Library Visits

Photographer: Starr Crow w/ Vintage Canon TLb
Model: Katy Tipton
Designer: Lauren Kemp
Art Director: Heather Canterbury & Starr Crow

I'm sorry I've been gone all week. I got sidetracked with an art history presentation that I was incredibly ill-prepared for. I've still got quite a few photos of Lauren Kemp's collection to share, but these seemed like the best segue from my life lately. Lots of books and long library visits. . .  I'm counting down the days until I'm out of school for winter break and I can finally start hanging out and having fun again.

UPDATE: Lauren's got a new blog! She's got some close up shots of her designs and lots of photos from the runway show, and I've got my fingers crossed that she'll do some awesome DIY's real soon. I've been wanting her to start a blog for ages, so I'm incredibly excited about this news. Pretty please go show her some love and welcome her to the wonderful world of blogging.

greens aw2011

I had another post ready for today, but a last minute change of plans turned it into a Sync article instead. It's good though, because now I can press forward with the article, which I was having a little trouble with before. I promise to share it in a few weeks, once it goes to print, but for now I'm going to be weird and cryptic about it.

I was short-handed on a backup post, so I freaked and went to a winter collection. As much as I try not to post winter collections in the grossest part of summer, this is what backup looks like. Plus, I'm really excited about this collection! It's from Argentinian label, Greens, which I also posted about in the spring. The good part about this label is that they're in the southern hemisphere, so all these pieces are on sale right now as they get ready for spring; the bad part is that they don't have an online shop!! What a tease, huh? It's pretty frustrating when you see something you love and can't even look at the price tag on it, but for some reason, I keep returning for inspiration. It's clear that they have an unwavering love for Brenton stripes, which may be the best part about them.

South America is a mystery to me as far as fashion goes, but Greens makes me want to know more.

Steven Alan AW2011

Here's a few looks from Steven Alan's fall collection that I really like. It's never really a question as to whether I'll like what he puts out; his collections are always so consistent to my taste. I'm happy about the tan flats, most of all, and the pretty prints and the hats! I could use most of this stuff in my summer wardrobe too, minus all the knits and the blazers. If you are still looking for summer essentials and you're a sale shopper like me, you should definitely check out the sale section of their shop. I've been dying for both the Libby and the Sophia dresses all summer and they're finally on sale!

I'm off to work now, but I did shoot an outfit yesterday that I'll try to have posted tomorrow!

In love with Nadinoo.

It seems like everyone has been posting the new Nadinoo lookbook lately. I loved it so much and desperately wanted it to post it, too, but I decided to wait for the close ups to come out so I could get a nice look at everything. Nadinoo creator, Nadia, never fails to make the most beautiful collections, complete with the most feminine silhouettes and the sweetest, softest muted hues. There are two lookbooks that I live for each season, the first belonging to Orla Kiely and the next to Nadinoo; both labels are like a step back in time. My goal for this year is to save up for my first Nadinoo piece, and then (when I move up to a higher tax bracket), I'll purchase something from Orla Kiely, too!

Nadia's pieces are perfectly priced, but she needs our help in figuring out which styles to prepare for the online boutique. To have a look at the entire collection, just visit her site. My vote is for the sailor top, the sweet pin up shorts, the knee length full skirt, all the cropped tops, and the full mini dress with the bow around the heart. Does that sound like too many? I had trouble narrowing it down! You can tell Nadia your favorite picks here.

Frenchtrotters

I've just spent the last hour of my life lusting after a number of things from the inspiring French label, Frenchtrotters. It's another one of those labels that I knew a little bit about, I think––or maybe I'm confusing them with Trotter's, a popular shoe brand that I always seem to find at thrift stores––but either way, their stuff is amazing, structured and tough, and laced with just the right amount of western flare. If I were to be a fashion designer at this point in my life, this is the stuff I would make, only with a small douse of white Edwardian inspired cotton dresses, too.

I actually discovered this label from a great new site called Nuji that I think everyone should know about! It's a Tumblr of sorts––you see something you like and add it to the site with a bookmarklet––the only difference is that it's reserved primarily for products, linked back directly to the product page. Eventually, after it gets to know you a little better, it customizes the content it shows you according to your interests. It may sound confusing, but it's actually really simple and a great way to collect a wishlist or, like in my case, discover something new. You can see some of my favorite things here.

Pretty Kirsten for Boy.

I usually refrain from posting more than once a day, but it seems that after my week long hiatus I have some major catching up to do! I'm kidding really. I'm not all that strict about keeping to a schedule around here, but I do like to browse the internet a lot and it's always nice to be able to share the things I find with you guys.

That said, I came across this beautiful lookbook from Band of Outsiders latest BOY collection early today and couldn't wait even a second to share them! With Kirsten as their model, there is, of course, a sufficient amount of charm. The clothes are sweet, but not too fussy that I couldn't run around like a Lost Boy in a field or curl up like a Monkeycat in the grass. And maybe it's the fact that Kirsten is present––I'm almost certain that it is––but I can't help but bridge these photos to the things I know about Marie Antoinette and the love and adoration she had for horticulture. In fact, there are several pieces of this lookbook that conjure up reminders of other things, but I'm sure I could ramble on until no one else could read anymore. I won't do that.

