wild flowers

While my boyfriend worked on his motorcycle, I decided to pick wild flowers. They were far prettier than any I have ever seen for sale.

Lately, my slight obsession with wildness (flowers, birds, trees, raccoons, etc) has effected my jewelry choices. I just bought this bracelet from urban outfitters online (on sale!) and the earrings are from a vintage store in Hudson, NY.

All I want to wear...

Lately, since it's summer, and I'm lazy, the only thing I want to put on each morning is a new, pretty dress. I keep looking at the ones with really unique prints (topshop archive drives me crazy with desire) but everything is so expensive! Also, I am totally loving Toast right now, and they are having a summer sale... it seems that all my clothing obsessions lately have been either from the UK or Europe. It's a real shame shipping is so expensive.

Firefly dress with pattern detail, Toast.co.uk

And I really don't know why I love this print so much, I just do. It almost seems worth the $500... good thing it's sold out. Topshop archive collection dress, Lee Bender

the secrets of anthropologie

A coworker recently told me her secret for finding cute cotton summer dresses: the anthropologie "nightie" department. I went online to do a little investigating (go to anthropologie.com and click on clothes; comfy cozy; nighties) and realized that I actually already own an anthropologie nightgown! I thought my Puella Berry Spring Chemise (shown left) was a reasonably-priced dress (unlike most of the clothing at anthro). Well, it practically is. The distinction between day/sleep wear appears to be based on the fact that the nighties are all cotton jersey and super comfortable- and much cheaper!- while the sun dresses, well, are mostly just like the nighties (comfortable, cotton, pretty etc) only three times the price. So, here are a few pictures of the beautiful "nighties"

Inexpensive splurging

I just got my first paycheck yesterday and although it was much less than I had expected, I still plan on splurging on clothes. I have been fixating on many many sale items that are still wayyyy too expensive, so in the spirit of saving money for my semester abroad, I am now going to only buy things with a price tag under $40.


First up: urban outfitters sale section button peeptoe slingback for $19.99. They have a slightly vintage look, yet without the feeling that I am bathing in someone elses old foot-sweat












Next: American Apparel poplin reversible vest ($36). I love vests. And since they have been seen on every single hipster for the last five seasons or so, I think its fair to say that they are pretty much here to stay. Plus, this one is reversible and comes in several colors, so its really like buying two things at once!





And finally, this forever 21 striped linen dress for $22.80. Now, while I could probably wear these things all together, I might want to get the shoes in another color.

D&G Evidence for my theory

Today I realized that the Dolce & Gabbana resort collection is a perfect example of my observation about safari/military looks. Although D&G is an Italian brand, I think these clothes really help to show the presence of classic adventurer looks in modern high fashion. Also, I took these images from this article on style.com.

Left: Dolce & Gabbana resort collection

Below: Proenza Schouler's earthy glitter

classic fashion themes

I recently read a great post on Style Bubble about the longevity of nautical as a fashion trend. Nautical comes back every few seasons, whether it appears in summer or winter, it matters little, for the basics are always in style. Similarly, I would like to point out that military/safari looks (khaki, army green, buttons, cargo pockets, animal prints, military jackets, etc, etc) can be considered a classic, or at the very least, a constant american trend.

Currently, there is a "shop by trend" option on shopbop that features the subsection "Jungle Love." While the name may be a tad ridiculous, the idea is not. Jungle and safari themed clothing appears in the fashion world almost every summer. Also, many of these pieces can cross over into the military world. Both trends come back around, if not next season, than in the next few. Military jackets, like pea coats, will always look fashionable.

In many ways, this could be seen as a characteristically "american" phemonemon, which fits right in with the Ralph Lauren/J. Crew school of classy and clean clothes that seem to somehow indicate a superior lifestyle, full of boat trips, patriotism, barbecue and beaches. Nautical, military and in its own way, safari, all celebrate the world of upperclass American classics. The highschool favorite, mall-store Abercrombie and Fitch exemplifies this trend; A&F was once actually an "elite excursion goods retailer". Now, Abercrombie is best known for the naked co-eds that adorn its black and white bags- and its clothes. Abercrombie, a safari company, is now the uniform of highschoolers everywhere.

So, to celebrate the fourth of july and the general American spirit, I plan on purchasing a few special items, things that capture the "casual luxury" style of American preps. Not that I am planning on looking all red-white-and-blue, but it might just happen....

Sugary-sweet: Erin Fetherston for Target

Here is an early look at the GO Internation designer collection for Target, which will be coming to stores this november. It's really, really girly. Little-girly. However, I happen to love that look. When I was little, I liked playing adult dress-up. Now that I am legally and adult, I love pretending to be a seven year-old girl again. My one problem with the line is how much it reminds me of see by chloe clothing from this past spring. Little black dress with a bib front? Thats so chloe. Also, while the clothes look great here, its hard to tell what they will be like on. I always go into Target and pick up a million clothes, yet never can seem to find anything that is worth the $20. Poor quality, ill-fitting outfits just turn me off, no matter how hot they look on the already beautiful models. I guess I will just have to wait and see...

And to make my point about the somewhat last-season dresses, here are a few examples from net-a-porter.com of marc by marc and chloe dresses:

See by Chloe Bib front t-shirt dress

Marc by Marc Jacobs Serena silk dress

we all know marc jacobs is an f-ing saint, lets canonize him already

I just bought this amazing bag (which I found by surfing fabsugar.com) for $359 down from $895. The fact that it was so on sale- and that it was a real Marc Jacobs, for while I own several Marc by Marc bags, I had yet to buy a true marc- allowed me to rationalize spending an entire weeks paycheck on a single item. I do not regret it.

Sales are so tempting. And more than a little evil. However, I do feel amazing walking around with a purse worth almost $900. Actually, also a little guilty. Which means I will have to log a few more hours volunteering. So, really, everyone wins with this purchase (fabulous sale + too much money spent on leather + middleclass guilt = volunteering at a home for underprivileged kids).

In the spirit of summer sales, I also want to show a few other sale items that I absolutely need:
Net-a-porter.com is having this incredible sale where everything that was once mortal-sinfully expensive is now only venial-sinfully expensive. Like this dress. Once $298, now $119. The color is perfect, I like the tomato-red. It also comes in blue, but almost every dress I own is a LBD (little blue dress). The polka dots are just youthful enough for it to feel cute and summery, but also a little sophisticated. Should I buy it? This is a question only god can answer... (only kidding, I was just suddenly struck by the strangely catholic language of this post, canonize, venial sins, etc. possibly brought on by an unconscious angry conscience?)

Now, one more marc thing I feel I need:

I like that the shoulders are big enough to evoke the shoulder-pad resurrection that I read about in Vogue this spring, but not actually padded, which keeps this from verging on silly.

This is the final thing I keep coming back to and lusting after. See by Chloe is always wonderful, but this dress is classic. I know its lacey/summery appeal will outlast this summers LWD craze. Craftmanship carries it far.

See by Chloe lace detail dress from net-a-porter.com. Was: $640. Now: $320

Since I got a summer desk job, I have been shopping online all the time, for lack of anything better to do. While there is nothing better than getting paid to do whatever I want, it is frustrating to know that because I am making a sad 10$ an hour, I will not be able to afford all the pretty things I find.
And yet, this bracelet isnt too expensive, right? Its only 88$ from shopbop.com (Kenneth Jay Lane giraffe cuff). I have been searching for neat bracelets that don't make me look like I am having a young hollywood/drew barrymore moment. This one is just cute enough, and just unexpected enough to make me want to break my no-more-shopping-I-promise promise I made to my mom.

My first post

This is my first post...