Natural selection

A little card was in my mailbox last saturday. My favorite kind of mail, an invitation to Isabel Marant's private sales.

After acquiring my beloved Daste jacket, I strictly applied myself a restraining order and avoided being in near proximity of any Isabel Marant selling points.

I can't say that the ban was hard to follow, as nothing besides the jacket I got and the David coat (whose fit proved to be quite problematic besides its insane pricing, and therefore was quickly discarded), had really captured my imagination in the designer's fall winter 2012 collection. No silk cowboy shirts, western jeans or embroidered boots for me.

Lately, for the past seasons, I've been dumbfounded by Isabel Marant's runway shows, the clothes shown being very loud and so identifiable. Just the opposite of what I used to love about her earlier collections, full of boyish grace and spot-on stylish twists.

Despite my disappointment, I never broke up with the brand because there are always little gems to be found, less visible and popular. Her basics, both from the main and diffusion line Etoile, always have my attention. She constantly has great basics in the right shape, the cute color, an interesting detail. The little thing making all the difference. The kind of item I'll wear over and over again... 

For instance, the knit with voluminous sleeves and a playful pattern, the loose grungy white knit, the cool slightly slouchy grey top, the comfy trackpants, the understated down jacket, the simple light grey knit with the tough patches... That's the kind of clothes that make me go back to her stores season after season. And that's the selection I have in mind for her private sales.

pics courtesy of Nitty Gritty store

Under a spell

Right now, whenever the office hours are over, all I wear is knit and jeans. To the point where my laziness to wear something else makes me wonder about the point of having other clothes.

The realization that I just don't feel like "doing fashion" at the moment came to me as I was browsing through the racks of my shopping triumvirate Zara, h&m, COS where the clothes were mainly nice and, even for some, sparked genuine interest. Still right now, nothing makes me happier than building a look around my good old jeans.

I enjoy the playfulness of fashion, the mix and match, the trends. It's so much fun to grab something off a rack, try it on, play make believe and leave it at that or au contraire embracing the idea of what one wants to look like and go for it.

Well, at the moment, I just don't feel like playing. I think I'm in cocoon mode when nothing else matters than feeling good and comfortable. All I want come friday is grab a coat, put on a cashmere and jeans. Accessories, shoes and bags are the only items truly up to debate.

Last friday, I chose a ladylike Chloé bag and conservative New Look oxfords for an otherwise familiar androgynous look and gave up on my traditional black and grey duo for a toned down but still more original brown-navy mix with touches of grey and mulberry.

I don't know how long that (dry uninspired) spell will last. I want to be more adventurous and shake myself up a bit.

Thoughts? How do you get out of a temporary rut? Do you just wait till something ignites your fashion senses or do you force and challenge yourself to break the spell?

Coat/manteau: Zara - sweater/pull: Zara - jeans: h&m - shoes/chaussures: New Look - scarf/écharpe: COS - sac/bag: Chloé

Inspiration: the window look

It's been a while since my eyes were star strucked in front of a window store. Ever since the infamous Burberry runway show displaying this lovely shearling coat (also worn by the lucky Keira Knightley) about 3 years ago, I've had this envy to get one.  

The thing is the real deal is expensive, it's often quite heavy to wear and needs special cleaning care. The faux ones, I feel, often look cheap and I'm doubtful of their efficiency to keep warm which is the main appeal of that material. 

Also lacking imagination on how to style this piece, I mainly only envisioned and saw it worn in a very casual/sporty/vintage style with the main ingredients being jeans and boots or au contraire, the cute flimsy dress. The styling options of shearling felt a bit restrictive and boring in the end.

That's why this look from the Crea Concept store window stopped me in my tracks.

First, it features a skirt, made of tweed: not the usual flowery, flowy thing, lazily used to play contrast with the ruggedness of shearling.

Second, the color coordination of navy and brown is a lovely match that I often underestimate in favor of the usual black/grey spectrum in fall-winter. The mix of materials is interesting, very weather appropriate.

