Feeling blue

I can't decide which I love more, these fabulous Marais USA pumps or the vintage blue suitcase?

photo courtesy of Darling Dexter

Denim on denim on denim

This made my day.

Denim on denim on denim, with a little acid wash thrown in. And don't forget the piano key belt. I wouldn't expect anything less from Flight of the Concords.




























photo courtesy of The Pursuit Aesthetic

September's Grace

I barely made it, but I finally saw The September Issue in the actual month of September.

As a conspiracy theorist I walked away thinking that Vogue actually bank rolled the whole film to drive business to their faltering pubication, but it was fabulous nonetheless. But not nearly as fabulous as Grace Coddington, Vogue's Creative Director. Maybe it was because she stands up to Anna (and wins!) or that she entered this career because of a tragic accident that left her unable to model. But mostly I admire her perspective: her passion for composition, her appreciation of her surroundings and her respect for both the inspiration and the model (even the camera man turned model). Those were the thing that were most "exposed". For me, Anna turned out to be but a blip on the radar - the calculating powerhouse who drives fashion (which we already knew), while Grace revealed herself as the reason why I only look at the pictures.


























photo courtesy of Huffington Post

Texas bound

Since everything's bigger in Texas, I'm packing my big hair and dancing shoes. Enjoy the posts I've schedule while I'm away, and I'll catch up with you on Tuesday...

Pretty as a rose

With all this talk of Fall, it's easy to forget that there's still a little bit of summer left no matter what the calendar may say. Like this shining glory - a coral colored rose in my neighborhood:

But since we are indeed two days deep into a new season, I couldn't help but notice the same shade used in Isaac Mizrahi's runway look:

photo courtesy of Ruby Press

Hello, sweetheart

I think my recent posts are misleading - I am anything but fashionable. Sure, I try. And I really do have a deep appreciation of the stylish. But most days I don't even think about what I am going to wear until 10 minutes before I walk out the door (or 10 minutes after I should have walked out the door.) This includes weekends. Oh, and my clothes are so last season (by "last" I mean "ten".)

I wasn't even going to comment on the Emmys until I saw one of my all time favorite silhouettes all over the red carpet tonight: the sweetheart neckline.

The classic:

With a modern twist:

And one with a little plunge:

photos courtesy of TV Guide

The Sartoralist says personal style isn't replicating what you see, but interpreting inspiration and making it your own. So while I can't promise this is the end of my fashion posts, and I am sure to share my inspirations as I go, I'll give you a little break first.

The Look for Less: Tights

The Fall Favorite: Colored, textured tights

Luckily for us, tights can add pizazz to any outfit for mere pennies per wear. So grab a pair today and throw them on with "old" clothes to transform them into new outfits. And don't forget to pair them with your favorite peep toes (because you're a rebel!)

photo courtesy of polyvore

And more importantly, why have I just discovered this collage function on polyvore?!! As a child of the 80's and 90's, you can expect more collages coming your way...

Spoiled Rotten

Oh my, I am spoiled rotten. Look what the husband surprised me with:

photo courtesy of The Sartoralist

It's a gift that keeps on giving - the inspiration will never end!

Speaking of which, this recent Sartoralist look:

Can be yours, thanks to Blog Goggles' fab vintage find (just throw on a smart little blazer and killer gladiators):























photo courtesy of Etsy

The Look for Less: Belted Cape

The Fall Favorite: Belted Cape

Paul Smith, $657 (399 GBP)

photo courtesy of Polyvore

The Look for Less

Tulle, $98

photo courtesy of Tulle

The Look for Less: Over the knee suede boots

The Fall Favorite: Over the knee suede boots

Giuseppe Zanotti, $975





















photo courtesy of Net-A-Porter

The Look for Less

Rampage, $80 (these can also be cuffed and worn below the knee, until you're ready for your Pretty Woman moment)

photo courtesy of Piperlime

My debut

I feel like a debutante, with my very first guest blog as my debut.

The fashionable Liz of Pink Monkey Style asked little ole' me to contribute my "Top Five for Fall" for her guest blog series (this from the girl who is getting backstage snap shots straight from Fashion Week! It doesn't get more fabulous than that.)

Sneak peak: over the knee boots, belted capes and... oh, I wouldn't dare spoil the fun. Head on over to Pink Monkey Style and enjoy.

I'll be sure to share my "looks for less" throughout the week.

Maybe this isn't so bad

As I've mentioned (lamented?), it's football season. It's also lots of other things too, like fall, fashion week, the eighth anniversary of 9/11. But it is most certainly football season. Which means massive quantities of food. Adult beverages. Couch time. Icons. Icons? Indeed. Maybe this isn't so bad - I finally read the Vanity Fair article on Marilyn Monroe (October 2008!) and will start on Jackie Kennedy at half time (current issue).

I think we could all use a little Jackie:










































photo courtesy of Kate Spade, fall collection

And of course, Miss Monroe:























photo courtesy of J. Mendel, fall collection























photo courtesy of Marchesa, resort 2010 collection

Show your tassels

It's a vintage tassel necklace and red lipstick day (paired with the usual conservative slacks and pointy pumps that make it just acceptable enough for the office.)

I'm thinking I may need to add to my collection...

photo courtesy of Etsy

Rules of the road: fall leggings

Some useful advice from Brooke Kao, fashion blogger from The Fashion Void That Is DC, on her biggest pet peeve:

“Leggings as pants. This is a serious Washington epidemic, and it’s just not flattering. Michelle Obama always keeps her whole butt covered, so why doesn’t everyone else? And if the back door is hidden, then by association so is the front door, unless you’re wearing one of those fishtail shirts, in which case you need to reexamine your life decisions.”

This certainly got me in the mood for leggings, leggings and more leggings (not to mention opaque tights. Not as pants, of course.)

photos courtesy of American Apparel and Anthropologie

Jellies revisted

Jelly shoes have never been so sophisticated:

photo courtesy of the New York Times

Back to School

A surprisingly humidity-free (ok, well low humidity) morning reminded me of those long ago back to school days. Here are a few things on my fall wish list:

Black military jacket, H&M

Grey suede boots, Zappos

Vintage desk tray for all my fan mail, Etsy

And for the husband (directly from his own wish list, although the tomboy in me has grown found of it for myself):

"The original" leather postal messenger bag, J.Crew