i suppose it’s rather ironic that i chose to write about sportswear the day after i announced that i just injured my back, but that aside, it’s a topic that’s been on my mind a lot lately. ever since i came back from my bike tour this summer, i’ve been thinking a lot about fashionable sportwear. mainly, if it even exists, and where to find it. so when i recently discovered loup, my heart skipped a beat. this line of sportswear is heavily inspired by classic american designers like claire mccardell and the resulting pieces have a perfectly vintage aesthetic. while they’re targeted for the tennis buff, i find that many of the pieces can work for a larger range of activities, and i certainly wouldn’t mind picking up a few pieces to wear cycling, hiking, or for a yoga session.

i was instantly in love with the photos for the upcoming spring 2011 collection as shown above, with cheery jump shots of comfortable knitwear with a nautical vibe. and i’m equally appreciating the fall 2010 collection shown below, with comfy knits in classic grey, black, and white. once again proving that you don’t have to get decked out in spandex when it’s time to work-out. (though i fully understand that the heels are just for looks!)

of the many essential wardrobe items i’ve resolved to update in my closet this fall, handbags are near the top of the list (right up there with coats). they’re the type of piece that i often sorely neglect. an afterthought in most outfits and something that i just hope matches with the rest of what i’m wearing as i dash out the door. one reason for this is that they tend to be one of the more expensive purchases since they’re usually constructed out of giant pieces of leather (duh). and while i’ve had good luck finding vintage coach purses at thrift shops and taking my hand refurbishing them, there are only so many vintage coach purses a girl can own before it’s time to branch out into the grown up world of purchasing handbags.

so today i present to you one of my favorite options from an unlikely retailer, ll bean. i’ve actually written about ll bean before, back in the spring when they came out with their first ll bean signature collection: a heritage collection with updated pieces pulled from the old pattern archives. and i’m happy to see that they’re back at it for fall with plenty of vintage-inspired options. and the handbags, well, i want them all! but what’s better than just the design is the fact that ll bean is also a green business that cares about the environment, which is always a plus for a veteran thrifter like myself.

you may recall my series of posts from the summer dedicated to the stylings of teddy girls from the 1960s. i put together two outfits here and here, inspired by these amazing photos by ken russell. so it probably comes as no surprise that i was absolutely smitten with paul smith’s latest women’s collection with it’s separates borrowed from the boys and those perfect pompadour poufs! i also like the playful addition of a few girly prints and the amazing and unexpected color combinations. throw on those super cool cat glasses and it’s pretty much inspiration for days.

in fact, i’ve already resolved to grow the front and top of my pixie cut so that it’s long enough to do a style just like this! while i won’t be trying out all of the looks from the collection, i didn’t have a hard time picking out several favorites.