A Glimpse into The Coveteurs’ Own Stylish Desires

By Marni Elyse Katz
September 1, 2011

On The Coveteur, their perfectly turned out ode to closets, BFF’s Erin Kleinberg and Stephanie Mark giddily document the impeccable taste and sartorial acquisitions of fashion stylesetters everywhere. The Toronto-based twenty-somethings met at summer camp as teens, and in the interim racked up stints with boldface names and places, like W and Elle magazines and designer Phillip Lim.

These days, while Mark still works as a stylist and Kleinberg designs a fashion collection under her own name, the two have generated serious buzz (not to mention high profile collaborations with Elle and Teen Vogue) by exploring fashion style from a new angle. Their site offers an e-look at cherished pieces of tastemakers’ wardrobes and other personal spaces through luscious photos and pithy quotes.

The Coveteur

Stephanie Mark and Erin Kleinberg, the bloggers behind The Coveteur

Photographer Jake Rosenberg, who’s also from Toronto and only 23-years-old, shoots the images. They are at once intimate portraits of inanimate objects with real personality, and creatively styled still lives. Each is accompanied by a personal anecdote from its owner—a tidbit about the items’ significance or provenance. Kleinberg and Mark write the chatty introductions and by keeping them short, let the loot speak for itself. A list of digital inspiration next to each post lets readers delve deeper into the subject’s style psyche.

We chatted with Erin and Stephanie, who prove to be irrepressibly bubbly and devoted to what is clearly their true calling.

The Inside Source: How did The Coveteur blog come to be?

The Coveteur: We are so obsessed with street style that we thought, “Why not take it into the home, right into the closet, where all of the getups are curated from?” We started the blog after seeing “The Social Network”. That movie was super inspiring for us.

The Inside Source: What are your backgrounds?

The Coveteur: Erin is the fashion designer behind the womenswear line Erin Kleinberg. Prior to starting the label she interned for W magazine’s Fashion Director, Alex White, and for Susie Sheffman [at Canada's] Fashion magazine. She also did a stint at [department store] Holt Renfrew in the personal shopping department.

While attending Parsons in New York City, Steph apprenticed under Elle's Style Director, Kate Lanphear. She then went to on to work with celebrity stylists Annabel Tollman and Leslie Fremar, whose clients included Jennifer Connelly, Michelle Williams, Charlize Theron, and Julianne Moore. She also has a marketing background, [and has worked with] fashion companies Intermix and 3.1 Phillip Lim.

The Coveteur: Annabel Tollman

Fashion Stylist, Journalist. New York

Annabel Tollman

"I got the hat in St. Petersburg a few years ago, and I suspected that Mr. Teddy was dressing up in it while I wasn’t paying attention… The bear somehow came home with me after a photo shoot one day. I generally think there is something entirely suspect about grownups with stuffed-animals but gave myself a hall pass somehow."

Annabel Tollman

"Oh you’ve discovered my Jazz Hands fetish. My assistants actually went and bought a top hat and a tails-coat because I ask for them for shoots repeatedly. One-trick pony… The hat is vintage…it actually came down the catwalk in Badgley Mischka’s runway show for fall 2011. The shoes are Louboutin and I’m insane about them. The clutches both sparkly AND jazz-hands so they get double love, except that they are too small to actually fit a credit card."

Annabel Tollman

"Oh this is my new baby. New to ME, anyway. It’s vastly vintage – from the 60's and rather well-loved, which I really like. Somebody wrote on Twitter yesterday that Reality TV stars have ruined the Birkin bag and linked them to Von Dutch trucker hats. Don’t get me wrong, if somebody handed me a Birkin I wouldn’t say no, but I do think that they can sometimes look rather gauche worn in a certain way. You don’t need intelligence or taste to own one. I always liken a woman’s handbag to a man’s car – I like to think that this would be a little vintage two-seater Mercedes convertible. I’d always pick a vintage Mercedes over a bumble-bee yellow Testarossa, wouldn’t you? The shoes are Valentino. The studs help to balance out all the girly whatnot's. And this shape is SO flattering on the ankle." Bag, Hermes; Shoes, Valentino

The Inside Source: What blogs do you follow?

The Coveteur: The usual suspects: The Glamourai, Into the Gloss, Man Repeller, WhoWhatWear, Style.com, Fashionista.

