Tattersall for fall

Coach is the first designer I really fell in love with. Yes, I’m sick of the signature Cs too, in all their various incarnations – “scribble” and “patchwork”, I’m looking at you. Especially in LA, fakes abound (here’s a hint: if the purse you’re thinking of buying says “GO”, it’s telling you to run the other direction). But… I’m loyal, and Coach holds lovely memories for me. CM splurged and surprised me with my first designer bag, a signature demi in khaki/brown the first summer we were dating, which just goes to show you how long we’ve been together – this was well before everyone was carrying bags large enough to double as a tent for a family of four.

Each season they have some hits and some misses, but I’m excited for autumn because the tattersall is my favorite thing they’ve done in a long time. I’m so glad they’ve brought it back for another year, in a greater variety of bags this time. Last year I was thisclose to buying what I’m pretty certain was a diaper bag, due to the limited tattersall selection. This is a problem no more.

 

Heritage Stripe Tattersall Tote, from Coach
This, of course, is the bag I was looking for last year. I could do without the giant horse and carriage, but the print is so worth it. The stripe on the hangtag is adorable too. Love.

 

Women’s Tattersall Walking Coat, from Coach
Want to really commit to the tattersall look? This is the coat. Notice that the coat by itself is a commitment. Together, the coat and the bag (and the umbrella I bought last year) would just be overkill. One at a time, girls, one at a time.

For those of you who are scared of commitment:

Bleecker Tattersall Ponytail Scarf, from Coach
“Ponytail scarf” doesn’t even begin to cover it. Maybe “ponytail-headband-belt-handbag-accessoring scarf” would be better. What I’m saying is, it’s versatile. And cheap(ish)! A darling way to bring this print into your everyday wardrobe.

Madison Leather Foldover Clutch, from Coach
No tattersall on the outside of this one – instead, it’s a lovely little gift for your eyes only on the inside. Really, they don’t even show the lining on the website, so I’m taking their word for it that there is tattersall in there somewhere. It’s such a great clutch that I just might not care…

Heart Locket Keyfob, from Coach
Aaaand this one has no tattersall at all. For fall. But I’ve had a different pink Coach heart locket as my keychain for years (this one, only lighter) and I’ve dropped my keys so many times, the magnet closure no longer works. I think it’s time for a replacement. [On a side note, am I the only one who drops her keys on the ground daily? I also run into things... a lot. I'm sort of wondering if the key-dropping is a side effect of my general clumsiness. Hmmm...]

Boatman Geller

Oh. My. Word.

Such pretty stationary. I would like one of everything, posthaste. Seriously. Take a look at their extensive selection and you’ll be right there with me, wondering what the credit limit is on your Visa so you can wallpaper your home with their notecards. (If Mir were reading this, she would fall down dead. Shhh, don’t tell her.) P.S. This kind of temptation is why I don’t want an Amex.

Of course, I’m going to share my favorites with you.

 

Ann Tile notes in bright pink, from Boatman Geller

Dot blue with brown notes, from Boatman Geller

Criss Cross address labels in light blue and brown, from Boatman Geller

 

 

All these are lovely, of course, but now it really gets interesting. I really love the square stickers below, and want to do some “from the library of” for my books. How in the world do I choose between these?

 

Madras Patch sticker in pink, from Boatman Geller

Polka dot brown sticker, from Boatman Geller

Rugby stripe sticker in blue and brown, from Boatman Geller
This one has a slight edge, because I could include CM’s name and not make the labels exclusively girly. Most of the books I loan out are mine and not his anyway. But even if I did only include my name, I still kind of love this label. They carry a notepad in this same theme that would be perfect for my teacher desk – the palette matches, and the design is unisex enough that I could use it to write notes to any my 8th grade students.

Still… the madras! The dots! You understand my dilemma.

 

And last but not least:

Seahorse/Madison mocha coasters, from Boatman Geller

*sigh*. Hide my wallet, would you?

The new go-to store for basics

No, they aren’t as preppy as J. Crew… but their website isn’t driving me batty either.

Martin + Osa has a store just a hop skip and a jump down the road from my beloved J. Crew at the Americana at Brand. It first caught my attention because their mannequins are beautifully styled – impeccably polished, and eye-catching (obv) even though the clothes are so simple. Their staff is always attentive without being pushy, and the fitting rooms are a dream: they remind me of the interior of a sauna at some posh spa somewhere (minus the sweating and hair-ruining humidity, of course).

At the moment, I’m not thrilled with the new collection they have online, BUT! Their online sale section is fantastic, and has probably twice the merchandise. Here’s what’s in my bag:

Summer sleeve scoopneck tee in marine blue, Martin + Osa
They’ve taken a basic tee and made it stand out by taking care with the details. The rolled sleeves are what ensured that this landed in my shopping bag, and the gorgeous blue doesn’t hurt either (though it is available in other colors).

Silk scoopneck blouse in ebony black, from Martin + Osa
Beautiful and versatile. I tried it on in “passion pink” in the store, and it just wasn’t the color for me, but the fit was lovely. In black, I’m pretty sure this will become a bi-weekly wear, and will stay in rotation well into the fall (it is southern California after all).

Weekend washed shirt in studio cream, from Martin + Osa
I would wear this shirt just like this… well, probably with the sleeves cuffed. I love it when retailers show you an item like it’s meant to be worn.

Cashmere + silk tee in shore blue, from Martin + Osa
Mmm, saving my favorite for last. Tangent: Sadly, this is a replacement for a J. Crew outlet purchase in a similar color that didn’t stand up well to a season of washing and wearing. I love the style of their outlet clothes, but suspect that the quality is not quite the same as you’d find in their traditional stores. I expect this lovely piece will wear better, and I can only imagine how soft it is. Beautiful.

More to love about Martin + Osa: free shipping, free returns, shop by outfit and layer your own look. You’re welcome. Here’s hoping they expand those last two features as they grow!

No one is immune.

Deep down inside, I know that pretty much everyone in fashion makes liberal use of photoshop. But it’s still disappointing when it comes from one of your faves.

J Crew: Does This Make My Cutout Look Fat? from Photoshop Disasters.

And speaking of Lilly…

This dress, from Ann Taylor?

 

Trellis Print Dress, from Ann Taylor

Seem familiar? Hm…

 

Parker Dress in Paint the Town Plaid, from Lilly Pulitzer 2007

Not an exact replica, obviously, but close enough to notice. It’s a shame I like the Lilly one so much better – the Ann Taylor is on sale.