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Posted by Dain, Tuesday, May 17, 2005 2:55 PM (Eastern)

This is entirely a meaningless, wishful-thinking, castles-in-the-air type of post, but it's fun to do, nevertheless. I'm a minimalist at heart (while I can devote endless energy poring over makeup, fashion tires me out, though I do love it), and I try to create a "capsule wardrobe" of about six or so items (read "The Definition of Style" for a fuller picture) each season—six items is miniscule, which forces me to seriously reckon with the wearability of each item (Herculean versatility and sheer adoration, therefore, are required criteria), in the context of what clothes I do own.

a classic Chanel bouclé jacket: In that slinky, belled-sleeve style that always looks so effortless even though it's the "hautest" of the haute. I'm thinking of a muted teal, which is a very unique shade (and entirely in my head, because Chanel is certainly not offering any such outlandish shades), but strangely flatters all the colors in my wardrobe. It's not a perfect match (which is too cookie-cutter for me anyway), but it's the perfect contrast. Just "something" light to throw over jeans, or contrast with vintage tees, or add a conservative edge to flirty skirts, or infuse a bit of eccentric polish to a ruffled chiffon blouse and a pencil skirt. This is merely a figment of my imagination, so let's give the average ready-to-wear price for a Chanel jacket, about $3000.

Viktor & Rolf Spider Blouse ($652): Diaphanous silk chiffon in an austere Atlantean green-grey. Has a high neck, a delicately pleated front, the back leads up to a keyhole with rows of hook buttons (like a Victorian dress), with a crystal spider embellished on the shoulder, and silk bows at the cuffs. Phew! Lots of detailing. Do I own a fancy, secretary-type blouse? High time I did. (This is actually Fall 2004... I think.)

Express Camisoles ($34 or something): If you've got any bent whatsoever to dressing ladylike and feminine, how can you resist a lace-trimmed silk camisole? These may not be Khurana, but you're not paying $275, which seems like a fair enough trade to me! I've my eye on a fresh orchid pink with melon lace, and the black with ivory lace.

Chloé Wide-Leg Jeans ($445): They make so many tight, low-slung bootcut jeans nowadays, haven't you gotten sick of it? Oof. This is wonderfully retro, evocative of the wide-leg (not flares, exactly, which expand out from below the knee, but genuine wide-leg, which start from the thigh) from the 90s (remember that hoodlum skater look?) with the slightly more contemporary update of a fitted waist and butt. I'm all for baggier jeans. The wash is a refreshing shade of sunny denim, evocative of more freewheeling times in fashion (everything's so contrived, these days... just look at what I'm doing!).

Joystick embellished cashmere sweater (~$278): Just something charming, soothing, and pretty, that doesn't require much in the way of highjinks to wear. Can be worn over a pretty buttondown, of course, with stylish trousers. Otherwise, it's the perfect touch of refined whimsy to the otherwise haughty line-up I've arranged here.

GAP Africa Tote ($20): I'm still loving this bag, and I'm still loving this price. The only item I'll probably actually own from this list. ; ) Summery, chic, and very functional.

Dolce & Gabbana zebra flats: I'm usually not a fan of animal prints, indeed, they're a little too "sexed up" and bold for my taste, but what is more austere than a pointy flat? Especially when paired with sober, clean-cut, polished clothing, or even to jazz up a casual outfit with dark vintage-style jeans?

Labels: chanel, chloe, dolce and gabbana, express, fashion, gap, jeans, joystick, personal, shoes, style, viktor and rolf

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Posted by Dain, Tuesday, April 19, 2005 5:08 PM (Eastern)

Oh ladies, I've found it. THE bag, the one I'd wear all the time, use all the time, because it's gorgeous and versatile and matches everything else. Enter, the Chloé Paddington.

It's aged leather, with plenty of details (ID tag, padlock, buckles, key), just the right size, and the perfect slouchy shape that vacillates between all the extremes of my style with ease—adds a bit of the casual to a prim, ladylike outfit, and of course fits in perfectly with bohemian clothes. Usually I don't like fussy details when it comes to bags (I tend to prefer classic), but the Paddington has a certain fitness to it; it has balance. It comes in a variety of pretty colors, but I like the tan. It looks good against a black winter coat, and won't clash with my brown leather jacket the way the darker brown Paddington would. It's just the right size, too.

The bag is $1380, an investment, for sure, but it'd serve one well. It's also something of a cult bag, which tends to bother me, but I fell in love with it before I was ever aware of its "It" bag status, so there's no help for it. I was contemplating a tan Hermès Birkin prior to the advent of the Paddington, but this is much better. It's special, but versatile enough to become a basic for years to come.

Picture courtesy of www.chloe.com.

Labels: bags, chloe, fashion, handbags, personal, purses, style

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