fleur de me

the flowers on this nicholas kirkwood stiletto remind me of these old-school fleurchons from the daisy loom. i can so see these with my VK knit dress, raspberry tights and a skinny yellow patent leather belt. last year, while visiting a friend in chicago, i was on a quest to find peeptoe oxfords. there were plenty of oxfords. i remember trying on a fabulous pair of black patent and gold YSLs in bloomies. i asked a salesman if they had any peeptoe oxfords and he had no idea what i was talking about. this year, they are so ubiquitous, i don't know where to look first. what is it about this look that so appeals? schoolmarmish yet sexy. i die.

fo: VK ribbed mini dress

i had absolutely no intention of making this dress until i saw anky's amazing LBD version on ravelry. so totally anthro with the little poufy sleeves and flared skirt. how did i not recognize the potential when i first saw this mari lynn patrick design in the 2007 spring/summer VK?


i lengthened it a bit and left off the button placket...all the better to accessorize with. since i completed the dress last weekend, i've worn it five times(!) it's so much fun to style it in different ways. one moment it's funky caj with a pair of green wide-leg khakis, sparkly narrow belt and pointy-toed flats...the next it's dressed up with a long necklace, teal tights and rust suede gladiator heels. clearly, i will be pulling this piece out of the closet repeatedly this fall.

and dig the inverted pleat in the sleeve. such an easy, breezy way to create a bit of volume.

anky's idea to make it in a tweedy wool is inspired. there's so much less risk of the dreaded VPL-cling of a drapey wool/synth blend. i used rowan felted tweed which is soft and not the least bit scratchy against my skin.

move over, bonnie, this may be my new fave mini dress.

town & twinkle

the third (and possibly final) twinkle book was released this week. town & country promises to channel the sophistication of life in the, you guessed it, town and country. i have yet to crack the cover on an actual copy, but i have deja vu all over again nonetheless.

some months back, i got an email from twinkle asking if i'd like to be a test knitter for the book. they sent me the instructions for a design called "matinee coat" and a box full of twinkle soft chunky. i dutifully put the pattern through its paces, making copious notes along the way.



as is the case with most twinkle knits, the genius is in the details: a statement-making short-row ruffle, pleated bind-off sleeves and hip-slung pockets. the yarn may be chunky, but the techniques are finely tuned. it's a fast and fun knit that's also deceptively challenging.


here's my version of matinee coat. i prefer the black and cream version depicted in the book over the blue and mint green they sent me...but, free yarn is free yarn!

this coat design is so sculptural, i feel like i'm wearing a piece of art. it looks amazing styled with the long print dress on the book's statuesque model. for my more dwarfen frame, i prefer to keep the silouhette streamlined and wear over a pair of jeans or tights and let the sweater be its own statement piece.


i didn't have time to test-knit the second pattern, so i recruited my friend lucinda to make the hugely bobbled millbrook sweater. i was pretty envious of the result. it's a gorgeously hip design that's as cozy as a down sleeping bag.

bombalicious

my fall must-have: a fitted leather jacket. have been obsessing over this style since i saw this pic of sienna miller sporting one over her alice + olivia sequin strap dress last fall.


now the bomber gets the bobble treatment (albeit crochet) at british etailer asos. they refer to it as a "cardi," but to me, the shape is straight-up bomber all the way into the wild blue yonder. i love the idea of bold snaps on a knitted garment. i could see this knit in something with a bit of sheen and structure...a silk/wool blend perhaps?

big news

according to in style, chunky knits are once again very (ahem) big for fall. of course, those of us looking for fast and fabulous projects couldn't be more delighted.

note the gargantuan cowl in the donna karan design above (click on the image to see it in its XXL glory). is wenlan chia moonlighting? seriously: do big-name designers create their own knitwear designs? i'm guessing they farm these tasks out to freelancers.

the stella mccarthy looks to be concocted from some fluffy alpaca. the design is so basic; what makes it completely covetable is the styling. i just love the idea of pairing a slouchy, oversized turtleneck like this with a floaty mini dress and suede boots. just the right mix of feminine and tough. this is also a great way to extend the life of a silky summer dress. or to get an evening look to work in the daytime.

the crisscrossed cable on the nicole miller is an interesting, unique construction. i could see this edging used on a shrug or cropped sweater.