let them eat leather: rodarte x opening ceremony

I’m so well aware that this is not new or unique content for a blog post in any way, but can we just talk about how rad this collaboration is and how simultaneously confused and excited I am about leather t-shirts??? I hate breathability now.

Also, if I were to get married tomorrow this is what I would wear. OK, I’m kidding. I’m not kidding.

announcement

I want all my accessories to be HUGE and RED from how on.

Cool.

7th grade reprise

Have a strong inclination to repeat what I did in 7th grade: dye my hair to look like Angela Chase. Plus bangs. Thoughts?

Thanks to this lovely lady for the image.

boy oh boy

Hello my pets. I’m back from a trip around the world (literally! three weeks: L.A. to L.A.!) and ready to show you some of my discoveries.

First up is a store that Jesse and I stumbled across in Osaka: Beams Boy. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to snap any photos of the store myself (must learn “can I take photos for my American fashion blog?” in Japanese), but thanks to the power of the internet, I can show you the wonder that is Beams Boy.

We were later informed that this is a store for teenagers, but no matter! Trends forever! It seems people around the globe (myself included) are nuts for the American hertiage style, and honestly, who better to see a trend through to obsessive levels than Japanese teenagers? Apologies in advance for the ridiculous amounts of images here. I’m obsessed with Beams Boy. Wait, let me rephrase that more accurately. I’M OBSESSED WITH BEAMS BOY.

hitting the road

Tomorrow I’m headed out on the first of several adventures before the end of the year. Really wishing to up my Huckleberry Finn factor with these puppies from Kenton Sorenson.

the silent treatment

After yesterday’s bout of logorrhea, I’m going to let these guys do the talking. Fantastic.

twist & shout

I didn’t realize that Confetti System also makes beautiful silk and leather necklaces! Wish I could go back in time and add some of these to my peach & khaki roundup. Quelles dommages.

band of outsiders

Remember summer vacation? Please someone find a way to get me out of this air conditioning and into the outdoors — pull a fire alarm, something. I’m hankering for it.

l-r: Steven Alan boyfriend pullover, APC denim shorts; Duluth Pack backpack, L.L. Bean Signature tie neck shirt, APC khaki shorts, RGB nail polish, Costalots sunglasses, Marais sandals, L.L. Bean watch; Dieppa Restreppo oxfords.

final fantasy

What, I ask you, is the point of a resort collection if not to inspire some sort of fantasy life? I mean, I know there’s all manner of business-related, fiscal things. Winter season being too long. Need of new merchandise. For me, a resort collection should have a whimsical, almost confectionary quality — purely aesthetic and entirely aspirational. The french macaroons of fashion. Chris Benz’s 2011 resort collection is exactly that for me. It’s what I want my imaginary uniform to be, for my made up life wherein I’m an accomplished novelist living — and entertaining — in Palm Springs.

Click through for a video (in crazy HD!) of M. Benz presenting the collection to Stylecaster. I defy you to keep your jaw (teeth, tongue, everything) off the floor during some of these close ups.

Photos are courtesy of Style.com

an ode

Above is a photo of me taken on a recent trip to Santa Barbara — a day where, yes, in many ways I did fulfill some kind of destiny. That day I sported a chambray shirt and Levi’s 501 shrink-to-fit jeans. A Canadian tuxedo, of sorts. That day I came to realize something about myself — my intense love of embarrassing denim. I find myself mixing denims a lot now and coveting items that will surely choke neighborhood Goodwill and Salvation Armies some day — pleated denim trousers just weren’t built to last. But for now, this summer, you can find me swathed in indigo.

Dieppa Restrepo Breezy Cali Lace Up; Built By Wendy Indigo Pleat Dress; APC Denim Jumpsuit; Current/Elliot “The Perfect Shirt”; Dusen Dusen Zip Me Up Dress; Rag & Bone Railroad Jacket; Acne Washed Jean Jacket; See By Chloé Relaxed Boyfriend Pant

peach and khaki

These feel like the perfect spring to summer transition colors right now. Clockwise: APC New Fatigues; Dieppo Restrepo Peach Oxfords; Karen Walker Village Sunglasses; Alexander Wang Camel Suede Jacket; Rachel Comey Platform Wrap Pump; No. 6 Jumper; Lauren Manoogian Triangle Cuff; Apiece Apart Bag.

going galena

Love this Karen Walker tshirt dress with a geometric mineral graphic. Reminds me of another discovery from today — my friend Nina introduced me to the Missouri state mineral, Galena (also a prominent figure in Avatar, I’m told). Galena mineral flakes off in layers — similar to the layered sleeves on said t-dress. Cool!

