Let's Go a Boating

Ever since MJ rolled out those adorable boating hats atop his SS09 models, I've been keeping my eye out for something similar to hit the shops.

Pixie Market has a mini straw boater for only US$48. It's priced quite well and its slightness is great for petite folks like me! If you can bear to, bash it in a little on top for a more authentic MJ look:

Picture Perfect

This shot by Philip Newton is the perfect antidote to mid-week blues! I just adore the combination of her robin blue gloves, and rose pink satin shoes.

Do wander over to Design is Mine for more general loveliness... it's becoming a fast favourite!

Shoe Lust : Eileen Shields for Zero + Maria Cornejo

How gorgeous is this new geometric style from Eileen Shields for Zero + Maria Cornejo? (What a mouthful!) I am totally in love with this pair from the transatlantic collaboration between Irish shoe designer Shields and Chilean Maria Cornejo's NYC fashion label Zero.

You may not have heard of Shields but she's spent most of her time since 1988 in NYC designing footwear for the fashion institution that is Donna Karen.  In fact, Shields was a key player in the launch and design of the DKNY shoe range - a label she worked on for over a decade.

Her designs are largely classic but you might recognise this rather charming spiral detailing - seen in Shield's Fall 2007 and later, on Marc Jacob's SS08 runway.

Am personally finding the collaboration more interesting than the main collection so I'd sooner spend on the heeled collaborative effort - available on Shopbop - or the flat sandals in the same style (also very cute) which can be found at Eileen Shield's European online store.

Paris Je T'aime

Open letter to Cousin S:  I know you're in Paris right now... so feel free to procure a Gerard Darel Saint-Germain 24-Hour bag in Black on my behalf  (French pricing of Euro 250 + Taxback + Tourist discount coupons for Galeries Lafayatte = Bag Heaven):

Also, I insist you find time to take the obligatory striped shirt on a Parisian balcony pic!  (ala Carrie, above, and The Cherry Blossom Girl, below)

More Tie-Dye Backpeddling

I kinda like these tie-dyed suede flats from American shoemaker Reed Evins.  Evins comes from a family of shoemakers who services the like of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn.  After spending 30 years working for companies like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, Evins has struck it out on his own.  

The flats are rather charming.  Not sure if I'd pay USD 280 for them though.  Also they're suede and I live in 95% humidity *boo*

If you happen to be financially inclined, Endless and Shopbop have a selection the same flats (plus sandals in the same tie-dyed look):

Shopbop Promotion (Until 16 April 2009)

This means the following handbags will be about 25% off (as part of my clever plan to buy items as close to USD 800 as possible): 

(1) Mulberry black convertible shoulder bag 

(2) Alexander Wang denim slouchy

(3) Jerome Dreyfuss oversized billy bag

Sink or Swim

The sun has FINALLY has come out after what felt like a fortnight of torrential downpours *hurrah*  And so my Easter weekend was spent, rather fruitfully, scouting for a one-piece swimsuit and eating far too much creme brulee (not that the two are in any way related...)  

Now I love my bikinis, but for any real swimming I needed a suit which (a) didn't threaten waldrobe malfunctions with every wave crest, and (b) didn't evoke memories of my sad secondary school Speedo crossback.  

Sexy black, in main pic, from Etsy's Calla Ossidiana (here)

Fortunately, Gossip Girl's S and B have been spotted in some amazing nostalgic styles on the show, which inspired me to take the dive back into the old maillot. 

Blair sports a gorgeous rouched Ferragamo in the Hamptons (I Die)

Away from GG, Katie Holmes and Kate Moss have also been photographed in some old-school swim modesty, which means loads of cute options abound!  

Katie Holmes in a blue one-shoulder with side cut-outs

(A basic one-shoulder style is available at Gap if you want this look)

Kate Moss in Marilyn-style halter suit

Katie (again) in a tres chic belted black style

(Old Navy has a similar suit on sale - belt not included)

Here are some of my faves available right now, and the ultimate winner for me:

Azzaro bi-coloured halterneck (USD 835) - so cheerful, but so expensive :(

Marc by Marc Jacobs kissing fish maillot (USD 142) - so very Blair!

Victoria's Secret rouched swimdress (USD 158) - very Serena

Leaf print halter from Gap (USD 65)

Polka dot one-piece with exposed sides (USD 65) - The winner!!

