Lust list: Bags

Since landscaping has taken priority over shopping, I can only yearn for lovely handbags... from a distance. Consider me boring, but I haven't been crazily following handbag trends. As I discussed months ago in a Bottega Veneta post, the "It" bag syndrome is a marketing gimmick. Some lucky people get accessories thrown at them for free to wear because they are walking billboards. And some people just have so much disposable income that they can buy whatever they want. But for us real folk, my personal thoughts are to invest in the timeless and classic - according to your personal tastes. Then again, there is no harm in lusting for something quirky and just plain gorgeous. Here is the list of the bags I am currently fawning over:

Proenza Schouler PS1 tote
$1995 USD on www.netaporter.com

A black version of the PS1 modelled on www.netaporter.com

Celine Nano tote. This girl's mom is Sarah Rutson, creative director for Lane Crawford.
Photo: www.purseforum.com

Ahh..love that green! Goyard double-sided hemp & leather St  Louis
Photo:Stockholm-streetstyle.com

Told you she had an amazing bag collection. Wendy's Marco Tagliaferri tote
Photo and her blog entries: www.wendyslookbook.com

Blogs to Follow

There are plenty of fashion and style bloggers online but I just wanted to share some the sites that I enjoy visiting the most:

Trendland - A "culture ephemera", this online magazine created by Cyril Foiret and Ani Tzenkova will initially overwhelm you so take in small portions at a time in order to appreciate the content. Ani best decribes "Trendland is what it sounds like, a world of raw trends, waiting to be nurtured and defined.”

Garance Dore - The diary of French photographer and fashion illustrator, Garance Dore. I would love to swap lives with her (career-wise only, of course!) Her blog is my French colloquial practice.. but then I flip to the English site to see how my own translation fared.

She's so stylish. A rare photo of Garance Dore. www.garancedore.fr

Jenesequa - You've seen her around. You've observed her.. that sublime woman that is so put together that you just cant put a finger on why. This is an editorial on all things Indescribable. Intangible. Elusive. Well pertaining to fashion and beauty anyhow.

Wendy's Lookbook - As her title conveys, Wendy and her boyfriend photographer Mystery Man capture her modelling various outfits in this pictorial diary. The photos are editorial and ad campaign worthy. The outfits are attainable. She mixed high end and low end pieces and recyles a lot of her favorite handbags and jewelry. Her poses do become repetitive, but she is petite and cute nonetheless.

Artistic photos from www.wendyslookbook.com

The Muse and Vitaly Kozak - You may have to brush up on your Cyrillic because both these influential fashion-tastic blogs are in Russian. However, the sights and moments captured in photography speak volumes for themselves. Both Natasha and Vitaly are amazing and sweet people in person. It's been pretty darn cool to follow their careers.


So enjoy if you have the chance!

Identification crisis.

  I received a suggestion to please identify some of the outfits I wear in the photos I post in my Facebook albums. You know, as they do in magazines. I think that would be quite fun but it presents a bit of a dilemma. I do enjoy sharing with others what I'm wearing and I name drop and label drop constantly. It is mainly out of the excitement of getting the to wear whatever it is (because living in Alberta... special occasions are RARE!) and the thrill of communicating with other individuals who understands and shares the same love and passion for clothes. Most fashion lovers can babble about clothing and accessories all day long without exhaustion. And we can spend hours going through each other's closets... and trust me, there are definitely many other people with awesome wardrobes I envy!

  Then it occurred to me that there is another side to it. Talking about your clothes and the things you own can be perceived as narcissistic and conceited. A few years back, I heard I was called arrogant. In this particular situation it was because I used 'big words' and had told about them about what was going on with my life. Meanwhile there are others out there that constantly put people down to make themselves feel better and others that feel the need to one-up everyone else in conversation. Needless to say, I used to be a little sensitive when someone accuses me of lacking humility.

