Sartorial Editorial

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Barrister's Ball

Yesterday I wore the following to law school prom. Click to enlarge image.

dress: Risto

shoes: Christian Louboutin

earrings: Givenchy

Monday, April 5, 2010

I never understood some women's desire to have the same designer handbag as everyone else. I know designer purses can be viewed as status symbols, but I never really paid attention to their prices until yesterday during some girl talk. If women are trying to use their bags to convey their socioeconomic status to other fashionistas, I might as well take a brief glance at their prices to develop a generalized awareness of purse rankings and a greater appreciation for the value of their respective trademarks. If you want to know how the retail value of your designer bag ranks in comparison to other iconic bags, here's the list. I looked up the prices on each retailer's website. We're going to start with the most prestigious:

1. Hermes Birkin: starting at $8,300. All the A-list celebrities and B-list reality stars seem to own one.

2. Chanel: $3,420

3. Proenza Schouler: $2,350

4. Bottega Veneta: $1,950

5. Balenciaga: $1,795

6. Jimmy Choo: $1,675

7. Marc Jacobs: $1,350

8. Gucci: $765

9. Prada: $695

10. Louis Vuitton: $665

11. Burberry: $575

12. Kate Spade: $245

13. Dooney & Burke: $175

14. Coach: $148

15. Longchamp: $125

My favorites in this list are the Chanel and the Balenciaga. But I would not buy such expensive bags until after I have purchased my first house or condo. Luckily I am not tempted at all by Longchamp, Coach, D&B, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Gucci bags. I find their designs to be staid and increasingly bourgeois.

Also, I would never purchase counterfeit products. If I cannot afford the luxury good, then I simply will not buy it or any cheap imitation of it. When I buy luxury products, I view them as high-quality investments that I can use for years, even decades.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Fierce new shoe designers

I'll admit I have never heard of either of the following shoe designers until the Gilt sale on March 31, 2010, but I am blown away by how ferocious these shoes are. I want them.

Heather Williams:

Retail $895; Gilt $429

Ruthie Davis: Okay, I know its shape resembles that of Christian Louboutin's Yolanda, but the juxtaposition of the icy blue sole and hot pink inset against the black patent upper is quite stunning.

Retail $698; Gilt $299

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Matthew Williamson x Gossip Girl: What Did Chuck Do?

Check out Matthew Williamson's forboding store display for this week. It's a reference to the upcoming Gossip Girl episode, "The Inglorious Basstards." It looks scandalous. Will Chuck let his evil Uncle Jack use Blair again? Poor Blair. Will she ever recover from such a fall?

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Why Saks continues to be my favorite luxury retailer

I don't have the money for such luxuries at the moment, but let me point out the ridiculous markdowns on the following authentic Herve Leger dresses at Saks Fifth Avenue. As an aside, I should mention that this was an exclusive online sale available only to its loyal customers. (Click to enlarge the following images.)

Bottom line: Don't pay MSRP. Don't get ripped off on eBay. Exercise patience, my dears. Such great bargains will appear occasionally on Saks, Gilt, and Hautelook.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Springtime

This could probably double as a maternity dress, if such a need ever arises in my life.

dress, shirt: H&M

skirt: BCBG Max Azria

shorts: Abercrombie & Fitch

wedge heels: Aldo

stilettos: Christian Louboutin

Friday, March 26, 2010

old clothes + back seam stockings = fierce

These BCBG Max Azria back seam stockings ($12, in the Persian Blue color) are so fierce! I finally got a chance to wear them today. Winter is definitely not over yet. In Atlanta, we seem to get all four seasons within one week in March.