Thursday, December 9, 2010

Sequins Lead to Faded Grey Memories

After I donned that J.Crew drapey sequin piece of magic (seen here) it was over for me.  Of course when I went to put on the tank style version it had a big ol' series of sequins missing from it.  I cannot be held responsible for this negligent purchase:  I was under the spell of sequined madness during the in-store experience.  Thankfully the kind store folk were able to exchange the lovely tank and the delay on shipping was only one month of sheer torture.

For that entire month I envisioned it, for some strange reason, with grey (and bell bottoms, but that's a different post for a different time).  Maybe because grey and pink are best friends.  Maybe because grey makes things less girly.  Or maybe because pink breaks the black and grey addiction that plagues me whenever it gets cold.  Whatever the case, as I scanned the closet I came face to face with a Martin+Osa garment bag housing my last big purchase last winter before AE announced they were pulling the plug on the division.  I took one look and realized it was time to let present meet tragic past - and so the introductions began.

Martin+Osa (RIP)-Wool Moto Jacket, JCrew-Sequined Tank, Foley+Corinna-Mid-City Tote
Can you feel the sparks going off?
Martin+Osa (RIP) Grey Skinny Denim, Joie Refugee Boot (also seen here and here)
Expect the unexpected
  From the side you'd never expect the tank...you would be
be too caught up loving the perfect grey denim 
or the fab shape of the jacket.
Maybe even both.
What on earth was American Eagle thinking when they dissolved Martin+Osa??
 But then I'd turn around to check if there was any time
left on my metre and you'd see the shimmer beneath the jacket.
 And we'd strike up a conversation around grey and muted
shades of pink and the elusive M+O logo on the jacket's zipper.
I would have to break the news that M+O is no more, and 
you would feel horrible.  We would commiserate about being up the 
creek without a paddle not knowing quite where
to finish start our Christmas shopping seeing as a LOT of it
had been done there.  Not to mention all the leather coats
and boots we're being robbed of.  And cashmere.  
And candles. 

Sequins to the rescue! 
But we'd both walk away wondering what might have been if some angel investor had saved the division.

As kooky as this tale is, it is truly how I feel about Martin + Osa.  It was a place you could find everything.  I was all hopped up to write this post about the sequined tank (that I fully intend to try to wear after the holidays, but is that feasible?), but then when I pulled the jacket out of the garment bag and put the jeans on with it - suddenly it was an ode to M+O. I mean I shopped there so much that when my main store was closing they called me to come and get first dibs on a set of custom made leather chairs and cubes I'd loved since day 1 - now that is loyalty.  And a friend of mine was there when they closed the doors on the last day.  It was seriously like the loss of a faithful companion

Did any of you shop there?  (Alli, Ashleigh? you out there??)  What has filled in the gap for you since then?  Throw out a rope - I'm rationing the denim for life!!

One more day til FRIDAY!  YAHOOOO!!

82 comments:

Joie de Viv said...

oh gosh that 3/4 slv JCrew sequined top is incredible! wow - all this love for M+O and I've never shopped there but now it's gone way of the dodo bird. maybe your lovely jacket will be a collector item one day and it waill get revived one day in the future!

xx Vivian @ http://diamondsandtulle.blogspot.com

k said...

niiiice sequins. I still havent' bought my sequiny holiday piece yet, what will it be?!
and yes, I totally read that somewhere about Bare Minerals and now I hold my breath when applying makeup. It's insane.

jemina said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your sequin tank so much!!!

XOXO
J

Nell said...

Those are some pretty sequins for Christmas - perfect! xx

fashion clocked said...

loveeee this...was worth the month of sequin torture- you always make me laugh with your writing! so funny. You look awesome and the grey is the perfect pairing boy/girl mix. Girl we neeeeed good holidays to balance out the days of work!!!Katie.xxxx

little luxury list said...

Loving the combo - the feminine sequins and "tougher" jacket go well together.

Tiffany Kadani said...

You always have such amazing outfit posts! Loving the sequins.

Unknown said...

Beautiful top and it really fits the festive viber we're all getting so excited about. I like the way you'e dressed it down, allowing it to stand out on it's own merit. :)

Sarah Betty xx
http://www.sarahbetty.co.uk

Anonymous said...

YES you can wear the sequins after the holidays! We didn't have Martin + Osa (RIP), but you make me wish we had.

