Here’s to the best fashion moments that changed the way we dressed in 08.
Spring 2008 RTW
Pre Fall 2008
Fall 2008 RTW
Resort 2008
Click the designer link to view the complete collection from Style.com
Archive for December, 2008
Hayden-Harnett hit Target this past Sunday - and will be available in stores & online (along with Thakoon) until March 15th. I actually have a tiny six-degrees-of-the-fashion-industry history with this label. As a senior at FIT I am proud to say I held down an internship at Vogue, freelance styling gigs, and a regular part time job at a start up accessories company. This may explain my angst with the Hills and the cost of living in Manhattan. Regardless, Hayden-Harnett was one of our competitors at the start up, and luckily so – because I was able to cite competitive shopping of sample sales and boutiques as hourly pay. As I clearly couldn’t get too invested - I had to keep my neutrality in check for business’ sake - it was all price point, materials, and merchandising. Now, however, the love is all out in the open.
The great thing about the evolution of Hayden-Harnett is that they bring a kind of boho-contemporary aesthetic to luxury handbags - super versatile that can go from day to night, from dive bar to club, and from mood to mood. It’s really rare that an indie label will break up the Marc by Marc, Juicy, and Botkier that have the market pretty saturated (have you heard about Project Alabama in a while? Nada -that’s my point). And although the price has jumped significantly in the past few years during their growth phase, it can only be due to the high quality leathers and expert construction. The aesthetic embodies Brooklyn completely - it’s not trying to be the crème de la crème of Manhattan - it’s laid back and youthful and still incredibly lux and aspirational.
Hayden-Harnett is the perfect answer to those damn hipsters running around Williamsburg in their American Apparel, wayfarers, and Chanel cocktail bags. And luckily - Target is the perfect answer to those of us who can’t shell out the bills, or keep a bag free of ink or wine for more than a week.
Shop Hayden-Harnett for Target
Canvas hobo $39.99
Double flap bag $29.99
Hobo $39.99
Umbrella $22.99
As I was stuck traveling most of the day yesterday, I was able to stick my nose even further into the depths of the IPhone by shopping online until my battery reached 10% - died - and then went onto using the beau’s to stave off boredom. While doing so - I sadly came upon the leftovers of a sale Saks was holding online, featuring the Tory Burch Reva ballet flats for only $58 - that’s a little over 75% off!
The rude awakening that is missing a sale then hit me when I read the little red letters “out of stock”. Mild silent freak out ensues - but because I was so P.O.’d about missing out on this, I’ve gone hunting and found a pretty decent deal at Neiman Marcus - $94 a pair for the usual $195, and in an array of colors not yet picked over.
I’m really not much of a flat girl, or one for obvious labels - but when I saw how dirt cheap they were I thought for a split second, hey - if I was going to get a pair of flats I may as well get a pair that could very well be a novelty in a few years. I like to think of my closet kind of like a museum - and what would any 20 something museum be without this flat? Beyond that, you won’t blend in with the crowd of the early adopters as long as you stay out of the country club and stay in colors like fuchsia or tangerine. If there’s going to be a huge gold emblem on your toes - it may as well be countered with a vivid shade - that South of France mixed with a bit of East Hampton that Tory Burch is all about.
Shop the Tory Burch Reva ballet flat sale @ NeimanMarcus.com
Just in from Christmas in New Orleans - and as the brief blogging hiatus should suggest - I was enjoying myself way too much to get in front of the computer. My beau grew up in NOLA, in the area uptown called the Garden District - which up until now was always hard for me to identify with as his house is from the 1800’s, the lifestyle is all about celebrating (socializing marathons), and the formalities (balls) are from another time entirely. It’s such a shame that more people don’t know how beautiful and cultural it is in comparison to basically every other city in this country, and it should be preserved and nurtured way more than the Bush administration could comprehend. I could talk ex-pat for hours - but the pictures really speak for themselves - and I’ll be counting down the days until I’m back again for Mardi Gras!
“Fleur De Paris” shop on Royal Street
Ceiling at St. Joe’s bar on Magazine Street
Angela King gallery on Royal Street
Courtesy of photographer (slash street style maverick) Wayne Tippetts
Contact: Wayne@waynetippetts.com
I was almost offended to see this AKA New York tank in the new Harper’s Bazaar under the “Smart Shopping” title. I say almost, because it’s offensive that someone would spend $225 for a beater & grosgrain - but also because you can’t deny it’s completely adorable, and requires only a quick trip to Mood and some resourcefulness.
