Striped Jersey Scarves

My friend Ilyse and I went into J.Crew the other day and we both LOVED these super soft striped jersey scarves, for $29.50 (above). That's not too bad a price, but I was really excited to see these great jersey scarves on sale at Old Navy for $7--I call that a bargain people. They're really cute and come in several colors, but personally I like the navy and gray.

James Perse Tees On Sale at Bloomies

Here's your Friday sales fix! Bloomingdales has some really great James Perse long sleeve tees on sale, just in time for fall. This Vintage V-Neck tee is on sale for $33.75, off of $60 (this price reflects an extra 25% off applied at checkout). They have a couple of other styles on deep discount as well, so go check it out!

Striped Boatneck Top

I'm so excited to see "Coco Avant Chanel", the new biopic starring the gorgeous Audrey Tautou (above). One of the classic Chanel looks shown in the film is the classic navy and white striped boatneck sailor top. It's a classic piece you can wear forever, and there are some great looking, affordable versions out there. Here are a few of my favorites--the L.L.Bean version is a steal! Just be careful how you wear it. If you pair it with white pants, boatdockers, and a straw bag...let's just say you've gone overboard (yes, pun intended). I'd style it with skinny jeans, bright colored flats, and a big leather hobo.

Navy Striped Boatneck Tops by austinshopping featuring Calypso

Rachel Roy's Collection for Macy's

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Rachel Roy, her ultra-feminine, high end clothes are typically carried by places like Neiman Marcus and Saks, and most pieces retail for over $1,000. So I was really excited to hear about her new, more widely accessible "Rachel Rachel Roy" line for Macy's.

To the right is a dress from her original Rachel Roy line, which retails at Neiman Marcus for $1,395.

Above are a few pieces from the Rachel Rachel Roy line which are available now at Macy's: the beautiful, softly sculptural, black origami dress (above, left), at $109, and the pretty but kind of tough looking chain tee (above, right), at $59. Great style and incredible prices. Check out all the currently available pieces here.

T3 Bespoke Featherweight Hairdryer

This is not a post for those of you with stick-straight, smooth, glossy hair. This is not a post for those of you who let your hair dry naturally every day, or for those of you who blowdry your hair and don't have to finish it up with a flatiron or curling iron. You will read this post, roll your eyes, and ask who in the world would pay $200 for a hairdryer.

No, this is a post for those of you with hair that is curly/wavy/frizzy/coarse/thick or all of the above. This is for those of you who dread humid days, would never set a foot out of the house with even slightly damp hair, and have thrown out a shoulder in an effort to blowdry your hair into submission. You guys will understand my love for the amazing T3 Bespoke Featherweight tourmaline blowdryer.

Okay, let me first say I received this as a gift--I'm not sure I could have shelled out $200 for it, because I didn't know how awesome it was. Now that I know, I can tell you, it's worth it.

First, it is incredibly lightweight, which is so necessary when you have really thick hair that takes a while to dry. By the time I make it to the back of my head with a regular hairdryer, I just feel like giving up. The T3 is so effortless to work with, it takes a lot of the work out of drying your hair. It's incredibly quiet. And it dries hair so quickly, 60% faster than normal hairdryers, according to the T3 website, and I believe it. It has significantly shortened the time I spend drying my hair.

But most importantly, it leaves you with shiny, smooth hair. I still sometimes flat iron the ends, but that's it. Once it's dry, my hair stays smooth even in the humidity. So it lets you keep the volume in your hair, which I always miss when I flat iron from roots to tip. On top of all that, it's supposed to be less damaging to your hair than regular dryers.

Here's the explanation of how it works from the T3 website:

The Tourmaline negative ions seal the cuticle, locking in moisture while eliminating static and frizz. The far infrared heat penetrates the hair strand drying from the inside out— without over-scorching the surface of the hair.

If you're happy with your hairdryer, you don't need this. But if your hair is on the frizzy side, I think you'd love the T3 Bespoke Featherweight. Yes, it's expensive, but it's that much more effective than every other dryer I've tried.

Inspiration for my fall makeup look

So, I was flipping through a catalog the other day and I was struck by the makeup the models were wearing - super flushed cheeks and rose stained lips, with a more neutral eye. They looked really fresh and young...because they were. Here's the thing - it was the Boden Kids catalog, which as a new mom I now receive.

Now, I don't know if this is an indication that I am becoming obsessed with youth, or if Boden Kids just employs an exceptional makeup artist. Regardless, I am taking these looks as inspiration for my fall makeup. I'm thinking a lip and cheek stain, like this one from Benefit, $24 at Sephora.

Is it wrong that I also love her little polka dot coat? And don't even get me started on her horse tote!

RIP John Hughes

So sad to hear about the death of John Hughes, director of so many 80's movies that I loved. His movies had so many fashion moments that were imprinted on me, but none more than the pink prom dress Andie crafts from a secondhand dress her dad gives her in Pretty In Pink. Not only did the girl have to go to prom alone, she had to sew her own prom dress! But she did it with style. May have to watch it this weekend--the only danger is that every time I watch it, it makes me want to pull out my sewing machine and start ripping apart old clothes that I know I will somehow sew together into a fashionable new piece. Which if you sat by me in Home Ec., you know is extremely unlikely.

Ikat print skirt from Banana Republic

Okay, I tweeted this a few days ago, but I think it deserves its own blog post now that the price has dropped. This super cute ikat print silk/cotton blend skirt from Banana Republic is on sale for $39.99, off of $70. I love the elastic waist and big volume with the short length. It would look great with a more fitted tank or tee. Comfy and chic! Hurry, I think this one may sell out pretty quickly.

