preppy with a twist

What’s In Store: Katherine Kwei SS12

Last Wednesday night, I had the privilege of attending Katherine Kwei’s Spring Summer 2012 collection preview. I’m always astounded by her unique handbag designs, which incorporate traditional Chinese knotting techniques, and this time was no different. One of my favorites, the Isabel lady clutch, showcases the hand done knotting in a gorgeous way.

I also loved the Vivian Chain bags, Katherine’s take on a quilted classic.

What really caught my eye, though, were these Clea snake clutches in delicious hues of pink and green. Who doesn’t love a citron accessory?

Jaimen and I

The gorgeous Zucker sisters

I had so much fun checking out Katherine Kwei’s new collection and seeing some of my favorite bloggy friends. Thanks so much to Katherine and the Small Girls for having me!

Talbots Spring/Summer 2012

Yesterday I stopped by the Talbots showroom for a sneak peek of their Spring/Summer collection. Based on past collections, I knew it was going to be good, but this was honestly my favorite yet.

Talbots’ designer Chris Jackson walked me through the collection, explaining the inspiration and reasoning behind each delivery. February’s capsule began with the sourcing of some amazing batik ikats and their brilliant indigo hues and grew from there with the addition of mulberry purples, royal blues, and grounding neutrals. 

February’s color palette

March is all about pattern play - isn’t that ombre polka dot dress to die for?

Black grounded florals mix in nicely with March’s optic black and white. Chris explained that patterned pants, while perfectly on trend at this moment, have been part of the Talbots DNA since their founding in 1947.

Then we move into my favorite month - May. The Talbots design team must’ve known it was my birthday month, because this delivery was made for me. It was inspired by the beauty of the Greek Isles - the shimmering blues of the Mediterranean sea and the stark white of the stucco buildings.

This color palette on such easy shapes is the perfect way to welcome summer. I must have that chic orange and pink dress, which comes in a navy and white colorway, too.

In June, we’re in the thick of summer, and the Talbots designers channeled the subjects of Slim Aarons’ photographs for a mix of eyelet, candy colored florals, and tons of tunics that could easily be worn poolside or off to the office. Guipure lace makes a big statement in soft shades of pear green and cotton candy pink - that delicious pencil skirt is a ladylike way to do the Christopher Kane neon lace that I was pining over last spring, so it’s made it on my wish list along with these ballet flats.

Wow.

These paisley palazzo pants are a showstopper - I could totally see The Glamourai rocking them with some killer heels!

Talbots spring and summer collections totally hit the nail on the head. If only we could just skip winter and fast forward to sunshine so I could shop this collection sooner!

*Editor’s note: A previous version of this post mislabeled February’s delivery as April.

Ippolita

Thursday, August 18. Worn to work and to the Ippolita fall preview. Summer is coming to an end, so my outfit strategy here was “wear all the colors while you still can!” 

Cardi - J Crew / Button Up - Lilly Pulitzer, thrifted / Skirt - J Crew Outlet / Necklace - handmade by my friend Linds / Bangle - Kate Spade / Sandals - Bally / Bag - Bally

Now, on to the jewelry!

Ippolita is the self-named line of an Italian fine jewelry designer. She uses yellow gold, rose gold, silver, and even resin to set semi-precious and precious stones in her signature, organically shaped bezels.

I loved the classic Glamazon collection, featuring hand hammered pieces in solid gold and silver.

I also styled a model with Ippolita jewelry - of course I gave her a stack of gorgeous bangles! I would’ve worn the bangles with the huge resin stud earrings I tweeted about, but I decided to go for excess with her look. 

Thanks to Ippolita for having me!

TJMaxx & Marshalls Fall Preview

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit the TJ Maxx and Marshalls fall preview. While I’ve been a huge fan of both stores for a long time - my favorite Earnest Sewn jeans, Theory blazer, and Nine West peeptoes all came from those two stores - I got to learn a little more about how they operate.

Obviously, I loved their collection of bow embellished items. Those gloves are almost exactly like the ones I’ve been admiring at Kate Spade!

While a traditional retail buyer has four buying seasons (holiday/resort, spring, prefall/summer, and fall), the TJ Maxx and Marshalls buyers travel for 40 weeks a year. This means that they can purchase on trend, in season merchandise that selling for full price at a department store at the same time.

How cool is that tribal printed trench?

Every store, everywhere, receives more than 10,000 new items every week. My mom and I have always tried to figure out when our local TJ Maxx and Marshalls would get new shipments so we’d have the first pick of the goods, but with 10,000 new things being delivered throughout the week, I guess that doesn’t really matter!

Are you a Marshalls or TJ Maxx shopper? What’s your best find?

Thank you to Lia and the rest of the TJ Maxx/Marshalls team for having me!