Need vs. Want (Friday throwback edition)

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Don't ask me why I've been in the habit of getting nostalgic on Fridays, because I don't know. But apropos of that, one of my girls has a great story about waiting on L.L. Cool J. at Jackson Hole, the diner on the Upper East Side where she worked while she was at Hunter College in the early 90s. The story is . . . basically that she waited on him. But aside from thinking about L.L. as he existed back then, the best part of the whole thing is homegirl's description of what she was wearing that day (I have no doubt that L.L. approved).

 Cool James waaaay back.

My own decade spent listening to nothing but hip-hop and old soul and rocking Carhartts and Tims on the regular seems like it occurred in another lifetime. But lately I've been feeling inspired to bring some of that old flavor back into my repertoire.

Sooooo... 

6.9 mm Gold Cuban Chain Link Necklace,

$1063.99 online at this place (or some approximation).

Need.

The product description pretty much seals the deal:

Resonate happy memories with flicker of luminous 14k Yellow Gold Cuban chain. It is elegant in timeless fashion chain and has modern comfort fit to suit your urban lifestyle. Flash it plainly or with favorite charm pendant. You'll feel a boost of self-confidence everyday as you wear this with any of your choice clothes. 

Word. And while we're on the subject of Cuban links, this – from what remains one of my top five hip-hop albums of all time:

 
Raekwon f/ Nas and Ghostface Killah, "Verbal Intercourse," 
from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (Loud, 1995)

Happy Weekend

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"There's only one very good life, and that's the life that you know you want, and you make it yourself."

--Diana Vreeland

"Cowardice is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend the functioning of the imagination."

--Ernest Hemingway

Best Foot Forward

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The fall and spring fashion shows are, to me, something like museums: I love the good ones, but they are totally overwhelming, and at some point – even when I haven't been as busy as I am now – I just stop absorbing and need to give my brain a rest.

This is my way of saying that I'm completely behind on what's been on the runways the past couple of weeks (and also a plug for buying a membership to a museum that shows stuff you like: you can go whenever you have a free half-hour and come away feeling like you've actually gotten your money's worth).

Above and below, Alexander Wang.

Anyway, I'll be posting more from the spring shows in the next few weeks as I work my way through and have a chance to take a considered look. In the meantime this (meaning all of this) is just an elaborate accompaniment to a very unscientific, hit-or-miss selection of my favorite of the few runway shoes I've seen for spring season.

 I'm a sucker for a lot of things, but especially a good Mary Jane.

(Yves) Saint Laurent. Hedi's start was interesting; I think it deserves a whole post, whatever you think of it. Much to be said about 70s California x Morocco in Paris ? Or something else ?

Incidentally, Reed Krakoff is becoming one of my favorite American designers.

And then:

Altuzarra. Enough said.

Image of the Day

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Photograph by Alice Springs (a/k/a June Newton, 

wife of Helmut Newton), 

from Dépêche Mode magazine, Paris 1971

True to Form

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Raf Simons takes the ready-to-wear reins at Christian Dior. Light, sophisticated, and a nod to the New Look. I think Dior would be happy.