Immaterial

Whoa there, three-hundred-and-twenty-eight dollar hammer pants. We love you. We love you because you sold out all summer from the various designers that decided to make you and now, in the wee hours of fall, you've delivered from a designer we trust and at a price we can afford. We promise we will try not to cheat on you.

These slouchy brushed twill trousers will probably sell out in a week or two, unless, because it's Shopbop, they miraculously sit there for a month. But seriously, we're guessing fashionistas worldwide have caught onto this trend by now. Judging by the fit on the model, these trousers run big. She is probably wearing a zero but, even though they are meant to billow, they still look kind of gigantic on her (the waist should be tighter, no?). So, ladies, that means if you wear a size 26 jean (and not a 24) you should probably still by the size zero, and so on. Oh, just when we thought we were going to die from fashion-starvation, we find these goodies. Looks like we'll survive August after all.

One of the first signs that fall is approaching is when you walk into a boutique, or shop online, and you're up to your ears in cardigans. You know the drill, "Oh hmm, it's too early to buy fall clothing but I bet I could cozy up to this on 'cool evenings'"--it's a rationalization we all make. That said, some of the Chloe pre-fall goodies have delivered and one striped cardigan has us thinking that we should blast the AC (not very eco-friendly, we know) and brew up some earl grey for the occasion. Net-a-Porter, always the wordsmith, peddled it like this: "Wear this relaxed knit with a wide belt for your casual weekend look.". Ah ha, seems they get the pre-fall thought process just fine (Go on, project your best self!). We don't know about you guys but our 'casual weekend look' in this heat consists of a one piece swimsuit, shorts, and sandals--if that. Nevertheless, we're tempted.

We tried these puppies on yesterday and damn if we didn't near miss our appointment for the sake of waiting in the checkout line. Oh, Intermix, we will be back. Yes, Intermix looks like Lucky magazine exploded all over some harmless brick and mortar, but we have to give it to their buyers. Sometimes, the best things in life...are at Intermix. These Sergio Rossi Gladiator Elastic Strap Sandals are the perfect late summer-early fall stacked sandal. We nearly had to sit down and ask for a glass of water at the thought of them paired with a crisp, skinny pair of jeans. What we like about them is that the khaki and brown color combination, the somewhat conservative heel structure, and the usage of elastic make it all seem a bit Brooks Brothers but, you know, a gladiator is a gladiator and so it's a nice play between 'balthazaar frequenting chicster' and 'cape cod dwelling tennis player'. It's conservative and fashion forward, which is essentially what Sergio Rossi does best. Sigh, the fact that such things can be had for less than it costs to drink in New York for the weekend means that there is justice in the fashion world. Okay, we kid (but we do love the shoes).

Lyell's raw high-waisted denim shorts will change all that. We'll be the first to admit, at this stage in the game, these shorts are hard to come by. They're definitely sold out at the Lyell shop in New York. We spotted a size 4 in Williamsburg the other day, Satine has a size 8, and the rest, chicsters, is a matter of tracking them down. There's got to be a couple of size runs left in the world and we'll tell you right now--these shorts are the most flattering pair we've found, they're well worth the fight. Even hiked up way-above your belly button the inseam allows for coverage on your thighs (just say no to hot shorts) and the dark raw denim also make for a slimming silhouette. This makes sense because, as we know, a Lyell sort of girl is one who weighs just enough to be called 'slim' but not so little that she has to skip desert (i.e. many of us). Fletcher has used this same denim in a pair of wide leg jeans we've yet to road-test but, judging by similarities, we're guessing they're a thumbs up as well. Ladies, go get those last pairs. You can wear them on the Fourth of July. You can say you did it for America.

We're stunned at the appearance of Fall and Pre-Fall merchandise, but alas, thus is the pattern of fashion. Every season, like every one else, we scratch our heads and look at our watches, like, 'Hmm...already?'. The answer is always, 'Yes, already'. That said, these flannel pumps by Louboutin feel appropriately timed. If we're going to wrap our minds around shopping for anything remotely cold weather-appropriate in the middle of a New York City heat wave, it's going to be the basics. What we mean when we say basic, especially when it costs near a thousand dollars, is classic. These pumps are surely not the sort of shoes you bring home and regret having acquired. They would smashing with skinny denim, with pencil skirts, with those colored tights we saw from Proenza and the like. They would, in other words, be a wise investment and one that can surely sit in your closet for a few months without making you all sore that you can't wear them just yet. Some things are worth buying now and, at the same time, worth the wait.

Perhaps it's the denim range Lanvin is designing for Acne that has us excited about the brand's Spring offerings all over again. Namely, the A-Pant in Blu. After all, the Lanvin for Acne pieces are comprised of deep blue denim not as bright as this one, but certainly as rich. When we saw the pair in a vibrant OAK editorial we nearly ran to the boutique (Alas, e-commerce! Ah, the marvel of the modern world.) to grab a pair. The A-Pant by Acne is a simple mid-high rise jean that flares slightly at the bottom. The look is 'sailor pant' through and through and the color, in this case, is a crisp cobalt that would enliven just about any blouse in your closet (you'll also find the A-Pant in Lilac and a few classic denim washes). We just can't pass up ultra blue denim, especially when it comes in this 1970's inspired silhouette. Check out our current Acne picks, including those illustrious blu jeans, below.

This weekend we popped into Opening Ceremony and picked up a pair of Grey Ant High Waist Belted Slacks that nearly blew all of our other trousers out of the water. That said, a Coutorture Immaterial is borne. These trousers rightly fit in with our new fashion kick of the moment, namely, sophisticated clothing that enhances ones curves. The high waist silhouette always did this for us but with new Herve Leger-type frocks also making a huge comeback, we're going to apply the rule to our entire wardrobe. These trousers come even higher than mid waist (hello, 11 inch rise) and turn wide leg (no, they do not flare) by the bottom. A good pair of trousers never hurt anyone and we're going to say that this pair is a choice we wholeheartedly endorse. For more on women looking like women, check out our other super high waist picks below, and, Alexander McQueen's menswear collection which featured a few bombshell looks for the gals.