Chanel Ink

Generally speaking I live my life with the belief that Chanel can do no wrong - speaking of which the new consignment store in the South End, Boomerangs, has a Chanel suit in the window if anyone who hasn't give up shopping for lent is interested!

Anyway, after this spring's fashion show and their recent announcement to actually make them available I can't say I'm totally sold on their new temporary tattoos. First of all, if I'm going to buy anything Chanel I don't want it to be temporary!

Even so, I just overall don't think it's really my cup of tea, what do you think?

Haberdash Vintage

I've actually been meaning to post about this since the summer when I saw the adorable trailer at SOWA but I didn't have my camera that day and then couldn't remember what it was called. I almost wanted to be a total creep and put it in Missed Connections in the Improper Bostonian or something! But low-and-behold they Haberdash Vintage was featured in the February issue of Boston Magazine...
The more and more I read, the more and more I love! Punky's blog, PunkyStyle is amazing, and you can even get a peak at her impeccably picked inventory on her site. Almost better than her taste, are the prices! The awesome line-up of boots they showed in Boston Magazine were $20-$60 which is perfect - the bargain is half the fun of vintage anyway.
Her blog says that The Haberdash is hibernating for the winter so I guess I'll have to hang on tight until summer comes around and the market opens again. In the meantime I'll just have to continue to peruse her website - check it out, I loved her most recent post about capes!

Bootights!

I got so excited when I saw these in Lucky Magazine last night...usually my daily footwear November-February consists of black opaque tights and American Apparel knee-high gym socks under my boots. This causes 2 problems; 1. sometimes the socks pill onto my tights 2. it prevents me from going to shoe shopping after work (sometimes I do that on purpose though, like my own electrical-fence)
But now there are Bootights! It's one of those 'why didn't I think of that' things but I'm glad someone did.


You can read the story on her website, but founder Shelby Mason came up with the idea after an embarrassing incident taking her boots off in line at the airport...something I've become far too familiar with myself.

They come in different heights for knee-high boots or shorter booties and are available at Dillards.

Louis's New Home

So, I know it's old news that LouisBoston is moving to Fan Pier but I just got re-excited about it when I saw the Globe today. Yes, of course I am sad...I love the Natural Science Museum building and I'm scared what will happen to it because God knows no one can afford to get in there after them, and I'll miss it being close to me but you KNOW it's going to be amazing at in the Seaport. First of all look at the rendering that the Globe published in October...


While we're at it, I thought I'd post some of the old images the Globe used to show when the building was the Natural History Museum because they are so cool.


I'd love to see if the Globe could get reprints of these photos because they would look amazing framed.

Most importantly though is what this move means for us......and that would be 50% off! Sale is Thursday - Saturday, 11a-7p

In Fond Memory

Charles Kleibacker -1965

One of the more interesting people I have been fortunate enough to meet is Charles Kleibacker. My mom sadly informed me yesterday when Charles passed away so I thought I'd put up something in his honor as he was such a wonderful and talented person.

Kleibacker designs - mid 1950's
Images via Threads Magazine

Born in a tiny town in Alabama Charles knew he wanted to be a designer from a very young age and went on to do just that. I'll never forget sitting with him in the atrium of the Columbus Museum of Art and him telling me about sitting in his own boutique within Bergdorf Goodman selling his couture dresses. Can you even imagine??

He was one of the few American designers to find success in doing only couture and no mass produced ready-to-wear lines. When I read articles or biographies about him I actually find them hard to believe because he was truly one of the most down-to-Earth people you could ever meet. He started his fashion career as an assistant designer in the house of Lanvin in Paris and opened his own studio in New York in 1960. He is famous for his bias-cut which requires painstaking attention to detail, high quality fabrics, and extraordinary talent which is why it truly can only work on couture designs.

Image from The Fashion School at Kent University

In 1984 he accepted a position at The Ohio State University and the art world in Columbus would never be the same! He did so much good for OSU, Kent University, The Columbus Museum of Art, and so much more. While is presence will undoubtedly be missed his legacy will absolutely live on.

The images below do not do the dress justice but Charles was kind enough to give this dress to my mom and it is absolutely stunning. What I find most interesting about it is on the inside you can see all the construction and architecture that goes into making a couture gown. I didn't fully understand or appreciate what his famous bias cut did for the shape of a garment and of its wearer until I saw this dress.


