BagExchange.com

Have you noticed some trends shown in the magazines? The stylistic symbols are shrunken pants or capris, shrunken sweaters or three quarter sleeve sweaters over long sleeved shirts, whimsical accessories, big prints and plaids, and bold pops of color. What if you put ALL of them together? Weirdly, it kinda works like the skewed outfits you may have inadvertantly assembled when you were a little girl playing dress-up. When searching for items, I tried to keep most of the outfit neutral and allow one large pop of color and limited to three different patterns worn simultaneously. So, for the outfit above, a little plaid (belt) goes a long way to pull it together by echoing the youthful ruby blush of the foppish jacket and in the summer weight blouse. I have always wanted oxford shoes and affordable ones by Baldinini Trend with the higher instep and heel make them hip-ish and eliminates the stodgy look found in the men’s department. The Orla Kiely bag is subtle and can pass for “mature” if push came to shove. So, take a walk on the tightrope between jeune fille and sophisticate, between frilly and serious, between pure glee and contentment. Tomorrow, part deux, I’ve got another ensemble of this sort.

Starting from left–

• Akris Punto, Cropped Pants in Flannel, silk, side slash pockets, straight legs, $395, @ Bergdorf Goodman.
• Orla Kiely, Slouchy Stem Shopper in Dark Olive, leather handbag, leaf stitching at front and patch pockets at back and sides, snap-tab detail at side pockets, lucite rings at rolled, double handles and double pulls at 21″ main compartment zipper, lined interior, 12″ x 18″ x 7″d. 7″ strap drop, $628, @ shopbop.
• Ella Moss, Zoe Top in Slate, jersey, contrasting stripes, elastic banding at neckline and sleeves, 26″ long, $99, @ shopbop.
• Baldinini Trend, Laced Oxford Shoes in Black, patent leather, laced, rubber sole, stitch detailing, 2″ heel, $129, @ YOOX.
• Herringbone Cheshire Jacket in Tomato, english wool from Abraham Moon, ruffle collar, A-line shape, snap closure at neck with silk charmeuse ribbon tie, on-seam pockets, 3/4 sleeves with cuffs, fully lined, hits at high hip, $225, @ J Crew.
• Wool Critter Belt in Ivory, clear resin dome buckle, dome-prong closure, antiqued-brass hardware, designed with extra length to fit low-rise waistbands, 1.5″ w, $38, @ J Crew.

Stumble it!