The Well-Appointed Catwalk

Touring Tikal

2012-01-25T11:30:00.000-05:00

A hole in the limestone of one of Tikal's seven temples looks out on another.

I'm back from Belize with loads of pictures to sort through, but despite the sensory overload of it all, I've had trouble figuring out how to address my vacation here. The Well-Appointed Catwalk is dedicated to design, and Belize's natural beauty far exceeds its man-made attributes. Contemporary architecture is typical of the Caribbean, and fashion in the jungle is a non-issue.

What the region does have, though, are ancient structures that are almost eerie in their engineering achievement.

We crossed the border from Belize into Guatemala on foot on a cloudy Sunday and rode with a guide to the ancient Mayan city of Tikal. Architecture in Tikal dates back as far as the 4th century BC, but the kingdom reached it's height of power between 200-900 AD. But here's the kicker: the Mayans built all of this without the wheel, pulleys or metal tools.

Unfortunately, I had to glean most of the facts from online sources since our guide turned out to batshit crazy. Every answer was a metaphysical riddle, and apparently blood sacrifice is no longer necessary because of the phase of the moon or something. Yeah, the day pretty much went on like that.

I can't express the impressiveness of Tikal with photographs, so you'll just have to take my word for it. George Lucas seems to agree, though...

This view was captured in Star Wars IV: A New Hope.

And just for kicks here is a photo of the adorable little coati that followed us as we crossed the city.

Hope you all had a wonderful week while I was away. Now back to regular blogging!

Wish You Were Here

2012-01-14T10:23:00.000-05:00

[photo of Cayo Espanto Island Resort via National Geographic]

Well, not here exactly, since I'm posting from Terminal A of the Atlanta airport. But in just a few moments, I'll be getting on a plane to Belize for the first real vacation I've taken in a while. I won't be blogging while I'm away, so have a wonderful week, and I'll see you when I get back!

Invisible Speaker by People People

2012-01-12T12:25:00.001-05:00

[image via People People]

So I'm all moved in... even if I'm not all settled. There are still boxes to unpack and rooms to organize, but we're getting there slowly.

One thing that I've never had to deal with before, though, is AV equipment. I'm certainly no audiofile, and the speakers on my television have always been good enough for me. But now, suddenly, I'm faced with incorporating the boy's convoluted speaker system into what I would like to be a thoughtfully decorated living room.

I know, I know... #richgirlproblems. But wouldn't it be so much easier if we had this invisible speaker by People People?

As with so many cool designs, the speaker is still under development, but the Swedish design firm is showing a prototype at CES this week. If you'd like to be alerted when the speaker becomes available, just email speaker[at]peoplepeople[dot]com.

Folie à Deux by Rich-in-Craft

2012-01-09T22:54:00.000-05:00

[all images via Rich-in-Craft]

I wish I could remember where I first read about the Folie à Deux handbag collection. Instead, I just have a cryptic note on my iPhone with the heading "for the blog." At least I had enough insight to realize this was worth sharing.

Digging around online, I found that Folie à Deux was the 2008 debut of Rich-in-Craft, an L.A. design collective made up of Tiffani Anne Williams and Parker Todd Brooks. Made of wool and lined in silk with custom-molded polyurethane and glass handles, Williams and Brooks created only 36 of these limited-edition beauties.

The problem is, however, that Rich-in-Craft seems to have disappeared since its stellar debut. The Etsy store is shuttered for "vacation," and there is no mention of any new product on the company website. I would think this team would be too dynamic to fizzle out, but I can only hope that Williams and Brooks are each still designing individually. I'll have to email the contact link on the site and get back to you with an update. In the meantime, just enjoy the bag porn.

Weekend Plan

2012-01-05T14:44:00.000-05:00

Really hoping I can make it to the Louis sale this weekend despite how busy I'll be with the move. Will any of my fellow Boston boys and girls be there?

