The Shopping Bag Chronicles: Anthropologie

07 November 2010

Elementary Dear Watson-A Great CAPE-r!

The new BBC/Masterpiece series Sherlock is a Veddy 21st century rendition of the famous sleuth and his sidekick Dr. Watson and there is not a cape, cloak, or pipe in view. Yet, the thought of Sherlock Holmes will always muster up a foggy night, a horse drawn carriage and a good Cape-r!

Though I do not have the stature to carry off most capes I have always loved the look-could be because one of my fashion design heroines is the great Bonnie Cashin who brought the cape and cloak to icon status along with her signature toggles and Coach bags.

(Alexander Wang,Missoni,Chloe,Louis Vuitton,YSL,Ruffian)

Capes, Cloaks and Capelets are in every collection this year for day, weekend, evening...the perfect accent for any time of day. Many are reminiscent of the great Bonnie Cashin with classic styling while others are all about the drama!

Anthropologie

Alexander McQueen, Erin Fetherstone

Gorsuch

Chloe

The definition of a cape can range from a full buttoned or single button cloak/wrap to a shoulder shrug...some have a deep dolman some of have peek holes or deep slits for hands and some are just a grand rectangle that wraps you up. Of course I have my eye on the Knitwear styles in Capes---Be sure to Visit Winding Yarn for great Cape/Capelets patterns and Run for the Needles!

(Assos, Pringle of Scotland, Chanel, Chloe)

18 December 2009

The Play's the Thing-It's Kid Stuff!

Paper Source

When it comes to the Holidays no gifts are more important than the ones we wrap up for kids. We all remember special holiday presents, some of us even still have them. My most memorable gifts--- an Easy Bake Oven-who knew a light bulb could burn brownies, Makeit Bakeit and Malibu Barbie-she didn't use sunscreen either!

It's not easy shopping for kids- there is always the "must have" toy and so much out there -who can keep up with the "cool" factor.

V and A Shop

We all know kids who have too much in their toy boxes, and who would often rather play with the box than the toy inside...maybe because a box can become anything an imagination can create...this is why I take the less trendy road for the kids on the list.

V and A Shop

I love the search for gifts with no wires, no noise,...just simple ideas that spark imagination, creative play,quiet time and fun! Toys and gifts that kids will come back and pick up time and again. I usually stay away from traditional toy retailers-those can all be scary places time of year! I love to scout out specialty shops and museum stores, shops with buyers that think about the merchandise they put out there for kids...Come PLAY! and see some favorites that are all about creative imaginative play and that just maybe 20 years from now your favorite kid will remember receiving...most under $100!!