i love Wu

Jason Wu.  at this point, the name alone brings images of gorge popping into the mind. this collection kept that little ball rolling.  the construction is impeccable, the silhouettes are perfection.  obvs, there are dresses that make a girl try desperately to come up with a place to go so that she can wear one.  (that may or may not be what i am doing at this very moment in time) what REALLY got me giddy however were the looks with pants.  a bit more useful in one's every day life - without sacrificing even one bit of FAB.  don't even need to come up with a special event to wear this - just put it on and feel amazing and go about your business.  LOVE.

photos:  gorunway.com

side note - Jason Wu doesn't have an e-commerce site, but Bergdorf's and Neiman Marcus of course have brill selections.

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.

high/low high/low it's off to shop we go

Neiman Marcus recently launched their new off-price web site and store concept – Last Call.com and Last Call Studio.  yours truly attended the press day for the Paramus store - located close to the high end mall out there in a strip mall along with some other high end off-price shops...  kind of genius really.    it's different from the regular Last Call outlet stores in a few ways - most importantly the fact that the merchandise is from the current season... well to be honest, most MOST importantly is that it's set up like a proper shop - not cramped to the gills with possibly imperfect merch like you might find in an outlet.  it makes it a much more pleasant shopping experience...both the online venture and the stores offer in-season and on-trend merchandise from designers that are chosen specifically for Last Call.  a bunch of us had the opportunity to check it out and shop for a few hours after a tour of the shop. i was there with the lovelies of  Refinery29.com - so check their site for my guest post that will be up the first week of December, fully describing the shopping experience...

there are a number of these shops opened now - with more slated to open in the future - and for sure check out LastCall.com to see what they've got to offer.... who doesn't love high end low price?!?!??!

once, twice, three times obsessed

it was probably about 8 years ago that i developed one of my unhealthy obsessions.  (no, not chemical or romantical.  financial.)  the Balenciaga motorcycle bag.  lord have mercy on my wallet sinning soul, i fell hook, line and sinker for it.  it's the most perfect bag that exists, in my mind.   i've been practicing "safe shopping" for a while now, due to my "self employed" status. beyond boring and annoying - but i know it's the right thing to do.  sometimes, i believe the universe is testing us.  and this is a test.  this year marks the 10th anniversary of the motorcycle bag. to mark the occasion, they will put out a number of limited edition bags, some of which will be exclusive to Neiman Marcus.  (aka the cathedral of testing) including this one.  i want this bag so badly i would lick a sidewalk to have it.  but alas, i shall stay on my straight and narrow because i believe there will be a karmic reward.  or maybe the reward will be that i'll win the lottery - and then, if it's not too late, i can buy the bag!!  sigh.

blaze(r) of glory

the go-to jacket of the season is the military/utility jacket.  and i am lovin' on it big time, without a doubt.  however - what if a girl needs or wants to look just a bit more dressed up?  oh conundrum! for years i avoided the blazer.  it caused an echoing cry of "uncomfortable office job" in my head...  but the siren call has lured me now...  it helps immensely that designers have worked on making this piece of clothing infinitely more wearable for daily life in or out of an office.  it's no longer just part of a suit - it's a fun topper to an outfit.   and what better than white or off white for the hot times we're in?  so cute over a jeans& tank, a shift dress, sundress, black jumpsuit.. i could go on.  this baby can go the distance.   i'm really diggin on this Elizabeth&James number, but there are also some great and affordable blazers at Zara, Express, and Banana Republic. sure it's hot as blazes.  but you can still look hot in a blazer! 

seeing spots

leopard print comes in and out and in and out of fashion like nothing else. it's having its most recent resurgence at the moment - and i'm close to getting sucked in this time round. it can be found on pretty much every single possible garment a female can wear. from a teeny thong to a full length faux fur coat.

for me personally - i only like my leopard in two locations. short dress jacket, or nestled on my feet. and as it is my greatest obsession - i am focusing on the shoe. ahhhh the shoe. i'm not the biggest fan of the leopard pump, although i freely admit there are may ladies who can fully pull it off. my taste goes to the leopard ankle boot.

