We Are Overcome

Posts may be coming a little slow around here because we have become a wee bit distracted.

And this is the reason why....



Oh yes, I've discovered TrueBlood on HBO and am now obsessively watching the show on demand over and over.

It's disturbingly right up my alley. Yum!




So, if I'm slow with the writing then you will now exactly where to find me... plopped down in front of the TV, remote control in hand, ready to pause and rewatch the good stuff!

If you like a good romantic, mysterious, paranormal, flirty sexy show, then you might want to check it out. I'm resisting reading the books so I can draw the enjoyment out as long as possible.

Le Sigh!

Utterly Ridiculous

I haven't ever been a huge fan of Tory Burch but this is truly ridiculous.

Looks like a regular old duck boot to me, right?

No, it's a Tory Burch duck boot... for $195!



A $195 for a duck boot that doesn't look any different than a traditional one. Plus, how can you even wear that out in the rain for that price? I used to wear this type of shoe to my riding stable to wear when I wasn't riding. When I was doing things like washing the horse or cleaning a stall.

I like nice shoes but almost $200 for a "work" shoe? That's just stupid.

Just get a nice L.L. Bean one for $60...



I'm sure you can even find generic cheaper ones. And I'm sure they would all work and feel exactly the same.

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit

Sorry this took a while for me to get up. I actually wore this outfit on Tuesday, but didn't get a chance to take pics of the Corso Comos until now.

The outfit is a new argyle sweater from Target (I usually get a few new ones each year. I'm glad they did v-necks this time), the flippy black skirt from Old Navy and black back seam stockings.



For shoes I wore my new Corso Como Dodies. They're so comfortable. And seeming to be finding fans all over - from Nubby to AsheMischief. Plus, their chunkiness tones down any kind of tights or stockings you wear.






I love the chunky ribbon ankle ties. I think they really make your ankles look even more delicate, since they're big and satin-y.



The Focal Point

It was all about my new "Poochie" nameplate from Paraphernalia. I just adore it! I wish I had ordered it sooner.



Miss Vanda did a great job on all of my pieces. I've worn three of them already. I can't wait to wear the rest!

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit

I'm doing the transitional thing again. Trying to work in some of the clothes from summer that I haven't had a chance to wear as well as putting together color combinations that I like the look of.

On Wednesday, I decided to wear this bright pink patterned silky wrap dress from JCrew with the much more substantial dark brown corduroy blazer from Target. One of my favorite elements of the dress (and the reason I bought the same style in three fabrics - on sale!) is the ruffle collar. What's fun with it, is when you wear the dress under a blazer, the ruffle gets pushed up and creates this sort of ornate neckline that really frames your face.

The two colors are very strong and contrast each other well. I walked in the door to work and got all sorts of compliments which I directly contribute to the colors working off of each other.



In keeping with the simple/ornate look I wore one of my new Paraphernalia pieces - a "P for Poochie" Petit Nom Initial Necklace. If you have not found a Paraphernalia piece that you like, you just can't be looking. I think I have about ten pieces and I love them all - from girly to a bit goth.

You're going to be seeing a lot more pieces of hers because I just received a bunch and I'm so excited I'm wearing them almost every day.



For shoes, I wore these Casadei dark brown suede mary janes. I love the shape of these when they're on and the color and material are an equal weight to the blazer - they help to ground the dress.



Plus they have giant pom-poms!



The Focal Point

It was all about the dress and the great color and pattern. I am a sucker for a great saturated pink. I really cannot resist, even when I should.



I think this weekend might be the right time to do the seasonal switch for the closets and pulling out the sweaters. But I'm going to have to keep this transitional idea in mind and not bury anything too deeply that I might want to layer with.

Both Ends of the Spectrum

Wellllll.... the other day I came home and there were two packages waiting for me. And upon opening them, they pretty much showcased my two opposite ends of the style spectrum.

On one hand we have these delicious blue Manolo Blahniks. I know. More blue. But how could I resist? You recognize them, right?

No?

Want a small clue?



Does this help give a hint?



Okay, here's the big reveal. Ooops! Spoiler!



So. Those are delicate, rarified, decadent.

The other box contained these...



These are some kick-a** Ann Demeulemeester boots. I adore the triple lacing. It's hard to appreciate how completely over the top these are unless you are in person. I tried them on when they arrived and the hubby was a bit taken aback I think.

