wait...

i had to stop her on the subway platform right before the train doors opened.
she was absolutely adorable and visiting from south africa. every little flower
on her sweater looked hand stitched and just gave me spring fever. i imagine her
riding a bike that resembles this one [except not so sad] instead of the subway...

happy holidays

no matter how i'm feeling, these just get me in the holiday spirit.
cheers!

give & get

[clockwise from top]

instant gratification: fuji instax camera and film $100 - to fill that polaroid void and live in the moment.

cheap & cheerful: marc by marc jacobs zipper necklace $13 – metal zippers strung like pearls, only not so dainty. my little sis will be getting this one in black.

designer goods: rodarte for target sequin dress - thank you kate and laura mulleavy for being so economically conscious. i will be first in line at target this sunday while everyone's still sleeping.

stocking stuffer: marc by marc jacobs lipstick pen $1.50 - for love notes.

glamour-pus: monsoon clutch $59 – very carrie. and don't worry, you can grab one whether your from the UK or the US. so excited that this british company will be making an american debut soon, love their accessories!

limited: comme des garcons PLAY x converse sneakers $100 - the perfect marriage of my two favorite brands. I've gotta get them quick before they sell out again- the store just re-stocked!

homebody: pendleton meets opening ceremony yavapai blanket $510. pricey, but the perfect throw to curl up on the couch with.

giving gift: snowman in africa book $25 - a sweet story for my 5-year old niece about a snowman who journeys to africa to get a to break from new york, only to realize there's no place like home. Gucci will donate 100% of the retail price to UNICEF. illustrated and written by vanity fair editor michael roberts. 

never ending gift: vogue subscription & V Magazine subscription $15 - a 12 month long present sounds wonderful to me.

more goodies to come...

obsessed

i'm in love with max kibardin's mens-inspired oxfords. a slouchy pair of jeans rolled up is definitely the look for these. they're also the perfect alternative when ballet flats get boring and your feet have had enough of heels [not sure if that'll ever happen, but..]

sunday morning

photography: samantha smikle

i've been having this recurring conversation with different people

on how we live in such a casual society where no one wants to get 

dressed up any more, which is very true. so, the thought of getting dressed

up on sunday mornings for church excites me [even though this look is 

still pretty casual], i've been very inspired by seeing older women really 

put on their sunday best- big hat and all. maybe i'll get one too?

dress [an old ann taylor thrift shop find, $20 & 100%- love it]. bag pre-owned

by grandma. boots steve madden.

--

by the way, took a short hiatus after the blog contest- which is now over.

i didn't officially win but how can anyone who walks away with prada 

booties lose? big kiss for your support!

xx

Challenge #5 of 5 - Vote Now

photography: tasha beltran

vote here

the end is finally here, after what seemed like a very long 5 weeks of an interesting contest. I'm happy it's done [can you see the smile?], honestly the best part of it all [aside from the prada booties]was all of the positive support... big kissx

speaking of positive support check out what the designer of ADAM had to say about my look below...


leather jacket zara. t-shirt hanes. leggings plan b. boots dr. marten.

I heart ADAM

i was pleased to hear designer Adam Lippes'  thoughts on

everyone's look since he was refreshingly positive and not

bitter. like Adam, i can appreciate everyone's individuality

and approach to style because fashion would be boring

without it [simply put].

besides that i heart his line ADAM, especially his recent resort

and spring collections for 2010, it's perfectly casual and cool.

challenge #4 of 5- vote now

photography: tasha beltran


vote for this look here.


challenge #4 - the plaid ruffle blouse. honestly this top had me the least bit excited. the plaid wasn't the problem, the print is pretty classic, but the ruffles combined with plaid is what got me. 


i was stumped until i had a leather epiphany. it seems whatever you pair with leather automatically looks fresher and chicer. this time it worked, thank goodness. i wasn't so mad about the plaid after all. it was as if chloe sevigny's real wardrobe was mixed in on the set of big love. love her style.


shirt priorities. skirt vintage. shoes tommy hilfiger. bag chanel. ring lia sophia. studded bracelet barbara bui. friendship bracelet links of london.

natalie chanin on the plaid look

this is the first I've heard about Natalie Chanan, designer of
alabama chanin. [who gives her points on the plaid look above
in this video]. Her pieces pay close attention to detail, which
i can appreciate.

challenge #3 of 5- vote now

photography: samantha smikle


vote!
Challenge #3- the body-con skirt. what to wear with it - white t-shirt? doc martens? button up denim shirt [channeling alexander wang spring'09 runway collection]? I had no clue what to do with it. anything too trashy would look pretty woman, and i love the movie but not exactly the look I was going for. 


