The French just do it better.

Bright young thing, model Anouck Lepere, fiance of Jefferson Hack on the cover of French Playboy. When will Americans learn that this lean, confident sexuality is much superior to The Girls Next Door? 

xx til next, 

A

Second Skin.

I adore American Apparel not only for bringing back the body suit, but also for giving us the Nylon Spandex Micro-Mesh Body suit (which I imagine as the sluttier, provocative older cousin of the body suit who got kicked out of boarding school for sleeping with the Dean.)

xx til next, 

A

T by Alexander Wang

Could it really be true? 

Affordable Alexander Wang?

This is such a dream, I cannot speak.

I have been drooling over his effortless chic ready to wear line for three seasons knowing full well that I did not have the finances or the common sense to spend $150 dollars on a T-shirt.

Well now I can own a piece of the dream and so can you. 

T by Alexander Wang, “will feature 12 styles — from tanks ($28 wholesale) to T-shirt dresses ($40) — all cut in the designer’s signature languid style, with colors ranging from simple whites and heather grays to lavender, chartreuse and cerulean”. “Necklines are stretched and armholes are strategically lowered so that it looks worn in,” he explains. “It’s like sleeping in a T-shirt and then wearing it the next day. It’s not this crisp little T out of the dryer. It’s draped and kind of wilted.”

I am dead over this.

xx til next,
A

Welcome Back Beanie.

Can we take a minute to discuss this decidedly unfussy accessory? 

The beanie has always in my eyes been more of a provider of warmth than Sartorialist fodder. My earliest memories of this cold weather accoutrement would have to be on a school trip to Alcatraz where it was deemed a necessity by my mother so as not to catch cold. Admittedly, I have not spent much time thinking about it since. But this fall at Burberry and Alexander Wang it proudly defied all my preconceived notions and stood coolly tall atop Iekeline's head. This sent me diving feverishly into my hat and glove drawer only to return unsatisfied with a slouchy, crocheted version of the trend which seemed a little too Ashlee Simpson. 

I am not one to give up quite so easily however. I scoured Intermix, Diavolina, Madison...all not structured enough and with too much adornment and yes. Slightly defeated I went to Rite Aid to buy a pack of cigarettes and there low and behold was the perfect beanie. Black, structured, no unnecessary adornment and $6.99. 

voila.

xx til next, 

A

Voyeurism has truly never been more satisfying.

Lately I have been spending far, far too many hours hunched over my Macbook indulging in www.TheSelby.com. The blog is a deliciously indie take on House Beautiful. Todd Selby steps inside the inner sanctums of today's most innately stylish and at times zany movers and shakers. I'm currently envious of Mitch Alfus, (The Leather King of NY)- his NY studio steeped in sooty old medicine bags and Montecristo cigar boxes. I guarentee once you take a peek at artist Meryl Smith's spookily romantic taxidermist take on interior decorating- you too will be hooked. 

Who can deny the insanely satisfying feeling of a fly on the wall?

xx til next,

A

Olympic Gold, Lily's Sold.

While I must try to contain my tears rumor on the street is that Olympic champion Michael Phelps is dating fashion's own Lily Donaldson. Poor Vladimir! Could that love story truly be over? I did see Lily and Vlad in Cannes this past May and they looked completely and terribly in love. 

Things to consider here:

-If this pairing is in fact true, will we be seeing less and less Lily in French Vogue? I'm sure Carine won't feel quite as fond of Donaldson.

-Will Vlad find another catwalker to mend his broken heart? 

-Was this pairing at all influenced by Vogue's April cover? The idea of models and athletes is devastatingly proper, as Giselle and LeBron demonstrated.

We will soon see I suppose!

xx,

A

Hey Rich Girl!

I have been on the edge of my seat all summer anxiously anticipating the arrival of The Virgins music video for Rich Girls. This anticipatory glee has only heightened after I found out that the leading lady in the vid was to be none other than fashion darling and mischief maker, Behati Prinsloo. Music videos and models have always gone hand in hand, ever since Helena Christensen smoldered in Chris Isaak's Wicked Games vid. 

Models just possess that insatiable quality of devilry which when combined with surreal beauty, conceives the perfect devil may care attitude of a video vixen. In the Rich Girls video Behati exudes that simple and enviable sexuality of good girl gone bad. 

Enjoy! And try not to feel too bitter at sweet Behati- very few can kill it in a sequined baseball cap and garters quite like she.

xx,

A