Squiggly wiggly

Not long after I layed eyes on the black Margiela fingerless gloves, I found a cheap alternative at Zara. A little less "grown up" but mad fun, these Opening Ceremony knit gloves would look so dope sticking against one of my black coats this winter. OC has it right this season with their accessories!

Scarily good deals

While you're running around buying the last bits and pieces of your Halloween costume (or nursing your post-party headaches), you might want to check out some of the good sales in NYC. APC is clearing out their overstock with a 3-day sale on men's and women's merch. Find past season goods at up to 80% off, which sounds a whole lot better than what's usually at the "outlet" store.

Oct 30 to Nov 1, 11-7pm; 33 Grand Street (btw Wythe and Kent) in Williamsburg; 212-966-9885



Also starting this Friday is Oak's Skeletons In Our Closet sale happening at their Bond St. location. Score some good deals on past-season stock from y-3, Raf by Raf Simons, Opening Ceremony, Acne, Erin Wasson x RVCA, Grey Ant, and more.

28 Bond Street (at Lafayette St) in Manhattan; 212-677-1293

Pot of gold

Last weekend I had the pleasure of coming across a small assortment of vintage Comme des Garcons which is pretty unheard of. If I told you where, I'd have to kill you! I'm not sure what collection this cardigan was from, but I believe somewhere around the early 2000's. The little mesh burn-out sections look like little lakes all over the sweater!


t-shirt, Hellz Bellz; cardigan, Comme des Garcons; shorts, ebay; necklace, UO/DIY; shoes, Steve Madden

I wish I had these on my feet today

Waking up to a weather report of 100% chance of rain is no fun (like today). I would probably look forward to wet days a little more with these rainboots by japanese label Mintdesigns and probably wear them on dry days too!

The woods

Undercover's Jun Takahashi had a really interesting concept for spring, where he incorporated advanced climate-control materials into his designs inspired by his recent pursuit of running. I don't necessarily think I would wear a lot of the more techy pieces, but I like these two looks that were inspired more by the outdoors, than outdoor wear. The Moment recently interviewed Takahashi, and he had some really interesting things to say about designer collaborations and the fashion system in general.


pc: style.com

Pearl Jam

I never was into pearls, but I've definitely changed my opinion on them now- I'm not into pearls in the more traditional sense. Over the summer, I came across some rings at the Renegade craft fair by local jeweler Alexander Pakis that made me see pearls in a new light. When they aren't on a strand, and exist in a more simplified setting on a ring, suddenly pearls can go from looking expensive and feminine, to modern and striking. Since I doubt I'll find Tania's Margiela ring, I've dug up some other cool alternatives.



1. Inverted pink pearl ring, BendTheFish; 2. Single black pearl ring, Alexander Pakis; 3. Pearl double finger ring, Martell Design; 4. Claw set pearl ring, Mawi; 5. Bronze pearl ring, Artisan Impact; 6. Pearl sphere ring, FlawlessArt

Keep Watch

Thursday I went to support my friend Ellen and my buddies at Mishka for the 2010 Calender Release party that Ellen shot. I had to pull out my Mishka eyeball sweater that's always a big hit- they need to rerelease it!



Hats are fun and if I can stay committed to growing my hair out, I want to try out this look from Numero Tokyo's Feb. 2009 issue. The beautiful Milou Van Groese looks amazing in long messy braids.


images via tfs + dolparts

Disco creep

Irregular Choice, you are CRACK to me. Seriously. Every season, I find at least 3-5 pairs of your shoes I need/want. We posted the fall lookbook a few months ago, but I didn't actually check out the whole shebang till now. In particular, I will probably cave in and go for one of these creeper-type shoes that are seriously THE ANSWER to those nights you intend on "going balls to the wall" and just know a heel situation will not be pretty.

Eyes wide open

There's always a neverending flow of ugly sweaters pouring out of ebay and smelly thrift stores. This kind of crazy, retina-burning knitwear was once a thing of decades past, but it's refreshing to see them come back from the dead, and modernized with huge prints and unisex cuts. Such is the case with Chinese designer Yang Du, who I just recently discovered, and I'm so glad I did. With a degree from Central Saint Martins and work experience at Westwood, Dior and Galliano, Yang went on to start her own label full of vibrant color and inventive humor. Her assortment of oversized sweaters, knit dresses, and quirky headpieces for this season are a surreal trip into imagination land.





She counts Bjork as one of her style icons. I NEVER would have guessed.



These cactus-like bunny ears are so much fun.



Don't worry, Yang isn't suggesting you drown in knits for spring too. How about cute little (and big) dresses with strategically placed mouths and eyes? I can get down with that, even if I might look like I hopped out of a children's book.






all images by Bella Howard; some via Platform

For my noggin

Before it's cold enough for my ears to freeze off, I need some more hat options. I have my trusty black beanie but it gets boring wearing it all winter. I really love this rounded bucket hat by Ne-net but can't seem to find it or one like it anywhere. Any clues?


img from Your Boyhood



This faux-fur trapper hat is from GapKids and would provide just the right amount of warmth and sillyness. They make a size L/XL which I'm hoping is close to an Adult small (which would fit me) cause it's only $16.50.

