just looking

Vanessa Bruno

Clu

Dior

VPL

Pleated layers of seersucker silk, subtly assymetrical jersey folds, a delicate gold band of wit, and graceful knit drapes - would love to make room in my wardrobe for these, but I'll settle for seeing, not touching.

Images from lagarconne; image of ring from fabsugar

with their own hands

My idea of a summer getaway, far away from the city in a private universe. The owners did most of the renovation and decorating themselves, just in time for their wedding. I can't think of a better wedding gift. Read the full article in NYT here.

Images taken from nytimes.com

scissors, paper...

With the inordinate amount of magazines I have lying around, plus folders of inspiring images I have ripped out of magazines over the years, I thought I would finally put together a proper scrapbook. I find it difficult actually, to pull together disparate images into something that just clicks together perfectly; much easier on a computer and Photoshop because you can resize, crop, browse through tonnes of visuals quickly.

But it is deeply satisfying whenever I finish one. I look at them and feel like, "Yes, that's it."

isn't she terrific

Yes everybody loves Jane Birkin, but why the hell not. For me, there is no better expression of timeless.

Images from tfs

S$2,543

That's how much I have spent on clothing and accessories in six months, a total of 34 items. This is about $423 on a month on 5 to 6 items. I'm actually quite staggered by the number. I need to think of shopping as a functional activity, not a form of recreation, and be honest with myself. Time to stop.

Photographer: Terry Richardson
Magazine: Vogue Paris June/July 2009
Model: Anja Rubik

Image from vogue paris

a year on

I read this article in NYT last year, and found it fascinating; it provoked a long train of thought about how I felt about the things I buy, and why I buy them. I blogged about it and had an interesting exchange with editor.

Then I forgot about it. Then I went shopping today (it's such a bad habit, to just go poking in shops because I'm bored) and I remembered -

"Fashion is fashion. You can either buy a $50 pair of pants or $500 pair. They'd probably both be just as durable but there wouldn't be fashion. There would just be stuff."

This is how I feel whenever I am confronted with whether to make the economical choice, or the romantic one. Is it about the backstory, the ideas I have about a particular label, or is about value for money? Do I buy the original Ferragamo Vara pumps, or the very well-made "inspired" version by a department store's in-house label? Will it be tapered trousers from Zara, or Acne?

(Note: I DO NOT mean counterfeit goods here.)

I thought about all this last year, and came to no conclusion. This year, I feel like I'm sick of buying my things from mass market shops that have no real aesthetic and design philosophy and everything is just stuff. But then my income bracket hasn't quite risen the same way.

Basically, I buy the best I can. I don't save up all year to plunk on a Dries Van Noten dress or Lanvin shoes or something buttery and soft from Hermes, but then I have been buying better and if I can't quite link a design principle to my new jacket from Zara, I at least make the quality does not suck, and I think of all the cool things the jacket brings to mind - Françoise Hardy on a bike, plane rides to somewhere beautiful - and I feel better about buying, you know, ''stuff''.

work in progress

A while back I went to the Club 21 Bazaar sale to oogle Marni and Dries Van Noten dresses that were STILL out of my price range even with heavy discounts, and found myself quite free after a while, having spotted nothing I was willing to part with cash for.

Then I spotted a huge pile of jeans at the Blackjack corner and an idea formed - I would find myself a pair of men's jeans and maybe get them tailored (if necessary) into the slouchy slim style I've been craving.

I didn't actually find a pair of men's jeans I liked, but then I found a pair of women's Sevens, bootcuts yes, but in the soft, distressed wash I can't never resist. They were size 31, one or two sizes up from my usual, and I figured the soft denim will only stretch and expand further after wearing and washing. I could take in the leg at the calf to make it a tapered cut, and I would have my slouchy jeans, in an awesome material, exact to my specifications.

So here they are, worn rolled up -



They're not quite as baggy at the butt and thighs as I like yet, but walking around in them I'm pretty confident they will eventually stretch into the degree of slouch I want.

To a work in progress.

why not

My favourite colour head-to-toe, shot by the Sartorialist. Why not indeed. She looks so comfortable, I want to hug her. Now I just need to get my hands on some grey trousers...

Image from the sartorialist

cut and paste

I really miss the old En Vogue pages in Vogue Paris, where they were almost little pieces of art, a truly inspired collection of items. Above is one of my favourites, from the August 2006 issue.

The lineup of good is still tasteful as ever in the new layout, but they lack soul.

Images taken from tfs

some days you don't want to get out of bed

Image from the selby

this is how we do it

I love how they look so relaxed and so together at the same time. I long for trousers that fit this well.

And I've been really enjoying Judy's (the second woman) style on her blog, Atlantis Home. I love a woman who's found her uniform and passionate about it. (She is by the way, the mother of Jane of Sea of Shoes.)

Top image from garance doré; second image from atlantis home

the line of beauty

Love the new pictures of Dries show-goers on Garance Doré. I love his clothes and love seeing it on real people even more.


Image from garance doré

swish

This Donna Karan campaign from 1999 (shot by Peter Lindbergh) always makes me want to reach out and touch it. I can almost hear the rustle of the fabric.

Images from tfs