Wysteria

Since scoring the Tom's wrap boot for RIDIculously cheap at the now defunct Woodley & Bunny Clothier, I've been drawn to shoes that remind me of mummies. I bookmarked these little Dolce Vita booties a long time ago and what do you know, they're on sale now!

You light up my life

Maybe it's something to do with the big fire in the sky coming back over this big city finally, but I really am feeling the urge to sparkle and blind right now. I think with my recent acquiring of black sequin pants, I've exhausted that material at the moment but metallic and glitter is all game!










Vest, Christina Berger; Shirt dress, Cosmic Wonder; Lucite earrings, vintage; Bomber jacket; Marjan Pejoski; Slip dress, Therese Rawsthorne

Meet Annabel

Before we hit the club:

After:

I love her grimey vintage style- effortless yet unique.

where the dinosaurs roam

I don't normally spend this kind of cash on tees, but there is a weak spot in my heart for All Saints men's tees and I couldn't leave the shop with out it. I mean come on- T REX!!!!

Triangle Play

Kai-Aakmann is a name that's been floating in the back of my head for awhile. I initially discovered the brand in the back of the Eryn Brinie store in Soho and was stoked to find such innovative clothing right on Broadway. At the time, I just thought it was part of a random collaboration with Brinie, but after rediscovering the brand on the interwebs, I've learned they are part of the same company, Avista Inc, so it all makes sense now! Based in South Korea, Avista is a global fashion company that also owns BNX and Kaylee Tankus (who I talked about recently).



















I'm really drawn to Kai's designs, mainly due to the unique tailoring and casual androgyny the label represents. For Summer 09, the theme was "Triangle Play" which was interpreted both literally through screenprinted graphics, and through shape & form seen in cone-shaped heels and skirts that come to a point. I'm hoping to find some of these pieces on my next trip to Eryn Brinie, which seems like it might be the only store stocking Kai-Aakmann outside of Korea.

Rock with you

I finally broke my silver bias when I picked up this giant dalmation jasper rock ring (from Loehmann's). The thing is so big and heavy, I tend to wear it alone so it can bask in its own glory.

Get more use out of it

You can never have too many basic summer dresses, especially when they come with "multifunctional holes." Ummmm. But really, Complex Geometries knows how to keep a basic a basic, and make it interesting and fun to wear at the same time.


available at Creatures of Comfort

Jimmy Choo X Hunter Wellies

Kicking off the summer music festival season is the release of the Jimmy Choo X Hunter Wellington collabo. Crocodile-embossed with leopard print lining and gold buckles, they are pretty rad for rubber boots. Sold only in Jimmy stores in the US and UK, the price is pretty steep ($395) for a pair of rainboots, but I guess that depends what social puddles you splash in (and of course there is a waiting list).

Who wants free jeans??

Hey Is Mental fans and random passersby! We want to show you our appreciation for visiting us and spreading the love. Chickdowntown has offered me this awesome pair of Current/Elliott Jeans, The Skinny in Cloud Wash Destroyed (retail $254), to give away to one of our lucky readers! Chickdowntown is a great online store carrying a range of designers like Elizabeth and James, Free People Fashion, Mink Pink, and a ton more.



All you have to do to get a chance at scoring these is leave a comment on this post with your email and answer to this question:

What's one item in your wardrobe that you will probably hold onto forever (and maybe pass down to your kid one day)?

The contest will run for about a week and we will announce the winner on July 3! **Update: for US residents only (forgot to mention this, and it's not my rule)!

Keep up with new arrivals, discounts and special giveaways via Chickdowntown's facebook and twitter pages.

Snip snip

London Tokyo Streets


Slice ring, Sprout


Tube cut-out top, Orphan Age


Cut-out plimsoll, a.ok


Cut-out shoulder top, Asos

A moment of silence

RIP Michael. In this week of tragedy, (Farrah and Ed RIP) I hope everyone can take a minute to acknowledge the loss of true greatness. Through the good and the bad, it was too soon to lose an American Icon. Raise a glass to the Original King of Pop...