Winning Me Over: Tie-Dye

I've been pretty adverse to tie-dye this season. However, this pencil skirt from American Apparel might just change my mind.

It's trendy, versatile, cheap (USD36) and *most importantly* surprisingly chic! Never thought I'd ever describe anything from AA with that word, but there's a first for everything I guess.

Incidentally, the top featured with the tie-dye skirt is actually one of those multi-wear dresses. Well done, AA!

More DIY Experiments

Spotted on model Tanya D: a rather brilliant solution to the tiresome task of zipping up boots.

Not sure if I'd risk ugly stretch marks on my boots from twisting them regularly (especially if they're Rochas, as Tanya's are), but am definitely keeping this in mind for sale-shopping days!

Donnie Darko Bunnies

There's a lot of cheap perspex/lucite jewellery on the local scene - all jumping on the Tatty Devine bandwagon no doubt. I'm actually feeling a little more 925 silver at the moment - but not the (heavily copied) T&Co kind.

The Apple Tree Thailand is a Bangkok-based range of handmade silver jewellery that's whimsical, dark & twisty and kinda evil - very Donnie Darko, and very me right now!



Am thinking about a bunch of their dismally departed bunny pendants (perhaps the nail-through-head, safety pin massacre & the scissors in ear ones done up charm bracelet style?) or maybe just their take on a skull & bones ring.

The Apple Tree also does a sweeter range of bicycle or bird inspired pieces but that's fairly common on Etsy already.

Off to email them for pricing :)

p/s the universe is conspiring to prevent me from shopping... the man just went up to Bangkok last weekend and I had nothing to send him to fetch at the time (sigh)

Precious Time Ticking Away!

Monday morning sale alert:

The clay accessories from Vanilla Bug that I posted about a week ago are now 25% OFF until 10.30am on 7 April Melbourne time.

Go now!

Weekend Wanderlust

Girly Weekend ahead:

1. Shop My Wardrobe - I know I really shouldn't go... but seeing how I was so restrained at the Pedder Warehouse Sale, surely I'd be able to resist :)

2. Confessions of a Shopaholic (finally!) with my truly shopaholic galpal

3. Decide on these shortlisted somewhat painless items:

70s apple comb necklace - too cute for words (USD16)

acid washed denim tote (GBP32)

For Life and Liberty

Dang the design team behind Kate Moss' latest Topshop collection for coming up with a formula which I just can't refuse.

The collection launches online today and I've already shortlisted at least 5 items from the SS09 including some non-Liberty print styles, the gorgeous poppy print dress (above) and the rather impractical but so gorgeous ruffled maxi dress. This dress would make an excellent choice for anyone doing summery wedding though!

Love... Love... LOVE

These are some of my other faves:

Waistcoat with Liberty print (in panels on the front, and over the back)

Suede cut-out dress - yum

Meadow Liberty print top (the same print as the ruffled dress)

LOVING this feather detail jacket

I'm a complete Liberty print whore at the moment - which has got me coveting these two styles of TRAINERS *gasp* (now if you've ever scoped out my shoe closet, you'll notice a startling "trainers : other shoes ratio" of 1 : 101 or something like that):

(1) Nike's high-top Dunk trainers - USD 100

(2) H&M's Liberty print plimsolls - allegedly GBP 8!

Am feeling all summery and youthful already...

Spotted: On Gossip Girl

The ode to Omelle continues... Just found out a pair of their boots have turned up during Gossip Girl filming, and worn by Serena no less!

Eric Damon, I *heart* you - keep on supporting independent designers!

D.I.Y. Studded Heels

Inspired by Michelle from Kingdom of Style who came up with her DIY version of fierce Balmain studded shoes, I popped into Far East Plaza to scout for studded anything to do my take.

As much as I'd love to devote an entire afternoon to applying real studs (too permanent for me) or measuring and altering a studded belt (just too lazy), I wanted something really versatile and painless. Scored a bunch of really cheap faux leather pyramid stud bracelets, with push-stud closures - they were "buy 1 get 1 free" too ;)

As promised... here's the full lowdown on my weekend handiwork and test-runs on various different shoes:

with my basic everyday pumps...

with my Georgina Goodman satin Harriet stilettos...

with Finsk midi boots that I wore last night (also shown: B's great Zara score!)

again with the Georgina Goodman stilettos... this time with an extra bracelet at the ankle!

For more inspiration, here are some other bloggers' DIY attempts using boot straps and belts: