Barneys!!!! (...NY, not the dinosaur...)

Barneys New York has excellent buyers. They pick great bags, shoes, etc, etc, but my favorite part of a Barneys visit is the jewelry department. On a recent shopping trip with a good friend, a friend with great taste who loves jewelry as much as I do if not more, we had to go in and have a look!

I love both bold and intricate styles, so my panoramic appreciation, (or stubborn lack of refinement of my taste and style), means that I have to look at EVERYTHING :) I love Cathy Waterman's tiny rings with organic shapes, the way Lucifer Vir Honestus' pieces are wildly twisted and daring, (the linked ring reminds me of tiny mushrooms), and they way Sandra Dini balances both rapid movement of vine-like metal with the serenity of a tranquil slab of opal in her ring. For earrings, I love Sharon Khazzam's gold pair with chunky diamond slices. I would love to have that style of stone for an engagement ring because it is so unusual and so simple at the same time. Another simple-yet-stunning pair comes from Dean Harris. I love the stone color and the delicate setting. Judy Geib, (a favorite for obvious reasons), also makes delicate creations out of fun and funky shapes.

In the Co-Op section, I love Etten Eller's use of bolts and other little, chunky materials mixed with delicate chains. The necklaces with tiny webs of watch gears have since disappeared, but I am determined to make my own verison once I find a watch that A) doesn't mind getting busted open and B) isn't digital, so it actually contains watch gears.

More on my visit later, but now I need to hurry up and daydream about what I damage I would do if I win the lottery today........
What is your favorite place to shop? Is your weakness shoes? Jewelry? Bags?

Slice of Heaven

I love adorning myself with a slice of agate when the weather heats up. It feels summery and cool because it is direct from nature without much processing, it's got a boho-chic vibe. I love when it is mounted in jewelry in a sort of rough-hewn manner to give it an organic feel. I spent a little while looking for agate jewelry and for agate slices and pendants to make my own creations and these are the top picks:

"Rock Solid" Agate Cuff at Nordstrom, $68
Check out out this link- how dramatic is this cuff?! Love it in both colors.

Purple Agate Necklace at Target, $39.99



A simple-yet-fun necklace at Target prices? Who can resist?!

I also found a large selection of agate on Ebay. Obviously, the bidding ends quickly, but here's an idea of what's out there:

Ebay blue agate pendant



Giant Agate Ring Ebay



Set of 3 Agate Slices Ebay


Love agate or have you found a stone that speaks summer more loudly to you? More summer accessories to come!

It's a Cinch!

It's getting warmer...ok, let's be honest- it's getting darn hot and being hot gets me cranky! Instead of dwelling on the rising temperatures, I will focus on the fun summer clothing and accessory options that this type of weather will allow. On my mind...belts! Over a boyfriend tee or a summer dress, the right belt can finish an outfit and since they can be mixed and matched with many outfits, the versatility is endless! Here are some of my favorites to define your waist:

Looping Lanes Belt at Anthropologie, $44

I loved braided leather and the unusual interlacing.

Skinny Leather Belt at J.Crew, $32.50

Love the sweet, punchy color with light neutrals as well as black.

Wrap Belt by ADA, $75

This is an uber-flattering, classic available in a ton of colors.

I also love the Ecote Studded Belt at Urban Outfitters, but the computer wouldn't allow me to post the image, but it is a cute take on a rock 'n' roll style worth checking out!

Any recent belt purchases you love? Other summer accessories you are excited about?

Chronic Sniffles

...my beloved computer still has virus issues, so no posts for a while, but I am using a friend's computer, so I might be able to post sporadically!... Hopefully this gets resolved soon and hopefully everyone is having a great summer!

Met Gala Recap

You've got to love the annual Met Gala- it's like the Oscars x 1000 for me- because the fashion is a notch above the usual uber-prom looking red carpet fare.... Not always better, mind you, but interesting nonetheless :) I liked the "American Woman" theme mostly because I can relate, hehe. There were lots of fabulous dresses, naturally, but there were a few surprises that I really enjoyed.

Nicole Ritchie in Marc Jacobs: I don't know if it was becoming a mom or House of Harlow that upped her style from daisy duke's + Juicy couture, but she looks fantastic!


Camilla Belle is pretty girly and oft cloyingly gamine, but I liked the intricacy and simplicity of her Jason Wu gown.


I loved the sleeves and the embellishment on Elisa Sednaoui's Chanel Haute Couture dress. And how awesome would it be to stand arm-in-arm with Lagerfeld himself for a night?


Some people are scary. Versace....scarier than normal. I didn't include picture links of Blake Lively, (great bod, but always TOO short in the hemline or TOO much cleavage- settle down, lady!), or Kristen Stewart (would it really kill you to smile?), because the photos were too typical.


Something I can't place makes me doubt the RM by Roland Mouret dress was the right choice for the occasion, but I liked it on Amber Valletta and I think the cut and color really worked for her. Defintely something I could see translated for RTW looks.


I love the one, ruffled sleeve of this Stella McCartney dress on Naomi Watts. I know it was big with Lanvin, etc, but I think it is a really fun look for summer and just plain fun.


I didn't recognize Jessica Stam automatically in this Rachel Roy number. I liked the long sleeve and the plain navy material really made me focus on the simple, but flattering, cut. Again, I am not sure if this was Met Gala material, but I like it, darn it!


Well now, that's the wrap up. Any favorites dresses or looks that you loved? Anything you will translate into looks you'll be sporting on the street soon?

Seeing Clearly...

...is something I take for granted that could be considered a luxury in some parts of the world, as well as here in the US. I am a contact/glasses wearer and am fortunate enough to afford quality eye care with insurance, but not everyone is so lucky. I love the benevolent business concept of the Tom's shoe company, (charitable donations funded by a sustainable business model = genius!), and the same concept is at the core of the Warby Parker mission statement. A group of friends decided to make a company that sells low-cost, fashionable eye wear and donate a pair of glasses to the needy with every purchase. The glasses are so cute and really reasonably priced, so my next pair will definitely be coming from their website. I am in love with the Light Tortoise and Sandalwood colors and lots of the frames.

Here is the Roark style:


And the Finn style:


Just two great options- I can't decide! Which are your fav's? Know any companies with a heart of gold? Give a shout-out! :)

Virus Vacation

I have recently fallen short of my commitment to regular blog posts, but not because I wanted to, promise! My computer had a virus, but all the fishy activity seems to have been taken care of, so more posts to come!

It's funny how even though I can check my email and browse the web on my phone, being without my computer makes me feel like something important is missing out of my day. I need to catch-up on all my favorite blogs! It's interesting to think about the little things that we do everyday without thinking much of them...what are your creature comforts?