bangle bangle! (bangle bangle bangle…)

Logically, I adore Gilt.com. What’s not to love? Recently, I purchased these bangles from Amrita Singh’s Bangle Bangle collection. LOVE!

Size comparison shot, with my wedding band (and I have huge fingers!)

So now I just have to find some guts somewhere so that I can wear them all together at once. These suckers are heavy!

outfit posting

I decided that I am going to try and start posting some outfits. I haven’t really done much before, since a) I am no model and I feel stupid having my picture taken, and b) I don’t have anyone photographically inclined handy to take the pics.

But, I want to post them, so I will. Probably mostly from my webcam, but oh well.

Last night husband and I were just kind of running around, dinner with some family and then drinks later just the two of us. I REALLY wanted to wear my new Aldo wedges, but I felt like they may not translate well for in-law time. So, I decided to try out my new black and white dot heels.

Here’s what I ended up with:

Not terribly exciting. Torn black jeans and belt, Forever 21. Top (which I want to love but never do), random local boutique. Heels, Not Rated.

Closer look at belt:

Closer look at heels:

Also guest appearance from my Chihuahua, Rhett Butler 🙂

I thought about adding this jacket, but didn’t. I do think this pic shows the jacket well, though:

I really want a light color pair of these jeans, but am battling against my self-imposed F21 ban. Also, I may want them a little higher quality/lighter weight. These were only like $17 though!

Lynn Wyatt

There was an article in last month’s HB about a Texan socialite (for lack of better title), Lynn Wyatt.

Please, please, please read it.

Something about this article really struck a cord with me. I so badly want to be like her. She embodies the type of personality and general fabulousness that I hope to someday achieve. Some memorable quotes that stuck out to me:

“A lady should never wear a wristwatch after eight. Why? A gentleman will always give her the time” (I always thought evening watches were weird? Too dainty for my wrist anyway!)

“Jewelry can never be too heavy, and heels can never be too high.” (Exactly!!)

“She describes her style as ‘classic, with a dash of sass — but never trash.’ ” (Similar to the Valentino quote I love about beautiful and not weird.)

Aside from her fashion amazingness, she just seems so strong. I have chided myself lately…”Lynn Wyatt wouldn’t cry because she can’t find a job. Be like Lynn!” or “Lynn Wyatt wouldn’t act like a brat if she were scared. Hold your head up and act like a lady”.

Of course, I don’t know Lynn and maybe she would do those things? But I doubt it.

The List

I realized yesterday that I have a sort of mental “list” of pieces that I really want in my closet. It ranges from the relatively near future (distressed light color skinny jeans, the perfect black cami) to longer range goals (I’m looking at you, Chloe Bay bag).

Is this normal? OK I should never ask that. I decided to at least try to get the list down and out of my head since it stands no chance of survival there.

• something Marchesa
• something Chanel
• the perfect timeless leather bag
• a vintage exotic leather piece (am obsessed with this website)
• THE winter white coat I have been searching for for 3 years
• A piece from M. Frey or Frey-Wille  (holy gorgeous enamel jewelry, batman)
• something from one of Alexander McQueen’s lines (before he passed)
• ANYTHING Valentino (but preferably before he retired)
• ditto, Dior
• a totally killer clutch that is so crazy it can only be paired with a LBD
• Cartier twist ring (looks like a twist tie, which is what my husband proposed with) and a Cartier love bangle
• the perfect daytime watch, probably leather strap and rose gold face

The point is that I want my closet to end up somewhere between thrift shop and museum, with pieces that are classic and really build a collection. There are probably 8 million other items, but those are the ones that immediately came to mind. When it comes to brands, I try not to be a brand whore but there are some houses that just fascinate/inspire me and I like to own genius when I can.

Fashion Mags

There is really no shortage of fashion-centered magazines. I currently have subscriptions to Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, W, V, and Harper’s Bazaar.

Really, I don’t get why everyone is so obsessed with Vogue. Yes, I like it. Yes, I will probably always get it. But honestly? I am TOTALLY obsessed with Harper’s Bazaar. I never bought it, it’s not widely available here and when it is it’s in the back of the magazine racks. But recently, desperate for images for a class assignment, I grabbed it.

Wow. There were at least 3 photo spreads that blew my mind. Creative, beautiful, thought-provoking. Why don’t people mention this all the time? Why aren’t there movies about it instead?

If anyone has any other faves, I would love to know!

Deals are good. Shoes are good. Therefore…

Last night I sacrificed my iPhone to St. Patrick. Really, I just dropped it in a bar toilet and it died. Yes, the toilet was clean. Or, as clean as a bar toilet can be…which is probably not clean but at least I hadn’t peed in it yet. This was obviously a bummer. Best way to deal with shitty stuff? Buy shoes, naturally.

I also happened to find out this week that I did not get this job I really wanted and had 2 interviews for. Awesome. Also in this process, I discovered that the only pair of interview-acceptable shoes I have are about 1.5 sizes too big, and require 3 pads to keep them on.

