Welly Socks

Just a quick post today, since the reading and coursework is already piling up very quickly! I got an email from ShopBop this morning (as usual - I am bombarded with emails from ShopBop) advertising their newest promotion - a free pair of welly socks with a pair of Hunter boots. I'm not in the market for new rain boots and I'm not necessarily a huge fan of Hunter boots, but I thought the idea of special welly socks was pretty ingenious! I don't know about the rest of you, but I never know what kind of socks to wear under my wellies, plus this pair looks particularly toasty for a cold, rainy, well-appropriate day.

So what do all of you think? Marketing ploy or best thing since sliced bread?

Straight from Paris - The Sartorialist

Spring semester just started this week, and somehow I am already buried under a pile of work! Not to mention that I have been rushing from classes to extracurriculars to work - my Metrocard is definitely getting some exercise this week!

Anyway, I was very excited (as I'm sure all of you will be) to see that the Sartorialist has been posting street style photographs from Paris. I'm already feeling nostalgic about my trip last month - I'm craving French style and attitude! Even if I can't jet over to Paris right now, I can at least admire some fashionable French ladies from the comfort of my own dorm room, right?

As a side note, I do think it is refreshing to see the young, quirky side of Parisian style (mainly in that last photo but to some degree also in the third picture). We are so used to seeing neutrals/black in classic, sophisticated shapes that it is rewarding to finally see a fuller picture of the range of styles found in this fashion capital. And while I will always adore the chic side of Paris and the iconic French woman dressed in head-to-toe black, there is something thrilling about seeing someone break out of that mold and try something completely different and even somewhat shocking.

Project Runway Part II

As a follow-up to my last post about Project Runway, I thought I would post an interesting photo to compare with Chris and Christian's avant-garde creation. Alison Kelly from Season 3 mentioned in her blog that the dress reminded her of a piece by Alexander McQueen. As we all know, Christian did work for Alexander McQueen, so some have suggested that Christian may have taken his "inspiration" from the designer piece. I posted the two photographs so that you can compare and contrast and then form your own opinions. So what do you think?

Reed Diffusers

My (very thoughtful) best friend bought me a Yankee Candle reed diffuser for my dorm room this Christmas. The idea is that the scented oil will be absorbed by the reeds and dispersed throughout the room. Since we aren't allowed to have candles in university dorm rooms (fire hazard!), this is a great alternative option. This item is available in a number of scents, including Autumn Wreath, Christmas Eve, and Sun and Sand (love it!), and it is perfectly affordable at either $10 or $19.99 depending on your choice.

Project Runway

Winter break is quickly drawing to a close, and I find myself scrambling to fit everything in before I have to head back to school for the start of the spring semester. In particular, I made sure to find time to catch up on episodes of Project Runway that I missed while at college.

I remember making a comment on here after the very first episode of the season that my favorite designer was Christian, and I am still completely behind him! With his snarky commentary on the other designers, I can't help but be reminded of Jeffrey from Season 3! Of course, Jeffrey's blend of talent and wit (plus a good dose of sarcasm) brought him all the way to the end, so maybe that combination will work for Christian too!?

I also remember admiring Rami for his elegant sense of style and ability to drape fabric, but the repetitive nature of his designs seems to be getting him in trouble with the judges! I was reading a blog on the Bravo TV website written by Alison from Season 3, and here's what she had to say about Rami.

In the music industry, a one-hit wonder is an artist generally known for only
one hit single. In the fashion world we call it "Rami."

I see what she means, but then again Uli went pretty far with her flowy silk dresses in colorful prints, even after the judges continually asked her to bring more to the table. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what next week brings!

Inspiration: The Container Store

If you're anything like me, then you're probably super-organized and can find any item at a moment's notice according to your own highly-developed System. And if you're not, then maybe one of your New Year's Resolutions was to finally organize yourself so that you won't have to rummage through packed drawers to find what you need anymore.

Either way, I highly recommend The Container Store for everything from office furniture to desk supplies to filing systems. The website will give you access to the full range of ingenious items for your home and office, but I definitely suggest paying a visit to the store if you have one near you. Every time I go in for a particular item, I walk out with a handful of other organizational supplies that I just "had to have."

PBteen Loft Furniture

Sleep and Study Loft, $1,799

Hmmm, does this photo remind you of anything? I just got the newest PBteen catalogue in the mail yesterday and was reminded of the amazing furniture at Espace-Loggia when I saw this great piece. Once again, I can definitely picture this in my 10 x 10 dorm room - stylish and space-saving! Maybe this means that cutting-edge European design will be more accessible to us in the U.S. sometime soon...

