trash or treasure?

trashy and regal, bohemian and aristrocratic.  i dig this sacai silk vest.

only $1235 at barney's.

more designers from down-under

ARNSDORF i believe is based in australia.  her latest collection is architectural, sculptural and inspiring.  here's a good write up.

"Arnsdorf´s latest SS10/11 collection, "Opticks" - as seen at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

"Opticks" was born from designer Jade Arnott´s fascination with Sir Isaac Newtons book of the same name. This study on reflections and refractions has been translated into fantastic prints and precise angular paneling complemented by Arnsdorf´s signature ladylike tailored silhouette."

i find the outfit romantic, complex and beautiful.

karen walker

if you don't know karen walker, you probably should.  i was first attracted to her work with the Etiquette collection of summer 2000.  it was cool, easy and witty.  she has since evolved to become more carefree and fun.  here's a good description of her work.

"Karen Walker collections are high casual with one foot in tailoring and the other in street wear. The reoccurring theme is taking extremes and pushing them together — masculine and feminine, tailored and street, luxury and non luxury, dark and super-cute."

here in the US, her clothes are less known than her accessories especially eyewear.  check out her website.  the number 1 and number 2 frames are cute with the big arrows and are worn by the heavy-weights such as rihanna and alexa chung.

walker is based in new zealand.

vanishing act

in case you haven't had time to read the email from this morning, OPENING CEREMONY is offering an additional 30% off sale items before all online sales are gone for good this sunday.  enter promo code VANISHINGACT at checkout.  go splurge at one of my favorite stores in town!

Robin's Song Peep-Toes

i dig the colors, the design, the heels.  only if my feet could fit into a 37-1/2..

on sale for $99.95 at anthropologie.

Sit-A-Spell

interesting necklace of bold braids of cotton.

on sale for $79.95 at anthropologie

marimekko

another classic, simple and bold pattern by marimekko.

$79.95 from crate and barrel.

Lanvin (hearts) H&M

yes, i love Lanvin too.  even more so at these H&M prices.  fellow fashionistas, get your tents ready for the launch of Lanvin (hearts) H&M hiver 2010 on november 20. can you imagine the crazy lines around the blocks?

gift idea #3

cash is the best gift.  second to that, gift cards are always welcomed.  here are some fun little containers for your x'mas gift cards.  the plastic holders at the top are 99-cents each.  the paper holders on the bottom are two for 99-cents.  all from the lovely 99-cent store.

decoration idea #2

more wonderful surprises from 99-cent store.  the peace sign is such a classic.  the blue of the blue star is an iridescent indigo, a beautiful rich color.  the tree is just funny!  everything 99-cents of course.

gift idea #2

everybody loves these app magnets.  they are relevant, funny and functional.  available at urban outfitters for $16.  cheaper at the manufacturer's website, JailBreak Collective, for $12.99 (currently out of stock).  or on sale at Think Geek for $9.99.  

gift idea #1

i wouldn't mind getting a white elephant of these stone buildings (house, temple, condo).  simple and quirky, they seem to have jumped right out of john hejduk's drawings.  $14.95 each from CB2.

x'mas a-coming - decoration idea #1

after halloween, the rest of year will just fly by.  before you know it, x'mas will be here.  i am starting to look at the tree and gift possibilities.  this seems like an wonderful alternative to chopping down a fresh tree.  taken from CB2 website.

dress forms of my dream

someone tell me where to find these pleeeeease!!

urban sculpture

urth caffe

when my little girl whispered in my ears "there's a bear and a dog in their coffee.." (referring to the table below us), i didn't expect to actually see them!

the downtown LA location is in an old brick building with beautiful tile work.  there's seating inside overlooking an open kitchen (through a glass wall) and a semi-private room that opens out to a nice, raised patio.  good service, pet friendly.

"pumpkin tree"?

or a chinese painting of a rare species of cherry blossom?  a beautiful plant nonetheless.  from Trader Joe's, $6.99

FREE CITY

if you haven't been, "LETS go".  the happy graphics will paint a smile on your face.

fresh loaf of bread, $4.  FREE CITY

sharon stone

clipped this image from the kids' section on Forever 21's website.  the "i heart texting" tee will speak to all kids 12-17 years of age (our daughter sent/received 3,217 text messages in her first month of owning a phone)!  the look is casual, chic yet dressy.  reminds me of the time when sharon stone showed up in a Gap tee at the oscars.   

