Is This Anything?

I'm borderline. They're Charmone shoes, vegan and eco-friendly-ish, as well as being on sale, but most importantly - will they go smashingly and chicly with all the cute new dresses and dark denim for Fall or will they look a little hokey? What do you think?

Stop the Press, Who is That?
Well hello pretty, I see you on the Target.com site for just $26.99 and wonder how you feel on my foot...is this the price point where pain doesn't matter? This "Verdi" wedge from Target's Mossimo line is a veritable conjunction-junction of trends that may actually work... will have to see it in person to decide.

Cloning Blair Waldorf

Um, yah. It's no mistake that Nordstrom photographed this Juicy Couture beret on a model looking eerily familiar to one of our favorite network stars, Leighton Meester. Is it, now?

But I'd venture to guess B. would never wear anything so blatantly Juicy.

Missed Opportunity

Just found this brilliant blouson top from Karoo by Mark Eisen at Tee-Zone - on sale (!) but sold out in this color and my size :( I'm batting 0 for 3 since that Nicole Miller purse and the Nordstrom one arm-wrap sold out. What next?

Hello Hitchcock.



I might just need this beauty to complete my Hitchcock heroine look for Fall. Unfortunately it sold out between the time I placed it in my shopping bag and when I came back after dinner. Help!

Poutmore Picks: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale - Accessories

Living in the Pacific Northwest, one is born and raised to shop at Nordy's. We know it's "Nordstrom" and not "Nordstroms", and we were there the day the company opened it's flagship store in Downtown Seattle in the old Frederick and Nelson building.

So it should come as no surprise that we can DO the anniversary sale like no one's business. Here, some choice picks:



Betsey Johnson Leopard Print Ring for your next night out on the town - or if you are feeling a bit rockstar. $42.90 ($65. after sale)



There is no good reason to not have this Kenneth Jay Lane ring in your collection. No reason at all. $49.90 ($75. after sale)



Nice BIG pleats hobo from Kenneth Cole $212.90 ($318. after sale)



Alexis Bittar lucite earrings. $62.90 enough said. ($95. after sale)



Just Kidding!

Mine all Mine.

It sounds greedy, I know, but there was ONE on etsy and now it's MINE. I haven't even decided what to store in it just yet, but probably will relocate all U2 memorabilia from the Coach shoebox in which it currently resides. Or maybe I'll use it as a purse next tour. Mostly I'll just gaze at it and admire it.

Admittedly not a traditional Potmore post, but just had to do it.

We're in Love.

These Martine Heels from J.Crew, and I. But we haven't met in person yet, so I'm trying to keep things low key. Will keep you updated!

CURRENT NET-A-PORTER SALE OBSESSIONS

Not that I would wear these together, but you can never go wrong with James Perse (cardigan), the color of these Chloe jeans is to die for, even if the rise is too low for my liking, and these Pedro Garcia pumps make me want to build them a little glass enclosure and protect them at all costs. Ah, decisions, decisions.

Well it took me long enough. After several years now of checking out the Target GO lines put together by visiting designers, I finally found something I love so much I had to have it...the woven tote by Gryson for Target. Normally the quality of these "designer" Target pieces - clothing and accessories - is severely lacking. But this little guy is gorgeous and actually looks like it could be leather. Plus the lining is super chic (cream w/black zip inside). We're going to have a lot of fun together.

Nordstrom Sale: Do and Don't

DO Pick up a flirty dress like this JS Collections for just $155.90

DON'T be swayed by the big names. Just because it comes from a big$brand and it's 40% off(like this St. John dress for only $1,009.00), doesn't mean it's a good deal! (That dress isn't a good deal even at $10.99)

Twelve by Twelve Takes My Breath Away!

Never mind that the last time I bought something at Forever 21, the glued-on sequins all started falling off in the middle of a business meeting, leaving a sequin trail as I left the board room. And let's forget about the fact that Forever 21 is stock full of synthetic fibers and so-low-they're-scary prices... Regardless of all this, in theory and design, I am in absolute adoration of their new Twelve by Twelve collection! This is perhaps the chicest looking "fashion democratization" collection yet, with looks like "Bittersweet Ballet" and "Forties Paris" created in a pallette of metallic and dusky greys and charcoals, purpley-blues, and Poutmore's favorite, black. At prices around $40-60, I can almost convince myself it's ethical to buy one of these fabulous pieces....hey, that may be a lot of polyester, but at least these sequins are sewn on !!

Pictured: Sequin Luxe Sweater, $62 and Divine Satin Pleat Skirt, $29

Silent Film Fashion Moment

Bottom: Still from "Salome", 1923, starring Alla Nazimova.

