Friday, January 29, 2010

winter (kate) time


not much to say here except that i am looking forward to seeing in person Nicole Richie's Winter Kate clothing next month. and since it IS almost next month, i'm getting a little twitchy. all the pics i have seen are pretty gorge, and i have my mental eye on a couple of pieces already... and now to add to the list is the leather jacket shown here on Nicole in a pic for British Marie Claire. it looks insanely buttery soft. the jacket, i mean. and Ms. Richie is looking smokin hot herself, i must say...

next stop February. are we there yet?

Thursday, January 28, 2010

there's no place like... the beach


if i put on my ruby red platform pumps and click my heels three times - will i end up at the beach? a remote island somewhere, perhaps? with a seaside cabana, and nice people to bring me things like iced tea? and the sky is perfectly blue, and the sun is sparkling on the bright blue water... and i'm wearing this ridiculously adorable JCrew bikini...(in blue) it's perfect here.

i will not open my eyes and look outside at the snow. i will not let winter beat me. i am keeping my eyes firmly shut, red shoes on, and i am clicking. i am on mental holiday from the winter blahs. feel free to stop by my cabana if you'd like to join me!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

fun fashion fact

the ever fabulous designers for Rodarte, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, are on a ROLL baby. they create gorge and amazing clothes. tis true. the fashionistas of the world, both celebrity and we mere mortals, seem to adore them. true again. they win the 2009 CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award. check. they do a line for Target, that sells out faster than you can say Mulleavy. phew.

but all this is not enough - and SO - from February 11th through March 14th at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum right here in good old N.Y.C, there will be an instillation exhibit, “Quicktake: Rodarte”. it's conveniently located just across the Park from my house, which was very nice of them to do for me.

i say they should just keep on going, and take over the world. why not, right?

cuff joy

it's a bit like a cousin to the bangle. the cuff. they walk a strange fine line between looking amazing, and the possibility of looking like a Roman soldier, or some sort of prisoner... so i think they are best worn in the detailed variety. be it intricate or simple - the success is in the details here.

i have a few cuffs in my jewelry repetoire - ranging from the rock and roll-ish leather and stud variety to the highly polished enamel and rhinestone vintage variety. each has its own special and particular use in the life of yours truly. what i had not yet found was a "daily" version - one that would go with pretty much any outfit and mood. until now - lo and behold - the daily cuff! on my way to somewhere else, i popped into Laila Rowe, hoping to find a necklace i could chop up and make into something else. no such luck in that quest - but what i DID find was my new little wristy obsession, this little feather cuff. i would suggest going to a shop rather than the website, as the selection is infinitely larger - but, as the big red letters proclaiming 75% off might lead you to believe - the prices are DIRT CHEAP and there are some fun finds to be had. my new little friend here? $3.99. yep - you read that right. three american dollars and 99 of their cents.

that, my friends, is "responsible" shopping. (leaving plenty of money left over for when the irresponsible strikes!) hazzah!

ps - kind of love the Black Orchid tie dye jeans as a background...

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

c'est bon ou non, Coco?


i am flittering back and forth between fashion heaven and squish nose looking at the Chanel couture images. some of the pieces, (a few pictured here) are what any girl would want from Chanel: luxurious perfection. some (not pictured) reminded me too much of the fancy tea cakes - the ones you never want to eat, with all their pastel icing and squigglery. but let's just stick with the good stuff, shall we? perfection is usually in the details - and the details here are exquisite. a bit of chiffon or a frayed seam in just the right spot - when it's done this well you almost overlook it, it's so genius. therein lies its beauty. it's like the gift that keeps on giving. i'm not much for the pastel colors - i know, i know, it's a major theme for the season - but i'm not the biggest fan. never-the-less... i could quite easily get past it in order to own any of these pieces.

now... just need to work out how to get my hands on them, and where to go wearing them!
and no, if you were wondering, i would not do my hair like that thank you very much. remember dolls - couture is fantasia!





