Kate Moss For Japanese Vogue???

Flowers for 2008 yadda yadda. 

Kate Moss for British VOGUE? OK. 

Paris VOGUE... alright... 

American VOGUE... in 2008 doubt it. 

But Kate Moss for Japanese VOGUE??? WTF?

Comments?

Vogue Nippon.

Topshop Withdrawal Sets In

I was wondering how long it would take before I started to miss my near-daily trips to Topshop. (The answer: exactly 20 days.) Excuse me while I deal with the realization that the Frill Platform will never be mine. Boo.

Merry Christmas O' Glossy Ones!

Photo: Boombox via disneyrollergirl.

Happy happy holidays!

And speaking of T, here's a few stunning snaps from a recent holiday baubles spread. It's just our little way of saying that we hope all of you are having a wonderful holiday season, whatever you celebrate and wherever you may be in the world.

Fashion is Spinach – even Blueprint agrees

I'm up in Delaware now, enjoying the perks of staying with parents (so. many. cookies!) and catching up on all the things I love to do here (excessive thrift shopping, plus my mom saves me every single issue of the New York Times' glorious T Magazine, which means there's a pile of fabulousness to pore through upon arrival). My last Blueprint also arrived (sniffffle…), and I'm quietly savoring it (curled up in bed with the kitties, as it should be). But I was beyond thrilled to see they published a quote from Fashion is Spinach (the actual book, not this here blog) and it sums up both so well, I thought I'd print it here too:

"I don't know when the word 'fashion' came into being, but it was an evil day. For thousands of years people got along with something called style, and maybe, in another thousand, we'll go back to it." – Elizabeth Hawes, Fashion is Spinach

J'Adore Zee French...

OK I know, I know! It's so old...but so good. I tripped upon it and had to post it for those that perhaps missed it the first time. Who said fashion wasn't funny???

Jezebel giving it to French Vogue. 

via Madame Mode.

Wind and a Prayer

Genius. Capturing the lightness-of-being from his highly acclaimed Spring 08 show - Albez does not disappoint by following though with a jaw-dropping spring campaign to match. Russian beauty Olga Sherer in the spotlight one more time. 

Picture via fashionologie.

My Hairdryer is Too Heavy for Me and Other Embarrassments

Upon my return to America, I decided to splurge and get a fancy ionic hairdryer, the Conair 213X Infiniti (er, if $34.99 -– which is what I paid, though the price has jumped since then -- can count as a "splurge," but being that I've never spent more than $9.99 at CVS on a hairdryer in the past, it does in my book). In any case, I do love how it defrizzes and smoothes down my superfine, superthin hair – although that could be the effects of finally living in a place without 95 percent humidity – but after about 10 minutes of holding it over my head and moving it around at various angles, my arm starts hurting from the weight. Which is apparently 3.45 pounds. (But um, at least I'm not the only one who has complained about this? If that helps?) I know, I know, I'm a ridiculous weakling.

So, I'm thinking of exchanging it for something less… hefty. (And, in my defense, also with better power and heat options.) Does anyone have a fantastic hairdryer they swear by? Share with the group, please!

More fun with colors!

{Continuing today's theme from below, before the city guides…} I so love this stripey ad, via Swissmiss.

Fashion is Spinach City Shopping Guides: We're baaack!

You may have noticed below that we're working very hard to increase our shopping guides (er, before all our valuable shopping information becomes completely obsolete and/or we sink into a giant burrito-induced coma. Ah, America.) We've updated our Singapore edition and added a new Kuala Lumpur guide as well. And we're just getting started! Stay tuned…

FiS City Shopping Guide: Kuala Lumpur

What can I say about Kuala Lumpur, other than it is severely underappreciated by tourists everywhere? After more than four years living in Asia, I hadn't yet made it to the Malaysian capital, mostly because every time I asked anyone about it, the answer was a resounding "eh."

