Ek Thongprasert: bold statement necklaces

EK x NG K + S Necklace
Limited edition, $ ??
Photo: modaoperandi.com

EK Thongprasert Edison Necklace
$325, Modaoperandi trunk show
Photo: modaoperandi.com

This spring, I mentioned Natasha Goldenberg and her wicked accessories in a fantasy getaway post to Monaco. Since then I was stumped on who made that cool red link necklace she was wearing. I had leads that maybe it was Miu Miu? Nope. Marni? Nope. During my search I found that designers like Kenneth Jay Lane and David Yurman as well as chain brands like JCrew, Banana Republic, Express and Charlotte Russe also offer giant linked necklaces. But still nope.

Silly me, the answer was on her Instagram all along! The necklace is by Ek Thongprasert in a limited edition collection with NG. It may be hard to find now as the trunk show was long ago. Nevertheless, there are plenty of other really cool silicone and cut glass necklaces made in intricate, conceptual designs. Never heard of Ek Thongprasert? Neither had I. I've learned the line is actually a collaboration between Thai fashion designer EK Thongprasert and jewellery designer Noon Passama. They are now based in Antwerp. The necklaces and bracelets are colourful yet timeless.

Statement necklaces have cyclically come and gone in trends and I never was convinced enough to adorn a huge piece before. The biggest necklace ever I wore was the Gerard Darel pearls for my Greek wedding, gifted to me from my stylist KK. And even that took a bit of convincing. However, from what I see so far by the EK Thongprasert line, the colours and designs transcends trends. I may need one of these in my life.

Prices seems to range from $300 - $1000+

Stockists include:

Modaoperandi.com
Luisaviaroma.com
Jewelsthatrock.com

EK Thongprasert Automobile Necklace
$500 USD, Luisaviaroma.com

Photo: jewelsthatrock.com

EK Thongprasert silicone & cut glass necklace
$575 USD, sold out at Luisaviaroma.com
Photo: ek-thongprasert.fashionstylist.com

The ones that got away...

I paid a visit to The Purseblog this morning and found this article on The Handbags That Got Away to be a cute read. The ladies from the site listed the bags of yesteryear that they loved but missed out on. And I completely agree that certain years, like 2008, were fantastic for accessories. As a handbag freak, I can relate to fawning over a bag and wishing it was in the cards. There are a few I can name that I was completely in love at the time.

My list would include the Dior Street Chic Columbus. This was from oh... 2003-ish? I loved the strap. I've seen it recently for sale on consignment sites for a couple hundred dollars or so.

Photo: rakuten.com

The Louis Vuitton Sofia Coppola SC. Available new or used, but too much $$$ to even consider.

Photo: red-luxury.com

And the Givenchy Antigona. It has been on everybody's arms and comes in so many colours and leathers too!

Photo: mytheresa.com

However, there are no bags that I completely regret missing out on. The one item I do miss, which I had purchased, then returned out of buyers remorse.. was a pair of Tod's strappy sandals from Spring/Summer 2009. (I think I may have written about them before.) They were the same ones worn by Gwyneth Paltrow in that season's ad campaigns and the style would work year after year. They were still too expensive even on sale and now I have never seen them listed anywhere for sale pre-owned. I did take photos before I returned them, though. Yes, I'm that dorky. *sniff sniff*

New style crush: Christine Centenera

I would like to disregard the fact that she was (and still is) style consultant for Kanye West, but thankfully Christine Centenera is better known as the senior style editor at Australian Vogue. I think her style is pretty fierce and edgy, yet wearable. From what I know and see so far (and love):

1) Her shoe collection is freaking amazing. Apparently she excuses herself with having a high instep as to why she cannot wear flats.

2) She recycles her wardrobe, even if the pieces are straight off the runway. She's been known to wear things from past seasons and mix high and low (ok, semi-low) end stuff, like Uniqlo.

3) She doesn't scream "peacocking" at fashion week events and in her street style photos. You can only see crossed legs, hip-out posing for so long without detecting the vain effort coming through the photo (à la Hollywood starlets).

4) She keeps her hair and makeup simple and consistent to her particular look, hence the outfits are what its all about. Carine Roitfield and Charlotte Gainsburg don't chase beauty trends, and apparently neither does Christine.

 and

5) For a petite gal, she has great legs. So jealous! :)

All photos collected from purse forum and their respective sources.

