pip squeak chapeau

beautiful grey linen tent dress. such an easy shape for summer. since i can't sew, i ordered one yesterday.

new wiksten collection

the styling is impeccable, the photography is evocative, and the clothing, well, the clothing is even better than i could have imagined. jenny has outdone herself. if i could hire her as my personal wardrobe supplier, i would. with wiksten, mociun, a.p.c, and mayle (for fancy occasions), i would be set for life.

i can't wait for her shop update on may 31.

impulse online shopping at last!

ooh, look!

dries van noten wedding dress

love.

the anticipation is killing me

pure awesomeness. jenny does it again.
shop launches may 31
sneak peak + interview may 27
photos by hannah.

gingham billfold

i received this in the mail the other day. such cute packaging! the billfold will be perfect for the summer. the red-black-white combo is exactly what i wanted. thanks tiffany!

steven alan sample sale, anyone?

steven alan is having a sample sale (75%) from Thursday through Sunday.

5/15 8.30-8
5/16 8.30-8
5/17 12-7
5/18 12-5
103 Franklin St., nr. Church St.

also, 70% off overstock at A.P.C. , Friday through Sunday (12-7), 35 Grand St., nr. Kent Ave., Williamsburg


i have to teach a review session on friday, so there's no way i could make it out there until saturday morning. is anyone going? would the steven alan sale be worth the trip on saturday?

punky b's madras

this skirt/strapless dress used to belong to punky b's mother. now if only i could find fabric like that....

one of each, please

mayle camila top at impulse

happy anniversary

my car and i have been through a lot these past 6 years. i bought her for $1 from my parents when i graduated from college. she and i moved to seattle that fall, then we drove back home 10 months later. i was pretty upset when my dad told me she wouldn't make it cross-country to cambridge. so we had to be apart for two months as she made the trip on a truck bed. i nearly shed a tear when i saw her waiting patiently for me in the driveway. i definitely cried as i surrendered my CA plates.

i hope we can make it back home after this phd this completed. i know she misses those sunsets over the Pacific...

new top, sunny day

the most beautiful idea ever

a golden thread wedding band, to be tied on every day. explained here by the designer Ilkka Suppanen.

baking and planning

polaroid by orangette


hello hello.
so, i've been a little busy with end-of-semester projects. i have 57 papers that need to be graded sooner rather than later. i know that many of my students put much thought and care into their work, so i'd like to spend the time needed to do their papers justice.

anyway, i have been spending quite a bit of time baking, which is an activity that i normally shy away from (the dishes! the expense! the mess!). however, i am hosting a baby shower next saturday, which means lots and lots of buttermilk lemon zest cookies (via Orangette). i've baked two batches now, and they are indeed delicious.

i'd also like to blame my absence on too many consecutive days of gloom and rain. it 'is' may, right?

i hope everyone is doing well. martha is joining the one-a-day club and will begin posting something every day beginning monday, may 5th. stephanie will also update her shop with her latest collection 'picnic' on monday (1pm pst). i know that jenny is sewing like crazy and will unveil her new collection soon. hooray!


eyelet rocks from here.

jupes--le bouton studio

lisa of le bouton studio is posting a skirt a day in order to get to the marais. they would be perfect with a pair of k. jacques sandals...

finally tova shirt

wonderful shirt, just in time for spring!

thank you jenny!

isabel marant at impulse

oh hello sandals. don't i wish i could buy every single pair!



i love this print. thanks to jenny for alerting me to the new isabel marant pieces on impulse's flickr. it's shipping today, can't wait to wear it.



(photos by impulse)

jackson, johnston and roe event

jackson, johnston & roe are having a fall trunk show and spring sale this sunday (april 20), 1 to 5 pm, at 180 grand st., no. 2, brooklyn. i saw a few of their pieces at jumelle and thought the fabric and cut were just lovely. if anyone makes it to the sale, i'd love to hear about the fall collection.

isabel marant

at worthwhile.

rachel comey dress

the perfect garden party dress. at oak.

mariage freres

my friend swears by mariage freres tea. i've always admired the boxes of tea at williams sonoma, but i never thought to buy any for myself. however, the other day i was feeling a bit down and decided to try on new mayle at louis boston. no matter how lovely the clothing, the prices depressed me even more. so i grabbed a box of tea from their housewares department and went back home to wallow in self-pity. when i opened the box, i was amazed by the lovely presentation. plus, the aroma alone is enough to lift your spirits.

happy shoes happy friday

It was in the 60s yesterday and glorious. Today won't be as warm, but I'm going to roll up my jeans and enjoy Spring, anyway. I hope you all have a lovely Friday and weekend!

