Tour de France: Marant Style

Hear ye,  hear ye! 

This is the official announcement of the unofficial conversion wherein this blog becomes less about not being a fashion blog and more about being a fashion blog.

Accept it.

Embrace it.

Move on.

You know what I love? Collaborations. Meeting in the middle. Melding of the minds.

This, my friends, is gonna be a doozy.

Isabel, meet H&M.

H&M, thank you.

November 14th marks the official launch date where the French designer Isabel Marant & a company favorite, H&M, rub elbows, swap stories, and give us something to pinch pennies for. Marant takes all the hip, cool (did I just use those two words in the same sentence?) Parisian street style our hearts could want & makes it accessible to Americans such as ourselves. I pine over most everything she creates; I recently joined the wedge sneaker club thanks to Ms. Marant. Granted they're Fake Its, but it alludes to the fact that I'm a fan, right? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? What can I say, I like the aesthetic.

Paris Chic, I think I love you.

 

Aren't you so inspired? Bring on the fringe boots, prints & patterns, & leather EVERYTHING!
Vogue is right--start making your wishlist now!

"I think my clothes are speaking about me better than anything."

Bingo. If I could sum up my life in a nutshell.

Marant with H&M Creative Advisor, Margereta van den Bosch, in Paris.

Save the Date, kiddies!

Time & money well spent.

Keep Calm & Kerry On

If you've been out & about (which I assume you have) for any length of time in the past 9 months that is the year 2013, then you've noticed a little something I like to call the Kerry Washington Takeover.

I have to admit. This post has been a long time coming.

And rightfully so--Washington slays as Olivia Pope, (Scandal Season 3 premieres October 3rd!!!) the love-to-love Fixer & resident it-girl of Primetime TV; she's incredibly intelligent (think Manhattan's Spence School & a double major in anthropology & sociology from GWU, where she received an honorary Doctorate last Spring & just so happened to give a stellar Commencement Address); she gives great advice (even if those questions are semi-ridiculous); she's hilarious (no, really--she's funny); she's making history; she's probably one of my most favorite people that I've never met (I know, I know).

BONUS: she sings. Kerryoke! And--she's the Guest Judge on this season's Project Runway Finale. Hey-o!

Women aren't crazy when they say, "I want to be Olivia Pope."
What they don't realize?
The literal translation of that statement is, "I want to be Kerry Washington."
I don't blame them.
(She's my choice to play me in a movie of my life.) 

Girlfriend is EVERYWHERE.

Exhibit A:

18+ glossy covers in 15ish months.
Vogue's next. Remember you heard it here first!

Did I mention that she's nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in Sunday night's Emmy Awards? Excuse the lyrical delineation, but the girl's on fire.

ANDDD... she was just voted People's Best Dressed Woman in the World. Makes total sense.

Here's why:

BET's Black Girls Rock! 2012 in Marchesa

2013 Independent Spirit Awards in Giambassita Valli

Elle Cover Party in Lanvin // Django Unchained Paris Premiere in Rochas // 2011 Emmy Awards in Zuhair Murad

2013 TCA Press Tour in Giambattista Valli // 2012 American Music Awards in Stella McCartney // The Details Hollywood Premiere in Mary Katranzou

2013 Teen Choice Awards in Stella McCartney

2013 CFDA Fashion Awards in Jason Wu

The issue hits newsstands today! Also? I would wear every single dress seen above.

Best Dressed Woman, indeed. 

Who even knew I cared about a title like that? Consider that challenge accepted.

You guys. I think she's going to win the Emmy. I can feel it in my gut (How Olivia Pope of me). She's in good company though. If she does win...prepare yourself for Monday's post.

There's lots more fangirling where this came from!

Step Into My Office

Since I'm not at Lincoln Center wearing sky-high pumps & a glitzy arm party for Fashion Week (cue weeping & wailing & tearing of clothes), I'm spending the next week or so totally engrossed in all things Big Apple. Most recently, I've taken a lovely fascination with Moda Operandi, the firm that takes the runway's best collections (think Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, DKNY) & makes them available for purchase--even pieces that don't make it to the retail buyer's sales floor. You can order online through their e-commerce boutique, or (if you're thinking what I'm thinking) make an appointment with a stylist at the downtown office. And, if you're lucky, you might even see founder & Vogue Contributing Editor (& it-girl) Lauren Santo Domingo, one of my style icons. Seriously! My Matchbook Profile even says so. 

This month's Architectural Digest took a tour of the company's Manhattan office & I am in love. A fiddle fig, neon sign, pale pink walls, John Robshaw & Jonathan Adler?

Say no more.

Don't you love it? I'm pretty confident I could get a lot of work done in any one of these spaces. As a fun bonus, check out this exclusive AD Pinterest board curated by Lauren herself! 

Out on a Lim

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Target.

Seriously, I go at least twice a week.

Seriously.

What did I do before #targetdoesitagain? Lived a half-life, that's what I did. (A half-life where I saved $$, but still.)

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target debuts September 15th & it is all kinds of goodness. The big reveal happened on August 12th, as bloggers & editors & everyone-who's-anyone got a first look in a studio in NYC.

Handbags for days is right.

"Cool & chic, but still very accessible."

His words, not mine!

Might as well mosey on over to the Lookbook so you can see more beauties like these down below. 

 

Sorry this turned into a fashion blog. That wasn't my intent. 

Alas, the heart wants what it wants.

Happy shopping!

Legends of the Fall

My favorite season is coming! I can't believe it's almost here. Where did summer go?

My friends & I went to the #jcrewstylesessions last night to see all the new threads for this coming fall season & it was a total bust. Not what you were expecting, right? We thought the same thing.

However, it was difficult to leave the store without a single piece of J. Crew glory.
Seriously, everything is perfection.

Don't be surprised if one day I replace Jenna Lyons.

No, actually be completely SHOCKED because that would be crazy.

 

I agree with all that's been said so fervently, I feel like I wrote those mantras myself. Too presumptuous?

On the immediate Wish List:

Jeweled Baseball Cap // Collection Antiqued Floral Dress //  Kiss Kiss Tee // Etta Studded-Heel Pump
Leather Sleeve Top in Stripe // Calf Hair Baseball Cap // Excursion Quilted Vest in Camo 

See what I mean? 

Have you gotten your Style Guide yet? If you haven't, there are plenty more where these images came from over at J. Crew's Pinterest page. If you're old school like me, go pick up a style guide from your closest store & start tearing out the pages (every single one, to be exact) to serve as your fall wardrobe styling inspiration. You won't be disappointed!

Off to find the Fake It versions of these. Already off to a good start with these pretty ponies. Wish me luck &...you're welcome!