Skins and Gloves

Faux or non, it doesn't really matter to me when it comes to skins. Throwing off the winter skins means pulling out the delightfully light spring gloves, some in leather, many not - as for handbags, things slide towards the lighter and brighter side of the collection.

I do love a real slice of skin (rather violent image) on a handbag or even a shoe (my faux snakeskin skirt obviously something of an exception), but I must say a faux croc never fails to catch my eye. When putting these shots together, I was amazed at the sheer number and variety of faux crocs I have. Just goes to show it's good to reorganize the closet every once and awhile ... whether it needs it or not. I am an equal opportunity handbag hound loving a good hunk of vinyl just as dearly as a supple bit of leather. Craftsmanship, however, is non-negotiable.



The gloves span the spectrum of real kid (bone & black with buttons) to cotton, to the pure white pair made of some kind of stretch with a slight sheen. The latter looks leather-like and feels divine. I have a friend who never mounts her bike without a pair of gloves on ...to protect the hands from the frying sun. Smart dame.

The real mccoy (that is the real snake) does glisten, doesn't it?



Luscious molasses snakeskin. Feels as silky as it looks.



I think this yellow baby is what one might refer to as a 'dispatch case'. From the days when one sent dispatches, or carried dispatches, or needed dispatches. Now I think you could slip an iPad in and you'd be good to go. The strap was missing (yes, thrifted) so I added the chain. Thought Chanel would approve.



Now to the crocs. No one does faux croc like my Cornell. The classic brown croc ...



The elusive white croc ...



The even more elusive pink croc ...



And last but not least this Frankie & Johnnie bag may be one of the the last fine examples of the great black & white giraffes that once roamed the plains of Africa ...



Next up, what is the relationship between gloves and a burgeoning mid-life crisis?

All in the detail

As much as I love all black and feel that one should listen to the canny advice of Frenchwomen whenever possible (Secrets of Style French chic thoughtfully shared by Une Femme) I must say I prefer colour and pattern, and frankly a lot of both.

Of course, if I could just stick to black and maybe venture out into grey occasionally it would simplify and reduce my sock/legging/tight drawer, not to mention allowing a few carefully selected clothes to simply hang unimpeded in a well-ventilated closet.

Alas, I continue to fool with combinations and computations of clothes within my closet. I do find, however, that a few stalwart pieces make their way into many an outfit. One of these I'm showing above - the red patterned jersey shirt (from H&M no less). It's extremely versatile because it works with solids and, because the print is sufficiently small, it also pairs up rather nicely with other smallish prints - hence the blue dots.



Like the great DV, I do love a leopard print. Always have, always will. Of course, this skirt is usually paired with a black t-shirt (one must grocery shop, after all) but for a bit of fun I can cause alarm by adding this bright and sunny orange. The bone scarf and belt tone it all down - or not, depending upon your point of view.

And finally, just as I'd written a scathing comment on a post featuring Burberry's Spring Collection written by the lovely A Femme d'Un Cetain Age displaying sheer disgust for an all snakeskin patterned collection (green, blue and ruched?) I noticed a little further back in my own closet this snakeskin skirt. Well, shame on me. But I maintain mine is better and so casting aspersions on other people's snakeskin remains completely justifiable. Gulp.



I really must learn to review my own closet before commenting elsewhere. Could it mean I have too many clothes?

Now to conclude this post and actually make a point, I don't think one needs to play it too safe in l'age. And since it gives me so much pleasure, when any number of other things about l'age do not, I'll just stick with it.