Materialist

everyone loves a snuggle.

2010-04-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

I really hate how much I love my snuggie. It’s a blue, poly blend, fleece nightmare, and I definitely shunned my boyfriend when he first proudly toted it home. But this particularly chilly winter threw the snuggie and I together in to a vortex of fate, and despite my best effort to stay away from the Tackiest Item of 2009, I developed a love for that awful thing.

It’s an embarrassing affair, like one between the homecoming queen and the president of the science club. He may give her everything she needs, but she’ll never admit she’s into it.

Blankoak is a snuggie we can all admit to loving.

It’s Icelandic (from Reykjavik, specifically, which tells me nothing because my knowledge of Icedanic geography leaves something to be desired, but it sounds cool) and made from sheep’s wool. The explanation for it on the website is “for January is cool.” Touche. Well played, Reykjavik-ians, well played.

cool clothes for cool girls

2010-04-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

The Battalion was founded by two Echo Park, CA sisters who design minimalistic-yet-fascinating, simple-but-not-simplistic and modern-without-being-trendy women’s clothing. They’ve cited fascinating women and eras gone by as their main inspirations, and their interpretations of Anais Nin (SS 2009), the discovery of the New World (FW 2009) or ballerinas (SS 2010), have consistently been pretty great.

The brand got it’s start when designer Linda Wong began creating outwear from scraps of cashmere upcycled from rag mills, and it has managed to maintain it’s je ne sais quoi, bohemian appeal by never sanding down it’s semi-tough exterior. The Battalion isn’t a trend producer or a trend follower, it’s a brand that focuses on luxurious comfort and wearability for the slightly above-average woman.

Also, I want that fringe sleeve dress. So good!

ten good things

2010-03-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

The other day, my (real life, like known her for years, lives down the street, got me to read Twilight, real life) friend jane-e from closet obsessions tagged me to list ten good things. Here goes:

1. Everything from All Saints. Note the collage to your left ladies and gentlemen. It's basically an illustrated wish list.

2. Springtime.

3. My chubby cat and his habit of never being more than 10 feet away from me.

4. The fact that the bell peppers in the backyard are thriving.

5. The new Broken Bells cd.

6. Bookstores.

7. Dusty coffeehouses, small diners and dive bars. So... living in Long Beach.

8. Sunday morning farmer's markets.

9. English breakfast tea.

10. Candles, especially Bergamot ones.

In perpetuation of this little list of optimism, I tag Rhapsody in Boots, Style Porn and Dirty Hair Halo. Have fun ladies :)

H&M Garden Collection

2010-03-09T06:25:00.001-08:00

There are a lot of things that I find exciting; macaroons, especially pistachio ones, finding the perfect pair of shoes, the travelocity commercials with the jaunty gnome... My love for each of these things is neck in neck with my love of H&M. The store never disappoints. It rolls out new and sartorially inventive styles before most magazines even recognize them, and it makes them available in a price point that gives reverse-sticker shock. (For example, that striped shirtdress I was wearing in the last post? Yeah, that cost me $6.95. Really. Really really.)

Then there's this, and this makes me happier than pistachio macaroons, shoes and jaunty gnomes combined:

Thank you H&M, for embracing sustainable design and not covering it in burlap. Thank you, for having the brains to make something that is both desirable and wearable. And thank you, for making sundresses out of recycled plastic bottles, so that I can use the phrase "Yeah, my sundress is saving the world," and meaning it.

women's wear daily

2010-03-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

cameras make ghosts out of people

2010-02-01T19:25:00.001-08:00

ode to marie antoinette, cupcakes

2010-01-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

2009-12-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

all for the mountain

2009-11-15T17:37:00.000-08:00

I'm having one of those days when I'm not really impressed with anything material. After a short while of ebay browsing, I feel yaaaaaaaaawn, nothing is really worth the clicking. Some time browsing online malls resulted in mmmmmmmeh, seen all this before. Seriously, my consumptive instincts are in a bit of a slump. I just want to be IMPRESSED with something, you know?

Hmm, something like this?

The entire All For the Mountain website is littered with stuff like this, little jewelry treasures that feel new and untired, all on backdrops that make me feel like I accidentally ingested some shrooms. Apparently, the cure to the ho hums lies in creative metal molding, photoshop and hallucinogens. *Just kidding, drugs are bad.

I want...

2009-10-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

I've been rather good at not falling prey to the gimme gimmes lately. My shopping ban was almost completely effective, keeping me from buying everything but a few must haves (Chanel's Venom nail polish, 'nuff said), but now that my birthday season is coinciding with the weather getting deliciously cozy, I'm finding that old itch creeping up. Here's the short list:

American Apparel's Scoop Back Fringed Mini

The general idea of CovetShop's online consignment genius, starting and ending with these Bottega Venetas.