All Photos: Monica Feudi / Gorunway.com

paris - oh la la cherie




it's haute couture time in la jolie Paris. which of course makes my oft-felt pangs of desire to be there even stronger.

when i lived in Paris, i felt an intense need to go to the Dior store. i knew i wasn't buying anything - but it made me feel tres chic and oh-so-Parisienne. i loved it. (i also went to Chanel to buy my perfume, rather than a dept. store - because - well - it was the CHANEL SHOP) that city is so deeply ingrained in my heart i feel like it's partially home.

anyhoo - back to now. M. Galliano put on quite a show for Christian Dior haute couture. the fun thing about couture shows is that it is balls out (pardon the expression) fantasy. it is like watching a costume-y vision come to life. i love it. and when it's done well it's like a dream. and this one was dreamy indeed.

it's all very equestrian themed - very much English ladies propped up on a horse just to look fab, but with a fun little naughty tweek. (that's how we English ladies roll...) amazing riding coats, long gloves, riding crops -- gorgeous. and the gowns were beyond beautiful. made me feel like i was a little girl again, imagining i am a princess and i'm going to the ball in my new dress... hmm... actually i still feel like that. voila! the power of haute couture!

Monday, January 25, 2010

oh no she didn't!


she is me. and no i didn't -- forget that is.

my numero uno... perhaps you may be thinking "Kate Hudson?" because it seems a number of other people plopped her into their fave dressed spot. i adore Kate Hudson. i adore her day to day style. i do not adore the dress she wore. it covered up all her best bits... i still love you Kate, nothing personal.

my "best dressed" - hands down - of the SAG awards was Christina Applegate. UN - believable. first off she is a bit of a hero to me after going publicly through a fight with breast cancer. she is an inspiration. that makes her even more beautiful than she already was. and icing on the cake on this night - she was absolute perfection. this Roberto Cavalli dress is one of the prettiest things i have ever seen in my life. pretty from the front - and then BAZINGA! on the back, that amazing piece of jewel-work dazzling down her bum. un-real. gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. and if that weren't enough - she has an amazing piece of jewelry in her hair. tip to toe - LOVE.

what a long, strange trip it's been from Kelly Bundy to this picture of perfection!!

SAG-tastic







ok - it seems the ladies did indeed step it up a notch from the Golden Globes to this past weekend's SAG awards. all hope is not lost for Hollywood glamour. maybe it helped that the sun was shining - lord knows that makes me dress a hell of a lot better.

there were quite a bevvy of beauties on the carpet rouge. the choice few were very unique and fit the personality of the lady upon which it was draped - this we like. very much...

Diane Kruger, lovely lady friend of Pacey (oops sorry - Josh Jackson). seriously working the old school Hollywood vibe in Jason Wu. i love the dress, it's perfection. i'm not 100% sold on the color - but she makes it work.

Toni Collette in Rafael Cennamo looked AMAZING. i am obsessed with this dress and i want it. i have absolutely no place to go wearing it - but i LOVE it.

Kyra Sedgewick looked fab in Vera Wang. she always looks good - but this is the first time she has ever been on my list of faves. the whole thing, from hair/makeup to dress was SO simple but absolutely beautiful. also she's my neighbor so i like to support the hood, you know?

Lea Michele from Glee - sigh. i am not one of the people obsessed with Glee. i'm not hatin' on it - i just honestly don't understand the appeal. but that is neither here nor there, as this is about style. and thusly - i'm givin props to this pretty girl in a pretty dress by Catherine Malandrino. she looked like a dark cream puff at the Globes - and i'm glad someone stepped in and got her to show off her body. not only is the dress gorgeous - but the color is AMAzing. love.

ok...i'm not 100% sure if i like this Alexander McQueen dress... part of me does - i love the shock of blue on black, but i'm just not totally there... but since it is Sandra Bullock, and since i have loved her with all my heart since Miss Congeniality, i am going to give it to her.

Helen Mirren is on my list mainly because i want to be her when i grow up. she is a mind bendingly good actress, so good that it hurts. and add to that - she is FLINGIN FLANGIN GORGEOUS. forget all the little 22 year old ingenues - this woman is amazing. and to top it off - check out the earrings - two big pearl drops of different color. she makes me feel faint she's so fantastic.

i've now worked myself into a dither so i must stop... god these award shows are exhausting!

