Cheryl Shops

Ruffian at Pavilion, Lincoln Center [02.08.14]

I arrived just in time to catch the last few models walking this morning's first show. Ruffian is one of my favorite shows, but it's always at 9am on a Saturday. I did manage to shoot a handful of photos, to give you an idea of the collection:

Check out the red trim at the hem of her dress

Elizabethan collars

Unsure how I feel about these high cloches

The new Pavilion space accommodated three connected runways

Queue fog machine.

Standout piece! Loved this coat.

I call this The Clark Kent...

...and The Superman.

You're welcome.

Gorgeous furry parka

Just enough metallic blue to fall in line with the trend, but not too clubby

Nice salmon color coat; chic zippers that may or may not function

So, California is experiencing a major drought. (It's been raining the last few days, but we still have a long way to go.) There are myriad catastrophes that could result from this--for one, I am rather worried about the grapes up in Sonoma--but on a more immediate level, the air is so dry, I'm slowly turning into a reptile. I randomly find my mouth parched throughout the day, I slather my hands in creme every time I wash them, and I'm starting to develop scaly patches on my body. If I start climbing the walls and laying eggs, we're really in trouble. Anyway, I read this article about making your skin super soft and while the first two steps are pretty obvious (exfoliate, use body butter), the third really struck me: It suggests that much like a cotton towel absorbs the moisture on your body after a shower, the cotton clothing you wear and sheets you sleep in are also sucking you dry.

Now, there's no way I'm sleeping on satin sheets--yuck--but I already own a bunch of silk nightgowns, so that's a start. The more difficult scenario is my clothing; I am not a fan of synthetics and while many of my sweaters are of the wool or cashmere variety, I tend to layer them over...cotton T-shirts. And then there are jeans. But the one thing that's easy to change--literally and figuratively--is one's underwear. So I've been buying up a bunch of silk undies, because even if my limbs dry out on a daily basis, at least my bum will be, well, silky soft. As a bonus, silk underwear feels incredible on your body, and every morning when I put on a new pair, I think, "Treat yourself!" I don't know if it's making much of a difference, but it makes getting dressed a lot more luxurious.

So, my own personal soft-skin equation:


Kiehl's Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish ($30) + Kiehl's Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter ($38) + Zinke Lillie Panty ($50) = baby-soft bum

Desigual at Theatre, Lincoln Center [02.06.14]

Fashion Week Correspondent MK reporting for duty!

While Cheryl revels in her temperate San Francisco weather, we in Manhattan are enduring polar vortices, snowstorms and Gross Slushy Puddle Syndrome on every street corner. Today I was grateful for my comfy (and flat) Belle boots on my first day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, as I traversed the slippery ice heaps left behind by the city's snow plows.

Desigual is a brand that for me evokes thoughts of bright Miró paintings and the sounds of bustling Barcelona translated into a wearable collage. When I'm browsing a Desigual store I'm usually counting the number of fabric patterns integrated into a single piece of clothing. But today's collection showed me a slightly more coherent and focused side of Desigual, scattered across its more characteristic outfits.

The spirit of the Woo Girl was definitely at Desigual today. The theme was "Love in the city", and in support of this theme the models each did a move when they hit the end of the runway. Lots of kisses were blown, air hearts were drawn and some booty was shaken. I applaud the models who tried to choreograph complex movements into that very brief time window. I tried to mix in a handful of these power moves in the photos below.

Did I mention that Alek Wek and Candice Swanepoel walked this show? Love!

Alek Wek

Candice Swanepoel

Woo!

Woo!

Woo!

I will admit, I don't pay that much attention to Chinese astrology, but I was born in a year of the horse, and considering some of the competition (rat, ox, snake), I think that's a pretty good sign to have. As of this Friday, January 31st, we're entering another year of the horse, and while one would hope that means good things for those born in that year, for everyone else, it simply means a good excuse to buy cool horse-themed stuff. Giddyap!


