Isabel Marant FW 2013

I know there has been some differing opinions over Isabel Marant's fall/winter collection that debuted a couple days ago at Paris Fashion Week. I just wanted to go on record saying I loved it. And for the first time in many seasons, I won't have to worry about looking like an LA fashion victim in certain pieces. Because honestly in some of these cowgirl getups, that has been my fear. I aspire to her Francophone chic; the main reason I have loved Isabel for many, many years. And in her past few collections, overall the prints and cuts have been amazing. However with this collection I am very much looking forward this fall to clean lines, drape-y sheer fabrics, comfy leggings, sexy cutouts and overall monochromatic colors.  I loved that she mixed navy with black, which is one of my favorite combinations and definitely very French. And she kept a lot of the studs, in the jackets, and sparkles, on the skinny scarves, which are both Americana-enough for that customer wanting that LA look. And keeps the stuff from looking too boring.
Here are a couple of my favorite runway shots. The coats were also amazingly simple:

And did I mention I love love love the boots? In the black with or without pony hair, yes please.

Also IM did a great interview with Elle where she explains her inspiration for this collection -- basically to look chic in bad weather, if I may paraphrase. You can read the whole article here.

Isabel Marant Basley boot

To be honest, I can't quite get on board with these. They are moccasins, which for me had a big moment in 2007-2008 and that was it. Yes they have the hidden wedge, it's true. But for $600 I'd rather buy the Betty or the Bobby sneaker and end the torture. 

These remind me of shoes I'd see when I was a shoe buyer: not a sneaker, not a boot....just a sneaker-boot "hybrid". And using the word hybrid to describe a shoe is never a good thing.

They are already sold out on mytheresa.com and I'm sure la garconne is next, so what do I know? Still I have to say, I love the Jenny boot way more than the Basley and I never pulled the trigger on the Jenny, more because of comfort than anything. Also I kind of have a rule against shoes with tassels. So for me, I think I will pass.  

For those who are so inclined, the Basley is $600 and is available in the camel suede and anthracite suede at most IM stores: including Barneys, Bird, Creatures of Comfort, La Garconne, Diani, Heist, and soon at Odessa in Portland, although only in the camel. La Garconne is also carrying it in white. For what it's worth, I think that in an overall look the anthracite actually looks the best. Then it looks more like a boot and less like a moccasin-sneaker...thing.

Isabel Marant on SALE

Not that I will be partaking in the sale this season but I wanted to highlight that there are still some good things out there....

The super soft, chunky knit Etoile Plume cardigan is on sale for $339 at Barneys in the brownish olive and in red at Heist (although not sure the discount at Heist, think they are at 30% off.)

MNZ in new york has the Odelia coat, a great wooly car coat with black piping. It is also 30% off and they have a size 38 left.

MNZ also has the Gladys knit and the Glasco cardigan left. Katie Holmes recently wore the Glasco during an appearance on Jimmy Fallon. Also both are 30% off.

Gladys knit

Glasco cardigan

MNZ and French Garment Cleaners both have the Nanette top left, which is only $395 full price.

Meanwhile, Creatures of Comfort has a whole host of nice things left (if their blog is updated):

The Lizy western shirt, which will definitely some day be a collector's item, in sizes 36-40 for $588.

And the Edilon pant - an amazing print and fabric - in sizes 38 and 40 for $458.50

Also the all-black Jenny boot in sizes 37-41 is on sale (a rare occurrence) for $441.
And the sister to the Odrys cardigan, the Ojima hoodie is available in sizes 38 and 40 for $374.50, a relative steal for an intarsia knit. Even Free People and others doing Intarsia knits charge at least $300 for a made-in-china piece, while the IM one is made in Italy of fantastic quality yarn. So, this one is a great price for what you are getting.

street style: Kirsten Dunst in London

Kiki was spotted in London on Sunday night walking around with bf Garrett Hedlund. What a great look she had going on. Long, navy peacoat (now I'm on the hunt for one this length), skintight black jeans, leather Isabel Marant Dicker boots, burgundy beret and completed with a LV Sofia Coppola bag in oxblood, the color of the season.

Piedmont rain boots by Rachel Comey

So on this very rainy day in the Pacific Northwest and on the heels of  Sandy the "superstorm" (this tag is laughable, by the way. thank you Weather Channel), here are some great all rubber rain boots by Rachel Comey. I have been admiring them for a while. They are a fresh update to the ubiquitous tall Hunter-esque ones that have become so humdrum.

Rachel Comey introduced this lace-up rain boot style last season as the Baxter boot but they had a functioning buckle at the ankle over the laces that I can only imagine is quite annoying unless you have a spare 10 minutes to put on your boots. The Baxter is cheaper (only $196) and it is still available in limited sizes from Totokaelo.

the Baxter boot from last year

There is a laceless version called the Colfax, also by Rachel Comey, that is shorter and for sure easier to get on and off.  Color-wise, both the black/brown with hunter green sole and the black/navy with cream sole are nice. The green accent is much more earthy and would look great with black skinny jeans and a flannel shirt. I like the black/navy though the cream sole will get dirty; it's true but it is a more fresh color combination to have black and navy together with off-white.

The Piedmont and the Colfax are both $230. The Piedmont in black/cream is available at Totokaelo and Rachel Comey. The Piedmont in black/green is available at Totokaelo, Bird, and Steven Alan. The Colfax can be found at Totokaelo.

The Colfax boot - slip on version of the Piedmont

New No.6 clogs for Fall

Just launched on the No.6 site today.

Isabel Marant Jenny boot

Love the new Isabel Marant Jenny boot, part of the SS12 collection. Somehow Isabel Marant has figured out a way to make a manly boot cute and girly.
$580 at Barneys online (only available in Anthracite- dark grey.)
Or La Garconne has the Taupe for pre-order (pictured).

my new custom No6 boots

I'm so incredibly happy with the new No6 clog boots I received yesterday that I just had to share some photos. Both items were custom orders, so not styles/color combos that No6 specifically makes. The only problem with doing this is they are not returnable. Luckily, both pairs fit perfectly and came out exactly as I'd imagined. The green boot is the Pesto leather (I had featured it previously in the Pesto nubuck, which is more of an emerald color while the leather is more hunter green) ankle zip boot on the higher heel with a black base. And the laceup is the natural nubuck with fawn shearling on the mid heel (the lower one) with a natural base. Absolutely stunning boots with amazing craftsmanship. These will be favorites of mine for a long time.