Kooba Kooba Kooba!

Ladies of New York City, get thee to the Kooba sample sale! I stopped by yesterday at three (after they were closed for an hour, presumably restocking) and cleaned up. They had a bunch of current-season bags (like the Gracie) for around $175 or so, but the real deals were to be had in a tiny room off the main one. There they had boxes of sample bags going for $60, and a ton of belts for $20 each. Some of the bags were horribly stained, some were missing straps, and some (like the ones I got) just had minor stitching problems that can probably be repaired (or just hidden). For 10% of the retail price, I can deal with a little loose stitching on the back of the bag. Here's what I scored:



The Sydney shoulder bag but in black (couldn't find a picture of it in black). Looks tough. LOVE IT. And again, only $60! (Note: cat just found the loose thread. Must fix immediately).



The Sienna bag but in plum (ditto). As soon as I picked this up a lady behind me said, "Oh, I was going for that one." Oh, were you? Sorry! Mine all mine!



This one, the Avery tote, got away, which is to say, I stalked it on the arm of a fellow shopper hoping she'd reject it (which is how I got the black one), but no dice. Maybe tomorrow?!



This is a shitty picture of one of the belts I got, which retails for $200 but is sample selling for $20. So flattering.

They also had lots of leather jackets starting at $150, many with the oh-so-annoying cropped sleeve.

So basically that was a pretty fantastic use of a shitting-rain late lunch hour. Recommended!

Picture postcard: commons gold

Found here

Dear Steve

I was making a cursory search of the commons on Flickr and came across this chap. Don't you think he's the most wonderful man you've seen this week? I was initially drawn to this photograph by his mustache (naturally) but then I was gripped by his gaze and his slightly furrowed brow. His hair is fantastic- it almost seems as though he's sporting a quiff... though since this picture was taken c. 1915 that seems unlikely. If that flower in his lapel doesn't persuade you to sport a buttonhole of your own (and not just your poppy) then I don't know what will.

EJ
x

P.S. Blog admin type stuff: follow the blog with bloglovin´, try out the search function on the sidebar and keep up to date with our posts and ponderings on twitter.

Thanks for sharing this chap with us EJ! he is absolutely awesome. Everything about him is perfect and he sets the style benchmark for any middle aged gentlemen, I want to be him when I grow up. His gaze would ordinarily be quite frightening but because he is so well turned out I see it more as a look of contempt. I heart him.

What color should your blog or journal be?

Your Blog Should Be Blue

Your blog is a peaceful, calming force in the blogosphere. You tend to avoid conflict - you're more likely to share than rant. From your social causes to cute pet photos, your life is a (mostly) open book.

Deci, am ales bine culoarea blogului.
Ce culoare ar trebui sa aiba blogul tau?
Fa-ti testul here

Kate Moss for Topshop Christmas Collection

Astazi s-a lansat linia speciala pentru Craciun, editie limitata, din colectia Kate Moss pentru Topshop. Cuprinde tot ceea ce ai nevoie pentru a arata sic de sarbatorile de iarna, in stilul rock'n'roll al lui Kate. Piesele glam-rock, de inspiratie vintage sunt nelipsite.
Intr-un interviu acordat revistei "Sunday Times Style" Kate vorbeste despre iesiri in oras, fashion, must-haves pentru o night out , muzica.
Cateva intrebari din interviu:
Cum te pregatesti sa iesi seara?
Kate: Imi adun prietenele, pun muzica si beau ceva ca sa intru in stare.
Cu ce nu poti da gres la o petrecere?
K: Cu the little black dress, bineinteles. Daca ma duc sa dansez atunci port cele mai inalte tocuri cu cea mai scurta rochie.
Ce trebuie sa aiba o fata in geanta pentru o seara in oras?
K: Eyeliner negru, chei si bani.
Ce bautura preferi acum?
K: Vodka tonica.
Cu cine iti place sa dansezi?
K:Cu prietenele mele si cu barbati care stiu sa danseze.
Pe ce muzica iti place sa dansezi?
K: Rock'n'roll si happy house.
Care este cea mai de succes rochie pe care ai creat-o?
K: Rochiile mele imprimate au intotdeauna un succes imens si cea rosie imprimata cu panselute, din colectia de primavara de anul acesta a fost cea mai buna. Linia gatului se potriveste tuturor siluetelor si culoarea a fost grozava pentru vara. Era perfecta pentru zi cu sandale si mergea la fel de bine si pentru seara, cu dresuri si tocuri. (Kate a vandut 6500 de rochii imprimate cu panselute, a cate 60 de lire sterline fiecare)(in jur de 270 ron).
Exista jacheta de piele perfecta?
K: Da. Este ceva ce poti pune pe tine in fiecare zi si arata mai bine cu timpul. Tocmai am cumparat o jacheta biker de la Balenciaga - e superba.
Spune-ne despre bijuterii. Ce ai purta pentru o seara in oras?
K: Imi plac diamantele vechi.
Ce make-up ar fi potrivit pentru o seara in oras?
K: Ai nevoie de un machiaj de impact. Ochii smokey sunt intotdeauna, intotdeauna un look bun.