Perhaps my experience was bolstered by low expectations, but I loved it. If you're planning an Asia trip, it wouldn't be at the top of my destinations (cities like Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing or Hong Kong offer more in the way of sightseeing). But if you are looking for a quick stop and love to shop, then this is the city for you. Whether it's local handicrafts (wooden bead bracelets and gifts galore) or mainstream shopping (Topshop! Mango! Zara!), there's more than enough here to fill 2-3 days.

Me, I did what I could in just about 24 hours. Due to my time constraints, this is by no means a comprehensive guide to shopping the city (I invite more in-the-know readers to leave their favorite spots in the comments), but it should get you started, especially if you're just there for a weekend jaunt.

A few things first:

1) You can find great deals on high-end hotels in KL, which makes the stay that much more enjoyable. (We finagled a $110 per night rate at the Ritz Carlton, which included a free breakfast -- and a to-die-for bubble bath. It helps to call them directly to see if they're offering any special rates during your stay. The service was really impeccable – and the pillows were impossibly fluffy. Really.)

2) The biggest complaint about KL seems to be the less-than-honest dealings of the taxi drivers, who often try to charge higher-than-they-should-be flat fees instead of using the meter. I mostly refused to get into cabs where the driver didn't agree to use the meter – but if the driver was offering a reasonable flat fee (no more than R10, about US$3, to go across the city), I usually just took it.

(To their credit, every single cabbie I had was cheerful, chatty and extremely helpful answering all my incessant questions about the city and where to go.)

3) The LRT (metro) system is very clean and efficient, and I used that a lot during rush hours to get across the city.

4) I found prices to be pretty close to their US/Singapore equivalents (occasionally slightly higher, but not much). So you're probably not going to get amazing deals here, but you're not going to get stung by huge mark-ups either.

Okay, on to the shopping!

Stop 1: KLCC
KL's main tourist attraction is KLCC – a.k.a. the iconic Petronas Towers – which tower over the city and can be spotted from almost everywhere. They're very impressive during the day but at their best at night, when both towers twinkle with lights. Once you've taken the requisite photos outside, head in to check out the huge mall inside. You'll find most of the usual mall-store suspects, but this Topshop was my favorite (its sale racks had sizes and items that were sold out in Singapore, and the main selection had special pieces I haven't seen elsewhere, like items from the Celia Birtwell collection.)

Stop 2: Central Market, Chinatown
Just a short LRT ride from KLCC is Chinatown, where the Central Market is known for being one of the biggest and best shopping spots for antiques, "antiques", local handicrafts, clothing and more. You could easily spend two hours traversing up and down the rows of small shops. I loved that the sales people are polite and helpful and not in-your-face aggressive (which seems to be the standard sales tactic of most other markets in the region). I got some great gifts here – look for ceramics, baskets and other neat finds -- plus piles of wooden bead bangle bracelets (about $2 each) for myself.

Stop 3: The streets of Chinatown
Head out of Central Market and wander your way up towards Petaling Street. There are plenty of local handicraft-laden boutiques along the way as well as local shops selling kitchenware, ceramics and more. I spent quite a while wandering around the neighborhood and poking into any shop that looks interesting (of course, keep in mind that I am the kind of person who gets excited by Chinese restaurant supply shops). The main drag of Petaling Street is bad-fakes central (where you'll find lots of aggressive sales merchants) – I pretty much bypassed it completely, though I did find one great little shop here called the Dexon Button Shop (45 Jalan Petaling, 603-2070 8603) . It's a sewer's fantasy – drawers and drawers of buttons of all shapes and sizes. Very cool.

Stop 4: Mall mania
We already mentioned KLCC above, which is massive and shiny and infinitely shop-able. We were also completely impressed the brand-new Pavilion mall, which was still in the midst of opening during our visit. Here we found an even bigger Topshop, plus hundreds of boutiques like Marc by Marc Jacobs, Zara, Calvin Klein, and the emptiest Forever 21 we have ever been to. Have you ever been to a big Forever 21 when there is almost no one else in it? We can honestly say we have never had that experience before now, and it is really, really pleasant. The basement level food court and restaurant row had a ton of tasty options.

