lost and refound

since today was a very rainy sunday afternoon, i stayed indoors all day, and cleaned my dresser drawers. i found many items i forgot that i owned. some fun fingerless gloves, scarves, and the best forgotten item, an antique lace cape. i love to revisit with items i already own.

classic carla

photo by annie leibovitz

who doesn't love a classic trench coat this time of year? what's not to love about this look, it works with almost everything... pants, skirts, dresses, and it even looks good with nothing on under. I was recently reminiscing back at the september 2008 issue of vanity fair magazine with carla bruni on the cover and came across this pic of her. I think this is my favorite image of her from the editorial. love the way she works her trench coat with that collar up and of course love the way her hair is flowing in that wind! personally, one of the best parts of about wearing a trench coat is flipping the collar up high..I always think it adds the right amount of mystery and glamour to such a traditional look. on a side note, I really admire carla bruni's approach to style....she is extremely elegant and she has such innate chicness! I must admit that I quite frequently love to flip through french tabloids too see what she is wearing to events! it doesn't look as if she tries to hard, and I so admire her for that...much to be learned from women like her. its always nice to see an original and carla bruni definitely fits in that category!

chungking express

chungking express (1994)

I love too see a sleek trench coat on screen! there is something so chic and mysterious about this look. some of my favorite trench coat film moments include audrey hepburn in breakfast at tiffany's, catherine deneuve in belle de jour, and diane lane in unfaithful....all these women clearly know how to make a stylish first impression. I think one of my all time favorite trench coat moments on screen would have to brigitte lin in wong kar-wai's 1994 film chunking express. lin made such a long lasting fashion indent in my brain when she wandered on screen in that form fitting trench coat, blonde wig, and those red sunglasses! a truly perfect example of how to look incognito-chic in a trench coat. I so admire the way fashion always plays such a huge part in many of wong kar-wai's films...its no wonder why I am always taking style inspiration from his movies. this is by far, a great example of why a trench coat should be a must have piece in a woman's closet!

dynamic duo

hubert de givenchy and audrey hepburn

I recently stumbled across this image of audrey hepburn and and fashion designer hubert de givenchy walking through the streets of paris and I must say I absolutely love the shape of audrey hepburn's trench coat in this pic. I assume givenchy made it for her! she just looks so elegant in this silhouette...I am particularly fond of that collar and the emphasis of that waist...truly the way a proper trench coat should look! I don't know why, but I have always been fascinated by the relationship between designer and muse....particularly, between hepburn and givenchy. what I admire so much about this dynamic duo is that they were not only great collaborators but good friends, as well. I think this photo really shows how strong they were as companions and as a fashion alliance. he really understood what worked on her tiny figure and I love that she trusted him. last week, I read a quote by audrey hepburn in which she stated "balenciaga once said the secret of elegance is elimination. I believe that. that’s why I love hubert givenchy… they’re clothes without ornament, with everything stripped away."

I love the way hepburn stated this...couldn't agree more and I believe this photo is a perfect representation of her eloquent words!

in bloom

today, is the first day of spring! naturally, this dazed and confused editorial from the july 2011 issue came to mind. there is something about these images that I find so visually stimulating and I love how those floral backgrounds blend so perfectly with those psychedelic layered ensembles. photographer viviane sassen is definitely someone I have been admiring lately in terms of visual style...she really has such an eye for capturing beautiful colors as well as dynamic body positions...I am so in awe by the way this model poses for the camera...its very inspiring! I almost feel like going into a flower field and doing the same...perhaps, this is the proper way to celebrate the first day of spring!





photos by viviane sassen

balenciaga in the spring

balenciaga spring/summer 2008

looking at those eye-catching viviane sassen pics, I couldn't help but be reminded of the balenciaga spring/summer 2008 collection. this is one of those collections that I always think about in the spring time. I like to call it balenciaga in full bloom...who could forget those colorful and gorgeous floral prints from that season? I love the way ghesquière incorporated pansies, hydrangeas, daffodils, and anemone patterns into his designs....total floral couture! its not just the floral pattern that I love, but also the silhouettes from that season...the standout shoulder lines, the hand-span waists, and of course that panniered hip volume...its all so very futuristic, but yet so feminine with those floral patterns. this was such a revolutionary collection that incorporated classic cristóbal balenciaga technique with a modern ghesquière vision...on that note, let's celebrate the first day of spring with a little flower power- balenciaga style!

green rochas

photo by paolo roversi

since it is st. patrick's day, I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate with one of my favorite green dresses of all time. as we all know, us sisters, love black, but occasionally we do like a little color. case in point, this olivier theyskens green dress from his rochas spring/summer 2006 collection. I guess what I love so much about this green gown is that open back with leaf detail and of course, that stunning edwardian silhouette, that theyskens does so effortlessly well. I love the way this dress just simply flows like water! theyskens has such a gift for creating poetry through fabric! for some reason, I always think of this collection around this time of year. so many of the looks from this particular season just exude so much gentility and elegance and I love the impressionistic quality of it all....very reminiscent of a monet painting. on a side note, I do love how theyskens is changing things up at theory, but I will always love the romantic and ethereal quality he brought to both rochas and nina ricci, before he took over at theory. this is definitely one of those dresses that I will never forget especially on a day like today!

instagram

i admit it, i love the instant gratification of Instagram. nothing to be ashamed of, its a great little tool for photo enthusiasts. here are a few of my favorite photos in the last few weeks. any of our readers on Instagram?

