Tote-ally!

What's In Your Bag?!

Birthday gift to myself two years ago!

My bag dumped out on the floor...minus the laptop!

*make up bag, 2 books, Dolce and Gabbana light blue pefume, Tarte lip gloss, pen, H&M sunglasses, Rescue Beauty concrete jungle nail polish, sequin change purse, Rihanna's new cd, psychedelic print wallet, and Louis Vuitton key chain, fish lighter (aka great convo starter and house sitting for Becky until she returns from London)*

I'm not much of a bag lady in the sense that I collect them. I tend to stay tried and true to one bag for as long as it will last me. Two years ago for my birthday I purchased a Marc by Marc totally turn lock tote and have recently realized it needs to be given a bit of a rest. It's the perfect bag for my life style. I carry my life in my bag which consequently looks as though I'm constantly toting around luggage with me. At any given time you will find absurd items like extra tights/socks, shoes, oatmeal or tea packets, fashion emergency kit, and an obscene amount of sunnies stashed in my bag. I'm always on the go so before I leave in the morning I'm stashing one last "just in case" item in my bag. I don't require a lot to take center stage as my "life carrier" but I do insist that you have:

1- a few different compartments

2- enough room to lug my laptop

3- a fun/interesting color/pattern

Spent a few minutes searching online for three totes that make my wish list at different price points!

Great by Sandie Fringe Tote

My favorite part of this bag is the wraparound fringe

Found at Shopbop

$578

Deux Lux Colorblock Tote

I love the color combination here and that fact that it can play double duty as a messenger bag.

Found at Urban Outfitters

$78

lululemon leather gym bag

For a gym bag this has to be one of the best. It is available in great colors and has storage and compartments like you wouldn't believe including a removable/washable dry pack to store dirty clothes/shoes. Enough room for my gym gear and laptop.

Found at lululemon

$78

DIY: Cowboy Booties Complete

It is finally complete! The DIY cowboy bootie project was finalized this morning. I still need to have the boots resoled but so excited for my new get ups! I was terrified to cut them, I think held the scissors in my hand for a good 3 minutes before I even picked up a shoe. Immediately threw them on with navy tights, green plaid skirt, jean jacket, and fur vest...simply to go grocery shopping. Now to play dress up and find more in the WEARdrobe to pair them with.

Before

After

Thighs the Limit

As skirt and dress hems started to creep upwards, shortening to new lengths, boots have decided to follow suit. I'm loving this trend right now and anxiously awaiting Christmas morning to see if they walked their way under the tree!

Melba Toast Monday...

Welcome to a new, and what will hopefully be a reoccurring feature on this blog, Melba Toast Monday. The feature is inspired by my dear Texas loving, footloose dancing, harmonica playing friend Ms. Shuffle. And this week it is brought to you by the talented Pop Rocks!

So why Melba Toast?! Well Webster defines the frequent soup/salad companion as very dry, crisp, and thin. I understand it to be unattractive, tasteless, plain, and more often than not...insufficient! I believe the over dried bread lacks all nutrients, stimulation, and consequently falls into the same compartment as cardboard in my brain.

So why/how a weekly blog post dedicated to such an unappealing snack?! Well, thank you for asking! Mondays seem to be the hardest days for me to figure out what I'm going to wear. Much of my creative energy has been sucked up all weekend from conjuring up elaborate weekend ensembles. While most people catch up and re-energize on the weekend, that's what my week is for! Since my Monday wardrobe seems to always fall in the lackluster department I'm challenging myself and focusing my look(s) on one key component. It has to have style, personality, a sense of humor. It needs to be able to stand on its own but also commune with the rest of my wardrobe. And above all else, must look at me and reflect upon me pure genuine honesty.

Yesterday's post was going to be reflected by my current favorite shoes, my purple booties (side note: I'm starting to hate the word booties, we need to find a new name for them)! All day I kept thinking about how much the heels spiced up my basic look until I met with Roxy (aka Pop Rocks or Pops). We attempted to bundle up on the High Line and chat and midway through the conversation I was handed a gift wrapped in purple tissue paper. Getting a Christmas morning warm up in I ripped through the paper frantically to reveal the PERFECT fall/winter accessory...

a black and gray scarf with neon dinosaurs that glow in the dark!

Pops made the scarf for me in her screen printing class at New School. Officially obsessed with it!!!! Immediately I threw off my flimsy, gauze scarf and replaced it with this uber soft, cool and cozy one. It completely filled my MTM requirements as a focal point to my outfit. Will try and post a wardrobe diary incorporating it.

Shuffle and Pops... thank you for the inspiration!!!!

