YMC/ You Must Create Created The Perfect Spring Trench

Utilitarian British brand YMC's (You Must Create) -- they remind me of Madewell if Madewill made clothes for men and womenfolk too -- just released their Spring collection, and the anchor piece is their trench coat. It's everything I want in a trench  -- perfect fit, excellent tailoring, Angie Dickinson leanings, POCKETS, OBVIOUSLY -- PLUS Paddington Bear toggles.

You're Lookin' At The New Owner Of A Faux Leopard Print Minnie Mouse Coat

Now how one becomes the owner of a vintage faux leopard print coat with Minnie Mouses scattered happily across is no accident. No accident at all. It's fate.

Thursday morning I was waiting for the train here in Brooklyn. Then, like a freaking ORACLE, this woman walks by wearing this faux fur coat with MINNIE MOUSES printed all over it. I noticed the coat first, and I expected her to be a batshit baglady, but she was totally pulled together and looked RAD. She was probably late-40s, early 50s, and looked like the SHIT. Anyway, I was like, what is that? Jeremy Scott? Jean-Charles de Castelbajac or something? Asish? I paused my game of Word Mole (at which I RULE, by the way), and I snapped a photo of her. Idiotically, the flash and shutter sound effect were both on. Nice one, Tams. Anyway, she didn't notice, but some people around her did. I wheeled around and walked very quickly, in a way that surely called attention to myself and my failure to be covert in any way, and I headed toward the front of the train. (And finished my Word Mole game. And I thought. I thought about that coat).

Anyway, I Googled "animal print Mickey Mouse coat" later that day, and GUYS I'M NOT KIDDING! IT CAME UP ON ETSY!!!!! Not the exact same coat, but almost. It was reserved for someone, but it looked like that someone slept on it because it'd been on hold for almost a month. I emailed the owners, Tarantula Sisters (who have some amazing vintage, btw), who confirmed that the original reserver was no longer interested (SUCKER!), and they sold it to me for $100 (someone on this Ebay message board paid $500 for one back in the day). SAME. FREAKING. DAY, guys!


Anyway, will I look like a wackadoo bag lady in it? Probably. Or a '70s pimp from a Blacksploitation flim? Or worse -- someone from Williamsburg? I'm sure. But I DON'T CARE! This jacket was MEANT to be mine. This must be how those dudes on "Pawn Stars" feel when they open a cardboard box marked that says, like Brawny paper towels on the outside, and it's filled with some total treasure on the inside. And should I happen to see that woman from the train who led me to my own treasure I'll nod in thanks... and pretend not to notice if someone takes a camera phone photo of me from behind.

This Trench Coat Grew A Beard

($380, Topshop)

That's what happened here, right?

Ombré Trenchcoat Rides Again!

Well, hello there! Let's talk about trenchcoats. Loyal readers may recall I have a thing for ombré trenchcoats, yet have never actually purchased one. First there was the $200 Anthropologie one dip-dyed orange. Then there was the green-accented Calvin Klein one. Neither of which I purchased. Will I purchase this one, or add it to the list of coulda-beens?





Gradient purple trench coat, $69, made by a tailor in Shanghai. Love those ruffles in the back! This designer has gone and made the annoying trenchcoat flap cute! It's so unique, I might finally pull the trigger....

Thoughts?

Oh, Ombré...

Remember last year when I drooled over that Anthropologie ombre trench coat? Well, temptation rears its head again, this time at Wilson's Leather. Perfect for spring!



Calvin Klein ombré trench coat, on sale for $79.99 (down from $250!). Check out the awesome lining, too:



I think I'm gonna pass, since I'm trying to save money for, oh, EVERYTHING wedding-related (and plus I have a trench that I get lots of compliments on), but someone out there should totally get this. Right?

Thoughts I'm Having About French Connection Stuff At 6PM.com

My thoughts are... LOOK how cute this stuff is!

