Changing my Spots

It sounds crazy but I think it worked. A vintage leopard coat, teal v-neck and fishnet-y tights, red skirt an a House of Holland double necklace in tonal crystals.

I love to pair the tonal tights with the girly scallop edges of the Manolo Blahnik Erratic Mary Janes. 

Subtle it is not. 

Pants and Pumps

For someone who claims to prefer skirts, I'm wearing a lot of pants lately.  My new uniform is fun pants and awesome shoes.

Red Old Navy pants and spiked Louboutin Pigalles…

Black diamond Old Navy pants and mint Kate Spade Karolina Bow pumps..

Jcrew olive military-inspired tuxedo-stripe pants plus old Jimmy Choo Thunder slingbacks…

Old Navy red print pants plus Manolo Blahnik red sequin heels...

Plaid pants and red Valentino Rockstud kitten heels…

I think I can make it through winter like this.

On The Fringe

I have been wanting a particular dress for ages.

I loved all the costumes in Down With Love but I particularly loved the red fringe-y dress worn in the date montage scenes.

I finally found a similar dress and feel ready to wear it.  I got it yesterday and it looks spectacular!

I've been planning this FOR YEARS, because I have a pair of vintage red velvet Joseph La Rose heels, just like the ones worn in the movie that have been panting to be paired up with that dress.

They look so good together I can't stand it!  Now… where shall I go to shake my fringe?

Obviously Obvious

Well, of course I'm going to get the Rouge Louboutin nail lacquer. Why would you even need to ask?

And if I can manage the 4 3/4" heel, I hope to pair it up with the Louboutin Argotik heel.

How sexy is the red cut into the vamp?  Swoon!

Also, want to see some sexy Louboutins worn in a sexy way… go see Lucy.  Scarlet looked awesome!

The Only Shoe I Need Right Now - Manolo Blahnik BB in Red

I feel like the only shoe I need to complete my right now would be these Manolo Blahnik Red BB's.

The BB heel truly is perfection.

Look at that profile.

Not too pointy, a beautiful arch, sexy heel.

Gorgeous!

Enjoying Leopard and Red

It finally hit some real summer heat here today and just now a huge thunderstorm has rolled through.

Because it was so warm (I had I just given myself a fresh pedicure with dark red polish), I slipped on a favorite pair of Jimmy Choo sandals from... oh.... 6 years ago? I paired this with dark red skirt and dark khaki top and jewelry in gold, opals and rubies.

I started thinking about how much I like this sometimes tricky combo.

Case in point - a winter version with a red sweater leopard skirt and red Rockstuds.

Then I was just browsing for pretty inspiration...

I have a vintage leopard coat.  I think I need some red pants to go with it.  I love the wellies combo too!

Rocking the Studs

When the limited edition (love those two words) Red on Red Valentino Rockstud heels came out, I was  a bit smitten but sadly, they were none of the kitten heels in my size. They were created to celebrate the new Valentino online Shoe Room and only 100 made.

I did get the heel version but, while they are very pretty, I prefer the kitten heel version more.  When you have a powerful design like a red, strappy, studded heel it helps to tone it down a little bit with the  lower heel version.

When I was all sad and bemoaning the fact that I returned my pair, I watched the Spring/Summer RTW show and spied the crystal version of my heels. Paired with embellished clear minaudieres and peek-a-boo dress seaming, were these subtle whispers.

Luckily Moda Operandi is bringing this magical collection to us.  So, I quite possibly have pre-ordered a pair.

Now I just have to wait until next spring for my glass slippers to wing their way to my door.

Talent, Style and Inspiration - a Fascinator Story

I'm not sure if I've expressed this before, but I love love LOVE hats and fascinators and hair accessories of all kinds.

And I love that the lovely Kate Middleton is bringing them back in a big way.  And my absolute favorite thus has been the vibrant red straw fascinator with the maple leaves that she wore in Canada.  Obviously she is gorgeous, but the combination of the jaunty design and wearing angle, striking color and outfit pairing made it perfect.

I had to have it!

So I did a bit of research and found that the creator was Sylvia Fetcher of milliners Lock & Co.  Right away I gave them a call and was promptly told that this piece was custom made for the Duchess and not for sale.  Darn royals!

But lucky for me, I also have access to a custom milliner - my very talented friend Mary of Pretty Good Things.  So, we discussed a plan - we wanted something equally striking, red with maple leaves, but it had to be inspired by, not a knockoff.  Different shape and materials and her unique vision led Mary to create a little masterpiece just for me.

Isn't it stunning!?!?  I don't even have it yet but I'm so excited to wear it!

What's great about the process is that she shared her vision and progress with me throughout.  I was able to select the overall color (in case I wanted something other than red), how I wanted to wear it, and even placement of the lining and embellishments.

In the end I ended up with a beautiful piece that will be so much fun to wear, as pretty as the inspiration piece but one that has a personality of it's own.  And that is what's great about working directly with artists of all types!

By the way, I'm not a huge royal family watcher, but have to admit, I love Kate and Will as a couple.  They both seem so gracious and equally in love with and comfortable with each other.  I just watched this video of them from their Canada outing and they seem sweet.  I guess I'm a fan!

Ensemble du Jour - 2-7-12

Yes, I wore this soft kitten-grey polka-dotted cardigan from Target.

And it went great with the red pencil skirt from Express

And with the grey Tibi Daisy flats...

China Glaze's Recycle warm grey polish looked great too...

But really... it was all just a backdrop for the ring.

Isn't this adorably stunning?

It's the "Winter in Paris" snow globe ring from DIVINEsweetness on Etsy.  And I knew I had to have it the moment I saw it.  Worth every penny and the wait to get it.

It stands out and draws eyes while being subtle and delicate.  I'm just in love but I'm going to savor the wearing of this.  It's too precious for every day....

Le Sigh - Miu Miu Catwalk Noir Sunglasses in Red Glitter

Sometimes I'm a little slow on listening to my wishes.  I mean, I've been sighing over the Miu Miu Catwalk Noir sunglasses for a while, but as I have a perfectly good black pair of Miu Miu sunglasses and the Prada Baroque sunglasses in white, I had no good reason to get them.

But red glitter?????  A must have!

So now, I'm hoping and wishing... will my Christmas dreams come true???