Left © Harper’s Bazaar, right © Style.com
Jennifer and I debate constantly about designers reissuing the same handbag style season after season. Do we like the Givenchy Pandora three years running, albeit in new colors and skins? The Celine Trapeze, same bag, new colorway? In the end, we do. We believe repetition creates classics. And classics are timeless. Much like an Hermes bag, which never goes out of style.
Celine Fall 2012 Leather scarf courtesy of vogue.com
Many of my friends will be surprised to hear that the scarf is making a fashion return. To them, it never went out of style. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with the traditional printed silk scarf. I love them in theory, but feel they age me. It reminds me of Jennifer’s post Am I too old?. The classic scarf is a staple of my mother’s generation and a way for women to “add a dash of color”. I have a vast collection of Hermes scarves that have sat unworn for years. I tried them as belts with white jeans, knotted into halters, and tied them to my handbag. But around my neck, or worse, on my head a la Jackie, has been a no go. So, I have given several away.
However, leave it to Phoebe Philo of Celine to bring the scarf back into the fore for Fall. The Celine version is leather, which certainly makes it more interesting. Will I go there? Maybe. Somehow, Phoebe makes everything chic and I am willing to try again.
Celine Fall 2012 leather scarf courtesy of vogue.com
Samira photographed for KiC by Marko MacPherson. Celine sweater, A.P.C. jeans, Balmain boots and L.V. bag
We have both known Samira for years having worked together at Vogue ages ago. Samira has been tippy top of our list of chic women to profile as she has that spot-on personal style where everything she owns we want to have too. And now that she is the Fashion Director forELLE, we will all be able to follow her covetable fashion picks.
Born in Canada, Samira came to NY to get her masters in journalism at NYU. She assisted Grace Coddington at Vogue and then became a sought-after stylist in her own right. Samira mixes fashion-forward pieces with über classics and wears everything with an enviable nonchalance. Her personality is as warm and easy going as her style, a fashion diva she is not. When she showed up to be shot for KiC she was the epitome of modern chic and yes, we wanted everything she brought!
5 essentials:
Tuxedo jacket: Celine and YSL(12) are my favorites.
Perfect t-shirt: I love Wang and Isabel Marant tees.
Perfect pair of jeans: I love A.P.C. jeans, Isabel Marant skinny slouchy,and vintage high-waisted Levi’s
Alaia dress(14)
A pair of Alaia heels(15) or Manolo Blahnik’s perfect pump
Pieces I will have forever:
My Balenciaga(13) and Celine motorcycle jackets
My Chanel tweed jacket
Hermes 30cm black Birkin(11)
Alaia dress(14)
All my classic Prada knits. If you’re looking for the perfect, simple,
well-made sweater go to Prada!!
Something old that looks new:
I have an old Balenciaga jacket with leather sleeves and a peplum that
I’m in love with again.
My old Balenciaga Barbour jacket (but it never looked old to me).
What inspires me:
Music: Bob Marley, Sam Cooke, and Miles Davis(5) just got me through my
recent move. I love old and new but go through phases.
Photography: Vivane Sassen (1), Ryan McGinley(4), Daido Moriyama, Bruce Davidson(3), and Lee Friedlander to name a few.
Books: Currently reading The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje
Art: The work of Alexander Calder(6) and Richard Serra(2)
The idea of fearlessness. Total freedom.
Resort/Spring wish list:
From resort, I want Celine looks 2, and 9 (8&10)
From Spring, I want Balenciaga 23 (9)
Wish list for my new apt:
I would love a pair of George Nakashima side tables(7) for my bed, and a
Charlotte Perriand sideboard.
Christiane, the director of Vogue’s editorial project development and KiC Style Setter, gave us so many great gift ideas when we recently profiled her, I thought it best to save them for a holiday post. Her Danish heritage really shines through this time of year and her gift choices reflect a clean, yet somewhat whimsical, Nordic sensibility. ”I love modern design (must be the Danish blood), but can do without the cold aesthetic often associated with it. I also hate unnecessary items around the house. If I find something that combines good design, historical context, and function, I’m in heaven. In my opinion, the Miller House and Garden in Indianapolis is the ultimate inspiration and my dream residence. Now that it’s a museum, I hope to visit next year.”
A great tip from Christiane “my mother kept a gift drawer where she stored little items for last-minute events, so I learned from her.”
Sarah Rutson
Belts might be the most underrated accessories out there. And I can say with confidence most women I know (myself included) would rather spend money on a pair of shoes or a bag instead of plunking down their credit card for a serious waist-cincher.
But a couple of weeks ago, in what felt like a rash decision, I plunked down my Amex for a tobacco brown leather belt from Hermès. It wasn’t insanely expensive because it has no hardware (not even a buckle) and slides through a slit and then loops over and under, sort of like the image below.
© Garance Dore
I can now honestly say it was worth the investment. It changes the look of dresses and shorts that I have. And I will wear it with black dresses and over gray cardigans for fall.
Plus, I feel polished. Looking polished is making a comeback–not necessarily ladylike, just clean and neat and, well, polished.
I’m all for that.
American Vogue
The reason I asked for the Chanel bag back from my mother is I am madly in love with saddle colored accessories right now. Continue…
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