The Great Cohabitation Experiment of 2012

2012-01-04T12:22:00.000-05:00

My place in Cambridge before the packing began

In case you're wondering why I've been MIA this week, it's because I've been busy preparing for The Great Cohabitation Experiment of 2012. Yup, I'm crossing the river from Cambridge to Brookline and moving in with the boy. His apartment is bigger than mine and in a better location, but I'll be damned if I'm not going to miss my place.

It's bittersweet: I've spent the last six years in my loft, decorating and organizing just so. I finally painted the bathroom and wallpapered an accent wall last year. Save the lack of a kitchen back splash, I have gotten the place pretty close to perfect. And now I have to up and leave, merging my things with someone else's and making design compromises that I never had to consider before.

Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't trade living with this roomie for the world, and I know it will all be worthwhile. Give me a minute to mourn, and I'll be just fine. Besides, redecorating Avi's bachelor pad should help me bounce back. He won't mind, right?

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T19:06:00.000-05:00

Source: muscovitessky.blogspot.com via Gino on Pinterest

Have fun, be safe, and I'll see you in 2012!

Merry Merry Happy Happy

2011-12-26T22:35:00.000-05:00

Menorah by Reddish Studio

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas. I certainly did - in the traditional Jewish way of Chinese food and a matinee showing of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.

As much as I love a good Christmas tree, I'm sure you've been overloaded with images of yuletide cheer by now. So, with a couple nights of Chanukkah left to celebrate, I'll share some of the most interesting menorahs I've found - from high design to DIY and back again.

Glowing Menorah [via Neatoshop]

DIY Rhinestone Rhinoceros Menorah by Aunt Peaches

Utopia Man/Woman Menorah by Jonathan Adler

DIY Glasses and Beads Menorah [via MarthaStewart.com]

Menorahmorph by Karim Rashid [via The Jewish Museum]

Circuit Board Menorah [via ChipChick]

Woodland Linking Menorah by Walteria Living [via ModernTribe]

A gratuitous shot of my menorah

Happy holidays!

Eviction Notice - Courtney Love's Townhouse

2011-12-24T11:54:00.000-05:00

Courtney Love in the foyer of her townhouse

[all photos by Peter Murdock for xoJane via Oyster Magazine]

Word is that Courtney Love is getting evicted from her $27,000-a-month West Village townhouse for redecorating without her landlord's permission. Granted, the woman is a hot mess - and her style is quirky to say the least - but her interior design sense is actually quite impressive.

Before she gets the boot, Love gave a tour of her redecorated, re-painted and re-wallpapered pad to xoJane.

The antique-filled living room includes a photo of Kurt and Frances Bean...

and this creepy-beautiful painting by Gretchen Ryan, titled ACCIDENT.

The prayer room

Since we are talking about Courtney Love, I'm not sure if this is a pantry or if she keeps booze in her closet.

Either way, I like it.

The owner of the townhouse, Donna Lyon, is claiming that it will take 12 weeks and $100,000 to reverse the "damage" that Love has done, but I'm not really seeing the problem here.

Oh wait - she also set fire to the master bedroom and owes $50,000 in unpaid rent? Now that sounds like the Courtney we know and love!

For the full photo gallery, visit xoJane, and see some "before" photos of the townhouse at OysterMag.com.

Saturday Morning Style

2011-12-21T09:43:00.000-05:00

Miss Piggy in the November '11 issue of InStyle / Hello Kitty on the December '11 cover of Elle Taiwan

Remember the days when supermodels ruled the world? It was sometime in the early '90s when Naomi, Cindy and Christy graced the cover of every Elle, Vogue and Glamor on the shelves. (If this era predates you, please return to your Webkins now.)

With the turn of the century and the advent of online media, struggling print publishers quickly let starlets depose models as a way to sell more magazines. Actresses are beginning to loose some favor in the fashion world, but the cult of celebrity is still going strong... And frankly, if I see the Kardashian sisters on another cover, I'm going to tear my eyes out.

