2 in 1 Dress

This happens every time I open a shop-it-to-me email: I see a huge gathering of my favorite things and they are all on sale! Like a kid in a candy store, I could spend hours scrolling though fantastic sale finds.... and probably would if things like "a job" and "social interaction" weren't part of my day... Anyway, add this Brian Reyes Tulip dress to the list of things that I don't need but really, really, really want!

Aww, what a pretty little sheath dress. The pattern is great and it has just the right amount of flounce VS structure:


Oh wait, it opens! Now it is like a cool dress with a matching open cardi!


What?! The top piece is removable- revealing a sultry slipdress?! It's TWO dresses in one?!?!
Yup, it's the little things that brighten my day. Except for the fact that while I was in awe of this awesomeness, it sold out in my size. SIGH. At least that saves me $425...but it was 50% off!

All That Sparkles

After seeing the above photo of Blake Lively in a shrunken sequin jacket, I realize that my obsession with sparkle should not be limited to a winter cover-up. A lighter silver color or a cropped style would definitely take the look into spring!


Love the structured lapel of this one:


The boxy, cropped cut of this one would look cute over a flouncy dress:

This vintage number is heavily encrusted with sequins for a luxe feel:

How do you feel about sequins? Are they ho-hum or razzle-dazzle? With spring's new wardrobe freedom, what have you been wearing out on the town?

Seeing Red

I feel like red is more of a fall color, but I have been seeing a lot of it lately....and I like it!!


Natalia looking fiery and fierce:


Red hat and lips:


How cute is this heart-shaped umbrella?!

Ode to the messenger deity, Hermes:
(Click on the pics for the image origin)

I don't wear a lot of red, but now that I see that it can be a bright, fun color, (I had previously thought it was a more intense, fall color), I am more open to wearing it....
What about you? Is red your bread and butter or too hot to handle? ;)
Happy Monday!

Vogue Article on the Olsens + The Row

I was not always a fan of the MKA Olsen duo, but I can't help but admire them these days. I cannot imagine running a billion dollar corporation and overseeing the design of three distinct fashion lines at my age (they are actually a few months younger than I am, don't rub it in!)...unless maybe there was two of me to split the work? Nah, not even then...

Anyway, I was reading the Vogue article on the savvy shrimps and decided to check out the Fall 2011 collection of The Row. Waxing poetic about the virtues of their tailored basics is practically cliche by now, so just check out the fun stuff:




Exquisite details and leopard goatskin always pique my interest. I highly recommend a jaunt over to vogue.com to see the images as they will be better quality. See the full collection here.

There are also more photos of the duo on the website than in the magazine, like these:
I am jealous of their vintage collection (not so much the hat situation).

Typical Saturday morning? Hmm.


Do you love the The Row and it's pint-sized creators? Or does the thought of those Starbucks-guzzling, chain-smoking twins make you weep hater-ade?

Gray Malin Photography (on sale at bdb.com!)

Add this to the list of things I don't need but feel like I should own:
Prada Marfa with Mule in Color, Gray Malin

I love the funky concept of Prada creating a store in the middle of nowhere (no offense to anyone who lives in Marfa, TX!) and then sealing it off to serve basically as a giant art installation. The photographer must have had some fun with the photographic content, ranging from models with high heels to the cowboys featured above.

Though well-scrubbed and with a classic, almost preppy style, my Bf loves the history of the southwest and probably fantasizes about being a cowboy all day, which makes this photo a perfect combination of our styles. (Just imagine him in his beloved cowboy boots and a giant turquoise bolo tie and then me half-buried in fashion magazines while watching The September Issue....) You get the picture ;)

Billion Dollar Babes is having a Malin sale RIGHT NOW, so the photos that are usually $200 are going for $89...totally justifiable, which is totally dangerous! Check out the whole collection at the website and if you need an invite to register, click here.

Do you decorate your home with things you love, things you have made/pictures you have taken yourself, or things that create the design environment you crave?

PS- Tomorrow (the 18th) is the Blogger's Day of Silence for Japan, so I won't be posting or commenting, but I will be back to usual next week. Happy Friday tomorrow and send some positive vibes (or more) to our neighbors in Japan.

Feelin' the Forties

I am not referring to age, but to the decade. I don't usually dress with a strong or easily-discernible theme at work (gotta keep them guessing) but for some reason I was totally feeling a retro vibe today. It almost became a costume when I curled my hair, but what other hairdo could be paired with a tie-neck blouse and high-waisted pants?

Le outfeet!


Contrived catalog-esque pose. Not a professional, here, people! ;)



Making bows look like they are complicated work:


Bow and polka-dot close up!
Outfit: Necessary Objects blazer, Ellen Tracy blouse, F21 belt, NYandCo pants, Classiques Entier shoes (a new color just came out and I am in LOVE- see it here), Sophie watch, Biasia purse.

Do you ever feel the need to dress in a theme? Or do you never/always create daily costumes?

I Love Accordions!

That is, accordion pleats.

