It was 107 degrees when I ordered this jacket online on Monday. Yes I do need my head examined but I always plan ahead so when I see a great piece, I get it before it sells out! Shawl collars are so pretty and feminine and I just hope it looks as good in real life as it does in the photos, on the very thin model. I don't buy much faux fur but really liked the style of this one. I think part of the reason I'm in love with it is because my grandmother has something exactly like this from the 60s (except hers was real fur). I love pieces that evoke nostalgic memories. Mine is one of my grandmother with her fur, pearls and a delicate cigarette holder in hand as she left for a mahjong game. Not that I'll smoke but that image will be forever in my mind as the ultimate glamour!
Alice + Olivia Masha Faux Fur Jacket for $396
Recently in Jackets Category
It has come to my attention that I have become way too colorful. A friend blamed it on Texas but I say it's old age. There was a time that I'd only wear black/white/gray, but as I look in my closet right now, it's like someone threw up rainbow sherbert in it. Not that I'm going to stop wearing color (cuz god knows I love me a good pink dress) but I need more black to bring me back to my east coast sensibilities! And no one does black better than the Queen of 7th Avenue, Donna Karan. I'm thinking a good coat, pair of leggings and versatile top will be perfect foundation pieces and I can always incorporate color in as I please (obsessed with deep bloody red). Loving the options I found above (can I just say again how much I love my job? I shopped all weekend and called it work!):
Donna Karan Organza Tweed Jacket ($2,495) If there is anything I've learned throughout the years it's to invest in a one good coat each season. You can throw on anything underneath and look impeccably dressed.
Donna Karan Stretch-Jersey Leggings ($495) Forget Spanx, have you tried DK's jersey leggings? I love them with boots, sooooo chic!
Donna Karan Melange Stretch-Jersey Top ($750) This is a piece I can wear as is or with a belt. I can do a fitted belt or one slung low on the hip over leggings. Can it please get cold already? I'm buying my Fall wardrobe like a maniac and it's 100 degrees here!
Diane von Furstenberg Abbe Sweater Jacket for $395- Too cute for words, it's casually chic and may be thrown over jeans, leggings and just about anything for that matter.
Madison Marcus Array Open Jacket for $265 - This is a great style for those on the west coast, you want a bit of cover but it's not cold enough to be buttoned up.
Ports 1961 Cloak Jacket with Belt for $1,390- This is a super hot jacket, shearling is a must this season and the price of this is reasonable (compared to the Burberry one I really want).
Free People Swingin' Jacket for $148 - Affordable and cute, what more can you ask from a jacket?
Diane von Furstenberg Cupcake Bomber Jacket for $385- I absolutely adore this piece! At once feminine and edgy, I love the panels!
DSQUARED2 Kaban Biker Leather Jacket for $1,645- We are still not over motorcycle jackets, this one is fitted and fabulous but still totally tough.
A few months ago some of you may have heard the announcement that Juicy Couture hired Erin Fetherston to guest design a collection as well as act as a creative consultant for the brand. She's currently hard at work on her limited edition collection (including her version of the classic Juicy tracksuit!), and the pieces are slated to launch for holiday. To get us excited about the collaboration Juicy and Erin hosted an intimate dinner at Meet in Soho (complete with Champagne Taittinger Prestige Rosé :-)) followed by some late-night shopping in the Juicy Couture West Village store in NYC (we were actually given a Sony Bloggie to document the happenings!).
I own at least a dozen Juicy sweatpants - all of which I bought freshman year of college from Shopbop. I don't wear them out in public anymore (I really don't need a cherry and the word Juicy on my bum at this age!), but I wear them to sleep almost every night. When it comes to loose-fitting, comfy sweatpants, Juicy still makes the most flattering ones. Little did I know they make a whole lot more!
I spoke with Erin Fetherston about what attracted her to the brand and she said she's always been a fan and thinks her aesthetic meshes well with Juicy's. She also told me she was most excited to re-work their tracksuit (which is celebrating its 10th anniversary soon!). Fetherston is incredibly sweet, super soft-spoken, model tall, and has the most gorgeous porcelain complexion. Sadly we didn't get to preview any of her pieces at the event, but she said to expect a mix of dressed-up feminine and more casual pieces. Jump for more on what I discovered in the Juicy Couture boutique and some fun event images!
I bought the Elizabeth and James Triple Pocket James Blazer ($395) pictured above last weekend at Intermix. Initially I just pulled it off the rack to try it on for fun, but I happen to be wearing wide-legged dark beige pants, beige Stella McCartney pumps, a white tee, and a gold pendant necklace and the blazer looked great with that outfit! The lining of the jacket is black, so if you fold over the sleeves a little bit it looks better than it does above. Note though that the blazer runs very, very large. I pulled a size 4 off the rack, but ended up going with the size 0 (and I am not a size 0!).
Started by two young, stylish jet-setting friends, Nonoo Lyons is a line of super chic jackets that don't complete a look, they make a look! Some of the pieces are so fetching in fact that they could easily be worn zipped up as a top. My faves are the tweed cropped jacket ($675) pictured below and the fierce Bovary one-button blazer ($650).
I love Yigal Azrouel - and not just because he's single, Israeli, and ridiculously handsome, though that certainly doesn't hurt! He seems like an introspective, thoughtful designer and his work is intricate and cerebral without appearing over-worked. In fact it shines in its simplicity which is why it appeals to women and men of all ages. Typically I don't go for peep-toe boots, sleeve-less turtlenecks, etc because they seem completely counter-intuitive. Similarly leather and summer don't go well together in my book, but the Yigal Azrouel Leather Trim Jacket (on sale for $712; previous price $950) makes it work. The jacket is ingeniously designed with lightweight leather and removable sleeves!
I really like the vest-look of the jacket when the sleeves are taken off - perfect for a summer night!
A good friend of mine, Flavia Masson (she's hilarious you must check out her website!), frequently jet-sets between New York City and Paris and she just returned from a month in France. She was away for my birthday, so when I met her for coffee the other day she gave me the most gorgeous Maje starget="_blank"carf. Wrapped in a super chic black box that flaps open like a jewelry case, it's printed with a wild chain necklace motif. As someone who believes that when it comes to jewelry, more is always more, Flavia was dead-on when she knew I'd love it! While I can't locate the exact scarf in NYC, I came across this chic Maje Typhon pleated-shoulder jacket ($405). I swore off anything with power shoulders a few months ago, but the cascade-like effect of the pleats on this jacket are making me rethink that. This would look so chic with black silk tuxedo pants and a simple white top!
Since so many of us are traveling now that it's finally summer, I thought I would highlight another popular European chain of boutiques. You wouldn't know it from the outside, but Uterque is owned by the same folks behind Zara. The boutiques have the same minimalist-sleek decor as Zara stores, but they're a lot darker, sexier, and have significantly less merchandise clutter. In fact they're so dark and minimalist, you might walk by one of the boutiques thinking it's closed! Prices are about double what you'd find at Zara and they have everything from ready-to-wear and handbags to shoes, jewelry, hats, and gloves. You'll find Uterque locations in Spain, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Belgium, among others (see their website for full list) and they're most definitely worth going out of your way to check-out. The quality-for-price is great and they always have a slew of everyday staples I want to wear straight-out-of-the store!