Isabel Marant for H & M

Photo: via fashionspot

Early this week, the style blogosphere was trending the "leaked" lookbook photos for Isabel Marant's collaboration with H & M, which launches on November 14, 2013. As expected, the pieces were in the traditional IM aesthetic. Last fall I was really digging her funky red skinny pants, and this collection has another pair that interests me now. Since I'll be in California during the launch and online stock will probably sell out in hours, I may have end up having to find these on Ebay.

Photo: via manrepeller

Chocolate dressing for the eyes

Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate Palette, $60 from Murale or Holt Renfrew

Recently I pared down my makeup essentials but now I need to amend this list with the addition of the sleek Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate palette. A collection of 7 neutral shades in the brown family including a base colour, mattes, shimmers, and an eyeliner shade. I found it during my search for a different powder foundation (which is still ongoing), but so far I am happy with my distraction purchase. I am notorious for only using 1-2 colours out of a whole palette (even one with 88 colours! :) so I am optimistic that this will change. We'll see about that...

Daydreaming of CL's from Ban Island..

Ban Island is the place tPFers (ie the Purse Forum community) endearingly place themselves when they abstain from shopping, collecting, retail therapy, procuring...  It can be torture or it can be therapeutic.

I've placed myself temporarily here because... 1) I had some great summer finds, 2) I am currently quasi-content with my wardrobe, and 3) I have upcoming trips to California, Thailand, Laos, and Mexico. All within the next 8 months. So there isn't much for clothes I would yearn for when we shop in San Diego & LA in November...with the exception of another crack at a Louboutin boutique- either on Robertson Blvd or South Coast Plaza. November is my birthday month, after all :) My last visit to a CL store, in Paris, earlier this year was totally bunk due to third trimester swollen feet. An elephant in stilettos would have better described that scene.

So I looked up what's new at Loubi World and it looks like there's a Nude Collection introduced with 5 styles available in 5 shades. Well, it's about time! Earlier this summer I recall asking the sales associate at Holt Renfrew if anyone made a nude shade that would work for me. This was while I had a pile of "nude" shoes I had just tried on by Blahnik, YSL, Choo, CL, and Givenchy in front of me. As Mr Louboutin says on his website, "The shoes disappear like magic and become a fluid extension of the woman's legs, as in a sketch, elongating the silhouette."  Well, that won't happen with blush-coloured shoes on tanned asian skin. Maybe I'd have better luck with this new collection. There is even an app to "help discover your shade" that you can download.

Here's a peek at what the online store has available from the Nude Collection:

Pigalles in 5 shades, $625 USD
Photo: christianloubtin.com

Since I was there, I did find some other pairs to lust after:

A lovely Pigalle 100 mm in Iris patent (I don't have purple shoes!), $625 USD
Photo: christianloubtin.com

 And this is most certainly an "in-my-dreams-only-but-I-would-rather-buy-an-Hermès-bag" pair:

Decollette 554 Strass, $3395 USD
From: christianlouboutin.com

P.S. Christainlouboutin.com does ship to Canada.. $45 shipping, and approximately $145 in duties & taxes on their basic single-soled styles/leathers (Pigalle, Decolletes, Simple, Ron Ron, Fifi, etc)

NYFW Favorites

Proenza Schouler S/S 2014
Photo: Monica Feudi c/o Style.com

Even though it marks the end of summer and it paves the way for winter, fall is really my favourite season clothes-wise. The rich colours, high boots, and wonderful coats come out to play. Normally when fashion weeks hit this time of year, the spring collections give us something to look forward to after we survive the cold winter.

New York kicked things off first, and London, Milan, and Paris will follow. As glamorous as it may seem to attend all these shows, I do pity the editors and buyers who attend as the schedule looks hectic and exhausting. I took a peek through some of the shows and it may be just me, but every designer I scoured so far has gone by the beat of their own drum. Which is nice. I'm sure magazines will put together spring trends for the fashionista flocks to follow after all the shows have run. Here are some of my favourite looks... I am really liking the non body clingy shapes.

Victoria Beckham S/S 2014
Photo: Marcus Tondo c/o Style.com

The Row S/S 2014
Photo: from The Row c/o Style.com

The Row S/S 2014
Photo: from The Row c/o Style.com

Alexander Wang S/S 2014
Photo: Marcus Tondo c/o Style.com