To Dye For

I am loving tie dye right now.  Less hippie rainbow and more like Japanese Shibori technique, the fabric and colors are much cooler these days.

A long way from this:

And this (Ack!!):

photo credit

And more like this:

And this:

Michael Kors S/S 2o12 via style.com

click on items to see shopping info:

Shortsleeve Tops at Net-A-Porter
Longsleeve Tops by Michael Kors

More Flower Power!

I am thinking very seriously about buying these rad Alice & Olivia floral pants.  Although I would style them differently and pair them with a white T by Alexander Wang tee, half tucked, very slouchy cardi or Rag & Bone jean jacket, messy hair and big sunglasses.

Is it crazy that I want these pants?  Maybe I just want Spring to arrive in full force..

No Vegan Here

I love a great leather jacket.  So cool, so classic, wearing one feels like putting on fashion armor.  There are so many fantastic ones out there right now, and after looking at about 150 of them..these are my favorites.  Click on a jacket for shopping info.

Clockwise from top left:

1. Sandro Vegas moto jacket.  I love that this updated biker jacket has knit sleeves.  Am I a jacket or am I a sweater?  No, I am just cool.

2. Stella McCartney oversized baseball jacket.  Well, let’s just say that the “cost per wear” for this gem would leave me sporting it into my rocking chair years, but I just don’t care.  It is iconic and cool.

3. Helmut Lang padded leather jacket:  Puffy, but not like the Michelin Man, I definitely like the look of this.

4. Also Helmut Lang, this light-weight cropped suede number is perfect for evening.  It’s more refined than the others, and deserves a place in my closet asap.  I also like the asymmetrical hem.

Leather Jackets by Helmut Lang
Casual Jackets by Stella McCartney

If the price of the Stella varsity jacket is killing you, then check out this sportier version from Rag & Bone. It’s a third of the price.

And of course I am losing my mind about the Spring 2012 leather jackets at Nina Ricci.  The navy pencil skirt and moto jacket is the ultimate in tough but pretty.

all via style.com

What I Want Right Now.

I’ve been spending lots of time in the stores lately and I like what I see!  Here are a few of my favorite items available right now.  Click on photos for shopping info:

Rag & Bone zig zag sweater.  This is a summer sweater, made out of cotton ribbon.  It’s perfect for those chilly early mornings and evenings when you need an extra layer.  It feels amazing and I adore it.

And this Marc by Marc Jacobs bag looks a bit like a Celine bag, but is way less expensive:

These Rag & Bone cut-out brogues make the perfect “borrowed from the boys” statement:

Do you need red pants? If they are Isabel Marant you do! I would wear these with flats or sneakers for day, and heels and a cami at night. Super versatile, and the color makes them special:

And lastly, a gorgeous link with pave bracelet from the very talented Eddie Borgo. I bet the next move for him is teaming up with a fine jewelry brand to create luxury, tough pieces that we can all drool over…

Pockets and Paintings #63

Today I am featuring the very talented painter Michael Borremans.  He is from Belgium and was born in 1963.  Originally trained as a photographer, he turned to drawing and painting in his mid thirties.  This is kind of wild to me since he is a really good painter, so he must have had a natural gift to have picked it up so late.

He is influenced by the styles of Manet and Degas, and Velazquez, and he uses photographs he has taken himself as reference for his paintings.  He also commissions sculptures of the human figure which he then paints from.  His paintings are seemingly quiet and contemplative, but they really hit you over the head with their air of restraint and strong views about society.  Here are a few of his paintings.  The woman with the bees is called “American Actress”, I wonder what he means by this?

This very masterful painting is called “Automat”.  His light and detail are really stunning.

Here is my outfit inspired by this painting.  I am crazy about the Michael Kors cork wedges…

Cocktail Dresses by Bottega Veneta
Platforms by Michael Kors

Dress: Bottega Veneta, earrings: Roberto Cavalli, shoes: Michael Kors

Necklace: Isabel Marant, watch: Michael Kors, bag: Chloe

Another structured leather bag that would work with this outfit (and is more reasonable priced) is this one from Michael Kors:

Here is a video of Michael Borremans talking about his work:

Dream Jeanie

It’s the second day of Spring and my tulips are showing 6 inches of green as they impetuously thumb their noses at Winter.  As we exchange our Donna Karan arm warmers for a Marc by Marc umbrella, it’s time to think of lightening up our wardrobe in preparation for the gloriousness of Spring.  A good way to start is with jeans and pants, as they make a good transition between seasons. (Not ready for bare legs yet, thank you).

I am madly in love with my new J Brand Aidan pants.  They are in a super soft twill, and are pre-thrashed, so your husband can’t make you to send them to the Denim Doctor or throw them out: (“They’re SUPPOSED to look this way!”).  The fit is boyfriend slouchy, but somehow they still make your butt look fantastic, which is a major plus.