Available {on sale!!} at bows & arrows

So I guess it’s been raining semi-non-stop in the Northeast these days. Heading out there a week from today (!!!!!) and wishing I had the parka/trench and waterproof pumps shown here.

The kings of simplicity and line over at Slow and Steady Wins the Race have teamed up with Stand Up Comedy, the online one stop shop for the best and most interesting design, to create a line of fun and functional foul weather gear. In addition to my wish list, there’s also waterproof oxfords and a several other parka styles (including men’s!).

a tale of two cities

photo courtesy latimes.com

Some people call Los Angeles the Place Where Trends Go To Die. They might be right, after all, we are the city, I’d wager, with the most Ed Hardy/Christian Audigier, Juicy Couture, Chrome Hearts, and what-have-you consumption. The town where the Fergies and the Britneys and jesus christ the fucking Kardashians are the most-likely-photographed socialites; most likely wearing any number of horrendous items from the aforementioned outfitters. We are also the city where the most affluent among us drive mammoth cars — useless, gleaming Range Rovers and Bentleys (which, I might add, they drive themselves, which never fails to confuse my sense of what’s what).

Like many an Angeleno (this feels like a stretch, but tax return-wise and for the sake of argument, let’s say it’s true), I’ve come to realize that the best part about Los Angeles is its Choose Your Own Adventure quality. See what you want, skip what you don’t; L.A. is like the salad bar at Souplantations: your life, with all the fixins.

That being said, I refuse to be one of the many Los Angeles residents who, while rushing to defend it, also tote the semi-requisite attitude of “Oh, well, yeah, I mean, it’s no New York…”

For while Los Angeles may be the Place Where Trends Go To Die, trend-wise New York is a veritable Hall of Mirrors. In The City this weekend, I noticed the way in which New Yorkers find and reproduce a fad endlessly. If you’ve ever had a flea infestation, you’ll know what I’m getting at here. One year’s cat-eyes and baby backpacks is another’s “it”-bags and appletinis. Eventually, like the Roman Empire, its axis of influence is spread too thin and the trend ruptures and dies.

So suffice to say this year’s (really though, last year’s) baby backpack is the gladiator sandal (which turf wars aside, is what this post is about — don’t you love blogging?). I have personally been struggling with this trend for several months now (Sunshine! Another Los Angeles advantage!) — for every good option, you have to byass 50 hideous ones; my desire to find a pair that is both “daring” and “flattering” is challenged by the fact that these things are pretty much designed to make your legs look as utterly homely as possible (especially the daring ones!). And shall we all just agree that, unless you’re sporting last year’s Balenciagas, the to-the-knee thing is a completely fruitless exercise in looking cool?

Wading through the reflective echo chamber of the island of Manhattan is Loeffler Randall, who, it seems, hasn’t come up with a bad gladiator option yet. Each pair is simple and wearable– no more than one buckle — but each also posses an eye-catching quality and enough design detail to carry you through till fall.  Seriously, collect all 4. I intend to.

Shorter posts coming soon!
Happy weekend-time,

ZE

photos courtesy loefflerrandall.com & lambsearshoes.com

pack rats

When people come to my house (well, mostly Sarah and Julia), they often accuse my living room of resembling a doctor’s office, minus the impending use of shiny instruments.

I have a magazine problem. A big one. They’re everywhere. And I hoard them like these guys, never really sure when they’ve run their course and it’s time to toss them. So stacks develop — sometimes they’re suburban ranch house-like in dimension, but other times they take on skyscraper qualities.

Imagine my surprise and happiness when The Selby (which if you aren’t checking regularly, you should start) posted photos of objects in Julia Roitfeld’s New York apartment and I saw that the daughter of Paris Vogue Ed Caroline also adorns her space with swaying piles of reading matter. Stacks and stacks of magazines. And books. Awesome. At least I’m in good company.

ZE

Beautiful fashion photography by Brigitte Sire.

the good thing about the internet is you don’t get papercuts

So what to do with this sterling bandaid ring? I’m not sure about it. Any thoughts?

I wonder if it comes pre-treated with neosporin…

i want to go outside

For my birthday I’d like to live in this video. Thanks!