 After some careful thought, I realise Dr Seuss stands correct: "Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind". It may not be very humble for me to say this, but I'm not a jerk. A control freak, maybe. :)  EVERYONE should be comfortable in their own skin and be confident. Fear not self-expression. So here goes the shallow, fashion-obsessed geek in me- a gallery of a few of my favorite ensembles. I will also go back in my FB albums ands label things here and there on myself and my friends. So thank you, A.K., for inspiring this! You will soon catch onto how much I recycle what little I have. :)

@ a wedding with my cousin Kie and her Michael Kors Hamilton Tote. (Sorry, I cant recall where her dress is from although I recognize it :) On me: Top, Jil Sander; Belt, Marni; Pants, Urban Outfitters; Shoes, House of Harlow Praline sandals; Clutch, Chanel Wallet on Chain

@ My wedding in Greece. Dress, Maggie Sottero; Shoes, Marc Jacobs

@ the Justice of the Peace's house for our official legal marriage: Jacket, Chanel; Dress, Chanel; Belt, Burberry Prorsum; Shoes, Jimmy Choo

In Santa Monica: Jacket, Papaya Jeans; Jeans, Paige Premium Laurel Canyon Jeans; Belt, Celine; Boots, Jimmy Choo; Bag, Miu Miu

In Ottawa: Jacket, Prada Sport; Jeans, Paige Premium Laurel Canyon; Shoes, Tod's Fibietta Ballet Flats

In Ottawa: Tank top, Michael Kors; Skirt, Zara; Scarf, Winner's(?); Bag, Miu Miu

In LA West Hollywood: Dress, See by Chloe; Belt, Celine

In New York City: Dress, Kookai; Sandals, Italian Shoemakers; Sunglasses, Emilio Pucci; Bag, Miu Miu (as you can see, my go-to travel bag!)

Alaia the Great

Azzedine Alaia Fall 2011 Couture
Photo: www.style.com

Since I previously mentioned that Azzedine Alaia just came back from an 8 year hiatus from the couture shows, I sought the answer as to why. I found a really great article in Ecouterre written by Yuka Yoneda that summarizes the designer's perspective on the fashion industry to which I completely concur. He was quoted in a Business of Fashion exclusive:
 
   “Today there is no time for creativity; nobody has time to develop a special silhouette or a special fabric... Four collections for women, four collections for men, another four collections to sell, and everything needs do be done within four, five months—it’s a one-way course towards emptiness. It’s inhuman.”

 I agree. It is completely overwhelming how fast fashion's flip chart turns. I believe in finding clothes that are either timeless and unique in character. Then I keep them for life (if I can!). Besides, if you keep something long enough, it comes back "in style" :)

 Kudos to Mr Alaia for emphasizing quality over quantity. So if I take time between posts and only write about the things I really want to write about, now I won't feel so bad. I'll leave you with another line from the Business of Fashion article that resonates with my view on life:

  "When I wake up I am happy to open my eyes, happy to be alive, to feel good, to have no diseases. And then I ask myself, what will I learn today? Who will I get to know today?"


Thanks for reading! Enjoy your day! *bisou*

  

Elie *sigh* Saab for Fall 2011 Haute Couture

 The Haute Couture shows for Fall 2011 have just wrapped up and I skimmed through all the couture designers that presented. Of them all, I was drawn to the twinkling beads and pearls of Elie Saab's gowns. Maybe I'm coming off a wedding kick (hence the bias towards this look), but any of these would be bride-worthy. Modern, sleek, and elegant.

Elie Saab Fall 2011 Couture
Photo: www.style.com

Elie Saab Fall 2011 Couture
Photo: www.style.com

Elie Saab Fall 2011 Couture
Photo: www.style.com

Honorable mention for my second favorite goes to Azzedine Alaia, who showed his first couture show in 8 years! Remember Cher's line to a gunman in Clueless when she refuses to drop to the ground? “You don’t understand; this is an Alaïa.”

Azzedine Alaia Fall 2011 Couture
Photo: www.style.com