Look for Colonel Mustard in a Dress

As far as I'm concerned, Anthropologie has an invisible Greek siren out front that calls to me every time I am near one. I am seriously not capable of walking past a store, and once I go in, I find a million dresses that I want, putting my credit card balance on the rocks. This is my current favorite for fall:


I'm digging the waist-defining sash with the flower, and the simple graphic print on the skirt. I'm also convinced that mustard yellow is an underrated fall color. If it's the right shade--not too bright or sunny--it goes well with any skintone, and especially complements those with dark or red hair. In this dress, it's a small amount not near to the face (besides the smidge in the trim along the v-neck) that draws attention to what is probably the smallest part of most women's bodies. Also, the puffy skirt hides wide hips and thighs. The earth tones will also lend themselves well to being paired with a cardigan once the weather really turns chilly. Making my dreams of a perfect fall dress more than just a myth.

The Catalog Cult

So when you've been a J. Crew fan since middle school, getting their latest catalog in the mail is like a religious experience. Most catalogs I flip through as soon as I get inside after checking my mailbox, and then it goes in the trash, because really, I can find it all on the company's web site, anyway.
But my J. Crew catalog is special. It goes in my pile of magazines to be lazily enjoyed later, curled up on the couch, as I drink in every page while sipping on a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Seriously, right now my J. Crew catalog is sitting beside my bed, underneath my copy of Harper's Bazaar, patiently waiting its turn. This kind of thing can't be rushed. I'll look through it once, and then save it to look through again at a later date. Or maybe rip out a few pages to put on my wishlist.
This little gem I stumbled across on their web site has me a little bit giddy.

Simple. Feminine. I love it.

Will There Be Purple Suede and Feathered Hats Involved?

When I was in high school, my boyfriend was the kid with the Zebra Car. Everyone knew about his ride. It was a white Acura on the outside, but inside it had furry zebra seat covers (front and back!), seatbelt covers, a steering wheel cover, floor mats, pillows (!), and dice. It was totally what a zebra pimp would drive if he lived in the suburbs.
So this is what I thought of when I first heard about Bruce Gregg's Zebra Collection. It's basically a luxury resort brand where all (or almost all) the pieces feature zebra stripes in some form or another. So far there's activewear, shoes, handbags and eyewear. And I have to admit, I'm intrigued. Black and white is classic enough to go with anything, and animal prints are great for resort collections. I hope to see many intriguing interpretations of the recognizable stripe pattern in the future.
I think I may finally be ready to look at zebra prints without having flashbacks to the most awkward time of my life. Thank you, Mr. Gregg, for introducing me to the luxury side of the jungle.

Tiptoe in the Tulip...Shoes

Graceful, glamorous shoes are harder to come by than one might imagine. Severe stilettos, pointed toes, and countless buckles make modern women's shoes look tough... like they might shake down my vintage shoes for their lunch money if I closed the closet door and left them all in the dark together.
That said, this week is discovered Marcello Toshi footwear on sale at Bad Joan. And I realized just how graceful shoes can be, and why there are so many parallels between fashion and architecture. My favorites are all flower-themed, but designer Kerry Clarkson Valdivia does fabulous other looks as well. It's been a while since I've browsed a whole shoe collection and not been able to pick a favorite because I just loved them all.


Neutral-colored shoes are coming back in style now, and are great to wear with a dress--they make your legs look like they go on for miles. This pair has the soft rounded toe in the front, but then a cascading drop of crocheted roses down the heel adds something (besides the obvious) to grab a little attention as you walk away.
Wearing this shoe is like standing in the center of a blooming flower, or maybe even a seashell, a la The Birth of Venus (personally, I recommend wearing a little more clothing). Plus, the neutral color makes it a unique shoe that actually works with everything in your closet, unlike those "unique" neon yellow wedges I bought two years ago that only kinda go with one or two outfits.


Kitten heel, rounded toe, rounded petal details, neutral color... this has 50's glam written all over it. And maybe "Lucy Ricardo" written on the bottom (anyone else remember that episode?). Of course, 50's glam means they're still suitable for cleaning the house in.

Of course, a lot of the 50's housewives were former Rosie the Riveters, so maybe us modern girls would be better off holding onto our own lunch monies when the lights go out.

EVOOHHhh, notsomuch

So when I first heard about the Rachel Roy collection for Macy's, I was all, "Man, that cooking lady just won't be satisfied until she brands her name onto everything! What a sellout!" Blah, blah, blah. And it wasn't until I actually saw photos of the collection that I actually slowed down and, you know, *read* the actual text. So, I feel the need to apologize to Ms. Ray for any bad karma I might have inadvertently sent her way.
That said, I'm not only pleased with the Rachel Rachel Roy collection, but I'm loving the prices ($59-$300) and tearing Google apart trying to figure out when the footwear and handbags will go on sale. I stumbled across a fantastic post by Nitro:licious featuring photos taken in the showroom back in April (which I am shamelessly reposting here).

I LOVE those studded black heels. The tie in the back keeps them a little feminine.

