New Year, New Face

Happy New Year All: 

From now on, the blog will focus exclusively on fashion, rather than including culture, film, etc. Since I never really posted on these topics anyway, I think it's safe to assume they will not be missed.  

So here's to a fresh blog that shall have fresh posts!

xx

A Foreign Affair

The ColettexGap pop-up opened today next to the 5th and 54th flagship with much very little fanfare— only a quiet "bonjour" from the sales associate.  I had to wait about an hour to get in as they monitor the door and only let in about 25 people at a time, and when I left the line stretched around the block.  But with limited edition Repettos, Longchamp totes, t-shirts and all sorts of the knick-knacks Colette is famous for (my favorite are the pencils with mustaches), the wait is very much worth it.  Its je ne sais quoi will last until October 5th. 

Neglect to Spritz at Your Own Peril

Since I can remember, I've always worn perfume.  I don't have a signature scent, but choose to rotate through a few favorites.  The important thing is not to forget SOME type of fragrance in the morning.  It's not because of BO or men or vanity (though I'm plenty vain), but rather because of superstition.  Imagine how surprised I was when I was transcribing an interview with Aaron de Mey and he spoke about his mother having the same belief.  After all, Chanel once said, "A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future."

But it wasn't until today, when I read the interview with Lagerfeld in the UK Times that I decided maybe us crazies know what we're talking about.

Lagerfeld says as only he can, "I have no problem with journalists— many are friends.  Only if they are really stupid, or if they've got bad breath, or if they smell.  Yesterday I had a problem.  I said, 'I'm sorry, you've got to tell this woman that she needs to be taken away.  Her smell is not possible.'"

So help me God, I will never be that woman.

Roitfeld/Wintour '08

It's no secret that the fashion industry loveloveloves Obama.  Wintour, Calvin Klein and others hosted a fundraiser for him a few months back, which will be followed by another this NY Fashion Week. But now the campaign is pulling a Project Runway and has coordinated about 20 designers, including Isaac Mizrahi, Tracy Reese, Derek Lam and DVF to design official merchandise for the chic senator's campaign.  Rumor has it that Reese originally submitted a $400 silk dress that was shot down because of price (the pieces will be under $200).  I plan on buying the top she ended up creating— though I would have loved to have seen Michelle in the official Obama frock.

Twins

Since I can't have Karl Lagerfeld for my daily amusement, I figure his limited edition teddy bear, which will be sold next month at Neiman Marcus for $1,500, is the next best thing.

One Kilt, or Two?

Reading about the new men's skirt phenomenon, I was brought back to some eternal questions—Where's the line between funky and freaky in menswear?  How much of it actually dallies from the traditional?  And would I actually date someone wearing this stuff?  I have to admit that I've always found menswear to be a bit of a mystery.  I can't apply my eye to it, since I keep inserting my own bias (ogle but please, don't feed the models).  With that in mind, some of my favorite designers for men are Burberry Prorsum, Paul Smith and Paul & Jo.

True Love Comes in All Shapes and Sizes, But I Like Mes Amours in the Form of Soft Leather

Out prowling the sales at Bon Marche other day, I wasn't finding anything to write home about.  No flawlessly tailored jackets, no charming Parisian frocks- not even a measly scarf.  Until I saw them- the goat skin jazz shoes by Repetto with such perfect detailing and tiny laces.  It was love at first sight.  But of course, the only model-like quality I am blessed with is my shoe size (I am sample) so any pairs even close to my taille were long gone.  

This is when my killer instincts kicked in to the extreme.  Some say I lack drive.  This is not true.  My drive is selective.

I looked up all of the providers in Paris and went to ten in one day to no avail.  I had given them up for a missed connection until I went back to Bon Marche and - lo and behold- my size had been returned by some fool.  I snatched the flats up, and we are very much in love.

The moral: The sales are getting past the honeymoon period.  The best pieces and popular sizes are going fast, so if you really want something, don't hesitate.

Okay, so maybe there's no moral.  I just needed an excuse to post a photo.