To fully appreciate these you have to take a peek over at Sea of Shoes. Jane and her mom have 2 pairs each! Obvioulsy well-funded ladies to be sure.

But they both do a great job of styling their high-heeled pairs in a variety of ways, from causual to Victoriana to almost equestrian. I don't have nearly the closet options they do but I think I would wear these with dresses, jeans, pencil skirts and more.



Very different choices indeed. But I love them both. They kind of represent what I feel are my two sides.

Now, the question is... do we keep them.

As always, a very difficult decision.

I'm thinking. I'm thinking.

Imitation = Flattery?

Not all that long ago, I wrote about these really classic and very well made brown oxfords that I had bought from Nine West. They're really well made and a classic pair of shoes that will be great forever but are totally on trend right now.



Little did I know how "on trend" the are. I am seeing vintage-y brown oxfords all over the place, especially coming from the designer offerings. I just saw these two pairs in the last few days and was surprised how similar all three looked.

This pair from Rupert Sanderson is on Net-a-Porter now. Very similar color and shape. A bit more added detail with the tassel ends to the laces and the wingtip detailing. The heal is a bit more delicate too. But not far off at all.

And at $950, about ten times more expensive.



These Dolce & Gabbanas are what caught my eye when I first got the latest Barney's catalog. They too are only slightly more detailed than the Nine West pair but are going for $795. I can't find these on the Barney's site, but they do have them at Neiman Marcus for the same price.



I think all three are gorgeous shoes. And I really like the extra detailing of the designer shoe... maybe not 10 times more but... I still like it.

Of course, I'm very happy with my pair and, now that the crisp weather is here, I'll be pairing these up will all sorts of cozy and bright tights as well as some great plaid and tweed skirts.

I love Fall!

Un, Deux, Trois... Moi

A very long time ago, Lady Coveted tagged me with a "1, 2, 3" request. Since then, I've been slack with my getting to it! Of course, right now I'm using my Kindle, so I don't really have page numbers. Although I did pull out the Simplify Your Christmas book for it's annual pre-seasonal review - but that would be awfully boring (I have issues with doing too much and getting stressed out during the holidays).

Instead I'll use the book that's been sitting on my nightstand for months waiting for me to finish it - Antonia Fraser's Marie Antoinette biography.

Sadly, I have the cover with Kirstin Dunst on it rather than the lovely portrait of Marie. I hate when they do that to books when a movie comes out. I'm not buying the book because of the movie - ick!

Anyhow, what I am supposed to do is this -

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.

Okay -

1. Book has been lifted!

2. Page is open!

3. The pages starts out describing reports of Marie's beauty around the time of her coming to the throne following Louis XV death and how, even though folks could have been exaggerating since she was royalty, given the large number of reports, her beauty cannot be disputed.

4. The words:

The result was a plethora of comparisons to goddesses and nymphs - much as had been made on her wedding journey, the difference being that Marie Antoinette was now a visible woman, rather than an unknown girl. Madam Campan compared her to the classical statues in the royal gardens, for example, the Atalanta at Marly. There was the story of the twelve-year-old boy, educated in the classics, who flung himself at the Queen's feet at court, seeing in her the embodiment of "all my father's goddesses."

Poor pretty Marie. She tried very hard but was trapped by the circumstances of her family, her husband and her times. I think she tried to cope with a bad situation and wasn't as frivolous as she's been made out to be.

What I like best about the period is seeing how a culture, reaching it's pinnacle of excess, falls in to decay. Like the fading bloom from a rose. The materials and detailing and fabrics are amazing... and inspirational.

I'm bad about giving out tags, if you're interested, let me know.

Now, I should go finish this book so I can put it on the bookshelf!

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit

I was so excited when my new Barbie-pink Louboutins arrived that I had to wear them right away! And since it was cool out I got to finally break into a pair of my new Bebaroque tights. I was crazy and colorful all over!

I love grey and pink together. It such a great combination. Less harsh than pink and black. And this cable-knit sweater dress from Target is a perfect transitional item. It's short sleeved and shortish but warm, snuggly and very very soft. To pull in the pink, I added a bright pink wrap and pink.



These Betty tights from Bebaroque are also very soft and easy to wear. I can't wait to wear the other pairs to see if they are just as comfortable.



The Focal Point

The obvious focal point were my adorned legs... you couldn't get away from that! How great do the graphic tights look with those super shiny bright pink heels???