Style Inspiration: Anthropologie

Without a doubt, my fellow Anthro addicts will understand my obsession with the outfits section of the website. I always love to see the stylish, quirky, and girly combinations the fashionable people at Anthropologie always manage to come up with. What I find so interesting is that you don't necessarily need to buy the specific items featured in the outfits (although the pieces are so beautiful I usually find myself rushing to the store to get my hands on them!). Typically, I can find items in my closet to layer or mix in the same way the pieces in the outfit are combined to get the same feeling.

And I just had to add this last picture, because it combines two of my favorite things - shoes and books! Plus I love the vibrant colors and vintage feeling.

Bringing Paris Back Home

One of my favorite interior design/decoration catalogues has to be Ballard Designs. I love flipping through the pages to admire the stylish rooms accented with interesting details like vintage prints and decorative items collected from world travels. I spotted this unique perspective shot from underneath the Eiffel Tower in the most recent catalogue, along with a completely adorable (and affordable!) door stop in the shape of the Tour Eiffel. Perfect for francophiles like me who want to bring a little bit of Paris back home to New York!

Le Base de la Tour Eiffel Print, $279.95

Eiffel Tower Doorstop, $29.95

Trend: Chain-Link Prints

Silk chainlink wrap dress, $148
Silk chainlink skirt, $78Links-print merino cardigan, $110
Links-print silk tank dress, $140

It's 50 degrees and sunny outside in New York today, and this beautiful weather has put me in the mood to shop for spring clothing! As I was browsing the spring collections over at Banana Republic and J. Crew earlier, I couldn't help but notice one particular print that kept popping up - chain links!

What was interesting to me was how this same pattern worked so perfectly for two compeltely different styles and sensibilities. Banana Republic's classic, work-friendly wrap dresses and tailored skirts looked chic and sophisticated in this modern print. On the other hand J. Crew's cardigan and silk tank dress looked preppy and quirky in this print when casually styled with cute shorts and flats.

Interior Design for (Very) Small Spaces

When I was in Paris, I couldn't help but notice the posters for Espace Loggia plastered throughout the metro system. I was so fascinated by the tiny rooms somehow packed with all of the necessities of home that I just had to visit the website as soon as I got home.

The furniture is designed to fit in minuscule Parisian apartments, but my college-oriented mind imagined it in my own minuscule dorm room! Imagine being able to pack a bed, a sofa, a walk-in closet, a desk, an armchair, etc. into a 10 x 10 space, all by capitalizing on (wasted) vertical space. Does anyone else think this idea is absolutely genius?

Unfortunately, my college does not allow me to remove the uninspiring desk and dresser set from my room (although I am planning to sneakily hide my desk chair to replace it with a new office chair!). However, I could definitely see myself furnishing a small apartment of my own with a set from Espace Loggia in the future.

P.S. The site is in French, but don't worry if you're not francophone. Just choose one of the four categories on the top right and click through the pictures. Enjoy!

Observations on French Style

I'm back from Paris and already missing all things French! I successfully navigated the metro system and was even able to put years of French classes into practical use. Visiting the amazing art museums located within the city was certainly one of the highlights of my trip - from the Pompidou Centre to the Musee d'Orsay to the Louvre (of course!) - I was able to see in person all of the stunning works of art that I had previously only seen in textbooks.

Needless to say, seeing French fashion up close and personal was also an exciting aspect of my stay. I am always impressed by the impeccable style of Parisians young and old. Essential components of the "French look," if you can call it that, include knee-high leather boots, black opaque tights, casually draped scarves, and yes, lots and lots of black and dark grey, along with small bursts of accent colors. Layering is key, especially in cold weather.





Just an interesting observation - I found it so refreshing to see girls with "natural" looking hairstyles in Paris. In the U.S., the popular look seems to be either stick straight or perfectly styled, whereas the standard in France is long and wavy, deliberately unstyled.

By the way, thanks to everyone who commented on my last post with advice and suggestions on my scrapbooking venture! I have finally gotten together all of my photos, maps, and various other papers and will officially start my project tomorrow. I will be sure to let all of you know how it goes! Plus, you can expect to see more regular posting now that I am back home for the rest of winter break. Thanks for visiting!

Bon Annee!