Friday, January 22, 2010

all hail

this photo does two things to me. first, it makes me feel desperate to go to London. i miss it SO much. even in the gloomy weather it appears to be enjoying in this photo... it's just a magical city. secondly, i am reminded of the omnipresence of mz Kate Moss in the world of style. she is really the originator of the modern day boho-rocker-hot-girl. from day one - she just never looks like she tries to hard - and she NAILS it every time she gets dressed. the girl just OOZES style out of every pore in her body. there's definitely a London edge to her version of the style - and i love it.

this outfit really doesn't stand out as one of her bigger style achievements - but it's kind of a perfect example of how a person can exude who they are through their clothes. she's probably just running to the store to pick something up and was hoping not to run into anyone. you can tell she just threw this on and walked out the door, but head to toe, she is just smashing.

long live the Queen.

cheap date


i have a dangerous fixation with drugstores. in any foreign country i have ever visited in my life - i go to a drug store at least once a day. and i end up with a suitcase full of lotions and potions and shampoos and things. the most entertaining was Berlin where i did not at ALL speak or understand the language - so i totally went by the vibe of the packaging. it could have ended badly but overall i did fine.

even here in the States i loves me a good drugstore run. bored and restless on a cold afternoon? nothing a jaunt to the drugstore can't fix. now - i wish with all my heart it were Boots, the UK chain that is hands down the BEST. DRUG. STORE. EVER. but alas, it is not. still works in a pinch. i walk around on days like this for a good long time and look at all the new delights the world of drugstore has to offer. it brings me an odd sense of peace.

on today's run i gave in finally to the grey/black polish idea that i have been avoiding thus far. i have caught myself eyeing many a girl's mani recently, so i figured i might as well go for it. in an effort to be "responsible" i decided to try the Wet&Wild version for a whopping 99 cents. it's called Heavy Metal and it has a little teeny bit of sparkle to it. looks black in the bottle - but it's kind of a crazy grey/blue/black on the nails, and i am smitten. best 99 cents i have spent in quite some time!!!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

a(lba)dorable


this is cute beyond compare. mommy/baby grey hats? adorable. over the knee stripey socks on top of leggings? aDOREable. gartered rain boots (prada no less)? ADORABLE. in short - well played ms. alba. (or mrs. warren, whichever you prefer) you are cuteness personified, a little splash of sunshine on a rainy day.

carry around a good feeling



and a gorgeous bag too! it's a beautiful thing to see that people care about other people. part of looking good is feeling good - and what better way to feel good than to know you are helping someone in need.

from the 21st to the 29th of January - 15% of all sales at Kooba.com will go to Doctors Without Borders to help Haiti. this is an amazing charity -- and a big one considering all medical attention people need there at the moment.

in addition to doing a good deed - these bags happen to be drop dead amazing - i'm particularly fond of this little number here... think of it as Kooba Karma!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

big bangle theory























it is a scientifically proven fact that i am a huge fan of jewelry. i am a fan of layering it on, numerous pieces at once. for some reason it seems most apparent on the wrist. i am a pile-r of bracelets. the more the merrier. the size and style of bracelet varies according to mood, with several pieces that never come off. lately i am feeling drawn back to the bangle... let's call it the big bangle theory... one will not do. two works, three is usually the charm. they clunk around when you move and it is oddly satisfying and comforting. and it looks great too.

i have a happy little collection of bangles (and then sadly some that i gave away throughout the years in fits of cleaning the closet) but it is always fun to add more - and of course always fun to see what is out there...

a few that are top runners in the current obsession category...

this lucite lovely from Alexis Bittar (and as mentioned yesterday - until 1/22 100% of sales go to charity for Haiti!!). i have a couple of the plain lucite bangles and they are light as air, and have a crazy pretty glow to them. LOVE.

last weekend my lovely bf treated me to an amazing steak dinner and a gorgeous necklace from Tiffany. that's just a happy prelude... in the same collection by Paloma Picasso , there are these amazing bangles that do this crazy trick where the etched design changes in the light. cool AND gorgeous. also at Tiffany, these gorgeous Elsa Peretti hardwood bangles lacquered in a variety of colors. simple but beautiful - and beyond satisfying in the clickety clack factor on the wrist!

if you're feeling a little more like a rocker this little number by CC Skye could make its way into the mix...

and on the down low - of the price scale, that is - there is quite the amazing collection at Forever21. some really cute on-point bangles at ridiculously low prices. definitely worth checking out to flesh out any collection of clink-y delights!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

globe-y styles







i'm not sure if i'm jaded... perhaps i am. but the award shows are just not the glam-slam they used to be... maybe they'll bump it up a notch at the SAG awards or the Oscars. i spent the larger portion of my time saying "meh" watching the rainy red carpet parade at the Golden Globes. (and i am pretty much certain that i have become at LEAST 30% more stupid having had to withstand that much drivel from Ryan Seacrest and Guiliani what-ever. (ps - EAT).

AAAAAAAAANYHOO. let's discuss what there was to be salvaged from the puddles, shall we?

in no particular order - the dresses that floated my rainy day LA boat...

Halle Berry in Kaufman Franco. UN... BE...LIEVABLE. this woman could not possibly be more gorgeous. her skin is the prettiest thing i have ever seen. it's flawless. and quite frankly - her boobs are so perfect that i would like to thank them. just for existing. in addition, i would like to thank HER for putting her rockin' body into that dress. she is perfection.

Jennifer Garner in Versace. pretty pretty girl in a pretty pretty dress. stunning dress actually. i'm not always the biggest Versace fan - but this is a killer number. and she is doing it justice. well played lovely, well played.

Olivia Wilde in Gucci. me thinks it might be a bit hard to make this woman look bad. this dress is bad ass - and somehow she pulls it off without looking slutty. and in addition - she's auctioning off the dress to benefit a charity for Haiti. so what we have here is an all around beauty.

Emily Blunt in Dolce & Gabanna. i'm a teeny bit torn on this one - but i'm leaning on the i love it side, so i'm just going to roll with that... some people hated this dress. but there is something juuussst sassy enough about her to pull it off without it being too coy.

Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior. there is not too much to say. except GORGEOUS. woman, dress, color, it's the whole package. avec je ne sais quoi. oui. oui. oui!!

lastly - and SOOOOO not leastly(i think i'm developing a bit of a girl crush) Zoe Soldana in Louis Vuitton. i LOVE this dress. yes, i love the girl, but the dress stands up as an equal to her - and she to it. that is style in a nutshell. the color is amazing and the dress itself is gorgeous. simplicity and intricacy wrapped up into one lovely package.

the rest of the dresses were, for my tastes, too ruffle-y or pouffy or "oh my god what landed on your shoulder-y". and so my fashion court rests. consider the gavel banged. case closed dolls.

do (good)-esday


two for tuesday.

two facts. one: Alexis Bittar jewelry is gorge. two: one HUNDRED PERCENT of sales, through 1/22, will go to charity for Haiti.

it's what they call a no-lose situation. a win/win if you will. i hope you will!

Friday, January 15, 2010

friday fash

this one is short and sweet. just Rachel Bilson looking particularly adorable in Chanel at some sort of diamond party. sometimes Chanel can go overboard with the dresses - but this one hits the near perfect mark for me - it looks so simple, but the closer you look the more beautiful detailing you see. bien joue Chanel.

and on a separate note, this girl is so cute and pretty that i want to have a pocket sized version of her just to carry around with me. major girl crush.

beautiful girl, beautiful dress, happy friday stylies!

posin' in Posen


i saw a teeny bit of a hint of Jean Paul Gaultier's line for Target - and, in a word "ooh la la"... but that is another story for another day...

the story i shall share today is Zac Posen for Target. i'm tellin' ya, these Target peeps have really been on a roll with the designer colabs as of late. ('member the Rodarte collection that sold out in about 4 minutes?) i don't know if they hired a new buyer or what - but they are pullin' out the big guns lately. next up, Mr. Posen.

as with any of these collections, some of the pieces are ADORES, and some "eh"... these pieces are kind of a modern twist on the '80s theme. it's sort of like desperately seeking susan had a baby with boho chic, and they moved to London to raise it. this i like.

particularly digging the snap tape dress - LOVE it, actually. it's making me a bit drooly. also quite enamoured of the sexy sweater dress and the denim jumper. and of course all of it is priced well.

the collection will be available late April - so make your shopping list and get ready dolls.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

NPO


it's allllllllllmost Neil Patrick Harris.... god i love him. but my new term NPO is in fact the anagram for New Product Obsession.

today's NPO is Moroccan Oil. this stuff has been around for a little while, but until a few days ago i had not tried it. i've only got my hands on the original treatment thus far - but i'm hooked. it smells AMAZING. not flowery or fruity, like too many hair products out there. it's a bit exotic/musky. works tres well with my Coco Mlle. perfume. one of its claims that it helps hair dry faster - i thought "not poss." my hair generally takes about a day to dry. seriously. it's ridiculous. but i put this stuff on and lo and behold my hair dried in about an hour. most likely the next try will be the styling serum - smell this good, fight frizz, add a bit of hold to style? yes please!

it's available at salons (listed on their site) and also online at Amazon and Target.

and that is today's NPO.

nudge nudge, wink wink

i used to work in SoHo. extremely dangerous for a lady like myself. factor in 12 years of lunch break/ coffee break/after work walks - and what you have is strong support for the fiscal maintenance of NYC. you're welcome, city of mine. there were, a long time ago, little boutiques in that hood. now it's more of a mall store type sitcho, with boutiques sprinkled in here and there, holding fast to their tiny spaces. those are the places i love. one of said teenies was Wink. i wanted so much to love it - but it was never quite right, it wasn't set up properly and it drove me nuts.

cut to today.... i am a self-employed uptown girl. it is a bright sunny day, so i decided to take a walk to get the blood moving. turned out to be both good and bad. it's frickin freezing out, which i hate. but i did get some fresh air, and did do some re-conn on boutiques along Columbus Ave., including Wink. after driving by it a while ago in a taxi i thought "everyone deserves a second chance". i am glad i went. walked in - LOVE! it's small, but perfectly laid out. not at all crowded, but a good solid amount of stuff. they happen to carry the Plush leggings i mentioned the other day - yum. (they come in denim too- tres cute). i began a mental shopping list which includes an adorable chiffon ruffled skirt. (as soon as it's warm out!) and this supercalafragalistic JJWinters bag. they also have some new House of Harlow jewelry - first time i've seen it in person rather than interwebs - and it (of course) is VERY cute. add to the list? check. i would have added a couple of pairs of shoes to my list, but i have placed myself on shoe probation. so i did not. on top of all the goods, the 2 girls working were great - friendly and helpful but not pushy. my kind of ladies.

it's a little bit of an accessory haven i must say. every time you turn your eyeballs around - there is a bag, a shoe, a scarf or a piece of jewelry to make you say "OOH!! hello!" and thus on this day, new addition to the mental neighborhood of "happy place". a new addition to my sunny day walking route. a fab addition to my stylist's arsenal... who knew addition could be so fun?

uggie choo


the word on the street is that Jimmy Choo is going to be collaborating with Ugg. i am finding it a little hard to imagine - look at the 2 photos, and in your mind - try and create a marriage of the two. or perhaps the child the 2 would create... i can't come up with anything that doesn't make my forehead go a bit squishy with confusion. now don't get me wrong here - i love Jimmy Choo shoes, they are gorgeous. and lord knows i loves me some Uggs. in the darkest depths of winter, i wish i could wear a maggie simpson snowsuit outfit of Ugg.

when the Hunter/Choo collab happened, all we ended up with was a pair of Hunter wellies with the name Jimmy Choo slapped on it... so perhaps it's simpler than i'm trying to make it. i suppose only time will tell.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

a peek inside my head


on a tuesday afternoon.... i'm not on the couch on the 18th floor. my hair is not in a ridiculous pouf pile atop my head (i'm just realizing as i write this that i walked my bf's parents dog with this hair. HOT). there is nothing particularly wrong with the sitcho here... but in my mind, maybe i just got it a little more together today...

let's have a lookie, shall we? ah yes, a cute utility dress from the Gap collection...good place to start. and since it's January, even in my head, a toasty pair of Plush fleece lined leggings (no - i'm not kidding. it's like god turned into a fashion designer) then, perhaps a gorgeous belt from Linea Pelle - probs from the vintage collection. and hey, it's not snowing in my mind, so i'll wear my fave suede booties! toss on a scarf or two from the closet, pile on a bunch of bracelets -- and i'm good to go. to another corner of my mind...

hi, my name is deb. i'm a shoe addict.

eeeeevery time i think i have it under control and utter that foolish sentence to myself "i am totally set now - have all i need", something happens. usually i'm busy doing something else, and BAM out jumps a shoe with which i become obsessed. i try and deny it. i try and forget it. i shop for other stuff. nothing works. at various times i have tried purchasing a less expensive version of the shoe theme. (that, i have finally come to see, is a disaster. each and every time i end up with the original). and so, i give in. i am an addict. i am powerless. that's the first step. and taking that step, my feet look fabulous.

the shoe du jour, that jumped out and bit me while i was looking for a kimono jacket, were these little Elizabeth and James sandals. i know i have yammered on in the past about how amazing Elizabeth and James is - so i will not repeat myself here. however - those little Olsesn chicks have again rocked my casbah with this one. i have been a fan of the "ankle strap as jewelry" idea on sandals forever. i think it is beyond sexy. i also once had a male friend of me tell me that the toe strap was the single sexiest invention of mankind. so this shoe pretty much guarantees the sexiest foot in town. add to it my yet-to-be-found kimono style jacket and pair of cropped jeans or khaki pants? deep sigh. i feel pretty.... oh so pretty....

