The dress

Big news! It looks like dresses with defined waists are back. No longer will America's women suffer under the tyranny of tentlike dresses, thank God.

Anna Sui, $484

Sunner, $288

Dolce vita, $209


Haven, $79

On the radar

Marc by Marc Jacobs, $428 (totally in love with this handbag. The size is perfect, and it has that convertible thing I'm so crazy for.)

Three Dots, $43 (before you laugh and say "it's just a black t-shirt," please note the slightly cowl neck. That, my friends, is genius, as cowl necks are universally flattering and easy to wear.)

Alice & Olivia jacket, $202 (kinda digging the big-over-small silhouette of this jacket.)

I am quite enjoying my black moment...thanks for asking.

By the way, I am heading to the shopping capital of the world - NYC - mid-April. It's my first trip there, and it's gonna ROCK. I cannot wait. Must research best shopping spots...

I have nothing intelligent to say about Fashion Week

So here are some pretty pictures.

J. Mendel

Tibi

Nanette Lepore

Milly

So far I think my favorite shows are Milly, Tibi and J. Mendel...but I haven't gone through all the shows on style.com yet.

It's interesting how prominent tights/hosiery are among all the designs. Was everyone always so mad about tights? Also I like how tights are paired with practically anything, including shorts of various lengths.

I must be crazy...

...because I'm kinda digging these ankle boots by DV by Dolce Vita.

They're like hooves, but in a good way. And I can see them meshing well with tights or skinny jeans, or funkifying a simple outfit of slinky comfy knits.

(Of course, the big secret of fashion is that beautiful, confident people can make even the fugliest clothing look cool, and they endlessly torture those of us who aren't so lucky. Case in point: Rumi of Fashiontoast. She would rock these boots without batting an eyelash. Because it's not about the clothes, it's about who's wearing them.)

[ DV by Dolce Vita boots: $103 and $114 at Endless.com ]

Happiness manifesto

I really enjoyed this post on the Happiness Project, about a happiness manifesto - really just a list of short aphorisms to guide you toward happiness. I have a tenuous grasp on happiness at best (especially lately - jeesh!) so I jotted down a few ideas for my own Manifesto in my Moleskine:

1. smile, for God's sake!
2. have a laugh.
3. go whole hog.
4. make something.
5. avoid small people. [not a dig at little people - I mean "small" in the figurative sense!]
6. clean up and get organized - you'll feel better.
7. fake it til you make it.
8. appreciate the small things.
9. give love.
10. never buy cheap shoes.
11. rise above.
12. pay yourself first.
13. want what you have.

The thing about these little mantras is that the perspective you bring to them means everything - which makes one's Happiness Mantra deeply, intensely personal. If you read these and think they all sound stupid, well, so be it.

I hope y'all appreciated #10 - never buy cheap shoes. I think we all know what that one means! I recently purged a bunch of shoes; they were all cheapies that I didn't wear, plus one pair of black Faconnable slingbacks I bought at Nordstrom for $150 right out of college (the price seemed ridiculous at the time, but as soon as I slipped them on I was hooked). I wore those puppies to death at my first job, until they stank (I don't really do pantyhose or socks) and were falling apart. Ah, the memories! I can only hope to wear other pairs of beautiful shoes to death.

...and thus, another post devolved into a discussion of shoes.

Attention:

Bluefly got their spring dresses in and they are smashing, dahling.

My picks:a halter number by BCBG ($116) and a boldly graphic silk creation by Alice and Olivia ($217).

Yum. Never underestimate the power of a good dress.

Convert me

It has come to my attention lately (I'm a little slow, you nsee) that many enterprising handbag designers have realized that a bag can function as a handheld satchel and a shoulder bag with the addition of a shoulder strap.

Genius, I say, and I must have one. What I adore the most, actually, is the casual look of the shoulder strap hanging down as you carry the bag. Nothing says "I don't give a fuck" like a fine leather strap threatening to drag on the ground.

(Side note: Nubby Twiglet is my handbag hero. Um, Miu Mius in black AND white? You can just stop there because that's the perfect handbag wardrobe.)