*Information from Kent University

With "Bells" On

I've finally recovered from my wonderful trip to Miami - and cannot wait to go back! I loved it - such an amazing city...and such a great way to experience it for the first time. My friend Michelle (affectionately called Bells by her close friends and family!) got married down there at The National in South Beach and all I can say about it is details, details, details. From her custom made gown to the vintage suitcase holding the place cards not a thing was left out. Sadly my camera decided it didn't feel like working so I apologize that some of the pictures are off my iPhone and could be better quality, but I've also included some from the photographer, Amy Hill, who did nothing short of an amazing job.
Can you even handle this picture? It's taken at the Delano, which is next door to The National....more on that later!
Here's the vintage suitcase that was filled with sand holding up the reproduction post cards that marked your table...I mean, really? Michelle is amazing.
This is the post card that I got, and then each table was marked with the post card you pulled out of the suitcase. They're from Zazzle.

I have SO much more to show-and-tell but have lots to catch up on before I had back to the great state of Ohio for my favorite holiday! So stay tuned becuase there are so many more amazing pictures and great details to share.

Premature Planning

I hate how Christmas decorations go up right after Halloween and I hate even more that I'm joining the masses in looking right over Thanksgiving because it is my favorite holiday but when I saw this this morning I couldn't help myself but think about what's just around the corner...

...which then obviously turned into me thinking about all the things I'd like to have for a the holidays, so here is a little preview...
I guess these could be a little Christmas-sweater-ish but I think they're adorable...leave it to Kate Spade! (available at Nordstrom)



Remember that sequin Gucci blazer I wanted? This isn't it.

...but it's probably the closest I'm going to get, and it's really cute on. I think I'm going to rationalize it by having 2 things to wear it to. 1. My friend's wedding in Miami (more to come on that, because she has amazing taste and I can't wait to show you everything she's done) and 2. New Years, because what other holiday is there that something sparkly is required? (available at Bloomingdales)

I've been trying to stay away from Club Monaco lately because it's a dangerous place for a girl who really only wears black and white but when I saw one of their clutches in the most recent Improper Bostonian I had to go the website and look more closely - voila there were 6 of them! Perfect to dress up any little black dress...
...and how pretty would these Jonathan Adler dinner plates look on any table for Christmas dinner? I like the 'white on white' best - a little less dramatic, and also still good for everyday use.

Interruption of Regularly Scheduled Programming

I was planning to post wedding-wedding-wedding all week but I got an email form Barney's this morning that deserved IMMEDIATE attention. I should divulge that in a tie with shoes, my #1 shopping addiction has to be coats. Especially on a day like today in Boston, the first snap of cold air that really makes me want to throw on some thing warm and new and wonderful this email was just a rude tease. This coat is amazing. That's really all I can say about it. It's from Barney's new fall collection of their own line which they just put out an online look book for.

Runway to (almost) Reality

I've realized that the stop in between Runway and Real Life is Celebrity. First it's in fashion week, then its on the red carpet, and then I find something that maybe-sorta-kinda-might look like it at Forever 21. Here are a few examples of some fabulous looks I'd die to not only have in my closet, but to have somewhere to wear them!


More to come.....

Fall Shopping List

So I'm heading out of the office to enjoy this long beautiful weekend in Boston and thought I'd share some of my fall must haves! Maybe I'll pick a couple of them up if I'm lucky....

I loooove this jacket, it's from Madewell and fits perfectly! (images from ShopBop)

This Jerome Rousseau shoe is so beautiful - it's so flattering because it's almost like a cowl neck for your leg so it doesn't cut off at your ankle like a lot of booties do, and it was very comfortable when I made the bad decision of trying it on! (available at Moxie in Boston)

This Marni necklace would go with so much, jeans, a black dress, a nice work suit and I love the detailing on the pendant.

J.Crew's new Pixie Pants are so adorable and would go with everything - they'd look great with heels to go out, tucked into boots during the day, or like they're shown here with flats for the office, and the gold zipper detail is perfect!
So sue me...I like a good new Tshirt to cheer on my Buckeyes every fall and Homage by far makes the best (obviously, they're from Ohio.) They are the perfect material and all have great artwork - definitely check out their sirethey have some awesome stuff.