Friday, August 29, 2008

Tiered Dress


This navy silk dress from Banana Republic is so pretty. I love the randomness of the tiered layers, it's a little unexpected, and feels very modern to me. And those layers hide any trouble areas, as an added bonus. $150.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Fall Flats



I love the fall collection of flats at J.Crew. I love flats for work for the comfort factor, and these are so cute I will not miss heels at all. The two pairs above are standouts. The black tweed pair above is my favorite, I love the texture, and these will go with anything. They come in some fun colors too, red, green and yellow, and are $195.
The black leather pair with crystal adornment is $278. These are so pretty, I would wear them all the time. They'd look great with a cashmere sweater and jeans on weekends, and would definitely brighten up my work wardrobe.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Lorac Lip/Cheek Stain

My friend Jocelyn introduced me to this Lorac Lip/Cheek Sheer Wash this past weekend, and I had to share with you all. It's a stain, so it stays on a really long time, which I love, and the color is very natural looking. You do need to keep reapplying gloss, because it kind of wears away after eating and drinking. But it's very easy to apply and the color is very wearable. I like that it's a multitasker too, and can be worn as blush. This is a great item to stash in your makeup bag. $19, at the Lorac website.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Riding Pants


I really like these "Amelia" skinny riding pants from Martin and Osa. Riding pants are big for fall, and these are so classic looking. The fit looks really modern to me, I love the way they look with heels. They're twill with a little bit of stretch, so they look pretty comfortable...other than the "skinny" part! $79.50.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Suede Coach Purses



Dang it Coach. Just when I have almost convinced myself that I don't need a new bag for fall, you lure me right back in with these gorgeous suede bags. I really like the slouchy, relaxed vibe of the Zoe (left, for $398). But I absolutely adore the structured shape and mossy color of the Peyton ($798). So now, I just need to convince my husband to cut our food and entertainment budget back just the tiniest bit (board games and canned Spaghettios for a month or two should do the trick), and I'm all set. Wish me luck.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Hudson Wide Leg Jeans



Wide leg jeans are everywhere this fall, and this pair from Hudson looks sooo flattering. I love the dark wash and the cute, typical Hudson triangle back pockets. The great thing about wide leg jeans is that they're so versatile--they're dressy enough for work, and equally great on weekends. These are on sale right now at Shopbop.com for $99.50, off from $187.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Lightweight Cardigan



I really like this drapey, delicate looking cardigan from Shopbop.com, for $125. It has a really laid back quality to it, but at the same time looks really pulled together. And I love this orchid color (it also comes in navy). It's a great color that you can wear now, but will transition perfectly into fall. It's a prettier and slightly dressier version of your favorite cardigan.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Sparkly Sweater


Is this the most glamorous cardigan you've ever seen?? It's a cute little cropped sweater, every inch of which is covered in sequins. LOVE it. I would wear this all the time. It's such a special piece, but would look great with even just a tank and jeans. It was originally $450 at J.Crew, but is now on sale for $139.99!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Tax Free Weekend!

Don't forget, the tax-free weekend in Texas starts today and runs through the weekend. Most clothing and shoes under $100 are exempt from state sales tax. So get out there and do some shopping!

Invisible Belt


My friend Sue brought this product to my attention, and it's such a great idea, in the "Why didn't I think of that?" category. It's a clear, adjustable belt that lies completely flat against your pants. I never wear belts, mostly because I don't like the buckle protruding out when I wear fitted shirts. This completely solves that problem. Also, it's great if you want to prevent that gap in the back of your jeans when you sit down, as shown in the picture above. It's stretchy too, so it's not restrictive like a regular belt. So basically when you need a belt, but don't want to wear one, this is perfect. The regular size adjusts up to size 10, and they also have plus size versions. It retails for $16.95 at Isabelt.com.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Camellia Jewelry


I love this ring and necklace from Forever 21. They totally remind me of Chanel camellia jewelry (see below). They both come in white as well. I think they're so pretty. They are $4.80 apiece--try and beat that. Seriously, Forever 21 has really cool jewelry, and the prices are amazing. It's a really good place to pick up trendy jewelry that you don't want to spend too much on.





Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Olympic Fashion

I don't know if anyone else is obsessively watching the Olympics, but my husband and I love it. Of course, from a fashion perspective, you have to watch the opening ceremonies to see the outfits the teams wear, and I saw them all, the good, the bad and the ugly (and there were definitely a few ugly, sorry to say). I really like this audio slide show judging the fashion from the New York Times.

My personal favorites were France (top picture) and England (below). Ralph Lauren designed for the U.S., and I was not very impressed. The hats especially looked weird to me.






Tuesday, August 12, 2008

BR Cloche Hat



I think this cloche hat from Banana Republic is so adorable! I know it's early to start thinking about winter outerwear, but I really love the cute shape of this wool hat. It comes in purple and brown as well. $49.00.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Pendant Necklaces



I really love vintage looking pendant necklaces for fall, and there are a lot of beautiful pieces out right now.


This one is a stunner, the "Majestic Lace" pendant by Judith Jack. It's sterling silver and marcasite, and looks like a piece your grandmother wore, which I love. It's available at Nordstrom for $350.









This necklace is gorgeous as well, the "Leela" necklace by Lulu, available at Eliza Page for $408. It's 14 karat rose gold with a center diamond on a sterling chain. I love the rose gold, you don't see many pieces made from rose gold anymore, and I think it's so flattering on all skin tones. This necklace is absolutely beautiful and so unique, and if I had an extra $400 lying around, I would own it.







If you're on a budget (and aren't we all these days?), I also really like this pretty mother of pearl pendant from Banana Republic, with faux diamond surround, it's so sweet and it's only $39.











Friday, August 8, 2008

Bandaids as Fashion??



Here's a bonus post for you guys for the weekend, an article from the New York Times about people who are wearing bandages for fashion purposes only.

Here's an excerpt:

When Nicholas James Brown prepares to go out for cocktails at the Tribeca Grand or to a clambake in the Hamptons, he sticks on a few boldly patterned Band-Aids by the Brazilian fashion designer Alexandre Herchcovitch.

To Mr. Brown, 24, who works at Esquire magazine in New York, the colorful strips are an important accessory, and he’s careful to coordinate them with his Kris Van Assche sweater or his Balenciaga bag. He generally wears one on his left hand or arm and balances it out with two or three on his right leg.

He doesn’t put them on his face because, he said, “I don’t want people thinking, ‘What happened?’ ” And if anyone does ask what he’s done to himself to need all of those bandages? “I’ll lie and say, ‘I have a cut,’ ” he said.

Ugh. Is he serious??? The picture above is of Mr. Brown, so I'm afraid that he is. I'm all for cute bandaids if you like, cut your finger, but to wear them as accessories is so weird to me.

White Citizens On Sale


Okay ladies, for all of you with White Jeans Syndrome who have not yet taken the plunge and bought white jeans, here's your chance to do it a little more cheaply. These Citizens of Humanity "Ingrid" flare stretch jeans are on sale right now at Nordstrom for $99.90, off of $150. They actually have several really cute pairs on sale right now, so it's a great time to buy--you can still wear them at least until Labor Day (personally, I say wear them whenever you want!), and you'll be all set for next spring and summer.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Aveeno Hand Cream



I really like this Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream, $6.79 at drugstore.com. It's very creamy, not greasy, it absorbs really quickly, and it has serious staying power. The bottle says it lasts through hand washing, and it really does. It makes your hands really soft, and never feels sticky. It has really helped my cuticles look better too. My one criticism is that I wish it had SPF in it, but other than that, it's a great product.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Enamel Ring at BR


This turquoise enamel ring from Banana Republic is so cool. I love the chunky band, interlacing design and the gold/turquoise combo. And it's on sale right now for $19.99 from $34. I think this ring would especially look great against white clothes, it would really pop.