Love Something? Buy It!

I always do this and I always promise myself that I'll never do it again. In an effort to cut back on impulse shopping (because, as I explain here, I'm poor these days), I try to refrain from buying clothes and accessories, even if I find something I absolutely LOVE. I saw these shoes at a local DSW about a month ago and walked away. There was still an inch of mushy slushy blackish colored "snow" on the ground and who knows, I thought, maybe I won't like them come summer.

Last week when I was about to take a trip out west where Spring has already sprung, I suddenly had an urge to go back to the store and buy these shoes. Naturally, they were sold out of my size in my local store, online and in every store I called (tip: when you ask a sales clerk to check inventory at other stores, sometimes they can only see stock within a certain geographic area, that's why I always call an out of state store just in case). 

Instead of giving up, I did what any neurotic woman in this digital age does. I kept googling "Jessica Simpson Dolee" in vain hope that somehow the results would change . . . and, miraculously, they did! For some reason, it took several attempts to pull them up on the DSW website, but when I finally did, I managed to locate a pair in upstate NY through the company's nationwide inventory search. So, what's the lesson in all of this? 

1) If you're a size 6.5 or 8.5, click your way to the DSW website and buy these shoes!

2) If you live in Poughkeepsie New York, run your way to the local DSW and buy these shoes!

3) If you see something you LOVE, go ahead and indulge. Trust me, I wasted SO much time looking for these shoes after the fact and time, my friend, is money.

Jessica Simpson Dolee Raffia Sandal (79.95)

Are French Luxury Goods Cheaper in France?

My aunt visited Paris a decade ago, and the answer back then was most certainly yes. Tourists lined up outside the Louis Vuitton store on Champs-Élysées, like they do today. The rumor was that back then, the French government controlled prices to incentivize tourists. If you were visiting from the U.S. or other parts of Europe, French luxury goods were less expensive in France (there were few Mainland Chinese tourists back then - quite a contrast to today).

Before my trip to Paris last summer, I googled relentlessly to see if this was still true. I found limited, and very confusing, information. I still can't tell you how involved the French government is with the price of a Birkin bag (especially because you can't even buy a Birkin bag these days, in France or anywhere else, but you sure can burn one if you've got $100,000 to spare...) but I can give you insights from my personal travels.

In August, 2011, the Euro/USD exchange rate was 1.43 USD for every Euro. At the time, French luxury goods in Paris were priced exactly the same as they were in the U.S. or Hong Kong (I've found through personal experience that prices in the U.S. (including tax) are exactly the same as they are in Hong Kong (even though there is no sales tax in Hong Kong), this makes sense since the HKD is pegged to the USD and I doubt Chanel is looking to create an intentional arbitrage situation), except that you got an additional 12% back as a tax refund at the airport. This meant that luxury goods were still cheaper in France, but only by 12%.  

I just left Paris for Moscow yesterday, and the exchange rate currently is 1.22 USD for every Euro. Thanks to the European economic meltdown, French luxury goods are significantly cheaper in France than in non-EU countries - at this moment. If you hop on a plane to Paris tomorrow, you can probably make up the cost of your flight on one Chanel 2.55 bag alone. Aside from the drop in the Euro, nothing suggests these fashion houses are in the habit of making less per unit in France. Give them a few weeks and I'm sure they'll adjust their prices to make everything even again. There's still the 12% tax back, however, and that's not an insignificant number considering the prices of some of these items. 

So where should you absolutely not purchase luxury goods? Mainland China, where import taxes make foreign goods nearly 30% more expensive and...Moscow. So it looks like I'll be sticking to caviar and vodka. Still, not too shabby.   

Here was my favorite luxury item from this trip to Paris - aside from the classics, of course.

Louis Vuitton Sevigne PM (1460.00 USD, 1070.00 Euros)

Utility Charm Earrings

I started noticing earrings with unexpectedly adorable charms on a trip to Seattle.  Since then, I've been seeing them everywhere including Austin last week where I picked up a pair of scissors on 6th street.  I love the contrast between the dainty charms and the harsh utility of their real life counterparts.  Affordable to boot, they're the perfect accessory for those days when you feel like shouting "I'll cut you!" to everyone you see.

Tea Pot (15.00)

Pocket Knife (28.00)

Hatchet (28.00)

Wrench (10.50)

Bicycle (12.00)

Scissors (19.00)

Utensil Set, I love that you can mix and match these (10.00)

Meat Cleaver (7.00)

Canoe and Oars, a pair after my MN heart (50.00)

Measuring Spoons (26.00)

Edie Parker Clutches

I wish I had discovered these in time for New Year's eve.  Jen (who patiently shopped for clutches with me last Spring) can tell you that I am the pickiest person ever when it comes to evening bags, but I am absolutely head over heels for these Edie Parker pieces.  Structured and vintage-inspired with a prolific use of mica and pearlescent.  Stunning.

