the big cowl

From the blog Doucement le Matin,  a couple of great big cowls! How cozy. I would love to make one of these this winter.

Don't these women look so gorgeously French?

Sophisticated Knit Dresses

Sweater dress by Grey Ant. This one is definitely my favourite! Will be added to my list of covetables, pronto.

Amazing leather and knit dress by Helmut Lang. This dress satisfies some deep dark part of my psyche... a little hardcore, a little cuddly. Love it.

Cozy dolman-sleeved sweater dress by Erik Hart. I'd wear it with skinny jeans and suede flats.

(photos from Oak)

VPL necklaces

Remember these gorgeous necklaces from the VPL spring collection? Well, it turns out they're designed by Lizzie Fortunato... and they're origami!

I think I might try to make one of these! Thanks to love forever for the info (I love your blog!).

cute sweaters

Fox pullover and patchwork cardigan by Peter Jensen

Vest by Zero Maria Cornejo

Boat neck sweater dress by Rachel Comey

Photos from Creatures of Comfort

makes me mad

This article made me so angry! 

Women Buying Health Policies Pay a Penalty

From the New York Times. Just had to share my disgust... take a look, but only if you think it won't ruin your day. 

Spring Favourites: VPL

I loved the VPL spring collection for its accessories: those necklaces define covetable. What are they made of? Are they at all practical to wear? It doesn't matter: I just don't care.

I like this collection for the wearable colours, fabrics and shapes. Drape-y and angular at the same time? Sign me up. One of each, please!

(photos from Style.com)

art prints

I just thought I would comment quickly on another trend I spotted among the spring collections: gorgeous prints inspired by the fine arts. The patterns were often non-repeating and abstract; the colours bold and in unusual combinations.

Some of the prints at Akris could have been lifted directly from french impressionist paintings (not to say that they were!). 

At Miu Miu, the prints were more modern, some with bold streaks reminiscent of graffiti. Others looked more like byzantine mosaics.

Alexander McQueen's collection including some amazing pieces created with large-scale prints with precise mirror-image symmetry down the centre of the body. Unbelievable!

To me, these prints look like some kind of geometric Rorschach ink blot... what do you see?

(photos from Style.com)

Last Breath Bruises

I've been meaning to post these photos from Sandra Backlund's latest collection, Last Breath Bruises, for weeks. Every time I see one of her pieces, I have an irresistible urge to do nothing but knit for days and days. The organic-seeming shapes and textures in this collection are amazing. 

(of course I couldn't resist the pom-poms in this photo)

obi belts for spring

We're seeing lots of obi belts in the spring summer 2009 collections: they're making me nostalgic for last year's trip to Japan! A nice change from skinny waist belts, selon moi.

A.F. Vandevorst

Basso and Brooke

Louis Vuitton

Missoni

(photos from Style.com)

Rodarte, Spring/Summer 2009

I love Rodarte's vision of fashion. Their take on fishnet stockings and the way they lead in to the ankle straps and bangles: perfect. And the double belts... 

(photos from Style.com)

Louise Golden, Spring/Summer 2009

Louise Goldin leaves me speechless again.

(photos from Style.com)

recent aquisitions

Last post tonight! (Why do they seem to pile up sometimes?) I made a trip to Value Village today to drop off a few donations, and happily spotted a few great finds!

I picked up four of these great melamine plates for 49 cents each. I love them! That feather is too gorgeous.

This pyrex bowl ($3.99) is a little more 70s than it is fifties, but still pretty great, I think. I like the turquoise.

Lastly, I bought this single printed bowl (49 cents) to keep on my bureau for loose change, etc. 

For some reason the print on the bowl reminded me of this Alexander Wang blouse. Admittedly, it's a stretch, but let a girl dream, huh?

(photo from Oak)

new NEW fabric

When it rains it pours! I received some great Japanese fabric in the mail this week from ReproDepot. 

I can't even express how much I love Nani Iro fabrics from Kokka! They are just so beautiful... I'm ruined for other cottons. (And now linens!) I love the randomness and the colours.

I also ordered a yard of one of the new She Is Cosmos prints. It should be great for a summer bag, or maybe some cushions... it's a heavier, coarser weave than the Nani Iro fabric.

Finally, I ordered a yard and a half of a great Yoshiko Jinzenji print. Beautiful!

new vintage fabric

Ebay has been kind to me over the past couple of weeks! I think I love the searching as much as the buying.

I am a sucker for unusual colour combinations. Brown, beige and fluorescent green? Sign me up!

What am I going to make with this fabric? I have no idea! Did that make me any less excited to finally find it in my mailbox? No way!

Sonia Rykiel spring '09

The spring shows often don't have much knitwear content... but Sonia Rykiel has come through for us again! In her fall '08 show, there were the amazing bunny sweaters, and yesterday in Paris she showed a few more of her whimsical creations. 

I LOVE the half-finished sweater! In fact, most knitters probably have at least one of these hanging around the house/apartment (without the Rykiel label, albeit).

(Photos from Style.com)