A detacher Somerville

Something about these shoes I find strangely appealing.

$425 at Lambs Ear Shoes and at Creatures of Comfort. You'll remember, I also loved last spring's version. Guess I should've just bought them then...instead of obsessing about them all over again.

New Spring clogs at No.6

No.6 released their new spring clogs and I have been deliberating on which are going to be my clogs of choice this season. Here are the contenders:

The new Two-strap clog on the mid-heel - so simple and i love the large buckle. The low heel height reminds me of those A Detacher sandals from last year. The Indigo color is picture here although it is indistinguishable from black; I assume you can tell the difference in person.

I am also loving the Two-tone clog on the platform base. Whether I can actually walk in them remains to be seen but they are very chic nonetheless.

And the new front-seam sandal is pretty great too. I like it in naked. Although I don't think the wedge base is really that comfortable.

The new blue-grey color called Alaska looks good in almost every style:

They are still updating their site daily with new styles. So be sure to check there often.

Sweden Shopping List

I am heading to Sweden today for three weeks and as excited as I am about seeing family and old friends, I also have quite a few things on my shopping list. Hard to visit Sweden and not have a long shopping list, really.

News trouser

First, I plan on finally buying a pair of Hope's News trouser. I have tried them on at Table of Contents and fell in love. But after a quick peruse of Hope's Swedish website, I realized that I could save myself some dough by purchasing in the motherland, and getting the 25% VAT back helps as well.

Hope: pre-Fall

I also saw that Hope has a pair of monk-strap shoes in their pre-fall collection. Hallelujah! Someone has them - no longer do I have to simply covet the vintage pair worn by Clemence Poesy at the Acne show at Paris fashion week. These do require a try-on, also because they are quite masculine and I'm not sure I'm chic enough (not being French and all) to pull off such a manly item without looking silly. We shall see.

And I hope to find Wood Wood's Aino short. Scandinavians don't love shorts (it is quite cold there) but maybe they've made an exception and stock them for the tourists. No one in Portland carries this style and I am not sure which size would work best. I am hoping that the trusty NK (glorious Swedish department store for the uninitiated) has them.

And lastly, I think I need to buy a Fjällräven raincoat. I have the Stutterheim and while I do love it, it is quite heavy and really only necessary on those downpour days. Also my 4-year-old has a Fjällräven raincoat and I find myself coveting her jacket pretty much every time she wears it. So, I'd say it's well time for me to get my own waxed cotton jacket. It is more lightweight and feminine than the Stutterheim and actually comes in women's sizes. Another downside to the Stutterheim is the unisex sizing - the sleeves on mine are incredibly too long and not really hemmable. (Despite all this, I do believe the Stutterheim raincoat is STILL a great coat. Not sure it's worth all that money but it's damn nice. And it supports the local economy of the lovely Borås.)

Hej då, kompisar! Goodbye, friends! see you in July.

Madewell - the Jessie sandal

On Madewell's facebook today, they had this photo showing a new skirt, but when I looked at it, I was much more interested in the shoes she is wearing! One quick search on Madewell's site and I found the Jessie sandal. They come in black and brown and are only $128.  Sort of a gladiator sandal crossed with a Mary Jane, and a touch of Birkenstock. I love that they can be casual with shorts or jeans or dressed up with a skirt or dress. Also, even better is that they don't have buckles - much, much easier to get on and off, which is kind of an important functional part of any shoe.

No.6 moccasins

Currently obsessing over everything in the new No.6 collection. Far too consumed with making the impossible decision of what to buy to even remotely begin to blog about everything I love. So I'll start with one thing. These new No.6 moccasin clog sandals are at the top of my wish list. A two piece sandal with separate ankle piece with a tie closure. The base has a peep toe and is available in two versions - one with the leather braiding on the top, one with the leather braiding on the sides. I prefer the side braid version but they are both pretty amazing. And Totokaelo in Seattle has an all black version, including black sole.

The side braid version in bone (left) and naked (right). How to decide between these two colors?

 The top braid version in sunflower (left) and desert (right). 

The all-black version at Totokaelo and they also have one in cigar (right).

Here they are styled in outfits for the No.6 blog (I also love these pants). Aren't they great?

End of an era: Ghesquiere leaves Balenciaga

Amidst all the other news of this eventful week, Nicolas Ghesquiere announced he is leaving Balenciaga after 15 years with the brand. Memories spring to mind of a party at the Hudson hotel in NYC, lusting after one of those bags in 2001 and of course the clothes, the clothes, the clothes. I have so many favorite collections: the bubble dresses, the drummer boy hats, the naval collection and have shown a few below. The announcement of his departure this past week coincided with one of his best red carpet looks by far. Just this past weekend, Kristen Stewart wore this pantsuit to the On the Road premiere, which is a piece of fashion art if I've ever seen it.

SS 2010

SS 2008

AW 2006

SS 2005

AW 2004

SS 2003

And the items that will forever be Ghesquiere's Balenciaga:

The Lariat bag, first worn by Kate Moss, then by everyone else.

The shoes:

And of course, the motorcycle jacket:

Isabel Marant - the betty & the boston

I know they are trendy. I know all the celebrities have them, even the B-list ones. I know the trend is almost tired. But I can't. stop. obsessing. coveting. just plain wanting.

They look great dressed up or down, with pants or with dresses and skirts. Personally I love the black but would love the tan suede or the white leather just as much. The boston style with black suede snakeskin detail is the one I would choose if I could have any of them.

the Boston

The hightop Beckett is too much for me and I think one must be either six feet tall or a supermodel or both to wear those.

The Beckett is on the right in two colors

Normally I think anything that is a "hybrid" especially when it comes to shoes is never a good idea. This one though has definitely grown on me the more I have seen it. Not sure if it is BECAUSE i have seen it so much or because it genuinely has great appeal. And having tried them on when I was in NYC - the Betty in black leather at Steven Alan and the Boston at the IM boutique in Soho - I found them really comfortable. And was pleasantly surprised that I could go either way with the size: either the 37 or the 38 (I am a US size 7 shoe), which has not been the case with the Dicker, the Dixie or the Jenny boots. All of which I need a 37.


What I couldn't rationalize however was the price for something so trendy, as I said before, and so unabashedly casual. Sneakers are sneakers. And no matter if they are $600 and from France and make me taller, I don't think I would be wearing them out to dinner either way.

Nevertheless, practicality and reasoning only go so far.  A girl can dream...

The Betty and the Boston by Isabel Marant can be purchased online at la garconne or at Stuart and Wright in Brooklyn.

Emma Watson in the betty in white