tights, tights, tights

I received an email from my mom yesterday, requesting some suggestions for different tights to wear with her bright pink Marni dress. Since I no longer have immediate access to the best hosiery department ever that takes up a total of 3 rooms, at Le Bon Marché (a.k.a. the Mother Ship) I proceeded to do some online research. Oh, how I LOVE the Internet.

These were the options that I found that I thought we look cute with the bright bright pink dress, and were equally mom appropriate.

photo credit: nordstroms.com

After I researched on my own, I noticed that Susie had written about tights too. She led me to the NYTimes editorial, which featured these glorious Bestey Johnson heart tights. So cute, no?? I have searched far and wide and cannot find them in black, only red and white. The red is fun, but I'm far less likely to wear them than the black, and the white sort of looks like a funny skin disorder from far away. I am torn though, and might just get them anyway.


Also loved these Agent Provocateur tights stay-up thigh highs, though I would never wear them.

photo credit: nytimes.com

I am also looking for the perfect pair of lace stockings. When I was little, my mom bought me some really beautiful lace stockings in black and baby pink. I remember she made a point to tell me they were stockings and not tights, and she taught me how to put them on properly by rolling them up from my feet, one leg at a time rather than stuffing both my legs in as I would have done with my cotton tights. With these pretty lace tights she couldn't lift me by the waist band to make sure they were pulled up high enough and the crotch wouldn't slide down to my knees!!! What I would give to have them now in my size!

Though I didn't find the perfect lace tights, I might have found an adequate alternative at Urban Outfitters.

I also found these puppies, a very clear Chanel knock off, except for the fact that the Chanel stockings have a lace front instead of a sheer one. I can't decide what I think of the two tone on one leg thing, especially because I have a distinct memory of Godfrey and Marcus discussing them after the Chanel show (that I MISSED) how unattractive they were and how they made the model's spindly legs look fat. What would they do to mine then?

photo credit: urbanoutfitters.com

They are cool though. Too bad I live in the land of eternal Summer now, I'll probably just ignore the fact that it is too warm for tights and sport them anyway.

jc penny's

On Friday my mom and I got the rock out of my apartment bright and early and drove over to the west side on a very specific mission. I was browsing my new favorite website, dominomag.com, where you can look through their archives and unpublished photos. Since I got to LA, all I can think about is how I am going to decorate/fill my apartment. I am thinking about it more now that I found a bigger, bug free place.

I found these on one of my late night online home furnishing hunts:



photo credit: dominomag.com

I LOVE the mirrored vanity, it is so glam, and feminine. The one in the middle is by far the best; it looks the nicest and has the best details, but it costs an arm and a leg, as does the one on the bottom. The top vanity is from none other than JC Penny!!??!! WHAT??!!?? Anyway, that is the reason we drove over to Culver City on Friday. Unfortunately for us, I got super excited and did not look closely on the website, which clearly stated that it was available online only. WHOOPS. Way to do my research, right?

Now, I just can't decide if it is woth ordering this thing online, when I have no was of seeing it in person first.

online obssesion: oak

I was scanning through my various fashion blogs and online magazines today, when I came across a new-to-me online store. Oak is the online store for the NYC based boutique of the same name owned by Jeff Madalena and Louis Terline. Both men have design school educations and background in denim design and styling, which shows in their selectively cool merchandise. With brands like Grey Ant, Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, Acne to higher end Anne Valerie Hash and Rick Owens drkshdw they stock clothes that would appeal to rich hipsters everywhere. My favorite part is that they have the most killer scarf selection of any store (online or otherwise) that I have ever seen, considering I rarely leave the house without one, this pleases me.

A few of my favorite things:

Yarnz scarf

Oak "trashed" jeans

Anzevino & Florence dress


Penny Loves Kenny shoe

As usual my love for animal prints shows...today is an especially zebra day. I can't decide if the zebra print wallabies are absolutely ridiculous or totally awesome. I'm leaning towards awesome.

Just add Oak to the list of reasons I need to plan a trip to New York.

dilemma

In the past few years, I have really tried to avoid buying obvious designer knock offs. Going to design school and working in the fashion industry are the main reasons for this rule. I know what goes into designing a collection and I know that these quick reproductions, which often surface in the store before the actual designer piece does, are poorly made and will last only a few wears. And someone with a trained eye will know they are fake, especially shoes. And everyone knows that cheap shoes tend to be super uncomfortable. That is not to say that I would not recreate the coveted piece myself on my home sewing machine, but then I can give credit where it is due while also showing off my mad sewing skills. Although Zara did become one of my stand by stores while living in Paris due to the exchange rate, this rule meant I eliminated certain stores from my shopping destinations.

This is where my dilemma comes in. I was looking through one of my b-list fashion magazines, and found a cute pair of shoes for extremely cheap. Upon visiting the Baker website, I decided the shoes that brought me there were no good. BUT, then I found these.



A great pair of fake Alaias. And considering that the average pair of Alaia shoes cost well over 500 dollars, the 59.99 price tag is pretty appealing. And they would look oh so lovely with my new CDG for H&M pants...Ahhh the struggle...

in case you were wondering, i'm the girl in the leopard print boots.

Back in June, I was wondering around down town with my dear friend Anna, when we stopped into the shoe store Olive. I've never been a huge fan of this store, not really sure why, it's probably that I have a weakness for Halo and tend to go their before anywhere else when it comes to big shoe purchases. Anyway, back to June. We quickly browsed, and as we were leaving I spotted just about the most beautiful boots I've ever laid my eyes on. Knee high, chestnut brown, flat but with the slightest platform, with HAND PAINTED leopard spots by Georgina Goodman. the $800+ price tag prevented me from trying them on, even for shits and giggles. There was just NO WAY.



I left the store feeling sad, knowing I would never ever have those shoes in my possession. Fast forward 3 or 4 months, I was out shopping with my mom, who was on the hunt for new ballet flats and new flat boots. No luck at Halo, so i remembered about Olive, and the leopard boots. Drove past Olive, to find that it was no longer there! The sadness of that first day returned. Thank goodness for the Internet. WOO! Not only does Olive have a website, but my beloved boots were 60% off and available in my size. Making them, still expensive, but about the price I would pay for a new pair of boots full price. I don't think I've ever pulled my credit card out faster.

Since Olive is based in Portland, my shoes came in less than 48 hours. They are just as pretty in person. For that very reason, and their still hefty, tho lowered price tag, I will be sporting these boots on a near daily basis. I have yet to sufficiently play dress up with them yet, so I'll be posting outfits featuring the new loves of my life a little later. So, yes, that girl with the bright blond hair and the leopard boots on the other side of the bar or crossing the street or eating lunch, is most likely me.