How many times have you said a designers name incorrectly?
Christian Louboutin
To help you not ever make that mistake again here is a list of famous designers with names that many of us (but not me) have difficulty properly pronouncing.
They make beautiful things, the least we can do is get their names right.
The Duster CoatA worn-out old duster. In the old days of the Wild West the coat protected your clothing from trail dust, but not much else.This type of coat was usually worn by deputy lawmen and a popular choice for bounty hunters. While it is called the Duster Coat, a true duster would be open in the back, allowing one’s legs to be protected while on horseback.
But this ain’t that!
A great transition piece for spring! And Spring is just about here. The open silhouette and sweater-like composition keep your look casually chic and—more importantly— comfortable. People compare it to the trenchcoat but it’s not exactly because trenches have belts and way more buttons and the fabric is different.
I prefer no collar and a hidden button or two but the styles can vary a bit. It’s so easy to wear because you just throw it over whatever you have on from jeans to a dress and it pulls everything together.
*Kim Kardashian West taken from Bazaar Magazine
If you need more warmth just wrap a large scarf or shawl and you’re ready to go. A neutral shade will keep you from getting tired of it although a bold color is nice too.
*Bazaar magazine refers to the coat Kimye is wearing as a Duster but only in the fact that it falls a few inches above the ground. It looks like a regular camel coat to me but she does look especially chic wearing an all black ensemble (especially the turtleneck) underneath. And it’s a little more cover than her skin tight latex dresses.
Bags:Mansur Gavriel, large bucket $695 Photo: Garance Doré
and I don’t think they’ve ever really gone out of style. Although right now it’s very “of the moment” and most designers seem to feature one.
Seau St. Laurent medium $1,950 ysl.com
A friend of mine just bought one in a very neutral shade in between white and beige but now she’s not sure whether she wants to keep it. Maybe after seeing these she’ll change her mind.
Louis Vuitton
The timeless Noé bucket bag, created in 1932, has been reimagined sporting the original’s signature leather drawstring, as well as an extra-long strap for casual cross-body wear.
I don’t know about everyone else but I enjoy searching for a good vintage piece. Something that is considered a “good find” so to speak. This is not entirely true because I have never searched very hard, most of the vintage things I’ve bought was found by accident. In other words I wasn’t really looking for anything specific, the stuff just found me (they find me everywhere). But it’s amazing what you can come across if you know what to look for and have some patience. I’m usually delightfully surprised by at least one item. The best places to shop of course are upscale areas in metropolises like New York, London or L.A. I still have a pair of pants purchased from a flea market on Portobelllo Road in Notting Hill. Well made clothes never go out of style.
This kind of shopping comes by way of specialty vintage boutiques (like Decades in Los Angeles where I once bought a small Gucci bag), vintage clothing fairs (where I scored my Pucci wedge sandals), consignment stores (make friends with the owner and they’ll let you know when something special comes in), auctions, on-line sales sites (1st Dibs?), flea markets, estate sales, even yard or garage sales. I bought a one-of-a-kind Fendi baguette from a yard sale of all places. Never used (by the seller that is). In fact it was so cheap that I wondered if it was a knock-off at first. The “best-ever”bag find was bought by a friend of mine – a real steal. She purchased a Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag for only $5.00 and It’s real (major bag envy because I paid full price for mine). So we can benefit from the relatively small group of people who don’t know what they have or just don’t care.
If it’s an estate sale, head for the bedroom where the clothes of the lady of the house are often laid out. Here you could be face-to-face with the situation vintage shoppers dream about – the discovery of an entire wardrobe of a person whose taste is much like your own, and in your size. Keep dreaming, and make her a rich person who shopped in Paris, whose heirs care more about her Sisleys than her Schiaparellis. It can happen. I came thisclose to scoring a vintage Chanel jacket that fit me to a tee rummaging through someone’s closet. I no sooner put it down (never do this) before someone else snapped it up. That opportunity has not presented itself again. I think of it as “the one that got away” but I’m still dreaming….
Such sales in resort areas like Palm Beach, Long Island or Santa Barbara (I just bought a pair of Chanel costume earrings in *Santa Barbara) offer particularly rich possibilities but other suburban places and outskirts have yielded legendary vintage finds. I have friends who are experts at recognizing quality vintage jewelry (a category onto itself) which really helps.
Here’s what you really need to know:
Obviously just because a garment is old does not automatically make it better. OLD is just OLD.
