Perfect fall boots on Etsy

Etsy is a fantastic destination for affordable, quality vintage shoes. This time of year, sellers know that's what everyone's looking for, so there are an enormous range of options up currently. Here are some of my favorites:


Vintage Leather Equestrian Boots for $75. The rope detail is really on trend and the color here is fantastic.


Vintage Albert Assanti Boots for $105. There are so many designers doing this brown-on-black style with boots right now, but for a much much higher price-tag.


Black Leather Riding Boots for $64. This is just a straight-up steal. If these were my size I'd already have snapped them up.


Vintage Gucci Knee-Highs for $350. Finally, a little eye-candy splurge. These are truly gorgeous, and a great little piece of history. Plus, it looks like the seller is willing to bargain!

A Peak Inside

Have any of you checked out Sundance Channel's "The Day Before"? It bills itself as a four-part documentary series in which they chronicle, "the final 36 hours prior to crucial seasonal runway shows featuring creations by some of the fashion world's leading designers." And it is fascinating.



Simply noting the differences between the processes for each of these houses tells so much. The first episode I saw was the one on Fendi, and Karl Lagerfeld. One of the most striking take-aways, for both the viewer and clearly the editors, was how many pieces end up on the cutting-room floor. For every insane look you see below, there was one that was fully completed but will never have its moment on the runway.



In comparison, the Proenza Schouler episode emphasizes how small the house still is, and how important every scrap of fabric is. It was so interesting to see the designers agonize over every look, willing themselves to find the solutions that will make them work.



Most of all though, you come away with such a respect for every aspect of the craft, for each pair of hands detailing each look. I loved every minute of it!

Voice of reason

Finally, someone who isn't content with simply aping the comments of their fellow bloggers and fashion critics regarding the not-actual-disaster-Lohan/Ungaro collection. I've been a fan of The Emperor's Old Clothes for awhile now, and it's precisely because of this type of post. It's always nice to read a thoughtful and well-written article in my daily blog scan, so please, keep it coming!

DIY for the masses

In awesome-new-to-me blog news, you must check out PS I Made This. The author takes trends of the moment and shows you a really simple way to craft it yourself. In a time like now, where prices on off-the-moment items are too high, and we don't all have trust funds to support our sartorial desires, DIY is indispensable.

Check out this fantastic fur vest project:

See the full post with inspiration here and here, and keep checking back there for more great projects to keep your closet trendy and your wallet full.

Next Best Thing

Everyone loves Rick Owens. And clearly the most beautiful pieces he makes are his winter jackets - leather or puffy, sleek or voluminous, they are extremely flattering, and there aren't many other designers doing the same sort of thing.

So you can imagine my excitement when I wandered over to BCBG Max Azria's website and spotted these phenomenal substitutes at a MUCH more acceptable price. Check it out:






No, the styling isn't as spot on as you'll find on sites where Rick is sold, but use your imagination people! In fact, just go here, here, or here, and substitute in the coats from above. Works, doesn't it? And instead of almost $3000(!!!), all of the pieces above range from $158 to $248. Much, much better.

Wearing my head on my sleeve

It's unfortunately sold out online, but this leather jacket from Martin Lamothe is amazing.


I love the exact degree to which you can identify the horse heads on the sleeves - I thought after just seeing the first picture that it could be a trick, or that I was seeing something that wasn't there. I'm just impressed by how unique this is, but that's what I've come to expect from the buyers at Pixie Market, who are extremely adept at picking interesting pieces that are still completely on trend and often relatively affordable. It's a great store, so check it out!

Poor Girl

Poor Lindsay Lohan. She looks so insanely rough.



But it terms of the collection, I think it was decent. Totally wearable, if a bit obviously aimed at a younger, 80's-inspired crowd. This can only help Lindsay though. It's not that I think she really had any sort of a role in designing it. But just being able to have her name attached to something that doesn't suck balls has got to feel good. And I call bullshit on anyone trying to argue that this hurts Ungaro. When's the last time you paid any attention to that brand? And it isn't bad attention either, like some people are claiming - that it will devalue the brand. Come on, the big story at NY fashion week this fall was the sheer number of bloggers present, and the amount of power every designer was giving them - front row, favoring above editors and buyers. Ungaro is playing the game, and possibly winning. I'm impressed. Here are my favorite looks: