look 1
A dress to die for (hyperbolic, but feels accurate at the moment). From Narciso Rodriguez’s tightly edited, 12-look pre-fall collection, which you can preview at Style.com.
narciso rodriguez courtesy photo for style.com
Earlier this year, I went crazy for The Row’s pink “Iya” wool sheath dress from the Resort 2015 collection. Completely besotted by the shape and the color, I needed it, and patiently waited for it to show up online. And then it did, complete with $4090 price tag. (eek!) While I still LOVE it, even if I were brave/crazy enough to buy it, I would still be too scared to ever wear it out of the house. (What if I spilled coffee on it? Could I enact an expensive-dress-stay-back policy on the tube? Doubtful.) So, I was happy to find a similar-styled dress, from Matches’ Freda line, for £395 (about $620). The pink is not quite as sublime, and I prefer The Row’s styling (lace ups beat heels), but I would also be able to wear it.
images from neimanmarcus.com and matchesfashion.com
layout and type by jane potrykus
It’s Thanksgiving morning in London, and though it still seems odd that it’s simply “Thursday” in my world, the omnipresent sounds of construction are here to remind me. We’re about half-way through our London experience (if everything goes according to plan), and I feel like we’ve finally settled into a rhythm, though that rhythm certainly includes its fair share of bumps and setbacks. I’m mindful that our good experiences outweigh the bad, and that is certainly due to the kindness of many people: some intentional; some serendipitous. And I hope to be paying it back, even if it’s in the smallest way.
It’s been awhile since I’ve shared photo favorites in this space, and I thought today was the perfect day for another installment. Enjoy!
- Sharing a few images from ….
- Home flowers
- I worked as a textile designer ….
- Taking a detour
- immersed in #watercolors today
- Susan is exhibiting in Atlanta ….
- #ViaCarota #GroveStreet #WestVillage #NewYork
- Lady at the checkout ….
- Autumn apples
- Hydrangea
- after sunrise #chicago
- the first really cold day ….
- Untitled
- Manhattan Beach Pier at Dawn
- Along the Mabou River
Photo 15 seemed like the perfect way to end this series. Happy Thanksgiving: may your world be filled with gratitude and peace today.
photo at top by jane potrykus
december 2014 cover
Much as I’d like to think otherwise, my magazine addiction is still running strong. However, as a perfectionist, the more I spend, the more I expect from a title. (And magazine prices seem to be heading up.) Scrolling through the internet, I was immediately drawn to Fudge magazine‘s December cover (above), despite the fact that the choice of cover model screams “teen mag”. Intrigued, but a bit skeptical, I plunked down my £12 at the local Japanese bookstore and dug in. What a pleasant surprise it was: apparently, teens and 20-somethings* in Japan are obsessed with the same things I am: minimalist, comfy fashion paired with utilitarian luxe® handbags and natural, almost-no-makeup-makeup. (Japanese culture seems to specialize in my predilection for perfectionism and minimalism.) What makes Fudge work? First off, the layout/design is divine: it’s photo-driven, which makes the fact that I can’t read Japanese less of an issue. Also, Fudge featured many of the same designers I look to for design inspiration (including Jil Sander and Margaret Howell), and added a few new Japanese shops to my online fashion research base. That’s the nice thing about being a fashion minimalist: with a few styling/accessory tweaks, the clothing choices tend to work across a wide range of ages.
I think I’m hooked: Fudge, you have a new fan.
handbags feature
coats editorial
gift ideas
all photos by jane potrykus
*fudge’s tag line is “new type fashion magazine for girls”, but magazine cafe store pegs the typical reader as a 23-27 year-old.
pedlars’ store front | holiday 2014
One of my favorite shops at the moment has to be Pedlars, which is based in North Wales but has a retail shop in Notting Hill. (128 Talbot Road, a stone’s throw from Portobello Road.) Long known for its design-lover’s assemblage of clever-yet-quirky British homewares and accessories like Hovis tins and vintage bus blinds, the shop has recently been freshened up to include a smart cafe area at the back, and new products include some of my very favorite lines from the US, including Best Made Company and Scout’s Honor Paper. All I know is that it’s been an Instagram free-for-all every time I’ve stopped in over the past few months.
The shop’s wood paneling is accented with cheery, bright colors + the staff always make me (the ever-gushing American) feel welcome. Add Pedlars to your London must-see list: of course, between visits, there’s always the online shop.
paper goodies from best made co + scout’s honor
pedlars’ in-house line of signet pencils in the shop’s signature orange.
café menu + a feel for the shop’s happy color scheme
pedlars also stocks uppercase magazine + vintage flashcards from the US
all photos by jane potrykus
