Tuesday, June 09, 2009

LETTERS FROM AMERICA...

Hello, hello. I have no excuses for my lack of posts in the last week, none at all. However, I have been getting very friendly with the postman, who either calls me "love" or "mate", and somehow coming from him I don't mind it at all. Maybe because he is delivering all kinds of goodies from the US of A via Internetland.

I was very lucky to actually kind of WIN something for the first time in my life. If you have not been following Erica's Laws of General Economy then may I ask why not? Do you not want a chance to help people with impeccable taste clear their wardrobes of barely worn unwanted Mayle, Isabel Marant, Marc Jacobs etc? Or maybe you want a much nicer way of clearing your gently worn, lovely things than ebay. Go there now (after you've finished reading this post of course) although if you're outside the US check listings to make sure international shipping is ok before commenting. I was very very happy to be picked out of the hat and receive this Steven Alan top, which I've been wearing all the time and kept meaning to take a photo of myself in and then post, but because I hate taking my photo I haven't got round to it yet. Anyway I caught Keira Knightley checking the top out when I walked past her in Marylebone (and yes she did that annoying pouty lip thing as soon as she clocked that I'd seen her. Funny girl - looks perfectly normal and lovely until she realises someone is looking at her, then she goes all snooty/pouty.)


I also caved in and ordered some Saltwater sandals - although the people that make them, rather quaintly don't appear to get the whole concept of "outside of the USA" and I couldn't find anywhere that would ship internationally without me handing over my first born. But I managed to persuade a kind friend in the US (thanks R!) to forward them to me. And do you know what? Every time I wear them in London people come rushing up to ask where they're from. At least five times a day. Friends, family, complete strangers (I would estimate 1% of those people who may or may not be acquaintances are trying to be snidey, but I have been used to that for most of my life and know that those are the self same people who've just bought their first pair of gladiators and will be desperately trying to get their hands on a a pair of Saltwater sandals next year, or maybe the year after.)

I love them so much - even though between those and my Chloe ones, which are basically a poshed up copy of Saltwaters, I don't really need another pair, I think I might put in another order for a few pairs in different colours and get some for friends as well. So if anyone in the UK wants some just comment and I'll add you to the order.

LASTLY, I succumbed as always to Wiksten mania. It had always frustrated me that I had never been able to get my hands on any of Jenny's wares. So when her last shop update happened I was there, clicky finger at the ready. I bypassed the Tova, knowing it would go within a fraction of a second. Somehow through my random clicking I bought a skirt, then realised it was a US size 10. I looked at the size chart and thought it looks like Wiksten comes up quite small, maybe I could wear it more on the hips anyway. The skirt arrived, beautifully packaged, beautifully made and...two sizes too big and very definitely wanting to be worn on the waist! I can take it in, though I also now realise that this is the same skirt that Jenny published the pattern of in Stitch magazine, so I may as well have made it myself in the first place! My only consolation is that I don't think you can get Stitch magazine here and the bamboo fabric and the way it's constructed is lovely. I will try and alter it very, very neatly, so as not to destroy Jenny's handiwork.

{photo: my Saltwaters on the beach - I wore them in the sea and they were fine}

10 comments:

famapa said...

I've been thinking about getting some saltwaters but I really need to know; are they comfy? and I mean birkenstock comfy, walk all day without the feet hurting comfy or are they as flat as they look? I really want to get some sandals with a back strap and find the birks to be comfy but hideous looking (if I could afford it I would get some philip lim ones but I am not, so no dice). let me know and I might tag on to your order :0)

Claire said...

they are really comfy, though if I literally walk around all day I would say they're not quite up to birk's foot moulding/shock absorbing whatever as they are totally flat and not as thick soled so your feet do get a bit tired. Also they are really wide but then again I have weirdly narrow feet! but let me know if you do want some, they are lovely - I like mine more than my Chloe ones!

Fi said...

Oh my god I want some and have never found anywhere to send them to me and I must have them! Please please please add me to your order! My email is fiona@superfiona.co.uk - if you do place an order I am after navy blue in a UK6 (well, 5.5 but whatever, 6......) which is what, US7?

I can reciprocate with anything at all you want from Devon! (Err.. Clotted cream? Scone?)

Someone should definitely go into business importing Saltwaters, they are just such wonderful sandals!

xxxx

erica said...

claire, thanks for the blog shout out! i have a few more goodies waiting to be listed, possibly an acne paperbag waist skirt that has been sulking because i never wear it...sigh.

ah, i was just thinking about ordering a pair of saltwaters in navy or red! if you ever need someone else in the States to ship a pair, just let me know.

and i love that skirt, jenny does impeccable work. i have a tova shirt and still marvel at the beautiful stitching.

charlotte said...

we have the same saltwaters! and i love them so also. although i will say that after a day walking around in them my heels do hurt. i was thinking of putting one of those 'party feet' gel sticky things in to see if it helps but maybe that's a bit 'tom cruise lifts in my shoes'?

famapa said...

they're so nice but I too have seriously narrow feet and I really need super comfy ones this summer as I'll be carrying a bit of excess weight ;0)

I'll look into them next time I go to the states, it'd be good to try them on!

Siru said...

Great to hear of you again.

juliet xxx

Claire said...

Fi - ok you're on the list and I'll work out your size, they're not normal US sizes - I'll let you know when I do it...

erica - thank you! I'm thinking about a red pair next, though looks like I need to set up a forwarding account somewhere as I'm always trying to order stuff from the US and failing.

lottie - do you have navy ones?? remind me to check what shoes you're wearing before we next meet up! it's like the Toast wristwarmers mark II. they say if you get the sandals wet when wearing them they mold more to your feet - I tried it but it was mostly the novelty of wearing shoes in the sea I liked...

famapa - oh yes! well in your case I would say they'd be fine but not for serious schlepping which you shouldn't be doing in your condition anyway young lady!

juliet - thank you!

Granny Obsequey said...

Your blog is so wonderful !
xxx Granny

RD said...

I love the mail order days of summer... I used to love them even more when I had a doorman, but still... xoxo BB