Friday, September 27, 2013

Fancy Friday

#MariaKolosova seeing spots. Milan.
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Most importantly...Happy birthday to my incredible sister-- She is the best and I couldn't ask for a more amazing one.

Now onto my usual musings....I think my heart skipped a beat when I saw this photo. Of course the dress is beautiful, flirty, retro and fun, but the whole look is just the ultimate cool girl sophistication. Put together without trying to hard. I'm still trying to master that 'effortless' chic look (guess that's a little bit of an oxymoron, yes?)

While the seasons (gasp!) change every year, I still always find myself flummoxed with the transitional temperatures. You'd think by now I would have a system...other than just buying more stuff so I don't have to face making decisions.

I've managed to feel under the weather yet again, so I've got a lot of hot tea, cozy pj's and quality relaxation ahead of me. I know, I am out of control! Hopefully your plans are more fun than that, but I think we can all agree TGIF!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

What Dreams are Made Of

Lately, all I can think about are investment pieces. No, I have not won the lottery or inherited millions {le sigh.} However, I think that as I get older I finally do realize that yes, all those throwaway pieces do in fact add up to at least 2 nice bags a year (if not more.) Granted, this is not new advice at all, but I may actually FOLLOW it now.

There are a few items that I just keep coming back to over and over again. A 'bucket list of fashion' if you will. Now some of them just require a brief shopping hiatus, while others mean spending lockdown for months. I'm thinking of creating a separate savings account just for those big ticket items, so that I can really see my progress. Or something.

Either way...here are a few on my list. What items do you daydream about?

Wish list 2


Friday, September 20, 2013

Fancy Friday

Glamorous Evening Dresses Haute Couture by Mario Sierra

This isn't just a weekend, its THE weekend! One of my absolute best friends is getting married and I can't wait to celebrate her and her soon to be hubby. It makes me feel rather grown-up, as I am quite late to the 'all my friends are getting married game.' I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend!

I can't help being overly excited (yes I KNOW its a cliche by now) about fall. After saying for over 3 years I'll go apple and pumpkin picking, wine tasting, etc, I'm on a mission to finally do it. The perfect fall weather goes by in the blink of an eye, so I'm going to at least try to look up from phone more and actually enjoy the real world around me. Not everything needs to be seen in terms of Instagram-ability (guilty guilty guilty lately!)

Have a fantastic weekend!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Broken Record

Penguins, Oreo's, old movies...there are a lot of fantastic things that are black and white. A perfect combination, perfect contrast, perfect...oh wait, I've done this before here already! So instead of rehashing how much I love black and white together, I'll just direct you to the photos below. Me? I'll be enjoying my milk and cookies.



Blazer: Theory // Sweater: Aro {try this or this} // Coated pants: Zara {identical}

Nail Polish: Essie 'Blanc'
Ring: Consignment {similar} // Cuff: ebay {There's Hermes obvi, but try this or this}

Heels: Topshop

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Power Suit-ed Up

I adored this blazer when I bought it over the summer, but as usual, was a little hasty ripping off the tags. There is oversized, and then there is 'I'm playing dress-up in my Dad's Suit' big. It was unfortunately the latter {minus the fact that my Dad would wear it in a much more suitably manly color.} 

Never fear though! Instead of taking it in for the necessary alterations, I just moved the buttons over and BAM, wearable. However, since it really is still pretty Melanie Griffith "Working Girl" in the shoulders, I had yet to wear it. Waking up to 50 degree weather when it was 90 last week, had me in a scramble! Running late = less time to overthink. Of course, a coral linen 3/4 sleeve blazer will likely get hidden away with the sundresses soon, but at least it didn't take a year to break it out!


Blazer: Emerson Fry // Pants: Bdg 

Bracelet: HRH Collection // Necklace: Vintage 

Nail Color: Essie 'Twin Sweater Set' // Angel Wing Ring: H&M {recent}

Heels: Calvin Klein

Friday, September 13, 2013

Fancy Friday

Pink gown

TGIF!!

Every time I see a Katie Ermilio dress, my jaw drops, my heart beats faster, and the daydreams begin. They are so classically beautiful, but with little modern touches (like bright pink!) Owning one of her dresses is on my bucket list for sure...