These heels are very comfortable too. I've never tried a pair of Louboutins in this shape before and I really like them. Plus... killer heel!



More tights action.



I adore red and pink together!



I have other pink shoes, I know, but these are just sooooo very PINK! Swoon! I Y them!

Fashion Forward from Where???

During the Gala & Nubby Virgo Extravaganza, Miss Bianca Alexis was on hand to take some amazing portraits of the party guests. And as she was walking around we noticed her kickin' outfit. She wore these great cropped white skinny pants and a white cropped jacket. She also had some great pops of red from her accessories.

Including these really shiny, edgy peep-toe booties. We couldn't take our eyes off them and much discussion went on amongst our little group about where she chould have bought them. We debated if they were Chloe or Dries or what?

Eventually we got to ask here where they came from.



Yeah... They're from Payless.

Are you kidding me?!?

alice + olivia for Payless Rivington Ankle Boot - $48. Also available in black. And a funky closed-toe bootie too.

Crazy Fall Line Up

Here are just a few items making up my crazy mix of things to wear this Fall -

Y Feathered Capes

Y Chanel two-tones

Y Dimensional tights

Y Pink patent driving gloves

Y Giant candy-coloured bows

Y Dark wash jeans

Y Giant ruffled neckpieces

Y Pushed down black gloves

Y Skulls and Kisses

Now all I need is some plaid and I'll be good to go!

Eeeewwww!!!

I was browsing through the Net-a-Porter site, you know, just to see what was around when I literally stop short and said, "What the holy hell are those?!?"

Seriously, what are those?



And seeing them on the model isn't doing much to sell them to me.



They are some weird amalgamation of Fit Flops with "couture" elements. Why are Fit Flops trying to be all glam or something. They're not pretty, we're fine with that. Why add all that other crap on them to dress them up. Egads!




Oh, yes, and they are available in black too.

Why are Fit Flops on Net-a-Porter in the first place and who the heck do they think they are trying to kid with an $165 price tag.

Gag!

Imitation = Flattery?

Do you remember these Louboutin Bling Bling peep-toes from last Fall? They're gorgeous, right?



Well, apparently neither did the "designers" at JLo (shudder!). They think they can make a version to rival the Louboutin original.



Personally I find these tacky and clumsily done. They look as if they were made with cheap materials and have totally lost the soul of the original design. They may be one-tenth the price of the Louboutins but I don't think they are worth even their $120 price tag.

I was liking some of the new pieces in the Victoria's Secret winter look book, but when I saw these I just had to close the catalog and go lie down.

Fall Favorites: Luxe Layers

As you can tell from the previous Fall Favorites posts, I'm into excessive, embellished and decadent shoes from this season's offerings. We talked about:

- Rich Details

- A Focus on Heels

- Peek-a-boo Cut-outs

Of course, I think you can tell throughout that I like my shoes classically shaped but, how do we say... a bit over the top. This round is a bit different. More about the variety of materials. Still luxurious but in keeping with the clean silhouettes of the Fall/Winter season.

I know the silver pump version of these Balenciaga patent mirrored Escarpins bootie received more attention in the media but I like how the frosted material and the peach tone warms up the futuristic design.



Extreme platforms are not going anywhere this season (see Stella and Marni) and this Versace pump is right there. What I liked best about it is the color. I love how the lighter blue would play against black or brown. It's still dusky so it works but it's light enough to do a contrast. Plus you could wear it into the spring. I've become very fond of the mixing of the seasons for shoes with the use of tights. It's fun and practical.




These Alexandra Neel boots are just divine. I love love love the rich colors, the shape and the three button-y straps. Between these and the Chanel black and white booties, I don't know which I want more. These also have an almost steampunk vibe to them too.



Anna Sui has taken the oxford shape and created something ethereal. They seem heavily influenced by last season's Prada/Miu Miu collections but it's very fresh for this year. I think it's the unique mix of metallic leather and the oil slick patent. Such a contrast but both are so gorgeous. I would wear these with everything.



This is a complete understatement: I want these Manolo Blahnik booties. The color combination is amazing. Buttery leather and that heel shape... geez! I really need to get on the ball and try and track these down. They're very equestrian (almost jockey-influenced) but so urban too.



And, last but not least, my favorites - the two toned Chanel Carousel mary janes. And, oh yes, I got them. They're awaiting their debut and I am just ga-ga over them. They're luscious.



