Wardrobe Staples

As you probably know, flat black boots have been in for a while and continue to prove themselves useful. Old news, right?

So why a post on this? Well, maybe now you're ready for a new pair. (Perhaps patent leather? Or perforated leather? There are endless choices!) Or, if you're like me, your favorite flat black faux suede boots (impractical, I know) were ruined in a freak hailstorm that lasted ALL DAY -- I like to call that "The Tragedy of Winter '06-'07".

Here are a few choice pairs:


Donya boot, $39.50 from alloy.com. Comes in black and white.


Ryder boot, $42.50 from alloy.com. Faux suede. Side zipper. Can be worn over the knee.



Leather, with gold detail. Stella boot, $248.00 from bananarepublic.com.


Gray suede (I know, I know, it's not black. Close enough!!). Birkin boot by Bettye Muller, $570.00. (These had better be magic boots...) from piperlime.com.


Leather pull-on boot. Brewster Leather Low Boot, $168.00 from jcrew.com.

I think my favorites are the J Crew boots. Sure, they're not the cheapest of the bunch, but they're leather, a classic shape (the tough look for boots will always be in; all that changes is the clothes you wear them with), and they look pretty sturdy. I walk on campus all the time, and it would be nice to have shoes that I can actually wear in the rain...

Art as Inspiration, part 2

Thought that kimono-inspired tops (like the one above) and dresses were a recent trend?



You'd be wrong. (Take a peek at the lady at the left.) *sigh* The Frocker so should have been an art history major.

Photo credits: www.nordstrom.com, www.metmuseum.org (respectively)

Ahoy, mateys??

News for my lovely readers on the other side of the Atlantic --

There is an exhibit entitled "Sailor Chic — Fashion's Love Affair with the Sea" at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich (yes, the one where the Cutty Sark is). It opened on Wednesday, and I've heard good things!!

Expect pieces from Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and paintings depicting the royal family in sailor dress, even posters from movies like "Anchors Aweigh" and "South Pacific".

See below for a little taste of what you'll get there.


Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (1846 portrait)
The Royal Collection, 2007, Her Majesty Elizabeth II
Photo credit: www.wikipedia.com


Yves Saint Laurent's classic 1962 peacoat
Photo credit: www.style.com



Vivienne Westwood pirate outfits
Photo credits: www.vam.ac.uk



Kenzo's take on nautical

So be sure to check it out, and don't forget to tell me what you think! Leave a comment, email me, anything!

Photo credits: www.iht.com

Musings

For some reason, I've been listening to Beyonce's B-Day CD all day. I just watched the video for Freakum Dress.

That video would have been at least 10 times better if she had worn this:



Or this:


Or this:


(All Christopher Kane, obviously)

Hell, even this not-so-skintight stunner from Pucci would have worked: