Kelly Wearstler's Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Is Even Better Than I'd Dreamed, Which Is Saying A Lot

Kelly Wearstler's F/W '13 leather knit sweater. It's in my head so much that it's giving me OCD.

You know Kelly Wearstler, right? The woman who'd be your personal stylist/ life coach/ closet guru/ spirit animal if you could afford to live your best life? The superlatively L.A. designer's dressed Gwen Stefani (THAT PINK LEATHER JACKET, HOMG!), turned out the Viceroy in Palm Springs in her signature post-modern Hollywood Regency-on-a-safari-holiday style (because she runs that game), and she has excellent hair. And she has an excellent collection of Fall/Winter 2013 separates and accessories, all supremely textured -- primal leathers, rough and tough moto jackets, heavy metal jewelry, brass in pocket -- in geometric prints, and Vivienne Westwood, punk-leaning patterns and visceral, mixed-material mash-ups that totally shouldn't make sense together but somehow totally do. I want to live in her showroom, I want to live in her closet, I want to live in her clothes. See why in these photos from my recent trip to her Chelsea showroom to check out the collection. (No I didn't steal anything. Aren't you proud?)

Yes, that is a brass plate on a leather clutch, in case you needed reminding.

+ Check out more Kelly Wearstler jewelry after the jump.

Urban Outfitters' Leopard Print Army Jacket? HYFR!

$79, Urban Outfitters

I spotted -- HAR! GET IT? "SPOTTED"? -- a girl wearing this very leopard print army jacket in the Financial District this morning, I Googled "leopard print army jacket" AND IT WORKED! I LOVE when Google and your mind magically get along like that! Minesies!

In this election year, I can proudly say I firmly stand behind any quirky variation -- leopard prints -- on a basic theme -- standard army surplus jacket. So let's raise a toast to my first fashion purchase of the fall! HYFR!

* Disclaimer: While I DO LOVE Drake and this song, I think this video is insipid, disrespectful sacrilegious bullshit.
Drake ~ HYFR Feat. Lil Wayne from OctobersVeryOwn on Vimeo.

WTFH Is Monki And HOW SOON WILL THEY BE OPENING IN OR AT LEAST SHIPPING TO THE STATES?!?

Dudes. What is Monki? Welp, to answer the question you didn't ask (or, if you did, I'll applaud my the combination of my SEO expertise and you for clicking), Monki appears to be the Swedish version of Topshop (maybe with a little Oak/ Opening Ceremony/ Gargyle sentiment thrown in) Monki just opened up a London store, and according to The Independent, Monki operates over 50 stores in eight different countries... EXCEPT FOR AMERICA. Y, THO, people? Also, HOW SOON CAN THEY GET THEIR ASSES DOWN TO LOWER BROADWAY WHERE THEY BELONG? Or even Times Square? **shudder**

I mean, they refer to their customers as "Monki friends," and they sell a GINORMOUS DENIM PONCHO, which I need to own. Remember, girls -- there's no limit to denim. Well... that's not true...

"Oh, I know! So weird! We just both randomly showed up like this!"

€55, Monki

€30, Monk

These floral cut-out wedges? Seriously though, I'm about to set up some kind of shady Romney-esque offshore boomerang account just so I can ship shit over there and back to the US.

 YOU GUYS. THIS IS THE INSIDE OF AN ACTUAL MONKI STORE. HOW AM I NOT THERE RIGHT NOW!?!?!??!

These Reimagined Spring & Clifton x Reformation Baja Pieces Shouldn't Work...

... Except they totally do.

I swore to myself I'd NEVER wear anything that could even possibly be mistaken for a baja ever again in my life. But then Spring & Clifton x Reformation (the leather-happy vintage revivalists) so so So-Cal-inspired mash-up happened. And also, I told myself I'd eat no sugar this January, and "no sugar" ended up being a half-eaten bag of Reese's peanut butter cups in my freezer. (THAT I BOUGHT FOR MY HUSBAND!!!) We all tell ourselves little lies, don't we? 

The entire collection ranges from $85 - $300 (not bad, IMO). Get in on it at the Ludlow Street store (156 Ludlow) or at thereformation.com.