These are the kinds of shoes that totally speak to me. And they're the perfect investment-type shoes. The shapes are simple but the style is amazing. And sure to be noticed whenever you wear them... now or 10 years from now.

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit

One of the trends I've been looking forward to playing around with is layering with a long boyfriend cardigan. Luckily there are a lot of inexpensive options and I've picked up a few from Old Navy, Target and a great rugby stripe one from delia's.

It's been cooling off outside and inside our office it is close to freezing, so I went casual with a grey Gap tee, a black long cardigan and my new Gap jeans. My necklace is this silly little Leo symbol piece that I put on for a bit of sparkle.



The Focal Point

Even though they were a bit hidden by my jeans, these Nine West heels still draw attention. I love the tough metal rings and continue to be amazed at how comfortable they are.



I actually brought these to New York with me because I was considering walking around town in them. I still think they might have been more comfortable than even the flats that I wore. The straps are very soft. Plus they look great with heels and skirts. Sexy and tough.

Imitation = Flattery?

This will not be a new comparison for some, especially since it's Nine West back in the hot seat.

These Nine West Lecia peep-toe slingbacks are very simple with classic shape and a pinkish-nude tone on a slight platform. It's definitely not new to me... I actually have these.



But they are very close to Louboutin's platform peep-toes. The Louboutin slingback strap is a bit more elegant and the color is more of a true nude but the inspiration is obviously there.



The shape of both is a very classic one and Nine West hasn't gone as far as putting on a red sole, so I guess that is good. I have to admit I haven't worn my Lecia pair all that often. I'm pretty pale and I sometimes get a bit weirded out by how much the shoe actually blends into my leg.

I know there is a trend for that "invisible" look but I'm not sure I'm a fan of that. I bought my pair because I liked the light pink tone but it can be a bit challenging to work with. I need to give them another review to see how I can get some more wear out of them.

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit

I'm trying to mix some summer and fall-ish items to bridge the transitional time we're finally getting into.

The appliqued skirt is a very light skirt which is good for the warmer weather but paired with tights and a dark top and heels it feels appropriate for September. The tights are a light but have a textured stripe and formal up the skirt a bit.



The Focal Point

I'm testing out my Chanel mary jane stand ins - the Façade patent mary janes. They are actual quite comfortable and I really like the shape. I think I'm going to be very happy with these.




When I was in New York, I saw the Chanel pair in person at Barneys. I was surprised to see they were a charcoal wool and black leather. I thought they were black leather and black patent. I'm glad I went for the tan and black pair and got these for the solid black option.

Covering the 3 C's of New York

On Wednesday of last week I found an amazing rate to New York and I quickly convinced Miss_C to join me on an impulsive trip northward.

We got up very very early on Saturday and in just over an hour we touched down at the airport.



One of the main reasons for going to help celebrate the Gala and Nubby Virgo Birthday Extravaganza at the Strawberry Fields area in Central Park.

I just have to say that it was a very very warm day and had rained the day before. After walking around all morning (Lacroix store, Barney for shopping and lunch at Fred's) I was very happy to get to the Park and sit down and celebrate with a cupcake!

There was a HUGE group of people who showed up for the fun so you will find tons of coverage and photos of the event. Check out the following:

- Gala's post

- Nubby's Post

- Gala's Photo Set

- Nubby's Photo Set

I also got to meet several of my favorite bloggers in person, including Gilda and Marie, as well as meeting a few new gorgeous ladies like Doe Deere (who was totally adorable - you have to look at her pictures of her outfit!)

There are a ton of shots out there, including mine, Gilda's and Marie's, as everyone was taking pictures, including some great portraits done by Bianca (see Gala's post for a sample).

I can never show up at a party empty-handed, so I had to bring the girls a birthday gift... what better than a pair of "wedding rings". Gala's is a pinkish orange and Nubby's is clear.

Of course there had to be a ceremony!

And cupcakes ("C" #1) from Sugar Sweet Sunshine. They were delicious and I don't say that lightly!

Okay - not my greatest picture ever, and I had to change out my cute Corso Comos for flip flops at this point, but here I am with Marie. I was a big, literally, hot mess! I wore my JCrew stripe skirt, a white v-neck, my Paraphernalia chicken foot necklace and the aforementioned Corso Comos (which Nubby was also wearing!). And crazy giant vintage pink sunglasses.

Miss C was hanging out on the blankets we swiped from the airplane.



