moto love

Whoa.  Excuse me, Mr. Wang, did you just make a double layered leather motorcycle jacket?  Holy crap.  I have always loved you but now you have sealed the deal.  For a layer-loving onion like me, for someone who cannot walk past a gorgeous motorcycle jacket without drooling, this is almost too much.  I feel like I'm overdosing on sartorial perfection.  I just might die.

More amazingness...

still summer

I'm on sort of a spending diet lately, saving up for some big expenses on the horizon, but of course that doesn't stop me from fantasy shopping.  Problem is, all my fantasy shopping leans towards fall: layered sweaters and button-down shirts, long pants, lace-up shoes...  You'd think that since this is just hypothetical shopping we're talking about, it wouldn't matter, but it conditions me to crave certain things, and then to be disappointed when I can't actually wear them.  So today I felt the need to remind myself of something pretty important: It's still summer.  You'd think I'd have no trouble remembering, since it hasn't dipped below the 90s here in over a month, but I still find myself looking wistfully at my favorite long sleeve garments thinking that maybe a light breeze will necessitate an extra layer sometime soon.  Not gonna happen.  And really, that's not a bad thing, you just have to embrace it for all that it is.

So just as a reminder, some fabulous summery things to covet...

skirting the issue

A simple outfit that's becoming my go-to uniform for summer weekends: a T by Alexander Wang classic pocket tank, a jersey maxi skirt from Zara, Rag & Bone Vespa sunglasses, Hawaiana flipflops (invisible, but there), a great big silver cuff from a market in Peru, and a solid leather tote I picked up at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul many moons ago.  Most of that's not available anymore, but you can come pretty close.

Some options, and some secrets...

light layers

It's officially spring here in Madrid.  We've done daylight savings time, there's little blossoms blooming everywhere, it's chaotically alternating rain and sun in a totally unpredictable way, and it is finally warm enough to go outside without a big coat on.  Rejoice!  Since it's been a while since my last outfit post, and nothing makes me happier than lots of layers (they call me an onion around here) and I thought I'd show you how I've been piling it on lately.  Nothing fancy, just simple, comfy, easy lightweight layers.

On the left: hat - Anne Demeulemeester // sunglasses- Paul Frank // necklace - mashallah pendant I've had (literally) since I was born // hoodie - American Apparel // parka - Filippa K // t-shirt - T by Alexander Wang // pants - Zara //  sneakers - Zara

On the right: hat - forte forte // jacket - the kooples // scarf - zara (ancient, but it's just a sheet of jersey fabric - DIY anyone?) // bag - cos (last season) // blouse - zara // jeans - fidelity // boots - moma

As you can see, a lot of these items have been in my closet for ever, so you might not be able to get the exact same pieces now, but here are some other options currently available...

da bomb

What the what? This insanely intricate, decadent, shiny and gorgeous bomber from Zara stopped me in my tracks.  Practical?  Possibly not.  But I seem to care less and less about that lately.  It also reminds me of a black and hot pink satin bomber I had when I was a kid, embroidered with sunglass-wearing cherubs and the word "Angelinos".  Yeah, I was that kind of a kid.

It also got me thinking about bombers in general, the new incarnations we're seeing (again, obviously), and then when I saw  this neoprene one from T by Alexander Wang I was convinced this issue needed further investigation.
Most folks online are showing it mini and shrunken, which is very cute, but I'm more inclined to wear it like the lovely Ivania does, oversized and cozy, like a big neoprene hug.  (If you're not familiar with her blog check it out, she is a brave minimalist if ever there was one.)

More bombers...

clutch me

I stopped into Oysho yesterday to grab some pretty undies on sale, and inexplicably walked out with this clutch.  Of course I picked up some sale items as well.  Please.  As if I could resist.

See the details...

harrow two ways

I spent the entire weekend in my new boots.  So good.  They are indeed as comfortable as I'd hoped, and I can in fact walk for hours in them.  Saturday night my boots and I even stayed out til 3 in the morning (a huge accomplishment for a homebody like me) and my feet barely complained at all.

the hunt goes on

Well obviously my dream coat is out of my price range, but I am now officially obsessed.  I must have a new coat.  Hang with me over the next few weeks while I sort this out, and if anyone else out there is on a similar quest, join me and we can hunt the elusive perfect coat together.  In this preliminary phase of research (yes, I am oh so scientific about it) I'm including coats that range from $100 to $2500.  Think of this as the fantasy phase, where we're really just trying to narrow down what it is we're looking for (is it a pea coat?  a men's coat?  a car coat?  what the hell is a car coat?).