Those blue suede booties? Fantastic color. The purple looks promising, too. Elvis would be proud.



I WANT THAT BLACK HANDBAG. The chains and metal logo are just enough to be a *little* tough, but not too much. Plus, it looks like you can fit a lot in that thing. Not that the contents of my handbag look like they belong to a 70-year-old grandma. *cough*

While I'm twitching in anticipation for these accessories to hit the shelves (if they haven't already...but they're not showing up on Macys.com) and drooling over the Lookbook, I'll also be wishing the Chain Tee came in other colors, and totally pretending I have somewhere to wear the Origami Neck Dress. And maybe making some pasta. I have a sudden disabling craving for some garlic bread.

And Quite Strapping, to Boot

I'm a big fan of keeping style simple, but that's no reason to go all plain Jane. Everywhere I look, I see boots with buckles, straps, studs, and other embellishments. Now that skinny jeans make it so the pants go inside the shoe, boots can take center stage.


These Charlotte Russe Buckled Flat Boots are simple--and most importantly, affordable--with a low heel, simple cuff, wrapped straps, and metal hardware. These would be great for everyday wear, since they are are neutral color and have a very minimal heel, plus I love the horsebit hardware. Just because these are inexpensive doesn't mean they have to be boring. Also, the synthetic material means you don't have to stress about rainstorms/snowstorms ruining your shoes.



Black leather boots are pretty much the epitome of badass when it comes to footwear, but these Jenna Strappy Boots from bebe are the toughest girly shoes I've ever seen. These babies turn F*ck Me Boots into I Dare You To F*ck With Me Boots with a stacked platform and a 5.5" stiletto heel. But below all those leather straps and three metal buckles is a soft suede underbelly. Because every girl has a softer side, right? RIGHT? You know what, I think the jury's still out, Biker Barbie.



I'm a sucker for a great pair of equestrian boots, even though I find the concept a little strange. As someone who rode horses as a teenager, I had a pair of leather riding boots, but any functioning pair of riding boots is unfit for the eyes (and nose) of the public. However, I'm putting these Tawny Acres Boots by Schuler & Sons on my wishlist for fall. They've got a simple strap, a buckle, and ring, plus a small heel and (functioning) bootstraps. I'm itching to wear these with my fall floral dresses. The great neutral shade of the leather would make them work with any outfit, plus the loose style of the calf will make them fit easily over jeans. Win-win.


These short, Rusttik suede booties from Steve Madden come pre-distressed, which eliminates that sinking feeling you get the first day wearing a new pair of shoes, when you get home and realize you scuffed the toe/heel/whatever and lament about how you can never have nice things. (What, like I'm the only one?) Besides, boots with a 4" heel, three buckles, three straps, and a mess of studs just shouldn't come in pristine condition. These shoes have seen harder days. They're tough. From the streets. Where people don't care about things like spelling and suede-protecting sprays.

These Marie Buckle Tall Boots from Lucky Brand are what inspired this boot-themed post in the first place. These look like simple black boots with a big gold buckle and a 3" stacked heel (which seems to be the average height of all the boots listed here), but the devil is in the details: the little studs along the inside of the heel, the single studs on the bootstraps, the contrast stitching up the side, the tiny little buckle that's holding the big buckle in place. Yeah, I'm not sure how that works, either. But it's cute. And shiny!


Now I just have to pull myself up and find some places these boots can be a-walkin' to.

A Little Plaid-clad Tart

When I look at Tartan plaid, I can smell crisp fall breezes and hear the sound of leaves scattering under my feet with a satisfying *crunch*. I see college students hurrying across the quad, books clutched tightly, eager to get to the first day of classes.
These were my immediate (unrealistic, catalog-esque) thoughts when I saw the new handbag collection from Dooney & Bourke, multiple shapes done with different colors of plaid fabric. Although this seems to be a different look than what they've done in the past, I am absolutely in love with it. And since cloth costs less than leather, these bags are at lower price points than other D&B collections ($32-$165).
The style to the right is my favorite, the Betty bag. It's a great way to incorporate a classic fall pattern into your wardrobe without resorting to a pleated skirt--that's just overkill. Unless you're just dying to be a part of my picturesque fall fantasy. In which case, you'll find me in the library, color-coding my notebooks after class.

Fall for These Boyfriends

Nothing beats the feeling of your body and arms wrapped snugly in your boyfriend....blazer. This trend isn't brand spanking new for Fall '09, but I can't imagine that it will be over any time soon. Frankly, it's a style that's tailor-made for fall, the time everyone associates with crisp tweeds and school uniforms. Since moving to Los Angeles, I've been worried that I won't be able to dust off my fab blazers and coats and scarves from previous NYC winters (although I have been assured that it does, in fact, get cold in L.A.). These are the pieces I'm pining over for this fall season:


The day J. Crew doesn't make an attractive blazer is the beginning of the end for preppy fashion. This particular piece has me hooked because of its casual-but-not-too-casual look plus the ever-wearable shade of gray. This is the kind of jacket that can be paired with a nice satin top and skirt to bring the outfit to a happy medium between too dressy and too beachy. And don't forget a chunky, colored necklace.