DIY: Bejeweled Military Jacket

On Friday I don't remember where, but I stumbled upon this image of a military inspired bejeweled jacket. It was an easy, no brainer DIY project and I knew I had all the components to complete it. Went to my closet and grabbed a green jacket I picked up a few years ago at H&M and from a drawer, two vintage brooches I acquired from my mom last year when I was home for Christmas.

H&M jacket

Vintage brooche

H&M scarf and sunnies

Bottoms Up

My current obsession stems from a revisit I took to Balmain's Fall 2007 collection. I was scrolling through the collection and when I stumbled upon the first pair of over exaggerated leg flared pants I shrieked! It was almost like my fashion life flashed before my eyes. Instantly I started seeing bell bottoms everywhere...on style icons I worship, musicians I adore (***cough***Lenny Kravitz***cough***), and even visions of my teen years when they briefly resurfaced on the retail circuit aka Limited Too. I regularly don a pair of slim or skinny fit jeans but so does everyone else! Williamsburg has infiltrated Manhattan! And my boyfriend jeans, like most men, have just lost their appeal lately.

Bell Bottoms are the answer I've been looking for. I quickly jumped up and dug to the bottom of my pants drawer. Right as nervous anxiety began to creep in, I came up with a pair of bell bottom jeans I purchased at Gap last fall. I slipped into the baby blues and sighed with relief. Dark washed, leg lengthening, ass hugging, heels required, extreme flared perfection! I'm now obsessed with this single, lone pair and hoping to update my denim collection with more of this retro silhouette.

Show me some shine and glitz and I melt. Love that the pants look like liquid gun metal or something dangerous like that! Gives off this, don't mess with me, bad ass I'm too cool to be a Harley chick vibe!

This tie dye pair might be the fairest of them all. Effortlessly cool and killer with the sequin top. Exactly how I want to dress everyday for the holidays this year!

So excited for my new, reincorporated second skins! Planning on a wardrobe post tomorrow!

(all images from Style.com)

Wardrobe Diaries: SPD Event

Last week I attended an event for The Society of Publication Designers with a couple of friends. The event was this social networking opportunity for all different types of creative minds related and involved in publishing from graphic designers, editors, photographers, and stylist.

This is my dear friend Adri, talented graphic designer extraordinaire! And he's from an Island like me! Sometime I like to pretend that we are twins separated at birth! Love him dearly!

(image by I Think You're Swell. Check out the site, he's uber talented!)

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg

Belt: Lela Rose

Not Pictured Shoes: Purple Suede Steve Madden Booties

Dirty Martini: Delicious!

Proenza Schouler, How I Glove Thee!

Proenza Schouler's Pre-Fall 2009 collection is still one of my all time favorite collections to date. The looks were wearable, understandable, and oozed an effortless, everyday, every occasion vibe. One of my favorite parts of the collection that helped ease the fluidity of the collection were the gloves. I love that the designers used them as more than just an accessory. Throughout the collection the gloves became an integral part of the complete look. Different colors, textures, lengths, look after look I awed and ooed over the leather delights. I'm currently obsessing over them and placing an array of styles and colors on my Christmas stocking stuffer list! Here's to keep the hands warm and toasty throughout the winter wonderland... In Style of course!

Denim's New Genes.

I saw this image from Trussardi 1991's Spring 2010 collection and thought... SMART! I love that they took different pairs of old denim to recreate these skinnies. I'm notorious for turning my old blues into another pair of boring cut off shorts that I will hardly ever wear. This is a great idea for something new and how to get the most out of your denim. Usually hesitant... no, flat out stubborn, when it comes to double denim, but this I would be able to excuse.

Nothing New...and I Still Die!

Another sequin item... I know, shocking! This is different (do I say that every time)? No, but really... Over sized slouchy rainbow magic sequin tunic or mini (owner's discretion). My world just got rocked a little bit. You better believe I'm tracking this biz on eBay until the very last second.

I'm sorry, it has to be said AGAIN! LOVE, like the LOVE you experience with a puppy...or the LOVE that only strikes maybe once, maybe twice (thanks Chelsea for that) kind of LOVE...

"LOVE me an EFFIN SEQUIN!"

Angora Attire

We are about to enter into my third New York winter. With two previous snowy seasons under my belt you would think I would be appropriately equipped for the chill. !FALSE! At the slightest hint of a blistering wind I'm reminded how different New York winters are from my most recent stint in Tennessee and life changing from my Texas up bringing. I examined my stored winter wardrobe recently and I have no winter items to show. I have a few thin cashmere sweaters I acquired at a previous job and one and half chunky sweaters I might have snagged from an old roommate. I've always been able to make it through the chill with a closet based on dresses and tights, but this year I'm wanting to change things up a bit. While I fully intend to robe myself in a plethora of tights and leggings, I've invested in some pants that are desperately clamoring for cozy, flocculent, snugly counterparts. I'm not a fan of your typical Old Navy main stream turtle neck knits...they make me claustrophobic and irritate my skin. Ok that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but they do nothing for me. There's no character to them. So I spent a good portion of my day vintage shopping for lush angora vintage sweaters.

