Ensemble du Jour - 6-6-10

I don't have arty rooftops like all you cool NYC people. No, I have a corner of my work building that has a grill, two plastic chairs and a random pallet. Plus mosquitos so I have to run out, grab a snap and run back in before I get eaten alive.

But the dress is cute!



This is my other JCrew romper-ish dress. It's grey with pink and yellow flowers and I paired it with a JCrew cardigan and the Luella pink and purple heart heels.



The colors are all so cute together. I'm all bows and hearts and flowers.



This outfit is so comfy and perfect for Summer that I wore it to Saks over the weekend but paired it with the Jeffrey Campbell unicorn heels, since the purse I was using has gold hardware.



The two dresses are great for the summer, but it's been so hot I hate everything else. Summer is my least favorite season. But I can't wait for Fall!

Color Study - Purples

I'm really spacing out these Color Study posts, aren't I!

I'm being totally lazy by doing some of the easier ones first. Black, red and brown will be excessive. But let's pretend we're going sort of in a spectrum of color.

Today is all about PURPLE! Admittedly there are not that many and I realized there is an overlap with one shoe. Not very organized of me.

Only 7 in this group.

Row 1:

- Melian Nichi - These were slingbacks but I cut off the back strap because it was too loose.

Row 2 - left to right:

- Christian Louboutin Prive 120 in Lilac suede

- Stuart Weitzman Bocaccio

- Manolo Blahnik Sedaraby

Row 3 - left to right:

- Ashley Dearborn Eurpides

- Luella heart heels

- Jessica Simpson Jada wedge slingback espadrilles

I love all the delicate shades but here are some of my favorite details.

More to go on Flickr!

Ensemble du Jour

This is back when Target and the Go International collections were something to be excited about.

I love love love the Luella jacket. I am so glad I bought it a million years ago.



It is so much more vibrant in person.



I usually like to wear this with a bright blue shoe to pick up the smallest stripe color but today I really wanted to wear these Jimmy Choo Violin heels (purchased maybe, I don't know, 7 years ago). A jacket and jeans are one of my best pairings, especially my favorite Gap Long & Leans - because I am neither long or lean.



I remember these shoes being totally TOTALLY knocked off my Steven Madden and getting so pissed.



Not sure if his had the cute little extra strap that came off the sides, though.

I haven't fallen in love with many Choos lately. I used to love them the most but they've changed their style to be really, I don't know... trendy I guess. They used to be unique and sexy but now I feel blase about most of them.

I am interested in seeing how the H&M pairing turns out. I like a few from the collection but we'll see how they look in person.

Color Study - Hearts

The other day I was wearing the new Luella's and recieved the Minna Parikka's and realized... I have quite a few heart themed shoes!

I like the whimsy but is this getting ridiculous???

You'll see these in other groupings but I thought I take a break from the more literal Color Studies to pull all my "hearts" out of hiding.



From left to right:

- Viktor & Rolf for H&M
- ShoeMissy Dolly Dagger
- Vivienne Westwood Lady Dragon for Melissa
- Minna Parikka Belle
- Hetty Rose Love
- Luella Margar

You can't help but LOVE these shoes, especially the details...

I know I can't resist them so I just won't even try!

More photos on Flickr!

Sweet Surprises

Yesterday was a day filled with so many great surprises. Not only was it my 2nd blog-o-versary and I received a bunch of lovely comments but I was also named a "Cool Blog about Fashion and Style" by Seventeen magazine! I was soooo surprised and excited.



Then when I got home I had a large parcel sitting on the table waiting for me...

What could it be?

Well about nine months ago, way back in November, I totally fell for Luella's Spring/Summer 2009 RTW collection after seeing it via a post by Miss Susie. I had to get something from this collection but I was especially smitten by the shoes! They reminded me of the whimsy of my Miu Miu teacups but in even more sugary colors.



I love that her influences for this collection were a bit mad, a bit aristocratic - "I wanted it to be a proper, ladylike character—but a bit psychedelic," Bartley said. "And I wanted color, but in a sort of sick way. When I saw it all lined up, I thought, Ew! Can we do this?"

Right up my alley, because, look at the shoes!



So I've been patiently waiting for months for the collection to come out and then the online store to open. Then I found out the shoes would not be sold online only via the UK shops. Why? Why? Why?!?!

So I finally called the store and they said that the Spring/Summer pieces were actually on sale and only a few left. Well I had to jump on it right then and there! I asked about any of the heart heels in any color in the smallest size they had. They started at 36 and they only had a pink/purple pair left. Not even being sure which ones they were I said I'll take them.

But there were more hurdles! They didn't ship out side the UK.

Noooooo!!!

Luckily for me, my lovely friend and penpal (and co-Cool Blogger per Seventeen) Mademoiselle Robot graciously offered to receive the package and then re-ship to me. What a dollface!

They made their way over the big blue ocean and landed on my table last night.

But then what to wear? I wanted to be equally eclectic and have the same frothy sugary fun with my outfit, that the runway outfits had. But most of my wardrobe is more streamlined and less patterned, if you can believe it.



In the end I pulled in pink, blue, fuschia, silk, tulle, damask and vintage pearls to create a look that I think captures the spirit of the collection using items I had already.

I wore a cropped damask jacket from a clothing swap I held, a fuschia cami, my new Liz/Isaac silk pink and white plaid skirt that has tulle and an underskirt so I'm a big meringue, a faux-pearl necklace and a vintage sweater clip.

I love this mix of colors. Oh! I almost forgot that I wore my new fuschia cropped gloves from Sermoneta.

They tied in with the cami and a stripe in the heels.

And here they are. I love heels with hearts. Is this number 3 or 4? Yikes!

I was so pleased when I saw which pair I ended up with. I think these are the best pair in the collection.

And did you notice the pretty distinctive profile shape?

Yeah, how did I forget/not know that these were made for the runway show for Luella by Georgina Goodman? I'm not that bright.

Now I'm doubly excited by these! Plus, they have little heart cutouts on the back too. Wheeeee!

I am not a patient person but I will stalk down shoes over time and space. Maybe I need to apply that patience to other areas of my life.

Luella Spring/Summer Ready-to-wear images via Style.com

Subliminal influences

I'm still watching all my favorite old movies when they come on, trying to get back into good spirits. Tonight I was watching Mary Poppins and realized I recognized something familiar.

This is my jacket and my Lou Lou Loves You bow. I thought it was a bright and cheerful combo, right?



Then I realized I must have looked like Burt from the painting scene!



Not that I don't like this. I was just hoping I usually look more like Mary (practically perfect, right?) than Burt dancing like a penguin.

Nice.

Of course, it goes without saying I want that pink pony from the merry-go-round.

Also, I can't believe Dick Van Dyke. This man is 82 (+?) but he still can kick some ass. Did you see him in Night at the Museum? He does not age!



And since we're still on the subject of musicals... here's a clip just for fun. The most romantic scene EVAH!



Yum!

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!