12:04: balenciaga

Showing posts with label balenciaga. Show all posts

Put a bow on it

The hair bow returns. Unlike the sweet ribbon-tied varieties seen on Disney princesses, this one from Balenciaga is a modern take on the concept. I prefer it on brunette hair, since it looks more subtle that way. If you're down to spend an insane amount on what is essentially a leather Balenciaga headband, here it is.

Objects #1

It Can Be This Simple #001

Garance Doré, Citizens of Humanity

TOPSHOP x Nordstrom Event

Wearing TOPSHOP top (c/o), TOPSHOP coat (c/o), AG jeans (c/o), BALENCIAGA boots (and here)

I just wanted to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who came out last Saturday for the TOPSHOP x Nordstrom event in Valley Fair! It was so amazing to shop with all of you, play dress up in teddy bear sweaters, and dance to the beats of a rad lady DJ. Also, an equally enormous thank you to the Nordstrom Valley Fair TOPSHOP team: you are all seriously the most amazing group — I had so much fun! And finally, to my amazing, patient, and and most handsome fiancé for attending the event with me and taking my photos. — I love you! Thank you all around.

Office Friendly Grunge of the Minimal Kind

BALENCIAGA boots / ZARA scarf / WAYNE dress / KAREN WALKER sunglasses

Take a relatively simple dress, with almost a negligee feel, and toughen it up with a pair of heavy duty boots and you'll be surprised how grunge the contrast will be. On top of that layer on a plaid scarf in a wooly fabric and all of a sudden the dress seems almost casual. I know in a world according to Saint Laurent, we'd all go full 90s grunge with girlish prom dresses layered under lumberjack plaid, but that would read awfully desperate in the cool confines of my corporate building. I much prefer taking in the trend in small doses.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco / A Break in NYFW to Discuss my West Coast Uniform of Late

I've been working some long hours at work, which means I may start the weekend with the energy to think about what I'd like to wear, but by the time Wednesday rolls around I want something that is easy. Like this Wayne dress I picked up at Barney's end of season sale. I had a feeling this hidden cape dress would be a favorite as is, sleeveless and all, but who knew layering an Everlane shirt underneath it can make it an actual uniform of sorts? I'm into the built-in dressiness of the boxy shift dress shape, but in lazy cases I like to counterbalance that fancy vibe with my Balenciaga cut out boots.

WAYNE dress / EVERLANE shirt / FASHIONOLOGY necklace / BALENCIAGA boots and here

Never Nude

You'll have to forgive me for posting once again in the middle of nowhere. What can I say? The sun refuses to shine in San Francisco these days, so I have to go chase it and wear my most summertime outfits while it's still shining somewhere. Halfway up the road towards Sacramento there's this perfect spot for frolicking (read: trespassing) on fields. I have to admit, during the week my apparel is nothing like this: for one, I am not allowed to wear cut offs to work. So when I get to shoot pictures, which is on the weekends, I am a total Never Nude. I promise more work appropriate (and fog-appropriate for all you San Franciscans) will be coming soon. Just let me have fun with the sun for a little bit longer, ok?

And let's hear it one more time for Kerrie Yeung. And for the love of all things good, just go out and buy these cross earrings already.

KERRIE YEUNG rings, earrings, and bracelets (c/o Kerrie Yeung) / MIU MIU sunglasses / BALENCIAGA boots / EVERLANE shirt

Play Nice

So you've managed to justify the price of something like Balenciaga boots. Now what? Well, part of the deal that you have made for yourself is that you would wear them with everything, and treat them very well, even if that means wearing flats for your short commute to work and then swapping those Zara flats for the big boy Balenciagas once you enter the plushy carpet of your office.

The non-initiated will scoff at the thought of women using dust bags that come with pricey items to shield pretty designer things from the harsh fabrics of the mortal world -- clearly using the dust bags as travel sacks instead of their intended purpose of protecting said designer objects from the dust in your closet. But this is a true fact of working women everywhere: There's no secret to wearing fancy shoes to work, it just takes a little more planning and an extra bag.

Even then, after solving the commute issue, one of the trickiest things when it comes to buying very expensive "nice" things is that they have to be versatile and literally go with everything. My designer things must earn their keep by playing nice with other pieces in my closet. For example, my new favorite Kerrie Yeung cross earrings must play nice with an amazing Fashionology shark tooth necklace. And the Balenciaga boots with their harsh tom-boy attitude manage to compliment the attention-grabbing shine of the Iosseliani bracelet. Thems the rules, and they are easy when you stick to a plan.

KERRIE YEUNG rings, earrings, and bracelets (c/o Kerrie Yeung) / IOSSELIANI bracelet (c/o 30 Ponte V) / MIU MIU sunglasses / BALENCIAGA boots

Urban Audrey Hepburn

Natalia Vodianova inspires women everywhere to pair their Balenciaga by Alexander Wang turtlenecks with Nike Free Runs for fall. I love it. Enough to make my consider selling more of my shoes and stocking up on flats.

Swap your heels for Nikes:

Two Things: Style Pros

Will just look at these two exemplary displays of styling? On the left: a ladylike blazer is contrasted by the intrinsic casual nature of a well-worn tee. The LV bad is an immediate luxe touch, and it works so well with a pair of toothpick distressed denim. My favorite touch, though, are the Modern Vice summer Jett in a cherry red. They are divine and I want them.

On the right: a more moody color palette is at play, almost masculine. The Isabel Marant parka is in the same hue as the relaxed way-unbuttoned shirt, revealing a delicately layered necklace. The pants are no-fuss and are hastily tucked into my favorite shoes of the moment, the Balenciaga cut out boots. The slicked back hair and total lack of purse makes this seem completely effortless and almost too cool.

Which to you prefer? I'm torn. I really am.

Not As Pictured

I've never really considered these Balenciaga's much as boots, but more of an intense sandal of the aggressive gladiator variety. Seeing them this way makes it so much easier to style with the most basic and summerific combinations. This isn't to say I go sockless, FYI. I'll have you know there are tiny microfiber mini socks, basically just covering my toes, invisible to the eye when I'm warring these.
ZARA skort / BALENCIAGA apron boots

Apron Boots

The investment has been made: the long-lusted after Balenciaga apron boots arrived at my door, and like a mother caring for her kin, I took it in for some service at the shoe repair shop fresh out of the box. There was nothing wrong with them--the apron boots are pretty much as amazing as they look on tumblr--but caring for these shoes should start on day one. Here's what I mean; the boots are meticulously crafted with impeccable details, including a sparkly clean wooden sole with a light covering of black paint. This is a no no for walking around in the city since wearing off the sole means the first time you bring them in to get the soles re-surfaced it will be more like a reconstruction job. Do yourself and your wallet a favor, bring them in to a talented cobbler to put on a protective rubber sole. It'll run you about $45 and its totally worth a couple hours wait. If you're in San Francisco, I swear by the nice people at Shoe Wiz in the mall. They are speedy and get the job done right.

ZARA top, ZARA skort, BALENCIAGA apron boots, CARVEN collar, KATE SPADE ring

Wear This Now: Parisienne