{ all } in the details

i love items that seem basic at first, but upon closer inspection surprise you. like a sweater with strategic cut-outs, jeans with the subtlest python pattern, and whisper-thin rings worn on every single finger:

{ michael michael kors sweater, rag + bone shirt, pour la victoire bag, gifted hudson jeans, fendi watch, catbird rings }

{ black } and yellow

a nod to yesterday's color story, in the form of a few things i'd love to see under my tree this year:

{ clockwise from top left: asos boots ($52), j.crew bag ($448), falke stockings ($36), j.crew iphone case ($25), gretchen jones necklace ($98), bodum coffee press ($50), dannijo collar ($172), michael michael kors skirt ($270), kate spade earrings ($38), oliver peoples sunnies ($375 ~ i used them in THIS SHOOT! }

{ you fit me better } than my favorite sweater

the title of this post comes from this obsessed-with song ~ and yes, this is most definitely my favorite sweater these days. worn with my current favorite hat, sunnies, carryall, and my favorite-favorite pants. basically, i've had this total combination on repeat a lot lately.

{ victor osborne hat, tiffany sunnies, RD international sweater (courtesy of modcloth), gifted stylestalker shirt worn underneath, blank nyc pants, rebecca minkoff bag, zara boots }

{ new neutrals }

olive and khaki are the more casual alternative to my beloved black and white ~ and together they recently made for an effortless outfit comprised of all my new favorite pieces!

let's start with the hat, shall we? i bought it at victor osborne, when i was in the store pulling pieces for a shoot. i'm so excited that my hair's gotten long enough to peek out from underneath hats just in time for fall, and this one's been getting a ton of wear already.
THIS DRESS is another much-loved piece lately. actually, i'm surprised by just how much i've worn it in the short time we've been together. it worked with flat sandals for a night-out in puerto rico, then with black tights and a blazer for a birthday party back in new york. and of course, i also wore it with my favorite fall boots on the fine afternoon when these photos were taken!
THE JACKET was a gift from white + warren ~ which i was so grateful to receive, as i'd been on the hunt for a cold-weather workhorse to fill the roll in my wardrobe that THIS VEST played all summer. speaking of white + warren, don't forget that today is the last day to enter the giveaway i'm hosting with them!! we'll announce a winner tomorrow.

all in all, i felt like this ensemble encapsulated where my style is right now. it was tailored but relaxed, and layered but unfussy ~ just the way i like to feel!!

{ victor osborne hat, elizabeth & james sunnies, gifted white + warren jacket, E1 london dress courtesy of modcloth, michael kors watch, gifted coach clutch, alexander wang boots }

{ versioning } black skirt / white shirt

as i get a little older (and a LOT busier), my style seems to be getting more streamlined and defined. along the way, i've come to understand the value of truly great basics, and on mornings when i'm pressed for time, a black skirt + white shirt combo never fails me. i love that the look can be taken in so many different directions! here are a few iterations that i hope might inspire you to think of ways to elevate your own plain jane faves:

VERSION I // ruffled blouse + leather skirt
{ elizabeth + james sunnies, self-made necklace, theory blouse, h+m skirt (recently seen HERE), marc by marc jacobs clutch, stuart weitzman shoes }




VERSION II // man's shirt + fringed skirt
{ lanvin for h+m sunnies, american apparel shirt, (borrowed from the boys), vintage embroidery-turned-brooch, coach classics bag, primary skirt, banana republic socks, corello shoes }



VERSION III // polo shirt + knit skirt
{ vintage yves saint laurent sunnies from ebay, american apparel polo shirt (as above, it's from the men's department), zara skirt (i'm also lusting after THIS SIMILAR STYLE), vintage studio ferre belt, michael kors watch, banana republic socks, loeffler randall boots }

{ rest stop dress }

{ karen walker sunnies, kelly framel necklaces and wrap bracelet, miu miu dress, michael kors watch, anya hindmarch clutch, gifted corello shoes }

a few weeks ago, i was driving back from newport, rhode island, when i suddenly had to use the loo. after pulling off the highway at the nearest exit, what should i find but a barneys-equipped outlet mall?! i ran in to use the facilities, and ran back out with this new miu miu dress in tow. didn't cost much more than a tank of gas!

{ sheerly }

{ elizabeth & james 'monroe' sunnies, gifted kimberly taylor blouse, the loved one bra courtesy of modcloth, michael kors watch, primary clutch, missoni pants, dries van noten shoes }

just a quick post today to say hello; i'm currently in las vegas to support my girl cleo in her debut showing at project (the cute clutch i'm wearing is her design) ~ if any of you are around, please stop by booth #16015 and say hello!!

{ another LBD } + a giveaway!

i've been all about the classics lately ~ in the past week, i've worn two denim + striped top combinations, and today marks my second little-black-dress-based ensemble in the same amount of time.

the fact is, a simple shift is the perfect solution when one needs to stay chic despite the completely blistering heat. just add minimal jewels (it's really too hot for serious accessories, so i just went for earrings here), plus a killer pair of kicks and a cute clutch:

the best thing about this outfit is that i get to share a piece of it with you!! ellington handbags (a new sponsor of this site), is generously giving away this pretty clutch (in either blue, red or black) to one lucky reader. to enter, just 'like' ellington on facebook, then leave them a comment letting them know which color you want. a winner will be selected next week!

{ vintage ysl sunnies from ebay, michael kors dress (similar HERE), black star clutch courtesy of ellington handbags, dolce + gabbana shoes }

{ down by } the schoolyard

{ vintage ysl sunnies (via ebay!), kelly framel necklace, chambray shirt stolen from a man friend, moon collective lace shorts courtesy of modcloth, michael kors clutch, alexander wang shoes }

{ summer safari }

{ vintage sunnies, michael kors trench dress, vintage crepe slip dress, american apparel clutch }

{ the demibob }

although i've complained about it more often than not, part of me is enjoying the process of growing out my hair, and experimenting with fresh styling techniques as it evolves. as such, i was unexpectedly inspired while attending the recent michael kors show, as a bevy of choppy-cropped models (as seen above) took to the runway ~ in particular miss arizona muse (above center & below), whose uber-cool above-the-shoulder bob has kept me from giving up and shearing my locks on many occasions since.

now, suddenly, vogue is calling the look a trend (actually, their exact phrase was 'beauty phenomenon') ~ even anointing it with an official name (the 'demi-bob' ~ which, by their definition, "hits anywhere between mid-neck and shoulder-dusting"). i'm still waiting for my mane to grow to that ideal length, but at least i'm looking at the entire endeavor much more optimistically.

in the meantime, i've dusted off my long-neglected straight iron and am experimenting with new products, in an attempt to achieve that optimally tousled but flat, matte texture. i'm especially enjoying kloran's gentle dry shampoo, paul mitchell's super clean spray and shu uemura's yokan craft, but am more than open to additional suggestions. should you have any to offer, please share!!
{ top & bottom pics via style.com // center via vanessa jackman }

{ three random snaps }

{ above: detail shot by the cherry blossom girl / i receive a lot of emails about the gold michael kors watch i regularly wear / it's the 'bel aire chronograph' style, and is available HERE }

{ above: everything's so meta: pic via stylecaster's twitter, of me tweeting backstage before a recent photo shoot ~ are you following my misadventures there yet?! / wearing a self-designed necklace (available HERE), zara sweater & OPI's got the blues for red nail polish }

{ above: the aftermath of last week's snowstorm / for those who didn't experience extreme eye-rolling over this last bunny post, there's more fluffy fun waiting for you in this facebook album }