Michael Kors Pre-Fall 2012: The Key Pieces

Looks like Michael Kors headed west for his Pre-Fall 2012 collection. Quintessential American designer goes quintessentially American, leaves the mortifying stars and stripes and dusty bandannas behind (remember those Guess ads!?), thankfully. Gratuitous use of animal byproducts, asymmetrical hemlines, SUPER cinched waists, slightly S&M-ish straps and harnesses, rugged rucksacks, and, yes, literally cowboy hats (though thankfully none in like, those wretched pinks or mint or something cowgirl types wear.) It's equine-inspired, elegant cowpoke chic, not mechanical-bull-riding cowgirl.

Because I'm Jewish, I can say with 150% confidence that I will never, ever wear a cowboy/-girl hat, but I'm fully behind Michael Kors' thoroughly modern taken on a classic American look.

Here are the key pieces. Giddyup.

Is it warm in here, or is that just my ginormous fur coat-beard?

Funktional Nikki Fur Jacket: All I Want For The Sixth Night Of Chanukkah

$568, Funktional, Barneys

I already have SO much innate Jewish guilt that I have some Chanukkah guilt gelt to spare on this stunning rabbit fur coat by ethereal-meets-wearable LA brand Funktional. It's absolutely stunning in is two-tone elegance. Um, I think the rabbits died peacefully in their sleep of old age. Okay, they didn't. Fur is terrible. I'm a bold-faced hypocrite. But at least it's warm?

+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 1: Charles Jourdan taupe heels from Ideeli! 
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 2: Dr Martens black leather satchel!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 3: Banana Republic velvet sheath dress!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 4: Aritiza Black Silk Tunic!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 5: Marais Studded Suede Chukkah Boots!

Terry Richardson Varsity Jacket! (WTF!?)

Hey, anyone know where I can get a varsity jacket with Terry Richardson's name and face on it?

OH! Really? Colette? DONE. This will go perfectly with the naughty cheerleader in a wet t-shirt photos I was planning to take!  /sarcasm

PS: THESE ARE ACTUALLY SOLD OUT. You should probably defriend ANYONE you know who owns this unironically. Or even ironically. ESPECIALLY ironically.

Al Pacino, Master of Layers

I just think everybody needs to see this, okay? This is some serious fashion news. The kind you need to know!

Al Pacino Arrives at Airport, Wears Completely Normal Number of Jackets. In case you are pressed for time, here is the story in pictures.

The end. You're welcome.

I Bought It Files: SHARK Bracelet & Faux Fur Leopard Print Coat!

I realized yesterday that AN ENTIRE DAY HAD PASSED without me engaging in ANY sort of online shopping experience. So today I vowed to right that terrible wrong.

I had an online gift certificate to Fred Flare, which is one of my favorite stores of all time (run by some of the nicest PEOPLE of all time -- Chris, Keith and Jen are LITTLE MIRACLES), which is why I'll soon be the proud owner of a new leopard-print faux fur coat AND a Disney Couture shark bracelet. TWO NECESSITIES, of course.

($78, FredFlare.com)

I've been on a mission for MONTHS now to find a great faux fur coat, and I hope this one delivers. It's no Wren fur coat, but it's also not $795, now is it?

($54, Disney Couture, FredFlare.com)

I'm not necessarily a Disney person, nor am I usually into licensed merch (often it skeeves me out), but I do positively LOVE Disney Couture's jewelry, particularly because it doesn't look like kid Disney stuff. And it's made really well. My Disney treasure chest ring, also from Fred Flare, looks brand-new after years of wear. Oh yeah, and Disney Couture's Tron merch is out of this world. (Get it?) Anyway, I ended up buying this shark bracelet. Because I really really needed a shark bracelet, as it turns out.

Oh yeah, get 30% off with code word "Flare." YAY! Love a sale!

This Marc By Marc Jacobs Faux Fur Terry Jacket Is THE BUSINESS

($258, Marc By Marc Jacobs, Nordstrom.com)

You know how EVERYONE is doing faux fur outerwear this fall? Faux fur vests, cropped jackets and stuff? Well I'm kinda "meh" about it. Faux fur's kinda like a laser -- you need to handle it VERY carefully or you could really end up doing some serious damage.