My fave new sunscreen for face

You guys know I'm a little crazy about sunscreen. I am like the fairest person in the world (in an extremely pale sort of way, not a Snow White/Magic Mirror sort of way), so sunscreen has always been a priority of mine for health reasons--no skin cancer please! But I've also become suddenly and extremely afraid of wrinkles. So on summer days in Texas, when the temperatures are as insane as they have been recently, I feel my regular SPF 30 is not enough, and I pull out the big guns--SPF 70!

This Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion for Face is so great. It's oil-free, and not greasy at all, so it won't cause breakouts. The scent is very mild, so you can definitely wear it to the office, but it's also waterproof, so it's perfect for the pool as well. SPF 30 already blocks about 97% of UVB rays, so SPF 70 doesn't increase the protection that much, but every little bit helps--I figure why not get the best protection I can? And it has broad spectrum coverage, so it protects against both UVB and UVA rays (if your sunscreen doesn't say that it protects against both, it may only protect against UVB rays, so look at the packaging before you buy). It also lasts through 80 minutes of sweating or swimming. Not much is getting through this stuff! $10.99, at Drugstore.com (a bargain compared to the plastic surgery you will need later if you don't protect your skin now!)

Adorned Headbands

I'm sort of obsessed with the headband collection of Blair on Gossip Girl. In fact, I'm not sure I can recall an episode in which she did not at some point sport a headband, many of them very dramatically adorned. I have a feeling that character has a lot to do with the embellished headband trend happening right now, and I am loving it! Trim choices range from feathers to flowers to bows. Think of adorned headbands as jewelry for your hair--even when your hair is pulled back in a ponytail, they make you look completely pulled together.

And best of all, there are a lot of affordable options. My friend Ilyse found this cute version with a gorgeous burgundy flower with feathers at Luxe Apothetique at the Domain this weekend for $15! (Isn't she adorable?)

Here's a selection of some other options, all at great prices.

Headbands by austinshopping featuring Forever21 accessories

Skinny Jeans Found!

Well, I screwed up my courage and ventured out to find skinny jeans today. I was not too excited about trying on anything with a tapered leg and skintight fit, so I grabbed my friend Ilyse for moral support.

I've resisted this trend pretty vigorously, but I ended up finding some great jeans. I settled on this pair at Martin & Osa from the "Slim Fit" line--they're skinny, but not scarily so. They're fitted enough to wear under boots, but they have enough room to still be flattering and not cut off my circulation. I actually think I might be brave enough to wear these with flats.

They come in a ton of washes, and are very well priced, at between $80-$120, depending on the wash.

Nancy Drew

I loved this article from the New York Times about the continuing influence of Nancy Drew.

"Nancy Drew was invoked last week during the Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor. She has said that her Nancy Drew represented boldness and intelligence, the books a gift from a hardworking single parent. In recent years, Laura Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gayle King and Diane Sawyer have described themselves as fans."

Nancy had a big influence on me as well. I grew up reading all the old Nancy Drew books, and loved reading about such a fearless, smart heroine. Yes, I loved her sleuthing, but I also loved her style: classic, preppy, all-American, and okay, maybe a little prim. My image of her is in a little sweater set and pencil skirt, with a scarf in her hair as she drives her little blue roadster around River Heights. What would Nancy wear in 2009? I'm thinking Marc by Marc Jacobs, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and of course Tory Burch.

Nancy Drew Modern Wardrobe by austinshopping featuring Tory Burch

Polyvore

Have you guys been to the Polyvore website yet? If you're into fashion, you need to go check it out immediately! It is so fun. The New York Times recently ran an article about Polyvore:

Polyvore is a user-generated fashion magazine filled with user-generated ads. The people who go to it play fashion editor and create collages featuring pictures of clothes, accessories and models from across the Web. Readers view the collages, which the site calls “sets,” and if they click on a dress or necklace, they are taken to the Web site that sells it.

Even if you don't want to take the time to create your own collages, some of the sets that the other users put together are amazing. For example, search for "Chanel" and you might find the adorable outfit shown below, put together by a user of the site. If you click on any of the items, it will take you to the site where you can purchase them. It is such a great mix of creativity and commerce, I'm loving it! Warning: highly addictive!! I could play on this site all day.

shopping at chanel with LC and Lo by amandarocks featuring Forever21

Espadrilles

I really likethese elastic strap brown espadrilles, on sale for $47.40 at Bloomingdales. They remind me of the espadrilles that Jennifer Aniston wore with cute, cuffed boyfriend khaki's (picture from Instyle.com. Check out their "look for less" version of her outfit.)

Bib Necklaces

Lucky magazine recently posted this slideshow of some really amazing bib necklaces. They're pretty pricey though, so if you're looking to try out this trend without laying out quite as much cash, here are a few less expensive options. I love bib necklaces because they're such a great way to dress up the basics you already have. Pair them with a tank or tee and suddenly you have a really

special, unique outfit.

1. Loops and Whorls Necklace - $38, Anthropologie. A more modern take on the bib necklace, in coral colored acrylic.

2. Livia Necklace - $48, Anthropologie (above). So elegant, with a great vintage feel.

3. Textured Flower Bib Necklace - $16.80, Forever 21. Pretty metallic flowers with rhinestone accents (right).

4. Elodie lace bib --$27, Etsy. A simple and sweet lace version.

7. Jeweled medallion necklace--$6.80 Forever 21. Dramatic black jewels and filigree.

8. Briana bib necklace -- $88, Guess by Marciano. Absolutely beautiful rhinestone necklace.

9. Rumor Satin Bib Necklace -- $10.80, Forever 21. Cute, black beaded necklace.

11. Jewel Cluster Ribbon Necklace -- $12.80, Forever 21. Colorful, fun jeweled necklace.

12. Chiffon, Tulle and Cotton Rose Bib Ribbon Necklace -- $58, Etsy. Gorgeous, cream colored fabric roses (above).