I also want to get the JBrand Earhart slouchy in the vintage pendalton color:

I am toying with the idea of getting their new Bette style as well. It’s high waisted which make your legs look super long, and has a vintage look.

You’ve gotta wear these babies with heels, so might I suggest these totally awesome Derek Lam t-strap leather wedges?

What are you looking to add to your Spring wardrobe? Let me know!

Spring Fling

So I have just finished an epic job of styling 16 (!) people for the gym Equinox.   My task?  Make a bunch of Equinox trainers, teachers, scientists and experts of all shapes, sizes, and ages look great….and not in gym clothes.  It was a crazy week, but I think I achieved the mission, and now I have a moment to myself at home on the couch to catch up.  I have been remiss in my blogging, so as I sit here in a robe and slippers, I start to ponder what to write about. Then I have it:  Since I HAVE been in and out of EVERY store in Manhattan in the last week,  I have a few standout items I saw in the stores right now that I’d like to share with you.  These are items I have touched, felt, swooned over, tried on, or tried on other people.  As always, click on the photos for shopping info.

Vince knit sleeve leather jacket, $895:

This jacket is buttery soft, and very light.  I love the knit panels in the sleeves.  This means the sleeve will fit tight to your arms, without being uncomfortable or bulky.  This light weight jacket is perfect for spring!

MiH Tokyo skinny slouch jean, $185:
A perfect balance between stretchy and structure, I would wear these jeans all summer. Always remember to wash your dark denim inside out to maintain color,

Loeffler Randall suede lace-up sandal, $295:
I could run after a cab in these babies, I just know it.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Bianca clutch, $298:

This soft leather clutch is a whopping 13.5 inches long, so it’s substantial.  I just love it.

Haute Hippie longhorn skull sweatshirt, $135:
This reminds me of Gorgia O’Keefe, which is never a bad thing.

Vince belted racer-back maxi, $135:
I am a sucker for stripes, and this maxi makes me think of evening walks on the beach before cocktails.

Elizabeth and James baja popover, $165:
Definitely not the stoner version, I could envision this iconic baja staple paired with a long, slim skirt for a modern evening look.

Happy shopping! And let me know what you plan on buying this spring.

Pockets and Paintings #62

I am getting ready for 11 straight days of work where I will be dressing 20 (!) people, but I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to a painter you might not know about.  His name is Thomas Scheibitz.

Thomas Scheibitz, both a painter and a sculptor,  was born in 1968 in Radeberg, Germany, and currently lives and works in Berlin.

He uses found media images of empty and idealistic scenes, and deconstructs them into abstract parts.  He is influenced by the amazing colorist Josef Albers, and by the Bauhaus movement.  His paintings are design oriented and are very architectural.  He layers shapes upon shapes emphasizing their flatness, while also creating space amongst them.  Make sure you click on the paintings so you can view them larger.

I love this portrait he did.  He looks like a professor waiting to speak at a graduation ceremony:

Here is my outfit inspired by “Anlage” above.  The composition is like a maze don’t you think?  I think anlage means “plan” or “arrangement” in German.

Camisoles at Net-A-Porter
Platforms by Chloé

Pants: Jil Sander, earrings: Bottega Veneta, boots: Chloe Sevigny for O.C.

Necklace: 3.1 Phillip Lim, bag: Alexander Wang, jacket: Vanessa Bruno, cami: Roland Mouret

Warm Weather Wishes

Happy New Year!  It’s now 2011 and time to make your new year mantra that rhymes with “eleven”.  My husband is going with “2011, no half steppin!”.  I am using “2011, forge your creative heaven”.  And my best friend Irene has chosen: “2011, keep it revin’!”.  What is your rhyming mantra for the new year?

I unfortunately rang in the new year with a head cold, which I am still recovering from.  As I lounge on the couch trying to get better, I am dreaming of far away lands.  Beach required!  I long to leave the piles of dirty NY snow behind and jump on a plane to warmer locales, and skip down the beach in a new bikini.

This Mara Hoffman bathing suit is calling my name:

As is her hot pink silk dress, which is perfect for the beach or the dance floor, depending how you wear it.

These Tory Burch sandals are great for strolling thru a beach town in search of candles for the cabana:

And who doesn’t love a light-as-a-feather Phillip Lim silk dress for drinks on the hotel deck?

You know I love me a stripe, and this hat by Eugenia Kim works well for the sailboat trip around the islands:

Going anywhere warm and delightful this winter? Let me know where and what your “must have” item is when packing your bags. Let’s all have a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year, shall we?

Super Sunnies

Now that the Spring 2011 shows are over, I have been taking a minute to look at the detail shots on style.com.  I have a weakness for sunglasses, and I am noticing how many cool specks there are to look forward to for spring/summer.  I often think that buying sunglasses from a designer you love but can’t afford, allows you a bit of their design aesthetic for a more reasonable price.

Here are a few that I really love:

Stella McCartney

Jil Sander

Fendi

Dries Van Noten

Missoni

All photos via style.com