Celebrity nails

De astazi am o noua categorie pe blog: Celebrity nails. Tot ce tine de manichiura celebritatilor - forma, lungimea, culoarea unghiilor, modele, marci preferate.
Pentru inceput sa aruncam o privire la stilista Rachel Zoe, Lindsay, Heidi, J. Lo, Xtina si actrita Mena Suvari.
Rachel Zoe in "The Rachel Zoe Project" poarta o nuanta de bordo

Mena Suvari a ales un gri inchis

Christina Aguilera si-a asortat culoarea unghiilor cu topul Roberto Cavalli

Lindsay Lohan si unghiile ei electric blue

Heidi Klum a ales tot bordo

Jennifer Lopez si-a acoperit unghiile cu un bej nude

J.Lo a ales negru

Kawakubo on her collaboration with H&M

Now we’ve all seen the full Comme des Garçons for H&M collection a number of times across the online world but put aside your personal opinion of the collection and read the reasons behind the collaboration. The Independent has an interesting article chronicling the collection which includes a number of quotes from Rei Kawakubo herself.

Image courtesy of mensrag via Selectism.

"The collection is constructed around Comme des Garçons' style. Rather than aiming to make clothes that no one has ever seen before, it is very much Comme des Garçons goes [back] to its roots." Rei Kawakubo

When asked why she’d do this collaboration she answered, “I was interested in selling Comme des Garçons in a new place where it has never been sold before and to people who may never have heard of it. Usually, Comme des Garçons only sells in places where people who understand it go.” There we have the reason behind most designer collaborations: to extend the audience and potential customer base for the label. "The first objective of high-street fashion is that it sells. Designer fashion is more about new creation. In some respects, the high street represents the bad side of democracy, the lowest common denominator, but it certainly appeals to me that many people may be able to discover Comme des Garçons through H&M."

As the article points out, there is always a danger within any designer-high street collaboration that it might detract from the main event, causing customers to buy into the more reasonably priced line at the expense of the original that inspired it. However, by reverting to classic pieces, Kawakubo has ensured that this will not be the case. In fact, it is more likely that by working with H&M she will bring a whole new customer into her own, more rarefied fold.

Now that you have seen the collection and had a chance to read the thoughts from the designer herself what do you make of it all? For me personally collaborations can only be a good thing. However, I still have my doubts about the quality of the garments but that is become of my deep rooted scepticism of H&M fabric choice and garment construction (buttons should not be missing from shirts which are still on the rack!).

Binge Beauty Buy: Laura Mercier's Black Gold Kohl Eye Pencil

($19, Laura Mercier, Sephora)

Laura Mercier's kohl eye pencil in "Black Gold" is one of my favey fave new (to me) prodz. It's a really light, subtle eye enhancer with nary a trace of Scary Mary trannybot, which is good because it ain't that kinda party. It's more of a light brassy bronze than either black or gold, and while it's referred to as a kohl, you most defs won't be getting a Cleopatra eye out of this. Like I said: just nice-n-easy prettiness you could even get away with during the day. Like that?

Coincidentally, one of my new favorite videos is CALLED "Black and Gold," and it's by Sam Sparro, who uses his powers for sexy, not evil. It's like an updated Falco but hawter.