3.1 Phillip Lim for Tatami, Phoebe sandal.
Otte, $171 ("storeadore" for 20%)

le bouton corduroy basic straight skirt

here's my new le bouton corduroy skirt. the fabric is so interesting because the green dye only saturated the top surface. so the white ground is revealed whenever i move. lisa shortened the length so i can ride my bicycle in it. there's a generous back foldover pleat, too, which lets me kick up my heels and dance (or run after a bus!). lisa works with two seamstresses now, and both the design and the final product are perfectly done.

i feel like i should wear more green, it's such a delightful color.

nyc: part two

shop reviews, continued...

mayle
they were marking down the previous season to 60% off. unfortunately, they didn't have anything in my size. mostly 2s and 10s. argh!

a.p.c. surplus store
such a tiny store. i wouldn't have bought most of the clothing full price. they did, however, have those lovely white sandals from last summer for $150.

built by wendy sample sale
so crowded and hectic. matthew thought about buying a sweater, but i was feeling claustrophobic and had to leave. maybe nyc sample sales aren't for me? the brooklyn shop, however, had quite a few pieces from the new collection. i love the hawaiian print dresses and skirts, but i'll have to wait until they go on sale.

curve
i went here with angela, but there wasn't much left in terms of sale items. i loved the isabel marant that they did have, however.

jumelle
another tiny shop, but so many lovely, well-curated items. again, isabel marant was a stand-out for me.

amarcord
i found a tunic dress that reminded me of this dress by jackson, johnston & roe. it was only $95, but i didn't have time to try it on because i had to meet friends at MoMA.



moon river chattel
i did, however, fortify myself with red licorice from this wonderful shop. they have waxed canvas duffel bags, but unfortunately were out of the smaller sized one that matthew wanted. we might have to do a phone order later on.

steven alan
basically, i wanted everything in this store. the buyers could do no wrong this season. mayle, lyell, mociun, ulla johnson, rachel comey, lauren moffat, et al.


so, the shop was closing in 20 minutes, and i was feeling grumpy because i had yet to buy anything. we were leaving on the 8pm chinatown bus, and i 'had' to buy something. the lyell dress was clearly out ($500!?!), but this mociun pocket front zigzag dress was calling my name. the print is beyond awesome, and i'll take sturdy and clever over delicate and elegant pretty much any day of the week. i do, after all, ride my bicycle to school in inclement weather.


oh, did i mention the front pocket? so perfect for hiding a $20 and photo i.d. for summer-time jaunts. mociun zigzag dress, $298. steven alan, in store only.




i also bought matthew this gingham tie. boys should wear ties more often, with their sleeves rolled up. $55, steven alan, in store only.

nyc: part one

forsythia in the Met lobby. the courbet show is amazing.

in god we trust interior. matthew really like the men's clothing. i thought the sailor dresses and tops were cute, but the puffed sleeves were too intense for me.

jackalope at in god we trust.

i tried on these f-troupe lace-ups at bird. the leather is extremely soft, but the shoe runs really small. i usually wear a 39 or 8.5, and the 40s were too small on me.
$185, available on bird's website.

after stephanie posted on the 3.1 tatami collaboration, i kept an eye out for them in the city. i really wanted this pair, which are hard to find online. i tried them on at steven alan, loved them, but i'd rather buy something dressier. as of yesterday, they had them in 38 and 39, at the very least.
$150, steven alan, phone or email order only.

the print is really nice, but it didn't fit me very well. as in, i looked like a sack of potatoes.
$210, a.p.c.



it's true, this tunic top is shapeless. come on, touitou, we all know that jenny does it better.
$190, a.p.c.



it comes in a top, too! was sorely tempted, especially because i love chambray. the dressing room photos did not turn out well. oh, and i can't remember how much it costs, but maybe $155?
a.p.c., in store only.



the top was a little tricky to get into, and somewhat sheer even with the lining, but oh, it is glorious. i was in ruffle heaven.
$390(?), lyell.



i am in love with this dress. it is so comfortable and elegant. the silk georgette is light and stretchy, and the fit is perfection. nipped in the waist, but not too tight, and the sleeves drape beautifully. an effortless dress.
$495, lyell.

built by wendy

ooh, i can't believe i'll be in nyc during a sample sale!

shopping in brooklyn

edit:: well, it looks like williamsburg and soho/nolita will be my main destinations. i wish i had more time to fully explore the area...


i will be in brooklyn on saturday and would love any suggestions for itineraries. i've only been to the cobble hill/smith st. area.

possible excursion sites include: jumelle, bird, erie basin, a.p.c. surplus, sodafine, sprout home, and moon river chattel.

hmm, i really need to start mapping these places so i can see how feasible it will be.

any thoughts on:
clothing
coffee shops
cafes/restaurants
bookstores
home goods
antiques/vintage

the dress

jackson, johnston & roe are old news, but oh, i can't stop staring at the sofie dress. thank goodness i'm going to nyc on friday. i'm going to the a.p.c. surplus store in brooklyn, so i think i might have to drop by jumelle and bird to try on everything they have by jackson, johnston & roe.



i am also in love with this print. they should design bags and pillows, in fact, they should design my life. i love their aesthetic...


when will spring arrive?