of course the creme de la creme is monsieur Christian Louboutin. mais oui! these are the ones we truly lust for, n'est-ce pas? Neiman's, Saks, Barneys... you taunt me with Louboutin imagery! however, if we are feeling less than flush, there are of course other options. having done a bit of scouring of the olde interwebs, i found a couple of less pricey versions. the black bootie with the leopard heel is kind of a less "in your face" version too - if you're feeling a bit shy... Giuseppe Zanotti, and they also happen to be on sale at Piperlime. keep on going you say? ok...a pretty adorable pair of Charles by Charles David at Overstock.com and a cute little number at Nine West go even further down the price scale....

my mind is spinning and i'm seeing spots... but i like it!

screw black friday, try grey wednesday!

once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far, away, i worked at a Mall. it was right after i had moved back from living in Paris. i hated it. not my cup of tea. i would rather have pulled out my eyelashes. however, that is not the point here. the point is that that particular period in my life was when i discovered the earth-bound version of hell that is "black friday". i vaguely recall hiding in a dressing room at one point to get away from the madness.

i don't know what evil genius came up with this idea. but they should be a villain in a super-hero movie. 98.4% of america runs screaming to any available shopping area near their homes and loses any sense of sanity they may have been gripping on to. i see images of it now on tv and it gives me shivers. all this for maybe, $5 off some item that will without a shadow of a doubt go ON SALE AGAIN. it's beyond insane and i just do not understand it.

now, this year, it will certainly boost the droopy economy if we all do shop - and we do all know i love to shop - and so i say: "SHOP! DO IT!" but you don't need to get an arm ripped off in the process.

i'm coming up with my own plan. i'm going to celebrate grey wednesday. i am going - wait for it.... to the MALL to meet my mum tomorrow. i love a good mall. nothin' like it. and on grey wednesday, i shall be free to peruse things at my leisure, and without fear. and i do know for a fact that Neiman Marcus has a load of things marked down, as does Anthropologie, Saks, Barneys, and JCrew. and i imagine that the other shops will follow suit. and for any of thee who are locked to the computer - chickdowntown and amazon.com are doing an "early" black friday deal, and i can only imagine that other sites will be following any moment now - so CRUISE the shops, or the web and find your early deals.

take that black friday! hazzah!

getting and giving all in one

today's little "do good" ditty is a shoe-good ditty. so we KNOW it's a good one, yes?
the shoe company Toms has always been philanthropic in nature - for every pair of shoes they sell, they give a pair of shoes to a child in need. i, for one, think that is a spectacular idea. it's not trying to be anything huge - it's just a good deed done. i'm a big fan of the idea of doing small acts of kindness - and this falls into that category on a large scale. loves it.

lately the company has had its name out and about a bit more - sprinkle in Ashley Olsen photographed wearing the shoes, and boom! off to the races. now, Toms is offering up some exclusives to be sold at Neiman's and also in-store at Bergdorf's, ratcheting the awareness up a notch and giving it a little sheen of luxury.

the shoes are simple, cute and comfortable. (kind of LOVING the skull print!!) you buy, you give. it's a magnificent equation in its simplicity, and it's about shoes. happy good karma!


neimans

missus softee

an old friend of mine, from the days of yore is a lover of the blog. which makes me happy. he currently works at Hanro, and wondered what i thought of their delicious wares, as i seem to have no shortage of opinion. or words to express. to be perfectly honest, i had to admit to him i had never tried any of their stuff, although i am very familiar with the name, as it's a brand sold in Saks and Neimans, where i do seem to find myself on a rather regular basis. so he sent me some items to check out - and uh.... i know i have a bit of an addictive personality, but uh... OH MY GOD. i am so completely hooked on the Touch Feeling undershirt, that i seriously think i have to go and buy one for every day of the week. (possibly a couple extra because laundry is not my strongest task) i swear to God and all things holy that this t-shirt is made of magic. it is too soft to be made by humans. also magic? the fact that it is fitted to my body like a glove, does not show one single bit of the parts that are not firmed up by crunches, and does not squeeze me to lack of breath like any "shapewear" item might. (i once almost passed out from one of those "shaping" things, but that's another story for another day) when it's flingin flangin freezing in NYC, i often wish i had a head to toe suit made of Uggs material. now, i wish that for every season i had a head to toe suit made of Touch Feeling t-shirt material.

if i can tear myself away for one second... the Taitu nightgown is also amazing. sexy, but not o.t.t., and will probs be an adorable little sundress for the beach. loves it. usually i get wildly twisted about in sleep things, but this is comfy and pretty. how is there anything wrong with that?

this uncharted Hanro territory was a happy happy trail indeed. now if i can figure out my head to toe Touch Feeling suit - the world will be a complete place, and i can go on to cure the flu.

it's SALE TIME stylies!!!

hear ye, hear ye. and all that. it's a SALE TIME post me lovelies.