suit yourself

angelina jolie in stella mccartney

who doesn't love a good suit? personally, I love a suit in all its many forms. whether in a slouchy silhouette, pencil-thin, or somewhere in between you really can't go wrong with this look! the best part about a suit is that it is easy, fast, but most importantly super stylish! a couple of months ago, a dear friend of mine showed me this image of angelina jolie in a stella mccartney suit and I must admit I think this is one of her greatest looks. personally, I have always liked the way angelina jolie looks in a suit...yes, she looks glamorous in almost everything she wears, but I like the grace and elegance she exudes when she wears a suit. it is a very relaxed look on her and I like the confidence she gives off in this photo. on a side note, I think mccartney makes excellent suits...I have one that I have been wearing since 2003 and I must say her suit has served me well! the look never gets boring...you can always add key elements to update the look. just look at angelina in this pic...love the way she accessorizes her white suit with a black handbag and some chic sunglasses! a very elegant and timeless look..much to be learned from angelina jolie in this pic!

well-suited

photo by alex cayley

a white suit is so perfect this time of year...I know it is a difficult color to wear, but it really is such a timeless look! lately, I have been liking suits that are loose and not exactly so body conscious! perhaps, this has something to do with my love of pajamas and always wanting to feel comfy-chic! recently, I stumbled upon this image of maison martin margiela white loose suit and I must say I think this look is heavenly...and kind of my ideal suit-look for this spring! there is something so eye-catching about a woman in a man's suit...I think its interesting how when a woman wears a masculine suit she can appear a bit ambiguous..its as if her femininity comes through in her attitude, in the way she walks, and what she puts with it....like high heels or flats and maybe even a man's hat or a beret! perhaps, I am getting too analytical, but I really find the balance between masculine and feminine quite intriguing...I think this photo really emphasizes all that. certainly, something to think about next time you try on a suit!

suit sketch

a drawing from my sketchbook

not only do I love wearing a suit, but I love drawing one as well! a couple of years ago, my mom purchased a beautiful white suit by stella mccartney and I must say my mom looks amazing in it. the suit has a slouchy silhouette but it is tailored to perfection. it definitely is a statement piece, and I love how feminine yet powerful it looks! not every type of woman can get away with this look, but my mom does it with such style and grace! feeling very much inspired by mom's stella mccartney suit I drew this sketch! as of now, I am really into a baggy trouser look with a form fitted jacket...I like the balance between feminine and masculine, I don't know if it shows, but I tried to convey that in this drawing!

myself in mcqueen

illustration by lee ferguson

to all our readers, please check out this amazing blog entitled http://alefthandedlife.blogspot.com/. its always great when you can connect with other style bloggers. recently, my sister and I have become blog friends with its creator lee ferguson. she chronicles all her drawings and all the things that have inspired her when creating an illustration. her vision is so unique and I love the all the influences she comes up with for her sketches. from time to time, I like to send lee images to help with her creative process and recently I sent her an image of an alexander mcqueen mermaid dress back in his givenchy days circa 1999...kindly, she designed a sketch with me in this givenchy gown...I love the end result and I feel so honored that she would even think of me for this idea. do check out her blog too see the full story and her step by step process! thanks again, lee..it's certainly sisters in black frocks approved!

kate in fur

kate moss

I hate to admit it, but I like fur! I know it is cruelty to animals, but sometimes I think it just looks so stylish especially when it is worn in a nonchalant chic manner! if I had to pick a favorite fur look it would be this photo snapped of kate moss back in 2002. I love the way she looks in this cutaway black balenciaga dress and heels....her legs look amazing! plus, I like the way she wears her fur coat over her shoulders instead of the traditional way of wearing it. she definitely adds her own personal style...which I so appreciate! nobody does undone glamour quite like kate moss....I think this dress with fur coat proves that point....not only classic, but cool..brava, kate!

fur-trimmed

balenciaga fall/winter 2005

I always find myself reminiscing at past balenciaga collections...there always seems to be a look that I find myself fascinated by. this week, I was feeling very balenciaga fall/winter 2005...this probably has to be one of nicolas ghesquière's most innovative collections. I love the way ghesquière blended sixties military with space age that season...I always respond well to balenciaga collections that incorporate the past with the future...much like the current spring/summer 2012 collection. personally, I think that is what ghesquière excels so highly at! perhaps, that is why I like this fur coat so much. it is the perfect silhouette and I love how retro, yet modern it looks....that fur-trim is spectacular, reminds me a bit of sean young's character rachael in bladerunner...I could easily see her wearing this fur look!

bella beauty

our mom

I don't want to brag, but our mother, bella, has quite an amazing coat collection! I am so jealous of all her jacket shapes and I must admit that in the winter time, I like to go through her closet and try on her some of her winter coat looks. not only does she have jacket looks from today, but she still has many of her stylish coats from the 70's and I love that she still actually wears them. I am always inspired by my mom's style in every season, but I feel like she really shines during the winter season. in december, my mom wore this fur cape to a holiday party and I must say she totally worked this look...she bought this fur cape in new york city a couple of years ago at a vintage shop called what goes around comes around and I must say she totally was best dressed at the party. surprisingly, I think this was the first time she actually wore the cape... and I just love how it matched so beautifully with her long hair. I am thinking one of these days, I am going to have borrow this fur...I don't think I will ever look as stylish as my mom, but perhaps, I should just test it out.... it simply is that exquisite!