Toga Party

So hear it is, my lovelies - the Isabella Oliver Toga dress:





This toffee-coloured dress is utterly beautifully constructed. It's lined with a same-tone tricot slip, the drape is spectacular and the asymmetry of the neckline and sleeves appeals tremendously.

Gotta say though, it's not a garment for the faint of heart. It emphasizes every curve, and as you know I am not short on those. I can't wear it to work, it's simply too, well, distracting. However, if you were of straighter proportions than me, I think it would play up the curves you're seeking and be extremely chic.

Scott, my photog, could not stop talking about its elegance.

I will totally purchase from this brand again. But, next time, I will choose something a smidge more conservative, to get as much use out of it as possible!

Secretly, this is my dream purchase du jour:


I think it's extremely unlikely that it will still be available on April 1, when my no-shopping moment has passed. But if it is, this is my next splurge.

Thanks, Lucy, for giving me a chance to see this beautiful line up close and personal!

The Shopping Strategy

What makes shopping valid?

I've spent a lot of time considering this lately - well, for years actually - but even moreso recently because a) I have every item of clothing I could ever need to put together attractive and functional outfits each day, b) because the better I get at sewing, the less I feel like purchasing a finished product. I want to create it! and c) because there's a lot of waste in this world that I don't want to contribute to. The money I don't spend on clothes I don't need or that I could make, is money I can apply to other endeavours. Eating, for example.

Here's what happens to me everytime I decide to leave the fashion shopping alone for a while:

• I discover a great new boutique.
• One of my fave stores opens a warehouse sale location.
• One of my fave stores has the sale of the century.
• An item I cannot live without jumps into view.
• Every fucking thing looks great on me.

I know, it makes you want to cry for me.

In light of this - and btw it started happening as soon as I decided merely to consider not shopping for the next couple of months - I have had to determine my core, legitimate justifications for purchasing new clothing in general.

Thing is, it's not good enough to say "I'll get a lot of use out of it". I'm a pretty experienced, dare I say talented, purchaser of clothing. I use everything I wear because I don't have so much of it that I can't get through it all - and because I don't buy things unless they are practical and desirable enough for me to wear them constantly.

Nor is it ok to say "It's on mega-sale". Yeah, a good deal is thrilling, but I'm starting to feel so awful about the cheapness of labour and how I contribute to the cycle (keep in mind, I am my own sweatshop lately). I just can't go there with abandon any longer.

The notion that I cannot live without something, so awesome is it and perfect on me, is a compelling one. Of course, it's one I wouldn't have so many opportunities to exploit if I weren't a stealth browser. But one could have umpteen such things, were she to find herself in a lucky patch, and at some point it's just more of the same.

So here's what I've decided - and this is for purchases after March 31 or whenever I decide I want to buy something next (see how I'm emotionally leaving my options open). I will not buy unless:

• It's totally useful.
• It fits very well.
• I love it to bits.
• The price is right i.e. I can afford it comfortably, whether or not it is on sale.

What's your take on things? I mean, we who read the fashion blogs are peeps who tend to love all elements of shopping as, if nothing else, a means to an end. There's the hunt, the feel, the kill, wearing, taking photos, collecting and the list goes on.

Do you feel controlled by your impulse to shop? Do you have new or standard systems in place to keep you confident that what you purchase is right for you and your lifestyle? Do tell.

Make / Do Style

On Jan. 1, fabulous Kate, of Make Do Style, issued a new year challenge. It advocates a 3-month save, culminating (if you choose) in a high-quality - and fiscally guilt-free - splurge. The idea is that many consumers, such as those who love clothing and fashion tremendously, tend to fritter their money away on impulse and/or disposable purchases, and then lament the lack of funds to buy those beautiful dream-items they've been wanting forever.

How many times have you said you want some Manolos "but they cost $700.00", only to discover (or to stringently avoid discovering, by hiding the credit card bills) that you've spent practically the same amount in a month or two on skimpy object A and impulse-buy B. (This example can be recreated at any price point.)

Now you know my take on the New Year's resolution. It's way too high on the scale of commitment. By its very nature, it encourages the late-January (col)lapse.

And yet, I appear to be following this challenge. (Mega-disclaimer: I reserve the right to change my mind and buy everything withing walking distance at any moment according to my whims.)

Of course, I've put my own spin on it. In my universe, fabric and patterns don't count as fashion expenditures. I figure, if I want new things between now and March 31, no prob. I simply have to get out my machine and sew them.

Yes, my friends, the use of the word "simply" is completely tongue-in-cheek. We all know how easy I find making things, what with my excess of experience and incredible degree of patience. :-) But, except for newbie element, and maybe the passionate nature, I am optimally positioned: I have the machine, the patterns, the fabric (what? I have a little stash), the interest, the love of finished products, the sew-in labels - they arrived!

In fact, my sewing obsession has effectively done away with any time I might spend shopping. Um, I'm not exactly fast like lightning.

So far it seems to be working out well. No doubt you'll see 83 more posts on this topic before the end of March.

PS: To those of you asking about the Isabella Oliver dress - ok, I'm giving away the secret that it's a dress - I'm going to a party on Saturday, and I intend to wear it then. Photo shoot coming up. Thanks for being interested!

Urban Jungle

I love how density and privacy interact here...

Photo of Gregory Phillips Architects work, courtesy of desiretoinspire

Little Thoughts

Many of you know the fabulous blogger Yulanda. She writes a great post, takes an incomparable photo - and has some of the most effortless style ever (trust me, I've spent time with her in real life). Some of you may also know - and she has discussed it openly, I'm not talking out of turn - that Y's been fighting a fairly significant battle for the last few months.

In addition to her many delightful qualities, Yulanda is one of the bravest people I know. She has uncomplainingly managed through numerous procedures, not only recently, but as a child when she encountered serious illness for the first time. And lately, as I understand it, it's been a pretty dark night of the soul kind of moment, one of those times when exhaustion and the unknown are hitting hard.

So I have an idea.

To disclose, right off the bat, I'm one of those children of hippies who's been brought up believing that the power of optimism is inestimable. As a long-time practitioner of yoga, I am convinced (because I've seen occur often enough) that thought is energy, and energy transforms things. I've been giving Y a lot of thought for a long time now. When I walk to work, she pops into my mind. When I read her tweets about hospital visits, I consider how she's feeling. When I check out the latest issue of FASHION (a publication where she interned last year), her image is close at hand.

I wonder how great it would be if we could all take some time, when the moment is right in our own (over) schedules, to think about this terrific woman - and to consider her challenge in the context of our optimism. I mean, why not bring the entire blog community to bear? Aren't we more together?

Furthermore, I'm sure that Y would love to know you are thinking about her (if she hasn't heard from you recently) and wishing her speedy recovery. I know I'd want to hear from you! So, may I suggest that you head on over to her blog and write her, well, a little thought?

I for one, am not tired. And I'm sending some bright energy her way.

hPod?

You have got to check out this post, which provides extremely cool photos of a small space, egg-shaped dwelling that offers all you need to live comfortably - if austerely - in 20 metres squared. McMansions, beware!

Sunday Lunch

While I'm still feeling meh (I think I may have some kind of sinus thing - and I've never had a sinus thing before), I am trying to eat well (as opposed to everything in sight).

Have a look at this modified Real Simple recipe I made. The recipe is in the current issue...

Poached eggs with sauteed tomatoes and wild mushrooms, served on top of multigrain bread, toasted - I like my toast rather dark!