Mélangelook

Friday, June 18, 2010

Louis Vuitton Journeys

Diego Maradona, Pelé, Zinedine Zidane

photo: Vanity Fair

Sitting in hospital, holding my son's hand as he recovers from complications following what was supposed to have been a simple medical procedure, we pass our time watching the World Cup. Thank goodness for traditions!

(If only we had recognized incompetence earlier on, Daniel would now be kicking along, in full regalia, rolling his eyes as I pine over Michael Ballack and Zinedine Zidane..... oh why can't they be at every Wold Cup?)

Anyway, here's to small pleasures: a great shot of greatness. The bags look good too!

| More

Monday, March 29, 2010

City Fix

Two nights ago I decided that I needed a city-fix and so the following morning, armed with my camera, the March issue of Vogue and a bottle of water (in my oversized Pashmy bag) I boarded the ferry for San Francisco.
Hiking several blocks from the Ferry Building to Post Street, I entered heavenly Saks Fifth Avenue and duly walked down the stairs to Designer Shoes! I quickly spotted Tommy Ton's picks and beamed like a child in a candy store!

The not-so-good-news: I had been coveting these Rag & Bone Sahara Open-Toe Wedges and tried them on and wanted so badly for them to be magical on my feet, but sadly, they will grace someone else's smaller than size 39's.

But the good news is: I found two winners!

These Stuart Weitzman Expel's with elastic straps for custom fit, are the perfect platform sandals. The shoes have a lightly padded footbed and the perfect 3¼" heels, made of nubuck leather, will most definitely provide mileage!

The other pair is a dainty faux-reptile Elie Tahari strappy sandals on 1½" wedge heels. They are very airy and ultra-comfortable, I will hike the length of the National Mall in D.C. in these!

That took all of two hours, and then up to Contemporary Boutique on the fifth floor to get a feel for what might be daily sassy. James Perse, Equipment (from Intermix Clothing) and Milly never disappoint and an exposé of the best jeans: True Religion, JBrand, Current/Elliott to name a few, will be good fodder for future posts. Before giving in to my, by this time, rapidly disintegrating self-restraint, I beelined towards Emporio Rulli at Union Square for a shot of the best espresso in all of California. Caffeine provided a spring to my hike back to the Ferry Building and after standing for what seemed like an eternity at Miette for some of those sexy macaroons, I picked-up Stieg Larsson's "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" from the Book Passage. (I have to read the book before the film comes out, don't I?)

It was a good day and after handing my ticket to the conductor, I bravely went up to the top-deck and searched for a quiet corner to take in the scenic ferry route back home. I felt very grown-up!

Fashion Bloggers

Apparently, there was a time when Anna Wintour banned her staffers from mentioning the word "blog" within Vogue. Fast forward to the magazine's March 2010 issue, and the Index feature on page 514 (Logged On) profiles nine fashion bloggers, who, together, probably have more spread-power than any single fashion bible nowadays. They each have niche specialties and some have garnered front-row seats at the recent fashion shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris (imagine Ms. Wintour's chagrin over sharing the row with these "I-Generation" fashonistas!)

Photo source: Vogue

back row, from left: Michelle Phan: Michelle Phan.com

Todd Selby: the selby.com; fashionologie.com; TheSartorialist.blogspot.com

Tommy Ton: JAK & JIL.com

Yvan Rodic: Yvan Rodiic.blogspot.com

front row, from left: Bryanboy: Bryanboy.com

Hanneli Mustaparta: HANNELI/com

Garance Doré: garance dore.fr/en/

Catherine Kallon: RedCarpetFashionAwards.com

Mary Tomer: Mrs-O.org

I have been following garance doré and The Sartorialist, but will now be logging on to the rest! Check them out, and...Happy Reading!

Henry Beguelin

I think it was in July 2000 when the shops in Vienna were having their annual summer sales that a dark mocha hobo handbag in the window of one of my favourite shops called Kowalsky, caught my eye. From the outside looking in, it was not difficult to perceive the high quality and craftsmanship of the item -- it was earthy, understated and most definitely handcrafted. Of course I went in to inquire and was told that it was a HENRY BEGUELIN, a name that I had never heard of but would, from that day on list as my handbag designer of choice!