The Inside Source: Whose closets have been your favorites so far?

The Coveteur: We died when we shot Patricia Field’s. Nicole Richie’s stylist, Simone Harouche, has the sickest vintage dress collection. Model Brad Koenig’s son Hudson, who is only two-and-a-half-years-old, has an entire wardrobe of custom Fendi and Chanel. It was really something! Jen Kao’s pieces were out of control. [Editors' Note: Closets without links have not yet been posted on The Coveteur.]

The Inside Source: Have you ever seen something in someone’s closet, and then bought something similar for yourselves?

The Coveteur: 10 million percent! Mostly this happened at [partner at Starworks Media] Sharon Ainsberg’s house. She is dope dope dope! After seeing her closet, we both ransacked Isabel Marant for platform kicks and scarves. Also, [celebrity stylist] Estee Stanley turned us into Fendi and Manolo Blahnik fiends.

The Coveteur: Emese Szenasy

Director, Global Communications, Diane von Furstenberg. New York

Emese Szenasy

"My friend gave me all my Chanel bangles and when they jingle on my wrists I am so content. They are perched perfectly on top of my little doll from China. I was there in March with DVF, my Dad and a girlfriend and we had the best time. We bought dolls and lots of jade jewels!" Bracelets, Chanel

The Coveteur: Amy Verner

Style Reporter, Globe and Mail. Toronto

Amy Verner

"The Hermes vest, Chanel belt and Vuitton bag all came from the same source: Mom. Over time, she's given me some wonderful pieces. And at least they’re still in the family if she ever wants them back." Vest, Hermès; Bag, Louis Vuitton; Belt, Chanel.

The Inside Source: Describe your personal fashion styles.

The Coveteur: This is such a hard question. I feel like we dress thematically; there are so many different thoughts going on in our brains. Steph’s fashion style is just cool. Minimal on the jewels; focuses on the clothing. EK is more about the vintage, the jewels, the lace. But collectively, we drop dead for anything Proenza, ‘90s Prada and Miu Miu, Isabel Marant shoes, Celine sunnies.

The Inside Source: What do you stockpile?

The Coveteur: Equipment blouses.

The Inside Source: What do you splurge on?

The Coveteur: Anything Marant.

The Inside Source: How do you scrimp?

The Coveteur: We hit some sick sales in Vegas this year; we got like three Proenza dresses for the price of one. Yay!

The Inside Source: What are you coveting?

The Coveteur: Anything Loewe, Aurelie Bidermann jewels, Givenchy leopard, Anita Ko panther knockers, and Jen Meyer key necklaces.

The Inside Source: Whose closet would you most like to gain access to?

The Coveteur: Both of us agree that it would be Hugh Hefner for sure. Steph would also say Fran Drescher, and Erin would probably say Pharrell.

The Inside Source: What would your dream closet be like?

The Coveteur: Khloe Kardashian’s [photographed by The Coveteur in collaboration with Elle magazine]! That sucker is huge and beyond organized.

The Inside Source: What have you hunted for on eBay?

The Coveteur: We were obsessed with the vintage cut glass candlesticks that had endless amounts of wax melting onto the sticks and table at [Current Elliott founder] Merritt Eliott’s house, so we hunted them down on eBay and re-created the look. The best home furnishings that we fall in love with in people’s homes were often acquired on eBay.

Here’s what The Coveteur bloggers Erin Kleinberg and Stephanie Mark are coveting on eBay.

Chanel Vintage CC Pendant Belt/Necklace

"Rare Chanel is everything to us. We scoop it up whenever we can."
Takashi Murakami "And Then Aqua Blue 2011"

"We dream of having a home clad in Murakami."
Manolo Blahnik Sedaraby Silver Shoes

(buy it now price, $695)

"Manolo is making a serious resurgence! We wanna wear them all the time. Such a Carrie Bradshaw moment."
Kaws Dissected Bearbrick

(buy it now price, $249)

"We die for Kaws. Currently, he has a Giant giant massive statue outside The Standard in NYC."
V Magazine #2 1999 Visionaire Fashion Magazine (Out of Print)

(buy it now price, $49.99)

"Vintage V. Enough said."
Karen Walker “Number Ones” Spring Summer 2011 Sunglasses

(buy it now price, $180)

"Karen Walker makes the sickest sunglasses."
Tom Binns Chandelier Rock Chic Crystal Earrings

"Tom Binns is our reason for existing!"