Club Monaco Spring 2011

These photographs from the Club Monaco spring lookbook are ancient by usual internet standards – released during fashion week in early September – but the collection resonated with my personal style so well that I felt I needed to share!

Once again, I'm most attracted to the minimalistic color palette. I've got plenty of white and navy in my closet already, but this collection is a great reminder that I need to find more blush-colored things. From what I can tell, blush is going to be a huge color trend for spring. 

Another big trend for spring (that keeps popping up in all my favorite collections) is loafers! I'm pretty much set in that department, but I wouldn't mind finding a shiny pair of solid black loafers at the thrift store. And while I'm at it, a nice solid black skater dress (like the one below) would be nice, too. I just know I'd wear them both to death!

Source: Sun Rainey

Greens by Grinshpan

I lucked out earlier today when I stumbled upon this great collection by Argentinian label, Greens by Grinshpan. They're set in Buenes Aires, and well, if you ask me they should be getting paid by the tourism department because all this collection makes me want to do is fly down south to Argentina to bask in the tropical sun – I always envy the Southern Hemisphere when our coldest months hit.

The color palette is a positive match to nearly everything else in my closet already. The loafers are a spitting image of the Etienne Aigner's that I wore in yesterdays post. Check mark on the trench coat, too. Perhaps my favorite things here are all the stripes, the two super baggy dresses, and maybe the subtle hint of a good 60's flick that I see in the coat and the cropped tank.

Their winter collection for this season is equally impressive. Lots of plaid pieces and more baggy dresses, things that only seem fitting for Alexa Chung style enthusiasts.

Twenty Seven Names: Winter 2011

Source: NZ Fashion

I can't possibly understand why this post would need any commentary at all because as you can see, the clothes are out-of-this-world amazing. After seeing the Twenty Seven Names spring collection (and all the delectable lilac that filled the racks), I knew I found a label that really loved. Seeing their winter collection only solidifies the fact that this is my new *favorite* label – right there with Orla Kiely! I love "The Fearsome Five" theme and all the great 90s inspiration with this collection. There's definitely some 90210 vibes coming from the letter jacket and blazers, too! I can't wait to watch the Twenty Seven Names label grow over the coming years.

Carven

I'm trying so hard not to lust after spring collections just yet, but with this many pretty pastels and collars it's getting too hard to resist. I *love* so many things from the Carven spring collection! I'm dying to recreate the look on the top right most of all. Do you think a dress that adorable is even thriftable? I sure hope so. I may have to add a similar backpack to my Christmas wishlist, too, before it's too late!

Penelope and Coco

If you've followed my blog for long, you'll know that I'm an animal when it comes to oxfords. I just can't get enough of 'em! Sky high heels are quite impractical for my everyday life, not to mention uncomfortable and obnoxious (when I walk in them, at least), so I made the decision a few months back to stop wearing them for outfit photos, too (except on occasion!). As much as I'd love to wear a nice pair of Jeffery Campbell clogs, and as slimming as they'd probably make my legs look in that one dress, I just can't do it.

That's why I love Penelope and Coco so much. Their selection of oxfords and boots is great! For the first time in my life I'm taking nicely to leopard print things, and I actually don't mind the hot pink oxfords either! The outfit styling in the lookbook is such a treat, too. And hey, they're not Japanese either. I managed to slip an American label in there. Whatayaknow!

I'll be back tomorrow with a giveaway! xo.

Té chichi

So maybe the Japanese label love is getting a little obsessive. Sorry! I just keep falling in love with everything I find. And just so you're fore-warned, there's no end in sight. I've spent a lot of my extra time seeking out great Japanese labels, and I've got a whole bunch of junk of my desktop to prove it! I'll be organizing lots of folders later today, and hopefully getting all this content into a post (or a few posts) soon. Everything is just so pretty!

Today I'm all about Té chichi and their wonderful Anthropolgie-esque lookbook. Isn't it lovely. Everything looks so cozy!

Masscob Fall Collection

I discovered the Masscob fall collection while working on my recent article about the 70s trend. The colors and materials matched all the things I was picturing in my head perfectly. I wondered how I missed such a fantastic collection until now?

After a little more digging, I discovered the film that went with the collection. It brought a whole new life to the clothing, and added a personality that couldn't be translated through photographs. It's one of those films that your heart attaches to just seconds into the piece. It reminded me of a brilliant video I saw in the school art gallery last semester.

The film from school was very personal and poetic. It's called Outpost and was shot in Super 8, and it touched on the idea of how landscape defines a place and a people. It's based on a true story about a 22-year-old Icelandic fisherman who survives a shipwreck in the middle of the North Atlantic in 1984, and it's one of the first pieces that really made me want to pursue film.

Every time I see a good collection video, my love for story-telling though film is reinvigorated. I usually watch them over and over again!

Masscob Autumn-Winter 2010-2011 from be-poles on Vimeo.