when hiding in bed isn't an option

a cold day.
united bamboo mohair sweater, $276, at totokaelo.

fall at stel's

Rachel Comey dinner pants in peony print

Suno dress

Suno dress

the rachel comey silk dinner pants fit beautifully and are as comfortable as pajamas. i paired it with a T by Alexander Wang top. it's better to go with a really lightweight fabric, especially if you're tucking it in. i tried on a small, but would be more comfortable in a medium. the elastic waistband is forgiving, though.

although i love pretty much everything from rachel comey's fall collection, suno was the standout label for me. the fabric is just heavy enough to drape beautifully. the prints are so stunning, too. the dresses are $500-600, so not exactly peanuts. i'm leaning toward the blue and red print dress, which is so slouchy and easy to wear.

i also tried on the rachel comey ruse dress, which is surprisingly comfortable for such an elegant dress, and the gary graham wrap cardigan, which can be worn a million ways and is like wearing a duvet--but nicer, of course.

back to school

rachel comey, linger dress in peony

rag and bone, hampton pant (on sale)

ugglebo, london peeptoe clog with woven upper, in mocha nubuc (and a custom back strap). just like the no. 6s, but with a lower heel.

ilana kohn, samet shirt

duluth pack, scout pack

sperry, chukka

sera, vee dress

first day of class. i'll start teaching in a week, so for now i get to sit and take notes.

i'm trying to figure my way to a more grown-up wardrobe for teaching while still retaining a sense of me (comfort, comfort, comfort). i desperately need new shoes and a backpack. a blazer would be lovely, as would a pair or two of trousers. and pretty much everything in rachel comey's fall collection.

carven toggle coat

in spite of my vast collection of coats, i am still missing the crucial toggle coat. i nearly bought a black watch plaid one from chimala last year when it was marked down to $300 at bird, but i waited too long. i'm intrigued by the shape of this carven coat. the front doesn't really correspond to the back, and i can't tell if i like that or not. i almost feel as if the cocoon shape should be consistent throughout, although the box pleat would make it comfortable for bicycling.

found at la garconne (and much too expensive for me).

classes start on thursday. it feels strange to be teaching again after a 1.5 year hiatus.

turtle, found.

distraught and heartbroken all weekend, i decided to take a bowl of food outside tonight and shake it around while calling for turtle. i had read online that after dusk is best when looking for your cat. right before i went outside, i felt compelled to check the basement one last time. with a flashlight in one hand, and food in the other, i whispered 'turtle' over and over again. i heard a faint meow and rounded the corner of the U-shaped basement, searching for the source. she meowed again, and i saw her peering at me from atop a brick wall that stopped a foot short of the ceiling. it extended through 3 storage units, all of them locked, one of them mine. she was in someone else's unit, so i ran upstairs and knocked on his door. thankfully he was there, and he unlocked the unit in order to get turtle. she ran away from him and toward my unit. i went back upstairs for the key and for matthew's help. he was then able to clamber up a few boxes and fetch her down.

a bowl of food and water and one unhappy bath later, turtle is busy licking herself clean. i cannot believe our luck. thanks for sending all those good thoughts our way.

leon is going to be so happy when he sees her tomorrow.

turtle is missing

we are beside ourselves with worry.

makie fall

i think it's the slanted front pockets that make me love this dress. a long chunky cardigan or knit vest, perhaps, and bookts, of course. normally i don't wear black, but i love the plaid on this dress.

rachel comey fall

saw this rachel comey dealer top on frances may's blog the other day. the print and bands of grey create such an interesting optical effect, but the little details are what get me every time. in this case, the pleats in the back.

arnold arboretum

yet another striped shirt

yes, i know, striped shirts are ubiquitous nowadays. but i'm really fond of half-sleeves like this wood wood top.

i also think the slightly over-sized fit of this toast breton top is lovely. it's hard to tell if it would hang so perfectly on me, though! there's always saint james, too.
regarding trousers: any recommendations? something with a more fitted ankle, not too tight, not too baggy.

archetypes

pour porter's recent post about archetypal style started me thinking about my own attempts to pare down the wardrobe. i'm going to be teaching in the fall, and a part of me knows this is my only opportunity to bring out my pretty frocks and skirts. but i'm hoping to give these special pieces room to breathe by interspersing them with my uniform. button down shirt, not-too-skinny trousers, and moccasins/boots.

slightly obsessed with the teeny eton collar on baron wells' shirts. now if only jcrew's pants fit me well, i would be set for fall.

more ace & jig

i couldn't stop thinking about how soft and lovely the ace & jig fabric was. of course stel's and bows+arrows both sold out of the dress and tank in my size (medium) by the time i was ready to commit. i called steven alan tribeca this morning. no luck. and then i checked penelope's shop online, and there it was. they have the tank in yellow, white, and blue, too. i went with the navy version because it's august and i'm gearing up for autumn. i'm hoping to pair it with tights, boots, and a parka this winter. i may just have to get the tank, too. there's still at least five more weeks of warm weather...

sale at kick pleat

kick pleat is having a 70% off sale on all sale and spring merchandise starting today until the 8th.

EDIT:
anna called kick pleat, and apparently these dieppa restrepos aren't on sale. bummer.


if i were in brooklyn, i would go to stuart & wright's sale.

anyway, i'm going to stel's warehouse sale today (75% off).

a new home for my clogs::anna allen clothing

i was so happy to see my clogs on anna. i cannot wait for her next shop update because her sailor top is one of the nicest i've ever seen.

sven clogs (sold!)

i give up. i wore them to the playground twice. walked around the house in them every few days for three weeks. but i think i have to accept that they're too small for me. i couldn't get used to the heel, either.

size 39 (8-8 1/2)
2 3/4" heel
paid $160 in nyc
asking $85, includes shipping (i threw away the box)

email me if you're interested.

ace & jig

navy tank and yellow and blue dress available at bows + arrows.

i stopped by stels the other day to check out their 50% off sale. i saw a new line called ace & jig, which uses medium-weight fabric woven in india. their designs remind me of growing up in southern california in the late 80s.

i wish i had brought my camera, because the fit is really great, especially on the tank. i tried on the top dress in the blue and yellow fabric, and the tank, which has tiny side pockets. super sweet.

jcrew + isabel marant

jcrew has really been inspired by isabel marant lately. the embroidered zafrina skirt reminded me of this dress. i found it on sale for $28 at one of the stores two weeks ago.

wiksten shop update today!

leon in his niconico harem shorts, which i wish they would make in my size.

opening ceremony sale: shoes

 f-troupe hiking boot, size 8 ($72)

rachel comey cousins twist sandals, size 9 ($158)

antidote to the doldrums

linen romper, originally uploaded by ellybeth.

the ever talented elly has made a darling linen romper for these ridiculously hot days. i used to be on the fence about rompers, but countless hours spent at the playground has made me want to replace my skirts with rompers and jumpsuits.

for the winter months just around the corner, a pair of wool overalls by chimala (at lark)

pause