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

i shop therefor i am

well, to be more precise, i shop, therefor i am the-e-stylist.  i do have more sides to me, but that's another story for another day.  back to shopping.  i shop for gifts, i shop for clients, i shop for myself.  but to be honest sometimes the most fun shopping is the shopping for inspiration.  just picking a shop (or two or three) and wandering aimlessly to have a look at what is going on.  i could literally spend hours upon hours doing it.  the best part of all is when you stumble upon something that you were not expecting. 

case in point - Bloomingdales, this afternoon.  no reason - just wanted to get the creative ideas gassed up and ready to go.  found myself in the jewelry section (i mean come on - it's usually there or shoes, right?) and happened upon a few trunk show vendors.  one of which stopped me in my tracks.  quite literally.  Dana Blair Designs makes these beautifully delicate but rough circle pendants that are just so perfectly gorge.  LOVE.  traditional stone jewelry is all well and good - but a precious stone presented in an un-precious manner just kicks it up my kind of  notch.  i'm planning on wearing cobalt blue shoes at my wedding (spoiler alert!) so i've been looking at sapphire jewelry.  i have probably seen in the range of 400 million things.  and they bored me till my eyes shut.  THIS fits the rock and roll elizabethan princess vibe that is my life.  it fits it quite perfectly.   hidden treasures discovered, a good trip indeed.

a bit o' bang for your buck

the buzz has been... well, buzzing for some time now about the Vena Cava collection for Aqua at Bloomingdales.  despite the fact that i can in no realistic format consider myself a "junior",  there are always a few pieces that i like, and can fully get away with wearing.  fear not - the junior collection does not HAVE to be off limits - as long as you are very honest with yourself about what you pick out.  case in point:  i have a really nice Aqua maxi dress that a lady at Bergdorf's  (in head to toe Chanel) told me was the prettiest maxi she had ever seen.

anyhoo, back to the point.  the super fun and hip design duo at Vena Cava is doing a collection for Aqua that debuts September 1.  word has been out on the style street for some time now, but FINALLY there was a presentation yesterday, and some good images to share.  the price point is well under their norm,  the highest price comes in around $300.   the fur vest is uber-cute and could go with pretty much every and anything in a gal's wardrobe.  my fave - and the absolute yes in the collection for me is the pleated skirt (you can just see it under the gorge blue peasant blouse...also a yes!)  LOVE the metal detailing on the waist band.  love, love, loves it.  and this sweet little dress/tunic (depending on your age, legs, and daring factors) is a keeper too.   so set your clocks and calendars dolls.... september's comin soon!!! 

dream a little dream of shoes

i'm sitting, waiting for the arrival of my nieces and nephew, and their parents for a quick NY visit.  when asked what they would like to do this time 'round, the one answer i got was "shopping" from the budding fashionista.  (who, most likely in 4 years will be attending FIT.  and yes that makes me extraordinarily happy).   she likes Bloomingdales.  she likes Bendels as well, but Bloomies is a bit more realistic, given the scope of babysitting money and allowance.

so of course as i am thinking of our trip there tomorrow - my mind wanders to the shoe department.  and somehow, perhaps because of the recent bag post, my mind lands on Pour la Victoire.  even mentally, i shop in specific designer benders.  not sure why, i just do.  my eyes and fingers follow my mind,  and we all visit the Pour la Victoire site together.  and what to my wandering eyes should appear?  the cutest of shoes i have seen all this year!  we'll see if willpower is on my side or not when we get there tomorrow...

shoesday

haha you see what i DID was - i made up a day using my favorite accessory! haha! (ode to Karen Walker)

i believe i mentioned having an odd fixation with the Olsen twins. i have forever, ever since Full House. and then the 40 bazillion videos they made, that i watched with my nieces. i actually remember some of the songs... for example "brother for sale". a classic up there with Elvis...

other people clearly have the fixation as well, since the girls are doing incredibly well as designers and entrepeneurs in their own right. despite the sometimes odd looks they sport in paparazzi photos (so entirely unfair) they have quite a phenom fashion sense. their two lines, The Row and Elizabeth and James have quite a lot of really gorgeous pieces. the cut and construction is just right on the money. ShopBop has an great collection, and if you are in the old NYC - Bergdorf's or Bloomingdales can satisfy your jones...

of course, as i am an accessory fiend, i am drawn most to the shoes and jewelry. the jewelry has been around a while - and i got a silver dagger pendant a couple of years ago during a bit of an angry phase (job related - my loved ones should not fear for their safety) the shoes - a relatively new venture. and as i must do - i went and tried on a bunch of them. they are rather perfect i have to say... the little flats are adorable - but sadly my feet are so small that sometimes little flats make me look like i should not be able to stand upright. if any of you are bigger than a size six - go for it. this pair in particular is totes obsession worthy. but, and perhaps it's seasonally based, the boots are what cried out to me. they're flingin flangin perfect. comfortable, absolutely wear-able with whatever you can wrap your mind around. this pair is beyond... they also have a couple pairs of knee high boots that i needed to touch more than once. yes, i pet shoes. i'm not afraid to admit it.

shoe lovers, there is a new kid in town...

fashion hates you breast cancer

october is breast cancer awareness month. i've had a couple of family members and friends who have dealt with it, in various forms and treatments... so i tend to pay attention to this cause. i've done a couple of walks, and i donate... the fashion world a few years ago started its own little blitz to gain awareness - by selling promotional products and donating proceeds to a variety of foundations. this makes the-e-stylist happy. it's shopping, and it's doing good. me likey.

there are a number of cute things out and about - but this little number here tickled my fancy. Ralph Lauren has been doing the pink pony for breast cancer a few years now. and this water bottle is the newest little ditty. half of the proceeds go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. nice. AND it also is good for the environment, so you can stop drinking water, (free by the way) that people SELL TO YOU in plastic bottles that crap up landfills. so - before i rant on too much more - this water bottle is a win, win, win. cute, charitable, conscious. pardon me, i must go shop for this now.

(ps - Bloomingdales also has quite a lot of other BCA goodies. check them all out!)

some do-good spending...

it's back to school time. even if you're not in school, there's still that same feeling. try and tell me you don't feel it when you open the September issue of the mags... right?

'member that time when i posted about do-good charity tote bags? well, i'm gonna step it up a notch this time. Bloomingdale's is doing a charity shopping blitz. they are pledging to donate $75,000 to AMFAR. so what could possibly be bad about shopping the site in order to help them reach the goal???? and they are offering up all sorts of sales and price cuts. that makes it both a cheap thrill AND a do-good shopping spree. someone you know and love must be deserving a present, right? so why not buy it here. hey, maybe the someone is you. no rules against that.

i have lectured you enough. i think you know what to do.

bloomin' SALES!

slightly irritating, but kind of funny, admit it!

Bloomingdale's is having an end of summer sale. now then my dears - there are plenty of goodies there on the website. but if you go into the stores - as i did today (and let me just say here - i did for you. i did it because i care. it's what i do for you) there are loads upon loads of racks that are 50% off the already reduced price. allow me to repeat myself. 50% off the already reduced price!

this involves some math of course, which is why the inventors of cell phones put calculators on communication devices...clearly. but really now - something that is 50% off of something that was already reduced by 50% - well that is just practically free now, isn't it??!!