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....?