Turquoise

While I'm supposed to be admiring other things in these photos, my eye is drawn to the cool, soothing splashes of turquoise.

At Nick Cave's shoulders

The cool sky-blue/turquoise of this Ikram silk skirt.

Thinking Twin-sets with Kate and Christy

Kate Moss, wielder of a rapier wit? 

I didn't see it coming, but her remark (in a NYT article) about Christy Turlington's style evolution over the years has lingered:

“The last time I saw Christy, she was wearing a twin-set,” Ms. Moss said. “You can think twin-set, but you can’t wear one.”


Is this Kate Moss's kind of twin-set?


Snap, Kate. 

Since we're no longer told to "think pink," a la Funny Face,



let's think twink--umm--twins:

Cashmere & Crops

A few weeks ago someone asked me whether I *always* wore dresses, as if she were a little exasperated with my sartorial constancy.

Truth is, I wear dresses throughout the early fall, spring, and summer.  Shorts have their place, but I love the floaty ease of a dress rather than a skirt (one piece is simpler than two). 

Plus I credit this next element to my Canadian upbringing: I'm often too hot in the States.  Where are those triple-minus wild-chills or a lovely ocean breeze to cool the soul?  As I've said before, I don't even own proper snow boots.

But cool temperatures do envelop even this frosty Canuck, and for the last couple of weeks I've broken out my trousers.  My favourite look is a cropped skinny pant with some sort of generous apres-ski sweater.  J Crew made my beloved cashmere striped turtleneck last year, with just the right amount of drape, which I bought in two colourways (and I'm browsing eBay for a third).

This year I've been coveting the sweater above.  It doesn't have a demi-fitted silhouette, which makes me pause a tad (would it be a beautiful jade sack on?), but it holds promise.  Soon that same person will be asking me whatever happened to those dresses.

Styling a Pero Scarf

I received the loveliest package in the mail on Friday from the wonderful editors at Selvedge, for whom I occasionally write articles.

It contained a scarf from Pero, which has been an object of my obsession for a couple of years now.  Pero is an Indian label that makes the largest, gossamer-thin scarves that are edged with tiny delights: little pearl buttons, cunning tassels, elegant designs woven into the fabric.

My scarf, pictured here and above, is easily large enough to cover a twin bed, but thin enough to wrap beautifully.

Howevs, excited as I was to wear the scarf, I felt that either a change in state or style was necessary.  To me, my beautiful Pero scarf calls out to be worn in California, among stylish LA gals, like Melissa, client and friend of Nathan of Bravo's Million-Dollar Decorators.  She's feeling a little beleagured here, as her patio floor is in shambles, so let's give her some space.

Gentle readers might also take a look through this book:

It details the casual bohemian LA cool that I associate with my Pero.  I find myself looking for thin cotton snock tops with embroidered hems (the embroidered hem is very important).

Maybe one from Odd Molly?

No embroidered hems, but my own needle could take a turn here.

And on bottom?  Absolutely NO skinny jeans; I'm feeling a gentle boyfriend fit here a la this pair from Madewell:

But although these jeans may be Madewell, they are not Styledwell. I am over heels (especially pumps) with jeans, so I'll complete the look with my trusty Acne sandals.

While I'm daydreaming, let me pose a question:  What's better than one beautiful scarf from Pero?

A Pero scarves, natch!   (Oh, groan!)  But I'm not that greedy.

Carrie-d Away

 In other news, two ingenues are playing characters named "Carrie" in upcoming films: Anna Sophia Robb will play Carrie fille in the Sex and the City prequel, The Carrie Diaries, and Chloe Grace Moretz will play Carrie White in the remake of Stephen King's high-school horror film Carrie.
   
I remember reading the novel Carrie, probably in the mid-to-late 1970s, not too long after it was published.  More than a horror story, it was a poignant coming-of-age story about a sensitive teenage girl that took horrific turns because of her fanatic mother as well as cruelty from her peers.

With the advent of these two films, I was thinking about which Carrie I'd be rooting for, the one who grows up to (ahem) carry designer bags (see the Vuitton/Sprouse homage in the top photo) or the one who is thrilled to go to the prom with the handsome boy (who is actually kind as well).

Actually, it's no question. So I'll just wonder here out loud whether audience members will be able to identify with either title character, or whether either of these forthcoming films will venture into Carrie-ca-ture.

Wedding Jackets

Twenty-one years ago this evening I married Mr. C. 

It was the simplest of weddings at the stone chapel of the university where we were both working on our PhDs--no flowers, no attendants, no guest list--just as I wanted.

And definitely no proper wedding dress.  That just isn't me (I didn't even look for a bridal shop), though I did want a new dress. 

The one I loved, which was also the only one I liked, was a navy Chanel dress with a fitted bodice, Norma Kamali-style retro-wide straps via Paris chic, double-breasted gold CC buttons and a short pouf skirt.

It was not unlike the dress on the left (weeps):

It was bloody awesome, but as I had neither plastic nor parents, nor any possibility of raising the funds as a graduate student away from her home country, the dress remained on the rail.  And I redirected my shopping focus into my closet.

For my wedding I wore a black fitted chauffeur's jacket by WilliWear, designed by Willi Smith, black stockings, and black heels.  I must have bought it, in Canada, during Fall 1986. 

This is Willi:

Here's an excerpt from a review of that collection in the Pittsburgh Press, by Mariann Caprino.

It was called Totally Serious, and I must have been too, twenty-one years ago, with a healthy dose of humour on the side, because here we are.  And the jacket is still in my closet too.

Office Decor: Paper Dolls

Part of the fun of having a new office is decorating it. 

This space of mine has books of course--four ceiling-to-floor stuffed cases, to be exact--but it is also characterized by textiles.  I have my Amish-via-New York quilt that I made (classic Amish diamond pattern using fabric I bought in the City); my William Morris-esque wallpapered pole, my Chanel-inspired paper flowers headpiece, Liberty fabric stretched over a good number of wooden embroidery hoops cascading down one wall, and now my Anna Sui paper dolls climbing the wall alongside my door. 

I'm teaching a fashion theory class this year and am delighted to let my office reflect my love of fabric and line.

Now to make something for my window.