Monday, January 11, 2010

welcome back old friend!

sometimes you revisit an old friend, and you realize you really did like them after all. in this case, i'm talking about jeans. not a huge surprise there, as it is a wardrobe staple pour moi. i have been on a major kick of NOT buying jeans because i felt my roster was full. however, sometimes the best things in life come when you're not looking for them.

a good friend of mine recently lost a lot of weight, and we are currently working together re-tooling her wardrobe, to fit both her new fab frame, and her new lifestyle. she is working from home these days - but of course, still needs to look fantastic for the occasional meeting. and just to be fantastic in general. SO - we were perusing the racks, diligently piling up a nice stock for her to try on, and i was being responsible and not piling. that is, until i saw these JBrand tie-dyes. i have eyed them in several magazines and a myriad of websites. and they were marked down 60%. my friend told me point blank not to be stupid and to try them on. i did - and immediately the love returned. why had i cast JBrand out in the first place? i do not recall. some sort of rash decision on my part. all i can say is - welcome back old friend. it's so nice to have you in my life again!

ps - we scored her several new pieces for the new wardrobe - a job well done by all.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

sleeping beauty


i used to have to fly a lot for work. a LOT. at the time, i was totes into it. i like hotels (sometimes i actually miss hotel stays) and i like exploring new places. was not in love with the flying part, but ya can't get there from here without doin' that...

on some of the longer flights, and in the hotels, it was hard (but wildly necessary) to sleep. and thus i developed my habit of wearing a sleep mask. started off slowly, with the ones they give you on overnight flights to Europe. it's nice of them - but the masks are crap. i bought a couple here and there, but there was always something not quite right. itchy tag, not great material, awful strap, you name it. and then, once upon a time, on a trip to LA, like the little bear in the story, i found one that was juuuuuuuuust right. lovely silk mask with a comfy cotton liner, and a perfectly comfortable strap - not too tight, not too loose. you will sleep like the fairy tale princess with one of these bad boys on.

who makes these? where can i get my hands on one? you might ask. and i shall answer! i found my Chris Notti eye mask at Larchmont Beauty in LA. if you are not there at the moment - fear not! the interwebs has kindly granted us access once more to things far away. there is quite the deliriously lovely selection of prints on the site. bring on the sweet dreams!!!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

sales and pondering

ah well. the bird that i heard that mentioned the word of an additional 30% off at Bergdorf's was mistaken... sad, but probs for the best in terms of shoes i should not be purchasing. there were, however - some great markdowns - and some amazing new stuff, including some fun new jewelry on the 5th floor, "5F" as they like to call it - including Jennifer Zeuner. i always like finding someone new whose stuff i may not have seen - and i have to admit i spent some time looking at her pieces. so much so that it distracted me from the shoes on sale. WHAT?! (as a little aside - there is also a great selection of her jewelry online at singer22)

i'm in the resto at B'dorfs, waiting for my friend Laura in our meeting place of choice for hightea service. i am staring at a table of 3 women. i wonder (as i often do in B'dorf's) where in the world they get their money... married into it? family? can't quite figure it? these ladies fall squarely into the category which proves one of my commandments. "money does not equal style". now -- this works both ways. there are skads of girls on the streets of NY, London, Paris who ooze style - it wafts around them like a heady perfume. they are not decked out in designers or the latest trend. they're in things they've most likely altered themselves. (a fave passtime of yours truly) and they are wearing what will most likely be the NEXT trend. on the flip side of the coin - there are the tragically rich. they ooze money. they have expensive hair, makeup, clothes, the works. and not one ounce of style. i wish there a word for it. what it is, is a sloppy rich mess.