But, lo, what's this? Is there a new breed of cover model in town? After flirting briefly with the use of children as fashion plates (see here and here), it looks like the magazine industry is turning to cartoons.

A second Elle Taiwan cover for Hello Kitty [via Racked] / More from Miss Piggy's InStyle spread [via WWD]

Miss Piggy made a splash with an eight-page spread in the November issue of InStyle, modeling custom-designed duds by the likes of Jason Wu and Prabal Gurung. And, now, Hello Kitty is having her moment with two separate covers for the December anniversary issue of Elle Taiwan.

Next up? I vote for Daria to pose in Comme des Garçons on the cover of Purple.

OK, so perhaps this trend isn't sustainable, but let's enjoy it while we can. It certainly is creative, and at least it can tide us over until Coco and Lindsey are household names.

Currently Obsessed

2011-12-14T23:06:00.000-05:00

You follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and maybe even in real life. Just when you thought you'd had enough, here's a new one for you. CurrentlyObsessed.me launched earlier this month, and for lack of a better word, I'm obsessed.

The site allows you to "stalk" your favorite bloggers (including me, of course) and view their latest product lusts. Follow what fashion bloggers are wearing, wanting and buying, and save your favorite items to your own list of obsessions.

The site is still in invite-only mode, but the first 50 readers to use the code The_Well-Appointed_CatwalkObsessed will have access. (Sorry for the long code; just copy and paste.)

Go sign up before the invites run out, and I'll be watching my back for all you stalkers!

BNO Boston

2011-12-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

See you there?

Party Shoe Showdown

2011-12-08T15:08:00.000-05:00

Be still, my heart. Why must my favorite always be the most expensive?

Alexander McQueen Pumps, $1089.99

After wearing out my black strappy evening sandals, I'm on a desperate search for shoes to wear with this dress for my office holiday party at the Mandarin Oriental. Oh, did I mention that the party is tomorrow night? I'm notorious for leaving these things until the last minute.

I was banking on Zappo's free VIP overnight shipping, but as a size 5, I'm not having much luck. I'm hitting up a few stores after work, and in the meantime, here's a roundup of all the fabulous party shoes I've come across that are either out of my price range or not available in my size.

More reasonably priced, no size 5.

Kate Spade Licorice Too, $350

Gasp!

Christian Laboutin Aranea, $1795

Marc by Marc Jacobs platform sandal, $350

Love that curved heel!

Pedro Garcia Xio, $315.99

Want. Want. Want. Want. At least they're on sale?
Miu Miu Jeweled Platform Pump, $719

Sam Edelman Scarlett, $200

Alexander Wang Fabiana, $345.99

Here's hoping you can find your size in some of the beauties. Please say a little prayer for me and my midget feet.

Spiketus Rex by MadPax

2011-12-04T19:13:00.000-05:00

[image source]

I stepped out of my office last week and spotted not one, but two, tykes on either corner of Boylston and Exeter carrying these awesome spiky backpacks. Two sitings in under a minute makes these officially a "thing" in my book (screw the rule of threes), and I had my interest peaked enough to do some research.

Designed by MadPax, the Spiketus Rex comes in four different sizes - full pack, half pack, the nibbler (tiny) and mighty bite (tinier) - and about a million different colors. I'm sure most kids will opt for the neon brights, but I'm a fan of tamer colors like tan, navy, black and gray in dinosaur skin textures.

You won't catch me trading in my leather crossbody for a MadPax any time soon, but design like this makes me wish I had a little one on my Hanukkah shopping list!

Over the Rainbow

2011-11-30T11:33:00.000-05:00

Source: thecoolhunter.net via WellAppointedCatwalk on Pinterest

Source: kimberlypesch.tumblr.com via WellAppointedCatwalk on Pinterest

Source: anothermag.com via WellAppointedCatwalk on Pinterest

Source: piccsy.com via WellAppointedCatwalk on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via WellAppointedCatwalk on Pinterest

Five full days of work after a holiday weekend is always such a downer, isn't it? Here's to making it a little brighter.