This fabulously collared winter coat from Urban Outfitters.

The ability to carve a mean jack of lantern would be good too.

And pretty much everything about this picture from the Sartorialist. I want to be her.

'Kay, thanks.

One day William, you'll be cool.

2009-10-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

So sorry about the slowdown in posts over the last few days, but I've felt under the weather. More accurately, I've come down with the flu, so nary an outfit post is in sight, which is for the best since it would include pajamas and crumpled tissues. I'm off to rest and recover, and here are some editorial shots I can't get enough of. (Inspired by Almost Famous, one of the movies currently cycling through my DVD player.)

the ice is getting thinner

2009-09-23T20:55:00.001-07:00

As much as I love summer, I'm ready for some real weather. Like winds and fog and chill, mostly so that I can wear my assorted furry vests and coats.

... In the perfect world, all this would be mine. I'll settle for those gloves, world. They should do.

Fendi Mongolian Sherling vest, Alexander Wang tank, Ralph Lauren Suede jodhpurs, Michael by Michael Kors gloves (FANTASTIC!!!!), Burberry suede wedge ankle boots, Alexander Wang Bianca vest purse, French Connection Double Trouble belt, House of Harlow and Me&Ro necklaces, Mesi Jilly ring, Tom Ford aviators, Essie "lacey not racey" nail polish, Tom Ford Tuscan Leather perfume, Jennifer Behr leather turban headwrap, and a moleskin for recording all my musings.

announcing...

2009-09-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited to have created a couple of necklaces! They turned out even better than I had imagined, even the super finicky cat approves of them. The first one is a collection of staggered silver chains with feathers knotted on them, and the second is some leather laced gold chains with seashells dangling from them. I'm still playing with a few more prototypes, so check back for updates on those...

Soooooo, whatcha think?

let's play a game

2009-09-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

I think I've lost my mind a little, or the stars have aligned... or the world is ending, because I've decided to challenge myself to not shopping for a month. GASP. I just walked through a store, saw about 5,000 things I wanted and not a single thing I needed. Then I came home and noticed a pile of newly purchased, unworn and not even untagged new merchandise, and decided to stop the madness.

Rules: No shopping for clothing/accessories until my birthday, October 14th. (I know, it's a little less than 30 days, but shush. This will be hard enough as it is.) Toiletry restocking is okay, new purchases are frowned upon. Books and home goods are passable. LET THE GAME BEGIN.

Also, why bother shopping if I can't have these pieces from the Temperley London show?

The feathers! The art deco patterns! The tailoring! The accessories! Easily, my fashion week favorite.

unite for sight

2009-06-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this fantastic venture into the realm of humanitarian fashion quite accidentally-- I was looking for a pair of new sunnies. Something more durable than a pair of swap-meet shades, something a little less trendy than Ray-Bans. Something to hide the evidence of one too many margaritas from the night before, while channeling the glory of Jackie O's iconic style.

KAYU sunglasses combine form and function. They're cute! But what is extra cute about them is how world-friendly they are. Whenever a pair of these sunglasses is purchased, $50 gets donated Unite For Sight, a non profit organization that provides vision-saving surgeries for people all over the globe who can't afford necessary vision/health care.

80% of all blindness is preventable, and this translates to 36 million people suffering from a lack of vision in the world today. Unite For Sight has helped over 800,000 patients, and saved the vision of almost 22,000 people.

KAYU sunglasses are totally earth-friendly, made from sustainable bamboo, and they retail for $180. That's a smidge more steep than my usual 2 for $10 deal at the flea market, but in all honestly, most fashionistas wouldn't blink an eye when spending that much on a designer pair, so why not purge our hard earned savings on something that saves not just our vision?

And didn't I mention that they're CUTE!?

give me... with hearts in my eyes

2009-06-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

As of late, I've been browsing the internet for for wish-list fulfillment as opposed to going out and finding them, purchasing them and showing them off. All in all, it's significantly better for my pocket book, probably healthier for my materialistic soul, and certainly more fun because this type of virtual shopping has no bounds. Another by product of my wandering is endless discovery, my current favorite being With Hearts In My Eyes, currently selling at bonadrag.com.

It's lovely... The innocence of the girly dresses meshes with the exaggerated silhouettes. Lace bell bottoms? Perfection.

give me... THIS

2009-06-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

At the risk of sounding immature, or using this blog as a means of living vicariously, or growing even more hedonistic than I already am... I give you:

Insight brand is hit or miss for me, but the instant I saw this tank top, four times in one day, I might add, in four separate boutiques, I fell in love. It's a kitten! In a beret! Painting!

