Ensemble du Jour - 5-15-12

I love wearing a professional outfit but in a fun colorful way.  JCrew is making that happen by having their pencil skirts available in the best patterns. I've bought blue and white seersucker, red and this great garden floral sourced from a vintage wallpaper pattern.

I paired it with a navy 3/4 sleeve blazer and my sweet green gingham Miu Miu slingbacks.

Bright and super happy!!!  This combo is totally me - classic shapes but in a fun quirky way.

Adore-able! Sally Hansen Nail Effects for Spring '12

Sally Hansen... you keep doing it so right!

Not only was Valentine's Day heart-filled and sweet, but you've totally hit the mark for Spring.  I mean, how much more perfect could these be for a "Pastel Ice Cream Sundae" spring theme??? I really need every single one of them... okay, maybe two of each!

Seriously!  How cute are these?  I got the ones below and am just missing Not A Peep! (a must have I will need to track down).  I may need to get another Pink-a-Dot too.  

I found mine at Ulta but usually CVS has them too.  Keep an eye out and grab them when you can!

Images via Nouveau Cheap (top 4), Mine

Taking a Concept Too Far

It's the end of January, so you know that means it's obviously time to look at lovely, airy, delicate Spring shoes. This year there are a few creations that have caught my eye but one in particular I want to discuss... the Prada Spring 2012 RTW 1950s car inspired sandals. 

Now, we know Miuccia loves a good "themed" heel (and so do I says the girl with the Miu Miu red teacup heels as her icon), but while some of the shoes in the past - dragonflies, candlesticks, flowers - have worked well transformed into shoes, I just don't think these are working for me. 

I do actually love the design of the heels.  I love the sweet toe strap and embellishment, the colors shown and the flame strap.  What takes it just that much too far is the addition of the Grease-esque tail lights on the heel.  I think its that the whimsy of small inspirations or details of larger icons work but try to pull down something big, like a car, and it looks ridiculous.

So, while I won't be buying the Prada, the family will still get my money because I'm totally smitten with the looks from Miu Miu's Resort collection.  Prada has the era's automotive icons but Miu Miu took the fashion... and turned it upside down.  The hemlines are shorter but the patterns are there.  The cardigans, pearls and frame bags echo the era in a fresh way.

But my eyes are all on the bow-bedecked gingham slingbacks.  I'm loving them so much I'm trying for two colors.  The fuchsia...

and the green...

The blue is lovely too and I saw an orange pair on the runway that I loved.  Hmmm.. would 4 pairs be too many???

I have my eyes on a scenic landscape patterned dress I need to get to pair with these.  Then I'll add a contrasting color cardigan and a wicker vintage purse.  Time for these pre-orders to come in and Spring to hurry up!

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit
Well, I bumped my toe over the weekend and had to redo my pedicure so I decided to go with a nice bright red. Since I do wear red polish all the time, I wanted to take advantage of it by wearing some super cute red shoes.

I'd have rather been wearing a cute red printed tee and a short white pleated skirt. But I have to be an adult and go to work, so I wore a white 3/4 sleeve v-neck and a white linen skirt.



I wanted to counterpoint the sweetness of the shoe with more Asian-influenced accessories. I'm wearing my Christmas gift birdy necklace along with a cinnabar bangle.



The Focal Point
My bright red pedicure influenced all the choices! These are my cute gingham and floral red and white sandals I got to wear with it.













I've had these for ages but I don't get to wear them all that often. Typically I wear them with cropped jeans but it was just too hot for that. I got them from Victoria's Secret a million years ago before they got totally trashed out. They're a little country but I just adored the mix of patterns and the ruffle-y strap across the toe!