Flashy New Year

I'm not going to be subtle in the new year if my recent aquisitions are any indication.

It's all metallic and shiny and iridescent and FUN!

I saw this metallic cable knit sweater at Gap when walking in downtown Chicago and promptly ordered it and the stripe-y skirt it was paired with.

I was also smitten with over-the-top gold sweaters and this cable-knit version from Michael Kors is perfectly excessive.

I've been eyeing up this faux leather cutout dress from Betsey Johnson and when prices dropped, I nabbed it!

A while ago I saw a gorgeous shot on Pinterest of a woman wearing a gold foil skirt paired with a white button down shirt.  I knew I needed to get one.  This one from Zara's is perfect.

Plus this dark green coated denim skirt was calling to me too.  Also Zara.

Spring will be here soon.  The Sugarberry dress from Anthropologie is perfect for day or night.  I love the unusual color especially since it is covered in pailettes.  Plus 50% off and then another 25%, made it actually pretty reasonable for such a fancy dress.

But the best are the shoes I've been stalking went on sale!  Sophia Webster's iridescent peep-toe crown heels - aka Gigi - are finally mine!!!

So yeah.  Nothing subtle here!

Maybe I need a metallic silver sweater too.... hmmm....

Ensemble du Jour - 9-28-12

On Friday, I took off work to go to my favorite antiques show. It's twice a year and each time I go, I find something great.  Past purchases have included structured bags, great hats, linens and gold cases.  I don't always go with a plan in mind but I usually end up with something great.

The show is held in a big farm field so boots are necessary.  I went with a bit of a "modern Victorian" look wearing my ruffly Betsey Johnson knee-high boots and a mini-straw hat headband.

''I should have brought a parasol as I usually do, because it was warmer and sunnier than I had anticipated.  But it all worked out for the best, because I found a darling French flax (I think) parasol which I promptly put to good use.

I also found a beautiful ladies English boating hat and two Fall hued table cloths which I will be using in my bakery booth next month. 

I'm always excited to wear my new purchases and we had great weather on Sunday, so I paired my new hat with white and coral Zara dress which I topped with a navy blazer from Anthropologie.  I also wore white wingtip oxfords and another previous show purchase, a white wicker purse.  It was perfect for a bookstore visit and stroll outside.

(I have got to set up my good camera with the timer and tripod!)

I hope I don't have to put these away until Spring.  Maybe there are a few more warm Fall days ahead.

A Quick Journey West

SURPRISE!!!  

I've been traveling again!

Okay, maybe that's not a surprise given the fact that I've been all over the place lately but this time I was back to the west coast and my favorite city... San Fran!

I actually had an opportunity to see outside... heck I even had time to go outside.  I ate at the great vegan restaurant Millennium, which was delish.

I stayed at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins in Nob Hill, which was a great location.  I've stayed over by Golden Gate Park before but this was way more central... and totally stunning.

My room overlooked the front entrance and I could hear the cable cars pinging away, which was so fun.  If you have the chance, go to the top floor restaurant, Top of the Mark, for some of the best 360-views in the city.

 Shockingly, I did get the chance to have a bit of a day off, so a colleague and I drove over the bridge to see Muir Woods.

Most of the walking path is a boardwalk or paved, so it's an easy stroll but we felt that was not enough. We took the shortest "hike"path which was about two miles and very easy.  Of course I had not planned to be hiking on this trip so I got a few side eye looks the gold sequin flats I was hiking in.

 Afterwards we went to eat at San Rafael's delicious Sol Foods.  Well worth the drive and some of the best Puerto Rican food ever! I'm totally starving right now and wish I had more.

And a trip to San Francisco isn't complete without a bit of shopping.  We popped into the Union Square DSW and were greeted with a huge display of The Shoe Girl's Ce Ce L'amour shoes.  I was so excited to see them in real life!  They are just as cute as you'd imagine too.

 I ended up with two pairs of the tall version of my ruffly Betsey Johnson Llola boots.  The tall style is called Rallly and I had to get both the tan and the black pairs.

Then it was back home.  Whew!

By the way, when I wore the Chie Mihara Stratosphere mary janes, I got tons of compliments.  One lady came up to me twice and even had me write down the name and where I got them.  They were super comfortable for trudging through airports and walking throughout San Francisco too.

But, all said, I'm glad to be back!

Betsey is the Best

I don't often have insomnia but last night I was wide awasy at 2am and could not fall back to sleep.  Bad things happen when I'm feeling stressed and wide away with an iPhone and a ton of easily available shopping apps. 

So really, I blame internet connectivity and pre-dawn craziness for this bout of shopping but hey, you always need cute tights, right? 

Lately I've found some gorgeous Cynthia Rowley tights (mostly on Gilt) but I love the cheeky patterns of the Betsey Johnson pairs on HauteLook today.  So much so that I got five pairs.

Love the lacey hearts of the Dear Diary Net Tights...

Could not pass up the giant polka-dots of Do The Polka...

I have a pair similar to these but sweet hearts as dots? Yes please - Love At First Tights...

The creme and pink version of the Bowtime Backseam Tights are a bit understated but sexy, I think.

And these "mismatched" Naughty and Nice Textured Tights may be my absolute favorites.  How fun are these???

Most of these tights come in several color options as well, but they won't last fast so, go and grab some!!!

Instant Access - 10/24 - 11/6

It's finally Fall!!! 

We drove over to Asheville for the day to do an errand and saw some great leaf action.  There were rumors of snow flurries so I pulled out my coat and blue/brown faux hat, but it was so pretty I didn't even need it.

The animals are loving the weather too.  Kitties in the windows, Jake and Meg scratching around and the goats are all frisky!

Special breakfast for one...

More flats if you can believe it. These sequined skimmers from Alloy were so pretty I got all three colors.  They were only $30 each AND I had a $20 off the total order coupon code.  Score!

The A. Wang Anais silver loafer heels.  Murderously high but so gorgeous!

The Betsey Johnson satin-lined boots were a bit easier on the ankles.

And of course fun manicures for Halloween - spider web nails...

And glow-in-the-dark zombie nails.

The weeks ended on a scarier note than Halloween... trying to sync and update my iPhone and iPad.  Why is it such a pain?!?!?

But all my apps are back and the weather is fine.   Hope your week went well too!

Instant Access - 7/25 - 7/31

My week was pretty much composed of work, shoes, manicures, glitter and rain...

Nicole Brundage Sinnamon heels (circa 2006)

Betsey Johnson Fall 2011 Runway Llola boots

Ashley Dearborn ROY G BIV sandals (circa 2004)

Coral and Creamsicle

Ombre pink glitters

O.P.I. Teenage Dream

Glitters!

Deborah Lippmann Naked topped with black glitter

...And a decadent treat...

...ending with more sequins (because I can never have enough in my life.

Hope your week was as sparkly!