I WAAAAAAAANT IT!

give me... a permanent vacation

2009-06-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

That headline is so apt, in so many ways. But besides my lethargy, the desire for a permanent vacation means, actually, the desire for the Permanent Vacation, Swedish wonder-brand. They do capsule collections that are quite simply based on whatever they're enjoying at the time. It appears that the summer of 09 is the summer of soft focus, filtered light and throwback florals for these Swedes. I love love love their stuff, and as much I'm enjoying the summer season, I'm also looking forward to their fall and winter debuts. Imagine all the cozy Nordic knits!

P.S. Many of you responded and said that that which you want most from a fashion blog is outfit posts, so I'll be trying to use more of those in the future. Look for more ME on the website, as well as some lifestyling guides as well, all in the coming-soon, as-soon-as-I-suck-it-up-and-get-to-it section.

In the Valley of the Dolls

2009-06-13T00:18:00.000-07:00

Without doubt, my favorite book, or at least, general leader of the expansive pack of books that I consider favorites, is Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls. I've read it countless times since I've discovered it, and every time I dive into the glamorous world of these mid century New York girls, I'm totally transfixed. Anne's desperation to create a passionate life for herself, Jennifer's struggle to be love, Neely's deep personal tragedies... The handsome men, the barbiturate abuse, the eyeliner! I love it all.

I've seen the movie almost as many times as I've read the book, but like a true elitist book snob, I prefer the literature to the film. There are images in my head about the way that the characters should look-- for instance, I've never forgiven the casting agent for not casting a blonder Anne, but I still adore the style of the film.

It mediates the line between campy, retro filmmaking and stylish cinematography. The background images of the girl's apartments are my inspiration for my own apartments, and the snappy little coats and hats and evening gowns are all deeply covetable. I love the drama in every scene, and here are a few of my favorite stills to share the glorious, sexy escapade that is this story!

Netflix it! NOW!

Babushka Boutique

2009-06-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

Babushka is what I call my geriatric, hailing-from-the-old-country, quirky grandmother. And while she's awesome in a collects-buttons and makes-cakes way, I wouldn't call her chic. So I was a bit distracted by the Etsy shop Babushka Boutique. I'm thinking, older Eastern-European schmatas, but -ping!- this is genius!

leathertte turban, $29

harem jodphur leggings, $36

oversized assymetrical t-shirt dress, $48

indian ethnic aztek paperbag high waist miniskirt wtih pockets, $38

long feather strech head band, $16

One of each please!

"relaxed, organic & comfortable"

2009-05-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

Australian brand Morrison has been a staple of gorgeous, drapey pieces that are so perfectly architectural that they're modern, yet so soft and beautifully constructed that they're classic. I love everything about the brand, from the fact that it's named after the designer's dog, to the style of the photography on their website. Some favorites, you ask? Why, here you go!

Ava knit top, Bailee pant

Deni dress, Fabienne singlet

Madison swing top, Violet cami

Anais dress, Audrey jacket

Angeni jacket, Jimmy tank, Deni skirt

Kaili top, Audrey cropped pants

Lili top, Bailee pants

For more clothes that you're going to covet, check out Morrison's gorgeous website!

well, shucks!

2009-05-27T23:36:00.000-07:00

The lovely hippie frou frou (who btw reminds me of the lovely Jenny Lewis) bestowed me with this lovely award and totally made my day! Enough to make me feel completely looooovely. (Which is my new favorite word, by the way, in case you didn't notice.)

And now I have the honor of passing it on to my fellow bloggers. You lovelies on this list are some of my favorite bloggers and I hope this little pixel stamp makes you as giddy as it did for me.

Lovely Blog Awards

- all in your inner space

she's the hipster I used to be/ want to party with.

- feather hunter

miss editorial and fashion image genius.

- i see jane mary

adorable.

- jo's clothes

the british girl I wish I was.

- life in lomo

She's so cool, she's at the Cannes Film Festival right now.

- pop your fashion pill

Mads supplied the first comment ever on miss materialist, and for that, I adore her blindly.

- professionally trendy

The inspiration.

- rhapsody in boots

The funniest person I've met online. And is it weird to say style soul mate?

- sex and coffee

If I could raid one closet, it'd be hers.

- style porn

She writes the way I think- dry, witty, hilarious, unapologetically real.

"Giant, awesome rings"

2009-05-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

I've been verifiably obsessed with enormous rings lately, and my favorite place for vintage via the internet is still the lovely etsy.com. I found these by searching "giant awesome rings" and the results are just that. Whiiiiiiiich one do I get?? Ah, the decisions.