I fell in love with it instantly but did not purchase (believe it or not!) As a result, I found myself taking very hesitant steps towards home-- as is usually the case when I am feeling terribly torn apart. I was at Kowalsky's door the minute they opened at 10:30 the following morning, only to be told that they had shipped all their sale items back to the warehouse as "yesterday was our last day of sale." Imagine how contrite I felt, not to mention how my desire for that bag had then just greatly intensified! Short of begging, I persuaded the store assistant to try and locate it for me. A week passed until I heard back from her and yes, she had found the bag, it had been set aside and was ready for pick-up. It was fate, I was meant to carry a Beguelin and I have loved this possession now for ten years running!

Forward to 2010, I had been meaning to blog about this fabulous label and was going to post this last week until I discovered that not too far away from me, on Sacramento Street in San Francisco, is a Henry Beguelin shop! I remembered that neighborhood and have actually been to a very nice restaurant there (thanks to Serena) called Spruce. So guess what today's activity was?

I had to move to California to finally walk into a Henry Beguelin shop and as I have always anticipated, the store is as beautiful as all the items in it! The helpful sales associate was very knowledgeable and it is through the courtesy of the store manager that I am able to post these photos.

The Masai M

The Africa scaglie

I COVET these mules

and these sandals

and would love to steal these looks.....

photo source: HENRY BEGUELIN

Begun on the island of Elba and now based in Milan, HENRY BEGUELIN's methods are to me the fashion equivalent of the slow food approach. The character of the leathers is revealed through natural processes without the forcible action of chemicals, thus, re-cultivating age-old practices-- "low-tech" as they call it. Also resulting from this manner are the warmth and authenticity of the colors. The ornaments on each bag, shoe, jewelry, belt and clothing are stitched by hand-- no wonder they are so exceptional.

Look for the naïf as I've discovered it is called (not "the little man" as I used to say!) This is their emblem.

So, other than the fact that I am still terrified about driving on those steep hills of San Francisco, this area might just be a frequent destination.

I covet......

Lately I've been wondering..... do my readers think that I own all the clothes, bags, shoes and accessories that I've been posting on my blog? Cara says "we all think that you are a Duchess stepping out in full regalia all day everyday" and on this, I trust her judgment implicitly because she reads, she writes -- she is published and if no one else does, she goes through my texts with a fine tooth comb (she is my very own E.B. White, lucky me!)

Well I'd have loved to have been a Duchess (and boy, would I know how to live it up!) but hahah: I am not; and although I've never owned a "housedress" in my life and am very finicky about hair, nails and the correct accessories; my usual points of destination are Safeway, the Post office, the library, Daniel's high school, the soccer field and yoga. I usually leave the house in my t-shirt, frayed jeans, fleece vest, Uggs or clogs and sometimes, unavoidably, my Reebok yoga trousers. (I wish to emphasize however, that I NEVER wear sneakers other than when I am jogging!)

Back to the Duchess part, I COVET everything that I've posted on this blog and other than the improvised looks resulting from "shopping in my closet," well, I am left with want - and wouldn't you know it, that's why I blog!

(Pheeew, needed to get that out of the way....)

Speaking of want, my latest obsession is everything Peter O. Mahler. I visited one of my favourite shops yesterday (appropriately called DIVA) and there, staring at me were THE Blouse, THE Dress and THE skirt from this amazing German designer. He stresses simplicity through succinct lines utilizing down-to-earth fabrics in fearless colors. Other adjectives that come to mind are: precise, clean and no-nonsense! (Remember Jil Sander before she went Prada?)

I wonder, how many home-cooked schnitzels will it take until my loving husband agrees that I am worth the $325.00 purple Peter O. Mahler tunic at DIVA that I think has been definitely designed for me?

More

Friday, March 12, 2010

Louis Vuitton journeys

Leafing through my April issue of Vanity Fair last night, I was captivated by this photo of Annie Leibovitz and Mikhail Baryshnikov for LOUIS VUITTON Journeys. How brilliant to feature two amazing artists! I believe that if there is anyone who can wear a Neverfull GM tote, it is Ms. Leibovitz - have a look at the contents of the bag! Actually, she is bigger than that, and for her to have graced Louis Vuitton on one of her very rare self-portraiture....

And I cannot stop admiring Baryshnikov's stature - like that of a Roman god - the power and balance of his feet - evidence of the beauty he has bestowed to the world through dance all these years!

photo credit: Vanity Fair

Watch them and listen, it is inspiring.......

Start with the shoes and work your way up.... (II)

Furthermore, ankle straps have never looked decent on bare legs. I know I hesitated forever until I stepped into a pair! I soared high and felt very balanced (or is it from yoga?) My advice? Go ahead and pick the shoes and then decide whether to do a flare, pencil, straight, above-knee or knee-length skirt. Do hold off on below-knee for now!