Summer Inspiration

Graffiti (Google)

Ruffles by Emma (Google)

Kate Moss for Topshop

I needed more inspiration than ShopBop this summer so, I turned to my one and only amazing sister, Laura Elizabeth. Laura is all about photography. She has quite the eye for picturesque scenes, lighting and detail and uses an SLR camera to capture almost every possible moment. In her spare time, Laura searches online, in magazines and in books for stunning photos, which she then prints or cuts out and pastes in a sketchbook. Laura gave me some of the photos (above) she found online that inspire her, and now, intrigue me.

Loved this Teen Vogue editorial (from a long time ago)! Nika rocks those sporty heels.

Nika wears a Marc by Marc Jacobs dress, about $428. Nike Sportswear shorts, about $65. Gucci leather backpack. Mary Kate Steinmiller bracelets, about $60 each. DKNY sneaker pumps, about $205.
(www.teenvogue.com)

Cosmic Wonder dress. Christoph Broich for Cooperative Designs leggings with cutouts, about $280. Form blue leggings, about $195. Lanyard necklace, about $165. Ash sneaker heels, about $209.

(www.teenvogue.com)

Hey Shorty

Now that 100 degree weather has hit the states (and the rest of the world), its time to pull out our shorts. I just went through my closet the other day and had the moral support of my mother because as we all know, that is not an easy task. After a mound of "give away clothes" was piled on my bed, I came to realize that I only have two pairs of shorts. There lies a problem here. Looking online at ShopBop.com, I was inspired to get a taste of some new summer attire.

See Shopbop.com if you need some new summer wear. I certainly need to.

If anyone has a store or online shop that has great shorts...do tell.

Thanks for checking out The Pearled Penguin.

Will write again soon.

-Sj

Is Ralph Still Living in the Past?

On New Years Eve, I celebrated my Mother's birthday by going to the Frick museum with her (a place she has wanted to go for years with my siblings and me). It was such a dreary day-black snow on the streets, frowning faces, and a grey sky. Luckily, my mother and I managed to have an enjoyable day.

photo from cpp-luxury.com

Upon leaving the Frick museum, she asked "do you want to go to the new Ralph Lauren store?" Well of course I did! Right up the block was the beautiful white mansion, transformed into a multi-floored, high end clothing store fitted with gleaming chandeliers, elegant glass cases to display peacock feathers wrapped around silver jewels, a winding staircase and gossiping salesclerks. "The mecca" of all Ralph Lauren stores in New York City displayed numerous collections, but from the eye of a shopper, it seemed to be based around one main design. To me, Lauren has created a signature look for himself -his collections never stray far from shear flowery fabrics, whether on the runway or on store racks.

Fall 2010

Spring 2010

photos from style.com

I think it is time for Ralph to think a little outside the box. I do love shopping for vintage items but when I walked into his new store, I had a difficult time finding something new, young and unique. I felt like I was in an antique clothing store (perhaps that was the idea?) He rests on the line of simplicity especially when compared to Marc Jacobs or Oscar de la Renta. Perhaps it is time to go for something bigger. Or maybe he is already so deep into the fashion world, that whatever he creates will be adored. I would certainly like to know.

-Sj

Aladaprada

I've been thinking. Thinking about what kind of dress I would be if I were a dress. A while ago, when heading home after a yoga class with my aunt, I said, "let's take Madison Avenue". She proceeded to tell the taxi driver to cross over town and take one of my favorite avenues in the whole city. She would sit on the right and I, on the left (it was the opposite last time) and without talking we would gaze out the window. "Oohs," "ahh's" and "look over here!" filtered the cab. That tradition carried on every tuesday night after yoga, for some time.

As we carried on up the avenue, I would always look for Makola. A womens fashionable, traditional and classy dress boutique. Dresses tended to be cut off at the shoulders, belted at the waist and perfectly "poofed" until they reached the floor. I make it sound awful, but no. The store (to me) seemed to call to older or middle aged woman looking for an Audrey Hepburn styled dress. The dress was needed for a special occasion, (special enough to spend a lot of money) but it would be saved forever and passed on in it's original Makola box. The dresses rang with the words: elegance and poise.

Not one of my favorites, but an example of dresses basic template

Sadly, Makola closed in January of this year, I had hoped to buy one of your magical creations when I was older and had some money. Maybe you will come back.

Not to fear, Prada is here. When flipping through Vogue and looking on Style.com, I can not get over Prada's Fall 2010 RTW. I am loving the preppy-ness and the pumps are killer. I like to think I am similar to this line as it puts forward a number of different looks, all with a different story. It also reminds me of Makola because the collection seems to be back in the past but is able to make it work in the twenty-first century.

The models from the runway show look like they are on a mission or as though they are modern librarians revamping the fifties and sixties look. "It's normal clothes," she said backstage before her show. "Classics. Revising the things I did in the nineties," taken from an interview by Sarah Mower. The glasses, the tiny bows, the huge coat collars, hair wraps, the chunky knitted knee high socks top it all off. Each look has it's own detail and emotion, that's what I like about it.

from style.com

What dress are you?

-Sj

No prize winner

Hello. Hello. I really have missed this! Even though I did not post religiously a while ago, I am trying and start it up and get this going again.

I hope you all have been well and are reviewing Spring Fashion Week on style.com, putting away all those summer dresses (unless you can pull them off in the winter), taking out furs (faux of course), and just settling in for a new season. I guess you can say I have. Although, I do try to pull of summer things in the winter. Also this year, I organized my wardrobe into sections, and then in each section it goes from summer-wear to winter-wear. It works well. As for furs, I only have 1 faux fur vest from lf (which I love!) and just got a new fall coat, so I am settling in for the season I guess.