 Big Peacoat from Emerson Fry, $495

More potential dream coats...

uo t

Seems like I'm always going on and on about the perfect t-shirts.  But not only is it one of the most important staples in my closet, it's also the kind of thing where you want to have options.  Like, if I'm feeling flush, I'll splurge on T by A Wang.  If I'm near COS, I'll stock up there.  But if I'm in the states and I want to spend less than $25?  Urban Outfitters to the rescue.  And let me tell you, this is a perfect t-shirt.


The pinky nude is my favorite, but I'm thinking I may need to get some of the other colors too.   They drape perfectly and are buttery suede soft.  One piece of advice though: size down.  Way down.

Do you have a secret source for perfect T's?

cos

Cos, or Collection of Style, is big sister to H&M and has stores sprinkled throughout europe.  Oddly enough, I never thought to check if there's one in Madrid.  Well, there is.  Danger, danger!   The pieces are beautiful, minimalist, well-constructed, and the shopping experience there is totally and utterly enjoyable.  And yes, it is of course more expensive than its younger sister, but justifiably so, and I really think that each and every piece is a steal. 

And the t-shirts?  Can I just say that I'm no longer relying on Mr. Wang to supply me with perfectly draped silky soft Ts?  And that my new-found loves are half the price?  And can I also mention that while I still dream of having a VPL bra one day, this sporty number is bringing me all kinds of joy in the meantime?  These may seem like simple pleasures, but the quality is so great that I'm over the moon about it all.

Take a closer look at my first Cos Madrid haul after the jump...

december outnet picks

I know, I know, christmas shopping.  For others.  What can I say, I get distracted!  I mean, isn't this burberry jacket, at 60% off, distracting?

And look at these metallic raffia shoes, such a cool twist on the ubiquitous oxfords.

See more of what distracted me at the outnet after the jump...

ssense ssale

Yes, I'm still shopping online.  Hey, it's cyber monday, isn't that what we're supposed to be doing?  (By the way, when did they invent that one?  This is the first year I hear of it; am I just totally behind the times?)  Today we hit the sale rack at ssense, one of my all time favorite online stores.

Is this thing perfect or what?  And that zipper detail in the back, just killing me.  Those Smythe ladies sure know what they're doing.

Or how about this reversible leather & fur jacket from Preen?  You can be a hot tough biker chick one day and a rock n' roll yeti the next, whatever your heart desires.  I don't think I'd ever wear it the apeman way, but the other way?  That is a gorgeous item.

See more ssense finds after the jump...

sleeveless

How do we feel about sleeveless coats?  Apart from the fact that I personally think they're gorgeous, I wonder if the impracticality of them outweighs the cool factor?  Before you answer, keep in mind that you can layer them over all kinds of things, like leather jackets (to end up with one of those so on-trend leather-sleeved coats we're seeing everywhere), bulky sweaters, even other lightweight coats and blazers.  And that makes them somewhat more practical, right?  Also keep in mind that I just bought one today and am trying to decide whether or not to keep it.   Some inspiration while you mull it over:

Rachel Comey Dunn coat at La Garçonne

Alexander Wang suede sleeveless peacoat at Forward

more photos and factors after the jump...

october outnet picks

Been a while since I wasted time on did some research on the outnet.

There's some truly amazing bargains to be found there, including this jersey blazer from T by Alexander Wang, that I am renaming the mullet blazer.  You know, business in the front, party in the back.  Bad jokes aside, this jacket is seriously discounted, down from $180 to only $81. 

T by Alexander Wang cutout cotton jersey blazer

And check out this gorgeous Smythe military jacket, down from almost $600 to a mere $208.25.

Smythe wool jacket

More outnet steals after the jump...

modern peplum

Alexander Wang has done it again.  I saw this sweater online and in stores a hundred times (exaggeration) and never thought to put it on or even give it much consideration.  It just seemed too bulky and unnecessary.  And then one day, inexplicably, I tried it on.