One of the city's famous old malls is nearby Sungei Wang, which is the kind of grungy local mall that is fairly typical of Asia. You can grab some tourist-y souvenirs here (we loved the bright, ethnic-y tops for R15, which we're planning to cinch at the waist to make a mini-dress) but the best part is probably the 1st floor "local designer section," where you can browse boutiques from some up-and-coming Malaysian designers. It's not that cheap, and the selection is hit-or-miss, but we did grab a pair of funky trouser shorts from one local designer (in the interest of finding cool golf wear).

A short walk away is Berjaya Times Square, home to the world's largest Borders bookstore, if superlatives impress you. It also allegedly has a fun park complete with rollercoaster inside, but we were short on time and couldn't find it, so we have no idea if it's a good rollercoaster. (Anyone?)

PS) In the name of thorough shopping, we also took a jaunt out of the city to the Melium Outlets (62 Jalan 8/91 Tama Shamelin Perkasa), which has discounts on past season collections from brands like Tod's, Ermenegildo Zegna, Aigner and Stuart Weitzman (unlike Petaling or Sungei Walk, these are authentic items). I imagine that, like most outlets, it can be hit-or-miss, but we were thoroughly disappointed by the place. The only things we spotted were a great Tod's bag (still $900) and a funky Furla ring (still $50) – not exactly the amazing bargains we were hoping for.

PPS) I took the Aeroline bus up from Singapore – a five hour drive but fairly pleasant, especially because they played the dvd of High School Musical 1 on the way up and the way back. I realize that is some people's worst nightmares, but all the six-year-olds on board and I had a great time singing along.

Got more KL tips, shops and suggestions? Please leave 'em in the comments for all to enjoy.

Last updated: December 19, 2007

Please note: These guides are very labor-intensive and are meant to provide shopping suggestions to visitors and locals in each city. Please do not reuse or republish the information or photos without express written consent from the author.

FiS City Shopping Guide: Singapore {newly updated!}

Here's the latest version of the Singapore edition of our Fashion is Spinach City Shopping Guides. [We suggest you head to the permalink and print this out to take with you.] Now, we try to keep these things up-to-date, but since we're no longer actually in Singapore to check up on these things, we always advise that you double-check to make sure stores are still open before you head out. Have Singapore suggestions of your own? Add to the comments or drop me a note. Credit cards ready? Happy shopping!

Stop #1: Ann Siang Hill

This Chinatown area street has become a hub for some of the coolest stores in the city. Not-to-be-missed spots include The Asylum (22 Ann Siang Road, (+65) 6324 8264), an amazing graphic design firm-slash-boutique, which stocks design books, funky accessories from cool local designers like kwodrent and kuanth.com and their own unique products. I'm always completely inspired after every visit.

Just down the street is Style: Nordic (39 Ann Siang Road, (+65) 6423 9114), a fantastic smorgasbord of Scandinavian design products. It's where I first discovered such amazing products like Froso fabrics, Nudie Jeans and Filippa K fashions.

And down the street to the other side is the very pink Front Row (5 Ann Siang Road, (+65) 6224 5501) , which has an Dean & Deluca café downstairs and a boutique of fun fashions (including chic French clothing line A.P.C. and local Singapore darlings Woods & Woods) upstairs. Keep in mind: Most places are closed on Sundays.

While you're in the neighborhood: Just nearby, the Red Dot Design Museum -- a new branch of the original one in Germany -- is a fun place to find both coffee and creativity. For more shopping, turn left at the Scarlet Hotel onto Erskine Road for a few more cute boutiques like eggthree (33 Eskine Road, #01-08, (+65) 6536 6977) and Anthropology (not to be confused with Anthropologie -- they're not related). Or, head the other way past Front Row and walk down Club Street, which has several cool boutiques like Venue (44-46 Club Street, (+65) 6323 0640) and Vanilla Home (48 Club Street, (+65) 6324 6206).

