Tuesday, December 28, 2010

more fun than a barrel of monkeys

and i love monkeys.  Boutiques.com is pretty freakin cool i have to say.  have a look at the-e-stylist boutique i set up, browse a bajillion products, and best of all - if you like something but not the price, there's a similar style feature that can help you find other products. i just did a little fantasy Missoni tour and am currently lusting after this caftan that would just be perfect for a honeymoon...  there are a bunch of celebrity boutiques as well - it's a fun little diversion but i must warn you that it could possibly lead to some spendy time... not that there's anything wrong with that!

one more ho for the road

the gifting holidays may be over, but maybe you have some gift cards burnin' a ho ho hole in your pocket.  luckily, stores galore have sales going on at the mo.  so strap on your wellies or snow boots, or get your clicky fingers ready and SHOP the sales darlings.  all the biggie department stores are working their mojo.  and some of the boutiques are going deep on the discounts.  one such example is Intermix, offering an extra 40% off already reduced merch, both in stores and online.  that, my dears, is up to 80% off.  that is the kind of math that i like. a few ideas for the picking - super hot grey wool D&G dress, snuggly buttery leather Vince jacket, perfect little Rebecca Minkoff bag.  BOOM you're dressed for a night out.   so on dasher and dancer and prancer and vixen - ride me to the sale!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

sparkle-tastic

diamonds are forever.  diamonds are a girl's best friend.  diamonds are super fantastic, no argument from me - BUT diamonds also happen to be on the pricey side.   don't get me wrong -  for the right time/reason/occasion you can't beat a (conflict free please!!) diamond.  however - given a lady's desire to have a bit of twinkle on any given occasion - other options need to come into play.   let's say you feel the need to have a nice dose of twinkle for a night out.  choices:  a) a royal relative sadly passes, you come into a massive inheritance and you go drop a fist full of money on the real deal OR b) you come back to reality and you go the equally sparkly route of a crystal wrist-full of Nadri bangles.  need a little extra light dancing around your face?  choices: a) win the lottery OR b) the old "real life" option - a pair of Adriani Orsini earrings or perhaps a tennis necklace...  there are always the lower price point options at any high street store that can fit the bill - but if you want it to last past one or two fiestas - it might be worth your while to spend a bit more.... cost per wear you will get more bling for your buck.  and a twinkle on top.



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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

boot up!

i'm borrowing from Barney Stinson here people.  as one of the best characters EVER on tv - one needs to quote when one can.  and since i don't really ever "suit up!" - let's doctor it to "suit me" (haha) better and say BOOT UP! 

we know it's winter.  the first official day.  we know i hate cold.  and i know you most likely do too.  in the constant battle to stay stylish in this bastard weather - one of the key players in any girl's army is the boot.  styles galore to suit (oh, i'm sorry) your every need.   some of my favored obsessions are pictured above.
what shoe story would be complete without some Louboutin?  how about these cute bootie devils, on sale no less, at Saks... or the black classic, wear forever shape courtesy of one of my nirvana spots - the shoe salon at   Bergdorfs.   in line with classic shapes, one of my go-to favorites is the Matilde boot by Loeffler Randall, i love this saddle color, but i have them in grey also and they go with EVERYTHING.  lest we get bored by the classics -- i know i tend to -- another gem mined from Barney's,  Fiorentini and Baker keeps the world a more interesting and happy place for me.  these pirate boots are a major presence in my winter world, as are their over the knee boots.  speaking of which, i posted about these babies from Sam Edelman a while back, but lo and behold they are on sale now at Bloomies, so i would be a very naughty e-stylist indeed if i did not remind you... and you do know Christmas is coming so i cannot risk that.  the right boot can make all the difference so venture forth and find what works and wear it with all your stars out!

ps - to look for simliar shapes in prices all over the map - check out ShopStyle.com

Thursday, December 16, 2010

wintery wonderland wedding

it would be rather absurd to assume that Nicole Richie would not look AMAZING at her wedding. the girl can dress. she wore 3 different Marchesa creations over the course of the evening (anyone who is saying that's ridix - please, like you wouldn't if you could?? let's just call it the playing dress up chance of a life time). images have been released of one dress - tres Grace Kelly and classic - and drop dead gorge. after a while of teetering on my list of faves, this lands Marchesa in a firm top level spot. well played mz Richie. or should i say mrs. Richie-Madden. ab fab darling.




