thefashionmagpie

Archive for March, 2010

Scenting the Home

In Home Decor on March 31, 2010 at 11:05 pm

I am a huge fan of candles — they give off a soft glow, making anyone (and everyone) look a little better; they serve as mood-setters; and they can fill the room with an inviting scent.  For years I have used Tocca’s Florence candle.  Tocca’s website tells me that the Florence candle features “an alluring combination of Ivory Gardenia; Italian Bergamot and crushed violet petals.  Blue iris and bottom notes of blonde wood add a sophisticated and feminine scent that is reminiscent of old world Paris.”  Right.  All I can tell you is that it is soft and fresh-smelling at the same time — and definitely not overly-floral or sweet (i.e. cloying).

As you have probably gathered, I’m a sucker for style, and I just love the pretty Tocca packaging — it looks sophisticated in and of itself!  The bottom of their boxes always read: “Love yourself,” which — for whatever reason — just makes the candle seem even more special and more indulgent.

Despite my love for Tocca (I also wear Tocca’s “Cleopatra” perfume — people stop me on a regular basis asking what it is!), I decided to venture out of the Tocca rut this past December.  I tested Nest candles, Voluspa candles (popularized by Anthropologie), and, more recently, Seda candles.  The Japanese Quince Seda candle is probably their most popular — and it REALLY packs a punch.  Just having it on my dresser (not lit) scents the room with a subtle aroma; lighting it absolutely fills the apartment.  For this reason, I am not sure I’ll buy Seda again until I have a bigger space — I tend to blow it out after an hour or so, or it gets almost too intense!  (Not a bad problem to have — I’m guessing this candle will last for 6 months rather than the typical 1 or 2.)

Voluspa’s champagne scent was really appealing, but it lasted maybe 2 weeks when all was said and done!  It had a light, almost soapy/sudsy scent to it, and it came in a pretty little tin holder — but I’d rather not have to worry about replacing my candles with such frequency.

The surprise underdog was Nest’s floral scented candle (I wish I could be more specific, but I honestly can’t remember the scent — I thought it was maybe Gardenia, but a quick google search indicated that I may have made that up…)  My roommates and I hosted a party at our apartment and one of the guests — a taciturn, smart, “manly-man” sort — came up to me and said: “Your bedroom smells so good.  That’s the best smell I’ve ever smelled in my life.”  I couldn’t believe how intense he was about it — or that he had taken the time to mention it to me! — but, at around $10 less than Tocca and Seda candles, I’ll swap them in now and then!

I’d love to give Diptyque a try (all the celebs seem to love ‘em) — but I just can’t bring myself to drop $50-plus dollars on a CANDLE.  I’d much rather buy two of Tocca’s (which I adore) for around the same price!

NEON!

In Accessories, Beach Wear, Shoes, Sundresses, The Honeymoon Trousseau on March 31, 2010 at 5:42 am

In my first posting, I mentioned that I have been majorly into neon of late — not head to toe or anything; just a bright little pop of color to mix into my summer wardrobe.  I especially like pairing neon accessories with bright whites and beige/gray/putty palettes.  I’m thinking of accessories like my K. Jacques thongs (a recent steal — 70% off at seatonsurf.com!):

I’ve also had a love affair with La Mer Collection wrap watches (until I can afford the Hermes wrap watch, these will do — and will make my wallet a much friendlier zone!).  I snagged one of their watches in brown leather this winter, but am digging the neon pink:

If you’re not a watch-wearer, but like the style, CCSKYE came out with some fun little bracelets:

Or what about trying on some 80s-retro-cool shades, like these by Carrera, which seem to be popping up all over the place (Net-a-Porter, Shopbop, and all my favorite trendsetter clothing purveyors):

At $130, they’re not a bad price point — especially considering the price tags that I’ve found on some other covetable styles (Chanel, Chanel, Chanel!)  Christian Louboutin seems to come out with eye-blindingly bright colors every season — there are lots of hot yellow shoes featuring the signature red sole to be found by poking around on eBay.  I saw 2-3 pairs in a size 35.  Kourtney Kardashian wore these (or similar) yellow Louboutins on an episode of “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami” with a pair of crisp white shorts, a white tee with a neon graphic print on the front, and one of the neon CC Skye-style screw bracelets above.