I'm a closet case hoarder for over sized cardigans and this is no exception. I love the muted blonde color...especially with the gray boots!

The front detail of this sweater is equally as beautiful. We need to put more structure back into our knits.

I'm for all things bedazzled, bejeweled, sparkly, glittery, ornate! I'm loving the detail at the sleeve cuffs.

By far my favorite that I've found. Supple angora paired with cozy rabbit. YES PLEASE!

Jimmy Choo for H&M. Fabulous!

A Topshop find from this month's issue of Marie Claire. As said before (by Rachel Zoe and myself) "love me a sequin!"

In the Trenches

Burberry has partnered with Scott Schuman (aka The Sartorialist,) along with other creative image collectors, to celebrate the versatility of the iconic trench coat. The project is called Art of the Trench. Head over to the site and check out how people continue to incorporate the classic coat into their everyday attire.

Seriously chic kids!

Tres Chic... the gorgeous lass behind the camera at Garance Dore.

(all images from Art of the Trench)

I've now been inspired to pull my own coat out of the closet and rework it into my coat/jacket rotation!

Street Style... Literally!

In the last six months or so I have been attempting to embrace the street style in me I've been suppressing for so long. I purchased a pair of Reebok pumps...and that's about as street as I've gotten! Unfortunately they haven't received much playing time. Other than the strut around the store and wearing them one other time out (with a pair of DIY jean cut offs and an over sized men's button down shirt). During a recent day spent reorganizing my joke of a closet I uncovered the perfectly intact box that had collected a light blanket of dust. I see the kids on the street after school rocking their kicks with such swagger. I'm far from being a spring chicken and their decisions on skirt lengths and ultra low rise jeans would even make Britney Spears blush (is that possible)?!

My favorite look of the three!

I came across this street style fashion spread I believe in Teen Vogue of all places. I love the combinations they've brought together and played up. Sequin tops and pants, I can do that! Liquid leggings got 'em! I will probably nix the hat but I'm all about getting blinged out with some chains and brass knuckles!

DIY Operation Cowboy Booties Is A Go

This weekend I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to take on the flea markets. I was determined to find my cowboy boots for a DIY project I have been trying to complete with a friend. Saturday I went down to the Hell's Kitchen flea market, excited to see some old vendor friends and potential new treasures. My first stop was to see my friend Ann at Ann's Corner. We both share a love for Texas, an appreciation for the mountains and foliage in Knoxville, TN, and obsession with vintage and thrift shopping. After a brief catch up conversation, Ann quickly shuffled me into the merchandise to browse. I believe her last words were, "I have something that has your name all over it but I want to see if you pick it up!"

I've finally found my cowboy boots!!!! "All black everything" with a steel toe embossed with a longhorn. I mean, does Ann know me or what? I quickly snatched up my coveted find and headed home, satisfied with my new gems. I got home to ensue the DIY project and couldn't cut the boots. I couldn't even pick up the scissors. So my project has been rerouted. I'm going to keep the longhorn boots intact. My well loved TN cowboy boots will be getting the much anticipated makeover. Now that it is settled, pictures to come soon!

Couture When It's Haute...John Paul Gaultier

You can't talk one of a kind, hand made pieces and not mention the king of couture, John Paul Gaultier. I desperately wish I could hear the things that are going on in his head. Creativity and innovation ooze from his finger tips. I'm so excited to see what he dreams up for his Target collaboration. While his pieces still carry the couture name, they also come across as understandable and relatable. None the less, you still get the sense of high end craftsmanship and luxury.

Two of my favorite things just collided...sequins and fur! This is too good to be true. First off, can we talk about a full sequin jumpsuit..No this isn't in the jumpsuit family, this is full on overalls. An overall that I would actually approve of. Dynamite, magnificent, glorious, love it! Then comes the luxurious, supple, soft, heart warming fur. It just looks decadent.

Overtly sexual and loving it. Such a great balance of old Hollywood glamour with classic Americana silhouette and style. This needs no accessories other than a bright bold red pout.

Nothing can really be said about this fabulous jacket. Two words will simply do.. I Want!

I have to be honest, the fur was the first thing that caught my attention. Then came the sailor inspired high waist pants that have the sexy slits up the front indiscreetly hidden by shiny onyx buttons. Love this 50's pinup inspired look. FOXY!!!!!