1. Long horsebit necklace, $26.95

2. She's a Lucky Gallop scarf, $19.99

3. Equipment Wandering Horse-Print Blouse, $268

4. Frye Lindsay Boots, $313

5. French Connection Hatched Horses Dress, $149.99

6. Z Gallerie "Haven't Met You Yet" Print, $129.95

Confession: I've never understood the fascination with Birkin bags. Have you ever actually held one? They're boxy and stiff, and once you put all your stuff inside, they're rather heavy too. (And then, of course, this happened.) The Kelly has the benefit of coming with a shoulder strap, but I find them even more structured and fussy-looking. But last week, I spotted a gorgeously slouchy bucket bag on the arm of my coworker, and after I wiped the drool from the corners of my mouth, she confessed it was Hermès, and a Christmas present. The bag is the Picotin, and I'm now completely obsessed. Whereas the Birkin is traditional, staid, and almost too elegant for its own good, the Picotin is more casual, youthful, and relaxed. There is no zipper, but that signature Hermès lock, buttery pebbled leather, and contrast hand-stitching give it an unmistakable polish. One of the best things about the Picotin is its price; at nearly $2400, it's nothing to sneeze at, but it's on par with bags from fellow French luxury houses like Louis Vuitton, Goyard, and Chanel and has the added benefit--in my opinion, at least--of being much more understated and quiet and thus truly luxurious. An added benefit to the Picotin's under-the-radar status? Unlike a used Birkin or Kelly, which rarely can be had for less than mid four figures, you can frequently find them for around $1,000 on luxury resale sites like The Real Real, LXR & Co., or Portero. Considering my birthday is coming up soon, I'll be watching all of those sites like a hawk; any bag in that delicious blue jean taurillon clemence leather is mine, all mine.

For the first time in my life, I'm not freezing my ass off in January, and it's truly a beautiful thing. In fact, the temperature has been pushing 70 this week in San Francisco, which leaves me in an I-have-no-idea-what-to-wear situation. The short answer here is usually layers, but when it comes to my lower half, I'm discovering bare legs with knee-high boots is a good balance. My problem, however, is that I got rid of most of my boots before I moved here, so I have very few options (five, to be exact). The other day I wore a navy, silver, and white outfit with taupe buckled boots and I just felt wrong all day. I've concluded I need a pair of pure gray boots, cool in tone and maybe a little slouchy in shape. Good news: I found the perfect pair. Bad news: They're $1,250. And while I am trying to buy fewer but nicer things, I don't think these (gorgeous, gorgeous) Marsell boots are quite in the cards. Which is too bad, because with their cool, cone-like 2.5-inch heel and neutral greige color, they're pretty much perfect.


So, by comparison, these Sergio Rossi boots, at $400, seem like a veritable bargain! They're also more classic, with an almond-shaped toe, stacked three-inch heel, and higher shaft. The color is a bit darker too, which is probably more practical in the grand scheme of things.



I am also considering these Frye Deborah boots, but I worry the shape is a bit too western for this city girl, and while the 1.5-inch heel is probably the best choice for tackling San Francisco's hills, I tend to prefer something higher (especially since I live and work in rather flat areas). I do, however, appreciate the pre-aged effect.



As for budget contenders, these Zara boots are just $99.99, and in spite of the fact that they have a subtle zipper (in case you haven't figured it out by now, I hate boots that zip), they look equally sleek and sturdy. Which means not exactly slouchy, but for $100, I'm not going to be too picky.

Hello and happy new year, dear readers! Guess what I've been doing! Shopping! (Quel surprise.) 'Tis no time like the weeks following Christmas to score incredible deals--if you're hitting the big department stores and websites, you'll find good stuff at 50%, 60%, or even 70% off. As I've noted before, clearance time is not the time to stock up on basics--I say go for crazy prints, wild colors, and designer items that you would never pay full price for (Chloe wedges, I'm looking at you). Forget Christmas--clearance season is truly the most wonderful time of the year.



1. DVF Mae Mikado Pencil Skirt, $109

2. Lulu Frost for J.Crew North Star Bracelet, $99.99

3. Rebecca Minkoff Holographic Mini M.A.B. Covertible Crossbody Bag, $115.50

4. Chloe Heritage Buckle Wedge Sandals, $329

5. The Elder Statesman for J.Crew Blurred Cashmere Crewneck Sweater, $289.99

6. Madewell Rhinestone Festival Necklace, $49

7. Mara Hoffman Peplum Dress, $167

Well, perhaps it was a bit too ambitious of me to attempt posting more in three weeks than I had in the last few months combined. So, consider this a dump of the last five days of Christmas posts. I have at 7 a.m. flight tomorrow morning--and if you still have shopping to do, you probably don't have time to listen to me wax rhapsodic about certain gifts anyway--so I'm going to keep this fairly brief. And focused on me.

Day 8: HD Buttercup is the ABC Home of San Francisco, and on one Saturday afternoon when I spent several hours in the store, I vowed to find somewhere to put this fuzzy stool (the store has one with a white base that would look even better in my apartment). I know just the place; it would make a loving nook for my iPhone, which currently sleeps, sadly, on the floor next to my bed.


