Hear the Blues

Went out with friends to hear Chicago's blues.



This is one of my mother's coats. It is reversible, wool to silk with watercolor details. I don't know anything more about it, though I wish I could tell you its story.



Leather Skirt: thrifted
Top: Eskell via
Shoes: Sam Edelman
Coat: vintage
Scarf, Bracelet: From Budapest

Back in the Saddle

It's been a while since we've seen each other; this time I've missed you.



I'm also full of vintage: the purse, belt, and jewelry were my mother's. The skirt is making multiple appearances on this here blog as one-half of an Evan Piccone for Saks Fifth Avenue set that I bought back in September at Encore Resale. As a weekly volunteer, I can tell you there is a constant flow of similar treasures to be found. My shirt is Club Monaco via Buffalo Exchange and my shoes are Basque brand Pare Gabia.



The temperatures are heating up here in Chicago and I am desperately hoping this is it, winter is gone. Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But a girl can dream.

Have a lovely weekend, wherever you are. Bisous.

Guten Tag

With no lederhosen to be found in my closet, I improvised to create this particular outfit. After a night dancing away to Flogging Molly, I couldn't bring myself to wear heels:

Shawl, necklace, & blouse: vintage from my mom's closet; sweater: Arancrafts via eBay; purse: vintage Coach via Encore; thrifted shorts, via Encore, scarf from Comptoir Irlandais in Dijon, France; Clarks desert boots

Guten tag, or the German schoolboy, as my boyfriend puts it. My response?



Yes. Man Repelling one pair of flat desert boots at a time.







I have also started playing with a tripod and remote control. These pictures are the result.


I also like to pretend that the lamp is my studio lighting. I suppose I feel the need to show you all the different light, hence the 10 photos. I swear.


Today we saw German documentarist Werner Herzog's latest film, Into the Abyss. The world always seems a bit different walking out of one of his works and this was no exception.

I hope you had a lovely weekend, here's to an easy start to another week. Gros bisous.

Featured by the New York Times!

Click here to see my picture chosen for the Readers' Street Style feature on Winter Hats! You may recognize this hat from another post...

I'm actually smiling in the featured picture.

Another blogger friend was also chosen, click here to see Diana of fashioncandyfloss!

So much fun to see what people submit each week. In addition, it's a great way to learn about new blogs! I love searching people's names when you can tell they're striking that blogger pose... It's only appropriate that the Times would come full circle from Bill Cunningham's invention of the Street Style genre to publishing reader submitted images. I like to think of it as an homage!

Bisous.

Did you miss me?? Cause I missed you.

Above: my "I'm sorry for being away so long"-face.

So I ran away, off to vacation, away from the computer.  Then, I came home, had to face the reality of being back at work, and then was sick.  After a hiatus, here I am again.  I hope that your summer has been lovely.

While in Chicago, I picked up this vintage Dana Buchman blouse and have been wearing it every chance I get:

The dress is from 7th grade... I was shopping in Buffalo Exchange, and it reminded me of Julia Roberts' cocktail dress in Pretty Woman:

Image from You Deserve Pretty Things

I wasn't going to buy it but my friend thought I should.  So he bought it:

I have vacation photos to share eventually... it's a wonder to me that not everyone who goes to Chicago immediately becomes an architect.  The skyline is phenomenal.  I just have to sort and pick my favorites.  Until the next time.

Bisous.

Breakdown

A look at some of my staple pieces, after a hard day's work of decoration.  When I wear jewelry, each piece has a story and means something to me.  I often see things I like, but rarely buy.  The trend of piling things on allows me to mix and match and make something new of each piece by setting it against others.  What are your feelings on jewelry?  Bisous.

Casual Sunday

Summer evening - Gillian Welch ♫

My own arm party - not quite as cool of a photo as THIS ONE!

Summertime means citronella!

A summer evening, spent with an olallieberry milkshake and an old oxford out of my mom's closet.  The sunshine is back and I am celebrating with multiple sunset photos.

Also, I hit 2000 views yesterday and I wanted to thank you for being a part of that.  Many bisous.

Catherine 

Jeans: 4€ H&M via Ding Fring(Douai, France)

Oxford: Ralph Lauren

Gladiators: Les Petites Parisiennes

Bag: Vintage Coach (ok, I have 2)

Arm Party collected in Budapest (blue and big brass bangle), Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley (blood coral beads), Nova Scotia (small bangles), Seiko Watch

Kindred Bag Spirits

See Hanneli's Blog

Yes, I am comparing myself with super blogger and model, Hanneli Mustaparta.  I'm having one of those "my material possesions make me as cool as you!" moments.  Indulge me. 

This shot is almost a year old, taken on our way to see Arcade Fire.  The purse in discussion is vintage, pre-Reed Krakoff Coach, inherited from my mother.  Yet again, her winning and discerning taste means this purse is a bona fide classic.  (It can also be carried as a clutch by detaching the straps.)

I have decided to do a small homage to this vintage accessory, this accessoire de maman.  Check out the details:

An interior, attached coin purse is genius.  The smart design and thought that went into vintage  is what, for me, makes vintage so special.  Do you have a favorite vintage accessory?  Tell me about it!

Happy weekend to you.  Bisous, Catherine