Wednesday, March 26, 2014

A Look Back at our Spring Poster Events

Last week we celebrated the onset of Spring by hosting a Poster Event at both our LA and NYC stores - and what fun we had! Matilde, our tres belle lookbook model, was in attendance and our friends came out to shop the newest bags for Spring - and get their first look at our new tees, which will be available in stores soon. (How cute does Matilde look holding up her 'Bonjour!'?). Take an inside look at some of our favorite moments from each fête with these sweet pics. -Alexis

An evening at our LA store in Silverlake...





And then CV and Matilde headed back east for an evening at our Nolita shop with posters of Matilde dressing up the window display. 









Photos courtesy of Purple.fr and Pierre Auroux

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The Black Duff in Belgium

You may have noticed that we're kind of obsessed with Matilde. She's a total celeb to us here at CVHQ, which is why we want you to come by and meet her in person at Friday night's event at our store in NYC (see you at 7?)!

She recently took her Black Duff back to Belgium with her and snapped some shots of the bag whilst on her journey. The images are equal parts cinematic and solitary, showing the simplicity of the beloved Duff in enchanted settings. From a walkway through a fabled forest to a picturesque cityscape to brilliantly drawn graffiti art, there's a poetry in the settings she chose and the way she framed each photo. Here are some of our favorite shots from her trip. -Alexis









Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Meet Matilde!



Here at CVHQ, we're so excited about our Spring Poster events next week and have been crushing on the lookbook images starring Matilde. Matilde is a CV original. She was the second employee after Jocelyn, fresh off the plane she became Clare's first intern when the business was still being run out of her house. She watched the company grow over her year spent working and now, well, you can see how far she's come. Since she's the star (and set to make an appearance at both events in LA and NYC!), I wanted to ask her a few questions so you could get to know this belle fille a bit better. - Alexis

Name, Age, Occupation: Matilde Riccardi, 22. Creative for soon-to-hatch project. In the meantime: matildericcardi.com.

Hometown: Brussels


Q: How would you describe your style? 

A: I want to leave the impression of wearing something from the past in the future. My style is eclectic, without looking like a theater character, I wear pieces from different times and places. It's all about balance. When I pull something from my closet, when I decide what is going to be the focus, I find the perfect other pieces to coordinate with it. That's how my bed becomes a mess of thrown jackets. It's 'no...no...no...no...no...no, YES, that's it!'
I own a broad range of essential pieces, which allow me to play along with my desires and ideas. It can be a combination of H&M + vintage + men + APC, it doesn't really matter. The final silhouette needs to have that good fit and natural feel. Ideally it would be a new character in a plausible fiction story. My style is also never too polished, I never want to feel conscious about what I'm wearing. When I wear something, I don't want to have to readjust it during the day. It doesn't mean it's all about comfort. I'm really into high-waisted jeans - it gives you discipline.


Q: What are the three items in your closet you can't live without? 

A: To be honest, the nightmare would be to lose my suitcase. I love my clothes. But the three items I seem to wear constantly are gold rings, earrings and necklace - basics that never change. 


Q: What do you find to be the difference between LA style and style in Belgium? 

A: I guess here in LA I have that little Belgian hint, probably with a touch of humour. It's not a direct influence from Belgium - because we can't say the majority of Belgian people dress extravagantly - but a reaction to its traditional and bourgeois style and most likely, the weather. 

And then, when I went back home a couple of weeks ago my best friend thought I was baba cool, I'm not sure what it means, I guess it's a California vibe. A more relaxed aspect to my style maybe. 

I like the idea of a mix of both cultures. 


Q: Where are your favorite places to shop in LA? 

A: Garage sales. It's all about keeping your eyes open for opportunities.

I was drinking a coffee with a friend when literally a garage mechanic came up to us and said he was having a garage sale close by. I went out of curiosity and it turned out to be the best shopping deal ever. Those dudes were selling the wardrobe of a woman, who was my size (We don't know her, what, how...). We ended up staying 3 hours trying on everything. I even called him back. I needed more. 




Q: What do you look for when shopping? 

A: The piece that's missing in my closet...a crush. 

Q: Favorite recent purchase? 

A: Nothing better than going shopping with your grandma for your birthday. I came home with brown suede knee boots. 



Q: Desert island beauty products?


A: Avène Thermal Spring Water. It's so fresh. 
Q: Favorite Spring bag?

A: My little white Madeleine (pictured)! It's great, it's like driving a white car in LA. So chic. 
Q: What can you not wait to wear this Spring/Summer? 

A: This cute floral ensemble: a skirt + top from my youth. 



Monday, March 10, 2014

You're Invited To Celebrate Spring With CV!



We're getting excited to celebrate Spring in LA and NYC! Be sure to join us next week when we launch our Spring collection in our LA and NY stores. Grab a cocktail, meet our gorge lookbook model, Matilde, and take home a limited-edition CV poster! Did we mention there's free on-site monogramming with purchase? We'll see you there! 

Los Angeles: Tuesday, 3/18 7-9 PM

New York: Friday, 3/21 7-9 PM

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Paris, Je T'aime


Feels like I was just there, but last week I took another trip to the City of Light for market appointments, where I got to meet with European (& Asian) buyers and editors from all over the world! After the seemingly interminable flight from LAX, I arrived at 7 a.m. in Paris, just in time to catch a few winks before heading over to the lunch fête for Garance Dore and her debut stationery and gift collection with Rifle Paper Co. at Claus.


Here are some of the lovely cards and notes that were on display, all hand drawn by Garance. 


The tempting French pastries and delicacies at lunch.


I adore this shot of Garance. She is so lovely and looks radiant at the lunch in her honor. It was my first time meeting her and she was a charmingly hospitable host. 


I was so excited when I saw this shot of stylist Elisa Nalin that New York Times Fashion shared on Instagram. She's wearing the double dot clutch for Fall and it looks so good against her cool combo of yellow hues. I couldn't have dreamed up a better model.


I stopped into Le Bon Marché to see the CV collection, newly arrived at the store, and do a presentation for the sales staff.


And I was obliged to peruse the shoe department while I was there. I fell in love with these Isabel Marant geometric print shoes with low talons (day heels, yay!) - in fact, I'm wearing them today.


On my way to dinner I walked past this Curtis Kulig design on the façade of the Louis Vuitton store in Saint Germain. The colors were perfect. 


That night I had dinner with the adorable couple from Rifle Paper Co., Anna and Nathan, at the (very popular) Le Relais de L'Entrecôte. I had the typically French steak frites and loved the handwritten dessert menu. 


The spoils of dîner with the team: Vin rouge, moutarde and some sweet business cards.


On our way home from dinner I got the best view in the city, the Louvres all lit up at night. 


This shot makes me smile. As soon as I got out of the metro, the rain had stopped and this beautiful rainbow emerged over a still-soaked Paris. 


A typical Parisian interior with toile and floral prints. 


I loved this wall I saw in a store while out and about and I had to snap a pic.


Christene Barberich and Annie Georgia Greenberg from Refinery29 came by to see the Fall collection. I stole this great shot straight from Christene's insta. Her caption said it all: "Beaucoup clutches" 


And that crazy long flight back home. Me and my traveling companion, Grace Lee, decided to stock up on some essential reading with this heaping pile of print. A perfect way to wind down from the trip.