Yvette said...

love your blog.

xx

www.afashionhouseofcards.blogspot.com

becca said...

Ahhh yeah!
Look at that sneaky bit of awesomeness!
Lovin that sequined tank on you :)

Collette Osuna said...

So Im now convinced that I need a sequin tank, lol...yours is gorgeous!!!! You look fab hunnie:)

Stop by and say Hello:)
NEWS EDITOR for Style Sample Magazine♥

Zabrinah said...

Hehe. Grey and pink really are good friends. Best friends, in fact. Sequins, too!


:)

Best wishes,

~Zabrinah

Valerie said...

Sequins!!! I think you should absolutely wear this top after the holidays. I love it! And I agree that grey and pink are best friends and grey makes things less girly. Your boots, your jeans, that jacket, it's all fabulous Carrie. I actually never went into Martin and Osa. I'm not sure why, but I think I didn't really know about it until it was closing. I feel like I missed out on something huge though. :(

xo
Valerie

Diana Mieczan said...

I really like this top..Such a great sequins piece and looks amazing with the jacket
Hugs and kisses, darling

LyddieGal said...

Again, you have the best relationships ever with your shop girls!
I love the pink tank and the subtle way you've paired it.

I also never heard of Martin + osa, and now I feel like I was missing out!!
This is definitely not a store I ever crossed paths with, I wonder why?

Anonymous said...

Love the sequin tank... love the color and you know how I feel about those boots! There was a Martin and Osa near me and every time I shopped there the store was empty... go figure! xo

Chas said...

You look great! I love the sequin tank and your jacket is great - too bad M+O isn`t around anymore.

Lilacandgrey said...

I never heard of Martin + osa, and now I feel left out :(
I am glad you got your sequins on my dear!
<3 Cara
Lilac and Grey

Kendall said...

that tank is pure genius!! i wasn't sure about purchasing a sequined skirt - but now i feel i must!! xoxo kendall

Connie @ Sogni e Sorrisi said...

Love it! The sparkles, the boots, the pink and grey. Just love.

the southern hostess said...

So cute! I love!

Isabel said...

the first thing im looking for once im home is sequins! lol

Jessica said...

I've heard of Martin + Osa but don't own a thing from them. I'm so sad for you that they are closing! That's terrible news. However- I must say that I am loving this sequin tank on you, Carrie!

Nikki said...

I've never shopped there but I've admired some of their pieces since I was in college.
The sequin tank was made for you, Carrie! The perfect color with your dark hair. I really love it.

xx
Nikki

Closet Fashionista said...

LOVE this outfit!!
I loved the stuff in M+O but it was all way too expensive for me sadly, haha
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

did you get mad honks from cars passing by?! i love this outfit! that boots are so rad...i can't even take it.

and AE owned Martin + Osa?! What?! they should have dissolved AE first...not M+O.

xx

Cafe Fashionista said...

Do you want to know how long I have coveted that sequin tank from J. Crew? AGES!!!! And in that exact color. Oh, you have styled it in the most magnificent of ways - love love!

Though I'm sorry to hear about the demise of M+O. I am thinking that you need to treat yourself to something fabulous (shoes perhaps?) to make yourself feel better about their disappearance from retail. :)

Kerri said...

seeing so many sequins this season but i've yet to buy anything- but love it!!

Laura said...

Ahhh I love your tank and 3/4 sleeved sequin shirt!! I want :)

Discovery Street said...

um...can you please move back to the PNW? we need to be shopping buddies...or rather...i need your help!

erica said...

I am absolutely sequin obsessed. Definitely loving your shirt and must go on a search to find one just like it!

xo

FRANKIE HEARTS FASHION said...

This getup is fan-freakin-tastical! From behind you look like a serious hipster with your amazing jacket and boots, but then you turn around and BOOM you hit them with some serious flair from the tank. Swooning as we speak...! xo

Josie said...

Dear Santa,

I need you to send me Carrie's entire outfit. Every blessed piece of it. Although I suppose I could settle for just the jacket and tank because I could PROBABLY supply my own skinnies and boots (although I'd really rather not since Carrie has styled it so impeccably). I do not, however, ask that you take it from Carrie's closet because I'm quite sure that the loss of these M+O pieces might actually kill her. Also because she's awesome. But I reeeeeeally need this. So if you could casually find some abandoned truck filled with these M+O jackets and toss in the J.Crew tank, I'd much appreciate it.

xo Josie

P.S. Santa, there's extra cookies in it for you if you throw in that amazing circle ring and a Foley+Corinna Mid-City, preferably in gray or brown. Seriously. A lot of extra cookies.