A short walk away is Telok Ayer Street, where you can find pretty, photo-worthy shophouses and the lovely little Books Actually bookstore. (125A Telok Ayer Street -- up on the second floor, (+65) 6221 1170)

Where to eat: Despite its Chinatown location, Ann Siang is home to several cute French bistros, including Les Bouchons (7 Ang Siang Hill, (+65) 6423 0707). Or head down the hill and into the heart of Chinatown for great, cheap noodles and dumplings at Lan Zhou La Mian (19 Smith Street, (+65) 6327 1286).

Stop #2: Haji Lane

Singapore's newest hotspot for hip boutiques -- just one block over from Arab Street -- still feels like an undiscovered gem. I love the boutique/ice cream parlor Pluck (31/33 Haji Lane, (+65) 6396 4048) as well as nearby Salad (25/27 Haji Lane, (+65) 6299 5808), a neat emporium of black and white things.

In the past two years, there's been a growing number of fantastic new boutiques springing up on the street, like Soon Lee (56 Haji Lane, level 2) and Billet Doux (16A Haji Lane). They join old favorites like edgy little retailer White Room (37 Haji Lane); and two outposts of secondhand clothing store House of Japan (#55 and #78 Haji Lane) , which always has plenty of funky vintage finds -- including my beloved old Japanese kimonos. (But if I find there are no good vintage kimonos left after this, I'm totally removing the recommendation and keeping the store to myself!) Be sure to walk towards Beach Road at hit shops like 2 (at #2).The shops tend to keep odd hours and many are closed on Sunday and/or Monday, so your best bet is to go by in the late afternoon/early evening during the week or on Saturday.

While you're in the neighborhood: I like to poke around the shops on Arab and Bussorah streets for things like fabrics, wide-brimmed hats and baskets. On Bussorah street, right by the Mosque, there are a few cute boutiques -- pay no attention to the touristy junk outside and make sure you go in. A recent discovery was Grandfather's Collections (42 Bussorah Street, 6299 4530), a suprising trove of neat gifts and vintage housewares.

Or walk down to the Seiyu department store at Bugis Junction, which has a recently expanded outpost of minimalist Japanese housewares brand Muji (on level 2). There's a bigger Muji now in Paragon mall on Orchard Road and in Marina Square, but really, can you ever get enough?

Where to eat: One of my very favorite restaurant finds in Singapore is B Bakery at 15 Bussorah Street (just two doors down from the Kampong Glam Café). They serve light, fresh fare like salads, sandwiches and vegetable quiche -- and if you have room for dessert, their warm cinnamon buns are really amazing.

Stop #3: Orchard Road

If you're in Singapore, you'll find yourself on the city's main shopping hub of Orchard Road nearly every day. It's home to hundreds of shops (mainly big brands) and isn't generally cheap (but not much in Singapore is). First, let's get it out of the way: Topshop is at Wisma Atria (435 Orchard Road), and it is every bit as good as they say. If you're an American (and faced with the dismal dollar), the prices in Topshop in Singapore are actually cheaper than in the U.K. Stock up!

(Psst… Just downstairs from Topshop are more U.K. high street brands, like Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge. And local boutique Eclecticism – which has labels like J Brand Jeans and Orla Kiely – is also now in the building).

Okay, now that that's done: Next door to Wisma Atria is the Takashimaya/Ngee Ann City shopping center (391 Orchard Road). Level 3 is home to Japanese mega-bookstore Kinokuniya, a great source for amazing Japanese design and craft books (and just about any other reading material you could ever want. Their English-language design and fashion section is amazing!). One floor up is the Fourum, a hub for arts & crafts stores (including Art Friend, which is full of great crafty inspiration).

Just across the road is Paragon mall (290 Orchard Road), where I especially love the new big Muji outlet on the 4th floor and the darling Blue Canopy housewares store right next door. And way farther down at the end of Orchard (a quick cab or bus ride) is The Cathay shopping center, where you'll find great little boutiques like the recently relocated Déjà vu Vintage and adorable stationery shop woodwould.