I don't know if its because its Friday the 13th or because its finally starting to feel like fall, but my mind is already starting to brainstorm for Halloween. My plans for tonight now seem to involve watching "Hocus Pocus" (for the fiftieth time) and playing dress up. Wait, that's actually pretty much any old night for me!

Have a great weekend!


Thursday, September 12, 2013

Pattern Party

Poufiness. Pockets. Patterns. This dress truly does have it all! Even though the two patterns probably shouldn't work together, they delightfully do. Now, it may be ages before I have any Peter Pilotto or Mary Katrantzou, but this at least gives me a little taste of the pattern play that they both do. This dress was a wonderful score on Gilt last year, amazingly, before midi skirts were all the rage. 

This little number is yet another example of why I love statement pieces (especially when running late!) Instead of endlessly obsessing over options, you just need a few little accents and you're good to go. 

Dress: Nanette Lepore {try this or this}

Rings: Vintage // Nail Polish: Essie 'Midnight Cami'
{Also had to include a shot of the layers underneath the skirt that give it the perfect poufiness!}

Necklace worn as a Bracelet: Spike the Punch 

Ballet Flats: Sam Edelman {try these or these}


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Cherry on Top


For some reason this summer, I decided that I simply had to have a red dress. Not the Jessica Rabbit Hubba Hubba red type of dress, but a classic little red dress. I'm always a sucker for anything with a vintage vibe, and this dress I found at Anthropologie made me swoon. I felt like I'd step right out of the 1940s!
Even better, all the buttons means I can take it from the office to cocktails with just a few quick changes. It has a beautiful delicate leaf pattern that you can barely see, but perfectly ushers in the fall. 
The shoes were a no-brainer. It doesn't get more retro than two-tone t-strap heels! They were my first pair of 'grown-up' shoes, crazily on sale and a present from my mom. I will wear them until they fall apart, and even then probably won't be able to part with them.

Dress: Maple {similar here and here}

Nail Polish: Essie 'Bahama Mama' // Bracelet: J. Crew {try this
// Earrings: Betsey Johnson {try these or these}

{Details of the  print}


Shoes: My favorite (and only!) Chanel heels {these Chanels similar, but more affordable version here}

Friday, September 6, 2013

Fancy Friday

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I have a not so secret crush. A wild crazy love that I want to shout from the rooftops. Yep, Friday. A true love affair that stands the test of time. Of course, now that (As of this weekend!) I am no longer bartending, I'll probably feel the same about Saturdays...

So in addition to the usual excitement about the impending freedom on the horizon, I'm attending the most fabulous rooftop soiree Saturday night. Paris by way of DC if you will. Other than the fact that I'm not a fan of one shoulder anything on me, this photo is pretty much how I imagine my weekend going. Well, that and some quality time with some coffee and a stack of fashion magazines almost as tall as me!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Mix and Match

I woke up wanting to wear this skirt. Not sure if it was the yellow, the fact I still had the tags on, or my love of pleats, but I just HAD to wear it. I wasn't feeling my usual fancy self for some reason. Instead, I felt like a 4 year old girl picking out seemingly incongruous items to form what she believes to be a perfect outfit. A graphic tee and yellow faux leather skirt may not make sense, but it was just the right mix in my mind.

Top: Zoe Karssen {similar} // Skirt: Tibi {in black here}


Nail Polish: Butter London 'Fiver'


Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Super Duper Strength' // Lipstick: Mireness Glossy Kiss

Shoes: Vince Camuto // Toenail Polish: Essie 'Play Date' // Jean Jacket: Zara

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Tweed Indeed

I wish I had this dress in a million colors and fabrics. It makes getting ready for work so easy that I could do it with my eyes closed (and before coffee, this is practically true!) Transitional pieces like these make me think I really could pare the wardrobe down, get rid of those 'what if I need a sequin disco tunic' items, but we all know that is a pipe dream...at least for now!

Dress: Rebecca Taylor {similar}


CuffSimilar {Still a placeholder for my Hermes!}

Ring: Consignment // Nail Polish: Butter London 'Fiver'


Ballet Flats: Sam Edelman {similar here and here} // Jean Jacket: Zara

All About Oxblood

Dress : Petit Bateau {almost identical here } // Jacket : Rachel Zoe {try this , this  or this } // Necklace : Baublebar // Hat...