Public Library — the clothing line, not the institution

I’m a sucker for a witty or interesting clothing line name. But when I came across Public Library, all I could think was how frustrating it must be for them to never, ever pop up on the first page of a Google search.

Logistics aside, the California-based design team makes T-shirts, cute ones, that sell at exclusive boutique shops like Harvey Nichols in London and The Big Drop in NYC. Despite this annoying fact, not to mention the even more annoying fact that they outfit super-annoying celebs like Lindsay Lohan and at least two out of five (six? how many are there?) Kardashian’s, I have to give the label a (how annoying is this word) “shout-out” for keeping their prices fairly reasonable.

Sonia Rykiel at H&M

H&M has gotten a major boost from the matron of Saint Germain chic — Sonia Rykiel, a.k.a., she who makes stripes special.

Fashion News Roundup: Week of Dec. 6

Oscar de la Renta unveils his pre-Fall 2010 collection, proving all things fantastical and ladylike will kick this year’s flirtation with grunge to the curb. [Fashion Wire Daily]

Indeed, Mrs. Obama looked splendid in mimosa yellow, but that hue is so 2009. Next year, it’s all about turquoise. Tommy Hilfiger warns us to mind our textiles — the color can look cheap on bad fabric. [Yahoo News]

And — in the spirit of 2010 — check out these £58.00 adorable turquoise sandals from Asos.com.

Claudia Schiffer is thinking of starting her own fashion line. Unlike fellow 90s star Kate Moss, the blonde is more focused on cashmere classics than channeling bohemia. [Styelist]

Lucky Mag has some adorable ideas for gifts under $10. And I’m kind of in love with this Charlotte Russe beret. [Lucky Mag]

Christopher Bailey wins the Designer of the Year award at the 2009 British Fashion Awards. [Vogue.com] which is timely since Burberry is set to launch in 2010 the only item of theirs I can afford right now — a sports fragrance. [Fab Sugar]

Puffy winter coats usually suck big time, but blogger Natalie Zee Drieu from Coquette finds cute ones — including a Tahari for $198 — that won’t make you look like a rectangle. The girl works miracles. [Coquette]

Alexander Wang is the new Marc Jacobs. There, I said it. [New York Times]

I want a Belgian coat, dammit.

My mother, who was born in what they call “Old Europe,” doesn’t get my obsession with Belgian and Scandinavian clothing, or what she calls, “weird, trendy, you’ll-get-tired-of-it-next-season” clothing. All my life I’ve been hearing how I’ll tire of clothes that are interesting and daring and should just invest in a camel wool coat and be done with it.

I’m sorry, but if you give me a removable collar, like this one on Mel En Stel’s Wool Tweed Coat, it’s like letting me pretend I’ve a hand in actually dressing myself.

Which, admit it, is a clever trick.

Consignment Connection — ‘Good’ Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn is a pretty little place. It has a gorgeous pedestrian path adjacent to a bay, architecture that ranges from McMansion horrors to Gothic Revival Mansions and bluestone plates left over from the days carriages flanked unpaved roads.

Unfortunately, there’s also bad Bay Ridge — and it looks a little like this:

Bad Bay Ridge

A plethora of shops along 86th Street with names like “Pretty Girl” are where you can find $20 thigh-high tinsel-colored dresses that probably fit like tube socks. Not exactly the kind of recession shopping that makes me happy.

And then there’s Consign Connection.

Lisa West

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to travel to or live in New Zealand, you understand how difficult it is to resist the urge to attach a camera to your face. Everywhere you turn, there’s a beach, a mountain, a fragrant garden.

Lisa West is a jewelry designer based in Auckland, NZ who translates her gorgeous natural surroundings into the most darling and sweet necklaces, rings and brooches.