An Open and Shut (Book) Case

So, what's irking me this lovely Friday? Why, it's the fact that the darling brand that is Kate Spade New York (and for all intensive purposes we shall today refer to only as Kate Spade), has an absolutely delicious online shopping destination but does not ship to Australia! Oh the humanity!

My frustrations of the fact were none more emphasised than yesterday, when I received this email equally as delicious as their online shop, and I discovered perhaps the most fabulous range of clutches ever to be designed. 

Yes, that's right. Kate Spade has produced a collection of clutches inspired by Classic Novels, which look like Classic Novels (albeit with suitably jazzed up covers)! So with one of these beauties, not only do you look fabulously stylish, you look fabulously clever too.

Can you imagine, someone spotting you with a super-cute looking copy of Pride and Prejudice. "Why," they would think, "what a fabulously cultured creature she is." And then, imagine their surprise and subsequent delight when you opened up your copy of Pride and Prejudice and pulled out your phone/lip gloss/purse! I can hardly contain my own delight just imagining the scenario!

But because of their limited shipping locations, these Kate Spade lovelies are, quite ironically, very far out of my own clutches. My sadness and desire is so great and conflicting, it's worthy of a plot-line in a Jane Austen novel.

Pride and Prejudice Book Clutch, US$325, katespade.com

But all sadness and frustrations aside, my personal favourite from the collection is the version of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. This is partly because it's probably my favourite story of all the classics, partly because the colours are so me (hello black and grey with hot pink accents), and also partly because I have Great Expectations that one day Kate Spade will deliver to Australia and this delightfully wonderful design will be snugly in my hands, where it so deservedly belongs. 

Great Expectations Book Clutch, US$325, katespade.com

"That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day." 


- Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

B.C.B.G. = L.O.V.E.

I have two very thought-provoking questions this Thursday, which I just know will be the cause of infinite debate and perhaps an official enquiry. So here goes -  is it possible to love (and I mean truly love) a label? And if not, is it possible to love (and I mean truly love) every piece from a label's collection?

Personally, I blame Bloomingdale's for causing this philosophical saga. For it was when I was virtually browsing their aisles when I came across their current BCBGMAXAZRIA range and found that not I only would I wear every single one of their pieces, but I actually loved (and I mean truly loved) all of them. But not only that - the other major quality that won me over was the fact that many of their pieces were very, very affordable (in love speak that translate to that they were very, very available).

Briana Mushroom Pleated Dress, $378, Bloomindales.com

Dell Zipper Shirring Print Dress, $171.50, Bloomingdales.com

I was lucky enough to pick up a BCBGMAXAZRIA drape dress in Singapore late last year (similar to the Aina Petal Short Sleeve Stripe Dress), and the fabric, trim and cut are just amazing. It is the sort of dress I wear when I want to fish for a compliment, because almost every time I wear it I get a positive comment. 

So I think my past experiences of being able to work it when I wear it, combined with the amazing style direction and the unexpectedly lovely price points proves that it is possible to love (and I mean truly love) a label and its entire collection, particularly if that label is BCBGMAXAZRIA. 

Or perhaps I am just in the early 'honeymoon' stage where I am confusing love for lust (and I mean truly lust)?

Braided Chain and Stone Necklace, US$88, www.bcbg.com

Doilicious

I have been helping out a loved one shop for her wedding dress, and when trying on an intricate crochet-laced, trumpet-skirted gown the other day, the lovely bride-to-be asked if she looked like a Doily. While the other maids-to-be affirmed her question with certain reluctance, I on the other hand affirmed the statement with glee and enthusiasm, and perhaps a tad too much nodding. 

White Cotton Doily, 6 pieces for AU$4.36, Etsy.com

With looks of perplexity mixed in with concern (I was holding my neck in pain), I was forced to respond to my fellow maids and explain why my enthusiasm was so vast and my nodding so vigorous. "Why," I said, "the Doily is making a comeback, and anyone who looks like one on their wedding day will be an extremely fashionable bride and should relish the opportunity." Apart from my insistence and the wedding dress right in front of us, I didn't have solid proof of the trend and suffice to say, they didn't believe me so bride-to-be didn't get the dress.

Lucette.com.au

But just look at the scrumptious Lady Hester Lace Dress from Lucette. It's the sort of doily-inspired piece that makes you want to go out for High Tea in your best hat, enjoy fluffy scones with jam and cream and follow it up with a naughty Espresso Martini before writing your phone number on the napkin for the cute waiter in the waistcoat.

Lady Hester Dress, $329, Lucette.com.au

So I say to you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, go forth and raid your grandmother's cupboards (or even your own glory box, she may have been kind enough to put one in there) to get into some Doily action and try this Tuesday's trend. 

And if you really do need some more inspiration for going Doily-Chic, check out Fuck Yeah, Doilies. There is some pretty sweet Doily goings-on in there (that's a whole blog dedicated to Doilies - see, I told you they were the next big thing).

What a Croc!

I realised on the weekend that I rely quite heavily on a studded, black leather, mid-sized clutch with a tassel zip closure to complete my weekend evening wear. Very heavily. So I was on the hunt for one or two (or 15) new evening bags to satisfy my needs when I stumbled across the darling Huxley Clutch by Anya Hindmarch. 

Shopbop.com

Apart from the divine croc embossed leather, the tassel zip closure (which clearly I love), and the gorgeous hardware that is actually rather soft and sweet because it is formed in a delightful bow (so should really be called 'soft and sweet ware' in this instance), there is one major reason why I love this Huxley so. 

Shopbop.com

And that is, it has more than enough room to fit my night-on-the-town essentials, including my iPhone wrapped in its deliciously polka-dotted Kate Spade silicon case, Commes Des Garcons party purse, lipstick, bronzer, tissues, keys, glasses and any other items that may be necessary for the said evenings in question. And it can do this all while looking totally smokin'. 

And on top of all of this, the detachable strap is quite a treat too - ordinarily, the straps I don't like (a clutch is called a clutch for good reason after all). But I feel this chain strap would work in my favour, saving the heavy load from my wrist and redistributing the weight to my more appropriate-for-the-role shoulder. Now if only I could scrape together the coinage to bring it into my arms. 

Oh Huxley, what a croc indeed. 

Shopbop.com

Anyone for mullets?

There has been one major question that I have been pondering and mulling over since Saturday 2nd July. 

And that question is - 

What on earth was going through Anna Wintour's mind when she was seated behind this fine (mulleted) specimen at the 2011 Wimbledon Women's Final?

Thanks, TheStar.com

Let's get a better look at that amazing Mullet. 

Thanks, Women's Tennis Blog

Outstanding. Now we can only imagine what was going through the mind of the great Ms Wintour ("I think I'll have the fish after all"? "This tennis crowd sure is progressive"? "I do miss a good vintage mulleted 'do"?). 

So while we ponder that thought, let's imagine we're eating strawberries and cream whilst also admiring this super-spanking Tennis Skirt from Joveeba. And thanks to the effervescent The Grand Social, our friend the credit card can call 'Game, Set, Match' on this little beauty anytime we like.

Now that's definitely a 'Love All' sort of sitch.