My Favorite Things: Pre-Fall
by habituallychic
08 . 12 . 09
It was hot today in New York. Like Africa hot. But for me it’s too little too late. I’m over summer and have moved onto pre-fall. The new clothes are in the stores here and I’ve already been picking out what I want to buy for New York and my trip to Paris. There are so many great things to chose from but these are a few of my favorites! Starting with the photo of model Lisa Taylor that was taken by photographer Arthur Elgort for Vogue in 1976 that embodies that feeling of when the weather is still sunny but starts to turn a little chilly.
Before the weather gets cold enough for a real coat, I wear blazers over little tops with jeans and also over dresses. I love this grey flannel schoolboy jacket from J. Crew and especially the gold buttons that dress it up. There is also something about it that makes me want to sharpen pencils.
I am so not a skinny jeans kind of girl but since all the girls in Paris are wearing them, I thought I should try to find a slim pair. J. Crew calls the matchstick jeans “ultra flattering” and I have to agree. I tried them on and actually thought they looked pretty good. Probably not quite as good as they do on the model in the photo but then again, she’s probably a foot taller than me. The best part is that they aren’t so tight that they cut off your circulation. Well, at least not until you start eating macaroons!
I will also need some shoes to go with my new slim jeans and these Christian Louboutin patent ballerina flats might just be the ones. I originally saw them in grey but now I am loving them in taupe. Truth be told, I actually own this style in gold and they are one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I’ve ever worn. And comfort will be key in Paris when I am trying to walk off all the macaroons!
This Davina bag by Derek Lam is my wish list favorite item. I swear I hear angels sing whenever I look at it. It’s ridiculously beautiful and also ridiculously expensive. But it never hurts to dream. Le sigh.
I already received my advance copy of Jacques Grange Interiors and have been pouring over it! His style is unique to each project and the details are amazing! His own personal apartment in the Palais Royal was once owned by Collete and is of course the most unique. I debated trying to stalk him in Paris until I remembered that my French isn’t that good if he calls the police so I think I’ll stick with the book!
There are only so many French movies I can watch before I need a break and I can’t wait until the second season of Gossip Girl is released on DVD August 18th! They have been filming in my neighborhood this summer and I hear that Ed Westwick was spotted at West Elm buying furniture after Chace moved out. Ed, if you need a decorator, call me!
After a few months in the sun, in addition to bi-monthly highlights and daily blow drying, my hair needs a little TLC so I’ve already switched back to Technician Color Care by Frederic Fekkai. It makes my hair super soft but not limp and the Color Protecting Glaze makes it shiny but never greasy. They really are fantastic products. Now if I could just get my colorist to stop making me so blonde, I’d be all set!
I am very loyal to my nail polish colors but Estee Lauder’s new Black Amethyst polish might give them a run for their money. It actually looks darker in person than it does in this photo and will look great with grey and black clothing for fall. It’s actually a limited edition color so I guess my regular polish will come back into rotation after it’s gone. Or maybe I should stock up in case I really like it! Bon shopping!
31 Comments
The first thing I fell in love with in my J.Crew catalog was that blazer…its a total MUST!
xoxo
Rebecca June
I love it all! You will be on top of your game in gay ole’ Paris.
Oh, I remember that photo of Lisa Taylor. When I was a kid, that image was the epitome of a chic autumnal scene! And you know, I still think it is!!
I fully approve all of your clothing choices, especially all together. I’m going to try and find a more wallet-friendly version of that jacket, though . . .
living in northern europe it seems the weather is always cool and i live in a blazer of one color of another. it’s become my go-to shopping item when i enter a store!
I too was bi-monthly. Just recently gave it up and started a full DL ad color glaze over top. Lasts twice as long, no darkness, stays shiny and vibrant. Wish I had known sooner! Anyway, I too use that Fekkai and love it.
And I am going to have a look at the Bloack Amythest in the store for early fall, last years shades were all too dark too soon…
Be well!
Love the schoolboy jacket and matchstick jeans. Thanks to Jenna Lyons you just can’t go wrong with J.Crew these days! You’re going to look oh-so-stylish in Paris!!!
XX Kate “the NEO-trad”
oh I’m dying for that derek lam bag! the color is totally sublime! xo
I love that shot of Lisa Taylor too but I am definitely NOT ready for colder weather!
I want you to be fabulous in Paris however, in exchange, if we can stave off Winter for just a little bit longer, I would be tres content.
“It was hot today in New York. Like Africa hot.” = ha ha ha I’m not a Summer person at all, and have been patiently waiting (in the comforts of air conditioning) for the first signs of Autumn. Evening though it is Africa hot outside, my heart seems to skip a beat when I see the pre-Fall collections in stores. I chose to believe that Fall is just around the corner!
Love that Jacques Grange “head” in the bedroom! Now just to get a bedroom big enough to wear it. Thanks for the post–fall is definitely in the air. Can’t wait to see what you are taking to Paris.
I’ve been swooning over my Jcrew catalog too, waiting for the first blip of cool air to break out all the early fall things. I love the product round up, that bag is beautiful.