Anyway, I am still on the hunt for the PERFECT convertible handbag, but I sure wouldn't mind if this little number found is way into my closet.

[ Hayden Harett tote, $300 at Piperlime ]

Dress up that cardigan

Inspiration comes in the unlikeliest of places, doesn't it? I've been watching Arrested Development (a comedy show with a cult following) on Hulu, and this sweater caught my eye. The structure and placement of the rosettes reminded me of this awesome tee by roselabiche:


It's at times like these I wish I had a sewing machine...ah, and I have the perfect selection of cardigans too!

New blog!

Since I'm devoting so much energy to making jewelry, I thought it would be fitting to start a new blog. It's called I Make Jewelry and it's going to detail all trials and tribulations as I make and sell jewelry. Should be fun!

Hot boots

If glazed leather permanently replaced patent, the world would be a happier place.

[ Luichiny boots, $226 at Endless ]

Hell has frozen over

Forever 21 now has cashmere-blend sweaters.


Cashmere. Forever 21. The world is a crazy and amazing place.

[ The sweater above is this one; browse other cashmere-blend styles at the store here. ]

PS. I bought the leather jacket, because the white coat of my dreams is absolutely not available, anywhere. Boo!

Biker chic

I find myself madly in the love with leather bomber jackets all of a sudden. I think something clicked when (I am not afraid to admit this) I saw Serena rocking one on Gossip Girl.

My theory: the snappy strap thing at the collar just looks so cool when it's flapping around. Much cooler than, say, a set of lapels.

Anyhoo, I popped into Forever 21 for some white t-shirts after work - and lo and behold, they had this very serviceable black jacket for $99:

[ $99.80, forever21.com ]

Would I be seriously slumming it if I purchased my leather from F21? Cuz I really liked the jacket on. Only thing is, I'd be tempted to run it over in my car a few times to give it that authentic tumbled leather look.

The black is a little stark on me, so I came home and searched for similar jackets in brown, gray and dark blue. Sadly, they seem to barely exist, especially at the price point that's realistic for me.

[ $553, Shopbop.com ]

Pretty, but too pricey. And I prefer a plain zipper over those buttons.

[ $340, UO ]

A very similar, but cheaper, option at Urban Outfitters.

To Urban Outfitters' credit, they have a nice little line of pleather options (if skin ain't your thing) as well as a single dark blue leather jacket in a so-so style.

I hear that cognac shoes are all the rag this season - so where are the cognac leather jackets?

And gray, for that matter. Just something a shade lighter than black would do.

The hunt continues...

Open for business!

I'm delighted to announce that my Etsy shop is now open for business! With items ranging from $28 to $288, it has something for everyone. I'm also eager to do some custom items! (Lastly - I will be adding more bracelets and necklaces in the upcoming days and weeks, so stay tuned.)


To celebrate mya Grand Opening sale, I'm offering free domestic shipping ($3 to Canada) and free gift wrapping with all orders.

I hope you enjoy browsing the shop, and if there are any items you'd like to see for sale, please let me know.

Go shopping!

How far we've (not) come

I'm ecstatic that America elected Obama, but I can't help but be sad and bitter than Prop 8 passed in California. It's one thing for individuals to harbor hatred - it's quite another for discrimination to be enshrined in the Constitution.

This isn't the California I know and love.

Also, it seems that any candidate/proposition I donate money to always loses. It's like a curse or something.

Coat-stalking

I hate buying coats. First of all, I can't stand wool - it's just too scratchy. Secondly, it's really hadto find a style that's warm, but doesn't swallow me whole. Slightly cropped/shrunken styles look good, but they're not that warm.

Enter this coat:
First, let me say that I loathe the sleeves and would have them altered to be a normal full-length or three-quarter sleeve.

I love everything else: the 100% cotton construction, color, subtle asymmetry and nipped-in waist are all major turn-ons.

However, it's out of stock at Revolve. I asked them about it, and they said there are no plans to ever have it in stock. Boo! (why is it on the website, then? To taunt people like me?)

