August 2008

What I Want Now, But Can't Have

August 27th, 2008, New York, NY— Fall is proving to be a season of great lust for me.  You see I’m very pregnant at this point, completely sick of my summer clothes (full disclosure: I’ve grown out of most of them) and ready for something fresh and new.  The problem being, real clothes in big sizes just never quite look good on a pregnant frame once you get to this point.  So this season is all about what I want and can’t have—which makes me the perfect person to write about what I want for fall.

For starters, I want (and will have since there’s no size issue here) a fantastic new bag.  The Gryson Woven Namesake Tote is the perfect everyday carry all.  It’s so versatile and so special that I will never get sick of carrying it and will probably carry it again next fall as well.  And this season Gryson has somehow figured out how to make their woven bags lighter and less expensive, giving me two other reasons to buy this bag.  On the slightly less practical side, I’m dying for the Tila March Zelig Shoulder Bag.  It’s taupe suede, which I will immediately take to my shoe guy and have him treat so I can keep anything nasty from finding a way to corrupt this perfect specimen.  But seriously, this is just the most perfect bag.  I’ve been trying to rationalize using it as a diaper bag as well, but somehow, I don’t think I’ll quite be able to make that jump.

Even though my travel schedule is about to be drastically pared down upon the arrival of le/la bébé, I’m still going to pick up a Gryson Travel Wallet for everyday use.  Right now I have every dollar bill and receipt stuffed into one regular old wallet that is bursting at the seams.  Gryson has provided a solution for girls like me and given me a place for everything (and labeled them to keep me extra organized) so never again will I have a wallet bulging with receipts, cards and who knows what else.

When it comes to clothes, I’d kill to wear Sari Gueron’s entire new contemporary line simply called, Sari.  I’m particularly in love with the Plaid Dress.  Makes me think of listening to Nirvana, trying to figure out how to get past my mom wearing a ratty flannel shirt, but this is my new grown-up sophisticated version of that questionable time in fashion.

 

 

 

 

  


Gryson Woven Namesake Tote
Tila March Zelig Shoulder Bag
     
  I’m also in love with the Elephant Print Tank, which I’d put with my black Earnest Sewn Harlans and a pair of chunky heels or the Rachel Comey Telegram Boots depending on my mood and destination.  And when it got cold, I’d throw on the Motorcycle Jacket for a little bit of warmth without taking away from my new, and very cool, outfit.

Oh and then when it gets colder, I’m going for Tsesay’s lantern sleeve jacket in this rich loden green color.  It is super chic and I can’t wait for it to arrive in the shop so I can just hang it on my closet door and stare at it until my body can fit in it.

Whew.  Now that I have wiped that bit of saliva off my chin, I’m headed off to Cadeau in hopes of finding something maternity that is somewhat chic and can tied me over until November when I can try to squeeze myself in to regular size clothes again.  And for all you girls with regular waistlines, have fun shopping and I promise to at least try not to be jealous. —Cary Weekes

 

 

The Always Wearable Isabel Marant

 
Isabel Marant's Fall/Winter 2008 Runway Show featuring the popular and wearable Keffiyeh.

 

 

 

 

 
 

     August 19, 2008, New York -- “.... It always comes back to refuse things it eulogized last season. In fact, it is some kind of a game that reincarnates desire again and again. It shouldn't be taken seriously. After all, it is just clothes!"- Isabel Marant

The reincarnation, reinterpretation and recycling of ideas and themes is something integral to the design of Isabel Marant’s line Étoile.  The line concerns itself with age and perspective.  Seams are frayed, hems left undone and fabric is treated to feel worn and molded, as if this garment is older than its wearer.  Marant draws her influence from street wear, the mixing of cultures and even military wear to inform her funky, unique designs.  This mish mash of references give Marant’s clothing a distinctively current, “of the moment” feeling.

The Keffiyeh has become apart of our visual culture.  We first saw it on the news, then on the runway, and now around the neck of every teenager walking down St. Mark’s Place.  Traditionally, the square piece of white cotton or wool was worn by Arab men to shield their eyes from sand and sun.  Over time, the cloth was embellished with embroidery and tassels to denote certain characteristics of the wearer.  After being appropriated by Nicholas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2007 collection, the keffiyeh became a widespread trend.  It can now be purchased by any street vendor in a variety of colors (hot pink with lime green metallic thread…) for next to nothing.

Last spring, Isabel Marant showed a collection full of looks inspired by this scarf.  For fall, Marant appears to have carried through on her interest in this scarf; however, this season the scarf is subtler.  The embroidery is pared down to a simple plaid-like pattern, giving the scarf a completely different feel.  It is discreet, yet distinctive—the perfect accessory to add a little interest to a simple outfit, without looking cliché.  -- Julie Houts

This scarf, as well as other Étoile, and Isabel Marant Collection pieces are available in shop only.  Please visit us or call 212.463.0515 for assistance.