HOWEVER, my coworker Lisa came into work the other day wearing this Marc By Marc Jacobs 'Ridge Loopback' French terry jacket with faux-fur trim. I almost tackled her to the ground in a where'd-you-get-that assault. This jacket is now officially my favorite use of faux fur, since it pairs faux fur with a really unexpected asymmetrical pea coat-style jacket in terry, which is even more unexpected and adorable. It even looked cuter on Lisa than it does on this here model. I suspect it'd look extremely cute on me too. #wants

Style Spotlight: Gap Leather Utility Jacket

($328, Gap)

Gap's new belted black leather jacket stopped me in my tracks when I passed it in the window of their Times Square location. It's clearly not meant to be... yet... since it's sold out in medium (and is it just me or does Gap run ENORMOUS these days), but I've got my eye on you, black leather jacket! You with the super-convenient hip pockets and the skinny, push-up-able sleeves.

More cute leather jackets here at Naag!

I Bought It: Toggle Jacket

I can't stop wearing my basic Gap jean jacket (purchased in a Montreal thrift store and working out great), but I think this might help me break the habit a little bit:


Tulle Clothing toggle jacket, $70.

Kinda awesome, right?

Hayden-Harnett: Surprise Sample Sale!

I left the last Hayden-Harnett sample sale empty-handed, but they made up for it with this sale. They announced it on Tuesday afternoon on Facebook, but sadly I wasn't able to get down to the Nolita store until last night after work. It was obvious from the largely empty racks and the disaster-zone dressing room that they'd had quite a crowd during the day. Amazingly enough, the sale featured actual samples from the fall 2010 line, meaning mostly small sizes. And yet...she shoots, she scores!


The salesgirl was sort of instrumental in convincing me to buy this cool bomber, the Cromwell jacket, in charcoal herringbone. It also comes in brown (below, far left):



Only $60, and guess what it retails for? $538! Jeebus. (Methinks H-H's price points are a wee bit high, but their sample-sale prices, in this case, were just right.) In any case, I win. Is it time for wool jackets yet?



I also got a cozy, cropped sweater vest (above right, worn open). Love that scoop neck! And the zipper! Needed no convincing. $60. No word on retail price, as it's not on the H-H site yet. After a long, annoying day, that's what you call retail therapy, folks.

Some other things from the fall collection that I'll be on the lookout for at the next sale:


Welles large hobo tote, $544, and I guess a Welles hobo/cross-body bag (as yet unavailable)—love that poppy color!



Pistol & Dagger scarf, $95, in many awesome fall colors.



Coats and jackets galore!

The sample sale is at the Nolita store in NYC, on Elizabeth between Houston and Prince, and runs through Sunday, from 12-8 each day. Everything is $20-$70. Long live Hayden-Harnett!

What I Want Now

Hi, everyone, as Nina Garcia would say. I'm back from my amazing, double-rainbow-caliber trip to Yosemite, and I promise not to post anymore dreary hiking gear (though I will say that my beet red Keen sandals, bought on Craigslist, were perfect and kind of awesome). If you want to see some snaps that capture SOME of the glory, as well as me in an Andrew W.K. bandana, click here. I now want to go to like every national park in existence. Acadia, anyone?

In the meantime, however, we have fall to contend with. Uh, almost. It's 95 degrees in New York. But soon, soon, it'll be crisp skirts-and-tights weather. And jacket weather. And this is the THE jacket I want to be wearing:



Rachel Rachel Roy leather "Aries" jacket, $299. Is it not FULL awesome?? Thanks to Sugar Rock Catwalk for the excellent find!

UPDATE, 9/8: This jacket has inexplicably disappeared from the RR site a mere week later! How?! It better come back! Argh!

Binge Basics: Loft Gold Anorak

($99, Loft)

It's an unwritten law that you're gonna need an army or safari-inspired jacket this fall. And it should be law that you own this gold/ mustard Loft anorak. By nature, anoraks are pretty asexual, but by design, the tailoring on Loft's version is fairly feminine, with a slimming cut. Once again, sold!

Oh, and PS, I got Loft's cotton poplin jacket in olive green:

($29.99, Loft)

It's sold out online -- BOOO -- but maybe try and track it down in the store? Or, manage your own expectations and get this stone/ grey jacket instead.

Wish List: Rachel Roy Transformer Zip Jacket

($159, Rachel Roy)

Let's discuss this precious little convertible Rachel Roy jacket, shall we? First of all, the fun animal print makes me believe that a giraffe and leopard mated. Second, it's like the Matryoshka doll of jackets. Why a Matryoshka doll? Because, like the doll, this jacket's got a top part and a bottom part. The bottom zips away to reveal some cropped jacket cuteness, which means it's TWO PERFECTLY GOOD JACKETS in one! And I love a two-for-one deal. As in "more than meets the eye," as in Transformers. And who can resist a good Transformer reference? Not I.