While you're in the neighborhood: Oh, let's face it -- if you're on Orchard Road, you are only there to shop your little heart out.

Where to eat: Um, where NOT to eat? Orchard Road has as many food courts and restaurants as it does stores. I always love the Shanghai-style dumpling hotspot Din Tai Fung for delcious pork dumplings (two branches: basement level, Paragon and level two, Wisma Atria). Our local readers also recommend the cheerful Project Shop Blood Brothers Cafe (third level, Paragon), the hip Marmalade Pantry (basement, Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Road) and its more casual sister spot, Toast (#02-11 Ngee Ann City). (I personally always grab sushi at the place behind the Topshop women's department on floor 2.) Another favorite for sandwiches and simple comfort fare is Cedele on the third floor of Wheelock (above Borders).

Stop #3A: The Orchard Road extension -- for serious shoppers only!

We would not recommend bringing your husband/boyfriend/potential boyfriend along for this one, but if you're a serious fashion lover (and a serious bargain hunter), you will not want to miss out on a visit to Far East Plaza (14 Scotts Road), just off Orchard Boulevard near Wisma Atria. It can be an absolute madhouse during weekends – we recommend you go on weekday afternoons for the least crowds and the best service – but it is also an amazing place to score inexpensive fashion finds and designer seconds from brands like Marni and Marc Jacobs, particularly if you're willing to root around a bit.

We always start at local boutique chain Bysi (ground floor, streetfront entrance), where trendy fashions – many of which have recently appeared at Topshop or Zara – are reproduced and sold for much less than their foreign high-street equivalents. New pieces are added every Wednesday (if not more frequently), so regular visits are a must.

Once inside Far East Plaza, we always beeline for 2cm (with branches on the second and third floor – the quieter third floor outpost is our favorite), where you can score incredible designer seconds as well as original items from the owner/designer, Vivian Cheo, who recently launched her own shoe line. On the second floor, Therapy and the two branches of Glitz are two of my own must-stops, though many of the other boutiques are worthy of a browse as well. And, it never hurts to ask if they can give a discount – most stores are manned by their owners and are usually willing to knock of anywhere from 10 to 30 percent off the price tag.

Other noteworthy stops in Singapore:
+A new favorite of mine is Stamford House (39 Stamford Road) near City Hall, where you can find great shops like the adorable Swirl (#02-05, 6338 5020)) as well as some up-and-coming Singaporean designers. Just down the street, the lovely Felt (11 Stambord Road, #01-08 Capitol Building) stocks more great finds, including fab Singaporean label Hansel. {And from there, you can pop over to the Raffles Hotel for your requisite Singapore Sling.}

+If you're willing to go a bit off the beaten path, there are a few small boutiques with interesting, well-selected ranges of hard-to-find local and international brands. For women's wear, we love Epitome (14C Kensington Park Road, Serangoon Gardens), which has a fantastic mix of emerging labels, including the top brands from Bangkok. For men's wear (especially amazing denim) and a small women's selection, our pick is The Lawn (38 Ean Kiam Place, Tanjong Katong, 6729 9385), which has a small but carefully edited range of boutique brands (prices can be high -- but there's a fantastic sale room!). Closer to the center of town, the large Designed in Singapore (24 Mohammed Sultan Road, 6733 9954) highlights a full range of local talent. The funky furniture selection is well-priced and really fab.

What have we missed? If you've got a recommendation, please leave it in the comments!

*Last updated: December 19, 2007*

Please note: These guides are very labor-intensive and are meant to provide shopping suggestions to visitors and locals in each city. Please do not reuse or republish the information or photos without express written consent from the author.

Sort of exactly what I had in mind

I *love* the super-saturated colors of this Portuguese apartment, featured on Cookie's Nesting blog.

