Take-out in Couture

KAT MACONIE

 

 

I really like these Kat Maconie sandals.  Don't they look as if they would be super comfortable too?  They'd look just as good with skinny jeans as they would with skirts and dresses. I should probably branch out to other colors (I just counted and 1/2 of my shoe collection is composed of black shoes, especially of the ankle boot variety.)

For those of you who may not be familiar, Kat Maconie is a London-based designer and she launched her label in July, 2009.  I really like the understated chic vibe of a lot of her pieces and they are fairly affordable as well (most retail in the £150 - £300 range.)

I know that it's been a little quiet over here lately.  I'm actually in the process of rethinking the blog a little bit.  This doesn't mean that I'm going to necessarily stop blogging, of course, but I might.  Or I might try to post more about lifestyle and design rather than just personal style and fashion.  I might bring a little Anthropology in too. This is probably a good thing, come to think about it, because my summer wardrobe is super boring.  Do we really need to see pictures of me in slouchy tees and skinny jeans all of the time?  Probably not!

 

INSTANT LIGHT

 

I seemed to have misplaced my favorite every day lipstick (Laura Mercier "Bare Lips", in case you are wondering), but until I manage to pick up a new one, I am really loving Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector.  I think that really glossy glosses are pretty tacky and it's really difficult to find natural looking one that are subtle.  This one is absolutely perfect. 

 

HIGHLANDS

 

 

Hey guys!  Just a quick little update here from me.  I'm out in the Scottish Highlands right now and loving it.  The workshop program is intensive, so I have not had too much free time, but I managed to duck out today, wander around and explore.  It's been a really great experience (and a lot of fun too), but I am looking forward to returning home tomorrow.  I miss little Bogart and I've got so much work to do.  Hope that everyone is having a great week!

 

 

STYLEMAKERS

 

Hey guys!  A couple of weeks ago, the nice folks at Jimmy Choo invited me down to the ‘Choo 24:7 Stylemakers launch in London, which was hosted by Caroline Issa.  I ended up feeling a little sick and spending the morning in bed instead (boo!), but I wanted to share the initiative with you because I think that it's a very cool idea. ‘Choo 24:7 Stylemakers’, is an interactive microsite that celebrates street style photography.  The site allows fans and photographers to submit their own street style images highlighting their personal style (you can submit through Facebook and Instagram too).  The best ones are uploaded to the site and shared with fans across the world.  I think that it is such a cool way to see what folks are wearing across time zones, day to evening.  The site also incorporates curated content (i.e. archive images of celebrities, ad campaigns and Jimmy Choo events.)

I think that this is such a cool idea and we all know how much I love street style photography.  I can't wait to play around with the site and upload my first look!

 

CANDID

 

My friend Adam snapped this photograph of me during the last London Fashion Week.  He took it before I recognized him, so it's as candid as they come. I'm wearing the Jofama coat that I picked up at Wild Swans earlier in the year. It's faux fur with great leather detailing.  It came with a leather belt, as well but I removed that because, as you know, I really dislike belting things.  In Scotland, this is a great four season coat - It's been absolutely freezing here lately!  I'm heading off to the Highlands tomorrow and I think I'll bring it with me.  It should keep me quite warm when we're out and about, don't you think? 

 

 

HI, MOM!

Today is Mother's Day in the United States, so it only seemed fitting to give a little shout out to the most beautiful and wonderful woman that I know.  Hi, Mom! Love you!

One of the worst things about living across the pond from my family is that I do not get to see them nearly enough.  We are all really close and I miss them terribly.  Last night, however, the whole gang got together over Skype.  We had two Macbooks and two iPads going at the same time, and it was so much fun to talk to (and see) everyone at once. 

 

NET-A-PORTER WISHLIST

 

            

            
                   

                  

            

This is a little embarrassing, but... Do any of you ever do that kind of online "window shopping" where you pile a lot of different items into your shopping cart and then hastily close the browser?  No?  Just me? Luckily, at Net-a-Porter you can make a wishlist (and neatly file all of your different "wants" into categories, while you're at it!)  It's quite productive actually, if you ask me! 

Still noticing a color theme here, I know.  I've got blue on the brain.  Lusting over those Jimmy Choos and Cobra Society boots too!

 

 

 

 

BLUE, BLUE, ELECTRIC BLUE

 

T by Alexander Wang and Kain make some of my favorite tees, but I picked up a bright blue one at the Zara in Kensington a week or so ago. I ducked in to escape from the rain and figured, well, since I'm already here.... 

It's a good two sizes larger than I would normally wear, but it is wonderfully cozy and in my favorite shade of blue.  The sun is finally out today, so I am going to go out and try to photograph it as well as some other things around town.  I know that we all complain about the seemingly endless rain, but I think that one thing is for sure: if we didn't have to endure the rainy dreary days, we wouldn't appreciate the sunny ones nearly as much. 

 

 

MAX MARA

 

 

Pictured:  Tamara bead necklace, Bobbio crocodile-print leather bag, Enovem reversible coat, Valeria dress.

 

I am really loving these classic pieces from Italian luxury fashion house MaxMara, all available at Matches. The chunky yellow statement necklace would look great paired with a white dress, the grey handbag (want!) and a pair of strappy sandals. The necklace would really smarten up a simple basic tee too.

The quilted coat is a classic wardrobe staple.  It's also in my favorite color nevertheless - blue!  I could live in that coat all summer long here in Scotland.  Unfortunately, we never fully abandon "coat season" here, but a cute coat collection is certainly a great way to make up for it.

I really adore this color block dress too. Isn't it so sweet?  I've been trying to work more color into my wardrobe lately, besides white, black (not *technically* a color, I know), grey, navy and denim.  My closet is overflowing with items in those colors.  It's time to make way for some more vibrant hues, I think.

I hope that you all have a great weekend.  Can you believe that the weekend is almost upon us? This week went by so fast!

 

 

 

RECYCLING

 

 

Ah, the make-up brushes in old Diptyque jars... It's a bit of a fashion cliché by now, but I don't care.  At least we're all recycling. I think that it looks pretty classy too.

I tried to take some proper photographs while I was out and about today, but it was one of those days.  First, I forgot my memory card at home.  Following this, the rain decided to start - and continue - for the duration of the day.  It's hard to feel super photogenic with horizontal rain in your face.

Having lived here for almost six years now, I like to pretend that I can predict the weather.  Walking around with my friend Holly today, I looked up at the sky and made my prediction: five minutes of sun about two to three hours later.  I'm still waiting for that sun, so I guess my skills aren't as fine-tuned as I thought.  One thing is for sure though, every time I break out my Marc Jacobs wellies, the rain stops and the sun comes out for the rest of the day.  Can you guess what I'll be wearing tomorrow?