Gotta Keep Enough Lettuce to Support Yo Shoe Fetish...

I have always been a purse-girl, but lately my eyes have been opened to the awesomeness of shoes....oh, shoes! I love the impractical and the quirky (seen here) but I know I won't wear shoes that aren't at least somewhat comfortable, so I am pretty picky... (which is why purses are so great, you don't have to break them in and they won't give you shin splints and blisters!)... Part of reining in my bad shopping habits (or good habits if bankruptcy your life goal) is my practice of considering an item for a period of time instead of buying it on impulse -aka- stalking it online and perhaps in the store until I make a decision. Sometimes though, I. Just. Can't. Decide!

I like these Jeffery Campbell "Cast" Sandals because I want a black sandal that as a low, sturdy heel (I am on my feet all day at work, so I wimp out on anything more than a kitten heel) but is not a granny sandal. Something for dresses and skinnies and for wearing shorts in the evening... but are they too vampy for day? Or just plain fugly? I can't decide, but I have stalked them to the point that they have gone on sale and now I will need to make a decision soon!

What do you think? Be honest, really, I can take it ;)

Also, how cute are these new Jeffrey Campbell "Situation" heels?!
I love the contrasting bow and heel color! Tres proper, yes? Check out the other cute colors combos here! For being a purse girl, I am really starting to get into shoes. (Quasi pun?) What about you? Are you a purse or shoe or cosmetics or anything else kind of girl?

PS- I should be packing for my "snow-showers" trip and instead I am drooling over shoes. I am such an effective procrastinator!

Sweet Conflict

I have a problem. This isn't the venue to discuss my serious vices and flaws, (that would be blog material for years), but let's invite my lack of curatorial focus into the spotlight, shall we? I like so many different styles and colors and silhouettes that I find it hard to describe my own style in a remotely succinct phrase.

Example? How about right now, while I am catching up on all the blog posts I have "missed" from my favorites over the weekend, I gravitated towards two completely different looks:

Bold, statement-making colors at Mr. Newton (reminds you of my recent "brights" post? And how awesome are here shoes?!?!?)


Spare use of color and restrained architectural lines at Late Afternoon (so simple, so perfect)

The two outfits could not be more different, but I love them both. How am I ever going to hone a signature style if my preferences are so diverse? Are you decisive when it comes to your style or do you just embrace whatever catches your eye?

Favorite Oscar Dress 2011

Oh, Cate Blanchett. You always look so darn good!

If you had described this dress to me, I would not have thought it looked even remotely attractive. Perhaps it doesn't look like something you should wear to the Oscars, but it is really interesting. I was definitely interested in seeing more which, thanks to the internet for providing instant style-image-gratification leading to over-saturation, does not happen often.

For wearing a space-suit-meets-Grecian-column-dress with horseshoes of pearly baubles thrown on it, she looks amazing!

Who was your fav?

Giving Packing The Cold Shoulder

I am headed to Detroit next week. That's right, this AZ girl will be venturing willingly into cold weather. I haven't gone totally crazy, (well, the jury is still out on that), because I have planned well for the freezing temperatures. (I have been to the 'rents origins in the midwest during 0-10 degree temps, before, so I am not completely green). I already have too many sweaters and scarves and gloves, so I bought a down jacket and rain boots and called it a day.......except that I just checked the weather again and now it will be raining/snowing while I am there! This throws a whole new wrench into the gears and now I am completely second-guessing my preparedness!

This is what I was going to wear:

Calvin Klein Hooded Satin Down Coat. (It is longer on me, which is surprising since I am tall-- it covers the bum). And it's on super-sale if anyone needs a new coat!


Jeffrey Campbell Voom Rain Boot. These are pretty sturdy and comfy (I tested them last weekend when it was rainy here) but not lined or anything, so there will be a lot of layered sock-action going on...

Throw in some lined gloves, scarves, long underwear, and a flask (kidding...maybe) and I feel prepared...but the rain...argg! I guess I just need a little advice from you snow-pro's out there: Do I need a waterproof coat? Can I just bring an umbrella? What in the heck is the difference between "rain/snow" and "snow showers"? hehe

Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Now I am off to finish my packing list... (It's going something like: toothbrush, make that two flasks, wool scarf...) Happy Friday!

Tribal Brain...

Whenever a new collection debuts on one of my favorite websites, such as Anthropologie, I scroll through the new stuff and if I see anything that catches my eye, I right-click on an interesting item to open in a new tab and then review my findings when I am done scanning the collection. (This makes me seem organized, but it is really just a frenzy of scrolling and "ooohs" and "aaahs")...

Anyway, I did this today and found a definite theme linking the items I had opened in the new tabs. My brain must subconsciously be looking for items with a tribal influence:

Neubauten Necklace at ModCloth
(Simple and geometric. I could see this going tribal or super modern)



Sahelian Acacia Shorts at Anthropologie
(It's like a herd of zebra on your butt! Fantastic!?)


Tilda Necklace by Alexis Bittar
(Must. do. neck exercises. to prepare. for. wearing)


Ok, so how many of you have already run out of the house to buy some zebra shorts?! J/K. What themes are playing in your subconscious these days?

50 Most Stylish New Yorkers

I just read Kelly Framel's post on The Glamourai about being chosen as one of Stylecaster.com's 50 Most Stylish New Yorkers. Framel looks adorable in the shoot and, being the highly-adept procrastinator that I am, I wandered over to stylecaster.com to check out the full photoshoot. There are a lot of familiar faces to be seen (hello, Simon Doonan and Olivia Palermo) but there were many new faces as well, and there was definitely some style-inspiration to be had:

Framel (above) is wearing Primary, which was a good move since she is creative director ;)




Palermo beats me again! I need a sheer, preferably pleated, skirt!


Chartreuse + gray (on the left) is a favorite color combo of mine...





Check out the full shoot here! Have you run across anything on the 'Net lately that has inspired you?

A Bright Idea

I don't know if I have necessarily been looking for them, but certain colors have been jumping out at me lately. I am still a fan of that beigey-blush, of minimalist monochromatic looks, and of creamy pale colors for spring, but there is something about fun, bold colors that is making me smile.... Check out my influences from the color-wheel:

Alexa Chung's bright bag really pops against the all-black ensemble...


Keiko Lynn's awesome purple shadow....


Jonathan Saunder's Fall 2011 collection. Check it out here, it's all pretty cool...


Awesome bright, bright berry jacket and pants from The Sartorialist....

Are you into spring colors or still in winter-mode? What has been catching your eye this week?