If yellow seems too ambitious, a bright orange might work (also Christian Louboutin — currently on sale at Bluefly.com!):

Of course, if you’re not willing to embrace the day-glo full on, you can opt for a manicure in one of Essie’s brighter shades.  (Essie is the best polish around — bar none.  Great colors, and it outlasts the other standard salon brands.)  I typically get Escapades (a bright coral-pink-red color), but Bachelorette Bash pink has caught my eye on numerous occasions.  It looks something like this:

Alternately, keep them “under wraps” with some of these fun little Deborah Marquit undergarments:

or my old standby — Hanky Panky.  I literally own them in 20-25 shades and wear them 24-7, whether I’m working out, sleeping, out to a formal dinner, at the office, or anything else.  They are hands down the most comfortable (and adorable!) thongs I’ve ever worn.  They’re also available in an array of colors, including all different shades of pink:

I’ve been carrying a neon pink Tory Burch wallet for the past year or so — I can’t tell you how many compliments I get on it.  It’s a smaller version of this style:

Give it a try!  One of the many built-in advantages to neon items?  You never lose them.  Hard to forget your wallet at the checkout counter when it’s literally screaming your name!

Nautical by Nature

In Accessories, Beach Wear, Shoes, Sundresses on March 31, 2010 at 1:53 am

Apologies for the cheesy heading, but I am seriously bananas over the nautical trend this season.  I’ve always had something of an affinity for the sailor look (I have been a huge fan of Ralph Lauren since I was about 8 years old) and my fiance literally lives in his boat shoes and polos–but the options this season leave me positively gleeful.

A number of different fashion houses and purveyors have taken the look on board.  Some have gone too far (has anyone seen the “rope” necklace Anthropologie currently has in stores?  It is hid-e-ous.  They lost me at rhinestones…), but others have really hit the mark.  I am gaga over Chloe’s high-end sweaters and dresses, including this luxe cashmere dream:

Velvet by Graham and Spencer, A.L.C., and Torn by Ronny Kobo have turned out delightful little cotton numbers (both dresses and tops), including this staple by A.L.C.:

At $124, it’s a steep buy for a cotton shirt, but J. Crew came out with a more modestly priced version for those who want the look of the season without the hefty price tag.  Imagine pairing it with simple J. Brand white jeans (J. Brand and Paige are my go-to denim brands — substantial, snug, and I like that they don’t have a flashy back pocket):

I’d round out the outfits with accessories like the classic Jack Roger sandal in gold (made popular by Jackie O; I typically buy a pair at the beginning of the summer season and absolutely wear them into the ground.  I like the metallics because they go with anything, but white looks refreshing for this upcoming season) or a pair of Chloe aviators:

Or maybe top them off with a classic navy blazer (this double-breasted version by Theory rings in at a cool $400 or so, but J. Crew has a decent–and decently priced–counterpart.  Or, if you’re petite like myself, you can snag one from the boys’ department at Brooks Brothers and have it tailored to your specifications!) and a handful of gold necklaces:

The first is by Giles and Brother (around $280 I believe), but you can find a million just like it for less.  I found a similar version from a Sassanova, a well-curated shoe-and-accessory boutique around the corner from my apartment in Georgetown (unfortunately convenient…) for a fraction of the price.  The necklace in the middle is, obviously, by Chanel — simply because you just can’t go wrong with a classic.  It will set you back $900 or so.  The large white link version at the bottom is super-fun and more acceptably priced (Amanda Pearl, $148).

A few other items I just had to include in the posting — you can’t go wrong with a classic white jean jacket (the first by Current Elliott, the second by good ol’ J. Crew):

And I’m absolutely dreaming about little nautical numbers like this one by Markus Lupfer:

…and this one, by my favorite dress designer of all time — Milly:

I have a somewhat similar Milly maxi dress from two seasons ago — it’s navy and white with a variation of the chain link design above, a halter top, but it has a cute rope detailing as the tie in the back.  So adorable.  I wear it with flat gold thongs like these, by K. Jacques:

…only my thongs are from Gap KIDS if you can believe it.  I have tiny feet (size 5…I’m also only just over 5 feet tall!), and I managed to buy the largest girls’ size they carried–and they just worked.  (They also cost a whopping $16 and have lasted 3 seasons.  Who would have thought?)

I could go on forever, but maybe I’ll just post a follow up with some additional finds.  In the meantime, I’ll leave you with the ultimate stripe-sporting icon, Audrey Hepburn:

If that’s not enough to lead you to “test the waters” with the nautical trend, I don’t know what is!  Seeing her picture reminds me of the perfect companion to any of these looks — the RayBan wayfarers.  I bought a pair last summer, wore them with everything (partially inspired by one of my fashion gurus, Rachel Bilson, who seems to live in them), and then bought a pair for my fiance, who is rarely spotted without them.  They suit a number of different fashion identities, from the hipster to the classic to the preppy.