Do you know how hard it is to find interview shoes?? Pair the fact that I am a firm higher-the-better heel devotee (no one wants to hire a hooker) with the fact that designers are currently OBSESSED with peep toes (hello, wearing pantyhose is shitty enough) and you have a disaster.

So I went to our local Off Broadway and did not find any interview shoes, but I did find these:

Of course, I do not need them. I even thought to save the name and buy them after I have a job. But when I googled, they were at least $20 more everywhere I found! Nuts, since they were only $35 at OB. And I had a coupon. So I ran back and got them, and now my toilet/phone debacle stings a little less.

Oh, and I got these on 6pm for interviews:

Pretty happy, they aren’t too high, but aren’t ugly either. And they were cheap. Win win win (bonus points if you know this reference).

PS If you haven’t, RUN to a new tab and go to 6pm.com. I think it’s Zappo’s outlet, but whatever it is I LOVE IT. Cheap and fabulous shoes galore. Seriously, it’s nuts.

Lady GaGa

Makes me want to:
– Lose 20lbs
– Get 10 more tattoos
– Learn to dance
– Put something random on my sunglasses

Her and Beyonce’s lastest video/mini movie for Telephone is, of course, insane. I am scared of her and enthralled all at once.

Thank you, Jean Paul Gaultier, for making me feel like a whale. Alternate title: my thoughts on JPG for Target

Holy evil sizing, Batman! When the Jean Paul Gaultier for Target collection was released this weekend, I ordered a few pieces just to check them out. The piece I was most excited to see in person was the black cloque dress.

*I am now realizing that I can’t get good pics from Target.com and am too lazy to take any myself, so this post is most likely going to end up lame.*

Link to dress

Anyway, when I got to it there was a size 1 and a size 7 left. I ordered the 7, figuring it was a safe bet. Well, it arrived today and seriously, it’s tiny. I wear a pretty solid 4 in dresses unless the boob area is small, and I literally could not get the damn thing over my hips. I finally wiggled into it and I couldn’t get it over my boobs either. Fabulous.

People in the fashion industry like to speak of vanity sizing with disdain, but I am all for it! Put a tag with a little number in your clothes and I will be a customer for life. I would, however, be a proponent of standardizing sizing to avoid situations like this one.

The dress is really nice. The fabric (which I have seen some people complain about) is different and reminds me of a parachute in a good way. The patter is super subtle, much more so than on the web. I adore the pleating detail. My only other complaint is the leg opening. Even had my sausage thighs been a JPG for Target 7, they would have been sticking too close to each other for comfort all night long. I don’t particularly like being that girl that walks in a shuffle.

I also ordered a tattoo-print bikini and wrap top. The print is much prettier in real life, very vibrant. It just isn’t “me”, and the bottoms are also teeny tiny and squeeze where I don’t want them too and show entirely too much of what I would like to keep to myself. The top has no opening, just an elastic band, which I think I like? Not sure.

The wrap top is far and away the best of the pieces I ordered. It is silky and feels beautiful. But, since the bikini is a no go it’s all headed back to my local Target to make some Ed Hardy enthusiast’s day.

**Another side note…this is all post emotionally draining job interview, so I am particularly fragile. Now I am off to finish my marketing midterm while wearing my pretty Loubies and remembering fondly the days when I used to bring home a paycheck.

…

When I started poking around the internet looking for info and pics from Alexander McQueen’s a/w 10 show, I found this image that literally took all the breath from my body.

God, what a piece. It incorporates many of my favorite things, namely feathers and tulle. It is so…McQueen. It’s odd because right after that first moment of bliss from seeing it, I immediately felt so sad that there will never be another chance to be taken aback by what he sent down a runway. Sure, his line will go on (and I am glad) but it won’t be the same. Kind of like reading a really good book the first time. You can reread it all you want but you never get back the experience of discovering it for the first time.

I am totally determined that at some point in my life I will own something McQueen that was designed before his death. Got to get as close to genius as I can!

Nashville deals!

There is NOTHING in this world that feels as awesome as finding good deals on good stuff. I went home to Nashville a few weeks ago and hit the jackpot! I wanted to go to the Goodwill in Franklin (affluent area) and never even made it there. Instead I got stuck at this teeny up-scale consignment shop. They only carry designer brands, and they were having winter clearance, 50%-75% off. Here are my scores:

First up ^ this adorable quilted leather Burberry headband…$12

Next we have this MINT Anthro red suede bag…$16

This piece ^ made me squeal. A vintage Halston ostrich leather bag, a kind of taupe-y color…$15

TERRIBLE picture, but a Sigrid Olsen black raw silk coat, tags still on ($299 MSRP)…$2o. Love the empire cut!

Another awful pic (I need to get better!) this super cute Calvin Klein dress with pockets and belt, $12. Macy’s tags still on, see below!

Last but certainly not least, this raw silk swing jacket. I love the one big button and the way it falls. The pattern is killer. Looks busy in the pic, but in real life it’s killer. Looks good with the pink dress, grey or black. Love! Best part…$6