Gossip Girl in your neighborhood, shut up. I’d die.
what are your standard nail polish colors? i just wrote a post on an amaaaazing color for the rest of summer…check it out if you’d like at http://www.honeyliving.blogspot.com…and see comments from readers with other polish color suggestions. nail polish colors are such a fun obsession – not a big commitment, easy to change up and can make you feel like a million bucks.
Love all your choices for fall and your Paris trip. I better get on my packing game for Paris, I will be the one wearing the same thing every day…….is that bad?
Rebecca June – I just remembered that I have a pretty grey blazer from Rag & Bone but I think I might also need the J.Crew one too!
Gatherings Home – I’ve already been planning my outfits for each day 😉
Pamela – That photo is timesless!
Tasha – Grey is so big for fall that I’m sure there will be tons of other options.
Antiques Diva – I love them with jeans in the fall and can’t wait to pull them out!
Blushing Hostess – what is DL? My only problem is that the grey hairs are already starting to come in so I need the highlights to cover those too 🙁
Kate/Neo-Traditionalsit – I dying over everything at J.Crew for fall!
Caroline – that bag had me at hello! The color is perfect!
Alice Olive – I don’t want winter either but a little crisp fall weather I will take!
Scott – I don’t mind warm weather but it’s always the fall clothes that make me wish for autumn! Good luck waiting it out!
Anonymous – that is a big bedroom. Surprised no one mentioned the tiger!
Semigloss Chic – If it makes you feel any better, I haven’t actually seen the cast. Only the trucks and crew. Can’t wait until season 3 debuts!
Honey Living – I always Essie Potato Fiels on my nails. Occaionally in the winter, I will switch to Wicked. For my toes, it’s Potato Fields layed over Real Simple in the summer and Nars Chinatown in the winter. I can’t wait to try Black Amethyst now!
“Anonymous – that is a big bedroom. Surprised no one mentioned the tiger!”
The tiger was the first thing I noticed! I’d be more afraid of that thing coming after me than any French police! Better get some laces for those ballet flats before venturing into THAT bedroom!
ooooh the nars color looks gorg! i adore wicked but i think my skin has too much pink in it so it doesn’t look as good as it does on other people. i usually do ballet slippers or limo-scene for light or lady godiva or sole mate for dark.
Love the taupe flats! Don’t really love the price. But I did just notice Nordstroms has a similar style in their BP brand for $60 in patent expresso. Just wanted to share!
I love the taupe flat, but not the price. I did a little searching around and noticed Nordstrom’s has a similar style in their BP brand for $60 in expresso. Oh, and probably 75% of my work wardrobe is jcrew – love, love, love it!
wow, love, love, love them all! those flats are to die for!
That blazer is absolutely fantastic! And I can’t wait for the new season of Gossip Girl either!!!
I love it all, the jeans and the blazer are a must have.
Love the CL flats! Their rendition of the ballet flat has always been my favorite.
Love the skinny jeans! I want that book!
Texas is hotter than Africa…probably would have been a more apt comparison.
Christina – I can’t really figure out what it’s doing there and it looks real too! The book is no help either!
Honey Living – I used to wear ballet slippers but now I think it’s too pink for me.
Jenny – Usually I try to wait until they go on sale at Barneys but I may have to splurge. As cute as J.Crew shoes look, they aren’t very comfortable.
Ms. Less – glad you approve 😉
Waxy – I saw Nate kissing a girl in a helicopter in a sneak preview! Looks juicy!
Yansy – I cannot believe the jeans even fit let alone look good! Go JCrew!
Style Chronicle – I was surprised that Loeffler Randall only has two pairs of flats on their website right now. They used to be my go to designer for comfy shoes 🙁
Paula Grace – You will die over the book! It is fabulous!
Anonymous – The line about Africa hot is from the movie Biloxi Blues and is a favorite of my family, http://www.entertonement.com/clips/dlwtxthwvf–Africa-hotMatthew-Broderick-Biloxi-Blues-Eugene-Morris-Jerome-. I guess you’ve never seen it.
Ah-hem… Dl is a full on bleach. I was nervous abou this at first for obvious reasons. But the color they can achieve with the glaxe once the demons are excorcised is so much better. Even better, it was, alternately $150 or $300 each time I went. NIGHTMARE. Because I alternated fill roots and then highlights… now $100 a month and it is so much better to be blonde!
Good luck… and remember what I always say… Gof would not have put that bottle in their hands if he did not mean them to use it vigorously!
I agree, Loeffler Randall makes wonderful shoes. It is too bad they are not offering more flats this fall. Jessie Randall was a sorority sister of mine in College. She has such talent.
That Derek Lam purse is gorgeous, absolutely stunning, I’m in love, etc. etc. etc.
Get it. 🙂
Hi Heather,
Surprisingly I found myself wishing for the Fall to come, which is very unusual in me since I’m an eternal summer lover. I really like all your choices.
I adore your list! Coincidentally, I’m sporting Estee Lauder’s Black Amethyst as I type this! It’s fabulous. I highly recommend.
Cheers.