I have few fashion regrets overall- though of the few, two notably involve a Louis Vuitton Speedy 30. My very first designer bag purchase (in the classic Monogram, of course), I made the mistake first in the early 2000's - 2001, to be exact - of missing out on the Stephen Sprouse-designed graffiti styles released as part of a limited edition collection.
In all fairness, in 2001, I was a young college student, cocktailing in New York - and accordingly, that would have been a pretty hefty expenditure. But I've never forgotten the bag, and have often lamented that it's the bag that got away.
Until yesterday, that is, when while vintage shopping on the Lower East Side with Sarah, we stumbled upon the beauty above at Pilgrim -a perfectly preserved and authentic (of course!) Speedy 30 from the "original" Stephen Sprouse collection (you may remember that Marc Jacobs again riffed on these in 2008 with neon editions, boasting smaller graffiti). While I had been in the market for a vintage Chanel yesterday (oops), I knew that I'd forever regret passing up on the opportunity to snag this bag - particularly given how rarely it surfaces at online auction and how trepidacious I am about authenticity when buying designer online.
If you're in the market for pristine vintage, particularly Chanel, visit Pilgrim NYC at 70 Orchard Street (and if you're in the market for the same vintage Speedy 30, I did surface this one online at Yoogi's Closet for $1,195)
The Bag That Got Away (No Longer)
OOTD: A Thin Line Between Love and Hate
'A Thin Line Between Love and Hate' means many things to many people, but to me, it MOST aptly describes the pants I'm wearing today. Namely, the new Diesel Skinny Ankle Length Zivy Jean in Spearmint. These jeans are pretty much the most MINT GREEN things you've ever seen in your life, and frankly, they make me feel a wee bit like a Jordan Almond gone bad or more appropriately...naughty (in the best way possible, of course.)
These jeans are not, OBVIOUSLY, for the faint of heart. Frankly, they come close to STOPPING TRAFFIC on the street, much like an adorable French Bulldog puppy will. In fact, as you'll see above, a handsome young gentlemen couldn't help but stop and photobomb my OOTD today - that's how striking he found my pants.
I have to say that outfit photos are an amazingly valuable exercise for anyone that loves fashion, as you'll sometimes be immediately be struck by elements of your look that you'd have changed, and in retrospect today, I likely would have chosen a lighter shoe. Thankfully, I've got the Kyte from Sole Society in my office, and did a quick switcheroo for fresh take.
Head to toe:
- Ray-Ban Wayfarers
- J. Crew Cardigan (no longer available, similar here)
- American Apparel Deep V-Neck Tee
- Balinese silk scarf
- Diesel Skinny Ankle Length Zivy Jean in Spearmint (gift)
- Lia Sophia Cuff (gift)
- Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Speedy 30
- Cynthia Vincent Mason Platform Buckle Wedge (available on Swirl TODAY!)
Rent the Runway, Reviewed
When Rent the Runway launched late last year, I was intrigued. Unlike Avelle (a bag rental service, formerly known as Bag, Borrow or Steal), renting special occasion dresses actually makes SENSE to me. While bags are investment purchases and I'll carry the right one for years (hey there, trusty Louis Vuitton Speedy 30!), I have to attend many events on a monthly basis and frankly, I don't want to be seen in the same special occasion dress over and over again. So, Rent the Runway seemed like a godsend.
Despite my enthusiasm, it took a few months for me to come back around to the site and actually place an order. Last week's Women In Need Gala, honoring Brendan Hoffman, CEO of Lord & Taylor & Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour Magazine, was the perfect occasion for a test drive as if ANYTHING warrants a new dress, it's a room full of rich men (and, uh, a worthy cause?)
Choosing a dress was relatively easy. Rent the Runway has a fantastic mix of young and established designers (think Robert Rodriguez, Proenza Schouler, Tibi + more) and rental fees are affordable - from $50 to $250. While a few of my choices were unavailable for my chosen date and/or size (understandable, as I doubt if they're able to keep a deep stock), I WAS able to reserve a gorgeous goddess-y Yigal Azrouel frock ($100 rental fee), above.
And I was really looking forward to wearing it until about 2 days before the event, when Rent the Runway called me to communicate two issues with my order:
- My alternate size was out of stock
- The first choice size was in "less than pristine" condition
While I appreciated the call, I was admittedly non-plussed by the situation and they agreed to cancel the order and credit my card.
Imagine my surprise when a messenger delivery from Rent the Runway arrived just a few hours later.
Despite the effort (which deserves an A+!), the dress arrived in the wrong color and in questionable condition (the fabric is quite delicate and there were several visible pulls.) In addition, the "fit kit," a selling point of the Rent the Runway experience, was not included.
As I was in dire sartorial straits, I wore the Yigal dress anyway and it admittedly garnered a myriad of compliments, even one from Purple Lab creatrix Karen Robinovitz (also known as one of the most stylish women that I know.)
Aside from some flaws in the system and a less-than-stellar experience this go-around, Rent the Runway is a clever solution to that age-old problem, "But what will I wear?"
To become a member, leave a comment below with your email address enabled and I'll shoot you an invite!
Bag of the Day: Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Speedy
The first Spring bag that I've unearthed from the depths of my closet is my beloved Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Speedy 30. I must say, it feels pretty fresh to have this baby on my arm after carrying a darker shoulder bag for most of the winter.
What are you carrying these days?