This blazer from Urban Outfitters makes me think of the mod 60's, in sort of a Twiggy-meets-Andy Warhol king of way. I love how the black and white tweed conjures up a paint-splattered look, as if the wearer was an effortless artist, stepping out of the house in the midst of a fantastic project. A pair of colored Ray-ban Wayfarers, heavy black eyeliner, and a skirt (similar to the one on the model) would keep the look retro without going over the top.





Have you ever bought a coat with an adorable lining and wished you could wear it inside-out? This blazer from ABS is purposely designed with a generous cuff to display its fresh, striped lining. This little detail keeps the piece from taking itself too serious or severe, which is always a worry with the boyfriend-blazer trend (you don't actually want to look like you're wearing a man's suit coat). Pairing a tailored blazer with a pair of jeans and ballet flats keep the look feminine. I personally like wearing a string of pearls with mine, since a simple strand never goes out of style (especially in the South!).
(photo from chickdowntown.com)

Now if only these boyfriends could change the oil in my car, they'd be perfect.

To Catch A Chic Case

As a child, my family had a set of hardside Samsonite luggage* that we used every time we traveled (which was 98% by car). Everything was a dull mustard yellow, and each about 50 pounds completely empty. I think I was about 10 years old when I realized that these suitcases were probably twice my age, at best, from that time in the 70s when Baby Puke Yellow was the height of chic. But the one piece I always had an odd fascination with, partly because I was able to help my parents by carrying it into the hotel room all by myself, was the makeup/toiletries case. It was small, but big enough to hold all of my mother's 1980's arsenal of makeup and hairspray, had a million compartments and pouches around the inside, and a little mirror in the lid. Not only that, but it satisfyingly latched in the front with two silver, metal levers that popped in and out could take your finger off if you weren't careful.

These are the memories that came flooding back to me when I stumbled across this beautiful Cole Haan Raleigh Train Makeup Case. It's like the chic version of my memories, like something you would have seen Grace Kelly carrying in a Hitchcock film. But although it looks like something you might find in mint condition at a vintage store, this is a new arrival to the 2009 Cole Haan collection. The inside has a nice mirror, although is sadly short on pockets for the 3,000 curlers, sprays, and pomades it would take to get your hair into a Grace Kelly-esque hairstyle. But at least this one looks like it will open and close without the threat of injury, not to mention the soft leather exterior.

Although you don't have to take the train to rock this fabulous piece, I can't help but get visions of blonde damsels in distress wearing white gloves, headscarves, and big sunglasses when I look at it.

*I'm pretty dang sure my parents still have this luggage set in the basement somewhere.

In Which Grapes Become Whine

As I've mentioned before, purple is a hot color this fall, especially in accessories. This Bottega Veneta handbag has me itching for fall to get here faster. As the ladies of Purse Blog pointed out, the Fall 2009 line "is soft, romantic, and at times eccentric." Which is exactly how I feel looking at this Grape Intrecciato Chantilly Karung Bag. The sheen of the leather and lushness of the color are the epitome of fall fashion, plus I love the ruffle effect on top of the braided leather. Also, the size looks good enough to hold the essentials without being too bulky. I really appreciate how bags are trending larger now, since I hate having to find creative ways to fit more than a few credit cards and a lipstick into a tiny bag, but I also hate tromping around looking and feeling like a horse with an overstuffed saddle bag. Not to mention the awkwardness of trying to maneuver through a crowded store with a large, swinging tote. Very un-glamorous. I'll take the middle of the road, please?

Do the Twist

Forever 21--a retailer already known for its trendy, inexpensive clothes--recently launched Twist, a group of monthly themed capsule collections. To kick off the fun, the first batch is called Cirque 21, a colorful group of designs inspired by the Big Top. Although some of the pieces seem better suited for a costume party than streetwear, isn't that what Forever 21 is all about? Here's a few of the items caught my eye.

Vests are another fall trend that won't be dying any time soon. The buttons and faux-lapels/pockets on this one make it unique, while the gray color makes it wearable with almost anything. I am thisclose to buying one for myself.

Red and black is always a classic color combination, while the mini checkerboard plaid print keeps this piece on trend. And the ruffles along the button placket, collar, and chest keep it feminine. Although the length suggests it would look good paired with skinny jeans, it would also look stunning tucked into a black skirt.

A uniquely cut jacket is very Michael Jackson, but without the gold thread and shoulder pads. But button details suggest MJ, but the color, cropped hem, and bell sleeves keep it street-ready. (Although I'm not sure how I feel about the zipper in the middle. Would functioning buttons really be too much to ask for?)

Although it's hard to tell in this picture, the black lace of the skirt keeps the whole dress from being frumpy. Bonus points for being work-appropriate.

I want to build a time machine so I can go back in time and wear something this fabulous and inexpensive to a homecoming dance. Actually, I did wear something purple and shiny, but it was floor-length and heavy and had many sequins. And probably cost my parents three times what this dress would.