That Transparency

HAVING BLOGGED FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS NOW, I'd say I've spent the last 30 or so months voluntarily exposing myself to images to the point of saturation. Sometimes, it feels like nothing looks as good, or as new, as they should anymore.

From over a hundred design and fashion sites I am subscribed to on Google Reader, to the accumulated number of images I consume via my Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook feeds, my daily digital sources alone seem enough to turn me looney from image overdose, if there is such a thing. A rest from looking at pictures would be good. Unfortunately, an idle blog wouldn't.

Clearly, I've found the perfect compromise, without compromising the white space. Blending well in with spring's crop of lucite, plexiglass and PVC-centric accessories, two transparent covetables from Ferragamo and Marc Jacobs are good to see, and see through.

Ferragamo Vitrea, www.ferragamo.com and Marc Jacobs Transparent Pump, www.lagarconne.com

That Girl With The Crown Tattoo

MADE "OFFICIAL SUPPLIER TO THE SPANISH CROWN" IN 1905, Loewe had since reigned as the epitome of Spanish luxury fashion, preserving its heritage through fine products and elegant campaigns. Though classic, the fashion house does away with stereotypes, employing for various lines, creative new interpretations of what it means to be luxurious.

For the current Oro Collection campaign, Loewe adopts an edgy new attitude. Younger, hipper models sport t-shirts, tattoos, shaved heads and piercing alongside Loewe's signature handbags and luggage.

Here, one defining look for the campaign. Could this be Loewe's own Lisbeth Salander?

Loewe Oro Collection 2012, www.loewe.com

That Jak of New Trades

THERE'S NO KEEPING A JAK FROM BECOMING A JACK OF ALL TRADES. Today on Club Monaco's brand new online shopping site is the intriguing bag that's been on our minds since its recent surfacing on Jak and Jil's street style snaps. The canvas and leather bags, shown here in messenger style, but also available in a drawstring knapsack version, are a product of a collaboration between Club Monaco and Jak and Jil street style photographer Tommy Ton himself, who designed the bags for a limited, 500-piece release.

Since a bunch of them have already gone to Tommy's street syle stars, it may just be a good idea to act quick in getting one. The weather-resistant bags, constructed with British Millerain, are available in Club Monaco stores, with autographed pieces sold exclusively online.

And since more and more creative professionals are already venturing out of keeping to singular pursuits, it may just be a good idea to act now in getting that passion or hobby off the ground. In this age of creativity-enabling technology, there's no reason why we should lock ourselves to a single craft. If you think you might do it well, do it. Do it well.

Tommy Ton Messenger by Tommy Ton and Club Monaco, www.clubmonaco.com Images from jakandjil.com

That Hand-held Happiness

WHEN YOUR HANDS AND FINGERS have had enough of typing, touch-typing, clicking, swiping or dragging, it's ideal to take a break and do something else with them for a change.

Pinch, pour, clutch, grab or grasp. These are my picks of the moment.

Friday at last!

Diane Von Furstenberg Lytton clutches, www.dvf.com Chocolate pot and wine cooler from The Gilbert Collection at LACMA, collectionsonline.lacma.org

That Mulberry Bush

FROM THE BRITISH LEATHER GOODS COMPANY which, after turning 40 this year, still believes in tea and cake, everlasting love and fairy tales -they said so themselves!- an old classic and a new creation in their more compact, undersized versions.

I find myself getting drawn more and more to the smart, quirky character of British design. With so much real and imagined youth existing around me at work and elsewhere, severely grown-up styles are beginning to feel, well, severe.

Cherry-toned Polly, be mine.

Mulberry Small Bayswater Satchels and Polly Push Lock in regular and small, www.mulberry.com

This Long, That Long

FROM LONG WORK DAYS to long-sleeved new knits, to long-haired CG princesses and to longing for an Alexander Wang shoulder bag in pistachio, this week has been all about length.

Savoring the Friday with a nice dinner, new sweaters and a chance to finish watching what we had begun sometime during the week.

Tangled was cute. But anyone born before the 90's would agree, they just don't make Disney princess movies the same anymore. The characters, the songs, the magic, I find, pales in comparison to the Disney superstars of our time; to Lumiere, to Flounder, to Sebastian, Abu and Mushu. To Jafar, to Genie, to Ursula, Ratcliffe and Triton. To Kiss the Girl, to Go the Distance, to Be our Guest, Colors of the Wind and Part of Your World. I could go on.

What happened Mr. Menken? Where did that 20-time award-winning magic go?

It appears as if Disney's retirement of the princess movie failed to make a memorable swan song. Nonetheless, the time has come to say goodbye. To the princes, the princesses, the royal parents and the evil queens. The celebrated songs, the soaring emotions, the funny sidekicks and the fairy godmothers in all her unforgettable reincarnations.

We will miss you. So long!

Alexander Wang shoulder bags from Style.com Accessories Index, www.style.com

That Belgian Chocolate

I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT PERTAINING TO THE CHOCOLATE COMPANY, NOR THE PAINTER with the same seemingly common Belgian surname.

I'm pertaining to the mouth-watering goodies from the Brussels-born leather goods house begun by Charles Delvaux in 1829. With rep as "the Hermès of Belgium" and an almost 200-year nod from its home country's royals -not to mention handbag price tags that go up to €8,625 apiece- the maison's wares are best left to be desired from a distance. At least by girls like me.

I accept without resentment that I will never own a Delvaux. I will just eat chocolate.


Leather goods by Delvaux, www.delvaux.com
Vintage Delvaux shoulder bag on Garance Doré, photographed by Tommy Ton, jakandjil.com

Those Lovely Things for Lovely Girls

NINA RICCI. I came to know of the brand through a bottle of Coeur Joie that my mom had when I was little. I would sneak spritzes of it when she was away. It was fresh and dainty and unlike the deep musky YSL Opium or the maturely floral Chanel No.5 or the other -womanly- scents she had.

Fresh and dainty. Coeur Joie captured what I think the French fashion house built by Italian Maria "Nina" Ricci is all about: lovely girls in the loveliest garb, wearing lovely scents and doing lovely things like sipping champagne and forgoing bridal registry and giving to charity and writing gracious notes in longhand.

Of course, to don Nina Ricci's lovely garb, the lovely girl would first have to afford them. Perhaps via inherited wealth or an affluent fiancé? And as I have neither, it's only unfortunate that I can't exactly sneak spritzes of these handbags from the F/W 2010-2011 accessories collection:






From top, Nina Ricci Accessories Collection Extract and Nina Ricci Accessories Collect for F/W 2010-2011, www.ninaricci.com