Celebrating 5 Years

Gazebo at Beckman

We went up to Santa Barbara wine country for our first trip without little k in celebration of our five year wedding anniversary. We drove up Saturday late morning and arrived in time to visit a few vineyards: Lincourt, Rideau and Beckman. There's nothing more immediately relaxing and transporting than wine tasting amidst the beautiful scenery. We chilled in some adirondack chairs under shady trees at Rideau and had a little cheese, salami and bread picnic from Bay Cities with our wines in a little gazebo by the duck pond at Beckman.

Lincourt. Nice spot for a wedding

Chilling at Rideau

Some of the vines at Rideau

Beckman wine and cheese picnic from Bay Cities

Beckman. Always a favorite late afternoon stop

Day 1 wine tasting outfit: Etoile Isabel Marant Manuel Stars and Birds romper, Swedish Hasbeens x H&M sandals

3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Messenger

3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Messenger in Aubergine, 3.1 Phillip Lim x Uniqlo plaid dress, Swedish Hasbeens x H&M clogs and Prada sunglasses

Speaking of designer collaborations, Target's next collaboration with 3.1 Phillip Lim was announced a few weeks ago. I've always liked 3.1 Phillip Lim, I have several of his dresses and my very first Phillip Lim piece was this plaid dress from his collaboration with Uniqlo back in 2007. I like his clothes a lot, my only problem (at least with the pieces that I have) is that even the XS / 2 are a little shapeless and boxy on me.  Not sure if that's changed over the years, as I haven't bought anything from his label over the last few seasons. We'll see what he does with Target. I've admired the bags that he's released over the last few seasons, such as the Pashli Satchel and 31 Hour, but they don't really work well for me as they are a little too big and heavy for me to handle with a baby in my arms. The pashli messenger bag however, seemed to be possibly a good fit for my current needs, slightly more streamlined with the ability to stay hands free with the crossbody carry. I haven't really bought a handbag since the Balenciaga and I've been looking for something that I can use everyday casually that can withstand some abuse. It was sold out everywhere I looked online but I was able to track it down at Barneys on markdown. I think it still needs some breaking in; the leather is stiff and doesn't quite look as nice as it does in pictures online, but I do like the rich burgundy / eggplant color. I'm pretty sure it's a keeper, will just mull it over the next few days. My other obsession as of late is the Celine Trio, but I'm pretty sure I won't be able to track it down on sale. Maybe in the winter...

Isabel Marant SS 2013 Sale Haul

Etoile Isabel Marant Salome shorts in red, black Capu Elvis studded belt, and Betty sneakers, Helmut tee

Patience has its rewards and paid off when I was able to find the Etoile Isabel Marant pieces that I've been coveting all season long at the end of season sales at the lovely Isabel Marant store and at Barneys for 30-50% off. I was also able to find exactly the colorways that I wanted, which is sometimes sacrificed by the time sale season rolls around. In particular, I've been eyeing the red Salome shorts, Cooper jeans in fuchsia, and Ariana tweed jacket all season long, hoping that they wouldn't sell out before they went on sale. The black studded Capu Elvis belt and Manuel romper were additional pickups that I just couldn't resist. The Salome shorts are fun and flirty, and while quite short, not scandalously so because they are shorts not a skirt, and they are oh so comfortable. I think they are reversible with a red and blue checked pattern on the other side and therefore thicker and not as see through or delicate as the Sid pants, which I love, but have ripped several times, perhaps beyond repair this last time. Isabel Marant does the best striped pants and tweed jackets, and both this seasons Cooper and Ariana are really nice versions. I also saw the Sumac Jacket in red at Barneys yesterday and it took all the willpower I had to resist, as cute as it is and as much as I would love an Isabel Marant quilted jacket, I really shouldn't get a jacket in the exact same color and pattern as the Salome shorts or another red jacket like the Ariana. I thought that I should keep only one, either the Ariana or Sumac and ultimately decided to go with the Ariana as I think it is slightly more flattering on me because it's more fitted and slightly dressier to add a little polish to my usual very casual wear. Still want the Sumac, but I think I'm going to hold off, I've gone way over budget as usual... The fit of her clothes this season is slightly smaller than fall; I took a 36 in everything, whereas I was a 34 in last season's Ivos and Itzels.

