The Perfect Fall Handbag(s)

My husband and me love to garage sale together. He is always looking for "good" signs that will lead to a great sale. We laugh as we look for signs neatly written or with funny sayings. Such a sign lead us to a nice older couples' moving sale. I browsed through the items and found a lot of nice clothes, but alas too big. Then I spotted a rack of purses. The first one I touched felt like amazing leather, so I looked inside and discovered a vintage Coach handbag from the 70s. It had a beautiful dark green leather with a patina that only comes from age. Next I noticed a nice red patent leather clutch. I quickly grabbed up both and asked how much. I paid a $1.00 for each! Love them both and they fit perfectly with my Fall vintage inspired story...

The Found Generation

My Fall 1920/30 inspired story could not be complete without discussing the two people who have inspired me creatively more than anyone else in my life. Several years ago I found a small article in a fashion magazine about a college exhibition on the art and style of Gerald and Sara Murphy. The article made reference to them being the inspiration for Tender is the Night my favorite F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. This caught my attention: how had the art and style of this couple influenced Fitzgerald enough to write this beautiful story? I had never heard of them yet there was an entire exhibit about their art and style? I wanted to know more so I began researching their lives. I discovered they moved to Paris in 1921 and later had a home in the South of France called Villa America. They were friends with Cole Porter and did a musical with him. The top photo is of the Murphys with Cole and Linda Porter in Venice. Besides inspiring Fitzgerald, they served as muse to Picasso, Leger, Dos Passos and Hemingway. The Murphys were both gifted artists in their own right. The painting with the cigar box is by Gerald Murphy. The ink drawing is a self portrait by Sara Murphy.

Sara was famous for wearing a long string of pearls and liked to "sun" them on their beach. The photo of her sunning her pearls is included along with several paintings of Sara by Picassco, the most famous of them, The Woman in White. The Murphys were known for their gracious entertaining, distinct style in interior design and in their clothing. Gerald's father created the Mark Cross company, an earlier version of Coach type handbags and leathergoods, which Gerald ran for many years after their return to the U.S. These wonderful people led the most amazing life together; they are the ideal I have for living the fullest, most creative life imaginable. Not only have the Murphys inspired my own aesthetic but the novel I am working on is also inspired by them. We named our own beach cottage "True Love" after the Cole Porter song and sailboat from the movie "High Society" as an homage to the Murphys. Another Murphy friend Philip Barry wrote the play "The Philadelphia Story" which "High Society" was based. Here is to the Murphys and their amazing style...may they inspire your highest creative ideals.

A Little Vintage Goes Along Way

Once upon a time young flappers and their beaus were all decked out in full raccoon coats...well I love vintage fur but opt for collars instead of full length period pieces. My fall flapper tale begins with accessories. The first place I started was with raccoon collars, both real and faux. Attached to tweed and camel hair jackets, the collars work as more modern versions of a classic look.

Moving on to handbags, I found this unusual Longchamps bag several years ago. The bag is very different- it has a regular zipper opening but each end opens to use as an old fashioned muff to keep your hands warm! Works also as a clutch and shoulder bag. I love the red color with the camel and brown tweed jackets.

For a bit of a vintage look, I love to wear black gloves. This long pair goes so well with 3/4 length jackets. I try to carry a pair of black gloves at all times in my handbag for warmth and polish.

Now for the shoes. I am loving any kind of bootie but these red suede Charles David pair are a perfect wink to my vintage 1930s homage while staying modern when worn with a pair of black skinny pants. I also recently found this pair of Nordstrom brand spectator Mary Janes that again lend a vintage feel without turning into a costume. I have a great pair of grey wide leg trousers (ala Katherine Hepburn) I plan to wear with these.

For a topper, I plan to wear this cloche-style black hat. Another nod to another time but when worn with denim or a casual outfit, just a little bit of vintage.