Finally, it just makes such a lovely winter look. It feels comfortable and warm but doesn't sacrifice style. I could easily wear this outfit to work with an oxford shirt under the knit, to bring a hint of tailoring and preppiness, and my Lanvin golden brown flat boots or on the week-ends just like that with Isabel Marant Dickers.

 Crea Concept window Marais store / Vitrine de la boutique Crea Concept du Marais

Tenue du jour

Quick shots of what I wore today: a classic peacoat, tweed skirt and flat boots combination. 

This tweed skirt I got during sales last winter is on heavy rotation. I wear it at least once a week. I like how classic and versatile it is and perfect for the season with its 100 % virgin wool fabric. Paired with Uniqlo's heattech tights, I don't feel the cold at all. 

It's a welcome change from pants. 

Oh and the hat is something new that I've been trying lately. 

 

 caban/peacoat: Gap - knit/pull, jupe/skirt: Isabel Marant Etoile - boots/bottes: Lanvin - hat/chapeau: h&m

Me & MMM x H&M: curtain!

Scene 1: wednesday, 18.30, Champs-Elysées avenue

So I left work, rode the metro line 1, even naively took the liberty of checking Massimo Dutti and Marks&Spencer, thinking that I had all the time in the world before checking the collaboration.

And then I reached the H&M store where hundreds of People were already gathered, squeezed behind gates... And the event had not even started yet... 

When I saw the queues (yes, plural), I couldn't believe my eyes. I honestly wondered if H&M had paid some to join in. Or more likely, H&M sent invitations to all the persons who put their names down in the contest. Me included! Haha!

There was just no way I would have willingly waited in the cold and windy Champs-Elysees avenue for that collaboration with the hypothetical chance to see what I wanted without being mobed. So I left.

scene 2: wednesday, 19.00 (MMM x H&M launch time at the Champs-Elysées store), in the métro heading back home:

According to tweets relating the "event", the store quickly turned into a shopping war zone. No regrets. I'll check tomorrow at lunch break, I thought.

scene 3: thursday, 13.30, H&M rue de rivoli store:

There are a few items left, long silky dresses battling in duel with a couple of printed tees, books wrapped laid on tables, sales assistants wearing the MMM white apron and that is it... 4 hours after the store opening...

Obviously, no more sneakers, or cashmere oversized knits, and yet, for these leftovers, security (at least 5 agents) is tight, glaring at any patrons approaching the tiny perimeter of the collaboration as if we were not potential buyers but scoundrels ready for any mischief... Pathetic.

Of course, I can only imagine the level of hysteria the staff must have endured during the first hours of the store opening still I feel like fleeing the store which I do. Empty handed.

What about you? Did you at least get the chance to see some items or even purchase what you wanted? Disappointed or satisfied?

Me & MMM x H&M: Act 2

scene 1:

I browsed TFS,there are pics of celebrities and models wearing the collection. Thank the internet for that. If an item doesn't look even half good on people who have stylists and are all made up for the venue, it's not worth it.  

scene 2:

I scrutinize once more the lookbooks. I realize I may have a problem: I like the men's stuff way much more... That camel coat for instance... Wish I could pull it off like Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker.

All their shoes look fantastic! Why didn't they produce smaller sizes???

scene 3:

From the start, the peacoat has been my favorite piece but it's expensive and I'm doubtful it would work on me. After the Isabel Marant David coat disaster, I'm wary of this kind of oversized shape.

After a google search, my "fears" are confirmed...

It's the kind of coat which, like the Isabel Marant David, looks great on tall, thin people or who are wearing very very high heels. Not for me. I'll pass.

 scene 4:

I've narrowed down my selection to:

The white sneakers: a classic... But even if La Garçonne's ed with the replica 22 is amazing, I'm not utterly comfortable with white shoes. But the good thing about h&m is their generous return policy so it could be a calculated risk with a positive outcome or else back to the store.

And that's it.

As for the rest of the collection, I don't need more jackets, I barely wear dresses, and anyway for the most part, I would have issues wearing it on a daily basis or even making it work with the rest of my clothes. 

