put together: in a simple dress...

this pic just goes to show...it really can be quite simple to look put together...as in this lovely dress...one piece...no frills...but looking fabulous...

scanned by moi
dkny - harper's bazaar (august issue)

you had me at hello: snake charmer...

of course...the minute i get home...get my mail...first thing that catches my eye...a new issue!  it's the little things right?  so i get into the house...and before i do anything else...i need to peruse the issue...priorities...and what catches my eye?  it was more then a catch...it had me at hello...for this was no ordinary snake charmer...i mean...i've seen several that i loved...but what makes this one different?  is it the 18-karat white gold studded with more than 500 diamonds and emeralds?  um...yeah...the combination of the two...diamonds & anything green...les sigh...

as i read further...i realized that this is no ordinary bracelet...for within the serpents head a watch is cunningly concealed...now i do not wear a watch...but a watch like this?  i would wear...

bvlgari serpenti high jewelry watch
scanned by moi
harper's bazaar august issue

picking your poison in printed pants...

aahhh...the printed pant...they continue to steal the show...while many may sway from this look...there are so many great ways to incorporate it into your wardrobe...

here are some of my favorite pics...

although the massive floral print below may be a tad much...ok...more then a tad...you can easily replace the floral jacket...with a neutral number...same great affect...

scanned by moi
harper's bazaar june/july

if the florals are not your thing...how about some nice polka dots...they don't have to be huge...love this next look...so chic... 

scanned by moi
harper's bazaar june/july issue

i think i have already posted the latest trina turk ad...but it bears a repeat...polka dots are such a happy print...don't you think?

scanned by moi
trina turk ad picked up in store

and then...of course...let's throw in a bit of vintage...saw this interview with the lovely natalie joos...love these pucci pants...i personally could never pull them off...but i love love love them on her...if you would like to read the whole article...she talks about her styling secrets in adding vintage to your wardrobe...click here...

photo: marley kate

elle.com

these 4 looks are all so different from each other...never feel like a certain trend can only be worn one way...the beauty is always infusing your own personal style into it...and if you aren't sure...keep pics of styles you like...you will soon discover ways of putting together trends in ways that suit you...and only you...

put together: simple tribal mixture

how fabulous does tory burch look while globe-trotting on her southeast asian vacation?  while tribal prints are fairly easy to find these days...i am loving the mixture of patterns & colors...why wear boring khaki shorts & a tee...when you can be fashion forward & chic...

scanned by moi
harper's bazaar june/july issue

put together: a simple dress...

yes...you can run around town...meeting up with friends...getting the errands checked off your to-do list...and look fabulous while doing so...spotted this lovely in the may issue of harper's bazaar...lovely dress by stella mccartney...bag by proenza schouler...

most exciting?  one piece...no need to wonder what to pair with it...just add some lovely sandals...wedges...or flats...and you are set to go...perfectly put together...

stella mccartney dress
scanned by moi

shoes in the color of the year...

while i am seeing tangerine tango...the color of the year announced by pantone...almost everywhere...including my closet...in the shoe department...i come up short...so i've been wanting to buy the perfect pair...

something like this would be lovely...

are you looking to add tangerine tango to your wardrobe?

cesare paciotti
scanned by moi
harper's bazaar - march issue

you had me at hello: in a spring sort of way...

don't these shoes just make you yearn for spring? bright orange...such a happy color...such a fabulous shoe...

scanned by moi
harper's bazaar - february issue

put together: in black & white...

one of the easiest ways to put an outfit together...and look very well put together...is the lovely combination of black & white...so simple...yet always chic...always classic...always right...

top and pants - ralph lauren black label
bag - valentino garavani


blouse, pants & shoes - dolce & gabbana
belt - salvatore ferragamo

photos scanned by moi
harpers bazaar - november 11 issue

the peplum...

i have been telling clients and friends for a while that the peplum was starting to show back up on the runway...and on many celebrities...some laughed...thought i was off my rocker...personally...i have always loved the peplum...it just looks so lady-like...but for some...could be hard to wear...for me...it is a tough one...so for us girls with hips...it can still be done...just in moderation...

