Animal Luxury: Discoveries of Fur, Horn, Leather, and Feather

Animal Luxury by creatureofdesign featuring travel handbags

Wearing a wool sweater or carrying around a leather bag can become so routine that we forget we are in tactile contact with an animal element. The above items reverse that by bringing the organic creature to the forefront in such a way that is impossible to ignore. Counter-clockwise from top left:

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Ruma horn bangle by Kora - Made in Kenya from recycled Ankole cow horn, these bracelets glow with an inner luminosity. The brass and leather fittings make these bangles earthy enough to wear in wintertime, preferably with an oversized cream-colored sweater that has the slouchy sleeves pushed up.

Wool "mathematics hat" by Dries Van Noten - The frayed fleecy yarns give this structured hat such an eye-catching fluffy look that you are instantly reminded you are wearing wool (alpaca/merino blend). Tone this hat down by putting on a minimalist collarless black wool long coat.

Porcupine quill bib by K/LLER COLLECTION - This necklace made from brass quills and actual porcupine quills is rugged drama. Wear it under a leather biker jacket.

Stingray cufflinks by Collette Ishiyama - I didn't know I needed cufflinks until I saw this bronze and textured stingray leather version. I would clip them onto my chambray buttondown and push the sleeves slightly up my forearms; or I'd just stick them onto the collar.

Large black haircalf portfolio by Hare+Hart - The bold strip of black haircalf instantly elevates this leather portfolio into the style stratosphere.

Victorian feather mink fur button bootie by Fendi - A prim silhouette with outrageous embellishment, this bootie manages to hit on the leather, fur, and feather fronts simultaneously. Style it with slim dark jeans and an ivory turtleneck sweater.

Chieko deer clutch by Proenza Schouler - If you're feeling particularly daring, pair this brilliantly patterned deer fur clutch with the Fendi booties.

Flux fur jacket by Helmut Lang - Colored fur trim can be obnoxious sometimes, like yelling, "Look at me! I'm wearing fur!" Black fur on black leather, conversely, draws the eye and the hand to textures.

Baseball sweater with mink by Reed Krakoff - Another tone-on-tone design with fur. This sweater is lusciously slouchy, and the mink sleeves are just playful enough for a lazy weekend in the city.

And finally, in the center, goat fur "frozen scarf" by Ann Demeulemeester - Although made of goat fur, this scarf is so airy it looks as if it could have been woven from feathers. The gray and brown hues evoke winter perfectly.

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Which is your favorite? Do you have any "wild kingdom" additions to this collection? Is anyone going to sic PETA on me? I was a vegetarian for six years. Go figure.

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Design Gem: Jacob Albee Meteorite Collection

Last week, I was holiday shopping around downtown Frederick and ducked into McGuire Gallery. There I found jewelry made by Jacob Albee from precious metals and Gideon meteorite. The sleek, polished lines interspersed with the striations of raw meteorite captivated me.

The earrings are especially innovative. The meteorite is sliced into fan shapes, then attached to loops of gold. One end of the loop hinges outward so that it can be worn as a hoop earring.

This collection is titled "Heaven and Earth." Most apropos.

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Perfect Pairing: Collette Ishiyama Stingray Necklace and IMAGO-A Cowhide Bag

I have made no secret of my love for Of a Kind and their unique designer editions accompanied by thoughtful behind-the-scenes profiles. Today I woke up to find that the Alumni Sunday's edition was the Stingray Trillion Necklace by Collette Ishiyama.

Immediately, I was all over this for two reasons: 1.) It's gorgeous, with its sleek brass lines and the textural contrast of the black stingray patch, and 2.) It goes perfectly with Thursday's edition, which I already had ordered. The Vortex Bag by IMAGO-A had grabbed me with its strong architectural treatment of semi-glazed cowhide.

Doesn't one echo the other so well? I can't wait to try out the pairing in person.

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Of a Kind Sale, and Riding Clutch by Fleabags

I love shopping online, and Of a Kind makes it a true pleasure. To celebrate Independence Day, they're offering 25% off all editions through 7/8 with the coupon code JULY4THEWIN. I featured this site a year ago, and since then they've only been cranking out more goodness.

My most recent acquisition has been the Riding Clutch by Fleabags.

Made in the USA from canvas and vegetable-tanned leather that is supposed to patina with time, this slim, casual clutch fits an iPad (or a few reading and writing materials) perfectly. I've fallen in love with the idea of a blank canvas of a bag that goes perfectly with denim.

Every Of a Kind package is a tactile and aesthetic experience. Enclosed with each item is an autographed luggage tag specifying edition information and number.

My favorite part about Of a Kind, however, is their "Meet the Designer" bios and "Behind the Scenes" features that give us an intimate view of the person and process behind the item. Even better, Of a Kind has become a gateway allowing me to follow new designers that I probably wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise. For instance, I now am dreaming of Fleabags' The Original Flea: White.

I've already taken advantage of the sale to order two pieces of jewelry, one delicate and one tough:

Ero Ring by Silva/Bradshaw

Mercury Collar by LESS

What would you choose? Which editions on the site catch your eye? Share what you think of the concept behind Of a Kind.

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Seventies Super Suede Sweater

When I saw this vintage sweater in Venus on the Half Shell, I flipped out. It's a SUEDE SWEATER. Talk about seventies goodness.

Sweater: vintage. Pants: AG Jeans. Shoes: J. Crew.

Close up, the sweater turns out to be diamond-shaped panels of suede woven together.

All the suede gives this sweater a substantial weight and heft. The dolman sleeves are enveloping.

Such a heavy sweater needs heavy jewelry as counterbalance. The gold-plated cuff is from Free People, while the necklace is from Shopbop.

