The Antidote

Now that my bitching is out of the way (see below), I must share these pictures of Akris Fall 08 RTW. I will not intellectualize this collection. I love practically every piece. It looks luxe, comfortable, wearable and a just the slightest bit off-kilter. And I am so enjoying it's sophisticated vibe. Like a woman of a certain age, or her entirely hip daughter, could work from the same closet. Those skins (fur, suede) give some dazzle to the austerity. And the colours - or shall we call them neutrals - really appeal.

Consider This The Backlash

A couple of days ago, Balenciaga showed its Fall 08 RTW collection in Paris. I considered reviewing it until I realized that, as far as Balenciaga is concerned, I've got a major bone to pick and I'm just not going to be able to move on till I speak my mind.

I recognize that I am in a miniscule minority - and I'm really not the kind of person who likes to dwell on the things she doesn't personally appreciate - but I feel compelled to write that I am one of the 10 yahoos who absolutely loathes that (now iconic) Balenciaga Spring 2008 RTW collection. Those awful gladiator sandals, those over-constructed, puffy-shouldered florals. I do not see how they're even remotely wearable - much less as an ensemble - for your average (nay, above average) woman. I mean, there are about 3 practical shapes in the entire runway collection - and they're all in pastel satin!

I've been trying to warm up to this collection for months now. Every magazine I open, lauds its engineering and the technology that underpins it and the beautiful, contradictory shapes. Well, I'm sorry, I don't care. I have no idea what these clothes cost. I'm sure it's a hideous fortune - hideous being the operative word. I don't care if it looks just like what everyone speculates Mr. Balenciaga himself would have designed, were he still alive today. I don't care if it's designed as a clever play on fashion as armor. If it manages to make even Jennifer Connelly seem wan, angry and ugly, it's just not worth the cash. (I do realize the photog had something to do with that...)

Having unburdened myself so snittily, I'll revisit Ghesquière's latest offering and get back to y'all. In truth, on quick review, it's infinitely lovelier. Something tells me someone's gonna give me what for, over this post. I'm a smidgy scared, really.

Hell in a Handbag

I loved that what's in your handbag meme I saw going around a few weeks ago... While I do want to believe the majority of tagees simply carry gum, cell phones, compact arts and crafts projects, PDAs, keys and lipbalm, I'd like to know where they're stashing the tampons, unpaid bills (still in half-opened envelope), umbrellas, full-on mountains of makeup, tubes of handcream, and mushed up muffin leftovers in a greasy napkin. Honestly, is that just me?

I like to call myself a minimalist and, if you saw my colour-coded closet, you might agree. But the handbag is the last frontier of the tchotchke, the thing containing the thing you might need at any moment, the portable analog of that crap-drawer you have in your office that you're constantly throwing stuff into and pulling stuff out of 'cuz you need it. Really.

Having apprised you of my bag-as-container philosophy, I should give you a head's up about how I feel about the bag as status object. In short, I think every woman should follow her heart's desire in accordance with her budget, but I'm not into spending 3 grand on a patch of leather with a logo. For me, the fun is in the find and in the relative uniqueness of my purchase.

Bags are a super way to approach vintage, for example, if you're not quite sure about how you feel about reusing old stuff. When well-preserved, leather is very durable and it ages beautifully. And, in truth, if you're set on that Chanel quiltie, you're going to find it for half a fortune on consignment. Also, the likelihood that anyone's going to have your specific snake clutch or patchwork hobo circa 1972 is slim. Which makes it that much more undefinably chic.

Soon, I'll do a post of my own purse collection. Till then, I thought I'd show a few bags (or affordable brands) I enjoy.

For the Stylish Vegan In You

I really like Matt & Nat, a brand out of Montreal that's readily available in TO. The shapes are lovely, the pleather frequently indistinguishable from leather. My mother raves about the M&N bag we bought for her on a recent visit, which gets loads of compliments in Charlotte, where she lives.

The blueberry Japanese Paper bag (bottom) is the one my mother owns...

Roots used to have better design, but the leather is quality

Banana Republic does very nice lady bags - with room for all the crap

M0851 is not inexpensive - but it's phenomenally gorgeous

I'll Tell You A Secret

I love Rick Owens. I am even fortunate enough to own something by Rick Owens (Lilies) (purchased at 70% off from my best kept secret - other than that I love Rick Owens...) He's so Jil Sander on a bad drug trip. And by bad I mean good.

Maybe it's 'cuz I'm a Canadian Girl, but I love the fur with the neck ties. LOVE. And his asymmetrical zipper thing, so delicious.

Canadian Designer Alert

As you may know, I keep the tourism industry of Quebec afloat, and this is in no small measure due to the gorgeous, affordable design available in La Belle Province. One of my daily blog reads, Montrealcentric Dualite, has alerted me to an interesting e-zine, Gloss wherin I found these great photos of the Spring/Summer '08 White Label collection.

Designer, Evelyne Dupuis, has created a wearable, sexy series of interchangeable pieces that capture the whimsical yet architectural, sexy vibe of the Montreal culture. A votre plasir:

If You Have $275-odd Sitting Around...

...You should really take 5 minutes and surf this site: Donna Marquit Lingerie.

For a girl who thinks she knows everything (about underwear), can't say this brand has been on my radar until now. Methinks it's very NYC / Patricia Field circa Sex and the City.

If your assets are a pert mini to moderate, have fun getting with your inner leopard, neon sign or dominatrix. (I've never actually seen this brand up close, but the models are not buxom and the cut seems best suited to smaller breasts.)

Note to readers who think spending $175.00 on a vinyl bra is absurd: The vinyl bra costs $175.00. (And the panties are $85.00?!)

Full Disclosure

Could my fundamental exhibitionism be more evident?! Here are the new glasses - and the tiniest part of the H & M shirt I bought. FYI - There is so not enough fabric on that shirt if you eat one Oreo cookie. What was I thinking?

BTW - This is one of the first shots with the new Canon SLR. I'm am not joking when I tell you that this camera is so awesome that it will cook your dinner and pick up your dry cleaning in addition to taking your picture. The resolution on the photo above has been converted to web quality so that it isn't the size of a small application. And still it is so much clearer than anything else to date. Gotta love technology - even if you have no idea of how it works!