(pics:hm.com, 5inch up, la gaçonne)

Me & MMM x H&M : Act 1

scene 1: 

It's friday evening, I'm watching tv, there's a MMM for H&M commercial. 

My mom makes fun of the asymetrical dress. I shake my head and look at her in disbelief like she doesn't know anything about fashion. 

I try to explain to her about Margiela and how it's a creative, prestigious brand and that it's made available to the masses, that it's called a "masstige" for that reason. NCIS is back on so I give up.   

scene 2: 

Saturday morning, I'm browsing though my favorite online consingment store and see several Marni for H&M stuff for sale and highly discounted. 

I remember how on launch day, there was nothing  left (by which I mean all the nice things were gone) when I went to check the collection during lunch break and I shake my head. 

Nevertheless, I check h&m's website to see the lookbook and details about the MMM collection. Thinking about the crazy queues that will happen makes me shake my head once more. 

Anyway, I think to myself that my pockets are empty: still got more taxes to pay and I purchased a new bag (Yeah! Even if I shouldn't have but it's done now so I better enjoy it!). Plus I'm at work on that day.

So it's settled then, no MMM for H&M for me.

scene 3: 

Saturday noon, heading out of the house for lunch, I find a big white enveloppe in my mailbox.  Hum, quite mysterious. What can it be? 

When I see the folded luxe paper and the minimal MMM lettering and numbers, it all sinks in and suddenly I'm excited: I had nonchalantly entered my name and address in a contest to win an invitation to an early MMM for H&M shopping session at the Champs Elysées store on November 14th and I "won"!

Suddenly all my motives to snub the event have vanished and are replaced by the possibility. I can go, I could go, I will go, won't I ? And if I do, is there anything I really badly want? Would I be strong enough to go and leave empty handed?

To be quite honest, I think it's the "buzz" talking me into going and that I'm slowly coming back to my senses.

What do you think?

Up to my neck

Till a couple of years ago, turtlenecks were a no-no for me. Except if worn à la Audrey Hepburn or Jacqueline Bouvier.

Otherwise, the shape was in my mind synonymous with dorky, unsexy and supreme fashion blasphemy: out-of date.

Between a little visual push of said item efficiently styled on the Celine runway and worn by Phoebe Philo herself, the more realistic reinterpretation by accessible brands like Hope Stockholm and J. Crew, the trend caught up with me and adding a companion to my black turtleneck became obvious. 

I don't subscribe to the white turleneck trend which I feel don't work with my skin tone but which looked great on a red haired COS sales assistant who wore one under a light green tweed top.

Subtler and more familiar hues in greys, taupe have my preference. Also, as much as I love the cosyness factor of heavier knits, I feel like thinner knits work better for my frame, with my other clothes and lifestyle. That's why I wisely went for a safe taupe angora blend knit... 

Now I only have 2 turtlenecks but after years of deep v and more modest round collars, I find it refreshing to put my neck out of the woods. 

The inspiration: City looks which are achievable, mature, very of-the moment but not over the top trendy.

(Paul Smith F/W 2011, Hope Stockholm F/W 2012, J. Crew F/W 2011, 2012)

My way: I've been doing that kind of tri-color mix a lot lately, a game of dark hues (black, grey and navy mainly) with a paler shade (taupe, white, light grey) and a pop of red with my tote. 

coat/manteau: Comptoir des Cotonniers - turtleneck/col roulé: h&m - pants/pantalon: COS - boots: André - bag/sac: Céline

For friday wear, I wanted cool and comfy but not slouchy and between the boyfriend jacket and the baggy cords, playing down the volumes and casualness was the key. Teaming a fitted turtleneck with baggy cords and staying in the same taupe-beige neutral and putting on high heeled boots made me feel more put together.

 

jacket/ veste - pants/pantalon: Etoile Isabel Marant - turtleneck/col roulé: h&m - boots: Colisée de Sacha - bag/sac: Balenciaga

The title of the post is also my justification for a month long absence from the blogosphere as I was up to my neck in daily and mundane business.