Shop Online at Zara - Finally!

My google reader hit an all time high last week due to a very busy September at work, which means that I'm about two weeks behind on the announcement that Zara has finally launched an online store!  I actually found out when I saw a girl walking down Fifth Avenue with a Zara bag that said "shop online."  I nearly stopped her, then realized how creepy that would be, so I pulled out my iPhone and sure enough...

So, better late than never, here are my must-have fall items from Zara: 

Longer cut jackets are in this fall.  Not a great look for petite girls, but I love the black/blue combination.  Blazer with Shiny Lapel (89.90)

Double Breasted Coat (169.00)

Laminated Heel Court Shoe (89.90)

I love the look of bright suede.  Perfect accessory to a basic trench or black wool coat.  Coloured Suede Belt (29.90)

I'm also very impressed with how Zara has designed their online shop.  The thumbnail pictures are large and when you click "view all," it saves your spot on the page.  Plus, there is free standard shipping and shipping to stores.  Bravo Zara!

Black-Tie 10 Years Post Prom

I've had two black tie weddings already this summer and one coming up in August, then on top of that I'm the only gentile bridesmaid in a traditional orthodox Jewish wedding.  It's been a fun challenge finding outfits for all of these weddings. 

Before this summer, prom was the last time I looked for a black-tie dress (technically I had to find one for Barrister's Ball in law school, but that might as well have been prom).  The problem with shopping for black-tie dresses after the age of 16 is that everything is either a million dollars or too prom-y for a Professionelle.  Add to that the fact that half of the colors in the rainbow are off limits for some weddings (white for all of them, which means no cream or champagne either, red for three of them because the bride is Chinese, and for the traditional orthodox wedding, it has to be black, conservative and with sleeves). 

After searching far and wide, I've discovered quite a few options for an elegant and sophisticated black-tie dress that meets all of these restrictions. 

As you know, I love vintage.  My favorite online vintage stop is Timeless Vixen Vintage.  Lauren, the owner, posts new dresses daily on her Etsy store or you can email her for items in her showroom if you don't see what you need on the website.  I wore one of Lauren's dresses to Phyllis's elegant formal wedding and it was perfect.  Although it's one of a kind, this dress gives you a good idea of what you can find at Timeless Vixen.

1950's vintage gown (330.00)

Other than vintage which can be very expensive, not to mention difficult to fit, I love Notte by Marchesa dresses, which are inexpensive yet elegant.  I wore one to Kejia's beautiful wedding a few weeks ago and will be wearing another to Peter and Lisa's wedding in France.

Unfortunately, the dress I wore is currently sold out, but this one is very similar (475.20)

Rosette Embelished Barathea Silk Gown (462.00)

As for Shuli's traditional orthodox wedding, I've got a couple of options that I like, but what I love, is this knockoff Pippa Middleton bridesmaid dress.  I'm not a huge fan of knockoff dresses (and thanks to Charles Colman, we now know the difference between knockoff and counterfeit) but this one is just so classic and pretty.  While plenty of girls pined after Pippa's dress because it showed off her amazing figure, my orthodox friends tell me that the brides in their commuinity loved it because it's appropriate for all but the most conservative ceremonies. 

A.B.S. Pippa's Dress (399.00)

This is definitely not to say that you can't wear a short dress to a black-tie wedding.  At the black-tie events I've been to, half of the women wore short dresses.  The key is to accessorize with gorgeous jewlery, shoes or bags.  I'm totally six months behind on this trend (and now it's out of stock), but I love the unexpected look of this clear clutch which comes with interchangeable liners:

Charlotte Olympia Pandora Plexiglass Clutch (615.00).  Yes, $615 is way too much to spend on plexiglass, so I suggest you try the DIY version found here.

Moda Operandi and Marc Jacobs 2012 Satchels

 

Sample sale websites are old news, but what about trunk show websites?  I have to admit, I'm intrigued.  The concept is very similar, but the big difference is that the clothes aren't on sale.  In fact, they aren't even available yet.  Moda Operandi is the first of these sites (at least the first that I'm aware of) to launch.  Membership is "exclusive," and while it takes a little more effort than signing up for Gilt Groupe, it's still pretty easy to get "in."  The site offers fresh off the runway looks that you can pre-order to be delivered in a few months.  Instead of targeting the price conscious, it's targeting the fashion forward.  I'm not sure how well this will play out in a recovering economy, but I have to admit that I'm already lusting after a few items on the site, like the two Marc Jacobs satchels shown below.  Email me at Professionelle.blog@gmail.com if you'd like an automatic invitation to the site. 