Speaking of Spring Fashion Week, (even though I am too late to promote it,) Jane Aldridge from Sea of Shoes, held an art contest on September 28th on her blog (www.seaofshoes.typepad.com). "The idea is to pick your favorite runway look from the spring shows, and to render your own interpretation of it in a sketch," she stated. I liked how it wasn't so much a contest, but rather "a way to celebrate fashion designers and share readers artwork".

"The daisy-chain maxi dress" by Diane Von Furstenburg

My version

It didn't take me long to pick the look I wanted to portray. I chose Diane Von Furstenberg because I was looking for something vibrant, free and exciting. After looking at Jane's example of Meadham Kirchhoff's look from a London show, the words that rang to me were: eccentric and alive. Immediately, my search became more limited as conservative/modern or funky/vintage, were out of the picture.

Diane Von Furstenburg received a pleasing review for the clothes she put forth on the runway. Nicole Phelps for Style.com reports: "This season's nomad searcher is 'looking into antiquity for effortless beauty,' with Egypt and the desert on her horizon, along with a side visit to the Pre-Raphaelites. Saucy tiger-print safari suits and leopard-spot shirtdresses mingled with floral-appliqué chiffon and a daisy-chain maxi dress, while brightly colored macramé hippie frocks mixed with more urbane jersey numbers". All in all, wonderfully done Diane.

Another favorite of mine by D.V.F

Sadly, when I was frantically trying to send in my entry, I believe (due to all the madness: sizing, downloading, jpegs, pdfs...) it didn't go through. So, after a whiles work and numerous emailed attempts, my entry is still stuck in my sketch book. However, I decided to share it with you. I hope you like it, though I was rather put down when I saw everyone else's submissions on Flickr. People are just so talented.

Jane posted an album of all the entries on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/janealdridge/sets/72157624942613335/

Glad to be back (I hope).

-Sj

I need to go shoe shopping

Goodness gracious, I need shoes! Now that spring has arrived and over-the-knee boots are practically out, birkenstocks are last summer, and moccasins seem dull (at least to me,) I turn to flats and sandals as they never go out of style. Easier said than done though. I went to my favorite shoe store this past weekend (both locations) and couldn't find a single pair that suited my fancy. Oh dear. Maybe, I should blame my shopping skills. Honestly, I am not a very good shopper. I feel as though my eyes automatically look past the bargains that should be staring me right in the face and are prone to the most expensive things in the store. It's a problem.

Anyway, back to the point. Ah yes. Shoes! I am thinking flats. I am thinking fun, colorful, practical. I am thinking...

CHLOE

MIU MIU

GIUSEPPE ZANTOTTI

MYMU

BELLE BY SIGERSON MORRISON

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

(Only in my dreams...sigh)

SEE BY CHLOE

(All at www.net-a-porter.com)

Well, even though I picked out a variety and know that I probably won't own any single pair of the above selected, it helps me know what I am looking for. By picking things out online, or cutting things out of a magazine - it helps me find my personal style, and where I am coming from.

Did you realize that a lot of this post is "hypocritical." I said flats and sandals, and there is a pair of boots, and moccasins, plus I almost a pair of bruges (but they count as flats.) I said colorful, and depending on your view, one could say this is a rather colorful collection (but not so much in my head.) I certainly didn't think I would be having any black flats in this post, but there come two pairs I was instantly drawn to. Last but not least, I tried to find wallet friendly flats, but instead came out with a bucket load of various not so friendly priced guys.

Oh well, I simply think that this post has helped me figure out some of my tastes and favorite "flavors." I suggest you do the same when in doubt of what you want or what you are looking for. But have no fear, flats are on their way...once I go shopping that is. I wish I could say, "cant wait to get these (above pairs) in the mail and blog about them!" Sincere apologies.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Spring.

p.s. My computer is acting so strange right now. Do excuse the inconsistency of the format.

-Sj

Loewe by Stuart Vevers and a bunny

Easter at last! If only it could come faster each year, as it brings all the exciting family traditions. First, we decorate eggs in the morning (that is, after blowing out all the oxygen left in our bodies to get the yolks out), then we do an easter egg hunt in our moderately sized NYC apartment (even though my siblings and I have already spied around for the eggs before hand,) we can get pretty competitive. Finally, we clear the table of all our splattered ink and newly decorated eggs to breakfast on a spread of muffins, bagels, and cereals. Then its off to the parade! Once again, another year goes by and we have not made the lavishly decorated hats we said we would have, in order to blend in with the crowd on 5th avenue, so we grab the various other accessories (scarves, feather, hats...) that will have to substitute.

I wish I could say that we went to brunch every year and got all dressed up, then changed into another elegant attire for a dinner party the same evening, but I think my family and I have covered a fair amount of traditions over the years and plan will continue. Speaking of brunch, I was just flipping through Karlie Kloss's editorial in the April Vogue and nearly melted when I saw her curling her hair in that Loewe by Stuart Vevers "perforated suede-and-cotton-bustier dress." Gosh, I couldn't help but think of all the fun memories I had dressing up for special summer brunches when I was a little girl wearing my newly ironed floral dress and prancing around through buffet tables grabbing anything I saw. Maybe its too fancy, but if I had that dress and a Easter dinner party to look forward to, I would have been counting down the days to wear it. Its stunning, as well as numerous other pieces from the collection...

This model looks rather scary in the dress so just pull out your April issue of Vogue and let Karlie Kloss set the standard.

Two other pieces that I liked. I would probably wear these to the parade as they are a little more casual but at the same time perfect for welcoming spring and celebrating Easter. (I love how I am talking like I already own them...in my dreams.)

Have a lovely Easter everyone

and don't eat too much chocolate.

-Sj