In Spades

Style... in abundance

The One That Got Away

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that this is the time of year when I do most of my shopping.  I’m a designer sale season treasure hunter.  And while there are plenty of treasures I’ve taken home, there is also a fair share of pieces that I’ve left behind.

For today’s Fashion Friday, I wanted to share all of the designer sale season items I decided against (and now regret).

Phoebe Philo Celine Jewelry

Phoebe Philo Celine Cuff

Anytime I’m in NY I carve time out for two things NO MATTER WHAT.  Shopping and eating.  NYC is one of the greatest cities in the world and I’d be a fool not to partake in two of her mastery’s.

In between NYFW shows, I popped into The RealReal in Soho.  This Phoebe Philo Celine cuff and gold choker are so epic.  I passed because I didn’t think it was wise to make such a big purchase in 20 minutes – like I said, in between shows – but boy, was I wrong.

I wish I would have at least purchased the cuff.  It’s so unique.  Ugh.

Silk Jumpsuit

Silk jumpsuit

This was a random, after work shopping trip that yielded plentiful results.  The cut, comfort and level of chic attached to this jumpsuit is otherworldly.  So why the heck did I leave it behind?  I had to drive from LA to San Diego that night and wanted to beat traffic, so I passed because it was final sale.

I ended up calling the store the next day to see if it was still available and it wasn’t.  I spent the better part of 3 months trying to track it down with no luck.

Mugler Leather Jacket

Mugler leather jacket

I have a thing for Mugler leather jackets.  My holy grail is this one.  It slipped through my fingers and I’m not going to lie when I say that if I ever see it in person, it will take every fiber of my being not to snatch it off the back of the wearer.

A close second was this super structured shoulder number I found in NY.  Again, I had less than an hour between NYFW shows and decided against it.  Beyond those kick-ass shoulders was a cropped silhouette with zippered moto sleeves.

Passing on that one?  Amateur hour.

Valentino Dress

Valentino leopard dress

This was probably the biggest blunder of them all because it was from Nordstrom.  With their amazing return policy, I should have taken it home and let it sit in my closet for a few days.

The leopard print.  The jeweled eye.  The 60s cut.  It had everything.  And it was super comfortable and could be worn for a multitude of events.

Like I said.  Ugh.

The One That Got Away

Celine SS18It’s been a while since I shared a The One That Got Away story for Fashion Friday.  So it must have been serendipitous that I would run across this photo this week.

Sometimes I think my memory blocks out the ones that get away.  Like a defense mechanism, it doesn’t want me to relieve that ‘what could have been’ feeling.

Immediately upon seeing this photo, I drew in a sharp, quick breath.  WHY!  Why did I let this beauty get away?

Celine SS18Left image: Diego Anciano; Right image: Phil Oh for Vogue

Made from the most luxurious, sumptuous knit, this dress was [literally] like being wrapped in a warm blanket.  A blanket sent down from the heavens.

The circular enamel embellishment with gold pin reminded me of the t-shirt rings from the 80s.  Those, but elevated to epic proportions.

The way it draped in the front gave it an easy yet formal feeling.  Kilt-like.  Intriguing.

It was, of course, Pheobe Philo for Celine.

Here’s the rub of this beauty that got away.

This dress, this dream, was from the last collection Philo would have input on for Celine.  (Her official final collection was Pre-Fall 2018.)

Here’s the thing.  At the time, you couldn’t buy Celine online.  Ready-to-wear was only available in store.  24S would go on to sell Celine RTW online, and once Hedi Slimane took over, Celine.com would as well.

But this.  This was a pivotal moment.  It was that moment between her last ounce of creative expression for the brand, and it’s unavailability to the average consumer.

An urban fashion legend.

So why, oh why, did I let this rare opportunity pass me up?  I will never be able to answer this question.  It has plagued me numerous times.  I have an infinite number of The One’s That Got Away.  There will be more.

These treasures, these ones that got away, are like memories.  Like the Hall of Prophecy in Harry Potter (yes, super geeky) these treasures are kept on endless rows of towering shelves, stored in delicate glass orbs.

And that’s what fashion is.  A frozen moment in time.  The way it makes you feel, how it influences your interpretations, how the world perceives you.  It’s an essence.  Channeled through a physical being.

Philo’s Celine is one of the most celebrated designer runs in history.  This quote by Cathy Horyn epitomizes the magic:

“Because Philo’s clothes were not just simply for women; they were also about women — their distractions, their routines, the way they stuff a bag under an arm or concoct an outfit out of a dress and trousers, their sideways longing for red-lipped glamour, their disdain for basics, their love of uniforms, their wisdom and maturity. It was all there, every season, expressed in the clothes.”