Day 9: One of my favorite coworkers is totally a shopping enabler, hence why she's one of my favorites. She almost talked me into this Rebecca Taylor bouclé moto jacket, impractical for its color yet totally SF-friendly in its weight. I talked myself out of it...for now.


Day 10: I've been wanting to try Rodin Olio Lusso for ages; it has a huge cult following, and I'm forever in search of something that will give me that I'm-so-rich-I-slept-for-14-hours glowy skin. Not sure if it's the answer, but this lovely little gift set will at least let me do a test run (minus the 14 hours of sleep).


Day 11: I am pretty much obsessed with knuckle rings--I think my goal is to eventually have them on every finger (or at least three per hand). Williamsburg's own Catbird makes the best; here in SF, they sell them at Azalea on Hayes Street, but you can always go straight to the source.



Day 12: To me, there's no greater luxury than having one's hair blown out. If I may confess, the fact that there's a Drybar 4 blocks from my apartment may have had some bearing on the fact that I took it. I have yet to become a regular there, but now that I've received at least one gift certificate, I think this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Sometimes you need to buy gifts in bulk or for a workplace grab bag or for someone who unexpectedly buys you a gift, so you need one for them at the ready. For all of those potentially awkward situations, I suggest Pamela Barsky's witty zippered pouches. They're on Etsy, they're under $20, and they're easy and fun. They're also quite practical--you can use them for makeup, pens, receipts, or whatever. For the glamourpuss, there's the mascara pouch; for the worrier, there's the important things bag; for the locavore, there's a not-made-in-China pouch; there's even a dude pouch for, well, dudes. Good news for New Yorkers who still have shopping to do: You can purchase these (and many other) designs at the Artists & Fleas pop-up shop at Chelsea Market now through the end of the year. And while you're at it, last-minute shoppers, here's a pouch for you.

Back in May, I went to a press event for the debut of Bang & Olufsen's new BeoPlay headphones from its lower-priced B&O Play line. I have no idea how I got invited to this event--everyone else there was a tech reporter and, like, serious--but I fell in love with the headphones and have been looking for an occasion to write about them ever since. And since Christmas is the season of giving (and receiving) things you'd never actually buy for yourself, enter the BeoPlay H6 headphones. I'm going to get this right out of the way: These headphones cost $400. They are not for people like me who have to dig their earbuds out of the bottom of their purse while holding on to the bus pole for dear life, eventually finding them coated with mystery fuzz and Altoids dust. But the H6 are incredibly luxurious, made of an ultra-lightweight aluminum frame coated with sheep leather. The ear pads feature memory foam inside, so they cradle your ears perfectly, lest any sound escape. I can attest that while wearing them, you can't hear people shouting two feet away from you, making them ideal for people who travel frequently, or at least ride the bus through the Tenderloin every morning like, um, I do. There are even more practical features: You can switch the cord to either side, so if you're a lefty, no awkward wrong-hand remote controlling required; if your friend also has a pair of H6s (ha!), you can plug them together and listen to the same iPod at the same time. Now, that's love.

Three months in San Francisco and I've become a total wine snob. Words like "varietal" and "estate" have crept into my vocabulary, and I'm actually considering investing in a wine fridge to keep my babies, er, my collection temperature controlled. Speaking of temperature, I've come to realize what an important role this plays in wine drinking; I've learned that lighter reds (like pinot noirs) are supposed to be served a tiny bit chilled (i.e. straight from the cellar) and that many wines, white or red, can go bad if they overheat. Lest you commit a faux pas while drinking with fellow connoisseurs, there's the Corkcicle. Keep this genius BPA-free device in your freezer, then pop it into the next bottle of wine you open--it lowers reds to the perfect drinking temperature and keeps whites chilled even in summer or at the longest dinner party ever (or during San Franciscans' favorite activity, picnicking). It's reusable, easily transportable, and a mere $25. Friends of mine who drink wine (which, um, is like all of you), you can pretty much expect to receive one of these from me this year. In vino veritas! 

A dear friend of mine lives just a few blocks away, which makes it easy to meet up for lunch or a drink; as a bonus, this friend loves to shop, has impeccable taste, and might actually dress better than I do. Through this friend, I learned about Shinola, a re-christened company that makes bicycles, leather goods, and watches in Detroit. (Yes, Detroit.) The watches are classic and sporty in that all-American way, with thick, contrast-stitched leather straps and slightly oversized stainless steel cases, each bearing a unique serial number. In other words, ain't no Timex. Good design and noble-minded employment efforts aside, Shinola is dedicated to reviving American luxury manufacturing, a pursuit I fully support. Watches like the Runwell are meant to last a lifetime; at the risk of sounding like Don Draper, this is what American-made products, as few and far between as they are nowadays, should be. A Shinola watch would obviously be an incredibly generous Christmas gift, but in the interest of buying quality over quantity, it would also be an everlasting one. And isn't that what one wants out of a gift anyway?