This outfit is all about heavy textures and earthy colors. These calf hair driving moccasins are a good complement.

These photos actually were taken last winter; I can't believe I've sat on this outfit for so long. It's a fabulous twist on seventies style. Long live suede.

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Half Moon Over Circle Ring

I have a thing for sculptural jewelry, and sometimes the coolest pieces are right in my own backyard.

This is a handmade metal and glass ring I found at The Muse, a hip* local artists' boutique on Market Street in downtown Frederick. The ring caught my eye for being industrial and graceful at the same time. It has a wonderful elongating effect on the hand.

These photos were taken a year ago, before I discovered the joy of regular manicures, hence the terrible state of my nails. (Lifelong chronic nail-biter. Nail polish is my beauty and my sanity.) The leather wristband is also from the shop, and it's made from recycled leather. Wait till I show you the shop's handmade fountain pens.

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*I really try not to use that word.

All In an Hour's Work

You know what's a rush? Scoring at a steep discount the very last unit of each of the beauties below, and all in under one hour:

Mixed media fringe bib necklace by DANNIJO from Net-a-Porter.

Suede ankle boots by Ann Demeulemeester from Saks.

And the piece de resistance:

Lasercut satin and leather booties by Nicholas Kirkwood from Barneys.

Between this and Black Friday, I foresee many Shoe Porn posts in the near future.

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Depression Era Inspiration

I got called Annie Oakley today. I also received a dozen compliments. And someone else saw influence from the '30s. A successful outfit, I would say.

Skirt: L.A.M.B. Shirt: J. Crew. Necklace: DANNIJO. Shoes: Schuler & Sons (via Anthropologie).

The genesis of this getup was my desire to put my Black Friday steals to use, in particular this wool twill skirt by L.A.M.B. The fabric is of a substantial weight, and as you stride the folds snap and billow out about your toes. Yes, you will trip occasionally.

When in doubt about what to wear to work, I go with an Oxford shirt. French blue is a color I love, and it complements camel perfectly (as evidenced by this Dior nail polish post). One good way to top off a shirt with a collar is a chunky necklace that rests on your collarbone.

Called the Theodora Necklace.

Looking at my shoes, I can understand why some would think I had stepped straight off the set of a western. These are leather booties by Schuler & Sons, a quality company based out of Philadelphia that handcrafts its products.

Note the cute plaid hem.

This skirt is so lovely, let's take a few more shots:

The cut is so flattering to my proportions. I already am small-waisted and relatively long-legged, and this skirt intensifies both aspects. The A-line shape also creates an illusion of curves (my shoulders actually are wider than my hips). I could do a more modern and casual look by pairing the skirt with a cropped sweater.

I haven't been able to take decent swatch photos yet, but I'm wearing NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in 413 Bleecker. A limited edition, it's described as "warm rose brown," and to my eyes it's a funky rust color. The matte texture makes it an edgy yet work-appropriate lipstick, and it fades to a very attractive, natural-looking stain. 413 Bleecker is the perfect lip color for this outfit.

I need to go find a Grapes of Wrath stage production now.

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Black Friday Debriefing

Two or three decades from now, Black Friday is going to be enshrined as a federal holiday and recorded on calendars. Like any good American consumer, I celebrated yesterday by shopping incredible deals. My purchases were limited to online, however: why put up with lines and shoving people?

From Shopbop's BIGEVENT discount, I picked up several major pieces that I've had my eye on for a while:

Proquo Felora Pants by Theyskens' Theory - High-waisted, wide-leg pleated tweed pants in dark green.

A Line Maxi Skirt by L.A.M.B. - Long wool twill skirt in camel.

Theodora Necklace by DANNIJO - Brass curb-chain necklace made with beads and natural stones.

Hollei Pendant Necklace by DANNIJO - Brass snake-chain necklace with Swarovski crystals and a pendant locket.

I've also been patiently counting down the days to Net-a-Porter's annual massive designer sale. As soon as it rolled online yesterday, I jumped on the site and scooped up two fabulous pairs of shoes:

Studded calf hair kitten-heel sandals by Valentino. For a long time I've wanted to acquire a pair in this popular style, and the calf hair pattern is a gorgeous textural contrast to the taupe leather straps and brass studs. I can't wait to wear these with dark ankle jeans.

Then I also got cutout suede and leather sandals by Burak Uyan. I've already featured this new shoe designer, and I'm excited to add a second pair to my collection.

In addition to the distinctive design, what appealed to me was how they look on the model. There's something about the ankle area that I'm just crazy about.

Shoe Porn posts coming! Both styles have sold out entirely already, so I'm glad I struck while the iron was hot. Shoes sell out fast in Net-a-Porter's sales. So do bags, and I had to leave behind this striped python and velvet wallet by Bottega Veneta.

I would've loved to carry it around as a clutch, but I had to make choices. I do still have my eye on the Lislia oxidized multi-strand brass necklace by DANNIJO.

For this Black Friday, I went big. Finally, and this does not qualify as a Black Friday deal, but I just found out about it yesterday and had to immediately order it.

Deborah Lippmann Edge of Glory 3D Holographic Nail Lacquer, made for Gaga's Workshop. Aaah!

Available exclusively at Barneys, this kit creates an absolutely phenomenal look. Valentine Kisses has a whole series of amazing swatches. On the nails, the polish appears black with flecks of intense blue, amber, and green: it evokes the stained glass I have seen in European cathedrals. I ordered the complimentary gift wrap, and actually am thinking about simply waiting until Christmas to open it.

Goodness. Now I need a shopping detox. The Antiquite Poupee Kaleidoscope Eye Kit by Dustin for Le Metier de Beaute is also on its way in the mail. Too damn many boxes.

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