This is my definition of smart shopping:
American Apparel tank $17
M&J Trimming grosgrain ribbon $2.98
Joann Fabric embellishments $2.39
1. Cut the ribbon in two separate pieces that will tie at the back of the neck
2. Cut 5 (2 inch) wide grosgrain circles - the less perfect, the more fray, the better.
3. Glue rhinestones onto grosgrain circles
4. Glue one grosgrain circle to anchor where the two separate pieces of ribbon will meet (very tip of necklace)
5. Glue the rest of the grosgrain circles onto the ribbons close to one another
And, after all the cutting & gluing - the description of this top states that the necklace is removable, so all you’ll need to do is hand sew a few snaps around the shoulder straps to keep the necklace in place.
Resort came early this year! Actually, we are technically in what the industry calls “resort” - but the average American girl - not jetting off to Mikonos - would be hard pressed to break out the Rainbow Brite in December. And, forgive me for using such a ridiculous connotation (I would die for Rainbow Brite circa 1990) - but the colors do remind me of just that. Saunders artfully layers pink, royal, and lime chiffon - that cascade together like a surreal little watercolor palette.
I love to spit fire about fashion, and one of my favorite sports is confusing people to no end with psychological insights and terms they can’t begin to understand. This color movement, however, seems a little more apparent - and I think everyone can relate. As my beau is getting his MBA, I often joke that he’s regressing - wearing a backpack, not shaving for days - and I think fashion is moving in a similar direction, although perhaps for a longer lifespan (we can only hope). With nothing but constant woes about the economy, I’m living for color right now - and if nothing else, it instills a sense of whimsy and awe that’s like a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. If you were to daydream a dress at age 5, would it be black? Hell, no.
To view the complete slideshow - visit the online bible, Style.com
Since moving to Texas, I like to think I’ve been in a kind of twilight zone for five months. The weather hasn’t really changed, I’ve never been so busy, and there’s always something new to do. And, in said twilight zone - the typical feeling of winter and Christmas hasn’t hit me at all. In New York - regardless of whether or not there was snow, Christmas meant there were more tourists than cabs, and everyday shopping was like Black Friday. New York is so romantic during Christmas, the lights and the bundling up, the Mexican hot chocolate at La Esquina - oh the grass is always greener.
So, to compensate with the varying 75 degree days - I’ve made a conscious effort to not wear a jacket out, go without tights, and enjoy this paradox called Texas. This past weekend I even spent all day sitting outside drinking bloody’s with the girls, actually feeling hot. As a native northeastern girl, this is incredibly novel and totally messes with my head. My mom has always said that she thinks southern girls must be so smiley all the time because it’s always sunny - and I’ve found she may be right.
As there is now a total lack of cabin fever chic in my dress as well as my state of mind, to curb my nostalgia as I spend Christmas in another totally unseasonal city (New Orleans) - I’m going to have to take it up a notch. Fairisles, shearling, and buffalo checks are what first come to mind, but there is so much more to it than a few textures, patterns, or finishes. Fairisles should be kept tonal or monochromatic - as pastel fairisles are majorly matronly. When it comes to shearling, don’t over do it with a too detailed boot. I like the simplicity of an ugg, camel colored leather, or a Michael Kors type of bootie - stay away from heavy buckles or laces. When you hit the slopes - or your living room this Christmas, I recommend channeling a British royal.
Urban Outfitters $78
Spiegel bootie $59
Dillard’s shearling cocktail bag $14
American Eagle buffalo check coat $129.50
Old Navy knit bracelet $2.50 each
Sporting the Nordstrom patent, fingerless motorcycle gloves from the post “Ridin’ Dirty: Driving Gloves”.
Thanks Emily & Carrie - keep on keepin’ on!
Feel free to send any submissions to Sidewalkisarunway@gmail.com (it makes my day!)
As a die hard bow addict, I’m on France Luxe’s mailing list and so receive their catalogs (which even if it is a dying business - I really do love getting). France Luxe is a small ecomm/direct luxury hair accessories business based in Washington, which I discovered through late night desperation googling for a bow headband last year (see post: Feeling Girly? Take a Bow). The great thing about luxury anything is that when you are on top of a trend that is hard to find - pretty much the only way to find it will be in its original form and usually not so cheap. At the time I was absolutely willing to shell out $50 for a headband, but then of course got angry when 6 months later there were 5 different versions at H&M. Such is the life of a trend in a modern fast fashion world. And - as I’m on a little punk spree at the moment, flipping through the catalog the studded tortoise shell headbands jumped off the page, I got a little excited, and then looked at the price and my heart sank! So, as always - Forever 21 to the rescue.
If you have more than $10 in your checking account, shop France Luxe
Otherwise, budget friendly Forever 21