Etoile Isabel Marant Cooper jeans in fuchsia, Capu belt in black and Dickers, Lanvin x H&M tee

Isabel Marant Ariana jacket in red, black Sid trousers, Betty sneakers

Worlds Collide

image from hm.com

So it's no secret from a quick perusal of the blog that my favorite designer these days is Isabel Marant. In fact, I recently went on a huge spring sale shopping spree at her gorgeous Melrose Place store, picking up some pieces that I've been coveting all season, including the Cooper striped jeans in fuchsia, the Salome skirt in red, the Manuel stars and bird romper in black, Ariana tweed jacket in
red, Capu Elvis studded belt in black, nice additions to my one full price purchase this season, the Sid pants in black that I've worn to death the last few months . I might have gone a little overboard, but I truly love all the pieces, pics to come. The other obvious conclusion from the blog is that I love collaborations, particularly the H&M fall designer collaborations. My favorite was the Lanvin collaboration, but the most recent Martin Margiela collaboration was a surprise favorite. Still, I was so surprised to hear that Isabel Marant was the next designer to work with H&M. While I love Isabel Marant, what I love about her clothes is the everyday wearability of them; she's not quite as high fashion or groundbreaking as the previous designers. I have mixed feelings, but will wait to reserve final judgment when the collection comes out.

First Mother's Day

Prabal Gurung x Target blouse, Vena Cava for Bloomingdales shorts, Swedish Hasbeens x H&M wedges and Prada sunglasses. A collab happy outfit

A little blog hiatus; I have been relatively restrained and not bought anything for awhile. Trying hard to wait for sale season next month, with a very long wishlist. Yesterday was my first mother's day and it was a lovely one. The weather was warm, perfect for a birthday picnic in the park for one of little k's friends. My favorite top from the Prabal Gurung  x Target collection.

Prabal Gurung x Target Sale

Prabal Gurung x Target dress in Meet the Parents print, Prada sunglasses, Maison Martin Margiela x H&M heels

I picked up a few more Prabal Gurung for Target items in store for 50-70% off a few weeks ago. I surprisingly like the black and white Meet the Parents print floral dress a lot. Black and white is big this spring, and the silhouette with the slightly flared skirt is flattering, even without a belt. I definitely wouldn't have paid full price for the two tank tops, but for ~$10, they are cute and easy to wear. I also bought the drop waisted First Date t-shirt dress for 70% off, not pictured. I ended up returning most of my initial order, the only full price items that I kept were the floral crush dress and long sleeve t-shirt and the first date sweatshirt.

Prabal Gurung x Target turquoise tank, Zara heels

Prabal Gurung x Target mesh First Date top

New Springtime Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant Sid trousers and Betty sneakers, Zara t-shirt, Fred Flare Carrie sunglasses

While I usually try to be good and wait for the sales to buy Isabel Marant, there's usually a couple of pieces that I just can't wait to buy and end up splurging for at full price. Last year it was the Lexy jacket, Dicker boots and Betty sneakers. I wear all three all the time, the Dickers and Bettys were pretty much the only shoes I wore all winter, so I think the price is justified based on cost per wear. I try to buy items that I don't think will make it to the sale. This season, I splurged for the Sid trousers in black from the Etoile line. Every year she does a springy floral print, I have her Hana romper from last year that I wore all summer long, and I really like the pattern for this season. I tried on several pieces at Barneys and the Isabel Marant store including the Sumac jacket and Shiso romper, and was surprised to find that the Sid trousers were my favorite. The Sumac is too boxy and short for me and I don't like the racerback style of the Shiso. The cotton voile fabric is super lightweight and they look and feel like pajama pants, but so comfortable. I really liked the striped Cooper jeans as well, but the Sid pants are a lot more comfortable. Since I spend so much of my time on the floor chasing after little K, comfort and practicality is high on my list of priorities. Bonus points for lots of pockets, as I usually never have my hands free anymore. While the blue and red sid trousers are really cute, I thought black would be the most versatile, so I finally tracked down a pair at Maryam Nassir Zadeh in NYC.

Sumac jacket. Image from barneys.com

Shiso romper. Image from barneys.com