Thank You!

2011-11-24T09:54:00.000-05:00

top to bottom: mooseart, AlmondCrafts, Storeyshop, sarahcoatsdesigns

Just a few of my favorite Etsy cards on this Thanksgiving Day to tell you how much I appreciate you. Thank you for reading, commenting and sharing. You make it all worthwhile!

Walker Residence - Ojai, California

2011-11-21T13:49:00.001-05:00

[photography by Mayoral Photo via Crosby Doe Associates]

It's rare that I'm as inspired by a mid-century exterior as I am by the interior, but with a setting like this, who can blame me?

Built by Rodney Walker in 1959, this home sits on 3.4 acres of land in Ojai, California. With panoramic views stretching 270 degrees, it seems to just melt into its verdant surroundings .

You can view more photos of the property (including interior shots) here. It's currently on the market for a cool $3.995 mil. Anyone want to go halfsies?

[via Blue Ant Studio]

Breakfast at Tiffany's

2011-11-17T19:59:00.001-05:00

My new coffee table book c/o Tiffany's

I'll preface this by saying I am not a morning person, but you just don't turn down breakfast at Tiffany's. The early-bird event celebrated last week's opening of Tiffany & Co.'s new store in the Mall at Chestnut Hill, which replaces its former location across the street at the Atrium.

I managed to forget my camera yet again, but it turns out that my new iPhone doesn't take half bad photos. The stylish attendees and a few baubles after the jump...

The most important element

I never thought I would be enamored with this style of engagement ring... but OMG sparkly!

Intricate pieces from the Moroccan collection by Paloma Picasso

My well-dressed cohorts: Lani of Mon Petit Chou Chou, Martini of Beyond Boston Chic, Naina of Style'N, me and Smita of Hogger and Co.

Thanks to Tiffany's for a lovely breakfast and for making the early morning bearable!

Hourglass Dollhouse's Guide to Vintage Shopping

2011-11-11T14:45:00.001-05:00

The lovely (and multitalented) Liz of Hourglass Dollhouse. She scored this vintage netted hat for $5.

I've been planning a post like this for a long time. I'm a wreck when it comes to vintage shopping. Sure, I've picked out a few items of jewelry, but for the most part, I'm too easily overwhelmed and too impatient to score anything truly amazing. So, I'm very excited to have vintage maven Liz here to share her tips!

Who is Liz? Some of you may know her as The Loudmouth's little sister, but with her new blog and Etsy vintage shop, the Hourglass Dollhouse, Liz is claiming her own little piece of the interwebs. Unlike many vintage shops, Hourglass Dollhouse carries hard-to-find plus-size items and stocks sizes 0 through 20. In fact, the first sentence on her Etsy site reads, "Body image is not an issue here." I like this chick already.

So, without further ado, here's Liz...

Shopping for vintage clothes may seem like a daunting task, with all the rummaging through endless racks of clothes at thrift stores or paying an incredible amount of money for just one shirt at a swanky boutique, but it doesn't have to be! It can be so interesting, exciting and altogether rewarding. I am a thrifting ADDICT, and I would love to share with you my tips and tricks to turning vintage shopping into a successful pleasantry.

First of all, it's all about location. The best places to find super cheap and super unique vintage pieces are at large thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales. At these locations, it does take a little more work to rummage through the immense piles and racks of clothes, but in the end, you'll find better pieces. Why? Because a lot of the really good stuff comes from the elderly and their adult children who don't generally take their things to a boutique to sell or waste time on Ebay (because these are newer ideas). They just donate them or have a garage sales.

The best part about flea markets and garage sales is that you can usually barter with the sellers to get the pieces for even cheaper! I have had the most success at Salvation Army and Value World. Granted, I am from Michigan, which is thrift store heaven, so if you don't have these stores where you live, I'm sure you can find an equivalent. There's also Goodwill and St. Vincent De Paul in Michigan, along with other random donation-based thrift stores. The best part about Salvation Army is that they offer 5 for $5 on Fridays. They also have other random events during which all clothing is 50% off. For example, in the downtown Detroit Fort St Salvation Army, every Monday from 4-7 pm is Ladies Night, which means that all ladies clothing is 50% off. Hell yes!