until Laura arrives to block my view - i can't take my eyes of the 3 such creatures. one may or may not be that Fantasia person from American Idol. there's a blinding amount of enormous chunky jewelry. the other 2 are blonde. fully (overly) made up - artfully (overly) coiffed. attempting to be casual with Uggs - but missing the mark with the contrived "outfits" and dizzying amounts of diamonds and fur. (of note, the hideous atrocity that is a poncho made out of a multitude of furry tails. it's literally an ass poncho and looks thus) they believe it all works. it makes me feel a little bad for them.

all the money in the world clearly could not buy them an idea of style. i sit and sip my water, and mentally rifle through what i am wearing. an old thermal undershirt that i shredded the neck off; an old Missoni tunic thrown on top of it; an ancient beloved cashmere hat stretched almost beyond regognition; a scarf from H&M; my Levis jeans, and rubber snow boots. Laura arrives and squeals that she could spot me from the entrance by how much style i was projecting
across the room. i smile and i feel like a million bucks.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

award show 101


it's a bit like a warm up - it lets people get back into practice for award show dressing... (and allows others who are not deemed worthy of big boy and big girl awards to play) i speak, my stylies, of the People's Choice Awards. it's usually a fun watch, and sure it's a fun idea - to have the fans pick the winners... but there are some very un-worthy people in the world these day with fans - so let's not give them tooooo much credit, eh? (yeah i'm talkin to you - Jersey Shore wretches!!)

HANDS DOWN winner -- Dianne Kruger. a gorgeous woman in a Herve Leger dress is a bit hard to not love. but man, did she do it justice. the loose hair - ADORES. jewelry from H&M? more-adore! i know it's ridiculous that i love her even more so because she is dating Pacey/Peter Bishop/Joshua Jackson. but i do. so there. also big ups to cute little Taylor Swift. i'm totes late on her bandwagon - but i can't get enough of this little lady. she is so sweet - and this Jenny Packham dress makes her look amazing. the Louboutin heels help seal the deal by making her legs look 40 miles long.

in the hmmmmmmmm..... category - Katie Cassidy. i have to admit i am a teeny bit obsessed with this girl. part of it is my lingering adolescent fixation with Melrose Place, in its new incarnation. her character rocks. part of it is that she's David Cassidy's daughter. and part of it is that she's flingin flangin GORGEOUS. the hmmm comes in with this dress. first let me say i LOVE the hair, although i'm really not sure it works with this dress... just a bit too much goin on all over the shoulder-y vicinity. second - the dress by Talbot Runhof. when she is turned sideways like this, i kind of dig it... full frontal - not so much. it's like two dresses met up and had an illicit affair that created a confused bastard child dress. so i'm left a bit bewildered.

and then there's Jessica. oh Miss Alba. you are so pretty. you could probably wear a potato sack and look good. i wish you had. in addition to the fact that you need to eat several cheeseburgers, because we do not want to see your skeleton from the outside, this dress is taking away from your pretty. i love your pretty. but looking at this i think "holy hip hell!" and "hey wait - don't bend over or lift your arms!". on the plus side - LOVING your Burberry Prorsum shoes.

phew. ok - that's enough for now. for more pictorial delights visit the People's Choice site. and then set your style radars for the Golden Globe/SAG/Oscar trifecta!!!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

inner turmoil

allow me to begin by saying this does not necessarily mean i will BUY anything (i'm saying that mainly to myself, to stay strong in ye olde resolve)... just that i will LOOK. because things are pretty and i like to look at them...

i heard a little word from a little bird that things (in particular SHOES dolls.) will be marked down an additional 30% on Friday. so do your own math - but mine equals almost free. as i said, all efforts will go into my vision quest and not the purchase.

the 2nd floor of Bergdorf's is really nothing shy of my nirvana. it's always a bit too hectic in the entrances and on the first floor - but then you get on the escalator, cruise up slowly - and then step off onto the magic carpet of shoe dreams. makes a gal's eyes go wide every time. add to this, the glance to the right to catch sight of the sale racks, and beginning friday that little sign atop each rack that says "additional 30% off" - the feeling is indescribable. sigh.

tick tock. is it Friday yet?

mind the gap!






2010 resolution: to be conscious of my spending. i am holding strong. ok, ok. it's week 1. it's easy to be strong in week 1, when it's frankly too cold to go out and shop anyway ... and all the January sales are rolling around on the internet...but still i am holding strong damn it.

i sit and dutifully read all my magazines, daily reports, scour the interwebs, search and research. in addition to wistfully wanting the weather - i also want the fashion of spring/summer. a few of the prevalent themes (don't really like the word trend...) that i am particularly adoring are lingerie styles (remember the dress yesterday?), denim denim denim (LOVE), patches on said denim (so much better than shredded holey jeans), and khaki. these will all no doubt feature in the way i put myself together in the coming months.

