Monday à la Moss!

On my better days? I fancy myself the bookish, Midwestern, sedate version of Kate Moss. (On my worse days I think I look like the love child of Axel Rose and Janice from The Muppets, but that’s another matter entirely.) And few things bring me quite as much joy as being able to recreate Kate’s effortless cool with items from right here at shopbop.

This classic Kate look starts with gray J Brand skinnies, a white V-neck tee (I love the little pocket on LNA’s) and a studded gladiator. (Even better? These L.A.M.B. ones are on sale.) Ray-Ban Wayfarers are a hipster essential this season, and a Thea Grant pendant is the perfect combination of sweetly pretty and found-object cool. A slouchy black bag (I love Rebecca Minkoff's) stores all manner of must-haves.
(Photo courtesy of Jezebel.)

Steampunk Style

Between last week’s NYT article on steampunk trends and Christian Bale’s visit to shopbop’s hometown to film a movie, my weekend DVD rental was a no-brainer. I picked up The Prestige and soaked up every last Victorian, bustle-and-crinoline, Jules Verne-inspired moment of the film. Maybe it’s because the summer onslaught of superhero and futuristic action films has begun, but I crave the sepia-toned formality of the costumes and the smoke-and-mirrors vaudeville flair.

And I must be nearing obsession, because Victorian and steampunk styles are popping out at me from all corners of shopbop.

Gryphon’s ruffled, bustled Petti-Coat adds a brightly contrasting belt with an ornately molded buckle and Eugenia Kim’s twill Slouchy Newsboy Cap invites a jaunty angle and a sly sense of humor. Twenty8Twelve is a little more subtle with the embroidered Lottie Long Sleeve Top, reminding me of elaborate Victorian undergarments. Their Roantree Cover-up Tee tends to the other extreme, featuring a surreal boudoir graphic. Perhaps the most authentic is Thea Grant’s charmingly tarnished jewelry. Using vintage objects, Grant creates sweetly gothic necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

For fall, Rag & Bone features military jackets, Derek Lam offers structured wool overcoats, and Sari Gueron gives crinoline a fashion-forward silhouette.

Obsessions beg indulgence, so if you’ll please excuse me, I’m going to go find my aviator goggles and finish reading Journey to the Center of the Earth.