In which I get decorating inspiration from The Darjeeling Limited

I suspect I'm going to be about three months behind on everything for a little longer, which explains why I only made it to The Darjeeling Limited yesterday. I'm a full-on subscriber to the Wes Anderson style of filmmaking (this recent, extensive New York mag profile on the eclectic director can serve as your Public Transportation Read of the Day) and have been looking forward to seeing the film for months. I'm also -- as you may know -- a frequent traveler to (and madly in love with) India, so the combination of the two was just fantastically great.

I won't go into plot critiques, but what I took away most from the film was a renewed commitment to bright colors and bold patterns and quirky objects and eclectic finds. I'd been veering a bit towards simplicity and minimalism lately – both in my wardrobe and at home – but the film, and all its technicolor goodness, has planted me firmly back in the vivid, vibrant camp. I'm totally going to embrace a mix of bright colors and patterns in my next apartment. I'm getting excited just thinking about it. Bring on the teal!





PS) Also, how incredibly gorgeous and gamine was Natalie Portman in the opening "short movie"? If I had serious cheekbones, I would totally rock the short crop. Also the incredible Marc Jacobs wardrobe.

PPS) How much do I want a proper matching luggage set now? So, so much. My three-for-$99 ebags.com set, though it has seen me through something like 12 countries, is no longer cutting it aesthetically.

Insider Trading

At the risk of sounding like a washed-up Carrie Bradshaw - I don't know about you but my New Year's resolution is to stop buying silly shoes and invest in something solid. And by solid - I mean Miuccia Prada. Patrizio Bertelli - CEO and husband to Miuccia has apparently been hinting that the company will go public in 2008. With profits increasing a reported 63% in 2007 alone - ultimately it would probably equal a helluva lot more shoes. 

Presentation is everything

I love these fab gift tags made by Angry Chicken and gifted to all of us on the Internet. They express exactly what you can't say out loud, but in a highly adorable way, which kind of makes it okay. The one above would definitely come in handy for me from time to time. Check out the full selection in PDF download here.

Time Travel with Louis Vuitton

Supermodels, hot-rod cars and a paint-box-of colours. Is it the 80's? 

Mert & Mercus: love. Eva Herzigova: love. Stephanie Seymour, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Angela Lindvall and Natalia Vodianova. Love, like, like, love and love. 

Combination of toutes les choses with orgasmic expressions on top? I don't know - does this sell handbags??

Louis Vuitton Spring 08 Campaign
Pics from frill.com

Material World

What's a girl to do when Barney's goes on sale??? Shop? I succumbed to the pressure of these lovely Derek Lam beauties that seem to have been calling my name....

PS. I will be channelling favorite French Vogue-ites whilst wearing.

Katie Holmes, my personal hair hero

We don't know what they put in the water over at Chez Cruise – it wouldn't surprise us if Tom was adding in something -- but Katie "Call me Kate" Holmes has been looking pretty great lately (er, if somewhat devoid of personality). We instantly loved these shots from the January InStyle, via the incredibly enjoyable A Serious Job is No Excuse.

We also seriously love Katie's hair. We have a somewhat similar haircut, and we're wondering how we might get that voluminous, slightly flyaway curl thing. Do we have to invest in a curling iron? And, um, is that way too '80s to even consider, or do regular people still use curling irons? We just don't know.

NOT ALLOWED TO WATCH THE CRAFT

what's going on: craft time hosted by california vintage! we're building exciting boxes to stash your pressies for the ones you love. retired record cases, ribbon and glue will be supplied.
where: california vintage at 2111 sunset blvd.
what time? tuesday december 20th at 6:30
what to bring: 3 dollars to cover supplies, camera and good pals.
what else? due to limited space the max is 10 folks per "class" if the response is overwhelming we can break it up into hourly groups.
rsvp: hmetz@americanapparel.net

coming soon, life drawing, sock monkeys and screenprinting!

Reader question: Serious suit help!

We are always extremely flattered when people ask us for fashion advice, though we usually have no idea how to answer (and um, usually don't, now that we think about it, sort of guiltily). Which is kind of how we feel about this question, but we're going to do our best. We're hoping some of you readers can step in and help this nice, job-interviewing girl out a little.

