In Love with Barton

I fell in love with with the pale pink Ralph Lauren Barton ballet pumps from their Resort 2014 show.

But, alas, they were sold out in my size.

After much sighing and stalking of the Ralph Lauren site, I found that the black version was available, in my size and on sale!

It wasn't my first choice but black will be perfect for my Fall 2014 theme and I love how the ribbons wind their way up to tie around my ankles.

I'm going to still stalk the pink but the black is happily mine!

Black and Tan

I have been smitten for months with these multi-strap mary janes from Chanel.  They combine the best of the classic black and tan combination with a really modern style.

Seeing them in person was even better.  Sadly, they looked great on.

Talk about temptation....

Seeing Stripes

I'm finally able to wear some of my new Spring dresses.

 I loved the classic black and white broad stripe dress from The Limited. It will be perfect to combine with tons of colors and other patterns.

I paired it with a bright pink JCrew cardigan and my JCrew Liza Peep-toe heels in the Cherry Blossom print.

It's going to be dresses all Spring and Summer, with lots of color!

Sleek, Sassy and Schoolgirl for Fall

My Fall 2012 Inspiration/To Buy board is filling up rapidly.

It's shaping up to be filled with witty embellishments, sassy patterns and fabrics, whimsical materials and a definite schoolgirl vibe.

I've already got the perfect loafer to pair with tights and skirts.

The YSL black and gold plated loafers are going to add that bit of edge to so many of my fall outfits.

Now... on to everything else on my list....

Kate Spade is Killing It

What a lovely way to start a Monday!

I was flitting through Pinterest when these lovely rose gold glitter loafers from Kate Spade jumped out at me.

I'm loving this Cora loafer in all three colors, but especially the rose gold and gold...

I already have 3 sequined ballet flats in these exact same colors, would it be bad to get the glitter versions as well?

Kate Spade Cora loafers - $225

Buying Basic Black

This may sound hard to believe but... I do not really have a single "basic black" pair of heels.

Understandably, you don't believe me.  But it's true!  Oh sure, I have a ton of black heels in various iterations  - peep-toe, sandals, slingbacks, platforms, t-straps, mary janes, flower heels, with giant roses, patent, cloth, etc. - but not a simple black pump.  No chunky sole. No embellishment. No corset lacing.


What I wanted were plain (not patent), pointy toe, black pumps.  Thin heel. Sexy. Simple.

But, as simple as you would think this would be, I was struggling.  The heels needed to be high but walkable, which in my size meant less than 4".  I wanted shoes I could walk around the city if I wanted to but still had some height.  I wanted a silhouette that was both sexy and professional.  A delicate heel profile that spoke to me like the inspiration images above.

But 400+ pages on ShopStyle and I was not thrilling to many.

My ideal was the Christian Louboutin Helmut.  I think these are one of the sexiest shoes around.  But I have a pair in blue and they run big and are not easily available so they were out.  The Zara knock-offs were not available either. 

I narrowed it down, after looking high and low, to two options.

The Louboutin Pigalle was option 1. But I know how this heel is cut and on me it tends to cut low at an uncomfortable spot on the sides of my feet, plus it's just an inch or so too high.  I'd never be able to wear these around. Although they are a darn pretty shoe.

The second option, and the one I ended up with, was the Blahnik BB heel.  The height is a bit shorter than my chartreuse pair.   And they are pretty close to perfect.  The topline isn't too low.  The vamp is the perfect height.  The heel isn't too high and is just thin enough.  Great profile and great from the front and back.

Considering I recently got black wedges with ankle straps, black and nude crystal sandal-y heels, black and nude Rockstud kitten heels, and black patent beribboned mary janes... these had better be perfection or I'm in big trouble!

Do you have a "perfect" black heel?

Le Sigh - Kate Spade Night Owl Bag

I'm not a huge purse gal but I am a sucker for whimsy and when I spied the Kate Spade Night Owl I was instantly smitten.

Yes, it's a bit silly.  Yes, I have no practical need for it.  Yes, it's a splurge. 

But just look at it!  I'm totally anthropomorphizing it.   Love the googly eyes, the plump "body", the glossy mesh. 

Must. Have. Owly.

Such a sweet polka dot interior too.

And look!  I can wear it fancy or with casual outfits too.  It's versatile, I tell ya!

I don't care what anyone (cough *my husband* cough) says... I need this!!!

Right?  Right?

Kate Spade Night Owl bag - $225 at Kate Spade

Ensemble du Jour: 7-8-11

In spite of the fact that it's a million degrees out and I'm not happy in/with this image, I'm sharing it because, well... I'm wearing a "mullet" skirt for WendyB.

I had actually fallen in love with a asymmetrical (aka mullet) skirt last fall but missed out on the one I really wanted.  I had called all over to no avail and over the winter put it out of my mind.  But I found this light jersey skirt at Nasty Gal (in two colors!) for only $38 and picked it up.

The fabric is very comfy and floaty.  It is actually perfect for summer as you can wear it with sandals or knee-high boots (not those tragic ones in the photo) or heels and while it's as easy breezy as a maxi skirt or dress, it's more interesting and attention grabbing!

I paired it with my custom Paraphernalia necklace and Camila Skovgaard Chastity Sandals. A strong graphic and sexy heel, especially with an ankle strap, works great with this skirt.  But I'm also planning on wearing it with a jacket and my Ann Demeulemeester triple-lace boots in the Fall.

I think Wendy is planning a round up of more skirts, so I'll link to it here when that happens.  I can't wait to see all the other outfits!

UPDATED:

Here is the Huffington Post feature on "mullet" styles written by Wendy Brandes.

Ensemble du Jour: 7-6-11

Yeah!  An outfit post!

I really need to try to find time to take these in the morning because, as you can see, the lighting in my house is "dim" to put it kindly. Dismal and cave-like would be more appropriate.

But, I was so happy with my outfit today I decided to take some shots anyways.  I made the mistake of going into Target last night and ended up with a bunch of stuff. Some of it needed, none of it pricey ($8 tanks, tees and yoga capris, yes please! $19 comfy cute dresses, okay! Robe so I stop scaring the neighbors, yep!) and perfect for wearing to work and on weekends.

The first thing I wanted to wear was this really cute stripey jersey tank dress. And then I saw the bright apple green 3/4 sleeve cardi.  I have to admit here that I am hopeless at mixing patters.  I love it on others, aspire to it and then fall into the trap of matchy-matchy all the time.  So here's my happy little mixing outfit... I paired black and white stripes with a leopard belt and shoes.

WHOA!!!!

I know, I know, CRAZY TIME!!!!

This dress is so cute I got in solid red too.  Get ready for, wait for it... color-blocking!  Shut the font door!

It does have this nice little princess-seaming element.  Not a bad little detail for a less-than-$20 dress.

I'm loving the color/pattern combo. 

For jewelry, I'm also mixing but more like matching - my Wendy Brandes "Chicken on Nest" necklace and my new "vegan" hen necklace from Julep115 via Etsy.

For shoes I wore my Coach (circa 2003-2004???) Tully leopard/oscelot kitten heels.

I do love a good kitten heel.

Grosgrain bows and heel detail.

I took a bunch more shots tonight so I have a lot to share over the next few days.

Onward into year five!