Monday, December 13, 2010

happy Haute Hippie holiday



sometimes Santa comes early and the gift he brings is the gift of saving some money while getting something super fantastic to wear to any holiday party you may need to attend.  (better than a candy cane, right?)  case in point - one of my fave labels Haute Hippie is going to be on one of my fave saving sites HauteLook tomorrow.  if you have not yet checked out the site - do it - it's a member sale site, like an online sample sale venue - amazing prices on gorge bits and bobs.  and Haute Hippie - well the name says it all.  LOVES IT.  part of the fun of the game with HauteLook is getting on there nice and early and seeing what pieces they have up for grabs....  will these lovelies be on there?  could be... and you can bet your silky sparkly bottom i will be on there first thing to find out!

(ps if all else fails - both ShopBop and Bergdorfs have a great selection!)

Friday, December 10, 2010

one for you...one for me




i LOVE giving gifts. i love the search for the perfect idea - i love the stumble upon the perfect thing. at this time of year - my one problem lies in the act of going into the store. it's like being on Santa psychadelics or something. i go in, to Saks for example, with a very specific idea of a cute new ornament for someone (obvs cannot name them for what if they read this?!). the one above is super NY wintery fun and who can resist the beautiful holiday decor in there?!? anyhow - head down - very focused on entering the store. uh oh. something catches my eye and distracts me. and then we're off to the races people. a full HOUR later and i leave completely dazed, content and thanks to the lovely Robert at La Mer, beautifully moisturized for the next few months... it is probably best for my wallet and general sanity if i focus my shopping efforts online... i blame the twinkly lights...

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

the one that got away...

nope, not a lost lover. don't lament any of those - i am happily engaged. i'm talking shoes here kids. shoes. when i went and did the event at Neiman Marcus Last Call Studio with Refinery29 (my guest post is up - super fun - check it out) i scored some seriously delicious items. of note - most wearable: Vince cashmere. most in-love-able: Badgely Mischka leopard print bag. alas, as sometimes happens in life --- i left something behind. and seeing the amazing pictures by their photographer Mark reminded me with an echoing THUMP how much i "shoulda"... THESE BLOOD RED JOIE SHOES. if a picture paints a thousand words, then every word is shoe.

Monday, December 6, 2010

cold weather inspiration...

courtesy of Sienna Miller - how to look cute even when it is terribly, horribly cold outside. 


let's just say that winter is NOT my favorite season.  more than any other feeling, i hate feeling cold.  on the flip side, i don't feel particularly stylish in a coat that looks like a sleeping bag and Ugg boots.  granted there are days where that is literally the ONLY thing that can get you from point a to point b without frostbite, but let's hope those days can be counted on one hand.  i am waging a battle upon the cold this year - and am taking heart in the site of the ever adorable Sienna Miller looking perfectly fabulous, bundled up and cozy.   ya heart that cold weather?  i'm on to you and your tricks!!  i'm going to look GOOD this winter. 

(ps  -  if you're needing some inspiration for a great faux fur jacket - try shopstyle or hire the-e-stylist!)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

what makes me think

there are a few style credos by which i have lived my entire "grown up" life. among these is the love of things regal. i am in no way talking about the over-privileged spoiled rotten brat from the suburbs. when i say princess i mean the real deal. usually Elizabeth 1 but recently i've worked up a fascination with young Victoria. anyhooo - a girl can't, shouldn't or wouldn't go about dressed literally as such. OBVI. a girl picks little bits and bobs and works them into her own wardrobe and weaves them into her own story.

i love when there is an odd, slightly indirect reference to my own fascinations in a designer's collections. i am a huge fan of Made Her Think jewelry. LOVE. IT. and the fact that she sites Victorian mourning style as a reference makes me love it all the more. the pieces are a little bit dark and a lot beautiful. AND there is a Made Her Think sample sale coming up - December 10th 12-8pm and 11th 11am-5pm. 195 Christie St. suite 301-7.

all this has made me think...



twinkle toes




maybe it's the holiday season - don't really know - but i seem to have sparkly things on the brain...  i've learned to just give in when these things happen, and roll with it.  the last few days (not shockingly) the mind has been locked firmly on footwear.  ah yes, the shoe.... and it's a fancy time of year, so why not wear a fancy type of shoe?  it's pretty much scientific logic really...  hardly a surprise, i'm drawn immediately to the blue Louboutins winking their twinkling eyes at me from Barneys...  damn my heart and its desires for the finer things!!!  but how happy would my feet be in these babies???   in a much less shocking to the system realm, these little golden Badgley Mischka darlings at Piperlime are doing their best to seduce me...  even a day as dreary as today is outside can be brightened up if you just look in the right direction - ie down at your twinkly toes!