($106.47, French Connection, 6pm.com)

CUTEST little party dress!!! And HI! It has WIDE straps... for ladies who... need straps. And I even wrote about its cousin, the "Seasonal" skirt!

($101, French Connection, 6pm.com)

Go ahead and TRY to tell me that this black cotton trench isn't cute... SEE! YOU CAN'T!

($121, French Connection, 6pm.com)

$120 for black leather boots? Are you KIDDING me? Wait... you're NOT kidding! (BTW, I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my f-troupe black leather boots!!)

($77, French Connection, 6pm.com)

Sweet! I like the perforated detailing on the toe. Sorta Mad Men-y too, no? And lots of sizes left! YAY!

Alexander McQueen for Target!

ACT LIKE YOU KNOW!

Alexander McQueen's up next for Target!

The collection hits Tarjayz March 1, 2009 and runs through April 11, 2009 as part of Target's new Designer Collaborations hook-ups with established designers.

More from WWD/ Racked:

McQ Alexander McQueen for Target will feature lightweight sweaters, skinny jeans, bubble dresses, slim skirts and cuffed shorts. Signature pieces include a coated cotton poplin black trench, a rock ’n’ roll gray denim cropped studded jacket, a men’s wear-inspired tuxedo blazer and a color-blocked one-shoulder dress with bubble hem. The collection also will include swimwear and cotton voile print scarves.

The collection has a muted color palette of black, white, gray and tan with accents of cobalt blue and bright pink. Studs and mesh give items an edge. For example, a chambray sleeveless shirtdress has stud detailing, there’s a mesh wrap dress and an open yarn zipper cardigan. Graphic prints and silk-screen photographs give tunics, dresses and T-shirts visual interest. The Leila silk-screen T-shirt with a necklace collar was designed for The Duke Spirit lead singer, while other band members are immortalized on a sleeveless jersey T-shirt.

Can't wait that long? Check out a few less-than-a-fortune McQueen pieces...

($219, McQ ByAlexander McQueen, Bluefly)

Cute, no?

(Currently $73, Alexander McQueen, eBay)

Fun red military-inspired Alexander McQueen trench for a SONG! That is, until someone jacks it up to the price of a small country...

($399 Buy It Now, Alexander McQueen, eBay)

$399 ain't bad for iconic, stripey McQueen. Or, go find something cheaper at Trash & Vaudeville.

(Currently $125, Alexander McQueen, eBay)

Kinda whackadoodlydoo, but I like. The design reminds me of Will Broome.

April Showers Bring...

... The need for a new jacket. A few I'd like hanging in my closet:

($1050, Rena Lange, Vivre.com)

A veritable steal considering it was 2,995! It's the only trench coat you'll ever need. Until you need another one. In which case...

($330, Mike & Chris, Net-a-porter.com)

Simple, elegant, gorgeous. Inspector Gadget meets The Mod Squad!

($179, Suzabelle, Modcloth.com)

Wool is a bit heavy for April, but it's a great piece to hang onto.

($187, Asos.com)

I've been seeing so many cute fitted leather jackets lately. I love the gathered panels on this one = girly and presh! Perfect mid-season piece at a perfect price. Yo quiero!

Dip-Dye to Die For

You guys, this is soooo me:

Anthropologie "Half-past-six" trenchcoat by Taikonhu, $198. I tried it on at the store last night and it felt so lovely. Unfortunately, that price tag is sooooo not me.

I'm seriously considering a DIY fix. I'm thinking a box of dye and this Target trench might do the trick:

Isaac Mizrahi for Target wrap trenchcoat, $44.95.

Whaddayathink?

JACKETS: PART 3: Just A Light Jacket

Today's jacket theme is just "light" -- pretty light colors like cream and "dove" and "sandcastle" and even white.

First, my absolute top fantasy pick of the bunch:

(Eley Kishimoto)

I have no idea how much this is or if it's even still available as it's from Eley Kishimoto's 04/05 collection. Boo. But a beauty indeed.

