WAYFARERS

I remembering opening up the back of T magazine a little more than 3 years ago and seeing a pair of wayfarers. Something about their classic, strong design resonated deeply with me, and I remember showing the image to my friends who reactions were general confusement and bemusement. But one of them saw a pair in longs drugs and got them for me (what good friends i have!) so i spent the entire summer wearing too-large mens sunglasses and loving it.

Next thing i knew they were everywhere. it was the invasion of the wayfarers. But somewhere along the way they had lost their charm. While their ubiquity definitely contributed to my aversion, what I disliked the most was their transformation. They had lost their cool, debonair, masculine roots and instead had become part of the brooklyn-ite uniform. From sturdy and sea-worthy to shaggy and smelly.

I've put the wayfarers away, but then i see images like these and all of my distaste for them drains away

I mean if they're good enough for kennedy, they're good enough for me?

DIY STUDS

recently i have been on a major all things studded fixation. I think it started with the givenchy leather jacket, or maybe with those amazing louboutains, and next thing i knew i was reaching for that studded belt in the dusty corner of my closet where i think it had been sitting ever since 7th grade. Yesterday i wore it with my high waisted levis, which i think helped take the jeans out of the 90's.

But my appetite for studs has grown and that old belt is not enough to keep me satiated. Luckily i have come across a couple of studding diy projects on the web. How about this belt turned baracelet (PrincessMLim on Cictopia), or these fabulous studded ballet shoes which strike just the right balance of sweet and tough?

a quick search found studsandspikes.com, a slightly terrifying store where you can buy 50 5/8" studs for only $7.22. the possibilities seem endless- the lapels of a vest, a studded hem of a skirt, or a necklace with a single suspended stud...

Floral

as everyone has probably noticed by now, have been big a big trend for this spring and summer. in my mind ghesquire really kicked things off at balenciaga- though luella showed a smattering of floral on her spring/summer runway as well.

the look has quickly spread down to the street, where both large graphic prints a la balenciaga and the luella-like smaller prints have been well represented. above are two skirts from f21 representing the two main takes on the trend.

while f21 is pretty darn cheap (19.80), i still think i can do better. I'm heading to the fabric store this afternoon in hopes of buying some fabric and making my own skirt. I haven't decided which type of floral pattern i'll get as i can imagine both meshing well with my wardrobe. The smaller 90's floral pattern i could pair with white tank tops and pastel cardigans, and a light-wash jean jacket. On the flipside i could imagine a bold big print pairing well with a bright orange cardigan. either way i see myself getting a lot of use out of it!

edit: sorry the image is blurry- still trying to get a hang of things

photos from balenciaga (left) and luella (right) are from style.com, shoot with caroline trentini is from vogue australia july 2008 'fantasy blooms', chictopia-loops, and f21

it's been a while since the last time i posted, but this summer i've been spending a lot of time looking at other blogs, and i've decided to give it another go. we'll see how it goes!



to get things started i'll leave you with these bruce weber's summer camp spread from w. (i've got them taped up in my room because everytime i see them i feel the spirit of summer)

The Traina Sisters

Heiress: a person who runs around (frequently without underwear) with suspect men while never too far away from either their drug of choice or trashed platinum blond hair extentions

While I'm not sure about the trains sisters' drug use, and I can't attest to the status of their underwear, I do know that these girls have managed for the most part to stay clear of the normal trashy heiress route (hilton cough cough). Which isn't exactly a given if your mother is Danielle Steel and has made her fortune by writing trashy romance novels. If any of the young starlets were going to go the Hilton route, I would have guessed these two.

But they have stayed clear of the tabloids, instead becoming stars on the fashion circuit. They support established houses by buying amazing couture while at the same time have become friends with young designers like Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, and Catherine Holstein.

winter boots 2

while the boots in the previous post may be quite stylish, once the rain comes in, they won't be a lot of help. I don't take excellent care of my clothes (I really try to, but it's just not in my nature) and I definitely don't know all the rules about how to clean stuff. But I do know that suede does not mix well with rain (or sleet as the case may be). So here are some more wet weather friendly options:

Hunter rainboots are the classic option, but definitely a little pricey. A good replacement are these boots by urban outfitters.

This trend was originally made popular by Kate Moss at Glastonbury music festival. You can just tuck in the jeans, or you can wear them with skirts, which I really like especially when worn with black tights.

winter boots

While the cold weather front that is moving into North Carolina (where I attend school) may not be be bringing a ton of rain with it, it does remind me that Rainbows do not exactly constitute cold weather wear.

I've been looking around campus, as well as my favorite fashion websites and blogs to see how other people are coping with the weather. I feel pretty inexperienced in the winter boots department because while the part of california I come from does have real seasons (I promise it's not sand and palm trees 12 months a year), usually winter meant transitioning from sandals to flats, which don't quite cut it here.

there seems to be two main looks: the slouchy boho suede or the taller, more classic, formal equestrian look. I can see the slouchy suede ones being paired with more flowy, hippie tops with cardigans and scarves piled on top and loose waavy hair. The equestrian style ones seems to channel preppy with a twist- funky blazers or bright cardigans over bright, striped or patterned shirts and topped with a messy ponytail. I could also see the more traditional boots being worn with a more minimalist look- thin white tee with a black leather jacket

Finally: just as a whimsical pair of boots I would love to own but would be unwilling to put down the $ for based on my hypothetical cost/wear ratio- these amazing high heel boots. they would look great paired with a pretty dress and tights to toughen up the overall look, or with a tight black bandage style skirt to give some bite to the bark.

P.S. I found this image of Dakota Fanning in an old Teen Vogue. As much as Fanning terrifies me i liked the way these boots were paired with that fairly formal dress.
It could also work with a more floaty low-key dress.
The black tights are a must though!

I have decided to finally bite the bullet and start this blog. I kept on deliberating on how to write my first post, until i eventually realized that if i kept on thinking, I would never get started.  I wanted my first post to be fun, quirky, and cute but not precious, in order to set the mood for the blog.  It seemed like a fairly small task- just a  short introduction and your'e in business.  However, it is anything but.  Even deciding on the name of the blog has been difficult- i wanted the perfect name that would sum up myself in a single, catchy phrase.  talk about pressure! I dabbled with several names including 'sweet jesus', a favorite expression of mine for something  that is just unbelieveably marvelous, or incredibly kitchy.  I eventually decided on clotheshorse both because of my inability to slim down my closet and also because, as a life long rider, any phrase with an equine touch appeals to me.  However, since clotheshorse was already taken,  i settled on fashionfilly.  It's a youthful play on clotheshorse- not only is the phrase an alliteration, but a filly is a baby horse, which seemed entirely appropriate for a blog written by a  youthful college student.  So while not perfect, this name will do for the time being.

Aside from the name, I had trouble figuring out which parts of myself to share in this first post.  I thought about summarizing my interests, activities, favorite books and music as a way to showcase my aesthetic, but in the end decided against it.  Instead, i think i will offer up these little tidbits as i see fitting.

For today, I will leave you with a  list of a few of my favorite things- the beach (as any good california girl should), riding my horse, skiing, stalking the olsen twins (more on that later), reading the new york times, the sun, and eating (chez panisse is my st. marks)