season five

the thin line between love and fake

Ilike H&M and I don't mind Zara - but I am bothered when these companies cross the line of being "inspired by" a design and flat out copying it. H&M is so cheap - rarely is anything an exact duplicate. Zara, on the other hand, crosses the line. For example - this dress is an almost exact replica of an Isabel Marant dress from this season. This irritates me on two fronts - on principal and because I own, and paid the big bucks, for the real deal. I don't regret the purchase - I'd rather have one original then a million copies - but it is bothersome nonetheless. Photo source: Elle.

found! the perfect summer bag

Ihad two bags on my spring/summer shopping list - a bright everyday bag and an oversize clutch.I found both in the Mulberry Jody bag. I'm a huge fan of Mulberry's timeless designs - they are at once understated and edgy. They are also designed and manufactured in the UK, not China, another rarity in the design world. The Jody bag functions as three bags - a tote, a shoulder bag when folded over and an oversize clutch when the straps are removed. I love it in Seville - a tomato-red color.

crocs -no,no,no

Brooke Shields was photographed at the NBC Universal Experience event looking lovely - but wait. Is she wearing Crocs? Is this a joke? Maybe she broke a toe or something. Regardless, she could have stuffed her feet into heels for a few hours. Shame, shame.  Photo source: TeddyandMoo.

charlize theron in dior

Charlize Theron looked beautiful at Dior's cruise collection showing on Monday night. I love love love this dress. Although I would swap the yellow shoes for these gladiator platforms. These shoes are featured heavily in the upcoming Sex In The City Movie - and since I am a fool for both gladiators and platforms, not buying them has been a serious exercise in restraint. Photo credit: Getty Images.

bond no.9 and a lesson in manners

Laurice Rahme, founder of Bond No. 9 New York, was at Saks in Union Square  on Saturday creating custom fragrances.  Personally I am not a fan of perfume but I think the company's product concept is marketing genius. Bond No.9 has created 32 fragrances with scents and packaging representing a specific Manhattan locale. When I saw these perfume-girls/spritzers - I stopped to say hello remembering I had this job! While in college I worked at Thalhimer's department store in Richmond, Va. offering complimentary spritzes to shoppers. Boy, were the shoppers ever rude - waving their hands in my face dismissing me as an intrusion. Sooo busy! You know - on such occasions a simple no thank you will suffice. The rude ones always got a massive spritz in the rear. Rude to me? Go home drenched in Obsession or Poison or whatever it was I was hocking. These girls were much nicer - very nice actually. And tolerant.

nicole ritchie in harpers bazaar

Check out Jezebel for photos of a recent Harpers Bazaar shoot with Nicole Ritchie and family. I have always liked her - and I think she looks amazing in these pictures. But I really love this picture of LIE-OH-NELL. Even though I hated when the Hello video came on MTV (over and over again), he has grown on me. How funny.

iPhone covered

One of the perks of this blog is that I get sent products to review- shoes, jeans, games, etc.  I was recently sent an iPhone cover from Incipio - a company that makes cases and accessories for technology devices. I gave it to my husband and he can't stop raving about it. It has feet - so you can sit it on a table. It is "tacky" so it does not slide around when he sets it down. He says is so well designed it  perfectly fits all the iPhone features (volume, on/off, etc) so he can access them easily. And finally, in his own words (even though it sounds like a press release!), it  gives him a sense of security that his investment is well protected and he does not have to worry about it. It also looks cool and not to bling-y. I bought him a Gucci cover for his palm pilot a few years ago and that did not go over well. The Silicrylic iPhone case can be found at Incipio.

don't you want me baby redux

Who This collaboration between The 5 O'clock Heroes and supermodel Agyness Deyn, which debuted today on MySpace, is a flashback to Human League's Don't You Want Me Baby.

lipstick sales are up but data does not support it

I found today's article in The Times about the rise of lipstick sales during economic downturn interesting. First, according to this same article sales statistics don't support this theory and actually show that lipstick sales are down. Second, the article appeared to be an obvious result of a pitch from Estee's PR Camp. But hey - congrats to them for placing a story with no data to support it. I used this same pitch for a Cigar client once and did not have nearly as much luck. On a side note,I have felt the sting of the escalating cost of designer clothes like everyone else - but my philosophy is to skip the make-up and save the money for clothes. Department store lipsticks are around $40, combine that with a lip pencil -it is $60. For a few of these I could buy a dress at CO-OP or a designer shirt on sale.

but will they stand in line for it?

