Sea of Shoes

Please join us Thursday night!

 

Join my mom and me Thursday, December 10th at the Guess by Marciano store in the Dallas Galleria from 6:30-8:30 for a cocktail reception and special shopping event.  Ticket purchases will allow a 20% discount for the evening, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Palliative Care Program at Cook Children's Medical Center.  For information call--972-385-3184.

I will note that there has been a small misprint on the invitation: my mother has her own blog and Sea of Shoes is my blog! It happens a lot :)

Really looking forward to meeting some readers!
 

xo Jane

Winter weekend

 

I am really, really, really obsessed with these studded 'mohawk' Pradas I brought home from Paris. I was dying for a pair of the studded fringed Pradas from  Fall 09 but when I went with my mom to the Prada boutique in Galleries Lafayettte in Paris, we were told that most of the crazier shoes didn't go into production. They offered to round up some of the shoes that had been used on the runway and show them to us on Saturday. Long story short, these shoes were sitting on the display shelf all along and I ended up liking them best of all. My dad delivered them to me during preparations for the Crillon ball (thanks dad!) and these shoes were glued to my feet up until the second I had to switch them out for the Chanel platforms that went with my gown. And after the ball they went dancing at L'Arc and Montana. 

I loved the Prada heels with the fringe around the ankle, but I think I like this variation even better. I think this shoe really needed the platform to balance out the proportion of the mohawk. 

I still can't stop looking at them. They look awesome with tartan knee socks :)

 

The bag is Burberry, and it is the bag of my dreams, and thats saying something because I've never really been a bag person! I have two 'major' bags: a ratty suede tie-dyed Miu Miu with voodoo dolls and pen marks all over it, a patched nylon and leather Prada 'dinosaur' bag. If I'm not carrying these, I'm stealing my moms bags or stuffing my phone, cash, and chapstick in my pockets. 

When I saw this Burberry marked down like *crazy* at a Neimans Last Call sale, I couldn't believe my eyes. How did someone not get this bag before I did?! Lucky me, I guess. This could be the bag that turns me into a bag girl.

Took some pictures of my boyfriend wearing his N.HOOLYWOOD cape this weekend...so cool!!

 

 

I ordered these BCBG ponyhair wedges a week before I left for Paris and they were here waiting for me when I got back...been switching between these and my Pradas all week!

An Ivan Grundahl wrap belt I stole from my mom over a thrifted 80s dress...

 See ya later!

31 Rue Cambon

On our second day in Paris last week, I went for my second fitting at Chanel. We had to make sure the dress fit again before the ball!

I went for my first fitting in September...as excited as I was, I can't say I wasn't a little anxious. Being fitted in the haute couture studio at Chanel could be a potentially intimidating experience...but everyone I met was so warm and kind. I imagined being fitted for a couture gown might be somewhat ceremonial but the experience was very relaxed. and all the women at Chanel are so beautiful!

It was thrilling to put my dress on again. When I saw it, I knew it was the one I wanted to wear to the ball. It weighs a ton and the corset it very snug. Once I saw the other debutantes' dresses though, I realized that mine was relatively comfortable, even though it was very difficult to sit in. Here is the runway picture.

 

 

Here I am with my mom and my sister, and Sanaz at my fitting! Sanaz is so stylish!

  

The best part of my fitting was that afterwards, Sanaz gave us a tour of Coco Chanel's apartment upstairs. I can't believe I was there! 

What an incredible life she lead. It was so fascinating to hear some of the stories that went along with some of the objects in her apartment-everything had such sentimental value. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so happy I was able to take pictures to share on Sea of Shoes!

It was such an honor to be chosen by Chanel to be dressed for the ball. I am so in love with my gown. If I could, I would re-live my fittings a million times!

Pictures from the night of the Ball

More behind the scenes pictures later...I'm still catching up on work!

Now that I'm back in Texas it seems like the Crillon Ball was two years ago, not two days ago. What a magical night.

 

   

 

 

The invitation to the Crillon ball was illustrated by Alber Elbaz!

Quick post before I fly home

Hi guys, just wanted to post a very quick note before I fly back.

The Ball last night was incredible-I'm still in a daze, but all of the girls looked so beautiful and the ball itself was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am so honored to have been there and so thankful to have met so many wonderful people.

But I must admit that I am very, very sad to say goodbye to my dress.

This week was non-stop-I am achey and exhausted. Wearing haute couture should be an Olympic sport. I feel like I've had more pictures of myself taken this week than I have in my entire life. Of course, part of the reason I'm so tired is because the experience was so exhilarating. 

Before I sign off and get some much needed sleep I'd like to share a few iPhone snaps of the night..I'm afraid my camera card reader has stopped working and I don't have many of my own photos.

 

The debutantes waiting before the first waltz...

I snuck into my sister and my moms room before they got ready for the ball..

 

This is me being presented-escorted by my wonderful cavalier Octavian Donnelly. I was a little nervous because I was the first debutante to be presented..doesn't having a last name that begins with 'A' suck? But Octavian was so confident and my nerves immediately disappeared when we started making our way through the rooms.

 

Here is a picture snapped by Naomi from Elle Girl Japan during the final walk-though with all the girls last night. Naomi came with her daughter Maya and they both looked stunning! Here is a cute polaroid Naomi sent me of Maya and me..isn't she gorgeous?

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Here are some pictures I managed to save before my technical difficulties began...the view from the balcony of the Hotel de Crillon.

I will have a lot more pictures up soon. 

This week was so surreal-I am so happy I was part of the ball. 

TTYS,

xo Jane