I don’t really shop much at JCrew, usually most of their offerings just don’t spark THAT much interest for me. Sometimes I see something, but not alot. But the catalog and recent spring stuff got my attention for one reason; the fact that we get to see a fashion icon that is not 20 years old! JCrew featured Lauren Hutton prominently thruout the recent catalogs and I applaud their choice for many reasons. Not to mention she gives me hope that I too can age gracefully.

Fab at 65!

Ok, so here’s the usual blog-pology for not updating. Not that I am overrun w/readers (ha!) but this was to be something I would try to keep up on. There’s been LOTS of changes at the CovetRanch so bear with us here. We will be back!

Not that I NEED one, but a fun little bag in a fresh spring/summer color would be nice to have around. I have mused before on a getting a bright colored leather one, and even had a very nice pink leather bag (on sale for $50!) in my hand at Anthro, but it I just didn’t feel it and put it back. I also have written about ‘classics’ and you must admit L.L. Bean is one. I never really buy their stuff, but I was surprised to see they have a fun little custom program for their tried and true ‘Boat and Tote’ bag. You have a choice of size, body, handle, bottom and pocket color and you can add an outside pocket. You can even customize the handle length to create an over the shoulder bag! So you could customize one that would steer clear of the preppy overload, if that’s your thing. All in their heavy duty canvas that would last quite a while. The prices are amazingly affordable too. Now I am just overwhelmed by the choices….

I have been trying to clean out my personal closet,  and as this means literally years and years of vintage collecting, my ‘what to keep and what to get rid of rules’ are centered around ‘will you have this forever and is it amazing’, otherwise I would never get rid of a single darn thing.

Case in point; I am not normally driven by designer labels. My feeling is if an item is well made it will stand the test of time. I get the obsession with new designer stuff, I am just not into it myself that much. However, there is some fun in the juxtaposition of high/low dressing - you know, your thrift store sweater worn with your Hermes scarf. My personal take is that I want the classic vintage version of whatever that designer thing is. Hence, I must say I know I scored when I unearthed this real Gucci logo satchel bag from about the 70s or so.  (I’ll never tell where) If you are gonna have one, then get the iconic version, right? This logo lovely needed some serious TLC, and I spent real time cleaning and polishing it and if the truth be told it is a teensy bit long in the tooth if you got real picky about it, but I don’t mind that touch of ‘ruined elegance’ it gives. I did find online this company in NY that restores these bags, and at some point I might send in mine to get her up to speed, but I’ll have to save up for the investment. Until I do that, it’s kinda of fun to wear this w/my Converse and vintage redlines, or when I had it downtown and walked thru the Gucci section @ Nordstrom where I was immediately accosted and interrogated about the bag. It seems Gucci itself knows a good thing and is reissuing the logo print this season - they know the classics like I am talking ’bout. … I laughed when they offered me the matching reissue wallet to this bag for a mere $425.00 to go with my bag that cost me the price of teriyaki for 2. And mine’s the original.

So, yes I Covet my own bag… Do you have any of these ‘classics’ you Covet?

It seems I cannot let this shoes style go. Oxfords. These have a bit of the steampunk, and the color just got me.  Somehow the stitching and subtle brass studs temper the fab leather tasseled laces so they don’t look too fussy. And of course I can walk all day in them - that’s the point people…and it goes w/o saying they are currently on sale.

Aerosoles BookMark Oxfords

Aerosoles Bookmark Oxfords

Ok, so I have alot of purses. A LOT. In fact, the dh said to me just last week when I picked one up in a shop just to look at it, ‘No more bags!’. Now when the man notices you have too many, that’s not a good sign. However, in my defense, I have acquired almost all of them thrifting, so it just kinda happened over time. I am pondering purging a few mediocres for one nice quality leather satchel style. These have caught my eye, and I think I want a ‘different’ color - like a rich olive green or better yet, mustard yellow ! We’ll see….

Olive Leaf Bag | Anthropologie

Get-Up-And-Go-Bag | Anthropologie

For some reason I am drawn to anything with a feather motif, especially peacock feathers. I love the iridescence, the soft shape - can’t really tell why I love them but I have for years. Most ‘motif’ clothing, however, smacks of puffy paint sweatshirts with kitties and bunnies to me but this cotton sequin tee from Tar-jay really looks pretty good in person, its subdued but still has some spark. The sizing, however, is a joke - I tried them on and if I get one, it would have to be in an XL, seriously. I put this on under a wine colored long thin cardigan and it looked much richer than you would expect.

Feather T | Target $12.99

So, its been a blizzard here now for days, and essentially the only way to get anything or go anywhere is to bundle up to a ridiculous degree and literally drag back your necessities on a sled behind you. I kid you not. However, intrepid CovetGirl has had experience with this sort of thing living for years in Alaska, where they do not mess around with the snow and ice and I laugh in the face of an arctic blast! (Ok, so I mutter and complain under my scarf into the cold as I trudge…)

In any event, its an excuse to break out some of the fun winter stuff I have and make people stare and snicker at me…My inspiration:

(And yes, I know its real fur they are wearing above, ahem - let’s just not go there, OK?)

My version: My hat is shearling, so I was toasty warm! (excuse the cell phone camera, you get the idea.)

Me = Russian Princess. Coat & hat, thrifted

Hi Coveters…

As everyone during this time of year, we’ve been busy at the CovetRanch with the holidays, listing and general mayhem. However, we did want to let everyone know that we will be (hopefully!!!) putting up a new cart on our CovetVintage.com webshoppe! This one will have some new features on the back end for us, to make things easier and faster to put up new vintage goodies for you to peruse! Stay tuned, and until then - Peace!

A couple of quick pics (please excuse the sizing issues) of new vintage pretties just added to the CovetVintage.com webshoppe…

Vintage Wool Swing Cape Coat | CovetVintage.com

Back of Vintage Wool Swing Cape Coat | CovetVintage.com

Vintage Tooled Leather Crossbody Bag| CovetVintage.com