When I came across this bag today - I laughed out loud. It is just the right anecdote to the over saturation of green fashion discussions that  take place between March and April. Fashion Indie's  "I'm Not a Douche Bag" tote is available  at  Cafe Press.

a sweater for all seasons

In San Francisco, transition dressing is a way of life. For example, when it is warm and sunny in my neighborhood, I have to anticipate a considerable temperature change when I go across town. On warm days, it is not uncommon for the temperature to drop 10-20 degrees from day to evening (more if there is wind and fog). Inhabit cashmere sweaters are a staple in my wardrobe. I wear them with jeans and boots in the winter and sun dresses in the spring and summer. This short sleeve cardigan is the perfect spring/summer transition piece. It will also look great with a fitted long sleeve black t-shirt when the weather gets cooler. At Refinery29.

linda mccartney exhibition in london

Linda McCartney's work is the subject of a new exhibition that opened last week at the James Hyman Gallery in London. Curated by her daughter, Mary McCartney, the exhibit marks the anniversary of Linda McCartney's death. An accomplished rock photographer (she was the first women to shoot a Rolling Stone cover - of Eric Clapton in 1968), the exhibit includes images of the Rolling Stones, Simon & Garfunkel,Janis Joplin and the Beatles.

supermodels the latest must have art aquisition?

On the heels of the sale of the Carla Bruno image  Michel Comte's 1999 shot of a bare-breasted Gisele Bundchen will be sold at auction next month, Vogue UK reports. The Photographs sale, which will be held at Christie's London on May 15, is another supermodel-centric affair; also up is a black-and-white portrait of Kate Moss, taken by Albert Watson in Marrakech circa 1993.

The guide price for the Comte piece is £6,000 to £8,000 - but is expected to go for much more. An Irving Peen portrait of Gisele recently sold for more nearly £80,000 over asking.

madonna madonna

Iwas trolling the gossip sites tonight and came across this picture of Madonna. She looks gorgeous - of course, she always does. I like the dress and the Stella boots - I would wear this outfit, for sure. But if I had Madonna's body - I would show more of it. I know she is 50, and there are all sorts of
style rules, but if Madonna at 50 - looking the way that she does - starts dressing age appropriate, what hope do the rest of us women have? You have it so flaunt it Madonna! Photo source: Imnotobsessed.com

more on gwyneth's shoes

The Daily News asks the question Is the modern woman trying to soar too high in today's towering platform stilettos?  Gwyneth's sky-high stilettos were the catalyst for the story. The answer is a resounding No! These shoes are fabulous! Wear  the shoes - just don't walk in them. There are called limo (for walking in and out of the limo only)  shoes for a reason.

gwynnie looks great!

Ican't say  I loved her interview in this month's Vogue - but I must give props when it is due. She looks HOT in this photo! And I love her accessories - the shoes and Robert Downey, Jr. But why the pigeon toes? Gwyneth Paltrow at "Iron Man" Photocall, Rome, Italy. Photo credit. TeddyandMoo.

this years green accessory

This years the SIGG bottle is well-positioned to replace last year's eco-bag as the green accessory-of-the-moment. SIGG reusable bottles are recyclable, made from 100-percent aluminum, and are manufactured in a green factory. Available in more than 100 cool designs they are stylish, practical and downright responsible, given that Americans add more than 30 million plastic bottles to our nation's landfills every day. ELLE is hosting a auction on eBay, where you can bid on SIGG bottle's personalized by well-known designers including Anna Sui, Zac Posen, Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, Michael Kors and Kenneth Cole (the design shown here). 100-percent of the proceeds for this auction will benefit StopGlobalWarming.org Seriously, toting a plastic water bottle is so passe. Get with the program!

address book: aix-en-provence

The very best place to shop in Aix-en-Provence is the market which takes place on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Here you will find cheese, sausages, bread, bouillabaisse, flowers, soaps, lavender, linens,  baskets, artwork, antiques and more. Here are some pictures from the Aix market.

denim: torn and tattered

Jeannie Lee, owner of Satine in LA (a trendsetting boutique I love), reports in style file today that Alexander Wang's baggy, ripped denim shorts have the longest waiting list of any spring item in the store - more than 100 deep. The shorts, retail for about $200. Indeed - tattered denim is a real trend for spring and summer. To wear them - fashionable, but to buy them... fashion victim! I do like the look of a pair of old, ripped jeans with an expensive top and shoes but I think the look only works if  the slashed denim is authentic rather than expensive. A better option is to rip up a pair you already own or buy them used. Or steal your boyfriend/husband's jeans (he may miss his jeans but will appreciate the money you saved!) Shown here: Alexander Wang denim, Maison Martin Margiela, Christopher Kane, True Religion Ripped Joey Jeans and our favorite Olson twin in ripped denim.

