Camel Hair Coat

"A camel hair coat evokes throw away glamour" Michael Kors.  

Did you know that authentic camel hair jackets, scarves, etc., are actually made with real camel hair. It is painstakingly gathered from a camels soft underside.  And one camel only produces a few pound a year.  It is gathered mostly by combing while they are in moulting season, and is cruelty free, as far as I have read.  Pretty cool right.  Chic, stylish, warm, timeless, keeps old school farmers in business in eastern countries, and doesn't hurt any animals.  What is not to love?

I like the idea of a classic, vintage, boyfriend camel hair blazer.  But a great trench is always timeless.

Tom's Shoes... Launching Ballet Flats This Spring!

For those of us who love the "One for One" idea of Tom's Shoes, who doesn't right, you buy a pair of shoes and they supply a child in need with a pair as well.  They also have glasses, and the same goes, you buy a pair (a little more stylish than the shoe I must say) and someone in a third world county gets the eye glasses needed.  What's not to love....except maybe the styles themselves. The shoes are cutsie enough, but just not stylish enough to go with much, although the brides maids below may disagree

But now for the good news.....drum roll please.... Tom's is introducing ballet flats this Spring, what a novel concept! They are adorable, wearable, most likely comfortable, and for a good cause! Bring em on Tom's.
Here is a link to the preview and to get on a notification list if you would like- Tom's Ballet Flats.

Su-shi "Old Skool" Handbag

So its not edible, but delicious all the same.  Meet Su-shi.  It is mainly a handbag and accessory company based in Spain, with stores in France, Italy, Morocco, and even 2 in the US- San Fran and Phily.  With only 2 stores in the US, and not much US press yet, you won't see them on every one else, at least for a while..

I have a serious aversion to many of the big, buckled, satchels out there...However something about the vintage appeal of this bag, along with the coolness of the company- check out their site, with a direct link to the Old Skool bag. 

Check them out on the street...  undeniably, unpretentiously, cool. Right?

1930's Renee Perle's Timeless Chic Still Draws Our Eye Over 80 Years Later...

John Galliano called Renée Perle, the inspiration behind one of his past fall shows, "a kittenish Parisian coquette."

Jacques Henri Lartigue, who immortalized her in his pictures, had another term: angel. The revered photographer met his muse in 1930 on the Rue de la Pompe. He thought she was Mexican, but he guessed wrong; Perle was Romanian, and a model once employed by the French dressmaker Doeuillet. "She is beautiful," Lartigue told his diary. "The small mouth with the full painted lips! The ebony black eyes. From under her fur coat comes a warmth of perfume. The head looks petite on her long neck."

The pair spent two years together, cavorting as if on eternal vacation in Cannes, Juan-les-Pins, and Biarritz, with Lartigue's camera always at the ready. In the "shadowless heaven" of his photographs, glamorous women, including his first and second wives, Bibi and Florette, abound, but Perle's lacquered hair, slender silhouette, modern T-shirts, armfuls of bangles, and talonlike nails shone the brightest. "Around her," Lartigue wrote, "I see a halo of magic"
-Laird Borelli

Renee Perle was chic in such a timeless way...Her arm full or bangels, close dark crop, painted full lips,wide leg trousers, french stripes,  fur collars, are still a look we can incorporate into our more modern wardrobes...and should!
Would love your comments on which timelessly chic woman have inspired your style...

Beautifully Bedraggled Braids

After being stuck inside for the past 231 hours (who's counting though) with an almost 3 year old due to the 2 feet of snow we got in the North Seattle area, I am finding myself daydreaming of anything summer-like.

Though we can't get away with shorts, spray tans, or summer inspired accessories this time of year, we can still bring a touch of that carefree, sunny disposition to our look with a messy, or fishy, or princessy braid. 

These are easy looks to achieve, perfect for your flyaway, frizzy, or otherwise dreary winter hair.  And the long braids look great with a hat on top.  Add a little sheer shimmer to your make up look, and you have a bit of sunshine in January!

Here is a tutorial for the fishbraid easy peasy. 
And for the wrap around Heidi braid, you simply
1. part and loosely comb hair
2. braid two side braids, get all your hair evenly into both.
3. wrap the first over head, toward front, and pin.
4. wrap the second parallel to first behind the other, and pin.
5. pull out any wisps and such that you want, and make sure it looks OK from the back.

French Chicanista Audrey Tautou

When I think of true Classic Style, I think of French women.  When I think of stylish French women, I think of Audrey Tautou.  She is well known for French films such as Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain or Coco Avant Chanel.  I mean really, if you are chosen to play Coco Chanel you must be pretty damn classically chic.  In each of these pictures she is wearing a classic piece that every woman should have in their closed 1. a blazer- a tuxedo blazer, even better sister. 2. a french striped tee. 3. a statement necklace- and nothing else...we aren't complaining Audrey.