Random Goodness

There are some things you come across that you use and fall in love with.  Here are a few of my recent finds.

On the recommendation of Dani, I tried the Diptyque Feu de Bois candle.  She was right. It smells exactly like you are burning a fire in your fireplace.  It fills the house with scent shortly after you light it.  I have no fireplace, and miss having one.  The candle is so convincing that visitors to my house thought I did.  I can't wait to try some of their other scents.

I came across this sweater on the Forever 21 website and was reminded of Vince, Helmut Lang and Theory.  It's definitely inspired by all those designers.  Unlike many garments from Forever 21, there's no polyester and no acrylic.  It has a very thin and soft hand and drapes beautifully.  For a desert dweller who has chilly days but no real cold, it's the ideal weight. 

 

 

The reviews on this speak for themselves, there's nothing much I can add other than my recommendation.  My skin looks better than it ever has.

 

 



I am mad in love with these Proenza Schouler pumps.  I resisted the sales very well, despite the deluge of emails and catalogues.  I had a list of things I was hoping to find on sale and most of them didn't get marked down, or weren't marked down enough for my budget.  These ended up at 70% off after a second mark down and thankfully were still available in my size.  These may well be the most comfortable pumps I've ever put on my feet.  The matte leather is unique, as is the shape of the heel. Speaking of the heel, it's low enough to actually walk in while having enough height to make your legs look terrific, which is the job of a pump after all. 

Last but not least, an item that came to me after literally years of looking.  Two years to be exact.  I first spotted the J. Crew pony skirt on their site in 2011. It was too rich for my blood and once it hit sale it sold out almost immediately.  I had a personal shopper look for it, I stalked eBay, to no avail. Not imagining that I would have any luck, I posted in the Looking To Find weekly post of the J. Crew Aficionada blog. My prayers were answered by the lovely Tiffany.  After all the searching I worried that I might receive it and it wouldn't be as fabulous as I had built it up in my mind. Thankfully, it was.  Two panels of soft shiny pony bisect the wool knit body of the skirt. It pulls on, flatters the hip and narrows at the bottom.  The panels can be worn front/back, or on the sides, giving the skirt different looks.   

 Any random goodness to report?

Target collaboration - heaven or heartbreak?

We've all been through the ups and downs of the Target collaboration.  Fabulous famous designers whose wares we can't afford create a capsule diffusion line for Target.  First pictures get leaked, then official photos show up and we ooh and ahh.  The date is set and we all wait anxiously.  Some of us even stay up until midnight on the day before to catch the collection as soon as it lands online.  We order, hold our breath, and . . . then reality hits us across the back of the head.  "Dufus!", it says.  Sucked in once again.

Inevitably the garments and accessories are not what we expected.  There is a lot of polyester and polyamide, nothing fits right, and everything looks like it was made for 59 cents.

Needless to say, I'm a bit skeptical about the next planned collaboration.  But it's Phillip Lim!  This is a designer who has the modern woman in mind.  He's got the urban chic aesthetic down.  His now famous Pashli bag has been reinvented in numerous colors and leathers.  His shadow dress is iconic.

According to Target, the collection includes more than 100 items and ranges in price from $19.99 to $299.99 for clothes and $19.99 to $59.99 for accessories. There's going to be natural fabrics (at least some) and real leather.  The collaboration includes both a line for women and one for men.

Thus far, not much detail has been forthcoming, except these sketches from Mr. Lim.

 

We have no choice but to wait until September 15 to see if the latest designer collab lives up to the hype.  

Big price tag v. small

I like the idea of a drapey, wrappy, sort of Grecian dress for summer. Summer dressing should be simple.  Let's face it, when it's hot you want something you can throw on and go with, that doesn't require tucking in and sorting out.  The drapey dress is easy to find this season, the only decision you have to make is how much to spend.

The upper end is this Day Birger Et Mikkelson washed satin wrap dress, at $320.00.

Forever 21 has a similar option that is superior in one way - it's all cotton, including the lining.  It will set you back $27.80.

Big price tag v. small

Every girl needs a pair of flat sandals.  Cruising the internet, I came across these amazing Alaia gladiator style sandals, for the handsome price of $1,530.00. Yes, you read that correctly.  One thousand five hundred and thirty dollars.

Gorgeous, no?  When a shoe is more than your monthly mortgage payment, you have to look for an "inspired by" that is budget friendlier. 

eBay to the rescue.  These Schuler & Sons sandals boast a similar swirly leather strap effect for a fraction of the price - under $60 including shipping.  Originally sold by Anthropologie, they went as low as $30 on the sale rack.  All leather, soft and comfortable, the same gladiator style look for much less.

There are still some sizes left on eBay, here.

Big price tag v. small

These Balenciaga rings were all over street style photos after debuting on the 2013 spring runway.  Every blogger and their dog sported a set. They're very cool and come with a hefty list price.  They are upward of $200 per finger. 

ASOS steps in with an alternative. A set of 8 rings in different widths that can be combined to create a similar look at a much more budget friendly $13, free ship and returns.

Get them here.