Michelle in Montreal writes:

I was wondering if you had any "working girl" suit ideas for a graduating university student. All of the interview-ready suits that I've tried on just seem stiff, awkward and unnatural! I like skirt suits, and have been searching for something dark (grey or black), appropriate for formal interviews and reasonably priced (under $250) -- but not stuffy or aging. Can it be done?

First, Michelle, a few confessions:

1. We own exactly one suit. We had it custom-made when we lived in Beijing to our exact specifications, which were: slim-cut, very fitted jacket and slightly higher-waisted pants with a long, lean, slightly widening leg. I believe we used a J.Crew catalogue photo as our reference point with a few modifications. I think it cost maybe $90 total, including the fact that we had three pairs of pants made (one in flats length, one in mid-heel length and one in tall-heel length. We cannot overemphasize enough how the right, just-above-floor-grazing length can make or break a pair of pants.)

2. We cannot actually remember the last time we wore this suit. Probably to some sort of interview for a work article. But we like having it around just in case someone invites us to a corporate-y event where our usual ensembles just won't fly.

Now, short of suggesting you fly to Beijing and make a beeline to Ya Show Market to have some suits custom-made, we would probably send you to Zara. (Er, do they have Zara in Montreal?) I find they generally stock a few basic yet nice suit-y pieces each season, in modern, updated silhouettes at pretty reasonable prices. (Guys, we also suggest you head to Zara for your cheaper suit needs – the selection is really not bad.)

And, for just a little more money, J. Crew (pictured above) also has some basic, well-made suit options, with lots of mix-and-match pieces that you can easily rotate between. A good suit will last you for years, so it's likely worth the little extra money to get something well-made in a higher-quality fabric.

[update] J. Crew happens to be having some good coupons right now, which can shave up to $50 off your order.

Finally, though we do realize that some people have jobs where they have to wear a suit (as opposed to, say, cherry-print jammies, which we are still wearing even though it is 2pm), we always like to encourage non-suity options in workwear. A clean-lined dress with a fitted blazer over it is incredibly stylish and less stodgy-corporate than a traditional suit. And we love the idea of a slightly funky blouse under the jacket. Although maybe it's best to start experimenting after you get the job.

One final piece of advice: Do not wear a suit if you are interviewing for a creative job. We can remember wearing a particularly hideous charcoal gray number with a French blue button-down (what can we say? it was the late 90s -- French blue was huge!) to our very first post-college job interview, which was at a Majorly Important New York Publishing Company. Let's just say no job offers were made. We're pretty sure our permanent HR file there probably has some sort of huge red stamp on it that says "Wore a Shoulder-padded Suit – Never, Ever Hire." Ah, hindsight.

And so, readers! Do any of you have suit resources/advice/thoughts to share with Michelle? We have thoroughly exhausted all of our suit advice, and are hoping you can pick up where we left off.

Introducing: Recap Thursdays!

It got off to a slow start (which we will blame on that whole "overseas move" thing), but do not worry: Share With the Group Fridays is not dead! (In fact, it will return tomorrow, in fine holiday form.) Our plan is to allow commentary all week, and then do a short recap of some highlights from last week's question on Thursdays so you don't have to go back and click again and again.

And so, here's a little review of the answers from the last question: What was the last thing you bought? Here are just a few of the fabulous things Fashion is Spinach readers have been scooping up this season:


1. Big, bold, cocktail rings. (We love this smoky quartz version from the Blake Lively-endorsed Liza Shtromberg.)

2. Boys' blazers from Brooks Brothers. We've been scouring the thrift stores for one ourselves. Two green thumbs up to the whole shrunken-preppy look.

3. Oversized Orla Kiely bags! (How cute is this leather shopper? And also: When does our first shipment from Singapore arrive so we can be reunited with our Orla Kiely bags again? We miss them!)

4. Rolls of old-school arcade tickets! Reader Ali is thinking of using them as gift tags. They've got "potential crafty project" written all over them.