for example...the dress below that kerry washington is wearing is a peplum...but not so defined...and therefore doesn't attract all the attention to the hip area...

want a new way to define your waist? tired of the belt doing all the work? this definately is a great way to define that waist...and look lady-like all in one...be sure to click on the link below...for the small snippet harpers bazaar put out on the peplum...

photo credit

you had me at hello: golden cluster...

usually my "you had me at hello" moments happen in a quiet setting...i'm sitting on my couch...relaxed...looking through fabulous fashion magazines...and as always...it happens...i turn that page...and there it is...whatever it is...at that moment...that gets me...that beautiful shoe or bauble or jacket or full on outfit...

today...well...was very chaotic...unloading my car of groceries...getting mail out of the mailbox with both hands full of grocery bags...may i pause a moment and say that i wasn't in a hurry...so what possessed me to do all this at once...well...i can see my mom shaking her head...

but back to the story...so as i'm trying to put all the mail on top of the grocery bags that are in both hands...everything topples over...i mean...EVERYTHING...now normally...i would be pretty upset...but as i looked down at the mess that was now everywhere...the november issue of harper's bazaar was open to this absolute lovely...well...it SO had me at hello...that i...for a moment...forgot about my tiny accident just moments before...

now the thing is...it is kind of like saying i need another pair of black shoes...although i can always justify why "this" pair is different from all my others...i have several gold clutch purses...but this one...is very different...and well...not really a clutch...and plus...it had me at hello during a very hectic moment...

coach bag
scanned by moi

bold in stripes...

yes...my obsession with stripes lives on...the thing is though...in the fashion world...and the stack of magazines ready for my perusing...are so beyond summer already...but with this fabulous weather...and only the start of summer...i had to go back...way back to april for some inspiration...

feasting my eyes on this burst of striped fabulousness...i have been looking for new ways to incorporate stripes into my life...besides the over abundance i seem to have in striped tops...and what caught my eye in these glorious pics...were the lovely stacked colorful bracelets...making their own striped effect...don't you just love? such a great way to add stripes and color to an outfit...

on a side note...those shoes in the first pic are calling out to me...striped shoes...i don't have those either...the striped opportunities are endless...

would you try this stacked colored bangle look?









all pics scanned by moi - april issue harper's bazaar
original photographs by: richard burbridge

you had me at hello: ruby red hotness...

as all my fashion magazines are already enticing me with fall fashion...yes...i said fall...my heart still yearns for the first signs of spring/summer...as our chaotic winter weather in june has been anything but cheery...i almost feel that it is quite appropriate to be looking at fall fashion...to be honest...i could be wearing it now...the weather is definately cooperating with said season...

i am holding out though...for the warm weather...that is sure to come...although it is far too late this year...and as i was perusing my june/july issue of harper's bazaar...this stunning specimen of a shoe...had me at hello...if this is what fall will bring us...i can't wait...

is this shoe not the most closest glimpse to perfection? les sigh...

clutch by jason wu
bag by dior
shoes by louis vuitton
scanned by moi

pops of color...

as i was diligently cleaning out my office yesterday...i started flipping through last year's march 2010 issue of harper's bazaar...what? don't you get distracted when cleaning? came across this wonderful spread that just screams color...which always puts a smile on my face...kind of went along with my post from yesterday...aren't these colors divine?











all photos scanned by moi...

put together: black & white...

there is something simple & complex...all in one...in an ensemble of black & white...and believe me...as much as i love wearing color...the combination of black & white...pulls me in...

these shots below were in the december issue of harpers bazaar...labeled as "strong solid sophistication..." i would have to agree...one of the simplest ways to look put together and ready for any occasion...

scanned by moi

whether white is the prominant color...or black...works both ways...

scanned by moi

put together: sexy 60's inspired suits...

you would think after all my years in corporate america...where i literally wore a suit every single week day...i would be prone not to be all mesmerised by suits...but...truth be told...i think a suit is one of the sexiest outfits a woman can wear...and these that were featured in the november issue of harpers bazaar do not disappoint...