There are also personal vintage shoppers like myself, which is a great alternative for people who get anxiety in packed thrift stores. Boutiques are usually more expensive because they have to pay rent and utilities for the shop, but online stores and people who sell at fairs have good prices for pieces that you'd otherwise have to search hours for.

Next, you need to learn how to spot vintage tags, fabrics and designs. I find that looking at the tag is one of the best ways to catch an authentic vintage piece, since retro fashion is being reproduced by modern stores (like Urban Outfitters). The first step is to find the placement of the tag. Modern tags are not placed behind the neck as much as they used to be due to long-term complaints about comfort issues. Many tags (mostly for higher-end clothes) are now stitched into the side seam towards the waist or hip, so if you catch a piece with a tag behind the neck, it is not as likely to be a newer piece.

Next, look at the font and coloring of the tags. Check out this Silkage New York tag, which I am guessing is from the late 1970s or early 1980s.

Now look at this recent Forever 21 tag.

You can really see a difference in the design. Older tag designs are usually bolder and larger than modern tags.

Here's another example of a vintage tag.

This tag is clearly 1980s or early 1990s.

So after you decide that the tag seems to be vintage, you must look at the fabric, design and shape. These aspects generally change from decade to decade and may recycle popularity. For example, 198's fashion is a sort of spin-off of 1940s fashion. 1960s fashion is being recycled now with all the crochet pieces, ponchos, faux fur and the whole Mary Jane/knee high sock combo. Basically, you just need to educate yourself on the fashion of each decade.

Everyone knows that the 1980's were famous for fishnets, lace, bold colors and high waistlines, but there were so many other popular aspects of the era. It seems like the most radical and awkward fashion points of the 1980s are remembered, which were really just the mid to late 1980s. There are many transitional periods of fashion, like late 1970s to early 1980s dresses. They were very similar in shape, color scheme, fabric, etc. I think what happened is that Halloween costume companies decided to take the most obvious part of each decade and amplified it into a caricature. People always forget that mod fashion and hippy fashion came about in the same decade! And about fabric: Fashion before the 1980's LOVED polyester. You can find countless 100% polyester shirts from the 1970s at any Salvation Army in Michigan.

Here is an example of a 100% polyester vintage piece from the 1970's.

Not only is the design a dead giveaway, but the fabric is, too. I would like to see the tag on this one!

One more important aspect about shopping for vintage is sizing. You must remember that modern pieces are really two to four inches larger everywhere than vintage pieces. So, when people say that Marilyn Monroe was a size 14, she would really only be a size 10 if she were here today! This is why shopping for vintage clothes is so hard for a lot of women, especially plus-size women like me. People in general are bigger now than they used to be, so vintage shoes, hats, skirts, pants and the rest run small. I wear a size 12 in modern sizes, but when it comes to vintage, I may have to wear a 16, which is very hard to find. Luckily, I'm an addict, so I search and scour through everything to find pieces that fit me! I am a huge fan of the late 70s/early 80s dresses because they usually have elastic waistlines and stretch much better than 1960s dresses. That way, I can manage to fit into the smaller sizes if I can't find larger ones.

Here's an example of vintage sizes: The mannequin is a modern size 4, and the romper is a vintage size 4. I could barely fasten the buttons, and I was afraid to rip the adorable piece! You can see the buttons pulling. And note that the back has elastic, which was stretched to the max.

The difficulty in finding larger sizes for myself and others is why I have made it my mission to always carry larger sizes in my Etsy store and, hopefully, in my future boutique! It is hard being a modern plus-sized girl in a desired vintage fashion world. I would love for any lady of any size to dress for her shape, look gorgeous and fulfill her desire to wear vintage threads! So remember, try on everything before you buy it. If you're weary about trying on a donated item of clothing, at least give it the bust/hip stretch test, which I have to do since those are my two largest areas. But I guess if you are like me and you're reselling vintage, just buy it anyway, and if it doesn't fit, sell it!