Jude said...

I adore those sparkles and lurve pink and grey together - a perfect pairing & you just proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt! I am also loving the Foley + Corinna, even if it's playing second fiddle today :) (Btw, loved your baking disaster comment - why must cooking disasters feel so devastating?)

Courtney Erin said...

I love the sequin top -- I've been shopping for one but it's tricky because all the ones I've been finding are too sequiny (I mean they're too glitzy and I'm looking for something a little more understated that I can dress down with jeans, etc.). Yours is perfect!

xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com

P.S. It's really awful when stores that you love dissolve...it is like the loss of an old friend.

J. said...

Still grieving over Martion and Osa :( Everytime I look at my skinny motto jeans my heart cries a little lol.

Thelma Frayne said...

Daytime sequins put such a smile on my face.

this free bird said...

me too! :)

Unknown said...

I'm in love with that motorcycle jacket! The sequins brings a perfect touch of femininity to this bad ass look!

Santina
http://www.stylebysantina.blogspot.com/

Andee Layne said...

im on the hunt for a sequin piece! loving those boots as well!

TheChambrayCountess said...

For the life of me I cannot understand why they closed M+O! Why not just close AE?! I don't know anyone who shops there and everything is an extra billion% off every time I walk by it, so they have to be losing money, right? That is so cute that they called you about the chairs, though!

As for the outfit--gorg. It is just the right amount of cozy and right amount of sparkle ;)

Mary @Delightful Bitefuls said...

Omg, totally loving your top and ring!! Soooo fabulous!!!

Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls

Unknown said...

Okay so first off- that tank is amazing. I love how it is more of the rose hue vs. a true silver or gold. And secondly, I too, LOVED M+O. Too bad American Eagle just couldn't figure out how to keep it together, so sad.
BEE
www.atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com

Claire Kiefer said...

One of my favorite of your outfits, ever. I'm a sucker for anything sequined, that's for sure! And you're right; pink and gray are totally bffs. I have a very similar sequined tank from Urban Outfitters, but I never wear it because it's a little stiffer than I'd hoped for (I bought it without trying it on--wtf?).

As for wearing sequins after the holidays? YES MA'AM!

Unknown said...

I can't believe they pulled the plug! I have some jeans and a sweater top from there. It was kind of a new-to-me store too, because they don't have them back in Kansas and there was one located in the suburbs of Chicago that I went to. Seems like such a shame. But in other news, your outfit is terrific!

Marie a la Mode said...

That sequined top is gorgeous on you, Carrie! I've been looking for a specific sequined top from Joe Fresh but couldn't find it in the city anywhere!

Amber said...

i must get a sequined tank of my own! I actually never heard of Martin + Osa, i know i am sorry, but i hope you find a shop to replace them in your shopping heart

this free bird said...

see people!! this is how sad it is that AE didn't market the magic that was M+O. so many of you were ROBBED!! wah

xo,
carrie

Gorgeous Glam said...

I never shopped there :( looks like you've got some collector pieces then! Love the sequins! I can't get enough sequins, is there like a part of the brain that only women have for sequin love? xoxo

Catita said...

that sequin top is gorgeous, just like the one on my wishlist from Topshop! and gorgeous boot as well!
xoxo
CAtita

Venus Loves Virgo said...

Great sequin top :) I always love reading what you post ^;^ Nothing says the holidays like sequins XOXO

Chiara said...

Seriously LOVE that outfit, the mix of colors and fabric, if we met randomly, I´m sure we´d be great friends since there is so much to talk about, starting by our love for sequin, black and grey...
xoxo

She Wore It Well said...

LOVE!!! Perfect winter outfit! xxx

PhotoPuddle said...

Love that top!!!

Margaret said...

Great outfit post, and your writing is hilarious, as usual- our local Martin + Osa went out of business before I had a chance to shop there...so sad.

Editor said...

haha- my husband and I were just saying the same thing to each other about martin+osa. We have some nice sweaters from there.

The sequin top looks lovely on you :)

S said...