"My friend Ellen (DeGeneres) suggested I go into my closet and get out five of my favourite pieces.  So (I wore) a Valentino ready-to-wear skirt, an Armani dress worn as a coat and a Gap T-shirt."

how can you not love that?

braces once more..

sorry you have to wear them again, b :(  at least the new braces look cool!  the turquoise goes beautifully with your eyes.

"the attire of a Professional Student!"

were headmaster Margo's words.  thumbs up for the interesting sweater mixing argyle, narrow stripes and wide stripes (on the back).  the $2-tie adds preppyness.

sweater from The Children's Place (i bought it for $19.50, now on sale for $4.99!) ; shirt from Forever 21 (on sale for $6.99); tie from Yokoyaya 123, Vancouver.

mk in shades of silver and grey

a perfect pairing between her hair, the silk blouse and necklace.  classy, elegant and chic.

love the intricate ruffles weaving this way and that.  the little fabric tassels at the ends add another dimension to the sophisticated necklace.

both from J Crew- top on sale for $29.99, necklace around $30.

shhhh.. sneak peek of upcoming halloween costumes!

last year's lovely old lady (see below) finds herself a job at the school cafeteria.  you go girl!

what a transformation from head to toe, literally! 

both outfits purchased at Playclothes, the best place to find unusual vintage "playclothes" without breaking your wallet.  thanks for all your great input, wanda and joe!

hop, hop, hop, here comes spring bunny!

ugly or nice?

taking apart the elements of these dolls, you'll find quaint fabrics and interesting buttons.  when put together, some people might describe the dolls as ugly.  to me, the outcome is endearing as the choices made by the designer are off the beaten path.  the sense of unexpectedness is refreshing and sweet.
purchased in hong kong.

este

getting ready for halloween in a befitting, blue-blood outfit.  ta-ta!
purchased at Target today, $8.

ball & chain, and skull

measuring 11" tall by 11" wide and with considerable weight, the skull has substantial presence.  the matte yet glittery surface renders it an eerie sense of glamor.  a perfect vessel for colorful candy spilling over the rim.  the gigantic ball & chain is humorous and affordable.  purchased at Target, ball & chain: $4.  skull: $24.

on oct 25: as i add the link to this earlier post, i found that the skull in orange is on sale for 50% off.  go to the link, scroll to the middle of first page and go for it!

99-cent surprise!

shopping at 99-cent store can bring about pleasant surprises.  we were there today for halloween decorations.  these funny "loot bags" caught our eyes.  good size, nice shape, attractive colors, see-through eyes, even equipped with sound effect.  an absolute bargain at 99 cents.  we added a chain with eye-ball to "dress it up" even more (set of 3 for 99 cents).  i might start sporting them before halloween!

more 99-cent bargains

i love these cartoonish bold shapes on sticks.  another unpassable deal from 99-cent store.  

garden gnome

if i had young twins, they WILL BE garden gnome and flower gnome for halloween!  these are some of the most adorable costumes i have seen.  from Target, for 2-4T only.. :(

flower gnome

gingham

a gingham shirt looks extra cool on a little boy.  this one even returns a different pattern on the inside of the cuffs.  purchased yesterday at Forever 21 pasadena, on sale for $6.99.  navy blazer by Le Petit Bateau from Lost and Found.

color block scarf

nice job on the knot, boy!  an in between a once-around and a simple tie knot. casual and chic.  scarf: Jacadi, corduroy jacket: Crazy8, striped turtleneck: Le Petit Bateau, converse: Gap kids.

purple

the boots that survived a weekend of third grade campout in the rain.  i like how the wear and dirt enhanced the depth and beauty of the purple. purchased at Target last thursday, around $20.

head

is it a look of suspicion, defiance, deep pain?  how did a middle school girl capture that sensitivity?  what was going through your head, mk?

"Steal your Dad's clothes, all your dad's clothes."

said Scott Schuman of the Sartorialist after watching the Dries Van Noten's S/S show.  so we stole my dad's cashmere cap, my grandfather's suspenders and a bunch of old-time favorites of the finest quality.  

Borsalino hat

Qualite Speciale

Borsalino Giuseppe e Fratello

Alessandria Italia

Borsalino was founded in 1856.  by 1920, the company was producing 2 million hats a year (an amazing figure back then).  in the 1930s, it created some remarkable publicity illustrations.  this one reminds me of Magritte's work.  ironically, Magritte's characters often donne hats, especially bowlers.  perhaps Borsalino and Magritte were mutual admirers of each other!