>> I'm finding myself to be a sucker for little tidbits of designer 'treats' that whilst aren't extortionate in the scheme of things are sort of extravagant when measured up against their itty bitti-ness. Can't afford the Prada PVC princess coat? I'll be getting the thick nubbly socks. Unlikely that those Miu Miu 2-part flares are coming home with me so I'll get the shirt cuffs instead (deciding between wool or leather…). It's a sad trap that accountants at designer labels will be laughing about whilst rubbing their hands together in $$$-eyed glee. In my head though, I'd like to think that there's a 'schusszzzh'* factor to these pieces. I can't quite spell that word properly to make it sound onomatopoeically correct. Perhaps you have your own version of saying it. Example of usage? "I'm wearing my Fannie Schiavoni chain mail crop top to schusszzzh up an outfit." I feel like I need to insert an MP3 soundbite here just to demonstrate what I'm saying. Too bad the sound of my recorded voice drives me to moments of insanity.
Carven's silk bib with an inbuilt Peter Pan collar is one such designer spun-off schusszzzh-piece. You're probably not hearing me yet but I tells ya, it's only a matter of time before Carven fan girls of the Alexa Chung-following ilk will be rising up to the match the numbers of Alexander Wang's "We're oh-so-rad…" die hard addicts. Don't ask me why but in my head, I have fictional style battle scenes playing out as a recurring vision. Anyhow, in anticipation, I'm willingly committing myself to becoming said fan girl (errrm… minus the Chung-following bit…) as I bought my first bit of Carven (colette also has it too…) which also neatly forms a triangle with two other collar/yoke acquisitions – one from COS (which I THINK is sold out now…) and a vintage one that I bought from Old Touch in Stockholm. I'm a big fan of anything that is a lightweight packing device and will sort of change-up an outfit in a subtle way and whilst no person who is vaguely observant of clothes will think you've gone and changed an entire outfit, I do like the way they somehow neaten up an outfit in the only way that the sight of a neatly pressed shirt collar does.
So… points to take away…
I'm a nut job for itty bitty designer treats that in my head represent a paragon of affordability…
Carven-ites and Wang-ites will do battle in 2011…
Collars are neat… and might fool really, really unobservant people into thinking you have many clothes…
**EDIT** So apparently there is an Urban Dictionary entry but I don't like their spelling of it 'zhuzh'. I'm sticking with my made-up version…
(Carven bib with Ann Sofie Back tweed ripped top, Weekday x Diana Orving leggings/skirt, Monki belt, Carin Wester shoes)
(COS shirt yoke with Whistles thunderbolts trousers, H&M x Lanvin dress tucked in, vintage scarf, Suno x Loeffler Randall wedges)
(Vintage embroidered bib with Manoush coat, vintage cashmere jumper, shorts from Hong Kong, Shape Shiftr mustard trousers, vintage shoes)
P.S. Note the different weather scenarios… and the crap snow that doesn't settle that we get in London in the last few pics…