The Bowery Satchel (1295.00)

The Thompson Satchel (1250.00)

Clare Vivier and Closet Visit

You never know who you'll meet and what kind of wonderful new things they'll introduce you to.  Last week, I posted an interview with fasion photographer Sarah St. Clair Renard, whom I met on a NJ Transit train to Newark.  She mentioned that one of her friends, Clare Vivier, designed the most amazing handbags and that a friend of Clare, Jeana Sohn, wrote a blog, Closet Visit, where she "visits creative, inspiring and stylish ladies' closets."

First of all, Clare's handbags are so simple, yet so chic.  She was inspired to design handbags when traveling with her laptop through France in 2006.  I absolutely adore her oversized clutch, especially in blue pebbled lambskin, which fits a laptop, and the La Tropezienne tote in black.  Both are perfect for work, and strike the right balance between polished and casual. 

Oversized Clutch (180.00)

LaTropezienne Tote (320.00)

As for Jeana's blog, it's one of the coolest concepts for a blog I've come across in a really long time.  I love looking through my friends' clothes, so what could be better than getting a sneak peak into some of the most stylish women's closets?  Here are a few of my favorite images from Closet Visit.

From the closet of Sophia Assa, owner of True Fashion Art.

From the closet of Sunshine C. Fox, Fashion Researcher, Trend Forcaster and Designer

From the closet of Clair Cottrell, Film Director

Fortune Cookie Coin Purse and Other Diana Eng Creations

Do you guys remember Diana Eng from Project Runway Season 2?  Her website is full of interesting fashion accessories that fall within her "Fashion Engineered from Daydreams" theme.  Described as "a line of whimsically playful creations. Inspired by sea creatures, mad hatter tea parties, and hacker cocktail parties, each design comes from a daydream."  Now that's a little bit too kooky for my taste, but some of the items are very cool. 

Fortune Cookie Coin Purse (65.00)

Miura Ori Scarf (350.00): inspired by a biomimetic Japanese folding technique

Fibonacci Scarf (275.00): knit in the order of the Fibonacci numbers

Etsy Accessories

Etsy is one of my favorite websites. It's an Ebay for all things handmade and vintage. The website is very hit or miss but there are some great finds. I particularly like it for jewelry and home goods. Below are a few of my favorite pieces. Home goods will be highlighted next week.

Yoga Elephant Necklace (27.00)


Green Briolette Earrings (26.00)


Mixed Goodies Bracelet (98.00)

Work Bag Feature

Although in the ideal world you would never have to bring home work, in reality you probably will at some point. Here are some attractive work bags that you could use to carry all your work papers and still look chic at the same time .

J. Crew Canvas Boardwalk City Tote (48.00)

Lodis Briefcase/Tote (248.00)

Coach Madison Julianne Bag (458.00)


Anya Hindmarch Carker Black Patent Leather Bowling Bag (1150.00)


Valextra Babila Bag in Tundra, available also in Rose Petal (2450.00)

And finally, to brighten your day...

Stella McCartney Cloud-Print Shopper (185.00)

April Showers

I have the Bus Stop theme on my Gmail where the background image changes with the weather. It is currently displaying a tower of umbrellas and has been more often than I would like it to lately. I thought this would be the perfect time to showcase my favorite rainy weather accessories meeting two important criteria: professionally stylish and easily portable.

Totes Flat Auto Open Close Folding Rain Umbrella (28.00)
Totes umbrellas are my all time favorite and I love the auto open/close function (an unfortunate childhood umbrella injury steered me away from regular umbrellas years ago). They are exceptionally well made and well worth the $28.00. This particular umbrella is also small enough to fit into most work bags or even a trench coat pocket. I have this umbrella in magenta. Brightly colored umbrellas are perfectly acceptable so long as they aren't also patterned.

Old Navy Belted Trench Coat (49.50)
A classic trench coat is a must have for any professionelle. A good trench, however, is remarkably hard to find. If you're on the taller side investing in a Burberry trench like this one is well worth the money, but for petite women I would recommend a trench from the Gap family of stores (Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy). Even their normal sizes work well on petite women. I'm 5'0" and my Banana Republic trench fits me better than any Burberry trench I've ever tried on.


Metropolis T-Ion Mini Dryer (59.95)
For the times you forget your umbrella and those umbrella vendors at the top of subway openings are mysteriously absent. Or when a gust of wind splashes rain into your face, eyes, and inevitably on your hair. This small hair dryer is powerful and so compact that it fits in the palm of your hand. Unless you have giant hands, or a very small purse, that should also mean that it's small enough toss in your work bag.