Calling Karl

2011-11-09T11:41:00.001-05:00

via Fab.com

I'm sorry I can't find a bigger image for you all, but I'm just in awe that this thing even exists! I guess I shouldn't be, though. Karl is quite the phenomenon.

The Karl iPhone 4 Cover is available today for $60 at Fab.com as part of a sale of fashion illustrator Don Oehl's work. Also available: prints of Anna, Marc and Yves. Awesome!

DVF's Animation Domination

2011-11-07T13:23:00.001-05:00

The folks at Diane von Furstenberg recently shared this adorable video with me featuring packing tips from Diane herself. I've already mastered the skill of packing lightly (the result of the back-and-forth dance of a couple living in two apartments), but what really caught my eye here is the illustration.

I haven't been able to find out who's responsible for this whimsical animation, but they deserve some serious credit for capturing the youthful, imaginative spirit of the brand.

The video comes with the launch of the DVF's new luggage collection, which is quite lovely in its boldly patterned black and white - particularly the Camargue print. No risk of loosing sight of these on the airport carousel!

Fabfood by Linus Morales

2011-11-03T14:02:00.001-04:00

[via Trendland]

Sorry for the radio silence. I've been sick and haven't felt much like sitting at a computer or being creative... or really doing much of anything. I'm not usually one to loose my appetite when I have a cold, but I think Swedish photographer Linus Morales' Fabfood series may do the trick.

The Chanel sausage links, Fendi fishsticks and Gucci raw meat are all turning my stomach, but I suppose the Louis Vuitton toast isn't so bad. The whole thing reminds me a bit of Gaga's meat dress. Does fashion make food sexy? In a word, no.

Falling for Bordeaux

2011-10-28T13:13:00.001-04:00

You may already know that jewel tones are (cliche alert) the new black, and my favorite of these is the deepest of ruby reds. Bordeaux, merlot, oxblood - call it whatever you'd like. I'm utterly obsessed.

The search is on right now for an oversize sweater and perfect-fitting trousers in this hue (to wear separately, of course). The downside of being ultra picky, though, is that I'm shooting down anything that isn't just right on my petite frame. Any suggestions?

Vanessa Bruno twist-front fine-knit sweater
Etoile Isabel Marant leather trim dress
Lanvin Amalia quilted leather shoulder bag
Essie Nail Polish - Bordeaux
Frye Dorado riding boot
Alexander McQueen skull cuff
By Malene Birger Ranya corduroy trouser

Out Of Print

2011-10-24T15:20:00.000-04:00

Out of Print Phone Cases [via @styleboston]

Following up on those book clutches that so many of you loved, this morning I came across these literary iPhone cases by Out of Print. Brilliant! I think these are the first printed phone covers I've seen that I actually like.

Best of all, for each product that Out of Print sells, they donate one book to a community in need through Books for Africa. (More shopping for a good cause. The retail biz is making it awfully easy to justify a purchase these days.)

The timing of my discovery couldn't have been better. I just traded in my half-dead Blackberry for a shiny new iPhone 4S. And, to preemptively answer your questions - yes, I love it, and yes, Siri is my new best friend. Hope you're all having a happy Monday!

Miniaudières Classiques by Olympia Le-Tan

2011-10-21T13:28:00.000-04:00

[images via Olympia Le-Tan]

I'm sure some of you have seen book clutches before (even Kate Spade sells a version), but my real-life friend, Becky, just sent me the link to these beauties by Olympia Le-Tan. So thoughtful!

The miniaudières are made of embroidered canvas and brass hardware and are lined in Liberty-print fabric. I can think of one blogger/book lover in particular who I suspect will be ordering one as soon as she chooses her favorite.