Winter Outfit: Vintage Tailored Wool Coat and Isabel Marant Boots

I will be in New York for New Years! Now I need to decide whether to take the Golden Goose boots or the Marant boots for walking and walking and walking . . . okay I think it will be the Golden Goose.

Some New Items at Steven Alan

I really love this Catherine Michiels silk bracelet ($115), isn't the aqua blue silk color so beautiful?

Also in store is the rugged canvas tote ($190), a great everyday bag that just gets better with age.

vintage deep v back dress at anica

Some more great dress with the back open theme: vintage at anica ($120).

Souchi Cool Scoop Back Sweater

Dinner date in cold winter night and not sure what to wear? This sweater from Souchi would be it. You don't even need the cocktail dress, pair this with jeans and knee high boots, arrive nonchalantly and take off the wool coat and voila! You've instantly seduced that special person. From the front this top looks like a regular elegant dressy top, in the back it is simply unexpected and stunning--much more seductive than having your skin hanging out all in the wrong places. $398 at Souchi.

Souchi Knits has arrived!

The much awaited Souchi knit short has arrived all the way from Portland! The shorts is really lovely, goes great with tank top and the Steven Alan wool boyfriend shirt (yes, just the way I wanted!). The knit is handloomed in Portland, and their other items would make great winter gifts.

Warm Wishes Comes True!

I really really love this glove from Steven Alan it's woven deerskin lined in cashmere and lambswool, so charming and warm!! Many many thanks Nell! This goes perfectly with the Steven Alan boyfriend shirt and Inhabit sweater which I have been living in the whole winter!

Can't stop thinking about the: Dazed Ram.

You know, as our mom told us, we're supposed to distinguish between need and want. And this ram pendant is definitely not a need but a want. The dazed gaze and the gold tone is perfect item to have for the Holiday season, you can almost start a conversation with anyone over the ram. Available at Brook and Lyn.

Aloha Rag sale now 50-60% off

Aloharag has kicked off their 50% -60% off sale on their website: some notable items

from top--mm6 martin margiela ligne 6 grey tunic dress (somehow they get the perfect silouette---not too clingy, not too tight. I still reach out for my heather purple sweater dress almost everyday in winter); insideout silk print dress (yes this time not everything is sold out, if you love those conceptually twisted items run!!); martin margiela suede boots (I love the heels here, walkable and still interesting details); commuun silk print dress (this is a Japanese line---Aloha Rag has a keen eye for picking out upcoming designers from Japan, not just Europe and US); boy. by band of outsiders v neck sweater (I am really drawn to this one, isn't the color so nicely done??)----I feel like I stocked up on too many Inhabit sweater for this season though, so must forego the sweater.

Poupette Mini Beads Bracelet

I like how Poupette's accessory line is simple, wearable for any occasion, and yet distinct in its own way. This bracelet ($53) comes in different colors and would make a perfect gift for yourself or for your special friend. At Totokaelo.

dome disc necklace by ninh wysocan

This is just great. The hand-forged disc makes it a perfect blend of refinement and rawness. Available at Souchi.

Torquioise Necklace by Bing Bang

This is really pretty, torquioise nest necklace by bing bang, at TenOverSix.

Vintage 40s Gold Rosette Heels

Lovely, lovely, lovely. This is from the 40s and is the perfect shoe for the holiday. In size 9 at Etsy store retrothreadz.

The Clutch by Isaac Reina

I love this. Minimalist, elegant and just the clutch you can use for the rest of your life. Isaac Reina is the current accesories designer for Maison Martin Margiela and was with Hermes before--each bag is handcrafted in France. Available at Stand Up Comedy.

Alea Clutch by Collina Strada

Available at Kickpleat ($177), natural ethnic print fabric clutch to update your wardrobe.

Purple Scarf at Oak

I really love the ability for the buyers at Oak to select items that is reasonable price and yet still quite covetable. This moody purple scarf can be yours (or your gf's) for $48: at Oak.

Yochi Design Pearl Chain Ribbon Necklace

By Yochi Design, pearl chain ribbon necklace ($108) at Otte: I think every girl needs one or two statement accessory that is not too serious (you wear those kind when you are much more older). I love the mix of different kind of chains on the ribbon, it is fun, great addition to the LBD for the holiday.

I need to write a letter to Santa Claus!

And this Humanoid suede flat boot lined with shearling will be on that list! Available at Heist.

