Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Winter!



Living in LA, there are some things the wonderful weather doesn't allow us to do - like buy and wear a variety of lovely winter coats. I went to my favorite vintage store in St. Paul, MN while visiting my family for the holidays and tried on a bunch. I could not justify, reminded my mother, buying another one. Although the one I wanted is not even pictured here. It was an amazing flawless black wool, double breasted coat with rhinestone buttons. And, now that I've written about it, I may have to make a quick trip back to the store today before our flight to get it. (To be photographed later.)
The one thing I did get was in the picture on the far left - the scarf. It's vintage shearling, made in Italy. It reminded me of the fur scarf I'd seen at Maison Martin Margiela last month. I tried it on with my outfit, it was amazing - so chic, it didn't matter what you'd wear with it. But it was somewhere around thousand and it was made out of raccoon tails. Somehow when I learned that it just lost its appeal. I mean, I wear fur, but everyone draws their own line. Raccoon? No thanks. So this one made of shearling, perfect.
Here's me Christmas shopping. I photographed as a version of WAYWT? winter-style. Green Rihanna jeans (see previous entry), North Face boots bought in Aspen on the Viceroy Snowmass photoshoot. Warmest boots EVA. (I brought two very heavy suitcases on this trip for me and Oscar and there was nothing I thought I could take out. I brought 4 pairs of shoes and never wore anything but these boots. When will I learn how to pack?) Vintage rabbit fur (I know, I know but it's vintage!) coat which is the warmest thing I've ever owned, but is now perhaps seeing it's last days as I've seen a few "brown mouses" left in my tracks. So sad.

Here's me in a J Crew jacket I think is pretty cute - come on, the boucle is adorable.

Here's me in the purple bathroom at my dad's in my trusted fur and cashmere scarf, the outfit I pretty much never took off while I was here. I really don't know why my suitcase was so heavy.

This is a cape my sister just gave to me. It's navy wool with a beautiful red silk lining. She also just gave me the mink (I know, I know but it's vintage!) stole. This is why we love big sisters and why my luggage will be heavier going home today.

Friday, December 12, 2008

In the Clutches


I just got a call from Max Padilla from the LA Times and he may include these bags in the holiday gift guide next Sunday. I hope he does, of course, and he was pretty sharp. He totally called the design. As I made them yesterday, I was thinking they were like bank bags - you know they type stores bring cash and checks to the bank in? Max told me that's what they reminded him of, too. So I went down to the store and took a pic of them on display. Right next to my shoes of an earlier post!

I've been playing around with zippers. There're so pretty really - all golden teeth and pretty colors around. So I made up these clutches with some remnant leather I got from my source - which makes them oh my god, even better they're ECO. I'm not harming the earth by creating more stuff, only making pretty things out of potential landfill, right? They're for sale at my fav store I mentioned in earlier post - Mohawk General Store. They had opening party last night and I was all ready to take pictures of the beautiful owner, Bo, and pics of the styly attendees, like April from Satine, and pics of my bags merchandised by MGS. But I left my camera at home! Sorry.


Monday, December 1, 2008

Sparkle


or The Maker got Scooped
There has been a lot going on lately with the first of the trifecta holidays passing; with all the speculation on whether black Friday or today's online black Monday were going to prove prescient for the rest of shopping season and the economy as a whole; with Obama picking his cabinet and the blahdiblah like. But me, I've been reading the news and finding out a few things pertaining to the Vivier blog: 1. I'm a Maker. According to the LA Times coverage on the craft fairs which have been gaining momentum lately - people who make things are no longer called "crafters" which I guess was too closely linked to making dream catchers and scrapbooks, even "DIYers" has been retired. Nowadays, people who make things themselves to sell are called Makers. I make things, bags and bracelets and collages and coming soon jeweled neckpieces (to be an entry very soon) and I kind of like the ridiculous way it sounds - you know they thought of Creators, but thought better of it and settled on Makers. But anyway, that leads me to what else I've been reading about in the press which was going to be this very entry, but I got sidetracked by life and holidays and this entry didn't happen when I thought it would, (which makes me think of another article I read recently and is another thing I can call myself: I'm also a "slow-blogger") and that is number 2: the SPARKLE JACKET. I think I've now seen pieces on it in Garance Dore's blog, Refinery 29 and also the NY Times Style section. Those 3 right there should mean that I ought to scrap my idea to blog about my finds from my fav thrift store Luxe de Ville, but they're just so good, I've decided to write about them anyway. Recently I found this vintage I. Magnin number:

I've worn it one time so far, out to a comedy show and you really really have to dress it down and even still you you get a LOT of attention. People find it hard to pass without a word about how "shiny" you are or that it's like a discoball...But my advice for wearing something like this, besides being sure to dress down whatever else you're wearing with it, is to ASSUME the sparkle. You really have to be prepared for the looks and say to yourself as people watch you go by "Yeah, I sparkle, damn it and it looks cute."

And there's this vintage Norma Kamali paillette, cashmere-lined number which I got last year and really is still an all-star winner:

I mean, come on, that is sooo cute. It is like wearing my own little Margiela store on my back. And, look at Miu Miu's version for sale right now at net-a-porter:

I'd rather have mine, no?