($1695, Burberry, Nordstrom)

Okay, a wee bit out of my price range, especially since I absolutely belabored a $118 purchase of a jacket today at Macys. But if I were in the habit of dropping close to 2 grand on a jacket, this would be the first one I'd drop it on. And I love that its color is called "dove." Sigh.

($110, BP, Nordstrom)

A more realistic jacket from Nordstrom.

($212, Diesel, Ssense.com)

Any greener and this would be too green, but the light mint is sort of lovely. There's something very Pacific Northwest about this jacket -- and in a good way.

($58, Delias)

The capelet -- classic, yet definitely not for my shape. Yet this one is simple and timeless nevertheless.

($111, Diesel, Sstyle.com)

Can you ever go wrong with a fitted jacket? No. No, you can't. And Diesel's Bicik jacket is tres parfait, no?

($78, Lux, Urban Outfitters)

I sorta like this, and I'm sorta like "meh." No big whoop either way.

($29.50, Old Navy)

Definitely cute. (This is the "sandcastle," btw). Reminds me of a similar jacket I had in college and makes me wonder what the hell happened to it ("it" being the jacket, not college, though sometimes I wonder what the hell happened to that too).

($39, Yag, Lulusfashionlounge.com)

Once again, Lulu's Fashion Lounge (and I swear I don't work for them) hits one out of the park with an awesome looks-ten-times-more-expensive-than-it-actually-is piece. This jacket is truly adorable, and again, looks like Mike & Chris, and I'd totes buy this if I weren't positive I'd stain it by the third wear.

Old Navy Fall 2007

Quite surprisingly, Old Navy has some really cute stuff coming up for Fall '07. I don't have a lookbook yet, but you can check out this ad, which actually isn't super annoying.
Or, you can just click on their outfits for deets. Their hooded fleece coats and swing trenches are absolutely adorable. I'm also hoping they actually will carry those tights in those colors shown on the models.

Congrats, Old Naves. You've come a long way from shapeless, too-short T-shirts.

Jacketology

Fuck brackets. There's only one thing I care about this month that ends with -ackets, and that's "jackets." Here are a bunch of awesome ones, first a few randos, then in ascending order of awesomeness.


($12.49, Mossimo, Amazon.com)
First, something for the guys. Simple, affordable, inoffensive.


($65.95, Adidas, Amazon.com)
I went through my sporty phase in college, so I don't think I'd go out of my way to wear this since it's not in my fashion wheel house. But this is for all of your sporty spices out there. This is cute, no? I like when sportswear looks less like a stodgy uniforms. Yay for jewel tones!

Okay... Now for the good stuff.


($39, Mossimo, Target.com)
Another simple, affordable, not-at-all-inelegant piece from The 'Jay.


($49.99, Urban)
Grrr. I'm pissed that I already bought a trench because this one is SO adorbs. Look at the femme floral buttons, the lovely tailoring (sooooo not boxy) and the unconventional belt. Wah. I want.


($76, Planetfunk.com)
Simple and sophisticated. Just like you. When you're not a drunken mess.


($52, Nick and Mo, Amazon.com)
LOVE me some waist-defining ties. That, plus the puffy shoulders - so fresh.


($79, Nick and Mo, Planetfunk.com)
Soooooo presh. With cool angled pockets and Sailor Jerry-esque embroidery details. I'm always a fan of banded jackets, so you don't have that whole "Where does this jacket stop and my pelvis begin?" ambiguity.


($54, Nick and Mo, 80spurple.com)
Now, I'm wondering if that whole nebulous waist thing might be going on here. Still, check out the back of the piece -- extremely gorgez.


($175, We Are The Superlative Conspiracy, Amazon.com)
I love this jacket. I love that it's jersey. I love that it's asymmetrical. I love this brand. Love, love, love, love, love.