fails to inspire. Her new show, The Rachel Zoe Project lights the same spark inside of me as Pat Field's work in Sex & the City. My heart races through each episode as I am immersed in the fashion heaven that is her life.

However, and this is a gigantic HOWEVER, I cannot tolerate her love of fur (even more intolerable than her obnoxious personality). Since the show started, this huge character flaw can no longer be denied. She is a fur whore.
As much as I love the fashion eye candy (and Brad, of course), I have added her and her show to my boycott list with great sadness.
Wake-up Rachel Zoe! Fur is dead.

sanrio = heaven

Under the guise of needing to pick-up a few things for my niece and nephews, I stopped by Sanrio on the way home from work tonight.
Oh happy day!
And, since I subscribe to the theory that one is never too old for Hello Kitty, I may have also grabbed a few things for myself. Blueberry Cinnomaroll bubblegum, anyone?
This place has remained my heaven on Earth for as long as I can remember. So much cuteness in one spot with new characters and adorable collections popping up all the time. It never gets old (even when I do) and brings me back to my school days of Ahirunopekkle pens and Keroppi lunch boxes.
The best part, you ask? The smell of the plastic pencil cases and scented erasures. Mmmm....pure heaven.

new favorite

illustration by Erin McGuire

I just finished reading the Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood for the first time & absolutely loved it! Surprisingly, I never had to read it in high school like most, but I wish I had. I can't believe I have been missing out on this world for so long. A marvelously written tale of a dystopian society that is both intriguing and frightening. Gilead and today's world aren't too far apart. Bravo!

emmy style picks

I'm not a big fan of award shows, nor do I watch enough network tv to know who half of the people are.
But, I certainly can't resist a red carpet.
Tonight's Emmy Awards offered a bunch of duds with a few inspiring pieces sprinkled in, as usual. And this year, the good ones were pretty darn good.
My picks....

#1 - Sandra Oh
Almost always one of my favorites, Sandra Oh does it again. This black lace number is quite spectacular with layers of fabric and lace compiled in a very interesting and wonderful way. A perfect composition and silhouette. Exquisite.

#2 - Eva Longoria Parker
I don't only love this dress because I have a thing for bows (and this is one of the best bows ever), I love it because it is absolutely amazing. Beautifully embroidered bow + layers of metallic fringe = fabulously elegant and fresh.

#3 - Emilie de Ravin
I feel in love with this gown the moment I saw it. The beautiful shades of blue, the layers of fabric, and the unique geometric details make this a one-of-a-kind statement. She looks phenomenal.

#4 - Lisa Edelstein
Classic and fun. I love this dress, especially the contrast in the detail, the thin belt, and the peek of black tulle at the hem. The round toe platform heels polish it off perfectly.

yummy yum yum

NY Fashion Week has ended, London Fashion Week has just begun and all I can think about is MJ and Duro.
I want to eat them all up.

Marc's Spring 2009 collection was like a piece of molten chocolate lava cake with warm goodness oozing from the middle paired with a cool glass of milk. Rich, multi-faceted, sweet, and oh so satisfying.
And Duro Olowu, well his Spring 2009 collection was a berry cream torte indulged in on the deck of a luxury yacht while sailing across the Mediterranean. Chic and fabulous excess.
Bon apetit...

First course: Marc Jacobs


2nd Course: Duro Olowu

un poema

Sonnet LIV
by Pablo Neruda
(translated by Stephen Tapscott)

Luminous mind, bright devil
of absolute clusterings, of the upright noon --
here we are at last, alone, without loneliness,
far from the savage city's delirium.

Just as a pure line describes the dove's curve,
as the fire honors and nourishes peace,
so you and I made this heavenly outcome.
The mind and love live naked in this house.

Furious dreams, rivers of bitter certainty,
decisions harder than the dreams of a hammer
flowed into the lovers' double cup,

until those twins were lifted into balance
on the scale: the mind and love, like two wings.
- So this transparency was built.

found...the perfect jewelry box

After many, many years of searching for the perfect jewelry box, I have finally found it!
This sleek beauty from Pottery Barn has a great modern design and plenty of room for all of my jewels.
I ordered the large size in black with a pretty "D" engraved on top and it arrived on my doorstep today! I just love it and had so much fun moving all of my baubles into their new house.
Oh happy day!

