On My Mind
Vogue predicts that there will be a surge of interest in vintage Gucci — pre-Tom Ford era 1994-2004 — thanks to the upcoming film House of Gucci. The film is based on the infamous Italian family from the ’70s to mid ’90s. So, to get a jump on this trend, I dug deep into my closet and unearthed my first Gucci bag. Mother let me pick out a bag on a trip to Rome in 1978 and I chose the one above. A camel hobo, unsurprisingly. Since it’s firmly in my never-changing wheelhouse, I’m going to drop it at Leather Spa and let them do their magic. Will I carry it again? Very possibly.
The bottom three are from the early ’90s. They had bamboo handles, which I removed the moment I purchased them and looped the messenger strap instead. I wore these to death and I’m not sure any amount of TLC can revive them.
Circling Back
If you’ve ever wondered if I buy the items I post on, here you go:
After I admitted that I’m color challenged, Heather Clawson aka Habitually Chic recommended that I start with a blue shirt. This Ann Mashburn Boyfriend Shirt fits shockingly well. I always thought a button-down should be boxy, which I now realize was idiotic. And, Heather was spot-on, blue is fab. I’ll never have to stress about an evening look thanks to this Totême shift paired with Chanel heels — so easy. I’ve been wearing the Maison Mayle coat non-stop this spring, and the Hermès clogs in black and beige just make me happy.
On My Inspiration Board
All images April Vogue UA
A simple barrette with a Prada raincoat, Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra pendants with a turtleneck, and a Chanel bag — these classic bits never get old.
Beauty
Thanks to comments from SueM and Susan, I’m off to do some perfume exploration. I have an appointment today at Scent Bar to try a few of the above.
On My Mind
I am the Easter bunny in my house. Filling baskets is a tradition that I enjoy, however, I can’t buy the candy too early or I’ll eat it all. I sent a box of sweets to my older daughter two weeks ago just to get it out of the house and she ate the chocolates upon arrival — like mother, like daughter.
The crocuses and snowdrops are up promising a beautiful spring. Easter makes me feel hopeful and thankful — here’s to a new chapter, a renewal.
Happy Easter!
On My Radar
Images: Courtesy of Cartier, April Vogue Paris, Irina Shayk in April Elle photographed by Chris Colls and styled by Alex White.
After yesterday’s post, I pulled out my Cartier Tank Americaine. I haven’t worn it in well over a year and it needs a new battery — plus, my Rolex could use a rest and a feminine watch looks good right now. The grounds of Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House reopen April 16 and I’m going to head over and wander. My daughter and I loved the Alice Neel: People Come First exhibition at The Met and I’ve preordered the paperback reissue of Alice Neel: The Art of Not Sitting Pretty. And, this version of the Louis Vuitton NéoNoé is just really good.
Favorite Rerun
I am rerunning this post, which was first published in June 2015, because it’s more relevant today than when I first wrote it. For the past year I’ve been sitting on a few new purchases and, as soon as I can, I’m going to pull them out and wear them — often.
My favorite recent piece of advice, which came from a few readers who commented on Shopping Rules, is to not “save” things. They suggest that the things we love most should be worn the most often.
I’m a “saver”, and the downside of saving things is that by the time I pull them out, I don’t always love them as much as when I first bought them—they no longer feel fresh. I purchased this hobo over a year ago and can count on one hand the number of times I’ve worn it. Ironically, it’s my favorite bag, and yet, I carry it the least. That’s going to change, pronto.
P.S. I’m wearing the above bag today.
To Watch
This Vogue Paris video series and here offers a peek into the homes of a number of fashionable women. It’s fun to hear why they chose certain clothes, paintings, furniture, etc. The episode on writer Sophie Fontanel is one of my favorites.
I am not a believer in retail therapy, but there are times when I crave the thrill of picking up something new. As you have probably gathered about me, I think shopping as an activity is a waste of time. I often tag along with a friend, which is great because I buy 90% of my clothes this way. It used to be so simple — when I worked with designers on their shows, I would pre order the pieces I liked from the collection and that was that.
My life now revolves more around working from home, not the runway, so I have come up with a way to curb the splurge urge. I keep a fashion diary. Continue…
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