Styleite.com has been posting about what it has dubbed The Great Backpack Comeback since April and keeping tabs on the look as it appeared on Mary-Kate Olsen, Rachel Bilson, in J.Crew's e-newsletter, and on the runway with Gucci and Alexander Wang.
There are so many beautiful purses and totes out there but for those of us who like to carry a book (or two), multiple wallets (one for receipts, one for checkbook, one for cards, one for cash, ect.), or simply want to be prepared for anything, backpacks have much more potential. They're comfortable and leave you entirely hands free. No more leaning to one side to balance yourself out when reaching down. And you can have both arms down at your side without one resting on the large bag hanging beneath your armpit. I'm starting to sound like an infomercial.
Well, summer is winding down but even if you're not going back to school this fall you're still going to want a backpack. For comfort. For practicality. To be part of the trend. Whichever it is, find a backpack to be your new best friend.
It has been a few months since I last mentioned the items at the top of my imaginary online shopping purchases. Life has changed. Instead of a paycheck I now get an au pair stipend each month, which is split between spending and saving. Spending on little travel adventures and saving for my bright future. But I still keep a bookmark folder of all the things I want but don't need and simply cannot afford.
Citrine Drop Necklace by The Vamoose for $32.78
I really like finding bizarre or one-of-a-kind necklace charms. Raw materials like scrap metal, wood tokens, and rocks make great jewelry.
Book of the Month Clutch by Kate Spade for $325
Not only is this amazing because it is a purse that looks like a book but it is also a great book. Great Expectations is my favorite of Charles Dicken's. This retro cover makes it a stylish book and, therefore, a stylish clutch.
Archival Clothing Rucksack by Archival Clothing $240
I do need a nice leather bag with straps to go over both shoulders. I think I need one that is grey. But I just don't need to spend this much.
This month is a bit scattered. The last one is particularly personal and rather silly but I'm really liking it this month so it must be on the list.
♥ Jónsi's Go
The ablum was released back in April but I only just listened to it in full last weekend while on the train into Amsterdam. I love his voice via Sigur Rós and it has carried me through so, so much. Now he is getting me through my transition in Holland. The lyrics are all about being alive and lovely. The music is beautiful and makes me feel beautiful.
♥ Publicity with Jason Schwartzman.
I love Jason. I don't know what it is but there is just something about him that gets me every time. He's been making his rounds on the publicity circuit for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and every interview he does is perfect. He even predicted the weather in Atlanta. The Braves hat and mustache combination is definitely a winning look. But the absolute best appearance is the "Bored to Death" photoshoot in Harper's Bazaar.
♥Shabd Shop
I like pictures of stars and space and planets and the night sky. I also like purses, totes, bags, and satchels. This is what happens when things I like come together as one.
♥Toast's short film by Nick Seaton to preview the autumn/winter collection
I keep watching this. Autumn bleeding into winter is my favorite time of year. And this film shows why I love it so much: the color, the weather, the landscape, the thoughts, the silence, the passing of time. I want to be in all these places in all these clothes.
♥Garance Doré's "My First Times...My summer jobs"
I think it is pretty obvious by now how much I love this woman. As usual, this post made me feel pretty inspired and what not.
"My mother, who knew the peak of the feminist movement, always thought for an accomplished life, the most essential thing was independence. Don’t depend on anyone, she’d say to me, that’s freedom. And freedom, that’s the start of happiness. Simple as that."
I've always hated having to depend on people and now that I've graduated college that has only intensified. I still don't know exactly what career to pursue or who I am. (Does anyone ever know?) I just want to do what makes me happy. I don't like the pressure of having to figure everything out right now. And the fact that it took Garance so long helps me breathe.
♥ Aveda's Be Curly collection
I don't know about everyone else but it is always pretty tricky for me to find skin and hair products I like. Usually I'll try something and it will work just okay. I don't want just okay. Then this year I lucked out because I finally tried some things I really like. I am a natural blonde who went dark. After two years or so I got sick of the upkeep required with severe dye jobs. Going back to my roots was a very long process and it left my hair very unhealthy. Instead of paying lots of money for the stuff the salon suggested I used a coupon at Target for John Frieda's Root Therapy shampoo and conditioner. Within a month or so my hair had made a significant improvement. Then, I put down more bucks at Aveda and ended up with some more miracle hair stuff. I am even more picky about hair products for curly hair. I don't want frizz but I don't want crispy or limp curls. Aveda knows just what I like.
