Color Bloc

Color Bloc is an oldie but a goodie. It's an oldie for me, I mean, as I got it in 2000, which means that it's 30+ years younger than Sky Flower, which joined my collection in August.

I was in Paris, and usually French fashion leaves me cold—too much black, too much conformity—but Color Bloc had this kicky theme that somehow managed to combine my sense of style with Parisian restraint.

And that may be the only time I've used the word "restraint" when referring to my sartorial choices. Unfortunately the other aspect of Color Bloc that made me fall in love isn't something that can be captured in pictures.

The fabric is so soft! There's no label, so I don't know exactly what it is—probably some kind of acrylic blend or something equally cheap—but the way it's been processed makes it smooth and silky.

I didn't buy a lot of clothes that semester, mostly because I didn't love them.

Also, I'm fairly certain that most of my disposable income went to red wine.

But I do remember a chic black 3/4-length jacket that zipped in both directions, and a goofy hat with silver threads that I got for 6 francs at a flea market.

I wear Color Bloc every once in a while, but it's too dressy for everyday wear, and not dressy enough for anything else, at least the way I do dressy.

I considered making it a giveaway, but every so often I like to go into my closet and stroke it.

THE DRESS, people. I like to stroke THE DRESS.



All photos by Claire Loeb!