I Can't Put My Arms Down!

Anyone who has ever gone through winter in New York City knows that warmth comes first— hence the puffy down coats that infest the city like giant caterpillars. But what about looking stylish? It's a little difficult to look cute when you're wearing a sleeping bag and a boa constrictor-esque scarf...

Back in September, my friend and I passed a shop on Spring Street with the cutest coat in the window. Because one of my favorite places to eat is on that block, I'd walked by that window several times since they put out their Fall/Winter line. Each time, whomever I was with had to listen to me go on about the coat. As it called to me yet again, I decided it couldn't hurt to try it on. (Even though the purpose of the shopping trip was to get shoes for my friend!)

It was perfect. I felt ready to lace up my skates and start stockpiling snowballs. It was warm, well-made, and most importantly, it actually made me excited for New York's impending arctic chill. As the man and woman who were running the store helped me with the fit, I couldn't contain my gushing. I babbled on as if I had just run into my favorite rocker. 

And I'm so glad I didn't contain my excitement, because, as I signed my credit card slip, the man mentioned that he was the designer.

(Photos: © Littlehouse of Style; Coat: JaeYoon Jeong Collection, Bag: Zac Posen, Shoes: Stuart Weitzman, Dress: Diane Von Furstenberg, Fingerless gloves: knit for me by my friend Paige!)

It's not shoe, it's me...

As my wardrobe gets larger and my apartment continues to stay the same size; donating, selling, and giving away clothing and accessories has become essential. After successfully selling 2 pairs of heels on eBay recently, I decided to take a long hard look at my shoe collection. I dragged shoebox after shoebox out from under my bed. Not surprisingly, but quite embarrassingly, there were several pairs that I had forgotten about...

Last weekend, I photographed a few pairs of "forgotten shoes" with the intent of posting them on eBay. They all looked so nice through the lens of my camera... As I took shot after shot, I started to wondering what went wrong. Maybe I should give them another chance... They really are gorgeous shoes. Do they deserve to be auctioned off?

But the truth is, when putting together an outfit every morning, these shoes never made the cut. It's not that I don't like them— I mean, I was in love with them at one point— I just have other, similar pairs I like more. We had a beautiful time together, but it was only one day, and I'm a different person now. You know, maybe we were never meant for each other in the first place...

It's really hard letting things go, but I'd rather have these shoes get the love and wear they deserve from a new owner, than sit under my bed until they go out of style. I wish them all the happiness in the world, as they step into the next phase of their lives.

(Forgotten shoe photos: © Littlehouse of Style; From top, Stuart Weitzman patent pumps, Cole Haan platform sandals, Cole Haan pumps, and Stuart Weitzman patent pumps again)

Hedi Slimane: Never-ending Possibility

Yesterday, my friend told me he read online that Hedi Slimane MIGHT be in talks with Louis Vuitton. With that seed planted, we excitedly facebook commented back and forth about what that would mean for fashion. Would he do a women's line? Would he be working on Louis Vuitton? What about his photography career? Will I be able to get a piece from the collection before it sells out?! Suddenly, that little seed was a fashion forest.

For those who aren't familiar with Slimane, he's the creator of Dior Homme where he worked from 2000-2007. He's probably also a genius. After leaving the house of Dior, Slimane was approached by LVMH (the French luxury goods conglomerate) about starting his own signature line, but Slimane eventually called off the negotiations. Then he turned around and became one of the most amazing photographers working today.

In all honesty, I knew Slimane as a photographer first. I came across his iconic portraits of British rocker Pete Doherty a few years ago and started regularly visiting his online photo diary. I'm in love with all things rock-n-roll— I actually have a concert journal to keep track of all the shows I've seen since moving to New York. Slimane's pictures— whether a studio portrait, a candid of a blissful fan, or a still-life of an ant hill of cigarette butts— all capture that raw beauty of rock-n-roll.

Whatever Slimane does in the coming years— whether it's more photography or more fashion or some incredible thing that hasn't even been invented yet— I'm sure my friend and I will be excitedly facebook commenting about that too.

(All photos © Hedi Slimane)

It's all in the details.

I love putting together two items in my wardrobe that have a subtle connection.

Club Monaco top, Miu Miu flats from DSW

(Photos: © Littlehouse of Style)

New Shoes, New Shoes...

I can recite only a few things from memory— among them; Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky, the 4-H Pledge, and a child's poem about shoes.

As a six-year-old, I memorized "Choosing Shoes" so I could entertain my mom, my family, any guests we might have, and my reflection in the full-length mirror. There was definitely some dancing involved.