NOW the dilemna... sure i can lustily peruse the denim shown by designers (thank you style.com for putting it all in one place so i can throw out my 400 tear sheets from mags)... but will i BUY Chloe or Chanel jeans? with patches???? probs not... and will i buy the amazing Balmain jacket i wrote lustily about a while back? doubtful, unless a nice boat filled with money floats my way... thus my mind wandered. and it ended up at the Gap.

i'm not always a fan of the idea of shopping at the Gap, because of the easy access factor. if everyone and their sister has access to it - everyone, including that sister, will look the same. i like to look different. but recently they have really kicked it up a notch, and have produced a few pieces each season that are a bit perfect. and that can be styled in a myriad of ways to keep the look unique. tres bien. i actually love their jeans - they fit amazingly well. and this pair? adores. and a throw it on over anything denim shirt is something i have been needing ever since i lost mine in some sort of absent minded purge of a few years back. finally - not leastly - this little dress could be sexied up quite right - heels and piles of jewelry and a scarf? good to go dolls.

and so, in the interest of remaining true to my resolve, i believe these pieces will do a spectacular job of satiating my thirst. i love it when i'm responsible! (but um...boat of money - if you're out there and listening - you can float my way. i do still love that Balmain...)

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

cat on a hot tin roof




there is something particularly sexy about the lingerie of the bygone era. these days it all looks a bit trashy, if you ask me. and by reading this, you have - so there - i said it! a lady lounging around in a chiffon robe, ever so slightly undone, with a silk nightie underneath, hair a bit messy - THAT's how to do it if you ask me. very cat on a hot tin roof sexy. hot, languid - all WOMAN

there is a lot of lingerie influence going on right now in clothing - and i LOVE it. in the OH-SO hyped (so hyped that it sold out stock and re-stock) Rodarte collection for Target, there is a nice healthy dose of it. i know i've gone on about the collection more than once - but i had to mention it just once more because i FINALLY got my shipment (ordered the first day it came out!!) and i am obsessed with this dress for all the above mentioned reasons.

the pics barely do it justice. it was not one of the majorly photographed pieces in the line, plastered everywhere in ads, so i almost overlooked it. i'm SO glad i didn't. i liked it enogh in the pics to order it- but when i pulled it out of the package - i actually said "OOOOOH!" out loud. it reminds me of something that might be hidden in a corner of my granny's closet. it looks and feels old-fashioned in the best possible sense of the word. and the fit goes right along with that - it's perfectly fitted and flattering, and drapes in an extremely sexy retro way.

the long and short of it is - i LOVE this dress and am a little giddy with thinking of the next piece i will find for the tenessee williams spring/summer version of myself!

Monday, January 4, 2010

clean up on aisle 4!!



i would like to start by saying i applaud the thought. you worked hard to get that body - and kudos to you for doing that. i have seen a number of pics of you in with said new bod where you look freakin hot. over 40 and twins? rock on sexy.

that being said, (apologies to Larry David, who hates that phrase) um... not really getting this
"starry night up my cooch" choice of stage-wear. i widen my style scope considerably when a performer is on stage, probs because of my theatre background. it's costume - by nature it has to be bold. looking at this sparkly catsuit initially reminds me of Briteny's get-up in the Toxic video. that was HOT. beyond hot. sexy to the sexieth degree. so what went wrong here? it doesn't FIT right. her body is bangin. but the damn thing does not fit. camel toe in front of a billion (or however many there were) viewers is not ok. i have a few irrational terrors in life. one of them is camel toe. it makes me have anxiety. thus - i cannot fathom the stylist who put this beautiful woman in this get up and said "ok - go on international tv". i get that you want to show it off - and i love that - i support it fully. pull a Demi Moore in Charlie's Angels 2. put on a bikini and prance around - if you got it - work it. but it needs to fit.

proving the point - the blue corduroy here - gorgeous. it fits perfectly and flatters immensely.

stylies, let this be a lesson to us all. we must make sure our clothes fit correctly. in the effort to exude sex appeal, let us not fall victim to the toe of the camel. credo for '10.