Heyyyy! Thanks for hopping over to mine! It has been toooo long! Your sequinned top looks gorgeous, and NOW is the time to be sparkly! Hope you are well? xxxx

STYLE'N said...

Love the sequin top!!! And WHERE is that ring from? I seriously need that. I swear I read your post and unless I missed it I did not see it listed :) It is fabulous Carrie.

A Crimson Kiss said...

That tank is absolutely magical, and it's perfect with all the wonderful Martin+Osa pieces. I do mourn our shopping loss, but I think my bank account is secretly grateful!

OneCraftyFox said...

Holy crap, you look amazing!! I'm totally going to steal that shirt after The Chef rips it off you, lol! The whole look is hot... but in a really classy way, ya know?

Hope you are having an amazing start to the holiday!

PursuitOfLLT said...

love that tank top so much!

Jess said...

You are seriously making me want to buy a sequined top. I'm trying to repress my shopping urges and you are NOT helping Carrie!!

Lisa Griffin said...

i didn't shop at martin and osa until late in its life bc they opened in my home town late, but i loved it! i got the most incredible pink cashmere cardigan with elbow patches...sigh TGIF free bird!

Stacey said...

Martin+ Osa-who? Just kidding! I know who they are, but have never shopped with them. I think my first sequined piece(i don't exactly own a full sequin number, maybe part of the item may have sequins, but not entirely covered in it) will be named after you:-). Your obsession is contagious! Love the boots too. Thanks for the colour input too... XX

Ashley/ MILK TEETHS said...

I love love love when people wear sequins like it aint no thang. You're lookin good girl :)

xx
MILK TEETHS

Catherine Au Jong said...

such nice boots :)) I adore those!

giveaway!! >> http://etinological.blogspot.com/2010/12/giveaway.html


Love.
Catherine

http://etinological.blogspot.com/

Sarah said...

Well done, you. I love this look. How do you get your hair to do this?! My ponytail poofs always just make me look like I haven't brushed my hair, like, ever. It's no good.

Poppies and Sunshine said...

This outfit has the perfect combination of everything great! Love it! That sequin top is divine!! xo

Charleston Girl said...

Oh my gosh - I was this close... to buying that tank from JCrew when I recently saw it on sale. It looks so pretty - I love the whole sequins as part of a casual look style. Now I'm having shopping regret - wishing I had bought that tank.


P.S. I'm hosting my first ever blog giveaway - please come visit! http://www.charlestongirlblog.com

ejb said...

I love this Martin + Osa jacket! I remember stumbling upon this store and was so excited! Its too bad they closed the stores! I am loving the mixture of grey and sequins! Also love your Foley + Corinna bag, the color is beautiful!

Jamie said...

First off, that tank is stunning!! Second I too miss M&O. So weird that they got rid of it!

http://www.glamlatte.com

hip hip gin gin said...

Love the tank! And seriously what were they thinking shutting down M+O?? So sad.

Marcie said...

Are you the most stylish girl in the OC or what? I just LOVE the color of that shirt! Great way to wear sequins. I always see people over doing it and going nuts, but you are just right!

Have a great weekend!
M

Ans said...

AWESOME STUFF, GREAT STYLING!!!
XOXO

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

That tank is crazy gorgeous! And I looooooove your sassy pony too!

J. said...

What a great look!

Freelance Shop-A-Holic said...

I miss m&o too :(
I just had to take one of my favorite tshirts to the tailor to get it fixed

I refuse to let it die

cute outfit as usual

NADIA ABOULHOSN said...

i LOVE those boots! ahhh theyre amazing!

allergic to vanilla said...

M+O was super dope, I was sad to see them go too. but don't doubt I was there every day up to the last day stocking up on 70% off merch! I spent more at m+O that last month than I did the entire duration of the store's life.. yikes!

xo Carlina
AllergicToVanilla.com

Danielle Moss said...

Love the tank. I almost bought it.

A said...

I was an AE sales associate the entire time M+O was open, and they barely (and when I say barely I mean that I read about M+O in a tiny corner of a newsletter that was lying on the table in our break room)marketed the brand to us! Then again, I have many other bones to pick with AE's marketing, but I will say that you may want to give their denim a try. They're all low-rise, which I'm guessing M+O's denim was not, but denim is AE's best seller, so there's got to be a reason for that!

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