{ more } graphic goodies

{ above: moroccan pouf, vintage chanel belt, viktor+rolf shoe, karl top, original post }

{ above: jessica durrant print, sandro top }

{ above: helmut lang jacket, michael kors cashmere bodysuit, acne pre-fall 2012 }

{ above: alexander wang wallet, nuLOOM chevron rug }

{ above: original post, mason by michelle mason t-shirt, sonia by sonia rykiel shirt, converse sneakers, ray-ban sunnies, camilla skovgaard wedges }

{ all } you need

{ above: taken last week at the standard hotel // photo by billy farrell agency // wearing: helmut lang blazer, joseph blouse, ferragamo bag (better seen in THIS POST), vintage sequin pants. manolo blahnik shoes (also seen HERE) }

my younger sister will soon be graduating college and embarking on the job interview process. she recently asked me what three pieces she should buy to ready her wardrobe for that endeavor, and it's a question i've also frequently received from readers. i'll give you all the same advice i gave her. instead of purchasing several items, pool your funds together and get the one thing that will prepare you for anything: helmut lang's wool tuxedo blazer (i'm wearing it in the above image):

jackets are easily my favorite clothing item, and i've bought countless basic black blazers before. but i've never found one that's as radically reinvigorating for your wardrobe as this. its unique, sculpted shape makes it invariably versatile; the raised back works with nearly every silhouette. it can go quite casual, or super-suited. it works with skirts; it works with pants. it'll make whatever dresses you already own instantly interview-appropriate. it'll make a very 'day' ensemble look cocktail-appropriate (and we all know that's when the best networking opportunities arise!). i've even worn mine to black tie affairs. at $575, it's not exactly cheap, but after having seen how useful it's been in my own wardrobe, i'd happily pay double!!

UPDATE: can't afford to invest in the real thing? an eagle-eyed reader tipped me off to this more affordable facsimile!

{ boots + brollies }

{ miu miu hat (yep, i just had to buy it), david yurman earrings + necklace (on loan for a shoot, but i couldn't resist test driving them myself!), halston heritage trench (last seen HERE), opening ceremony sweater (similar HERE), gifted joie elephant print shirt, vintage polkadot skirt, anya hindmarch bag (last seen at fashion week) navy hue tights, bottega veneta boots (recently seen HERE), samsonite umbrella }

yesterday was gloomy and grey ~ meaning of course that i was expected all over town, with hiding out in bed a definite non-option. whenever that happens, i'm grateful for the day i decided to invest in a pair of rainboots pretty enough for meetings ~ and an umbrella to match! speaking of these kicks, i recently wore the same pair HERE, but do you also remember them from way back when?!

and below, some ideas for how you can get the look right now, should you be so inclined:

GREY: buckled hunter boots and marc by marc jacobs panther print umbrella // ORANGE: hunter lace-up boots and shed rain umbrella // BLACK: juicy couture boots and swaine adeney brigg umbrella // BROWN: timberland boots and marc by marc jacobs animal print umbrella

{ sweeter } sweaters

ever since acquiring that michael kors number you saw these past two days, i've been on a mad hunt for other sweaters with similar surprises. anything to make winter a little more fun, right? here's a slew of found favorites for you to peruse ~ click around to see what tricks are up each piece's neatly knit sleeves (the best part is, all but one are on sale)!!

TOP ROW: yigal azrouel sweater, girl by band of outsiders sweater, vanessa bruno wrap sweater, junya watanabe striped sweater
BOTTOM ROW: A.L.C. cardigan, alexander wang cut-out cardigan, duffy open-back sweater, alexander wang cardigan

{ been } an awful good girl

this miu miu hat shot to the top of my wishlist so fast, i just might have to give it to myself for christmas!!

{ 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! }

{ sunshine }

i may be back in black this week, but that hasn't stopped me from dreaming of a few colorful lovelies. we all must arm ourselves with a little sunshine on those grey winter days:

{ clockwise from top left: kolae trousers (i wore them in green HERE), agent provocateur leopard gloves, 3.1 philip lim blouse, ray ban sunnies, giovanna battaglia (i'm stealing that scarf-around-the-waist idea!) by vanessa jackman, asos neoprene skirt, marc by marc jacobs chevron skirt, deborah lippman nail polish }

{ wishlist }

{ clockwise from left: alice + olivia sequin pants, sandro printed blouse, rachel comey sleeveless coat, urban outfitters cap, maje leather pants, missoni shoes, alexander mcqueen clutch, alexander mcqueen cuff }

a few days of living dangerously fabulously have left me wanting to up the glamour-ante on my regular, everyday experience. a few of these things might help achieve that goal? thinking leather pants are especially necessary.

{ yes } please

DESPERATELY need this jacket. feel like it's kind of a winterized version of the linen number i abusively wore all summer long.

{ the sweater side }

when i first moved to new york from my mostly-balmy hometown of austin, texas, i was pretty sweater-inept. i never really had to wear them before (in my past environs, one jacket layer would typically suffice for the coldest days of the year), and definitely did not appreciate their chic possibilities. fast-forward a few years and i've more than come around to the sweater-side of life (see yesterday's post for proof)! i am happily wearing THIS WONDERFUL ONE while typing this post, and currently have a few quirkier varietals queued up on my mental wishlist:

{ top row, from left: cooperative raccoon sweater ($54), carin wester top-stripe sweater ($184), hot topic (shocking, i know!!) panda sweater ($36.50) // middle row: fred perry laurel wreath sweater in ivory ($319), dkny lipstick sweater ($195), dkny cherry-stripe sweater ($225) // bottom row: zac posen cardigan ($288), cooperative porcupine sweater ($54), fred perry laurel wreath sweater in navy ($319) }