Another little thing: I don't like scented hair products. Especially if it a fruity or floral scent. But I love how the Curl Enhancer smells. Natural and subtle. So, the other night I put it in my hair with no intention of styling it curly. In the morning my hair was smooth and soft. Perfectly so.
♥ Photoshoots with my favorite actors.
I don't think this needs much explanation. The pictures speak for themselves. You know someone is a good actor when they have presence even in still images. Current favorite exmaples: Marion Cotillard for "Harper's Bazaar" & Cillian Murphy for "Flaunt". And no, I have not seen Inception.
♥ Skype
You've "met" Brandy before here. Well, even though we still haven't seen each other in years we're back to daily contact thanks to the miracle invention of video chatting. Despite the seven hour time difference (Holland vs. Kansas City) being able to catch each other for about an hour each day really brightens both of us up. Plus, I finally got to see her fiance and my cat, Zoe, who has been in Brandy's care since I had to give her up when I went away to college.
The other night, just before I drifted off to sleep, she was showing me some amazing vintage jewelry her future mother-in-law gave her and I swear that I dreamt a continuation of that conversation. Except I was there in person. "It does not do to dwell in dreams and forget to live," as Dumbledore so wisely told Harry once but Skype creates a pretty convincing illusion that we're actually together again.
I spent the last day of July and the first day of August in Brussels, Belgium. You can read a more detailed account at my travel blog, but in this post I'm going to briefly point out some of the highlights:
♥Before departing on the Intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal to Brussels Zuid-Midi I debated whether or not to buy Harper's Bazaar UK with Marion Cotillard or Vogue UK with Freja Beha Erichsen. Both are favorites of mine. I decided on Vogue for the ride but I'm almost certain I'll pick up Marion the next time I'm out.
"'I am ambititious,' she continues. 'I don't think I'd be doing what I'm doing if I wasn't. It is a fair bit of work and a lot of travelling, which means being way from family and friends, and never knowing where you're going to be from one week to the next. Don't get me wrong -- I really like the travelling. Now, if I'm somewhere for more than a week I'm looking to move on...I get anxious.'"
♥On Saturday I went to the Museum of Costume and Lace. The current exhibition is The Sixties: Liberating Colors. It is only 3€ for entrance, which includes a very informational catalog-like brochure. The first two pages explain the various changes that womenswear underwent during the decade as influenced by various designers, fashion publications, and social liberation. Some of the garments were handmade imitations of popular designer pieces, or from various European fashion houses no longer in existence. But there was also Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, and Balmain to name a few.
"During the Sixties, women turned away from pencil skirts, tightly constricted waists, girdles and suspenders. Some of them even burned their bras in public. They won the right to wear trousers at any time of the day and in any circumstances, giving them the freedom to uncross their legs, take long strides, or sprawl back in comfortable sofas without worrying about it, as well as the right to show their knees and thighs, clad in multicolored tights, items of clothing which until then had been reserved for winter sports. This upsurge of freedom in clothing is perhaps the most immediately visible expression of a deep and irreversible movement in the evolution of the feminine condition in our western society."
♥The next day I went to the Royal Art and History Museum in Parc du Cinquantenaire. I was utterly shocked and elated all at once when I saw a banner hanging outside for a temporary exhibit on the Medici by Isabelle de Borchgrave who recreated costumes for the famous family and Botticelli's Minerva and Primavera figures. All the costumes were made of paper. This was by far the best museum experience I've ever had but the Metropolitan's Anglomania comes in a close second place. The Medici's reign in Florence is my absolute favorite era of history. Seeing the paper Lorenzo Il Magnifico made my heart ache to go back to my city.
♥So, aside from seeing beautiful clothes I also bought some beautiful things. Some perfume from LE PARFUMEUR A L'ANCIENNE. The owner, Kurt Vlaminck, had a stall at the craft market near Galeries Saint-Hubert (which houses 54 luxury boutiques.) I had a pleasant conversation with him and bought scent #2 (Adula) in a 40oz. bottle for 10€. He briefly explained the science of perfume making and provided some tips about how to make the scent last longer. As soon as it seems to fade all I have to do is wet the spot and the oils will freshen.
Then I bought a new purse which I convinced myself was necessary because the one I brought wasn't very big and the straps were breaking. This one is the perfect size for city strolling.
♥And remember the Things I Like Thursday: July? Well, I passed him on the streets. Another lovely surprise in Brussels.