Nieman Marcus' "Last Call" sale, to be precise. it tends to be a doozer - where you can score some good designer items for up to 75% off their (to be frank, and let's be frank, rather pricey) regular prices. i have picked up some really beautiful things picking around the sale pages there.

happy hunting!

perfect pumps please!

i am more of an "interesting" shoe person. so i don't often shop for the "traditional" kind of shoe. however, necessity sometimes calls, and like any polite person, i must answer.

this brings us to the pump. not a shoe i normally wear, nor crave. however, a staple to have in the old shoe wardrobe no doubt. i have a rather large place set aside in my heart for Karen Walker from Will and Grace. she is pretty much my favorite tv character of all time. and that's saying a lot, because miss e-stylist here watches a rather large amount of television. don't judge please. ANYWAY - Karen Walker is, 99% of the time, wearing full on uptown Manhattan rich mama clothes. not my personal style, but the woman looks impeccable. i like that. she's perfectly dressed right down to her pumps. perhaps that is what swayed me into thinking i should probably own some. (in case at any moment a magic wand is waved in my direction and i become a fictional billionaire socialite...or a real one, i'm not fussy)

and so, some time ago, i began one of my hunts. as i do. i went pump huntin'. usually i wear flats. this may be because i live in NY and have to walk a lot every day, or it may be because i am a klutz and am afraid of falling. that is neither here nor there. i just wear flats a lot. so heels were a challenge. i decided to start small. i tried on approximately 40 billion pairs of shoes. (give or take a few) in the "ok i can totally manage this without injury" category, i ended up with Christian Louboutin simple pumps in the lower heel height. (left photo). now, let me say here that i can't really afford to buy these shoes full price. i love them like chocolate, but they are pricey. worth it, but pricey. so if you are like me, (i really don't like to pay full price. i'm a sale fiend) i suggest trying them on at a shop, then doing the online scouring to score them on sale. Neiman's often has sales, and Bluefly is a great resource for markdown designer goodies.

0nce i had become ok with that height and worn them out a few times, i decided to get really crazy and go high. this still scared me a bit, so i decided to try a platform pump to even the playing field, so to speak. what i ended up with here was a pretty hot looking pair from ye olde Banana Republic...(right photo) they have enough of a platform in front so as not to give me vertigo, but they look high! i practiced a few nights in my apartment - then went out to dinner wearing them and felt spectacular and fancy. i felt like a lady. well, i felt like Karen Walker, and as she once said "I'm a lady, assface!" what's not to love?!

underthings....

summer is about comfort and staying as cool as poss in the NYC humidity. (well, it's actually all about the beach - but life happens and i can't be on the beach 24/7 so this post is about reality)

over the last 2 years i became obsessed with dresses. it's one piece of clothing. it looks nice, and it's super comfy. i went on a rampage, and now have a happy little collection from which to choose when i get dressed every day. one glitch in the system is what might need to go UNDER said dresses... there are a couple that are a teeny bit sheer in bright sunlight. not ok. i have no desire to show my butt to the streets of NY. i don't feel they deserve it.

armed with the challenge, i went on the hunt for the perfect slip. it felt kind of glamorous to tell you the truth. very 1940's languid movie star. i perused every website and every lingerie section possible. i tried about a billion slips on. the creme de la creme has turned out to be Commando slips. you can buy them online, but they also do sell them at Saks, Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. the one annoying thing is that they are a bit expensive - but they are worth it. i bought a mini full slip and a half slip, and i wear them CONSTANTLY. i don't know what the fabric is, but it never static-sticks to anything, and each piece has teeny little weights in the bottom, so it doesn't ride up like so many other fabrics do. the dress extravaganza of my summers now feels complete.

that's about all i have to say about that....