{ the family jewels }

{ the family jewels }

to me, these images transcend fashion. they are so stunningly stylish, but feel like they might have been made in the twenties or seventies as easily as today. and who are these enchanting sitters?! disgraced royals? impoverished aristocrats? haute bohemians on holiday? i am enthralled, intrigued, and altogether envious! { styled by catherine baba / via catherinebaba.com }

{ how to wear } cropped kimonos

{ how to wear } cropped kimonos

a client of mine received a pink glamourwrap from her husband for christmas (lucky lady!). she plans to take it with her on an upcoming cruise, and recently emailed me for ideas on how to wear it (besides the obvious 'throw it over a bathing suit' suggestion). this prompted a search through my inspiration files; here are a few of my favorite wrap stars. these styles can also be exquisitely executed with any cropped kimono you already own:

1/ i love nicole richie's casual evening outfit. with a pregnant belly, she proves this look works on all body types! i think her ensemble would be equally chic if the dress stretched to the floor. wear this to dinner anywhere in the world and feel both appropriate and alluring.

2/ natalia vodianova epitomizes hippie chic in a minimalist white sheath (with sleeves!). keeping her hair and footwear similarly simple allows her to go wild with a patterned wrap and serious statement necklace. this is slightly dressier than richie's interpretation, and would work wonderfully for a wedding.

3/ catherine baba's costume may be too much for some, but strip away a few accessories and you've got a pretty pliable rubric. like our other ladies, she keeps her underpinnings pretty simple, letting the topper do the talking. reimagine this silhouette with leggings, jeans, or ~ in the case of my cruising client ~ a pair of palazzo pants! finish it with boots, à la baba, or a pair of strappy sandals and an obi belt!

{ how to wear } vintage furs

{ how to wear } vintage furs

i loved reading last week's swide article on anna dello russo. she's become such a style icon thanks to her unforgettable appearances at the international fashion weeks, so it was interesting to hear how she prepares for these public appearances:

"the styling work (is) the same, only done to myself... it's all planned and thought up in advance... i get ready like six months beforehand. i edit the clothes (about 90 outfits for each fashion week). i think of what would look good on camera." - anna dello russo

fascinating, no? if nothing else, it makes me realize how unprepared i am for the new york shows starting next week! as i begin to get ready, i'll be looking to another street style star for inspiration: the captivating catherine baba:

i love the above images from last winter ~ the way she transitioned her accessories throughout a day, moving the belt outside (and to the side) of her fur coat as she got cold.

fast forward a number of months, and it's great to see the way she's worn the very same coat (and sunnies!) to this year's couture collections, tying it this time around with a simple grosgrain ribbon:

i get the feeling that her looks are completely uncalculated. clearly she thinks quite a lot about clothes, but puts them together in an effortless, freewheeling way. a woman who dresses to suit her mood ~ how modern! how divine!

i have an over-the-top vintage ivory fur that i've been wondering how to wear. voila! now i know. and while we're on the topic, i dare you not to want a fluffy (faux?) fur scarf after peeping this pic:

{ photo credits: jak+jil, hanneli, the sartorialist }