Costume Design and Art Direction by Natacha Rambova - clearly an undervalued talent in Hollywood, since I bet you've never heard of her. Did you know she was the neice of Elsie de Wolfe and was at one time married to Monsignor-Hollywood himself, Rudolph Valentino (top photo)? She is credited for bringing Art Deco to Hollywood, and obviously some Art Nouveau influences as well. Bravo, Ms. Rambova!

J'adore Paris Vogue Collections

I was devoted to the first two issues of Elle Collections - and then I saw Paris Vogue Collections for Fall/Winter '08 and fell in love all over again.

You see, when I was still in high school I used to cut and paste my favorite images from magazines and catalogs to create a book that showcased the trends for each season. It was my dream magazine - images only, very little print, and certainly no celebrity interviews or book reviews to distract from the fashion at hand. Now I see my dreams realized in these two publications.

Nevermind the fact that they must be imported from Europe and cost $12 (Elle) and $30 (Paris Vogue) - these are magnificent documents of the seasons' shows and invaluable in this day and age of movie-stars-on-the-cover-of-Vogue and the over-stylized fashion sections in every other magazine. Genius layouts, slick editing, and a complete lack of advertising or discussion of other topics are the hallmarks of these fantastic publications. Kudos to each and every person involved in making my dream a reality - you have a loyal customer for years to come.

Elsa Schiaparelli's "Shocking Life" Available NOW!

FINALLY! It took me almost ten years to track down a fair copy of 1954's "Shocking Life," the autobiography of Italy's surrealist-designer and "rival" of Coco Chanel. That was with the help of the Internet. Now we can all partake of a brand new edition, published to coincide with this month's "Surreal Things" exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum.

Purchase it at the V&A website for 9 pounds or pre-order at Amazon for $14.78 (how exact). God bless the V&A! You Londoners are so bloody lucky.

Black (Satin) Market
I don't need to tell you that Chanel's latest nail color, daughter-of-Vamp, "Black Satin" is sold out EVERYWHERE. What you may not know is how high the price continues to escalate on Ebay. 3 weeks ago you could "Buy It Now" for $50, but now "Buy It Now"s start at $80 and go up as high as $130. Most regular auctions are still ending upwards of $50. Crazier still is one poor Ebayer who listed the OPI knock-off for $45 (if that one sells, it surely is a sign of the Apocolypse...).

Now I know this is supposed to be a limited-edition polish, but am I being silly to hold out hope that I can get a bottle at retail when they (surely) restock?? I waited 4 months for my bottle of Vamp back in '97 or whenever that was...certainly Chanel will not sit idlely by while bottles go for 3 and 4 times retail on Ebay. Well, one can always hope... (by the way, I'm not even positive that Mischa is wearing Black Satin in this photo widely used on Ebay...it looks to have a blue sheen to it...)

UPDATE: Oct 13th Launch for GAP (RED)
Check out the back cover of Entertainment Weekly this week or go to www.gap.com/red to preview some of the items. For someone who has had the Inspi(red) logo as her desktop background for 6 months, you can guess how anxious I am to get this tee. And the linings of the parka and jean jacket...great design. 2 more weeks!

SEPHORAHAUL: Stella!

So technically I haven't purchased this yet, but I've placed it in my basket at Sephora.com because it is the next evolution of scent for me this Fall. Maybe not for you, but has become quite clearly the next step for me. Blumarine begat RL Blue begat Nanadebary (green) begat Stella. I'm torn between the perfume (seen here), the purse spray, or the roll-on. Super kudos to Stella McCartney for offering up so many suitable options!

Fashion Tome: U2 by U2


If you don't think this book has anything to do with fashion then you haven't opened it up yet. No one in the history of the world has pulled off the mullet quite like early Bono. And Adam Clayton has more style in his little finger than most people have in their lifetimes. Whether you peruse it or devour it (as I plan to do), "U2 by U2" is a neccesary addition to your fashion bookshelf...or bookcase, as it may be. Only $24 at Overstock.

FASHION ICON "A." Gabrielle "Coco" Bonheur Chanel

my favorite Chanel portrait, by George Hoynigen-Huene

Born: August 20, 1883

Died: January 3, 1971

Showed in: 31 Rue Cambon, Paris, France

The supreme Fashion Icon, she cannot be pigeonholed in one fashion strata; simply put, she was an amazing and pioneering businesswoman, trendsetter, designer, stylist, and marketer.

Chanel's Gifts to Fashionistas:

• Chanel No. 5. (and the fabulous bottle it comes in)
• The Little Black Dress
• Fabulous Faux Pearls and Costume Jewelry
• The suntan
• Jersey dresses
• The boxy tweed suit
• Quilted Chanel bag
• Designer logo

Lasting legacy:

"Kaiser" Karl Lagerfeld has since stepped in to provide us more important and lasting fashion moments as the House of Chanel continues to reign supreme. Not least of which is this season's must-have, already-sold-out-going-for-three-times-its-pricetag-on-eBay nail varnish, "Black Satin".