Decorating the Newlywed Nest

In Home Decor, Monograms on March 31, 2010 at 12:45 am

Despite the fact that I still have a number of wedding to-dos on my list, I couldn’t help but get excited about the prospect of decorating my new home.  Sure…we haven’t found that “home” yet, but that didn’t stop me from spending hours poring over my favorite home design / bedding websites in search of the perfect gender-neutral bedroom and bathroom accoutrements.  My first stop: horchow.com.  Aside from the fact that they run special discounts regularly (every couple of weeks I receive “extra 30% off all purchase” coupons in my inbox and absolutely drool over the possibilities), they have a nice range of bedding options, from the ornate/over-the-top/it-looks-like-it’s-from-medieval-times to the graphic/contemporary/looks-like-it’s-from-the-MoMa.

While I would never in a million years have guessed it, I fell in love with the platinum shade from Pine Cone Hill’s Genevieve collection.  Since I have a white wainscotted bedframe from Crate & Barrel, it will look wonderfully “bridal” while still fresh and inviting…not to mention relatively gender-neutral, which is a big concern of my fiance’s.  (My bedroom is currently dusty rose pink with sage green accents.  All of my bedding is by Matouk, a GREAT bedding brand.  At any rate — it’s not exactly “guy” territory.)  Look at this lovely palette and contrast of textures:

The plan is to have the platinum rosary quilt covering the majority of the bed, the patterned coverlet folded at the bottom, and a mix of quilted and patterned shams at the top.  To play off of the airiness of the bed, I’m considering purchasing this mirrored bed side table from Pottery Barn:

I think it will add interest to the room and break up the “all white” monotony of my bedroom furniture.  Plus, I just love a little mirrored accent here or there.  Vintage and chic.  I can just imagine a little silver julep cup (I just had a couple monogrammed with our new initials! — I ordered them from Pottery Barn) filled with white hydrangea on the bedside table.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I was slightly motivated to pursue the neutral color palette after drooling over Charlotte York’s apartment from “Sex and the City.”  Sure, my reference to SATC is slightly dated, but the decor of her apartment was just jaw-dropping.  Take a look and drool.

Eventually, I’d love to upgrade to an upholstered bed-frame and dark wood furniture.  I think this would ENSURE that my fiance (by then — husband!) feels as though he is in an apartment that is not in any way an affront to his masculinity…

The Honeymoon Trousseau

In Accessories, Beach Wear, Sundresses, The Honeymoon Trousseau on March 30, 2010 at 8:31 pm

Welcome to TheFashionMagpie blog, devoted to all things sartorial and style-related.  I’ll just jump right in here and share my e-shopping activity du jour: seeking chic items for my honeymoon trousseau!  (For those of you who do not know: traditionally, a trousseau refers to the trunk of clothes and household linens that a bride receives from her family just before her wedding.  I’m using the term in a slightly more updated sense: the “trunk” — suitcase — of clothes I will be taking with me on my honeymoon this August!)

At the moment, I’m envisioning neon pink bikinis (I’ll have to devote an entire posting to my fascination with neon), K. Jacques sandals, over-sized sunglasses, bright-colored tunics, breezy white dresses, and a healthy dose of nautical-inspired shirts, dresses, and so forth.  I am absolutely lusting after this Mara Hoffman bikini in fuschia:

…and a big floppy hat like this one, from J. Crew:

I should mention that my fiance and I have not yet finalized our honeymoon plans — travel arrangements fall within his line of duty, and he is an extremely busy MBA student.  I’ve only identified one requirement: I want to go somewhere that I can wear a bikini all day long (hence the beachwear above).  My fiance has proposed a range of interesting spots, from Fiji to Belize to Portugal.  We’ll see which wins!  In the meantime, my main objective will be to track down the cutest honeymoon garb I can find, which include these neon pink K. Jacques sandals (in the Valerie style), which I snagged on sale (70% off!) at seatonsurf.com (again — it all comes back to my fascination with neon!)

I have much, much more to add — cover-ups by Milly, scalloped bikinis by J. Crew, a little D&G bustier dress — but will cut myself short here because I have to go finish my taxes.  Hideous.  April 15th is just around the corner…