simon doonan: eccentric glamour

IADORE Simon Doonan - ADORE him! He never preaches about what is appropriate - only about being fabulous no matter who you are, no matter what the occasion, what you do or your age. The author, style icon and creative director for Barneys New York  is offended by "witless good taste." I agree - good taste and being appropriate - so boring. For example, I read an interview with another style icon in a magazine recently and she said no one over the age of thirty should EVER wear a short skirt. "But what if she has exceptional legs," the reporter inquired. The response - NEVER! I disagree with this type of style rule. Yes - I am over thirty and while I may have many flaws - my legs are not one of them. What would Simon say? I think he would say:  wear the short skirt - everywhere!  I'll read the book and report back soon. Here are some pictures of  Simon and me at Barneys in San Francisco tonight. His book, Eccentric Glamour, is available at Amazon. P.S. The back of his jacket reads - Good Taste Doesn't Exist.

marc jacobs sells out - I mean expands

WWD reports that Marc Jacobs is set to open a Marc by Marc Jacobs store at Place du Marché Saint-Honoré by the end of 2008, with a door in London to open in early 2009. According to the story, a flurry of other openings across Europe is to follow. This is not at all surprising - Marc by Marc Jacobs was in every multi-label store I visited in Paris and in the south of France. True,  I like some of his handbags but I do not buy them - the brand is beginning to feel a bit gap-ish to me now.

stila cherry crush lip stain

As spring approaches I like to scale back on make-up. Especially this season, because I have embraced both color and the whole luxe-bohemian look - neither of which look right with obvious make-up. I love lip stains and wear them often because I like the natural your-lips-but-better look. Stila Cherry Crush lip and cheek stain is a bit different - it gives lips the look as if you had just eaten a cherry popsicle and unlike many other stains, it does not dry out your lips.  I love it for spring and summer. At Sephora.

address book: etienne marcel/saint-honoré

Ispend most of my time in Paris on the left bank - but there are a few places I hit every visit on the right bank. These are my favorite spots for shopping and eating in the Saint-Honoré and Etienne Marcel area of Paris.

Shop

Astier de Vilatte (173, rue Saint-Honoré ). When I got married ten years ago I did not register for china. Instead, I mixed and matched dinnerware pieces from this store. They are solid white and look better with the inevitable chips they get with age.

Collette (213, rue Saint-Honoré) is a bit of a tourist zoo but still fun. I love to view the outfits on mannequins as much as I love to witness all the fabulous women seriously shopping and trying on clothes in this store.

Gas (44, rue Etienne Marcel) stocks Vanessa Bruno, Isabel Marant and lots of accessories and bits and baubles.

Kabuki (25 rue Etienne Marcel). On the ground floor there are shoes and bags by Balenciaga, Costume National and Prada, upstairs there are clothes by the aforementioned as well as Chloe, Missoni, Stella McCartney. I love this store.

Boutique Maille (6 Place de la Madeleine). This boutique has mustards on tap! It carries mustards in dozens of flavors  - most of which are only available in France. It is a great place for gifts.   

Pylones (56, rue Tiquetonne). This shop, near the Etienne Marcel Metro, will appeal to fans of Alessi. All the charm - a much more affordable price.

Vanessa Bruno (rue de Castiglione). This is my favorite store in Paris - and my first shopping stop. I spent two hours there on this recent trip and tried on everything in the store. In the end I only bought two dresses ( I bought the dress on the dress form shown in fushia).  l love how the sales associates always indulge me and  treat shopping for clothes as a very serious affair.

Eat

Le Fumoir (6, rue de L’Amiral-Coligny). Excellent dinner – nice atmosphere. This is where my Paris friends take me for cocktails and dinner.
Cafe Beaubourg (100 Rue Saint Martin) This Costes brothers spot is excellent for breakfast and a perfect place to start the day before heading to Pompidou.
Cafe Etienne Marcel (34, rue Etienne-Marcel). Another Costes brothers spot that is great for lunch and cocktails. Yes - they serve cheeseburgers and frites - but trust me, this place attracts a fashionable crowd.

 

 

 

jil sander reverse heel sandals

I'm hardly one to pontificate on unpractical footwear - but these "reverse heel" Jil Sander shoes are ridiculous. They are unwearable and  destined for the sales rack. I took this picture at Barneys in San Francisco.

a kinder shade of pale

I tend to over talk, especially when I am nervous, which is why I love to speak in French. My French vocabulary is somewhat limited - so I am direct and to the point and eliminate unnecessary banter - it is nice for a change. However, it can be kind of alarming when the situation is reversed. For example, when trying on Prada gladiators at Kabuki on Etienne Marcel in Paris recently the conversation with the sales associate went like this: Me (in French):  I love these shoes - they are very beautiful. Sales associate (in English): Yes, they do not look great now because they are so black against your white skin, they will look good in summer when you have color. Me (in French): I am white all the time. Sales associate (in English): You can wear make-up. OK. Well I have embraced my pale skin so I bought the shoes anyway. And I don't like self-tanner - I work very hard to stay this pale! But there is a product I rely on for my legs in the summer months: Philosophy The Big Skinny (in nude). It preserves the pale - but eliminates the glare. At drugstore.com.