Over Thanksgiving, I found the book containing the poem among shelves of gorgeous picture books I'm so glad my mom has held onto. Although I can recite the poem to this day, I had forgotten the illustrations. I think this explains a lot...

I definitely lay on my bed and admire my shoes like this...

Totally me. Drinking a large mug of Earl Gray and feeling quite pleased with my cute red flats.

Here's the poem in its entirety. I recommend reading it out loud. Dancing optional.

Choosing Shoes

New shoes, new shoes,

Red and pink and blue shoes,

Tell me what would YOU choose

If they'd let us buy?

Buckle shoes, bow shoes,

Pretty pointy-toe shoes,

Strappy, cappy low shoes;

Let's have some to try.

Bright shoes, white shoes,

Dandy dance-by-night shoes,

Perhaps-a-little-tight shoes;

Like some? So would I.

BUT flat shoes, fat shoes,

Stomp-along-like-that shoes,

Wipe-them-on-the-mat shoes

O that's the sort they'll buy.

("Choosing Shoes" by Frida Wolfe, Poems for Young Children, Illustrated by Inga Moore, 1986)

My Worlds Are Colliding!

What's a photo of books doing on a fashion website? Did I get my book jacket site confused with my fashion blog? Nope. Look again. These are BAGS— gorgeous embroidered clutches by Olympia Le-Tan made to look like classic fiction. 

I was so excited when I saw these today on Brown's website. It's not often that my love of fashion and my love of book design intersect. And if they could tempt me any more: My favorite book, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, right out in front!

Check out more info on Olympia's site.

(images from Brown's and Olympia Le-Tan's website)

Fashion! Fashion! Read All About It!

I've been on a fashion magazine kick lately. Now, I'm not talking Vogue (no offense Anna, I love you), I'm talking about those $15, glossy, unfamiliar gems that populate cramped magazine bodegas all over the city.

But $15? For a magazine? Why would anyone pay that much? Well, my personal reason is that it's an inexpensive alternative to shoe shopping and yet still satisfies my fashion appetite. But honestly, I really think these magazines are worth the price tag and more.

One of my favorites is Lula, from the UK. Thumbing through an issue over the summer, I was taken by the gorgeous photography and quickly paid the $15.99 price. I enjoyed every page. I couldn't put my finger on it, but somehow it felt like a different experience than reading Elle or Vogue or even the Seventeen magazines I devoured in Middle School. It felt more like an art book. And then I realized. It was missing advertisements.

(Photography by Jam, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 33)

(Photography by Frederike Helwig, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 54)

In the latest issue of Lula I picked up, there are 13 ads. THIRTEEN. And they are only at the front and back of the magazine. That leaves over 200 pages of uninterrupted fashion. As a result, the themes of each issue seem clearer and you avoid that awkward experience of skipping over a spread because you think it's an ad.

Most magazines split their content 50/50 between ad and edit. All magazines, whether they're your college's alumni publication or The New Yorker, rely on advertisements (and not sales) in order to make money. So, I guess ads are a necessary evil, especially when classics like Gourmet are folding . . . Still, it sure is nice to get though a whole magazine without seeing Madonna in Louis Vuitton "bunny ears."

(Photography by Jo McCaughey, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 63)

Not only does Lula have a 5 to 95 ad to edit ratio, the photos and stories are varied and engaging. They even have spreads shot by famous photographers like Ellen Von Unwerth— one of my favorites. The most recent issue focuses on redheads, and is filled with women crowned in red, whether natural or not. It's a fun exploration that travels from Grace Coddington to silent movie star Alice White to Karen Elson. I'm not sure how they continue to put out issue after issue with so few ads, but I hope they continue to do so. Maybe that high price helps...

(Photography by Nicole Nodland, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 121)

(1967 Photo of Grace Coddington in Missoni, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 129)

(Photography by Damon Heath, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 146)

(Photography by Ellen Von Unwerth, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 158)

(Photography by Ellen Von Unwerth, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 161)

(Photography by John Lindquist, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 193)

(Photography by Sandra Freij, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 207)

(Photography by Sandra Freij, Lula Magazine, Issue 9, p. 210)

If you're looking for magazines in New York, I highly recommend Around the World on 40th Street, directly south of Bryant Park. Not only do they carry every magazine imaginable (In Trend Embroidery, anyone? only $59.95), they also have back issues. Just keep in mind that 10 magazines at $15 a pop will put a dent in your shoe budget.

(All images scanned from Lula Magazine)