Madewell The Scholar Satchel

Length: 12.5"
Height: 8"
Depth: 4"
Strap Drop: 22"
Retail: $138 (shopbop.com)

Saw this on bagsnob (linked), and lurved . . . it's reminiscent of the mulberry (another bucketlist bag purchase -- gotta love that flap) + ps1.  If I weren't such a jew right now, I'd consider buying it since it's within my price range for purses; it's a good size; and it hangs with that hipster/student/I'm-cool-but-I'm-not-trying swag.  But hey, I got my Kieselstein Cord to satisfy my tan/brown flapover craving, right?!  C'mon avelle . . . gimme some sugar.

Mara Hoffman Drape Back Dress

$644.00 (on sale, retail $920.00)

I have a feeling I am going to look for/buy all these superplungeback dresses due to my current backless binge, and will be left with a bunch of useless clothing after this phase passes.  But to be honest, it is hard to imagine finding something like this unappealing at any stage.  One of the reviewers wrote that she wore this dress to a wedding -- I might actually be willing to suffer thru attending a wedding if it meant I could wear this, but my first thought was "I bet the bride was pissed that someone wore something this attn grabbing".  Oh well, at over $600, I guess I won't be entering the room back first anytime soon.

T, 1/20/11:  My god, HOT!!!  Love the back, and gooo maxi!!!  But yeah . . . so pricey.  What would your max be?

Hopeful Shopping: Medium Weight Coats for Warmer Times

BB Dakota Miner Jacket - $65

BB Dakota Riberton Jacket - $60

Rag & Bone Euston Coat - $735

Plastic Island Nomad Reversible Jacket - $99

Rag & Bone Northfield Poncho - $556.50

Evil Twin Military Parka - $144.20

All of these are sale prices, from my Shopbop wishlist.  I like them all, but each had something or another that prevents me from committing to the buy:

BB Dakota Miner

Pros: Color, toggles, leather piping, length, structure

Cons: Reminds me too much of my MissSixty navy jacket

BB Dakota Riberton

Pros: Color, buttons, perfect midweight look

Cons: Also reminds me too much of something else, my superold but eternallove BR trench

Rag & Bone Euston

Pros: Color, buttons, leather piping, contrast of the collar, length

Cons: Seriously?  $735, on sale?

Plastic Island Nomad

Pros: Color(s), reversible-ness for a 2-in-1 item where I actually like both sides

Cons: Price kinda high for something that I feel looks slightly cheap on both sides =(

Rag & Bone Northfield

Pros: Poncho/cape (!!), colors, the draping, the mild checkered pattern, the superheroish back

Cons: Again, $556.50?!

Evil Twin Military

Pros: Color, studding, lightweightness, casualchic feel, I've been looking for/wanting something like this for a while

Cons: Everyone else seems to hate this style (including you, T, I know), and this one seems a tad too long

T, 1/17/11:

BB Dakota Miner:  cute, looks like a&f, lurve toggles, can't really go wrong.   My concern with purchasing jackets online, though, is how thick they actually are in person.  Is this going to be warm enough?

BB Dakota Riberton:  don't really like this for some reason . . . maybe it's the weird way the double breastedness hangs when it's unbuttoned.

Rag & Bone Euston:  always a fan of R&B, but I never really liked green. Double breasted looks better here, kind of cute, but the green still bugs.

Plastic Island Nomad:  NO!!!  DO NOT GET THIS!!!  Why would you want to look like a skinned sheep, and then a grown sheep?!

Rag & Bone Northfield:  supra re: lurve for R&B, but this looks messy and disjointed . . . really now, green + plaid + weird different colored middle?  It reminds me of care bears, where their head/arms/legs are one color, and their bellies are white . . . cute on stuffed animals, not on people.

Evil Twin Military:  this is a green I can do, because of the military style.  Nothing special, I feel, but not bad.

Foley & Corinna Braided Linen Sweater

$137.50 (orig. $275.00)

100% Linen

Only XS and S left

I know it's kinda seethru, but I don't even care, I love the braiding and drape that much.  It is just so interesting, which I really crave in my clothes these days.

T, 12/12/10:  I've been waiting to get to this post, only because I wanted to express how I dislike this one very, very much.  The braiding is chunky, fat, and vein-like, and also makes the shoulders unnecessarily large and football-playerish.  When the model's arm juts out and shows off the braiding, it looks like someone cast a fishing net.  A stupid fishing net where the holes are too big and the fish can escape.  The color is potato sack-y, which I guess adds to the whole fisherman/net feeling of the sweater.  I expected better from Foley + Corinna.