Soapbox...byob!!

After returning from yet another trip to the grocery store where I found myself giving dirty looks to those people still using plastic grocery bags, I have come to the conclusion that yes, I have become a reusable bag snob.
If you happen to still be a disposable bag user (gasp!), I've listed a few pointers and resources below to help make the change.
As previously posted here, I have added a few new sources and ideas to the list.
Take it from me, my hubby and I live a disposable bag-free life and it really isn't very hard.
Here's how....

#1 - Groceries

• Buy reusable bags - Most, if not all, groceries stores offer reusable bags at very cheap prices (usually $1 each) and some even give credits for using these bags every time you shop. There are also plenty of resources for reusable bags and baskets online, which allows you to find products that best fit your needs.
  
• Make sure you have enough bags for the amount of groceries you buy - Figure out the average number of bags you usually use when shopping and buy 2-3 more to have on hand in case you have an extra large load.
  
• Keep them in the trunk of your car - The most common excuse I hear for not using reusable bags is that it is hard to remember them every time you shop. To prevent this problem at my house, my husband and I each keep 4-5 bags in the trunks of our cars at all times. This way, anytime we run to the store or stop on the way home from work, we have bags there to use, in both cars. The key to this is to make sure you put your bags back in the trunk of your car once you use them to carry your groceries into the house.
• Wine drinkers - Most stores also offer reusable wine carriers. These are essential to have if you buy a lot of wine so you can avoid using a cardboard box to carry your booze in.

#2 - Errands and Shopping

• Carry reusable bags with you at all times - I have two disposable bags that permanently live in my purse, which I use for all of my other errands/shopping (drugstore, pet store, bookstore, shopping at the mall, shopping at the flea market, etc). Compact reusable bag resources:
  

- Chico Bags: My favorite! These bags are so cool because they fold right up into themselves. They are nice and sturdy and hold the same amount as a plastic bag would.
- Envirosax: These bags are similar to the Chico Bag and and come in a variety of great prints and colors.
- ACME: Also similar to the Chico Bag and Envirosax, and they also have a black mesh bag that is good for groceries.

• Keep a few larger reusable bags in your car - For shopping trips that require larger bags, such as shopping sprees to the mall or trips to your nearest toy store to buy Christmas gifts for all of your nieces and nephews, find a few larger bags that you can keep in your car for these occasions. Larger reusable bag resources:

- Bazura Bags - Made of recycled juice containers, each bag is unique and supports a women's co-op in the Philippines. These bags are so cute and are made to hold a large amount of goodies.
- Cute totes - Many retail stores carry adorable canvas and fabric totes that are perfect for longer shopping trips, here and here. My bestie bought me a larger reusable bag for my b-day, which I use all the time and keep in the trunk of my car.

#3 - Takeout
Both the reusable grocery bags and compact shopping bags are perfect to use when getting takeout. Sure, they may look at you weird when you bring your own bag to the takeout counter (it's happened to me many times), but you'll feel good walking out of your favorite restaurant with your reusable bag in hand instead of a nasty plastic one.

#4 - When in doubt, go bagless
Not all purchases require a bag. When you find yourself caught without a resuable bag to use, try going bagless. That stack of books you're buying from the bookstore isn't that difficult to carry in your arms out to the car. Or, the carton of milk and loaf of bread you picked-up on the way home from work. Why not just carry them out to the car without a bag if you forgot your reusable bag at home?

Do your part & B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Bag)!

girl talk

by foundphotosljs

"What a wretched lot of old shriveled creatures we shall be by-and-by. Never mind - the uglier we get in the eyes of others, the lovelier we shall be to each other; that has always been my firm faith about friendship." - George Eliot

sing to me, edith

Edith Piaf
Padam, Padam - 1956

just the ticket

Charles Nolan's Spring 2009 rtw collection is a reminder that Nolan never fails to impress. The perfect balance between classic and fresh. I'm loving it all.

seeing red