Thursday, May 31, 2012

.. of Style Inspiration


I hope I dress like this as I get older, instead of like the woman in the background... for example.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

.. of Style Inspiration


If ankles could kill...

Monday, May 28, 2012

.. of Style Inspiration


There's something striking about this image. No?

I've always considered myself more of a Carrie than a Charlotte. More messy chic than perfectly put together, mostly as a result of my unruly hair situation. But, images like this make me rethink my choices.

You can never underestimate the value of a perfectly tailored coat.

This shot also revisits the beanie trend from last season. Observe...



Sarah Michelle Gellar


Leandra Medine




Gwen Stefani





Ashley Olsen


Victoria Beckham



Friday, May 25, 2012

.. of Interiors

"I am dreaming tonight of a place I love even more than I usually do." Michael Buble

That place is Design Within Reach... I want to go to there.


I have no idea how you'd clean it but standing on this rug was absolutely heaven for ma toes.


I use a lot of wood in my apartment but it never occurred to me to lacquer it in silver. 'Wood' (ha) also look amazing in gold.


The Wassily Chair... THE Wassily Chair. I have been dreaming about owning one of these ever since Express had a separate store for men called Structure. They actually had these (probably replicas) as seating outside the fitting rooms and they are amazing. The straps eliminate any pressure points so its like sitting on a cloud.


I first saw this a little while ago in someone's home featured on The Glitter Guide and saved it in my inspiration folder...


I thought it was a clever DIY, hang some crystals from a modern silver chandelier. Turns out! Not so much. For better or worse its available at DWR but its $3000... anywhoooo moving on.


Thee most beautiful shade of pink bronze ever. Standing next to this I fell in love... I felt it mimicked my red hair and general pinky complexion. I felt we were kindred spirits. But when I tried explaining this, very nicely I might add, to the salesman, basically that I didn't appreciate them holding my kindred spirit captive and that I would appreciate it if I could take it home with me now. Please. They were less than convinced. Had to spend the car ride home explaining to my boyfriend why I have a compulsion to get chatty with salespeople, waitresses, etc.


A teeny tiny wittle fireplace for us apartment dwellers. Can be used inside or out for that fireplace glow. Sits tabletop. Amazing.


Love elephants. 'nuff said.

1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7 

Thursday, May 24, 2012

.. of Shopping





mm zup zup Gus Gus...

Jeffrey Campbell... obviously!

And yes, I'm aware they're bordering on being knockoffs and no, I don't care. You know why? The main argument against knockoffs of designer brands is that the knockoff industry supports child labor and other unlawful practices in countries like China. Then passable versions are sold on the street in Soho for $1 making it impossible for the brands to compete for these aspirational customers. Jeffrey Campbell however, is a fashion-industry recognized American company. Some of his shoes are over $200 which means I still can't afford them much less the original and the brands he is pirating are mostly European. SO technically, I am supporting American industry...

or they're just cute and don't have any fur on them and that is the extent of the collision between my morals and my closet.

1, 2

and finally, why the Gus Gus reference? Because when I saw these, I felt like Gus Gus with some cheese.




zup zup

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

.. of Shopping

no, No, NO!

This is not one of the things from the 80's that should ever, ever, ever come around again.


Bad Anthropologie... BAD!

and while we're on the subject...



okay maybe for certain occasions WITH the right footwear and you better have some kind of explanation for that shit because you will have to justify your choices. I shudder to think what these pants in the wrong hands could do... 


my eyes... MY EYES!

Monday, May 21, 2012

.. of Personal Style

Just came across this post on Style & Pepper, a blog I only recently started following. I found it intriguing, maybe more so because it's raining and it's Monday. I know... I know.. *mini violin*. Got it. So what follows is a list of the "things" I identified with most. Now since I barely have any readers at all I am posting this not as a "things I am afraid to tell you" but as a quick note of recognition that, not only were a lot of the "things" the same from blogger to blogger but, I can relate to a lot of them as well. People are never as different as they may first appear.