{ killing it }

finding these boots while away in milan inspired me to take a second look at zara's footwear offerings. i gotta say, they're sort of phenomenal ~ AND they're affordable!! { shop them HERE, HERE and HERE }

{ preparatory }

fall may be creeping up in spurts and starts, but when winter inevitably hits, it always seems to do so full-throttle. that's why ~ for the first time EVER ~ i'm stocking up on weather-ready accessories BEFORE they become necessities. just ordered the boots below ~ the ones on the left for when it's snowing but i still have to be seen (unfortunately, meetings happen in january too!), and the ones on the right for every other run-around day:

as for cold weather caps? i'm thinking a jil sander-inspired DIY just might be in order:

{ the fancy }

{ pentax camera, chanel clutch, new york times newsprint-scented candle, alexander mcqueen card case, iwona ludyga ring, ny + la tables, emerson made jacket, arne jacobsen chair // all via the fancy }

having a birthday (like i did yesterday) means you get at least a month's week's worth of acceptable excuses to senselessly shop for yourself. which further means, this is the is the wrong time for me to get into the fancy ~ a highly-dangerous site for aesthetically-obsessed online lurkers like myself.

also bolstering my desire to buy stuff? watching american pickers on netflix! are you into it too?

{ bench post }

my entryway is sadly lacking in a little spot to plop down and take my shoes off after a nasty nyc excursion. at least daily, i swear i'll finally buy a bench for that area. here are my top twelve contenders ~ let me know which one you love the most!!

{ above, top row: west elm random base side table, lamps plus x-frame ottoman, gold garden stool via ebay // above, bottom row: high fashion home hexagonal table, high fashion home twig table, lamps plus chrome cone ottoman }

{ above, top row: velvet + gold leaf stool via ebay, high fashion home horn-base table, cb2 contact stool // above, bottom row: silver foiled stool via ebay, lamps plus curved basswood bench, tam tam gold storage stool via ebay }

{ lonny mag }

i am a MASSIVE fan of lonny magazine, so i was head-over-heels when asked to contribute my picks to this issue's 'blogger style' spread. click here for more details on my favorite things!!

{ lucite love }

i love lucite as an accessory, as much in my wardrobe as in my home. thus, this airy accent material features heavily in my jewelry, shoe, sunnies and side table collections. i've been meaning to post about my love of translucence for a while now, but it was yesterday's costumery (featuring clear acrylic sunnies AND shoes) that finally prompted me to share a few more of my favorite lucite lovelies from around the web:

{ clockwise from top left: anthropologie end table, prada sunnies, prada sandals, lee angel stackable bangles, alexis bittar ring, waterfall side table, crystallized bangle, prada clogs, jayson game table, prada bag }

{ beso chic }

if you've ever clicked on the product credits in my posts, you've probably noticed i use beso.com as my preferred shopping portal. for a blogger trying to link up lots of products quickly (like myself!), it's a serious time saver. better yet, for an ardent online shopper (again, that's me!! and probably you too?), it makes simultaneously browsing lots of categories, stores, and brands a breeze.

anytime i'm looking for something super-specific (like animalistic apartment accessories), beso is the first place i check ~ and that's why i'm excited to be guest-editing their site for the month of june!

my good friend emily (of cupcakes and cashmere fame) is their style director, joanna (from a cup of jo) is their babies & kids editor ~ and i am proud to be the first in this new guest series. to kick it off, i've selected my favorite finds in fashion, beauty and home decor ~ preview a few below, and check them all out HERE!!

{ animal attraction }

i really enjoy animal-menagerie-themed interior accessories, and thus have them liberally sprinkled all over my home. unfortunately, i just can't seem to find the space (or, in some cases, budget) for everything i crave! nevertheless, here are a few more pieces that i'm truly tempted to obtain:


{ top: black panther coffee table ($845) via ebay // second row: hoofed side table ($450) via furbish studio, brass ram statuette ($23) via ebay, papier mache rhino ($68) via anthropologie // third row: ceramic stallion ($100) via z gallerie, stone lion-legged table ($975) via ebay // bottom row: ostrich leg side table ($465) via furbish studio, brass koi fish via ebay }

{ simple suiting }

i've never been an itsy-bitsy-bikini kind of gal ~ i find one-piece swimsuits to be much more elegant and comfortable. lately, i find myself most strongly drawn to classic black styles that recall an old-hollywood aura ~ think grace kelly or marilyn monroe on the riviera.
{ above: john rawlings for vogue, c. 1953 }

chic as the look can be, it's still infuriatingly un-fun to shop for (especially when you wait until the last possible second and are in dire need, aka my usual routine) ~ which is why i've done a little pre-summer legwork for us all! here are my picks for the sweetest, simplest suits of the season:

{ top row: vitamin a spotted suit ($238), newport news side-lace suit ($59 ~ i put an order in for this one but have yet to test it out), lisa marie fernandez silver suit via kirna zabete ($385), white house black market ruffled v-neck ($78) // second row: threeasfour mesh-panel maillot via oak nyc ($222 ~ i picked this one up too and LOVE IT), juicy couture side-cinched suit ($164), spiegel corset-style suit ($15), cheap monday simple strapless suit ($52) }

then again, there are also a few totally on-trend, prada-spring 2011-approved, striped varietals currently catching my eye:

{ above: anthropologie bandeau ($144), tommy hilfiger striped maillot ($50), dkny one-shoulder suit ($108) }

finally, as far as coordinating cover-ups and accessories are concerned, i'm really loving:

{ missoni beach towel, classic panama hat (i bought mine last year at brimfield market, from the same guys who supply j.crew with their version), cheap monday dress via modcloth, j.crew leather capri sandals }

what's your poolside strategy this season? or am i the only one shopping like it's already summer?!

{ above: cyd charisse, c. 1954 }