5. An Alba Fan Club dress emblazoned with tiny Eiffel towers. Anna, it's so cute!

6. Tons and tons of vintage! Sounds like some great finds are being unearthed out there; personally, we've got an eye out for little capes (like this 50s eBay find. At currently $24.99, it's not exactly a steal -- but so cute!)

Really, that's only the beginning of the great buys: There were tons of good answers -- thanks so much to everyone for sharing! Stay tuned for the next installment, in slightly more timely form...

Sorta wishing we still lived on a tropical island right about now

Via the extremely charming and incredibly bookmarkable Katy Elliott, we are really feeling these pics from Trina Turk's new resort collection. We are also wishing we owned more vintage hats, particularly pink, feathery ones.

Incandescent Irina

Debuting her first single in a way only feasible for a supe - Kaiser Karl doing the intro - Sean Lennon on guitar and Chanel's Pre-Fall show the occasion. No wonder she's looking a little smug - what's left - movies? 

Pic from style.com.

Wardrobe Study...French Vogue Style

Pics from The Sart and elle.com.

The Glossy Book Club

Just in time for Christmas. Essential (and not-s0-essential) reading for the holidays. Send it to Santa and wish for the best. 

1. The Fashion Designer Survival Guide: An Insider's Look at Starting and Running Your Own Business by Mary Gehlhar

Industry consultant Mary Gehlar dishes up advice on everything to start-up costs to production information. Oh yah - forward by Zac Posen!? Might be worth it for that alone? 

2. 100 Years of Fashion Illustration by Cally Blackman

Fashion illustrator lover that I am - this already has a reserved spot on my bookshelf... 

3. The Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia

Elle's Fashion Director serves up advice on style including a concise list of her 10 fashion essentials. Number one and two are the LBD and a men's white shirt....perhaps the reading is a little dry but still worth a peruse? Extra bonus: illustrations by Ruben Toledo. 

4. Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People by Hamish Bowles

Who doesn't want to see inside Madonna's rural retreat, Oscar de la Renta's mansion, Christian Louboutin's enchanting house-boat on the Nile, or any number of Karl's palatial homes? Added bonus - all pictures shot by legendary photog's like Annie Leibovitz, Mario Testino and others. 

5. First Gossip Girl Collection by Cecily von Ziegesar

If you're missing Serena and crew over the holidays - curl up and catch up with the complete first collection. Warning: brains may turn to mush if read in one sitting. 

Fashion's IT Boys....Blogging??

Follow me here for their insight.....

Icons

Maybe not an original idea at this point, but still good. My fave - Anna Piaggi hands down.







Pics Blackbook via Pret-a-porter Prostitute. 

7 things about me...

I've been tagged! NY girl-about-town, Em from Oui C'est La Mode hit me so here I go.

Allllright. (No promises that this will be the most gripping moment of your day...)

1. I'm a creature of habit and nothing makes me happier than a LARGE coffee (one milk) and toasted bagel with swiss cheese at my desk in the morning. (Natch while surfing WGSN before the day begins).

2. I don't believe in "saving" my favorite pieces. I bought these vintage YSL pumps on ebay a few years back and I enjoyed a few too many nights on the dance floor in them - and unfortunately they have the scars to prove it.  



3. My last purchase was this dress. Occasion - crazy Christmas staff party. Lost a few sequins over the course of the night. Nuff said.

4. I wish my next purchase was going to be this: 


5. Confession: I used to sew a lot and now hardly do. However - lame as it sounds I'm currently finishing a camoflage doggy coat for my American Staffordshire Terrier. What?! It's -15 celcius right now!!

6. Lastest joint purchase with my boyf. Piece by Montreal graf artist Omen. 




7. I once bumped into Karl Lagerfeld on the street. He was exiting Colette in Paris with Lady Amanda Harlech. He was charming, polite and seriously made sure his pose was dead on. (Dude in the background was his driver.) This is the pic I snapped:

That's it! If you feel so inclined - consider yourself tagged;)
Bisous, The Glossy Ed.