I pulled out this sequin blouse that I purchased from the goodwill for $7.99 [silk, sequin & beaded blouse might I add for that price] just to show my friend. she forces me to try it on for her and the look was accidentally perfect. the colors, the shape so unexpectedly perfect.


blouse goodwill. skirt necessary objects. heels miu miu.

America's Most Stylish Blogger: Challenge#2/ the ankle boot

challenge 2 of 5...stay tuned for the next.
vote for my look here daily. also check out the full look and what designer & owner of Tibi, Amy Smilovac, had to say about it below...


xx

challenge #2 of 5- vote now

photography: chantal van der meijden

challenge #2: ash suede studded prada booties [insert scream here]

they're perfect! this type of accessory demands attention and is in fact "the statement piece,"  one you dress around, instead of dressing up. Knee-high stockings- nope, bobby socks- adorable, but no. These babies demand no distraction, an all eyes on me moment- bare legs, a mini and neutral tones that allow them to do what they do best, shine.

vote for this look now [& every day this week]!


silk jacket see by chloe; tank top vintage; leather mini skirt gap; opticals chanel; suede studded booties prada.

Tibi designer Amy Smilovac loves my look

source: stylelist


completely flattered...great minds think alike


Tibi

America's Most Stylish Blogger: Challenge#1/ the boyfriend vest

photography: samantha smikle

challenge 1 of 5...stay tuned for the next.
keep the votes coming everyday until then!


vote here

vest priorities. dress vintage. bandeau h&m. mesh leggings american apparel. booties alice+olivia for payless.

AMSB

i'm excited to take part in bluefly & stylelist america's most stylish blogger contest, where i compete against seven other bloggers to style up a hot look with

5 items they send to us. 

you guys will vote on the best look and will also automatically be entered to win a $1,000 shopping spree.

the most stylish blogger wins a shopping spree as well, their own store on 

bluefly and a column on stylelist.

set your reminders- voting begins 9am tuesday & would love your support.

stay tuned...

xx

live, love, laugh...now

everything moves so quickly. the year's almost over. we're almost
another year older. the seasons are changing quicker. its nice to sit
for a second and not think about the future so much, and just enjoy 
the present. do we ever? 


my friend maya gave me a set of questions to answer a little while
back for her blog, and i loved them because it forces you to think 
about what you're doing at this very moment, so i decided to try this 
again...


I'm listening to no doubt- tragic kingdom
I'm buying less
I'm holding on to my glasses
I'm excited about going to yoga regularly                
I'm spending time organizing
I'm eating shrimp pad thai
I'm drinking hot chocolate
I'm reading the richest man that ever lived
I'm shopping at estate jewelry shops
I'm watching coco before chanel
I'm hanging out at cafes [the above is at epistrophy]
I'm giving up laziness
I'm collecting lipsticks in different shades
I can't live without my sisters and real friends
I'm traveling to chicago

what would your responses say about you?

dress h&m. tights norma kamali. grey cable knit thigh highs D.I.Y. boots michael kors.

thoughts

current inspirations...
peru. timeless prints. 70s. cozy sweaters. vivid colors. 
texture. bohemia. mahogany. a love story. hats. diane keaton. 
layers. chloe. lipstick. embroidery. chiffon. silk. alpaca. 
vicuna. 

grey skies

all i want to do on grey days is stay home. close my curtains, lay in 
bed, eat, sleep and watch movies. [could you imagine if i lived in london?]


but i did the exact opposite, even though on top of dismal skies, the 
weather was very chilly. got dressed, put on my favorite blouse that 
automatically makes me feel happy for some reason because it has a heart 
on it. not sure why. went down to the meat packing district and grabbed 
dinner with my friend chantal.


good food. good friends. always worth pulling yourself out of bed for.



vest vintage. blouse viktor&rolf for h&m. jeans hudson jeans. platform mary-janes miu miu.

denim day

i love to dig in my closet and find things that i forgot i owned, like these suspender pants. it's a cute concept that you could do to any pair of jeans by sewing on buttons, or just go the easy route of trusty clip-on suspenders. cute D.I.Y either way.


bodysuit donna karan intimates. jeans h&m. watch swatch. shoes sergio rossi.

new york, the new windy city

i'm convinced that new york is now the windy city. but 
right on time for chunky hand-made sweaters [i'm sure 
everyone has one buried in their closet somewhere, if 
not you should start knitting/crocheting now!]


and i refuse to stop wearing my favorite sandals just 
because summer's over. 


trench coat zara. sweater hand-made. socks & shoes gap.