Honduras is a place that's close to my heart--it's where my best friend and her husband live, and I've had three magical visits there. Honduras is also one of the most dangerous countries in the world, with an incredibly high crime rate, political unrest, and and all manner of resulting socioeconomic issues. It's the last place one would expect to find gorgeously simple, sustainable wooden building blocks that kids go nuts for, but it just goes to show that there's always a ray of hope. These Tegu Tints blocks are pretty amazing--they have imbedded magnets, which make them easy for young kids to play with. They're non-toxic (coated with water-based lacquer) and contain no lead or plastic; the wood is sustainably sourced and, even more importantly, the company provides much-needed jobs and child education (as well as tree planting) to Hondurans. On an more immediate level, the blocks are brightly colored, easy for kids to grip, and packable in a cute little felt pouch that's included. (They also come in more ambitious 22-piece, 26-piece, 40-piece, or 52-piece sets.) And on an even more personal note, the co-founder of the company is married to a woman I went to grade school with (not the aforementioned best friend), proving that no matter how big the world is, it's a lot smaller than you think. And I love that.

Of the many things I hate about winter, perhaps the worst is forced-steam heat, otherwise known as radiator heat, which most buildings in New York City have the misfortune of using. Not only is it loud and clanging, but it manages to turn your apartment into a sweatbox, drying out your hair and skin and making it next to impossible to sleep. Here in San Francisco, however, I am in full control of my heat--it's a strip along my bedroom wall that I can turn on and off as I wish--and because I'm enjoying the eternal Good Sleeping Weather here, I have yet to actually use it. (I might the next few nights, however, as it's supposed to dip into the 30s, which is causing everyone here to FREAK OUT, as they tend to do when the weather is anything but 65 degrees and partly sunny.) I sleep on top of a featherbed, underneath a down comforter, and I'm as happy as a clam...except I'm maybe a little bit cold. I think what will rectify this situation is a pair of old-school pajamas--a button-down top and a drawstring bottom. I've been scoping them out, and so far my favorites are at J.Crew: the vintage pajama set for her or the slim cotton poplin pajama set for him. Both are clean and simple with contrast piping and supersoft fabric; most importantly, if you order by 12/13, you can get them monogrammed for just $10 (and you all know how I feel about slapping one's initials on stuff). But the best thing about old-school pajamas is that they can work for so many people--I can picture these on everyone from my dad to my best friend. And maybe on myself--one for you, one for me, right?

I'm shaking things up a bit this year with my gift guide. Having left New York three months ago, I haven't been attending press previews and market appointments and thus am not totally spilling forth with gift ideas for everyone on your list. Instead, this year I'm going to pick twelve great gifts and expound upon what makes them so wonderful. They might not come every day, but I promise I'll be done by Christmas (which, side note, is just three weeks away). Let's start shopping!

Today is Cyber Monday, which, if you have an email address, you are likely aware; I think I had 152 messages in my "shopping" filter by the time I got to work at 9 a.m. Cyber Monday got its yucky name from the common wisdom that people start their holiday shopping online once they're back at work the Monday after Thanksgiving (this term was apparently coined in the dark days when people didn't have computers at home and used words like "cyber"). It has evolved into a barrage of one screaming deal after another, and if you're a bargain hunter, it's certainly a good time to shop. For the record, I only bought one thing today, mostly because I was overwhelmed and turned off; I felt like the drunk girl in the bar at 1:45 a.m.

So as an anthesis to all that, today's gift is something that was not discounted and likely will never be: Meet the Barneys New York 2013 Holiday Beauty Box. Filled with a generous sampling of some of the best names from Barneys' beauty department, the box features mainstays like Creme de Mer and Kiehl's avocado eye cream, cult favorites like Koh Gen Doh cleansing water and Lipstick Queen lipstick, limited-edition products from Bobbi Brown and Jay-Z, plus particularly intriguing fragrance sample sets from Le Labo and Eccentric Molecule. If this was the only gift I got for Christmas, I'd probably be ok with that; considering it's $850, I think it literally would be, if everyone with whom I exchange gifts pooled their money and maybe robbed a bank too. The irony is that the beauty box technically is a bargain--according to the description, it's an $1800 value. But, like beauty (oh, see what I did just there?), maybe bargains are in the eye of the beholder.