This giant lion ring is so 70s fab... I want to wear it with a muumuu and big sunglasses in Palm Springs.

I think the spiral detailing alongside the sides of this ring are what got me-- it's just so ornate.

And this, although the priciest of the bunch, is faaaaaaaaabulous in everywhich way.

The description is "gorgeous, big and gaudy" and that just about sums up everything I want in a ring.

And I think this one is utterly perfect for me, for this moment. It's vintage 60s, which I adore, and it's embellished but simple enough to wear all day, every day.

maison martin margiela

2009-05-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

Because it's awesome, that's why.

streetwear inspiration

2009-05-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

I lovelovelove these shots from FaceHunter... they're making me think of summer in a sartorially-correct, schleppy tank-top less way.

from all over

2009-05-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

I'm blowing town for a couple of days in favor of the artifice that is Las Vegas, so today for me is all about packing and laundry, but here are some goodies for you all, from all over the great internet frontier.

Rumi is a cat person too.

Emma parties on.

Camille gets ready for the heat.

Feather Hunter keeps it hot.

Jowy keeps it adorable.

Noemi enjoys Cannes.

StylePorn loves San Francisco.

Too Many Tights posted some more tights.

Wearfare makes a case for high waisted bottoms.

I'll be thinking about you guys from the pyramids, castles, greek ruins, eiffel towers and white tigers that dot the Nevada landscape. I'm coming back with a tan, a shot liver, maybe some big fake boobies and a new husband.

re-model

2009-05-15T22:37:00.000-07:00

I wanted to spruce this page up a bit... So I did what I normally do and dive, face first, into this project, giddy with the idealism that my computer-retarded self will create something interesting and creative and pretty. Then, the reality of my stunted computer skills and lack of useful software, as well as my attention span (which rivals a squirrel. A squirrel in springtime.) come into play, and I give up and settle on an eeeeeehh-okay version of what I initially dreamed.

I like how this re-model turned out, mostly in part because I get to include one of my favorite pictures of Charlotte Rampling, a lovely lady who I try to emulate a little bit everyday. I'm feeling a little distracted, so that'll be the extent of this post. I leave you in Miss Rampling's capable care.

in praise of... litter sf

2009-05-12T01:30:00.000-07:00

I've fallen in love with the idea of body jewelry... not so much piercings, since I've succumbed to and recovered from that phase already, but actual chains and gorgeous shiny things to wear in places not limited to the neckline, ears, and wrists. Litter SF brand is my current favorite for such things, and being the magpie that I am, I'm sure they've just gotten themselves a loyal customer... or at least a die-hard fan.

layered chain bracelet, $65

bullets and chains knee straps, $115

cleopatra chain snake rings, $75

multi chain harness, $115

leafy vintage ear cuff, $68

"swoop" $145

These are definitely more "investment-y" than my normal, antique fair or thrift store sparklers, so I think I can rationalize only one- favorites? I will need council for this big decision.

erin leigh heart on etsy!

2009-04-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

I have cyber-wanderlust... I can spend countless minutes, err, okay, hours, without human contact, just gawking at old fashion editorials, amateur photography, aspiring designers and all the fabulous bloggers out there. Miss Erin Leigh Heart (of the aptly named erinleighheart.blogspot.com) is one of my favorite discoveries. Everything in her adorable Etsy shop looks wearable, summery and in general, like things that should live in my closet!

This blue dress is my favorite, I love how blouson it is in the front...

$56- Jersey Knit Racerback Tank Draped Grecian Mini Dress Tunic

$78- Jersey Knit Hot Pink Fuchsia Pantsuit Jumpsuit

$43- Silver Bubble Sleeve Floral Evening A-Line Trapeze Dress

$54- Jersey Knit Neon Orange and Yellow Tunic Mini Dress Cowl Neck

$79- Black Halter Avant Garde Couture Evening Party Dress

I think it's important ya'll check out Miss Heart's shop here. Now.

recycle, reduce, reuse

2009-04-01T23:21:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to showcase these babies. Haute couture they are not, but I prefer the creative to the exclusive. Check out the link to CourtneysCastle on Etsy. The artist, Courtney Kessel studied sculpture and sewing and combined the two with her other passion, art, to create a series of, well, wearable art. All of her creations are made from recycled goods and are new and decidedly unboring ways to look at the usual. I also love that while making shoes out of cardboard and electrical tape, she paid such careful attention to the shape of the straps-- these are eco-chic, I daresay!

CourtneysCastle