What you are looking for is vintage clothes (accessories, etc.) of great quality and interest. One of the primary reasons for shopping vintage is the chance to buy a garment as beautifully styled and made as the couture clothes of today for less than you would pay for the cheesy, cookie-cutter stuff at the mall. This is easier to accomplish than you might think. Many pre 60’s clothes were made by hand, using beautiful fabrics that are now too expensive for most manufacturers to use (like a perfectly cut navy gabardine blazer I once bought in Toronto with nice buttons) or they have ceased to be made at all.
You should not settle for anything other than perfect or near-perfect condition. If the item is in the almost-perfect category make sure the problem is something you can fix.
Look for great styling, expensive or intricate fabrics, interesting finishing touches, and first-class hand workmanship. These are the qualities that make a vintage garment a wearable classic.
You can always mix classic with your contemporary clothing, in fact it looks best to do so. Most of all have fun looking. Remember, there’s only one of everything!
*the shop where I bought the earrings had one pair of Manolo Blahnik ornate jeweled flats that fit me. The store owner was going to let them go for only $20 but the toe was pointier than I like so I didn’t buy them. Sometimes even if the shoe fits and the price is better than…you might have to unfortunately say “no” if the style doesn’t suit you. You loss is someone else’s gain. Omg Only $20??? You ask yourself, should I have bought them anyway? Shades of Carrie Bradshaw…
Have you made any great discoveries?
Other Sources:Vintage Style – a great overall guide by Tiffany Dubin (former founder & director of Sotheby’s world famous fashion department store in New York) & Ann E. Berman (well-known freelance writer on art collecting and design for publications such as Town and Country, Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Living & The Wall Street Journal) – Harper Collins. p.s. buy the way, I bought the hard cover book at a garage sale during Modernism week in Palm Springs while out riding my bike.
Feeling like some weights been lifted – at least on my head. Even a little trim can make a big difference in lightening up your day. I found a cool salon in Palm Springs called “Spectrum Salon & Spa“. The owner Christine, is originally from Denmark.
a customer painted this for her
She loves boxers (the dogs not the sport) and has fun stuff to look at like clothing and accessories, some vintage. But most of all I love the swings.
A lazy dog waits while his owner gets a hair trim. He’s wondering how much longer….
It encompasses our lifestyle choices in general. Our décor, art, kinds of food we like and restaurants we go to, books we like to read, where we prefer to shop, places we like to travel to, hobbies, movies and people we like to hang out with. Lots of likes! Our tastes are a blueprint for our personal style.Sometimes we can appreciate other people’s tastes even though it’s not “our style”. In any event there’s a lot of choices out there and lots of exciting things to discover, new and old. The key is to appreciate the whole.
Stepping into Dazzles, a Palm Springs Vintage Department Store has a unique style of its own. It’s a definitely a step back in time. Owners Mike and Keith are often asked if their things are reproductions. They’re not. They’re all original items ranging from the 1920’s – 1970’s and everything is in near perfect to perfect condition. Impressive. I was with my sister at the time. It was fun rummaging around and the more time we spent looking, the more we found stuff we liked. Because it’s always nice to mix ‘n match. And stepping back in time has a special feel. Can’t exactly describe it in words – it just does.
with Mike, co-ownerenter through the driveway
Photos: Lisa King (double click on any to enlarge)
There’s nothing like coming across a good ‘find’ vintage or otherwise. I spotted an EmilioPucci pair of wedge wood sandals with scarf print in exactly my size at an outdoor vintage market which takes place once a month in Palm Springs. Only one pair, never worn and with a perfect pricetag.
Hey kids, here’s something new and useful that I noticed in a fashionable boutique
The Mighty Purse is the essential accessory!
It’s a little purse that has a hidden capacity *rechargeable battery. The perfect fusion between fashion and technology. The mighty Purse contains a light weight battery that can fully re-charge any smart device. Then simply recharge via any USB port. It’s that brilliant and that simple! Charge On the Go!
Made of high quality genuine leather. Different colours and finishes. Use as a clutch purse or inside your hand bag.
Because being selfieless is not a good thing.
It can recharge your smartphone up to 2 x per charge. Supercharge me!
Take a sneak peek into Yves Saint Laurent’s studio
Colourful Block Dress: Tribute to Piet Mondrian
as the first YSL exhibition is to be held in the UK this summer. The Bowes Museum and the Foundation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent – which is headed up by Pierre Bergé, the designer’s partner – have collaborated to bring the retrospective, entitled Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternalto Britain.
the master
The exhibition will run through July 11th until October 25th and will be held at Bowes Museum which is a stunning castle near Newcastle, England.
