{ signature } style

back in september, i had occasion to style LL Bean Signature's spring 2012 look book. it was an exciting opportunity for me, as i grew up with an ardent LL Bean-loving father, and am thus well-versed in the brand's heritage. since the recently-introduced Signature collection is an outlet for the company to speak to a younger, more fashion-informed audience than ever before, it seemed like a dream gig to me: a chance to blend the past with the present.

what i didn't anticipate was the amazing creative bond i quickly formed with the Signature team. they're quite an inspiring set of people, poised to go big with this new brand, an optimistic answer to the great tradition of american sportswear. i loved working with them so much that i found myself on a plane to puerto rico a week later to continue the momentum ~ but that's a story for another day. for now, i wanted to give you a closer look at our first shoot together. i'll show you more from this collaboration as the pieces become available online!!

{ above left: LL bean signature madras shirt, sweatshirt, pants and shoes; dedegumo watch // above right: LL bean signature double-breasted trench, madras dress and shoes; victor osborne hat; corello belt }

{ above: LL bean signature boots and bag }

{ above: LL bean signature cardigan, men's shirt, shorts and shoes; victor osborne hat }

{ above left: LL bean signature wedge sandals // above right: LL bean signature hoodie, sweater, men's shorts and shoes; robert james sunnies; dedegumo watch }

{ above: LL bean signature sandals (coming soon!) }

{ above left: LL bean signature sweater, cardigan, skirt and shoes // above right: LL bean signature dress, skirt, bag and shoes; robert james sunnies }

below, a behind-the-scenes video from the project // CLICK HERE to follow LL Bean Signature on tumblr!

{ photos: denise behrens / video: rainer behrens / styling: kelly framel / model: vanessa cruz / hair: shawn la'yave / makeup: waltaya culmer }

{ on holiday } with sachin + babi

{ victor osborne hat, sachin + babi medody dress, B brian atwood shoes }

{ victor osborne hat, oliver peoples glasses, sachin + babi cher gown, ash shoes }

{ paul smith sunnies, sachin + babi emma dress, club monaco belts, lena erziak apple minaudiere, jean michel cazabat shoes }

{ black baseball cap, sachin + babi marilyn dress, jean michel cazabat shoes }

{ sachin + babi earrings and willow gown, vintage hat, B brian atwood shoes }

{ black baseball cap, sachin + babi necklace, mary tyler top and amelia shorts }

{ oliver peoples glasses, sachin + babi anna jacket, belle blouse and taylor skirt, lena erziak bag, ash shoes }

{ sachin + babi earrings, bangles, and leighton gown }

{ helene berman hat, sachin + babi earrings, turner jacket and sly pant, lena erziak bag, jean michel cazabat shoes }

as promised! this is the exclusive editorial that jeremy and i shot for sachin + babi. we had such a great time bringing the clothes to life with the help of model renee peters, as well as eugene williams on makeup and noelle chen (from kerastase) on hair. if you like the vibe, CLICK HERE to enter to win a piece of sachin + babi clothing of your own!!

all clothes by sachin + babi // styling and art direction by kelly framel // photographs by jeremy james for theglamourai.com.

{ you fit me better } than my favorite sweater

the title of this post comes from this obsessed-with song ~ and yes, this is most definitely my favorite sweater these days. worn with my current favorite hat, sunnies, carryall, and my favorite-favorite pants. basically, i've had this total combination on repeat a lot lately.

{ victor osborne hat, tiffany sunnies, RD international sweater (courtesy of modcloth), gifted stylestalker shirt worn underneath, blank nyc pants, rebecca minkoff bag, zara boots }

{ back } in new york

{ victor osborne hat (last seen HERE), tiffany sunnies, halston heritage trench, marni blouse (last seen HERE), gifted rebecca minkoff bag, blank nyc pants (also seen HERE and HERE) , zara boots }

even after one of the best weeks of my life ~ which took me first to malibu for the kelly wearstler shoot, then to austin for a dear friend's wedding (more on that later!) ~ there's no place like home. i'm glad to be back in new york for a while. desperately need to get caught up on life ~ but first, sleep.

{ new neutrals }

olive and khaki are the more casual alternative to my beloved black and white ~ and together they recently made for an effortless outfit comprised of all my new favorite pieces!

let's start with the hat, shall we? i bought it at victor osborne, when i was in the store pulling pieces for a shoot. i'm so excited that my hair's gotten long enough to peek out from underneath hats just in time for fall, and this one's been getting a ton of wear already.
THIS DRESS is another much-loved piece lately. actually, i'm surprised by just how much i've worn it in the short time we've been together. it worked with flat sandals for a night-out in puerto rico, then with black tights and a blazer for a birthday party back in new york. and of course, i also wore it with my favorite fall boots on the fine afternoon when these photos were taken!
THE JACKET was a gift from white + warren ~ which i was so grateful to receive, as i'd been on the hunt for a cold-weather workhorse to fill the roll in my wardrobe that THIS VEST played all summer. speaking of white + warren, don't forget that today is the last day to enter the giveaway i'm hosting with them!! we'll announce a winner tomorrow.

all in all, i felt like this ensemble encapsulated where my style is right now. it was tailored but relaxed, and layered but unfussy ~ just the way i like to feel!!

{ victor osborne hat, elizabeth & james sunnies, gifted white + warren jacket, E1 london dress courtesy of modcloth, michael kors watch, gifted coach clutch, alexander wang boots }