My recent post (here) on sheer, flowy clothing with prints naturally made me think about flowy clothing with pleats (I say "naturally" because it is a natural progression in my mind, but probably not the same for most sane people, so bear with me). Ever since I saw the look on Chloe's Spring 2011 runway, I have been hooked:


But, I haven't found a pleated skirt for my wardrobe. Not for lack of searching, as you will see:

I like this American Apparel version because of the similar color, but I am not ecstatic about the shiny fabric and the fact that everyone else already has it:


I love this look captured by Mr. Newton (is it me, or is this the same girl from my "brights" post?):


I love the length and price of this option, but the green might be too bold for all the soft, subtle colors I am into right now for spring:


I also like this Trina Turk office-friendly version. It is reminiscent of a school uniform of sorts:

Has anyone successfully acquired an accordion number of their own? If so, details! And I can't decide if this is a trend we'll be seeing for a while, or something that will be gone by the end of the summer....?

Breezy, Printed Layers

While I love the sheer maxi skirt trend (though I don't know why-- it is counter-intuitive to purposefully wear see-through clothing in public), I am not satisfied with just a sheer skirt: there must be pattern that creates the feel of movement! The flowy layer needs to evoke that romantic-yet-slightly-boho/carefree-vibe to instill softness into a bold outfit statement.

I could wax poetic on this 'til the cows come home, trust me, but I would rather just show you looks I am currently loving:

This Juicy Couture tiered maxi dress is really frothy and playful:



Phillip Lim always creates elevated basics of interest, like this simple, Grecian dress modernized with a grid pattern:


I love the vaguely-reptilian watercolor pattern of this Robert Rodriguez dress:



Bellatrix always makes fun, blousy separates and I love this look with the shorts:
This Blain kimono sleeve top is especially cool because of the long back hem:


Andy from the Style Scrapbook always gets it right and I love her sheer maxi-- pattern + soft pleats!!

What is your style-obsession for spring?... (Or for the week if you are a spaz like me)...
Happy Monday!

Weekend Outfit Inspiration

This weekend I am taking cues from the the book launch of "What to Wear, Where" from the makers of the website Who What Wear. The book seems like a cute idea (it offers outfit ideas for situations like the conservative job interview outfit and the equally-nerve-wracking meet-the-parents outfit), but my favorite part of the recaps are the pictures!


The authors (Katherine Power and Hilary Kerr) above.

The authors with Rachel Zoe and Jessica Alba.

I love Kerr and Power's vibrant outfits and the fun Proenza Schouler dress that Alba is wearing. After seeing these, I definitely feel like infusing color into my weekend outfits!

PS- I love that Kerr and Power took the time to create and model every outfit in their book themselves. That's dedication!

Wrap it Up!

I should be doing more outfit posts, but I am less than thrilled with my bangs right now (when will I ever learn to not trim them myself?!?!) and have been ducking out of photographs like I am some sort of international spy... but an international spy would have way better hair...
Que lastima!

Anyway, a hat would be my natural solution to my quandary, but what about the indoors? Wearing a fedora while eating Cheerios could be remarkably chic to some, but it can get silly pretty quickly... which leads me to the point of this post: turban headbands! Thank goodness they are "in" right now because they might just be the thing to motivate me to rejoin society! (dramatics are necessary when it comes to self-inflicted hair issues, right?) I have found a few fun options across the web and might actually purchase one. It's funny because I didn't think I was brave enough to sport one, but if I am not brave enough to bare my bangs, then a turban jumps categories from "risk" to "necessity"... Hmm.

This ASOS Wide Headband Scarf is a bit theatrical, but I like the color.


The Wooden Ships Isadora Spring Turban from Urban Outfitters is cute and very wearable.


A full turban, like this jersey one from Urban Outfitters, would be a statement, but the fabric and color retain the casual vibe.


A fun, floral option from the queen of prints, Diane von Furstenberg.

Etsy always come through with fun options, like this leopard adorableness from LeilanniLand.


The big knot must have subconsciously stuck with me from this shot of Katherine Power's chicly-styled closet on The Coveteur:

I even found a tutorial on how to make your own headband here.

What do you think about the turban headband? Fashion misstep or fun accessory? And who else has cut their bangs in a moment of hair inspiration? Be honest ;)

New Obsession: Rebecca Minkoff Shoes!

While you might be thinking "obsession" is a strong word--it is. And can you blame me, her new collection is great. Minkoff always performs well in the handbag arena, so it's nice to see that her talents extend beyond the Morning After Bag. All her shoes look very unique and yet very modern and wearable. (Le swoon!) I am particularly fixated on this pair....

The Trott cut out wedge.... It's like you wore your favorite plain black and wooden wedge to the beach and then a stingray leapt out of the water and attached itself to your shoe... AKA- awesomeness that defies the laws of nature!
If you aren't too hott for these Trotts, (sorry, I couldn't help myself), there are other shoes in the collection that deftly combine her basic color palette with that same strangely textured, metallic leather:

The Caroline mini-wedge... statement-y, yet simple.
The Brooke heel... You need to wear a dress/ skirt with these because they need to be showcased! I didn't like the buckle at first, but now I feel it's totally integral to the shoe, yes?
When did I become a shoe girl?! Do you think Minkoff has done well, or should she churn out another new batch of MAB's?
PS- There is a haircalf wedge (2nd to last pair) that is pretty spectacular, too. Just sayin'!

Soft Sands

I normally skip over my Shopbop email of the day, but today, they hooked me! The "Soft Sands" shoot was on a sandy beach (natch) with clothing that would certainly be appropriate for urban living, but looked effortless in the wind and surf. Here are some of the looks:






The above dress is my favorite! Needless to say, I was plotting an immediate beach-escape while eating my breakfast, but decided that it was better to go to work...for now at least ;)
Does anyone else get lots of shopping emails and rarely look at them?