My Fall Story

Ordinarily I love the fall fashion shows and especially the large August/September issues of the fashion magazines outlining the fall looks. Each of the shows or fashion spreads have a story to tell. The tales from Fall 2010 have left me a little cold. The Marc Jacobs/Prada take on the full figured 1950s housewife has been told before and seems like a costume from "Mad Men". The minimalist look from Chloe and others seemed to go overboard towards the masculine without a nuance towards the feminine. So where does that leave the story for fall? I decided to write my own. I have been watching alot of classic movies lately and watched "It Happened One Night" along with a string of B movies with Myrna Loy as a very young heroine from the 1930s. These women dressed with a panache and cleverness that is missing from anything presented by designers today. The lovely dresses, furs and sequins abound...so what can we take from the Great Depression for the Great Recession? I am drawn to fur collars with classic camel and tweeds mixed with denim in a modern look. My fall story is starting to take shape with my recent jacket find...

Out of the Closet

I have a very specific philosophy about closets. Might be my type A personality but the system works for me. I put certain types of clothes together- jackets, pants, blouses in a designated area. Once they are in the area, I sort into groups by color. My shoes are a different story- they are displayed randomly like pieces of art because they pretty much are! Plus they are easily accessible in their individual spots on shelves. I place my handbags and hats above everything because I don't access them as often and they are fun to have at eye level. I like having everything organized because then the closet feels more like a collection of things I love rather than a jumble of clothes. One rack is set aside for when fashion happens and I get an idea for an outfit. Ensembles are completely put together on hangers including accessories like scarves and jewelry for easy access when I need them. I also have a huge antique mirror hung in the closet for function and decor. Next to the mirror I hang my longer necklaces simply on nails to keep them from tangling. Finally, a small heart frame contains a photo of my grandma...my fashion inspiration and icon.

I Heart Jenna Lyons

My favorite blog, The Glamourai , featured a piece about Jenna Lyons, the creative director, now president of J.Crew. I love Jenna's style and the look she has created for J.Crew. Found myself thinking about another article I read earlier this summer about Jenna's personal style. Her favorite pants are an exaggeration: either super skinny or super wide, nothing in between. I decided to pull out my super wide Gap khakis and pair with a recent J.Crew spotted sweater find in honor of Jenna's big promotion. Paired with vintage mink collar, Michael Kors leopard belt and Athena Alexander platform wedges. Nail polish is Blue Blast from Sally Hansen.

DIY Denim Vest

Love the look of denim vest with flowery dress or T-shirt to give a rougher more casual edge. I decided to visit the Gap for a vest and found one for $50.00 on sale. Figuring I could do better for less, I found a cute Ralph Lauren denim jacket with a fitted longer vest-like shape for $6.99 at the Goodwill. I simply cut the sleeves off and followed the existing trimmed edge for a hem. Voila! I have a great denim vest DIY style.

A Walk in the Park

Summer Shine

A Rose is a rose...

J'adore Dior Flowers

After 2 months of nothing but rain in Portland, Oregon, we have gone from 67 degrees on Monday to over 100 degrees today. Finally the flowers in my garden are in full bloom. Walking in the garden last night I could not help comparing many of my blooms to those in the amazing designs of John Galliano in the Dior Haute Couture show from Monday in Paris. My idea of heaven is to wander in a garden dressed in one of these gowns...

Dorothy in the Garden

Over the holiday weekend I watched "The Wizard of Oz" on a rainy day ( this is Washington we are talking about) and didn't realize how much I was paying attention until I pulled on these blue and white gingham shorts to work in my strawberry garden. I had taken out my usual summer wicker handbag yesterday so I am pretty well set for a walk down that yellow brick road. I love wicker handbags in the summer and have found several of them but they are difficult to find in good condition. My grandma always carried one and I like carrying on her tradition. A wicker bag always says summer to me.

Festive Fourth Fashions

My 4th style this year was my Dries Van Noten polka dot blue shirt and blue jeans with striped, bowed and polka dot espadrilles with red Wayfarers and a Arcadia red patent leather satchel. I even did my toes in "Blue My Mind" OPI nail color to complete the red, white and blue look.

HAPPY 5TH OF JULY

I am back from a July 4th holiday with my family to our beach cottage called "True Love" on the Washington coast. Every 4th of July we celebrate the birth of our nation and our cottage. "True Love" is 90 years old this year so we were happy to help her celebrate! Our cottage is basically a 4th of July house decorated with lots of red, white and blue. Hope you enjoy the photos of our precious little home.