The Coveteur: Keegan Singh

Fashion Stylist. New York

Keegan Singh

"I love Vans and Converse collaborations. I really want the Givenchy x Converse with the black cheetah print on them. My vintage tee’s are super sacred to me, I wear them all the time. If it’s a cool band the tee will never go out of style." Shoes, Giles Deacon x Vans; T-shirts, Vintage

Keegan Singh

"Kate and Laura are so awesome! I really wanted one of these knits. I talk to them quite a bit and we just did this rad project together for SHOWstudio, it is a retrospective of all their collections up until FW11. So excited for it to come out soon!!! I think I asked for eighty percent black and twenty percent white and they did it. I love them! They are the most interesting people to talk to and to have a creative conversation with. I love to talk to them, they inspire me so much!" Sweater, Custom Rodarte; Bracelet, Tom Binns

Keegan Singh

"My mood board has things that I love and continue to inspire me. I need another board—I have a load of things I want to add but no space left. The belt is from Search and Destroy on St. Marks Place. It’s been sitting in my closet, I’m trying to figure out how to pull it off. It’s more of a thing I just love. It might show up in a editorial before it's on me." Belt, Search and Destroy

The Coveteur: Leandra Medine

Author, The Man Repeller. New York

Leandra Medine

"This is the rad-ass Valentino jacket I scored during the Outnet’s $2 sale. I think real tears were streaming down my face while clicking buy. It retailed for $6,000. It was a perfect compliment for my little Mexican love machines—those Stubbs and Wootton loafers. The yellow catches those highly coveted—see what I did just there—maracas. I’m basically the celibate version of Hugh Hefner." Jacket, Valentino; Shoes, Del Toro, Stubbs and Wootton

Leandra Medine

"The dress is BB Dakota. Doesn’t it look Miu Miu? It was $90." Dress, BB Dakota; Shoes, Julian Louie x Aldo

Leandra Medine

"One of the best Balenciaga prints to date. I demand a reissue. And as I always say, leopard print is a neutral. This outfit is a no brainer (or weener.)" Dress, Balenciaga; Shoes, Miu Miu

The Coveteur: Luisana Mendoza

Co-Founder, Runway to Green. New York

Leandra Medine

"Absolutely. Best. Ring. Ever. I was so excited for her to open her Madison Avenue boutique. The store itself is just as stunning as the collection!" Ring, Solange Azagury-Partridge

Luisana Mendoza

"I am constantly changing my apartment and had been wanting to give this room a burst of color, so two weeks ago I decided to take this beige table and strip it, sand it and paint it blue. I am under the mistaken impression that I am handy. It turned out well but was quite an undertaking." Blouse, Vionnet; Jacket, Vintage Yves Saint Laurent; Necklace, Lanvin; Shoes, Tabitha Simmons; Shorts, Tory Burch; Bag, Yves Saint Laurent

Luisana Mendoza

Bag, Lanvin

Jonathan Adler & Simon Doonan

Potter and Designer & Creative Ambassador-at-Large, Barneys New York. New York

Jonathan Adler & Simon Doonan

"I've never met a monkstrap shoe I didn't love—they make me feel very Michael Caine in Alfie. And I have a squillion Rod Lavers from Adidas in every color. They add a little sporty spice to any outfit." (Jonathan Adler) Shoes, Various Designers

Jonathan Adler & Simon Doonan

Shoes, Various Designers

Jonathan Adler & Simon Doonan

"I've rocked the same uniform since my bar mitzvah-white cords, a button down shirt (Lacoste polo in the summer), and Rod Lavers. The stripy shirts are custom from Eredi Pisanò, a fab men's store in midtown. You can't go wrong with a bold candy stripe." (Jonathan Adler) Shirts, Custom Eredi Pisanò

Jonathan Adler & Simon Doonan

"American Apparel—if you're reading this, and I hope you are, I BEG YOU not to go out of business. I don't think I can live without your Ringer Tees. Please. Thank you." (Jonathan Adler) Shirts, American Apparel

Jonathan Adler & Simon Doonan

"I cannot leave the house without my butch TAG Heuer. Steve McQueen wore this model in the movie "Le Mans". It’s a nice counterpoint to my nelly shirts." (Simon Doonan) Watch TAG Heuer

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