Had I known.  Had I known…

ICYMI: The One That Got Away Volume II

The One That Got Away

Givenchy F/W 2009

It was 2009.

As soon as I picked up the hanger, I knew.  This piece was special.

It was a dress, in fact.  Wool.  Ruched bodice.  Gathered waist.  Snug.

The kicker was the neckline.  Prefaced with extremely strong shoulders, it was adorned with a heavy chain-link choker.  It probably weighed 10 lbs.

I looked at the price.  Originally $2800.  Marked down to $525.

Arm heavy, I marched to the dressing room.

Please don’t fit.  Please don’t fit.

Aw, f*ck.  It was made for me.

This was a dress you conquer the world in.  Nothing about it was timid.  Demure.  It kicked ass and took names.  It could do that resting on a hanger.  Imagine the possibilities once you put it on.

It was Givenchy F/W 2009.  The Riccardo Tisci years.

As a collector, I look back on this moment and think, “what an idiot!”

I had legacy in my hands – on sale to boot – and I passed it up.  What was I thinking?!

At the time, Sex and the City was all the rage.  Every woman in the world wanted a pair of Manolos.  And we all knew their going rate – $525.

This dress could be my proverbial pair of Manolos.

I knew what Manolos did for Carrie.  I knew they had the potential to changes lives.  Be the sole item on a wedding registry.  Disprove an urban shoe myth.

So why not make this Manolo monetary equivalent mine?  Why not agree to conquer the world?

Like I said, I’m an idiot.

Yes, it was my limited budget.  But it was something more.  At the time, work was my world.  And I couldn’t wear this dress to work, could I?  No, it would be too much.  Therefore, I had to pass.

I have since learned that when the perfect dress is staring you in the face, you buy it. It doesn’t matter if you have nowhere to wear it.  You pounce.

Because the occasion to wear it will come.  Anytime you frantically search for the perfect dress, you never find it.  Instead, you overpay for a mediocre runner-up.

Always have a conquer-the-world dress in your arsenal.  You never need permission – or an occasion – to conquer.

Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy F/W 2009… the one that got away.

ICYMI: The One That Got Away Volume I

Image via Vogue.com

 

The One That Got Away

The One That Got Away

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I had a small accident on Thursday night.  My daughter and I were playing and I got a bad scratch on my eyeball, eek!  Not to worry, I’ll be totally fine.  But I had to eliminate screentime for about 48 hours and thus my Fashion Friday got delayed.

Rather than chat about the business of fashion (it’s at a standstill thanks to COVID-19), I chose to chat about something uplifting!

I’ve been wanting to start a new series on the blog and “The One That Got Away” has been in my head for at least 5 years.  While the production of it will continuously evolve – what’s in my head isn’t meeting what’s coming out – today I’m sharing the first episode.

The One That Got Away

This series was born out of those diamond in the rough pieces we found while shopping, but for whatever reason didn’t purchase, and regret that decision to this day.

I’ve been shopping since age 5, so I have a TON of these stories.

About 12 years ago I was doing my weekly round at Nordstrom Rack when I saw it.

Black.  Leather.  Floor length.

It was the trench coat of my dreams.  Leather so buttery soft, it practically melted in my hands.  As a huge fan of The Matrix, this coat channeled Trinity like no other.  I HAD to have it.

Sure enough, as soon as I slipped it on in the dressing room, I almost fainted.  It fit like a glove.  The waistline nipped in perfectly, the sleeves ruched in the coolest way, the collar could be worn popped up for extra badassery, and the length was perfect.  It skimmed the floor in a way that was made for me to float from room to room.  It almost made me look like I was walking on water.

Walking on water.

If all of this weren’t enough, the next part really tipped it over the edge.

It was Rick Owens.

If you are unacquainted with said master, you should know that black and leather are his thing.  No one does it better.

This trench coat basically descended from the heavens into my hands.  Then I looked at the price.

$999.

It’s important for me to first share the original retail price – $8500.  With tax, this coat retailed for almost $10,000.  And here it was, hanging in front of me at almost 90% off.

I panicked.

Palms sweating, I started to run numbers in my head.  How could I make this work?  Put it on a credit card?  The coat was more than my rent.

At this time in my life, my budget was very different.  This coat would equal my clothing allowance for the YEAR.

I just couldn’t do it.  So I passed.

I still dream about this trench coat.  Did I make the right decision?  That’s arguable.

For a moment in time, I could have been Trinity from The Matrix.

The black leather Rick Owens trench coat… it was the one that got away.

Image via IMAXTREE (while this is not the exact trench coat, it’s close)