I'm sorry I doubted you Alexander, you were right.  As you can see here, impeccably styled by the geniuses at La Garçonne, it is stunning.  It hangs differently on my fuller-than-a-model body, but it is equally gorgeous, and I think it would probably work on all kinds of shapes and sizes.  I'm not sure why we're not seeing tons of images of this, but it can be unzipped, giving you a gorgeous sweater that's shorter in the back, and it can even be worn backwards (I often try things in different directions in the dressing rooms, doesn't everyone?) so it's cropped in the front.  The knit is ridiculously thick and luxurious and also comes in cream and a pale grey.  I'll take the lot of them, thanks.

buying confidence

The other day when I shopping I made a decision: I am only going to buy pieces that make me feel incredible about myself.  Regardless of how gorgeous/innovative/beautifully made or designed it might be, if it doesn't do anything for me when it's on me, I will not spend money on it.  And, by the same logic, if I find things that make me feel like a rock and roll princess, that make me feel elegant and powerful and unstoppable in my daily life (or beyond), then I will buy them, even if my rational brain says "It's just a t-shirt!  An overpriced t-shirt!"  So, new to my closet, and making me feel invincible beyond the grasp of all logic...

T  by Alexander Wang silk blend pilly classic tee and classic pocket tee

T by Alexander Wang silk blend slub classic long sleeve tee

So there you have it.  Yes, I spent a ridiculous amount of money on t-shirts.  And yes, I feel damn good about it.  Feeling good about my new shopping philosophy in general; let's see how long I can keep it up.  Any of you have any shopping rules?  And do you actually follow them?

glorified sweats

I think I'm going to be living in my T by Alexander Wang tanks this summer.  They're perfectly lightweight without being sheer and clingy, and the fabric feels both deliciously soft and sturdy enough to handle real everyday life.  This outfit's basically sweats, I'm not gonna kid you, but sweats done in a way that I think actually looks pulled together and pretty damn cute (if I do say so myself).

 tank: T by Alexander Wang, pants: H&M, bralette: American Apparel

continue to see my newest colorful accessory...

all tied up

Debuting my new T by Alexander Wang tank top, and I thought I'd step out of my comfort zone a bit and tie a scarf around my head.  I actually loved it, but does anyone have a trick to keep it from sliding back periodically throughout the day?  Or is my hair just slipperier than everyone else's?

a surprise photo after the jump...

a care package

The other day I got a care package!  I almost never get any mail at all, literally.  I could go weeks without opening my mailbox and I would only have flyers from Pizza Hut and the chinese place up the street, so a package from my loving mama in Wisconsin was above and beyond what I could hope for.  I was giddy like a little girl.  Inside I found my much sought after mesh Chuckies, gifted to me last christmas by my step-cousin-in-law (complicated family tree) and then sadly left behind in the packing madness that always defines january for me.  I actually fell in love with these shoes here in Madrid last summer, but of course I couldn't buy them because they cost 70 euros, which is over $100.  A hundred dollars!  That is insane.  At zappos they're $40.  So anyway, I had to wait, but it was well worth it.  They're plastic mesh, but all those little holes make them super breathable, and I love the lacelessness of them too.  And now they are finally mine!

Also in my package was a new T by Alexander Wang tank top.  I bought one this winter and fell madly in love with it, so when my mama saw it in this beautiful heathered blue deeply discounted at the outnet, she snapped it up for me. 

Seriously, what could be better?  Now if the sun would just come back out so I could wear the stuff...

bottom braids

I've been thinking about braids a lot lately.  I think braid-mania as we know it started with the A Wang spring 2010 show.  You know what I'm talking about, you've seen it a million times by now, and it's still going strong.  I'm not complaining; I'm a big fan.

But recently I saw this ad again in Vogue España.  It's from the Givenchy spring 2011 campaign.

 image from fashionista.com

It kind of blew me away.  They just braided the ends of the hair!  This is revolutionary stuff, how could I not have noticed it before?  And how come this didn't catch on like wildfire?  Why wasn't everyone doing this?

 On the runway the 'dos were a little more over the top, and actually I think all those old school glam waves around the face somehow detract from the gorgeousness of these bottom braids.  But still, the bottom braid (I just made that term up, don't go around saying it like anyone will understand you) is very appealing to me.

 Would it work in real life?  Will someone with less layers in their hair please try it out and tell me?

For those of us who do have tons of layers, both the side braid and the bottom braid are pretty much impossible to achieve in any meaningful way.  But then I found this at Rag&Bone FW 2011:

 

Random messy braiding joy.  And the other day it was even featured on Refinery 29 in a bit they did on easy new hairstyles.  They called them 'deconstructed braids'.

What do you think?  Pretty cool, right? And I think even with layered hair it would work well, maybe weaving in a few more small braids in with the larger ones.  Then again in real life it might just look too disheveled for anyone to believe you did it on purpose.  Then again, I might not care.

all runway images from style.com