I Googled around like a madwoman without turning up a thing. Then I figured I'd go into super-rabid-shopper mode and put in a request for a special order from the manufacturer. What the hell, right?

In the meantime, I stalked other coats.

Oh hey. What's this at Anthropologie?

It's the exact same coat, but in black - and only black.

If it was any color but black, I'd buy it in a second.

This gives me hope that the manufacturer can fill my special order. Come on! My chilly little self is counting on you!

Fug or fab: Ash 'Toyka' slingbacks

These slingbacks taunt me. One one hand, I can appreciate the candy colors of the pair on the left, and the superhero vibe of the ones on the right. And I kinda dig the aggressive silhouette and mix of leather and satin.

But, on the other hand, they may be totally fug - the kind of shoe that makes people cock their head and say, "ohh, those are interesting."

Thoughts in the comments!

[ Ash Toyka Slingbacks, $138 at Shopbop ]

This just in:

Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe speaks directly in my ear as I browse footwear.

Here's what she had to say about these pumps:

"Ooh, this Betsey pump is cute! I just love the red and navy pair. What a great pop of color. I can definitely see it with a fun little 50s dress. Adorable."

Laying it on a little thick there, eh Rachel? And apparently you're on a first-name basis with Betsey Johnson. How wonderful for you.

Piperlime has long had this "Rachel Zoe's picks" thing going on, which is actually kind of cool because Rachel (can I call you Rachel?) has pretty good taste.

But now they've taken it a step further with her exact words (surely fabricated by an intern) included on product pages.

Piperlime, I challenge you to take it a step further and add audio files of Rachel fawning over shoes and damning others with faint praise. I always said that shoe shopping needs to be enhanced with a little bitchiness.

[ Betsey Johnson pumps, $165 at Piperlime ]

New jewelry designs!

Here's a preview of some new jewelry designs that will start selling in my Etsy shop on Nov. 15. For more, visit my Flickr stream. (By the way - readers of this blog will get a special discount, so stay tuned!)

Ah, fall colors...gotta love them. These teardrop-shaped petro tourmaline drops are really special; paired with dark blue iolite button beads, they makes for a really lush look.

Also, I'm starting to think that my signature is the use of blue in every. single. design. What can I say...it's my favorite color.

I named these earrings "candy shop explosion" because, well, they're a smorgasboard of yummy pastel colors that remind me of French macaroons or salt water taffy. I really love how pink amethyst looks with aquamarine and medium-blue iolite...I bet I'll revisit this color scheme many times in the future.

Anyway, as I said, there are more new designs in my Flickr stream.

Fug or fab: Bloch frill flat

Bloch, maker of pointe shoes, has ingeniously branched out to civilian footwear. What do you think of these shiny-teal flats with a posh little frill? I love teal, and I love little frills, but the overall look is a bit circus.

[ Bloch flats, $158 ]

Personal color palettes

Photos from the Sartorialist

I'm intrigued by the idea of a personal color palette. I like the idea of really sticking to what looks fabulous on you, color-wise, and making it your signature. Of course, the flip side is wearing the same colors over and over - but we all do that anyway, don't we?

Given the economic downturn, I think people will really focus on investing in classic, quality basics in the colors they love. Over the long turn I think America will see a shift toward the more European style of dressing: a small, well-edited wardrobe where every single piece does its job.

I see my wardrobe converging toward a certain color palette, and I like it because it makes mixing-and-matching all that much easier. I'm moving away from black a bit in favor of ink blue (sounds so much better than "navy," doesn't it?) and gray (which is a hot color this season, or so the Nordstrom lady told me). I'm embracing purple (especially eggplant) with enthusiasm.

In short, I'm wearing a lot of ink blue, gray and deep purple lately, and my recent purchases stick to this palette pretty closely. Maybe it's not the most exciting color palette, but it's a flattering and sophisticated one.

For the sake of contrast, I'm looking to inject a bit more cream into my wardrobe - I love this coat, though I would have it altered to be a 3/4 sleeve rather than that crazy bell sleeve.

If pressed, I think I could be happy dressing exclusively in ink blue, purple, gray and cream (though I would miss wearing teal sometimes). What about you?