Collecting vintage costume jewelry is a weakness of mine. By looking at my collection of vintage rhinestone ear clips, however, you would never guess that my ears actually don’t take well to clip ons. Naturally, my justification for hoarding these unnecessary gems is the ability to transform them into more befitting accessories . . . like shoe clips! They are the perfect way to transform a pair of simple flats or pumps. If the ear clip hinges are strong enough, they can simply clamp on the shoes as they are. And if they aren’t, I’ll show you a super easy method for turning them into a sturdy pair of shoe clips.
I’ll never forget the summer of 1999 when I chopped 10 inches off my long locks after watching Rene Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair. You can only imagine the look I got from the stylist after asking him to replicate such a sophisticated hairstyle – after all, I was only 19! It was probably my most dramatic hair moment to date, second to the time I got a perm (more on that later). Nowadays I hardly let my hair grow past my shoulders, fluctuating between a short and long bob. I love how fresh and transformative short styles can be. What do you think . . . would you brave the bob?
Vika Gazinskaya, known for her childlike take on fashion, is another Russian gem that consistently knocks it out of the park with her designs. Her fall collection is filled with architecturally interesting silhouettes and cheeky details like zig zag hemlines, voluminous proportions, dramatic boleros and of course, shaggy faux fox and raccoon scarves!
If there is one person that truly personifies that gypset-globetrotting spirit, it’s Stephanie von Watzdorf of Figue. With years of working with brands like Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Tory Burch under her belt, Stephanie recently launched her own women’s collection consisting of printed tunics, embroidered kaftans, reclaimed and embellished military jackets, one of a kind jewelry and bohemian handbags. Figue is essentially a beautifully eclectic collection of treasures that you wish you discovered and brought home from all of those imaginary adventures to those faraway destinations. While visiting the Soho showroom, I could immediately appreciate the many influences that have inspired Stephanie’s aesthetic – her grandparents who were dancers in The Ballet Russes, her childhood spent in Paris, New York and Italy, her commitment to giving back to communities and organizations, and her love of travel. It’s no wonder the entire day could have been spent just taking in all the eye candy filling the studio. I have officially fallen in love with Figue.
