Molly Bloom knows style

My favorite outfit of the day was Sasha’s belted coat. Orange and pink is one of my favorite color combos. Lovely.

A new website allows women to
register the dresses they plan to wear to upcoming events in hopes of not having another attendee arrive in a duplicate gown. The big news here is that women have been registering their inaugural ball gowns. Most are floor-length and described by one reviewer as conservative. New this year is a lot of colors, including orange, purple and red. Cool.

If I were going to an inaugural ball I’d want to make my own gown. For inspiration, I like this heavy satin James Galanos gown from the 1960s (pictured above).

I’m selling these cuisine carriers over on my Etsy store. Buy one today! They’re great for toting food to parties and make splendid hostess gifts. The one pictured above is made from vintage printed canvas.

The carriers fit many round, oblong and square dishes and bowls. The tie allows for secure transport with no loose lids. Also great for pies!

Merry Christmas all.

Here is a preview of the silent film about Coco Chanel, directed by Karl Lagerfeld. You should watch it.

This morning I headed downtown before work to see the unveiling of the Comme des Garçons for H&M line. Pardon my Japo-French but it was a m&%$#!f@^>*:+ mêlée. This is the best photo I could get from the escalator; the crowd was jarring and everyone was hoping to score a castaway top.

I arrived at 10:10, later than planned due to bus failure. The store opened at 10 a.m. and there was zero merchandise left on the floor when I got there. No women’s, no men’s, no accessories (my planned first-hit target). There were a few mannequins still standing but not for long. The window displays were being emptied. Sold. Out.

Like a vulture I circled the floor. A few discards were seen but either wrong style or color. Vicious. One woman was putting merchandise behind her infant in a stroller to keep people from grabbing it. I talked to a few sales associates who were way too busy to talk to me but they said people were queued for hours before opening and that everything was instantly gone. Keep in mind there was a limit of two of the same item per person. Whatevs, look for it on eBay, right?

H&M sucks and will likely cost me a job someday. It’s fast fashion, with crap construction and shoddy materials. When big designers do a low line for mass market you’re buying for the style and not for the quality. Most of the people jammed into the Union Square stores are huge Rei Kawakubo fans who can’t afford the luxury pricepoints of Comme des Garçons.

The usual CDG color palate was there: black and white and navy and plenty of polka dots. There was an adorable deconstructed jacket and an even better overcoat. I saw some funny hobble-like gypsy pants that featured a low crotchpoint below the knees. Many of the pieces were intended for that quirky Japanese layering thing, with the scooched-up sleeves and funny socks and shoes plus a cinched belt. I walked away with a navy polka dot crew-neck top and banana-leg drawstring pants. I’ll wear them as loungewear when I’m reading the Sunday Times or spending the night at a friends house.

Election Day rain bonnet made by my grandmother features a donkey on one side and an elephant on the other. Moxie’s wearing her American flag hoodie and making a quick getaway.

This textured, beaded black-on-black couture cocktail dress (1961) by the House of Givenchy is divine. It’s insanely glamorous. Black-on-black fabrics in simple silhouettes are a personal favorite of mine and this one is pure inspiration.

Givenchy made some of the most iconic fashions of the last century, including those worn by Jackie Kennedy at JFK’s funeral. Also: Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. In the opening of Paris When It Sizzles (1964), “Miss Hepburn’s Wardrobe and Perfume” is credited to Hubert de Givenchy. You know you’ve hit the big-time when you get a perfume credit in a movie.

There’s a pronunciation of Givenchy here. This still from Paris When It Sizzles is worth a view as is the movie clip. Earlier this year in Paris I paused outside the Givenchy headquarters to soak in the good ju-ju.

I’m loving the fancy belts of this season but have yet to wear one (pictured above from J. Crew). I think they’re so cute over blouses or slim, fine-gauge sweaters worn untucked with a skirt. These fancy belts are double-cute when worn with a wool or jersey dress for an unexpected sash. Fancy belts are not for use with jeans. No, not even $300 jeans.

Cocktail Dress, fall/winter 1959–1960
House of Dior (French, founded 1947), Design House; Yves Saint Laurent (French, born Algeria, 1936), Designer

This is a garment that exemplifies the genius of Yves Saint Laurent. This dress is so now, so modern. The color is delicious, the shape feels fresh, the belt is au currant. It is so Gossip Girl. The dress is almost 50 years old.

In 1958, Saint Laurent found himself at the age of 21 the head designer of the House of Dior when Christian Dior died unexpectedly. Saint Laurent’s first collection for the label is credited with saving the couture house from going under.

I’m swooning for this roomy tote. It’s $398, which ain’t so bad for a super nice bag. I love the diamond-shaped details. There’s a smaller clutch in this style that’s delicious in black.