a wee bit skint. (a fashion blog)

berliner.

it's quite difficult to be modern, comfortable and cool all at the same time. it's a very tall order - one that invariably leads you down a path of trying too hard and finding yourself mildly annoyed with yourself for having tried in the first place. unless of course, you've got fabulously tousled hair with a fringe to boot, a pouty lip and of course, a lovely little frock like this little number from magda berliner.

i'd gladly add this one to my wardrobe. find one, if you're quick on your toes - at satine boutique.

babylon.

i'm not far enough to hazard an opinion - but i was wondering:

for those of you who have read it straight through...

what did you think of imogen edwards-jones take on "fashion babylon"?

i will say... it reads like a soap opera, (and i'm not sure i appreciate it enough to see the wood for the trees.)

crew.

i probably shouldn't be bringing this up in polite company - and i'll probably lose a few points on the pretentious scale, as i know it isn't very fashionable to exclaim that i'm finding j. crew to be veering very close to my side of chic.

because, yes - they do preppy-american quite perfectly, but sometimes, every once in a while, they have a season peppered with some very cute pieces.

you don't believe me, do you? well, here's proof:

(seriously, the heels? so positively delightful!)

crush.

simplicity in business and in the design. it's not as easy as it looks.

"mr. in-between" - courtesy of nymag.com.

(Photo: Joseph Maida)

issie.

a melancholy little article about issie blow.

“It pains me to say so,” she once said, “but I’m ugly. I know that’s subjective, so perhaps I should say instead that I’m striking. My face is like a Plantagenet portrait.” But she dressed her way around it, in cinched waists and heels, cleavage, lipstick and a hat, even in the country, even on a Sunday, even in a cold and drenching English rain.

                               

“Tracksuit bottoms for lunch, dinner, or in fact any time except for sport are completely unacceptable,” Blow might announce. Or “There’s no point clomping around like a duck in flat shoes,” or “I simply can’t look at you without lipstick,” or “I do just love breasts. They’re so old-fashioned.”

(photo courtesy of nymag.com, by snowdon)

unsure.

i can't tell if this vanessa bruno hooded anorak trench is languorous cool or just plumb unwieldy and unflattering.

there is a part of me that thinks it most fantastic and at the same time, utterly confusing.

any opinions?

again&again.

is it fair, really?

to be so good at everything? to know precisely how a woman wants to look, and quite deftly understand what it is that woman wants out of and from her clothes and all the other habiliment that follow? it must be very hard to be philip lim. it also must be quite divine...

the orchid bag:

in one word? glorious. and it comes in a black option as well. yes, i'd get both if i had my druthers...

autumnish.

it's a very strange time of year.

although the norm for this part of the season is to be blisteringly hot and oppressively humid* - the shops start to phase out summer and gently wave autumn in. i've always found it peculiar, but altogether exciting - i love figuring out what item will be the most wanted (by me) when it starts to cool.

so as the sales racks always bore me, and clothes of summer lose their appeal, i start looking again at accessories. and really, if someone just, out of the kindness of their heart wanted to pick up this most spectacular of beaded wrap bracelets from accessories & beyond, i would be more than pleased to accept it...

(*torontonians - it's been awfully coolish, hasn't it?)

breaking.

this just in: fashion blogs may be on to something!

groundbreaking news story or just about 18 months too late?