We even had cute pups there with us too.





Later that night we ate at Rare, which was the restaurant in our hotel. After eating veggie burgers, cole slaw and fried Oreos (not me!) we went up to the room and passed out for the night.

The next day we trekked down to the LES and had blueberry pancakes at 7A. We were going to go shopping around that area but it was even hotter and more humid so we scrapped that idea and went to the Museum of Natural History. Ahhh, several lovely hours of air conditioned museum.

After that we went to the Boathouse in the Park for Champagne and cheese (the other 2 important "Cs") and once we had our fill there we moved on to Flute for more appetizers, Champagne and cheese.



The next day was very leisurely until we went to the airport to head home.

I didn't do a whole lot of shopping - we spent most of our money on food and drinks - but I did get two things... macarons and Louboutins!

I got these delectable Barbie-pink Simple Pumps. I can't wait until they arrive so I can wear them. Compared to the Manolo store, I felt the Louboutin store was a bit simpler but the associates were very nice and helpful.



And more macarons from Maison du Chocolat. Gah! They're soooo good. Luckily the hubby doesn't like them so I get to keep them all for myself.



That's it. A quick trip but a good one. But next time, I'm going when it is not so dang hot!

We're Back!

Photo by flint knits via Flickr

Well, I'm back from NYC but still need to unpack, do my timesheets from last week (shhhh! Don't tell!), oh yeah, and I have a 7:30a.m. meeting in the morning.

I promise to spill all the details from the Virgo Cupcake Extravaganza, champagne imbibing, Peepsie sightings and maybe a wee bit of shopping!

Tomorrow will be all about catching up!

Luv
Poochie

Fall Favorites: Peek-a-Boo Cutouts

More on the Fall 2008 Favorites coming your way!

Before we looked at the rich details and the focus on heels that are trending in the Fall shoes, but another element I saw a lot of and really liked were the artistic use of cut-outs in the shoe designs.

The petal cut-outs on these Brian Atwood pumps give a simple shape an ethereal air. They're very classic and classy but with a fresh feel. These would be great with a suit now and a sundress in the Spring. I love the neutral color too.



Continuing my love of blue satin shoes, these Bruno Frisoni sling-backs are exceedingly eye-catching. The dark teal color is amazing and the design is bold and graphic. I would wear a severe black dress with these to let them steal the show. But could you imagine these with a dark hot pink outfit? Yowza!



Louboutin is the king of showy, sexy heel and these are no exception. The design is very much in line with other shoes from his previous collections but I like how the silver platforms get a lot of focus from how the straps on the two area are formed. Your feet would catch and reflect the light as you walked. I think these are the same shape as my all black ones (sans platform) from NYC. If they are, these are unbelievably comfortable.



There are a ton of shoes with open designs going into Fall. As more people pair tights with strappy heels we'll continue to see varying degrees of this style year round. I'm sure this will be welcome, especially in the warmer climates too!

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit

I finally, finally got around to wearing my Alexandra Neel feather heels. I had been thinking about returning them but well, to heck with that!

They are a bit delicate and worrisome because the feathers are touching the ground. More so than they look in the photos of them.

I wore a khaki pencil skirt and my dark teal cardigan. Simple, but I like the color combo.



The Focal Point

This outfit is all built around the color in the feathers. Here they just look cream and brown but actually they have a lot of the blue-green in them. Sadly, the flash washes them out a bit.



See how low these feathers are:



I had to do a new polish color with these. The Summery hot pink was just not working out.



Okay, I'm off to get NYC supplies!!!!

Big Trouble in the Big City

Sorry I've been a bit slow on the posting. The Nie Nie Auction deserved some extra time, so I'm glad to leave it up. Don't forget to bid or donate!

But I've also been busy making some last minute super-secret plans...

Like jumping on a flight on Saturday morning to go back here!

Photo of Flatiron Building by Joep R. via Flickr

I found this amazingly cheap flight to NYC and convinced Miss_C to jump on a plane with me to get back up there and to participate in the most cupcake-tastic event - the Gala & Nubby Virgo Birthday Extravaganza.

Oh yes. I'm packing up my 14 pots of pink glitter, grabbing a tiara, fluffing up the tulle skirts and winging my way north.

If you're going to be at the party, I can't wait to meet you. And if you're around New York between Saturday morning and Monday afternoon, let me know!

I may not bring my computer but we will be Twittering and Twitpic-ing away!

