Winter is Coming

At 75 ºF, it’s an unusually warm November day in New York City, but I’m no fool. Summer's over, the leaves have fallen, and Christmas-themed goods have already infiltrated the shelves. Winter is coming and it’s time to prepare.

I love my summer and I love my fall (Libra here), but there are still plenty of things I enjoy in the winter. Wine, mulled wine, white wine, red wine, to name a few. Okay, but honestly, I love seasonal cooking, holiday festivities, fluffy snow, cozy lazy days, and winter fashion. There’s just no getting through January and February (cringe) without a sensible, yet stylish, winter coat. Don’t get me wrong, if street style sleeping bags were socially acceptable, I’d be first in line, but there’s really no getting away with that in NYC. We need warm. We need fashionable. And we need it now.

December brings very exciting things, particularly a trip that requires “the coat”. So, I’ve been trolling the interwebs for days now, and contestants have been found. For the sake of variety, I've included other colors, but when it comes to coats, I'm always partial to black.

(Links in picture captions)

Aigle: Storydown Parka

Canada Goose: Victoria Parka

Penfield: Hoosac Parka

Mackage: Juliann Parka

Canada Goose: Trilliam Parka

Pajar Catherine Parka

Spiewak: Aviation N3-B Parka

   

Woolrich: Arctic Parka 

You may have noticed a pattern here. What can I say, I know what I like. The above contestants all drew me in for the same reasons:

1. Length (long enough to cover the booty for extra warmth)
2. Material (down insulation and REAL fur trim)
3. Aesthetic (supremely warm while maintaining a flattering feminine form)
4. Color (black, always)

Now for the hard part: decision making. It's never been my strongsuit (Libra here). I know, at the very least, no matter which coat I choose, this girl is going to stay warm in Deutschland.

Feet So Funky Fresh

There’s really no right post to transition back into blogging. I’ve been fixated on this idea that my first post in over a year has to hit all the high notes; a real show stopper, or starter, I suppose. But really I just want to talk about shoes. And art. For now, at least.

Japanese contemporary artist, Takashi Murakami teamed up with Vans to release a collection of eclectic slip-on sneakers that embody all that is good in this world:  vibrant colors, smiling faces, trippy hippiness and the creative mind. The Vault by Vans x Takashi Murakami shoes come in a few different patterns and colors, all varieties truly representing Murakami's most iconic work.

His paintings, as well as his sneakers, take on two artistic identities: traditional Japanese art and pop culture. Murakami takes the two-dimensional "super-flat" stylistic approach of traditional eastern art, and incorporates popular motifs, similar to anime and manga.

A prolific artist worldwide, Murakami has also gained an undeniable celebrity status in the worlds of fashion and media. In addition to Vault by Vans x Takashi Murakami, he's collaborated with fashion-forward thinkers like Louis Vuitton, Kanye West, Comme des Garçons and Pharell Williams.

With no intention of knocking your socks off, I do hope you'd rather put some on and slip your feet into these psychedelic treats. 

The sly fox himself

I've
I've got my eye on the multi-colored flower ones. Skulls just aren't my thing.

Murakami's design for Kanye West's Graduation album

Takashi Murakami's animation for Pharrell's "Last Night, Good Night" music video

These limited edition kicks just hit the shelves on Saturday, June 27th, and are available at select locations across the US. Check 'em out!

Hasbeens are Now

As I've established in previous posts, Sweden rocks. Not that I've been, but it has damn good candy, comfy lounge chairs, svelte people and awesome shoes. If you haven't been keeping up with my blog, damn good candy = Sockerbit, comfy lounge chairs = Fatboy and svelte people = Alexander Skarsgård (I've never mentioned him before but it goes without saying). As for the shoes, read on.

You know when you see an item, convince yourself you shouldn't buy it, walk away and then can't stop thinking about it? Well, if you are familiar with this dilemma you also know that you return to the store days (hours) later, purchase, admire and convince yourself it was a solid buy. This happens all too often in my life and as of late, it was a beautiful pair of Swedish Hasbeens that defeated my willpower. 

These shoes are handmade, eco-friendly and draw inspiration from the fashion trends of the seventies. The high quality leather, construction and comfort of these Hasbeens make them a sensible investment. At least I like to think so.

  "Her name was Anita and she was the hottest mum in all of southern Sweden in the 1970's. While smoking Camel she screamed at her kids until her curlers fell out and just looked fabulous in her white high-heeled clogs."

Top Left          Top Right          Bottom Left          Bottom Right 

Top Left          Top Right          Bottom Left          Bottom Right   

Also, I am dying to meet the creative mastermind in charge of their ad campaigns. The collections are always themed, Autumn/Winter 2013 is Victorian Gypsies, and below I've compiled a number of snapshots from previous years:

My beauties

Hello Groovy Tuesday

In 1969, Arthur Schatz, a photographer for Life Magazine, perfectly captured the hippie sub-culture fashion of the emerging youth. Schatz photographed a California high school and its many fads including shift dresses, fringe vests, crop tops, bell bottoms, floral maxis and kaleidoscope prints imitating those of Emilio Pucci. I'm not promoting bell bottoms and I've never supported the re-emergence of fringe, but many of the styles from the late sixties have come back around in a very good way.

Here are Schatz's groovy pics:

1969 pics via here

And here are some similar styles from the present:

crop top                                                 mini dress

kaleidoscope print                                     floral maxi

peasant blouse                                            shift dress

plaid                                                  high waist

Schatz also did a shoot with Jack Nicholson in 1969 in Nicholson's Los Angeles home, and these photos are way too cool to not share:

via here

Suit Up

Sun is my sustenance and I'm not going to lie, I'm feeling a little malnourished. The prospect of summer is the only thing getting me through this last month of school and the lack of sunlight in New York City is turning April into a crusade. There were two beautiful days this past week but now it's grey and rainy and lame. Even though it's not quite warm enough yet, I've collected some sought after swim suits, because the least I can do is prepare.

Maaji

MIKOH

BECCA                                                Maaji

Maaji                                                 Zinke

L*Space

L*Space

Juicy Couture                                            Maaji

Tavik

Tavik

Acacia