I do have to use this opportunity, by the way, to air a small grievance: I'm super dismayed that the pants the model is wearing above are NOT available for purchase! Don't put it on the menu if I can't order it!

($89, Rachel Roy)

Who's afraid of a metallic pant? Not this girl.

Major Mike & Chris Sale!

YES REALLY! Bad Joan has lots of cute Mike & Chris stuff for under $100. Not much of their boner-inducing leather jackets, but many gorgeously designed lightweight jackets, blouses, and dresses.

($55, Mike & Chris, Badjoan.com)

($55, Mike & Chris, Badjoan.com)

($58, Mike & Chris, Badjoan.com)

($58, Mike & Chris, Badjoan.com)

Hello, Moto!

It took almost till the last day of September, but I've finally given up the summer ghost. That little spate of Indian summer was nice, to be sure, but as of yesterday, I've told myself no more open-toed shoes. Sweaters. Tights. BOOOOOOOOOOTS!!!!! And this means shopping. Hooo boy, do I love shopping. Here's what I picked up on two separate, very quick shopping stops yesterday. Shopping at its most efficient!


First, this awesome, faux-leather moto jacket from H&M. It has that washed/crinkly effect and I daresay it's quite good-quality faux leather.


It looks hot on, will go with lots of stuff in my closet, and was $49.99. SOLD!


Also scored at H&M (one of the last three remaining) was this great blousy print dress. It has a tiger on it.


ROWR! It was $29.99. SOLD!

That was my lunch break. After work, I was headed to a happy-hour party in Williamsburg. On the way, I stopped in to Mini Minimarket. There I found the following awesomeness:


Blowfish "Willis" booties, $83 at Zappos. I've never been a big ankle boot person, as I think in general you need to have skinny-minnie legs to pull them off, but these worked on me for some reason. I think. I love the wide opening and the chunky heel and the overall shape, and the bonus-fun purple interior.


I had a moment where I thought, Maybe I should look around, see what other ankle boots are out there, if ankle boots are indeed an option for me, and then I thought, No. These are obviously the booties for me. SOLD!


I also bought a pair of skinny jeans, partly to tuck into the ankle boots and party just because Levi's fit me really well and are really well priced. I think I got these Levi's Superlow 524 Poetic Skinny jeans, $32, in the "dark sky" wash.

And then I got some Hue tights in dark indigo and medium gray. I just hope I'll be able to pack them into my already overstuffed tights drawer.

Bring it, autumn!

Harlequin-Inspired Shoes From Alaïa & Nude Footwear

Inspired by my silk blazer purchase, I've been on a 1930s tuxedo-y menswear jaunt. Therefore I've been gazing longingly, loving at harlequin-inspired black-and-white shoes. Such as...

($129, nude footwear, Piperlime.com)

These two-toned suede heels are kind of like a girlie tuxedo in shoe form. They're precious without being OVERLY precious and venturing into the dangerously cutesy barf zone. NEED!

($669, Alaïa, TheOutnet.com)

A Deco dream in bootie form. I really should just STOP looking at TheOutnet.com.

($669, Alaïa, TheOutnet.com)

Perforated patent booties are as close to Lady Gaga as I ever want to get.


Oh, so PS, I had a wedding this past weekend, and I needed a nice blazer to wear over my dress (this Christopher Deane dress, which has now seen MANY weddings -- yes, I impulsively bought a pricey-for-me new blazer, but seriously, that Christopher Deane dress has danced with me at like five weddings as well as my own engagement party). So I ended up getting this silk-esque blazer from Topshop:

($145, Topshop)

BTW, the description says navy blue, but friends, it's black. It fits well, but when I saw it on me in a photo we (the blazer and I!) looked kinda amorphous. I'll chalk it up to the fact that I was wearing a waistless shift dress. Lesson learned -- don't wear a slouchy blazer with a shift dress and expect anything less than a net result = slouchy/ no waist look! I won't make that mistake again, but I will rock this with some yes-I-actually-do-have-a-waist outfits: t-shirts and skinny jeans and boots. YAY, FALL!