style icon : Jane Birkin

New year... old inspirations? As fashion cycles and recycles over time, it remains safe (if not a necessity) to fall back on iconic style mavens of our fore-generations to get our style inspiro tuned. One of the leading ladies I can always count on is Jane Birkin. The British-born, France-inhabitant (by choice) actress/model/singer/muse is probably most known for the Hermes bag in her namesake, her notorious love affair with  Serge Gainsbourg and her effortless style... How to tag her style? Mod, Bohemian chic? Think Twiggy sprinkled with bo-ho and that French je ne sais quoi.. Mix Kate Moss with Alexa Chung's style... We're getting there.

I was reminded of Birkin New Years Day when I was doing a whole lot of nothing besides catching up on my magazine backlog. Elle Magazine's November issue (I was behind okay) featured an article about Lou Doillon, Jane's daughter with director Jacques Doillon - model, it-girl turned sultry music maker. If you haven't already tuned in, her work is full of must-listen ditties. 

To get the Birkin modern-day look, pair a mod-inspired solid shift dress with clunky 70s-esque sandals, light-washed flare jeans with a cropped solid sweater, and of course a straw carry-all.

 

one. Giambattista Valli Embroidered Shift Dress
two. The Row Nenette Wool and Cashmere-Blend Cropped Sweater
three. Seafarer Circle High-Rise Flared Jeans
four. Sensi Studio Bead Embellished Basket Tote
five. Chie Mihara Guion Leather Platform Wedge Sandals

source : tumblr

MERRY MERRY

source : Paper Source

label of love : Shakuhaci

I first stumbled upon Shakuhaci while poking around the boutique scene in SoHo last year around this time. Since then, I have seen this label popping up everywhere. It's like when you  get a new car and suddenly you notice your car twins all over the place... catch my drift? Back to Shakuhaci, this Aussi-based brand is self-described as being for the sleek-limbed supergirl, as unashamedly 90's as giant blow-wave hair, jangling gold earrings or a perfectly placed beauty spot. Amen to that.

 

 

retro-active : Off-the-Shoulder

These off-the-shoulder frocks have me all sorts of nostalgic for the power super model looks of the late 80s and early 90s. Check out some of my favorite shoulder-bearing trappings.

one. Motel Ame Cut Out Midi Dress in Black

two. Three Floor Vida Vida Dress

three. Hybrid Body-Conscious Dress with Contrast Lace Skirt

four. Three Floor White Out Dress

five. Nicholas Stripe Off the Shoulder Top

six. Herve Leger Boat Neck Dress

80s & 90s Model Inspiro

source : blackmotherteresa

Carré Otis  - Photographed by Barry Lategan
source : 80s-90s-supermodels

Naomi Campbell
source : kelvinatorx

Photograph by Barry Lategan
source : 80s-90s-supermodels

Claudia Schiffer for Chanel - 1995
source : 90s Haute Couture

out and about : Nutcracker Market

Even though Black Friday is technically the beginning of the holiday shopping season, in Houston, the Nutcracker Market is a must-do for holiday happy shoppers. I am (clearly) not shy to the shopping scene and made sure to go opening night of the Nutcracker Market a few weeks back. Reliant Center was filled to the brim with aisles and aisles of visiting vendors from all across the country. We browsed through everything from outrageous Christmas decorations (we may or may not have been at the North Pole), artisan jewelry, housewares, holiday sweets (testers? yes please) and, in typical Texas fashion, ANYTHING with your name, monogram or school logo on it (really... ANYTHING.. cups, pillow cases, cookies, picture frames, toilette paper... so necessary). If it helps, the event benefits the Houston Ballet (it's called philanthropic shopping).

This is not your mama's craft show...

“I’m singing… I’m in a store and I’m singing… I’M IN A STORE AND I’M SINGING!”

every house could use a little hide.... 

and more hide... 

In true Southwest fashion : Native-Inspired Textiles

How else will people know where you went to school?!

Quarry heist...