Kate Spade & C Wonder Window Display

I have only one image each of the Kate Spade and C. Wonder windows.  I thought I'd group them together since, at least in my mind, they are basically the same shops.

I'm posting this Kate Spade window display for the giant diamonds alone I also kind of like the giant jewelry boxes the mannequin is sitting on. I actually think the display is a bit too cluttered to read well though.  {If you have read any of my previous window displays you know I love the simple ones best.}

The vibrant colors of this C. Wonder store caught my eye as I passed, and the giant zebra made me smile.  There is a small pile of merchandise on the window sill below but there is enough white space around it that it isn't as distracting as in the photo above.

Is anyone else in love with the store front below?

An Outfit Post?

Not really, you'll probably never see a photo of me here unless it's an accident and I don't notice myself in a window and photoshop myself out {which I totally do}.  However, I have recently been considering clothes a lot.  I have been tired of shopping and buying see through clothes that last a few wearings and then pill and look bad.  This is kind of expected when you shop at places like Forever 21 and H&M, but in June I purchased a bracelet from Kate Spade.

It was really cute but I wore it about 6 times before someone asked me how the clasp worked.  I took it off to show her and the whole inside had little rust spots like I had acid sweat, so I was a bit embarrassed when I handed it over.

I took it back to the Kate Spade store where they proceeded to tell me that it was costume jewelry and it was gold plated and it wasn't meant to last.  Generally when I buy something that originally cost $150 {even if I bought it on a day where they were having a sale on top of a sale like I did with the bracelet} I expect it to last more than 6 wearings.  The fact that the store admitted to the poor quality and wouldn't stand behind it's product was even worse to me.  It wasn't until I threw down the totally true, "I have Forever 21 jewelry that has lasted longer than this and that only cost me $5.00" and "I also bought a wallet that has also already become ruined" that they agreed to exchange the bracelet for something else in the store.

after less than two months

What I got in exchange for the bracelet?  This makeup case that I am using for my camera {and some note cards because those are hard to screw up}.  The zippered pouch is cute on the outside, but on the inside there is over an inch of dangling zipper!  They didn't even use one that was the proper size.  I made better myself in high school. I really wish I had looked more carefully but I was just so tired of the whole situation at the time.

So now I have a bunch of other poorly made Kate Spade stuff I didn't really want and a gift card for $1.06.  Which I also don't actually want.

THIS Is Me

Design Refuge is having an October challenge to represent yourself and style in a post.  I've decided to enter {fairly last minute} with my photos.

My style is probably best described as cheerful, colorful and modern but classic without taking itself too seriously.  The Kate Spade shop on 5th Ave is the best representation I can think of.

{photos: 1 & 2 - Kate Spade; 3 & 4 - Lonny}

Kate Spade Pop-up Shop - London

I love pop-up books and cards so much that while I was in design school I tried for a while to figure out how to make a pop-up thesis presentation.  Sadly, there weren't enough hours in the semester to pull that off.

Pop-up shops are just as fun!  Kate Spade has recently opened a pop-up shop in London and it's as well-designed and cheerful as their New York shops.  I don't have plans to visit London in the next few weeks but, luckily, they have posted some photos of the space those of us on this side of the pond can have a look too.

{kate spade}

{Racked National}

{kate spade}

{Racked National}

{kate spade}

Rumor has it everything in the shop is for sale!

New Lonny

There's a new Lonny Magazine issue out online.  I saw it on my facebook page early yesterday morning, got excited about it and then promptly forgot about it.

One of my favorite rooms was this living room.  I'm not sure I would have been drawn to it as much without the silly moose head on the wall.  Without it the room might take itself too seriously - it would still be a beautiful room, just a very serious one.

I enjoyed the article on Kate Spade's Deborah Lloyd country house.  For me, designing windows for Kate Spade would be a dream job.  My favorite detail found in a couple of her rooms were the grosgrain ribbon drapery ties.  They are my favorite way to hold back curtains when you want something that is both inexpensive and informal.

{photos: Lonny Mag}