(the following are not my words)

1. I am alone a LOT. does this mean that I'm lonely? Occasionally.

2. I constantly feel like I don't know what I'm doing. and everyone else around me seems to have it all figured out. Which I know is not true.

3. Business is not booming. starting a business is HARD. I knew that it was going to be a lot of hard work going into it, but for some reason that doesn't really mean anything until you're in the thick of it. I'm enthusiastic and confident about 70% of the time, and the other 30% goes from discouraged to self-doubt. I've wondered if this is even what I should be doing with my life. No overnight success here, and no rolling in the dollar bills.

4. I wear glasses because I love them, not because I can't see without them. I wear them like an accessory, and particularly on days when I'm short on time.

5. I can't keep my 900 sq. foot apartment clean. I can't. I don't know why, it's not even big! How do people keep 3 bedroom houses clean? Something in my house is always messy. Always.

6. I'm an introvert. though I constantly have to be social and outgoing, I find being around people for extended periods of time emotionally draining. I fake it pretty well, but I'm actually quite shy.

7. My boyfriend and I are madly in love. I'm afraid to tell people this because I have a lot of friends around my age (29) who are still searching for Mr. Right or, heaven forbid, in a dissolving marriage or relationship. I know how hard (and scary) that must be and I fear making them jealous by letting them know how happy I am and how good he is to me. He spoils me with love and affection, he supports and understands my hopes and dreams, he makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, he adapts and compromises for us, he's always a gentleman, he's always emotionally available for me, and he's the most romantic man I've ever known. I tend to downplay our love to the world, but really, I want to scream at the tops of my lungs, "I love this man!"

8. I crave more professional reassurance. when you have a start-up and are an entrepreneur, it's a lonely and scary (albeit exciting and invigorating) experience. No one will ever truly understand the pressures you feel or the weight you hold on your shoulders because it's unique and specific to your own path.

9. I had a few breakdowns last year. not hospital-level or anything, but I don't really break down - and I definitely don't tell people about it. I'm a pretty have-it-together type of person. However, it's been a rough few years, and last year took the cake.

10. I don't feel successful yet. my expectations for myself are high. HIGH high. It will take a lot for me to feel truly satisfied with the work I've done. 

11. I am extraordinarily hard on myself. sometimes to the point that when I take a step back and think about it, I worry that no matter what I do in life, it'll never be enough.

12. I am terrified of failure. in any way, shape, or size. It stems from my horrible control freak tendencies.

13. I'm a hater. yup I drink the hatorade. I (not so) secretly hate on 25 year olds who are married, appear to have it all together and live in gorgeous homes. Seriously, how can you afford that designer pad? Did your Daddy pay for it? Are you legitimately that successful 3 years after undergrad? Either way, I'm jealous. I'm also jealous that certain blogs have much bigger followings than mine. And you know what, some of those blogs are just fricking terrible. I watch House Hunters just so that I can mock the homeowners.

14. I have pretty severe anxiety. which I thankfully - have been able to control by myself without medication.

15. Vision of health? despite my best efforts, I only make it to the gym twice a month, if I'm lucky. I drink wine more nights than not. I love coffee.


Did you relate to any of these "things"? Let me know!

Friday, May 18, 2012

.. of Shopping


My obsession with basics continues indefinitely. Yes, it's fun to buy the hot pink tweed jacket or the neon green crop top but when push comes to shove there is no denying the need for essentials in your wardrobe.

This theory does not apply to shoes.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

.. of Style Inspiration

Anna Wintour on The Colbert Report via Fashionologie. 'nuff said.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

.. of Style Inspiration



Sometimes an undershirt is not required.

Please and thank you.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

.. of Style Inspiration


Jenna Lyons of J.Crew fame in yet another example of why she's Queen Bee, wearing denim at the Met Gala, one of the most glamourous events of the year and an event at which Anna Wintour herself demanded that even the ushers wear black tie.