Tugging on your Heart Strings

I'm not going to be able to sum this situation up as eloquently as Miss Wendy, so I will direct you to her site and her posts for Nie Nie, the lovely blogger, and her husband who were both badly burned in a plane crash.

Like many others on the interwebs, I want help drive some traffic to the auction Wendy is doing and to ask for donations for this family. Plus... I'm a little scared if I don't Miss Wendy will kick my a**!

Head over to her site and read here, here and here , then bid on this lovely necklace (plus the other goodies Wendy is adding in) or send a donation of any amount via Paypal.

So go! Bid! Donate! And tell Wendy I said to so!

Luv
Poochie

Blogger Inspiration: Liebemarlene

I like to give credit when I find someone's style inspirational. As I mentioned before, when I see another person or blogger wearing or talking about a great piece or outfit that I like too, I'm excited to incorporate it into my wardrobe and put my own spin on it.

Miss Rhiannon of Liebemarlene Vintage has an amazing eye and a very gorgeously consistent style. And she looks just adorable in all of her vintage finds. She tends to wear a lot of cute short dresses, with and without tights and high socks, paired with little t-straps, sandals and oxfords.



In the Fall and Winter I wear as many of my colored tights as I can and this year I am already stocked up and pining for the cool weather to start so I can break them out. One thing I needed this year was a pair of brown oxfords to go with them. And this pair from Nine West were just perfect. They have the same sweet styling that Rhiannon's do and they are just what I wanted.







They are very well made with great stitching and detail work.











I was so exited to see these on Zappos because I was able to get them with my gift certificate. These are also going to go great with my new jeans, blazers and scarfs for the even chillier days.

One of my favorite elements of fashion today is to find inspiration in people and designers (especially independent ones) from all over the world then bring it home and combine it together with pieces I have. One any given day, I could have built my outfit using a color cue from someone I read but with pieces from Australia, the UK, New York, vintage, Etsy and Target. Global access means we have a broader palette to work onto our own personal canvas.

Imitation = Flattery?

Remember the story The Prince and The Pauper by Mark Twain. Well, here too you'd be hard pressed to tell which shoe has the refined pedigree here.

If you peek at the insoles, you'd be able to see that the bottom shoe has "the papers" but who is doing the imitating here?

The top pair are from Nine West and we saw these come out last winter.



But then today I was on the Barney's site and saw these new Louboutin Moustique sandals and was like "WTF! A reverse imitation?"

Both come in other color combinations, but the Louboutins are a good ten times more expensive.



After reading Deluxe, I question whether brands are working to maintain their luxury standing, especially when I see Nine West and Louboutin heels looking like twins.

UPDATE: I figured that Nine West was doing the copying here. And it has been confirmed (see comments). If you bought the Louboutins do you get as mad as I do when you see an extreme knock-off like this? Do you feel that Louboutin has enough production quality to justify the major price difference? If given the two shoes without labels do you think you could tell the difference?

I don't buy knock-offs and try to pass them off as another brand. I have, of course, bought shoes that I liked the style of and then later found out they were "inspired" by another brand. What are your thoughts on this on-going problem?

Fall Favorites: Focus on Heels

A few days ago we looked at the "Rich Details" being seen in the Fall introductions just hitting stores. One of the next (or actually continuing) trends is focusing on the heel area to make an impact.

These Dior heels not only have mirrored insets but they also have the chunky loafer styling which is also popular this year. They also come in a few other colors, not just the tobacco leather.



As typical for Maison Martin Margiela, these nail pumps have a bit of the surreal and unusual about them. I'm not sure how comfortable these are but they're sure to get some double-takes when you are wearing them.



These Oscar de la Renta patent pumps intrigue me because I like how the tweed pattern is achieved not as fabric but a pattern in the patent leather. They also mixed it with tortoiseshell patent accents. But it is the heel that caught my eye. The heel cap reminds me of the Miu Miu Vernice Pop and Spazzolato heels.



Miu Miu and Prada were busy again this year... and leading the trends. These Miu Miu Lightning Bolt booties bridge the 1980s touch points with modern techniques. I think they look more like something that would come from Ashley Dearborn than Miu Miu.



This is more the Miu Miu I'm thinking of for this season - sequins and sculpted heels. It's as if they took the waves and fans from the main body of the shoe last year and moved them into the heel.



