VINTAGE FINDS: COACH Duffle Bag 9166

Question: if someone would suddenly rush up to you to ask you: ‘<insert name>, what are you actually good at in life?’. What would you answer? 

I’ve thought about it. And for me, one of the things that I’m actually very, very good at - and it’s unfortunately not something to be proud of - is… procrastinating. Some examples. Procrastination on studying for an important test, which makes me have to set my alarm at 2AM to study all night long (in order to save myself from total failure). Procrastination on leaving my house, which makes me running late everywhere I go. And procrastination on buying a descent leather bag, which made me walk around for almost 4 years (!) with canvas bags like a hobo. 

About that last one. Some people might see buying a bag as a moment of joy. I do not. Buying a bag - or actually the preceding never-ending search for that bag - is horror with a big H. Because you’ll wear the bag practically every day, it has to suit you perfectly. The color, the model, the quality, the amount of space - everything matters. And finding that perfect bag my friends, is a hell of a job. So the procrastination begins.

Fortunately, once upon a time there was a brand named COACH, who decided to make a few duffle bags back in the 80s. And fortunately, an American woman had bought one of those bags but decided in the summer of 2016 that she should sell it on eBay because she had never worn it. And fortunately, I looked coincidentally on eBay and it was love at first sight. And from that moment, we decided to spend the rest of our lives together. No more canvas bags for me. End of story.

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FASHION WEEK SS 17: Recap New York

They say that in fashion world September is equal to January. Why? Because this month is all about a new beginning. Or - to be more precisely – it’s all about the launch of new collections. 

We flip through our September issues and are being introduced to the new trends and collections of the new season. The Autumn / Winter season. But that’s not it. No, we’re also looking forward. Further into the future. Because, during the well-known Fashion Weeks in the fashion capitals, we’ll see the collections for next year’s Spring / Summer season. And this event, with the duration of four weeks, is happening right now!

Traditionally, New York is the first one to be taken over by the fashion industry, then London, Milan and last but not least, Paris. While all of the models, photographers, fashion gurus and journalists etc. have meanwhile moved themselves to the city of London, I would like to reflect New York Fashion Week for a moment.

Though I wasn’t there in person, I have seen all of the fashion shows via the website of Vogue. The shows of Tommy Hilfiger, Proenza Shouler and 3.1 Phillip Lim were definitely my favorite! I’ve put together my 60 favorite looks of the whole thing in this slideshow down below. What do you think?

TREND ALERT: Leopard Print

For all of you who are lying on a towel on the beach right now, finally able to get a descent summer tan, with not a thing to worry about - we have to be realistic here. I don’t want to ruin your mood, but within a month it’s autumn. Trees will shed their leaves, temperature will drop fast and the sun will disappear for a long, long time. We have to prepare ourselves for the cold seasons – sooner rather than later. 

Besides managing the mental depression caused by the knowledge that the darkness is coming for us, we have to make our wardrobe ready for these harsh times. Start with checking your supplies. Chucky knits? Check. Items perfect for layering? Check. Black platform boots? Check. Replenish where necessary. Make a list of the things you want to add to your wardrobe. Oh, and uhm, you can put a leopard printed garment at the top of your list, because I’ll ensure you, you’re going to need it.

If designers like Dries van Noten dedicate in fact their whole collection to the print of this big cat’s coat, you know what’s coming. It will take over the street image this season. Coats, jackets, skirts, pants, boots - literally everything will be covered in leopard print. How cool, right? But as you know, leopard print itself isn’t something new, but what makes it this season so popular is the variety in the materials and the way of using – a good example are the velvet leopard pants à la Dries van Noten. 

Because it’s not the easiest print to combine, I thought it would be a good idea to give some examples of how you can pull of the leopard print. Enjoy!