Cannes and Carey Mulligan

1 - Dior at the premiere of Gatsby

This year at the Cannes Film Festival almost everybody looked absolutely stunning on the red carpet but none more so than Carey Mulligan.  I recently saw Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of "The Great Gatsby." While I didn't love the film, the imagery was amazing, as was Carey Mulligan's place - as Daisy Buchanan - in the glorious images. And I thought she brought a bit of that same magic and sleekness to her looks at Cannes, and she had quite a few of them with two films to promote. Every outfit was simple and stunning. And her super bleached, yet simple hair made every look. I also really liked how each hairstyle has a strong part, even if her hair is worn up.

 2 - Balenciaga jumpsuit at the photocall for "Gatsby"

3 - Chloe dress at photocall for "Inside Llewyn Davis"

 4 - this Vionnet gown in my opinion is the best

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 clogs in Red leather

Sort of obsessed with all of the red leather No.6 clogs right now:

T Straps Clogs on wedge in Red leather

Corset Clog on wedge

Open toe Weave with Sling on wedge

Old School Clog on wedge

Crossover Clog on wedge

Ace & Jig: clothes-stalking

Confetti pompom scarf

Just last night I was doing my usual online window-shopping of items that I am currently clothes-stalking. Clothes-stalking is a one of my favorite activities of late. So say I see something on a blog or a store's website or Pinterest and then right away put it on a short mental list, that usually isn't longer than 4 or 5 items, of items that I plan on buying. On average I'd say I end up purchasing around 20% or less of these items. Very often they get bumped off the list by a newer piece I've seen, especially if they fall in the same category - black sandal, striped dress, No.6 clog, etc. Or I just enjoy going back to the same site over and over to see if they still have my size and then very often I become extremely bummed out when my size does in fact sell out. The irony of this of course being that I had every opportunity (10-20 usually) to in fact order it and be the owner of that oh so wonderful wardrobe-completely piece.

Ace & Jig rouge Camden cardi

so after a friend mentioned she'd just ordered the great red check Camden cardi featured in last week's post about the A detacher sandals, I suddenly had Ace & Jig on my radar. I knew of it before but I think the clothes don't necessarily translate so well online and so I kind of brushed over it before. Cotton gauze-y made-in-India fabrics are hard to gauge without seeing them in person.  I have realized though that I wear the cotton pieces in my wardrobe about twice as often as the silk ones. Silk easily stains, must be dry-cleaned and is just in general a pain in the ass when one spends most of their time with the pre-school set, as I do. So with that in mind, enough talk, here are the Ace & Jig items that I am officially stalking as well as some others I like thrown in for good measure:

Confetti button back shirt 

rouge Boardwalk dress

Isle skirt in confetti

Jardin top

Pop rolled tee

Ink Duo racerback

Henley Dunes dress

Confetti jumpall

Ace & Jig is also available at Madewell and Anthropologie.

More Summer Sandals - A Détacher

So adding on to my buckle theme from the other day, I knew there was one other one I was forgetting about. Luckily, I remembered! A Détacher makes some amazing shoes and they are usually a little too complicated on the wearability scale for me but they remind me of old-school (real) Helmut Lang looks from back in the day.  However this season they seem way more wearable. And there is one such sandal with a large buckle on it, reminiscent of a belt buckle a la the whole "buckle trend" i was talking about last week, and it comes in many different amalgamations. My favorite is the highsmith. I like it probably because it's the most simple of all of them but I like how simple it is and how it sort of looks like a belt remade on your foot.

Creatures of Comfort are the only ones carrying the simple black leather t-strap version. Most all other stores only have the simple t-strap in silver, including Mohawk general store whose lookbook pictures I included above. Doesn't the silver look amazing how they styled it?

the Highsmith in black

The Coyne with a suede knot

A little out there but the sandals have a box heel that is so on trend right now (all the Brit girls are wearing it) and I think the knot version, while less wearable for sure, is very sexy. Especially if you wear the higher heel version.

There is another color in the Coyne - the knot version - that is silver with a tan suede knot and doesn't have the white rubber on the bottom (not a fan of that.) It was in the runway show at NYFW and is available here. Okay, stop the bus. THAT one is my favorite. Why more stores don't have that color I have no idea? (Also note the "socks". Sort of a half-tube mesh thing. Una in Portland is carrying them.)

The Coyne in tan/blue

A sportier version - called the Sherman

A high version of the Coyne - called the Hesse. This one is fun.

And last but certainly not least is the crazy platform Geisha version, called the Linn. (buy it here.)

All of them are in the $400 price range, unfortunately for me. No less beautiful though.

Black Crane and Momoko Suzuki

A while ago Totokaelo featured a designer and the designer's home on their blog. I had never heard of the woman, Momo Suzuki, or her line Black Crane, but I loved her house! And her whole look! Her Serge Mouille wall sconce is one of my favorite light fixtures of all time. As are her Charlotte Perriand leather and chrome chairs. You can read about her whole background here on totokaelo's blog but I will sum it up short and sweet. Momo is from Japan, lives in LA and designs beautiful, simple clothes with quality materials in a small color palette and wonderful drape (or at least it seems so from the photos) and everything is made in LA too. And lots of pieces are 100% cotton, something I think is very underrate - washable, better with kids, etc. And simple details like raw edges and seams down the middle.

The prices are great too, even items under $100 (i know, what!) But some things do seem rather basic. Especially when lately I have limited funds with which to invest and really try to use them wisely, i.e. on key, striking pieces that are unique and special...not just a basic tee.

Momo with her Perriand chairs and a Platner table.

The Serge Mouille sconce and Momo Suzuki.

Momo on her cool couch in very cool sandals (more on those another day.)

Her closet. So simple - utterly cool.

That said, I have since seen Black Crane all over the friggin' place -- Mohawk General Store, Myth and Symbol (in Houston), Machus (in Portland), Totokaelo of course, and now even No.6 is carrying her stuff. I have had my eye on the Wide dress. It's sort of like a long t-shirt stretched into a dress with kimono sleeves. I think it would be great when it's worn slightly oversized (not tight) and then there are some jumpers and several different slouchy pants and shorts. And a few great dresses. The tees cross a line into being too flow-y slash boxy. Not sure about them but you be the judge. Below are some highlights:

The Wide dress - oversized

the Balloon jumper

Accordion Dress in navy

Long Strap dress in Aqua

The wide crew top in marble - one of the few prints

the square tee in white