Antique Gold and Olivene Glass Earrings by Mark Walsh and Leslie Chin

This antique gold and olivene glass earrings are so beautiful, made by hand in the original Chanel factory in France, available at Diana Kane. A dream accessory for a special date.

Finally, a Jewelry Stand that is quite darn great.

I found most jewelry stands on the market quite wanting: too utilitarian or too ornamental, or just impractical. It was about time someone came up with one that can belong on the cabinet as home decor and still be able to display your precious jewelry in organized way. And, this one is only $18 at heliotrope, a great site for other holiday gifts.

Thinking of Next Year: Planners and Calendars

So, it is December now! And that means it is time to start ordering the calendar and planner for next year. I am using the cat calendar (the one on top) for this year and I love the typography and quirkiness of it. As for planner I am quite loyal to the red moleskine, but this time the Curiosity Shoppe has come up with a great contender, the Matt Singer planner with the weird ostrich and suitcases . . . (and how can one resist that??). All available at Curiosity Shoppe which also happens to be great site to browe for potential Christmas gifts for those that appreciate a bit of wit and design.

Sale at Lutz & Patmos

They just started off the 40% off sale at Lutz and Patmos--the price is still steep, but their knits are really, really stunning (I got this silk cotton blend u neck tee long time ago and it really is well made, so the price can be justified). Some that would be on my wish list (can't they have sample sale like Inhabit??)

Jeffrey Monteiro Crimson Slouch Dress

Beautiful crimson red dress for the Holiday season. On sale for $346.50 at Satine (I know, still steep, and yet so pretty . . . ).

Impulse and Caution: The Holiday Sales

So with an almost perpetual state of extreme sales becoming the norm, how did retails do on Black Friday and Cyber Monday? The NYTimes article from today reports that Shoppers fill the streets if not their bags (love the last moment when the journalist asks how retail at Prada was doing and the woman snapped back that Prada doesn't do sales). Less impulse buy, customers are sticking to the list closely for this season. It is such a big change from few years ago when retailers really held onto their price till Black Friday, now all the offers aren't as exciting and we became accustomed to waiting for better news.

This is to say that the outlook remains bleak for small boutiques that cannot handle price cuts like large retailers. For most two seasons of bad sales are enough to bring down small scale stores. I was very sad to hear that Chicago's Hejfina was closing, the scenery of retail business seems to have fundamentally altered with this new state of buyer consciousness.

At the same time I really hope this really would put a stop to insane shopping binge at H&M and Topshop and make people realize that buying well made quality clothing takes you much much further.

Holiday Accessories

For Holiday parties you want to add a little bit more to the LBD, and we feel like gold, but it is hard to come across gold accessories that are not too substantial that it makes your grandma jealous (that is a sign, I tell you), or too small that you rarely notice it paired with the pretty velvet dress (think small understated pieces like Lena Wald)---you want something noticeable but with taste that can make a statement---well, so if you are on the search for this kind of jewelry Brook and Lyn is the first place to stop and check, the owner really knows how to pick out vintage and preloved jewelries that are bold but not flashy and trashy (no none of those pieces would ever belong to an MTV music video). I particularly love this multi strand necklace ($85), it is pretty but not overly flashy.

Christmas Gift Idea: Hand Loomed Shorts by Souchi

Okay, so the Steven Alan boyfriend shirts finally arrived yesterday and they are great as both day wear and pajamas (I actually wore it to Thanksgiving dinner). It runs bigger and roomier than the reverse seams with a bit of tailoring so it does distinguish itself from oversized men's shirt, and it is long in the back and really really warm (I got the flannel version). Well, and I need a matching pair of knit shorts to go with the flannel gray shirts (the current pj bottoms at Steven Alan are micro dots and they don't exactly match with grey flannel). Then I thought of Souchi, I posted about the knit cashmere bikinis before but not the shorts. I placed an order for fog (grey) which should arrive in about six weeks or so . . . that's a gift to myself and I think I will finally complete my search for the ultimate lounge wear set.

Steven Alan Sale has started!

In case you haven't noticed: Steven Alan kicked off their sales today, many of their items are now up to 60% off.

Too bad the PJ shorts in my size is already out of stock, and so are the glittens, and I still can't decide between the orange and oatmeal stripe sweater or pink and grey (would love to have both but cannot afford to), I'm leaning towards the orange, what do you think?