my mom has always told me that i was born in the wrong era...because this is truly what i gravitate towards...the styles of the 50's & 60's...so sexy...so chic...so lady like...

absolutely j'adore this sexy number...
suit by nina ricci, shoes by giambattista valli & hermes bag

so playful...
suit by marni, sweater by eileen fisher, shoes by giambattista valli & bag by roger vivier

photos: scanned by moi...

you had me at hello: wide leg pants...

my one "want" for the upcoming fall season...wide leg pants in camel...this pair had me at hello...except for the $1,295 price tag...i'll keep looking...

do you have a "want" for the fall season?

blouse & pants by chloe
scanned by moi from harper's bazaar august 2010

what i love about this time of year...

...would be...mostly the gorgeous weather...but when it comes to fashion...this is the time that all the lovely thick september issues start arriving at my door...thank goodness my mailman likes me...because these babies are heavy! and he is getting an arm workout...

vogue 726+ pages
instyle 600+ pages
harper's bazaar 508+ pages
marie claire 296+ pages (wimpy wimpy wimpy is playing in my head)

still waiting on a few more...obviously...where's my elle??

point being...that my lovely mailman delivers these heavy thick mags (most of which won't fit in my mailbox) to my door...

and inside these beauties?? my favorite time of year for shopping...i am definately a summer girl for weather...and a fall girl for fashion...

and as so eloquently stated in "the september issue" - the documentary following vogue editor-in-chief anna wintour's preparation for the 2007 issue...
"september is the january of fashion"

and i'm lovin the fall fashions this year...

closet envy: tamara mellon

who doesn't love a jimmy shoe choo? the fabulousness behind the shoe is the lovely tamara mellon...such a beauty...her favorite color is "leopard print" i laughed when she said that...because i've said that...could she be my sister from another mother??

and then i saw her closet...insert opera like aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh...



envy...beyond envy...am i envious of the closet? or the shoes...or both?? hmmm...

photo source

lovin me some ikat...

being that i love love love tie dye...it probably comes as no surprise that ikat draws me in...just as much...think ethnic-inspired prints...my fave so far for summer 2010 is a dress by gucci in fabulous purple...that i saw in harper's bazaar april 2010 issue...but i can't seem to find a pic of it anywhere...but trust me...it is gorg!

very similar to this one...

pink and white gucci ikat dress
photo credit


gucci ikat dress
photo credit: dan and corina lecca


dries van noten
photo credit: dan and corina lecca


pucci
photo credit: dan and corina lecca

are you inspired by ikat?

you had me at hello: classic hippie chick...

starting a new topic on fabulous finds today...you had me at hello...a bit cheesy? maybe...but one of my all time favorite lines in a movie...do you know from whence it came? =)

in looking through all my fashion magazines that grace my doorstep...and give my mailman an ample good arm workout...i come across some glossy pages that just take my breath away...so this new topic "you had me at hello" will feature my loves, lusts, determined to re-create at a lower price point...or maybe even...do not pass go...do not collect $100...i am on my way to pick it up right now... =)

my advice to you...when you see a picture that speaks to you...pull it...put it in your "wish list" pile...you will be amazed how how often that "look" can be re-created..with your own little spin...

so...i don't remember where i pulled this from...i'm thinking it was either vogue or harper's bazaar...but...it would be an understatement at how my heart skipped a beat at this look...

you had me at hello...


proenza schouler three-quarter-sleeve sequined embroidered jacket ($3,100)
batik tee ($375)
scalloped-hem cotton skirt ($660)

i have often been called the hippie chick...with my love for bohemian inspired clothing...but tie dye?? well that takes me to a whole different level...love the mix of a classy dressy jacket paired with the tie dye tee...i am determined to recreate this look...somehow...someway...although my skirt will be a tad bit longer =)

update: how appropriate is this?? just posted on instyle.com tie-dye diy with proenza schouler (and martha stewart!) a helpful video? i just may try this...who will join me?