More to run around in

October Nylon has a coupon good for 30% off at Adidas SLVR stores in NYC and Miami the rest of the month. I hadn't really paid much attention to Adidas' newish lifestyle brand since it launched, so I didn't even realize they had a physical store. I took a gander at what to expect if I make it there, and I'm really feeling these leather wedge boots- since they are made by an athletic company, I'd assume they would be pretty comfortable. I'm loving the gray color especially!

Disectional

Besides the most amazing undergarments ever (that are best worn in a way that shows them off), VPL has been steadily churning out some cozy, slightly askew basics, and this season is no exception. I'm hoping some of the knit chains and skeletal harnesses get produced for spring, but in the meantime, I'm lusting over these wonderful contoured knits.






available at Creatures of Comfort

Ghostly

I picked up this long black lace top at H&M a few weeks ago and it's hard to resist not wearing it all the time now. It adds a nice textural element to otherwise sort of boring all black daily wear. I'm not even much of a lace kind of girl but I'm a sucker for long looser tops so it won me over anyway. I found the quartz pendant at this little store in chinatown that carried crystal paperweights and hemotite rings among other things.




top, H&M; coat, Uniqlo; pants, Fresh Ink; boots, Wanted

Piles and piles

Who has the shopping itch and dough to back it? Literally though, the sale is cash only! Archetype Showroom is clearing out their closet this Friday and Saturday in NOHO and it looks pretty promising. There will be some pieces there from Kaylee Tankus, who I really like and wrote about over the summer.

Architectural wonder

Last month I posted this streetstyle shot from Japan and the girl was wearing some super hot United Nude heels. Browsing UN's latest catalog, I spotted the "Block pump" she had on which are conveniently offered in a mid AND high heel height (high shown here). I rarely get behind pumps, being more of a wedge or platform girl as a result of my chronic clumsiness, but with a mini building keeping me grounded, I think these would be more wobble-proof than your average stiletto.

Hands off

Obviously being on a shopping ban sucks. But I was really tested last Thursday when I stopped by the "Flip Fashion, Not Humanity" jewelry charity sale event thrown by the awesome ladies at Lovemade. It featured a topnotch roster of jewelry designers you might be familiar with like Anna Sheffield, Bijules, Bliss Lau, Castro, Chris Habana, Love-Made, Pamela Love, and Surface to Air. So I went to look and not to spend, but I got to see some great stuff and meet the folks behind some of my favorite jewelry labels.


Chris Habana had a lot of their Fall 09 collection layed out plus a sneak peek at some of the stuff they are working on for spring like this lovely cage necklace I couldn't resist fondling.

Bijules impressed me as always, and I got to see the new tribal-themed pieces she had casted from small bones. Tania (who was visiting from LA) tried on the faux septum ring and it looked perfect on her.



I put on one of the rings from Jules' rock collection that caught my eye (how couldn't it!?). It was heavier than the rings I usually rock but I know I would get used to it after wearing it a few days.



I had to stop by the Surface to Air table. I could see all their two and three finger rings from across the room (wear mine every day I got at Oak) and I'm already planning my next pick...so many to choose from.

Goosebumps

Gloves are one of those things I forget about until one day when the temps go below freezing and I realize my only pair is falling apart. I'm hoping to score some longer gloves for this winter like this pair from Margiela I came across on The Corner. I like that they are fingerless and the smooth seaming detail that creates a mummy/ bandage effect- I need to learn how to knit!!

The Future is Now

Christy Turlington, shot by Juergen Teller: American Vogue April 1994

The freaks come out at night

When Tiffany reminded me of the drip sunglasses accessories designer Sheefun created for Ann-Sofie Back's Fall '09 horror movie-inspired show, I thought I'd try to track them down now that it's fall. No luck yet (anyone have a clue, you better tip me!), but while browsing Sheefun's site, I realized I completely overlooked the pieces she created for Ann-Sofie's Spring '09 show- all inspired by body jewelry, but reinterpreted in a new way.





My absolute favorite piece, which I now am craving as much as the drip sunnies were these gold ball clip-on barbell earrings, also used in an April '09 editorial in UK Harper's Bazaar. It's interesting to see them styled in a more "chic" way.

The Cat's Meow

United Bamboo has enlisted an interesting cast of models for their 2010 calendar. With tiny replicas of Bamboo's Spring '10 collection, these kitties are workin' it. SO CUTE!

Get familiar

From what I saw of the spring collections, there were some new and interesting ways of looking at stockings that I predict we'll be seeing more of in due time. This is by no means a full recap of all things legwear, but a few of the more interesting variations I spied that I'd like to try out myself.

The soft ombre tights in the Issey Miyake show have stuck with me. I am considering crafting my own, likely a more imperfect version, using beets for dying (thanks Katlin for the idea).

Commuun did these sheer footless knee highs for spring- it was only a matter of time.

I can't tell if these tights from Jean Paul Gaultier were one piece of alternating sheer and opaque fabric, but you could totally replicate this look by chopping up a pair of leggings and putting the pieces over the same color sheer tights- brilliant!

Wunderkind produced these footless beauties with self-dubbed "talking knees."

Two-tone legwear at Bernhard Willhelm made the looks stand out even more.

pc: style.com, NY Mag, Sonny Vandevelde via ASVOF

This is how you do a rainy day

When I wake up and it's raining, it sort of bums me out and thus sets the tone for the whole day, including how I dress sometimes. Maybe if I had a fun umbrella and a silly hairdo (like this girl's that is perfect for the humidity), it would make it so much better!


via DROP