Karen Zambos Vintage Couture Lilah Dress

$350.00

100% Silk (silk lame) - I can't figure out how to add the thing over the "e"

Maybe it is bc it just looks so hot in that pic from the lookbook, but I was drooling over this dress when I saw it.  Too bad it just refuses to go on sale.  Also, I would like to have ppl following me around so that I am always bathed in that lighting.  I can totally see it, I'll come out of the club for some air and just casually "lean" against the wall while this glowy light magically washes over me.  And then James Bond comes and recruits me for his secret mission.  Yah, sounds about right.

T, 12/12/10:  LOL, "too bad it refuses to go on sale."  I never know whether to buy fancy dresses for a "just in case" moment.  Not bad, but for once, I don't think you could wear this casually . . .

Adam Circle Shirt with Cutouts

$122.50 (orig. $245.00)

Size: 8

100% Silk (silk gauze)

I love it I love it I love it I love it

The color, the drape, the neckline, the material.  Everything except the price.

T, 12/12/10:  LOL, why don't I like it?  Think you might've linked me this before in gchat . . . and we said the same thing.  Weird looseness, odd strapping looks kinky, turquoise too garish?

Adam Double Breasted Cardigan with Contrast Trim

$73.50 (orig. $245)

90% Organic Fiber / 10% Cashmere

Not sure if I like the specific item so much as I like the whole look/vibe of this outfit.  And model (I've noticed a lot of my posts are w/her).  Just loving the contrast of the colors (I would never have thought to put these three colors together) as well as items (ditto...a collared buttonup w/a loose cardi and miniskirt? nice).  I'd try to recreate w/stuff I already own, except that I actually don't think I own any of these things, or at least, not in the right colors.

T, 12/12/10:  The only thing I really like about this is the cardi (only because it's long, and double breasted).  Was never a fan of green.  Outfit looks potentially work appropriate though, which is a plus.

Free People Snowflake Pullover Sweater

$68.60 ($98.00)

62% Acrylic / 22% Nylon / 15% Wool / 1% Spandex

Only size M left

Ahh the return of the slouchy sweater.  This one is slightly less so than previous ones, does that mean you will hate it less??  It just looks so cozy, and I love how it hangs/falls at the shoulder, gives it a kind of chill/badass vibe that I always like, since it usually requires a broader shoulder (which I have).

T, 12/12/10:  Looks like a shedding henley, because of the 3 small buttons.  It's okay . . .

Madison Marcus Gilt Blazer with Belt

$234.50 (orig. $335.00)

100% Silk (silk crepe)

So this is really practical - it's a white silk blazer.  Weather permitting maybe one month per year?  And I of course will not smudge or stain or rip this thing at all.  Ugh.  Why do I like things that I clearly am unsuited for!

T, 12/12/10:  Aw, like!  Only after finding out it was a silk blazer -- it's kind of hard to tell through the pics.  But, since it's silk, it'll look diff in person . . . otherwise, I usually think of white blazers (like cotton/linen) as sea captain-y.

Vena Cava Battening Cape Jacket

$455.00 (orig. $650.00)

Only size M left

45% Acrylic / 34% Polyester / 13% Virgin Wool / 8% Wool

Gah I love it.  I always love interesting twists on outerwear, and this has it all - cool unconventional color, draping/gathering, leather piping, ridiculous pricetag.  If I'm not willing to spend that much on a mink, I'm obv not gonna spend it on this either.  Just so nice to look at!

T, 12/12/10:  Why does something that looks like it's made out of felt cost so much?  Is it supposed to be green?

Halston Heritage Jenny Metallic Folded Clutch

$195.00

8" high x 12" long

Leather

I saw this and suddenly decided I want a giant muted gold clutch.  Not for going out/clubbing, but for "quieter" evenings like dinners out.  Seems so adult for some reason, but classycity adult!

T, 12/12/10:  Can't say anything bad about this, really.  How can you go wrong with a soft gold?

Zimmermann Blur Paintbox Top

$154.00 (orig. $220.00)

100% Silk (silk chiffon)

Only size 0 left (but review said it was way huge)

Colors so pretty, it's mesmerizing.  Hahah maybe I really should just get that crayonmaker and just mesmerize myself with swirly crayons meant for 6 year olds.