Wrapped up and ready to go

So I haven't really been all up on the bike shorts trend that's been on the runways lately. I like how some designers have styled them but I just haven't given them a try myself yet. Then I spotted these Anzevino and Florence tie leggings and it set off all these ideas in my head of how to wear these..not to mention I actually DO ride a bike, so they would be perfect riding attire. 

FYI: They are available at Nasty Gal and 80s Purple AND I found a code for 15% off for first time 80s Purple customers: 80snewbie



I missed out on the Stolen Girlfriends Club bandage leggings that sold out in a flash at Pixie Market a few months ago. Michelle from KOS was lucky to get her hands on a pair and I can't wait to try layering the Anzevino and Florence ones over colored/patterned tights when colder weather hits.

Cool Hand Luke and Mr. Attitude

One of the best parts about working for a British sportswear company is the awesome style of my coworkers. Here is Luke, a fine dandy, looking mighty spiffy at our dinner party last night (seriously amazing hair as well).







And here is Eric from Copenhagen shot by Copenhagen Street style:

Katie Gallagher

There's a handful of designers out there whose personal style I dig as much as their work. Add to this list the super talented Katie Gallagher, who has worked with ThreeASFOUR and Anna Sui. Her recent collection for spring entitled Shroud, was a beautifully innovative mix of whites and silvers, reminding me of ghosts in the night. I can't wait to see what else this girl comes up with, and if her personal style is any clue, I'm probably going to love it.

pc: Elle blog, super.fantastic.picture.time, Style Defined

Hardware

I came across jewelry designer Elena Estaun while checking in on my fave Portland shop Stand Up Comedy. Elena got her start in Barcelona, where she began designing jewelry when she was a young girl. She studied at both St. Martin's in London and Parsons in NYC, where she now calls home. After traveling the ends of the earth for inspiration and research, Elena found materials such as bone, coconut shell, and rubber, which she has incorporated into unique pieces of wearable art. 

I love the "industrial" look of a lot of the pieces, and those with lots of volume like the bracelet below.

Dilated

Last week I went on a little shopping excursion with my buds to Beacons, and we all left with some pretty rad stuff. I found this old Obesity and Speed dress while thoroughly skimming the color-grouped black racks. The banding reminds me of those b&w composition books.


dress, Obesity and Speed; necklace, Rackkandruin; wedges, Minimarket

I also found this epic 90s photoprint eye top that is simultaneously creepy and amazing. It might not be apes or nuclear explosions, but I definitely had Christopher Kane in mind when I spotted this one.

Colored cord

This reminds me...I've never been bungee jumping. Just as fun, but not as death-defying are these cord sandals and bags by Fabrics Interseason (both available at Acycle in Tokyo).

Too Sexy

Did you know Right Said Fred remade their 1992 hit in 2007? It still sucks. Anyway, you will be too sexy for your dress if you are rocking this thing...that's my tie-in. So sexy it hurts.

by Thistlepearl via UO

Any day of the week

It's been a minute since I checked up on what's happening at Weekday- since H&M acquired it along with Monki and Cheap Monday over a year ago, I've been quietly praying we'd get one of our own stateside. So far, that hasn't happened, so you Scandinavian kids still have the chain all to yourselves! Right now, there's a 50% off sale in all the Weekday stores. Here's some of what I might have in my bag if I could teleport over to Sweden right this instant.









Unlike H&M who collaborates with one well-established designer a season for a collection (causing mass-hysteria in America), Weekday has paired up with several up-and-comers this season for "Weekday Extended." Right now in store, there are small collections from Carin Wester, Nakkna, Nho Duong, Minimarket, and 5 Preview. I love the concept behind the wrinkle print tops Minimarket did for the store, and Nho Duong's pieces are so great that it makes it hard to believe this is her first commercial collection (having just graduated from Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm last year).