I remember going on a business trip to Manhattan once, staying in a swank hotel, business meetings with Store Managers, Districts, Regionals, CEO's, CFO's, the whole nine yards. And one day I came down wearing a white button front suit shirt, black pants, the highest pointy-toe "Imeanbusiness" heels, and *gasp* a dark rinse tight denim jacket.

Before I even entered the room a female colleague approached me and said with absolute horror on her face, "You can't wear denim! They said no denim! No jeans! What are you doing?!"

In my head I thought "Listen bitch I got this. My denim jacket cost more than your whole outfit. My shoes make me almost as tall as all the men. And I have a piece of bacon in my pocket so they'll like me anyway and not know why."

But, really what I wanted to say was if you can't push the boundaries in something as simple as your wardrobe how do you ever expect to be able to push them in your career? If you're so incapable of making an impression that leaves your boss oblivious to what you're wearing how do you expect to persuade anyone you deserve a raise much less explain to them why you deserve a promotion with any conviction?

This happens with men too. There's a new brewhaha about Mark Zuckerberg wearing a hoodie to all of his IPO investor meetings. Now don't get me wrong, I believe in rules. You really don't need to pull out your white dress to go to someone else's wedding. Wearing bright red to a funeral may be slightly out of line. These kinds of things. So while I may not agree with the hoodie decision, you still have to respect that the man is confident enough in his business that on some level, or maybe every level, he believes his hoodie not only won't be noticed, but it won't mattered even if it is. He's probably right.

Ladies, sometimes we're our own worst enemies. Push the boundaries, pretend the ceiling isn't even there, and don't apologize for your decisions. In other words, be a Lyon.

Monday, May 14, 2012

.. of Shopping



Ahhh the statement shirt. Do I really want people reading my chest? No, not particularly but these are so cute it might just be worth it.

"IF I WERE RIDING A HORSE I'D WEAR FLANNEL BUT I'M GOING TO THE DISCO SO I WEAR CHANNEL"

Get it? Chanel spelled wrong equals Channel which rhymes with Flannel... anyway. 


"COMME DES FUCKDOWN"

A play on Comme de Garcons, another fashion brand. It's pronounced more like "comb" than "calm" or "come" but you'd have to get an actual French person to say it right. 

On a similar note, the term is "Haute Couture" and it is pronounced more like "oat" and less like "hot".

Now that that's cleared up I'm gonna go have some hautemeal.

Get it?

haute oat... mea... nevermind.

Friday, May 11, 2012

.. of Personal Style

I'm uninspired to do anything but drink this weekend.

This will be me Saturday morning...


and Saturday night...


Happy weekend everybody!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

.. of Shopping




I've been wondering how to use these in my home in order to justify the purchase for a loooong time. I think I finally figured it out.



Time to bed someone who can draw. Now where did I leave my chalkboard paint...

1, 2, 3, more here and here and here

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

.. of Style Inspiration


Yigal Azrouel

mm hm

Happy Hump Day.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

.. of Interiors


Yes! I'm finally on trend! This is a 'high' equivalent to seeing something I already own in a magazine.

Acrylic can be a divisive subject. Some see it as very 80's and avoid it in home furnishings and accessories. But acrylic has several advantages. It doesn't visually obstruct a space making it the perfect solution for studio apartments and small one bedrooms. Also, it allows light to pass through it which can brighten and enhance a room much like a mirror. To me it's the equivalent of hiding a tv inside an armoire. You can use it when you need to but otherwise, it is virtually invisible.

There is one distinct disadvantage however... cats apparently can't see it. Poor things try to walk right through it making the saddest little thump with their head. This can be avoided with a very tiny helmet. 

I own these Peekaboo Nesting Tables...




To get the look try cb2, Crate and Barrel's more modern sister.

Also try 1, 2 (perfect for a narrow entryway), and 3.

Monday, May 7, 2012