T, 12/12/10:  Since you know me so well, you can prob guess I don't like this.  No structure, looseygoosey/floppy/messy, random dots/colors . . . it all just doesn't work.  Reminds me of something I'd find at this cheapy f21/wetseal/charlotte russe store called Rave . . .

T-Bags Belted Drape Dress

$52.80 (orig. $176.00)

Only size S left

97% Viscose / 3% Spandex (Jersey)

Soo...too slutty?  Would I ever dare to actually wear this out?  Not sure if I like the giant beads in front, but I'm sure those are easily removable.  Really into backless stuff lately...

T, 12/12/10:  Wanted to like this dress because of the neckline, but I don't like that weird bulk in the front.  Great price though (is it bad that I comment on the prices because shouldn't it just be about the clothes)?

Nili Lotan Camille Dress

$105.00 (orig. $350.00)

Only size L left

100% Silk

hehehe it's a "Camille" dress.  That makes me both grossed out at it, and giggle at the same time.

The color is so pretty, but I'm not sure how the fit/drape would be, since I think the model's bodytype is actually not ideal for the dress.  I would like a nude-ish dress tho...

T, 12/12/10:  I am a big fan of nude and lingerie-ish dresses. $105 is good pre-ebay . . . not so good now.  Very pretty and unfortunate name.

A Note

Seeing as how I've been feeling less than inspired lately, I decided to go thru my endless Shopbop wishlist to record my favs for posterity.  Note: posterity = when I want to look back in the future to see what I used to like.  At the very least, maybe looking at these will give me ideas as to what to look for, although I doubt Ebay will be very forthcoming with such recent styles...

Anyway, just wanted to give you a heads up before I start posting a barrage of Shopbop things!*

*I figure if I add a Shopbop tag to the post, it can mean that the images are from Shopbop, instead of having to type in an imagesource thing in each post.  That's legal, right?

Lookbook Diaries - Vol. I

So instead of posting pics from lookbooks and adding the useless "omg I want it!" caption, I would elaborate on the specifics of the appeal.  Mostly, how it promotes a life/style I want, while subtly suggesting that it is TOTALLY attainable, even though it is of course NOT.

Portrait of a young woman after a typical night out

Realistic!

Not only is her kitchen tiny (bc let's face it, there is no cooking in her life unless done ironically utilizing only the oven for semi burnt confections that the unfortunate consumers will have no choice but to deem delicious), but she was so busy there was no time for dinner, hence the leftover Chinese consumed casually standing up.

Open collar/rolled up slvs & tinymini + fur vest & otk socks = temperature range of about 55 - 70 degrees fahrenheit, totally doable in several parts of the country.  Or at least for about a 3-week window in NYC.

Not!

Her first instinct upon getting home is NOT to immediately change into a giant t-shirt and sweatpants??  I'm pretty sure I do this 100% of the time, at a speed that amazes my roommates - seriously, it's like I am incapable of being inside my apt if I am wearing anything but an enormous shirt and ratty sweats.  She is eating leftover grease w/chopsticks while wearing a giant unpliable ring, and yet manages to spill not a drop on herself.  By this point, I would be wearing what amounts to a youngperson's muumuu, have tripped and bruised myself at least twice, and have spilled food on both myself and the floor.  Also, I'm pretty sure that something on the vest would have snagged on the sequins by  now. 

I want!

The vest, the skirt, the otksocks in shorter boots look, the necklaces hiding an overlyexposed open shirt.

I'm thinking ebay (~$100 max), ebay/F21 (~$20 max), any store I can get it for cheap (~5?), ebay/F21.

Source: Shopbop

Torn by Ronny Kobo "Juliet" Tweed Biker Jacket

Source: Shopbop

Size: L (last one left)

Price: $99 (sale - retail $330)

I've been wanting a Chanelish (but updated) tweed jacket, and this def fits the bil.  Tweed and pink offset by "biker"ish cut and silver hardware.  Unsure re:size, and also is this too TE for $100?

T, 10/29/10: I second everything you said!  Lurve the modern Chanel.  Can't be "too T/E" if it's Chanel-based, right?  Wish this were $50-$75 too, but I can't tell if ebay has skewed my view of a "rsbl" price.