dream of the 90s at daily candy swirl

Oh man, there are some really awesomely funny throwback purses available on Daily Candy’s sample sale site Swirl. Behold some of my favorites. I love that this is what it means for the 90s to be “back.”

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.

flibbertygibbit/wil-o-the-wisp/clown

Last weekend, I saw one of my childhood favorites, The Sound of Music, writ large (really large! 70 mm, baby!) on the big screen courtesy of the American Cinematheque. Now I’m no film buff, but I’m pretty sure now I know how to solve a problem like Maria. THAT WARDROBE! Never noticed it before. Too busy having con-fi-dence in meee. Let me tell you, if you’ve got to slip away to Switzerland after doing a command performance at the Strasburg Folk Festival this is the way to do it.

Take it from the top (left): felt hats from Need Supply Company;  cape from Anthropologie; compass and whistle keychain from Brook Farm General Store; knit button hat from Steven Alan; gray wool booties by 80%20; backpack basket from Kaufmann Merchantile; sweater by Steven Alan; yellow skirt from APC; boots from Totokaelo; gray jacket from APC.

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.

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.

in the bag

So yeah, it seems I can’t get enough (a) rope jewelry, (b) tie dye and (c) L.A.-based handbag designers. Seriously though, it can’t be my fault they’re all so good can it?

That being said, this bag from Le Bulga just about as perfect as they come (and yes, based in L.A.; yes, handmade; yes, simple, beautiful, sophisticated). It’s also on sale here. Birthday celebrators take note.

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.

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

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