Props from his studio and sketches will also be on display.
I may have to make a trip to England this coming summer.
To this day the YSL “le smoking” jacket remains my all-time favourite piece.
Do you have a favourite YSL outfit, bag, shoe, perfume, lipstick……?
Along with shoes, handbags and sunglasses…a girl can never have too many bathing suitsI brought two bikinis to Palm Springs but was really craving a retro one-piece that would be perfect for poolside. Okay maybe it was just an excuse to buy a new swimsuit. Then my sister told me that Trina Turk, who has a beautiful store in Palm Springs, was most famous for her swimwear. Fast forward…to my new tankini – which reminds me of Emilio Pucci 60’s mod-style glamour. It will look great while sipping mimosas poolside…and oh yeah, swimming.
About Trina:
Infused with bold signature prints and dynamic hues unique to each collection, Trina’s modern and optimistic outlook meld the best of classic American design with a California confidence, incorporating beautiful fabrications and impeccable quality for the effortless elan and carefree glamour.
The Mr Turk menswear line conveys a California dapper style and carries on the brand’s affection for vibrant color and print. Men who want to make asartorial statement can now select from among jackets, shirts, pants, shorts, swimwear, ties and bowties designed by Jonathan Skow. A well-known stylist and photographer, Skow does all the photography for the Trina Turk and Mr Turk brands, and also designs the distinctive men’s line.
The couple split their time between two historic, mid-century homes in Los Angeles’ creative enclave of Silver Lake and in Palm Springs, interspersed with travels up and down the coastline and around the world. A favorite pastime is vintage shopping and their educated collectors’ eyes discover inspiration in any new destination, near or far. They also share a keen passion for architectural preservation.
You’re fashionably welcome.
A worn-out old duster. In the old days of the Wild West the coat protected your clothing from trail dust, but not much else. This type of coat was usually worn by deputy lawmen and a popular choice for bounty hunters. While it is called the Duster Coat, a true duster would be open in the back, allowing one’s legs to be protected while on horseback.
vintage clothing fairs (where I scored my Pucci wedge sandals), consignment stores (make friends with the owner and they’ll let you know when something special comes in), auctions, on-line sales sites (1st Dibs?), flea markets, estate sales, even yard or garage sales. I bought a one-of-a-kind Fendi baguette from a yard sale of all places. Never used (by the seller that is). In fact it was so cheap that I wondered if it was a knock-off at first. The “best-ever”bag find was bought by a friend of mine – a real steal. She purchased a Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag for only $5.00 and It’s real (major bag envy because I paid full price for mine). So we can benefit from the relatively small group of people who don’t know what they have or just don’t care.
p.s. buy the way, I bought the hard cover book at a garage sale during Modernism week in Palm Springs while out riding my bike.
Sometimes we can appreciate other people’s tastes even though it’s not “our style”. In any event there’s a lot of choices out there and lots of exciting things to discover, new and old. The key is to appreciate the whole.
Stepping into Dazzles, a Palm Springs Vintage Department Store has a unique style of its own. It’s a definitely a step back in time. 
I spotted an Emilio Pucci pair of wedge wood sandals with scarf print in exactly my size at an outdoor vintage market which takes place once a month in Palm Springs. Only one pair, never worn and with a perfect pricetag.
I brought two bikinis to Palm Springs but was really craving a retro one-piece that would be perfect for poolside. Okay maybe it was just an excuse to buy a new swimsuit. Then my sister told me that Trina Turk, who has a beautiful store in Palm Springs, was most famous for her swimwear. Fast forward…to my new tankini – which reminds me of Emilio Pucci 60’s mod-style glamour. It will look great while sipping mimosas poolside…and oh yeah, swimming.
Founded in 1995 by Trina and her husband, photographer Jonathan Skow, as a women’s contemporary clothing line, Trina Turk has evolved into an iconic lifestyle brand, celebrating California style with eleven annual collections of chic women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, plus swimwear, recreation/activewear, a Mr Turk menswear line, and residential décor and textiles. Joining the lineup as of 2014 came innovative footwear, handbag and jewelry collections. Oh, I even like the ice buckets.
conveys a California dapper style and carries on the brand’s affection for vibrant color and print. Men who want to make a sartorial statement can now select from among jackets, shirts, pants, shorts, swimwear, ties and bowties designed by Jonathan Skow. A well-known stylist and photographer, Skow does all the photography for the Trina Turk and Mr Turk brands, and also designs the distinctive men’s line.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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