Everything about this outfit I want... The printed mini, long strands of black and white pearls, thigh high boots, and an exaggerated satin, floor sweeping coat. Dying, Dying Dying!!!! The look is perfectly proportioned and understandable. SMART!

Couture When It's Haute

I opened an unidentified folder that was sitting on my desktop today and quickly realized it was images I had saved from the Fall 2009 couture shows. I started clicking through the images and fell in love all over again with these infamous design couturiers. The keen attention to refined details brings life to each one of a kind piece. Decided I would save some of my other favorite images to be revealed later, but wanted to share with you Armani Prive's collection.

Give me a sequin or paillette and I'm smitten. Even a bit over accessorized with necklaces, I still agonize for this look in it's entirety.

I think these pants are so smart. I'm obsessed with the zipper detail at the leg openings. A slim silhouette that presents the right amount of understandable and flattering volume. An ideal pant to mix with both fitted or voluminous tops.

This is by far the best jumpsuit I have ever seen. Sexy with the deep v neckline, but refreshing with a new updated silhouette. The sleeve, poncho-esque opening blended with a blazer shoulder details is sheer perfection. And it doesn't hurt that it's decked out in studded rhinestones...bring on the glitz!

I've never been one for a double breasted jacket, but this could be the exception. I saw this and immediately in my head I started imagining extreme black wide leg pants and a white tank paired with the jacket or with a ivory body conscious, hits mid knee sheath.

I thought the collection was beautiful. It paired classic silhouettes with contemporary detailing.

Hipsters: So Hip It Hurts

I'm dying over these images!!!!! Last night I spent two hours on V Magazine's website. I love that the magazine is about incorporating fashion with all the things that inspire it. Music, parties, celebs, photographs, it's exactly what a magazine should be about. I started going through some of the fashion spreads and was in complete awe of the creative minds of each stylist. Link after link I was inspired and excited for how fashion has become a real artistic expression. After viewing a few articles I ended at the Art Partner agency website. I started clicking through the portfolios of their represented stylists and quickly fell in love with Lucinda Chambers.

Chambers' style is exactly what I'm all about right now. A take on an edgier, tougher style that hasn't lost an ounce of sensuality or beauty. I would give just about anything for the chance to work with Chambers. Even though the looks are very prominent and spoken for, they come across with such ease. How does she make it look so effortless?! She's styled everything to the nth detail. The hair is immaculate (I want to replicate myself), the accessories are dynamite, and even the pale light hearted manicure is well thought out.

Even though the model doesn't have pants on, that's not what you notice or focus on. Chambers did a great job of calling all the attention up to the core and shoulders by using the fur shrug. However when you do notice that she's not wearing pants all you see is a great pair of innovate heels (of which I'm not coveting).

This is by far one of the coolest looks I've seen in a long time. Sequin cardigan CHECK/YES PLEASE (a piece I'm currently commissioning from my mother)! It's not even the sequins with the sun burning off of them that I'm blown away by. It's a close second but what I want to get my hands on is a pair of distressed white/grey slim jeans with pyramid studded over the knee patches. HOT DAMN nothing could be cooler...and paired with my soon to be DIY cowboy booties...Ok now I have to stop this kind of talk! I'll rightfully assume that the jeans are far out of my price range so I've just given myself another DIY project to add to the list.

thank you Lucinda for sharing your creative outpour with the rest of us! we're not worthy..we're not worthy!!!

(all images from Lucinda Chamber's portfolio represented by Art Partner)

Finally, My Military Moment!

I believe it was Luella Bartley's Fall 2007 collection I saw when I first began to take notice. The collection had a very proper British feel to it, but in a way that still showcased saturated, pigmented colors. My favorite piece from the collection was this Sgt. Pepper's military inspired coat. I loved the deep midnight navy paired with fuchsia and yellow. I liked the fact that it was an actual, floor sweeping coat (I never realized how necessary a coat like this would be until this past NY winter). For the last couple of seasons I have continued to pull up this image and just lust over it's beautifully constructed stature. When I couldn't get my hands on this coat, or anything in the same vain, I recruited my mother to pull out all the stops.

This morning I received a package from Texas that transcended all expectations. My coat finally arrived and just in time for some chillier weather we are anticipating. Hard to tell from the photos but the coat is deep midnight navy with fuchsia and yellow/gold details. (Sorry for the poor picture quality, had a friend take it with my phone).

I'm in love with this coat. I wore it tonight to the NY Mag's taste New York event even though it wasn't completely weather necessary/appropriate. So anxious to wear this casually with jeans and boots.

THANK YOU MADRE!!!!!!!