And, of course, Prada. Not that their embellishments were limited to just the heel, but this suede sandal in particular was be-ruffled in purple and brown and the focal point for the design. I actually had this on pre-order but ended up dropping this in favor of a Chanel pair. But wouldn't these be pretty with some dark grey tights?



And my favorite of the bunch are actually these Stella McCartney heels with the metal "armor". I know. It's so hit and miss with Stella but I think she does best when she sticks to fabric versus other materials. These would be great with a cocktail dress. I like how they add a tough element but in a classy way.



Do you have a preference?

More to come!

Ensemble du Jour

This week has been fill of Middle Ages and Military inspriation.

Yesterday I finally got to wear my Roberto Cavalli velvet and gold tapestry print skirt. I'll probably end up wearing this with a blazer but I paired it with a simple dark green Gap v-neck as I was going for a tonal look overall. For shoe I wore another YOOX purchase - my gold and green velvet Claudio Merazzi heels. Because all of the colors and materials were so unusual, it didn't come off as too matchy-matchy.



It's such a funky skirt. I love the muted gold and dark dark green.



Today I'm a bit brighter!

I was very excited to get new jeans over the weekend. My Gap Long & Leans were looking a bit, how do we say.... craptastic. They were all baggy... and not in a good way. I decided I needed a more straight leg style so while I was returning some shoes to Nine West I popped into Gap and tried on a pair of the Classics. Not only am I loving the darker wash but I was in a smaller size than the Long & Leans.

Go Team Vegetarian!

So, I wanted to wear my jeans and one of my new Lou Lou Loves You bows. I also wanted to wear a heal but something still good for Summer since I know I've got a long winter of jeans and boots and closed toe shoes ahead of me. I ended up pairing my Luella for Target jacket with the bow, one of my new vintage pieces (the necklace was deconstructed to be worn as a pin today), the bow and my 20Ltd. Louboutins.



My bow is ginormous!



Close-up!



I love this combination of blues and orangey-red. I think it works so well together.



If you are considering a bow from Miss Lou Lou, I just want to let you know - you will get lots of comments. The bows are so big and satin-y and luscious, everyone just loves them!

Fall Favorites: Rich Details

A few weeks ago I went through something like 700 images and, of course found a ton of amazing pieces that I just fell in love with. There's far too many to put in one post so I'm going to have to group them and space them out.

The first group are what I'm calling the "Rich Details" group.

Obviously embellishments of all sorts are being integrated into the design of all levels of fashion and almost every garment type being made. I think this is why we are seeing a comeback of items like hats, fascinators and gloves. There is a desire for rich, interesting details and unique elegance.

The most obvious is the use of lace by Prada. I love the colors of the clothing pieces, especially the orange but I love the creamy lace on their bags.



There are ruffles, ruffles everywhere I look. Bruno Frisoni did an amazing job incorporating satin ruffles into modern designed shoes. I love the contrast of modern and old world in these Bruno Frisoni Mesh Peep-toe Ruffle pumps.



The banding design of the ruffle-edged straps on this Bruno Frisoni taffeta sandal reminds me of the collars from Marie
Antoinette. More blue to love.



I think this sandal is so unusual. You'd have to have an equally rich yet somewhat restrained dress to go with these. The straps are so different. Of course I'd want to wear them all the time. What about some skinny black jeans or latex leggings?



I just love how a wide ankle tie can call attention to a small ankle. I find it very sexy. Bruno Frisoni is continuing to do it right with this sandal.



These Valentino booties are sugary sweet but the suede is totally sumptuous and which I think helps to toughen them up just the smallest bit. I'm sure they were meant to be paired with a couture gown but they need far more time out and about than that. Maybe placed on my desk?

I'd wear these with jeans cropped just above them and then a big poofy-sleeved top with a loopy tie or a long coat.



These last two are more restrained but the material they are made with seems so textured.

I love the wool tweed of these Manolo Blahnik pumps. And the coral leather and white accents make them perfect for transitioning into fall while still keeping a bit of the late summer sparkle.



I like when Stella McCartney sticks with satins and velvet. Her stuff still seems a bit over-priced but at least she gets great colors. I can't get over all the blues. And I can't seem to resist them.

These look like total party shoes to me. They would have been great for the Costume Institute Superhero gala.



There are more selects to follow. One thing they all have in common is that they certainly are not plain. But my theory is, if you are going to spend the money, you should get something that stands out. Something that will make people stop, look and admire.