Today I decided to finally buy that reusable bag I've been wanting in the sailor stripe from Baggu (Don't worry I haven't been using plastic, just free promotional tote bags, which are getting kind of ratty). Well, what a nice surprise that the lovely No6 has apparently done a collaboration with Baggu and has a whole host of chic prints for me to choose from! Aren't they adorable? Now all I have to do is decide which one...
So I've been admiring the brand Wood Wood for a little while. I only recently learned it is from Denmark (of course). Totokaelo has been carrying it for several seasons and so has Creatures of Comfort. Like all Scandinavian brands, it is hard to rationalize spending the $$ on such simple pieces. For me, I love the clean lines and the natural fabrics of those from up north like Filippa K, Acne, Whyred, Samsoe+Samsoe, etc. Although I actually end up purchasing them on very rare occasions and almost always when I'm actually IN Scandinavia.
Back to Wood Wood, they are a little more quirky than the others, like VPL crossed with Rachel Comey and a little bit of Viktor and Rolf menswear thrown in. I have been drooling over their new sweater dresses on Totokaelo. And then while perusing Urban Outfitters, I saw that strangely they are carrying Wood Wood too! Apparently Urban has some sort of "around the world" sampling of world designers at much higher than their usual price points. It includes Wood Wood, Madras by APC, Stine Goya, Dagmar, among others. And interestingly, while their pictures aren't nearly as good as the ones at Totokaelo, the prices on Urban's site are a good bit lower. Strange, no? Well I am not arguing but it should be known that there is a deal to be had.
Here are the 3 I've had my eye on:
This is the Lis Dress, It is $165 at Urban (and $207 on Totokaelo).
This is the Annette Dress, $175 (vs $219). I love the extra long sleeves, and it should be noted this is a terry sweat material (not knit).
This is the Aimee Dress, $120 (vs $150)
So, clogs are from Sweden, right? Well according to a native Swede living in Portland and known simply as "the clogmaster", there are no authentic makers of clogs left in Sweden. The brand Swedish Hasbeens, while being super cute (look out for their new striped ones) is apparently no more authentic than Dansko. The company was started very recently by a girl who discovered an old box of throw-back clogs and decided to reproduce them. According to the Clogmaster, the Hasbeens are only imitations of the real things - aren't stiff and don't follow the strict rules of clog-making. The clogmaster insist that the only one who makes clogs the real old-world way is Sven's of Minnesota, a Swede who immigrated to the US years ago and has been making them since the '70s. Since his clogs tend to be more of the run-of-the-mill variety, good thing No6 came along to style up Sven.
No6 - the brand started by a pair of NYC-based former models and known purveyor of fine Swedish clogs made authentically by Sven's of Minnesota - just debuted their Fall line of clogs. And, boy, are they something to behold. And own. (I have already snapped up the saddle shoe clogs) The new lace-up model is pretty killer. Something new for this season is that all models are on the "high" heel (the classic short ankle strap boot that made them famous is only on a "mid" heel). I was worried they would be impossible to walk in. Not so. I think I might actually be able to run down the street in mine if necessary.
No6 is available online and in select stores - including Frances May in Portland, Creatures of Comfort in LA and Totokaelo in Seattle.
