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(via Zadig et Voltaire s/s 2006)

A francophile friend of mine returned from Paris a few years ago with a huge suitcase full of goodies from her year abroad in Paris. Ballet flats, Petit Bateau tees, a bountiful collection of cute goodies with names unknown to me from the French fashion capital. As I rummaged through her acquisitions from that memorable year, we came upon a few simple cotton pieces with the greatest little details - one being a basic cotton top in a beautiful grey-navy with a graceful oval scoop neckline (and it’s so hard to find great necklines these days!)

“It’s Zadig & Voltaire,” she enthused. “They make great stuff.” She needn’t have informed me of that so evident, but I wholeheartedly agreed. The shirt really was quite understated and seemingly innocuous, but it held a fine grace that was undeniably French.

Searching eBay France rarely turned up many Zadig & Voltaire gems (a sign of longevity as people rarely would dispose of fine goods), but to my delight Zadig & Voltaire recently unveiled an eShop (some s/s items on sale now!) to sell its wares to Z&V-less countries. Having expanded to the UK with a lone store in London, hopefully they will be crossing the pond in the near future.

(Angeline Tournier Archie comic wedges)

If I’m going to do wedges, I will do them big - and here they are: Angeline Tournier’s Archie comic wedges. I feel not only an aesthetic pull towards these shoes, but also an emotional one: I used to read Archie comics (as well as Betty & Veronica) as a kid, and though they rarely were funny, I really liked them and somehow amassed a small collection by the time I reached seven.

But in reading the story behind the collection, I felt even more drawn to the line, especially given the fact that the designer had been a lawyer for seven years before giving it all up in a ballsy move to pursue a life’s dream of shoe making - and including the larger foot into the realm of fashionable footwear - a move I really admire.

With the launch of the premier collection this s/s 2006, the line has already garnered a great deal of attention, and with the right price point, a great sense of humour and a heartwarming story behind it all, I really really like these shoes.

(Marc Jacobs s/s 2006 footwear)

Onto another type of dance: Jazz. Wonder if the jazz shoe thing will catch on like the ballet flat. I don’t dance, but I like these shoes. Especially the crinkly patent ones that Marc did for this season. Repetto and Jeffrey Campbell do cute ones - but patent leather trumps all.   Very androgenous, more dressy than my white Keds Champion sneakers, and sharp to boot.

(Via men.style.com Thom Browne f/w 2006)

Though it chafes to even think about fur right now, when I saw this coat from Thom Browne's f/w 2006 collection, I felt it looked really familiar. Lo and behold it is the same fur coat Putty had that Elaine so despised and threw out the window of an upper level apartment only to land in a tree and ultimately be found by Newman who then gave it to the superindentent's wife as a gift professing his love which ended up in Jerry claiming it was his in order to detract the attention from Newman which then in turn made the superintendent think Jerry was a real girlyman who was crying out for attention. The exact same!

Does the Thom Browne version also cry out "I am a girlyman! Give me attention!"??

That aside, his f/w collection is an amusing mix of overgrown schoolboys in the style of Christopher Robin and milkboys in wintery white shorts with high socks and garters - all on ice. Some looks made me think of Holden Caulfield and New England prep school boys and others made me think of Hogwarts. Needless to say, I think private school uniforms are the big influence here.

(Via: Julia Tymoshenko's personal site) [NB: I was going to post a photo that is more representative of her charismatic style, but the gentleman in the background of this one stole the show. This is a rare incidence where the sweatshirt makes the man].

'“She looks so small and tender, but she is the only man among the politicians,” said military surgeon Yuriy Shevchuk, about the former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who announced she and other allies from the country's Ukraine's Orange Revolution would start forming a government.' (Source:The Globe and Mail)

The seemingly polar worlds of fashion and politics collide in Ukrainian Prime Minister (just restored to the position from which she was dismissed). Overcoming allegations of corruption and fraud, Tymoshenko has become a "passionate revolutionary-like leader" in her campaign to reform Ukrainian politics. She was Victor Yushenko's right-hand woman in his campaign for the presidency until she was dismissed last September after a falling out from which she bounced back this spring.

Her trademark halo of a thick blonde braid and gracefully sartorial wardrobe have set her head and shoulders above the other female politicians (though admittedly an easy feat since the number of women in politics is still too few, but I digress). With a PhD in Economics and a long career in business preceeding the foray into the political arena, she was named the 3rd most powerful woman in the world in 2005 by Forbes magazine. Though she may have a spotty past (and what politicians in developing nations don't and even continue to engage in activities of a dubious nature?) the next few months with her in power may be pivotal in determining the trajectory of Ukrainian politics.

I first saw a photograph of Tymoshenko during the turmoil of the elections last year, and was impressed by her stature, the way she carried herself, her suit, high-ass heels, and insane hair - all while in parliament - just blew my mind. She exudes charisma and definitely looks like a force to be reckoned with.

Now for the questions of silly, childlike curiosity: I wonder how long it takes her to do her hair in the morning…and how many people does it take to do it?

More importantly though, I wonder if there have been grumblings questioning her ability to lead a country while being very concerned about her appearance - especially in a parliament full of men?  Surely her political capabilities have shown their muscle enough to quell any quips of the sort.

(via hejfina)

With my penchant for plaid and great like of Alexandre Herchcovitch, I immediately adored this dress the moment I saw it.  He uses great prints, colours and shapes in his clothing that totally set them apart from the rest.  His Dia de los Muertos print a couple years ago of skeletons in cowboy hats riding on horseback is still one of my favourites.  

On sale at Hejfina.com - another web boutique I frequently browse and await for their summer sale - and only one size L left!!

(Michelle Lowe-Holder dress from Creatures of Comfort)

Creatures of Comfort has fast become my favourite online boutique. Having read blurbs about the Los Angeles boutique all over the place since its opening, I was glad to see they have a web boutique. Visiting for the first time made me slack-jawed with its delightful collection of colourful and diverse designers - like that of Alexandre Herchcovitch (whose men’s collection is equally interesting), United Bamboo, and Cabane de Zucca, along with many other favourites.

My Creatures of Comfort wishlist is quite extensive, and am thus waiting for a summer sale (hopefully to strike soon?). Among the many objects of affection is the dress above by Michelle Lowe-Holder, which would be just perfect for humid summer nights here.

Will I have to schlep out to the West Coast for a visit? Perhaps.

(Band of Outsiders as featured on Thursday Styles)

Another example of some very cute American mens sportswear, thankfully not too dandy.

(via Engineered Garments)

The clothing of woodsmen and hunters strikes a resonance with me, and for this reason, I really like Engineered Garments. The clothing can look very ordinary from a distance, but up close magnificent details are revealed. Everything is just slightly out of the ordinary - the pockets, fabrics, textures. Definitely has a salt-of-the-earth appeal that is both practical and sharp.

A beauty for the ages.

http://www.style.com/beauty/icon/060706