Hmmmm

Is it just me, or can you see a face on this dress? With some thick eyebrows and a moustache? Perhaps?

Tiny chains

I'm super petite so sometimes I have to be careful what type of embellishments I can handle on my clothing. Teensy tiny chains add that dainty/tough contrast that I like so much, and are delicate enough not to overwhelm me.

Love love this jacket. I don't care if it would make me look like a poodle, I want it anyway and will find a way to make it work!

Not only does this Alice + Olivia stunner come in a gorgeous tangerine color, the necklace is detachable so really it's like getting 3 things in one - everything together, necklace alone to wear with other outfits, and the dress alone. Really quite a bargain. Let's just go with that.

This 'necklace' doesn't come off, but the way the top is constructed, it would equally work for day or night. It's dressy without being overboard. As usual, DVF is a genius.

Cute, simple, goes with a lot of things and not ungodly expensive. A great alternative to a satiny evening bag.

These look tremendously fun to walk in. Well, with some insoles perhaps, and only if you walk less than 0.25 miles in any one stretch. These chains are also removable, so you can apply the same value formula from the Alice + Olivia dress above and voila! Instant justification for a buy. I'm sure you could find a way to turns those chains into a bracelet or two, so there.

ROYGBIV Boots

Having these in my closet would make winter much, much better...

yee-haw

Before I get to my picks and pans for the week, I just wanted to mention the site charitynavigator.org, in case you were still thinking of/have not yet donated to an organization to help with the crisis in Haiti. Usually I I don't mention world events on my blog, but I would feel wrong not to at least give this a mention due to the enormity of the tragedy. Charity Navigator is a cool site that helps you evaluate how efficiently and well used your dollars are. Unfortunately, they don't have a lot of data on smaller charities. But many are well represented, and it is pretty cool to see who's doing the most with the money donated. If you can't go down yourself to help, it is great to at least have a clue about whether your donation is going to go toward what it is supposed to be going toward.


Now back to less serious matters and superficial distractions:

Cowboy done cute...





And bad cowboy. Very very bad cowboy...

Tie one on

Ribbons and bows make nice details when done in a way that isn't too girly. I found a few pieces that do this perfectly. They range from dramatic to subtle, but none of them will have you thinking pigtails and lollipops. My absolute fave is the Luella military jacket. The whole military jacket thing is getting a little overdone, but the Luella jacket is just different enough that it should outlast the trend. And even though it carries an avalanche of hardware, it somehow looks more rich than overdone.

Drop-waist dresses

Drop-waist dresses are a tricky fit but when done right, are edgy and have a unique, slinky flow to them. First let's start with what you're not aiming for...

Cute dresses, but the proportions are a little off. The Marciano dress on the left looks like the whole thing just needs to be pulled up a bit, or they need a taller model. With the bubble hem hitting at the knee, it kind of frumpifizes everything. The Bailey dress on the right is just too tight on top and just doesn't work when you have the natural waist emphasized AND you have the drop waist created below it. Too many waists on one body! There was no picture of the dress in the back, but I'm imagining it does weird things to the butt area too.

Now for the fabulous....

These guys have it right. And well, just about anything would look great on these models but that's besides the point. The drop waists hit right below the hipbone, where they should be. And these frocks are also beautifully draped up top, contrasting with the tighter bottoms.

And now for the more affordable but still pretty...

Finds at the Limited

Normally I don't step into the Limited because nothing there really fits me. But for some reason I randomly decided to take a look at them because I was having some junior high flashbacks when the Limited and Limited Express were THE stores to shop at. I was pleasantly surprised to find a few great pieces that could pass for something more high end.

This tweed jacket has a bit of silvery sheen to it, but the simple shape would make it as wearable with jeans and a tank as it would for a dressier occasion. The woven texture adds another layer of luxe.

The best thing about the Tie Front Bateau dress is the clever juxtaposition of the same pattern within the same dress. Maintaining the same black and white pattern throughout keeps things from looking too busy and making your eyes hurt. This would make a great spring dress that you could pair with colorful heels or a cute hat. With feathers.

The watercolor pattern on the Marble scarf has a really pretty photographic quality to it. Could also double as a Rorschach test in a pinch just in case you are out and about and someone needs an emergency psychological assessment.

These Paillette journals are only $9.99 and are very glam receptacles for your sketches and notes. They are so pretty and shimmery, they are like a little bit of style inspiration in and of themselves.

Bags I want right now

Normally I like to focus more on clothing than accessories, even though accessories can make an outfit. I think it goes back to my student days when I was on a very very limited budget and therefore mostly focused on just having enough clothes to wear. These past few months though, the accessory offerings out there seemed to be a lot cuter than the apparel, as not a whole lot was wowing me this season. Below are three bags that I love everything about.


Since I'm petite, I look ridiculous carrying oversize bags, which seem to be about all you can find nowadays. So anything with the word 'mini' in the name instantly piques my interest. Treesje has shrunk their Magnolia bag to a manageable size (for me), and presented it in this lovely teal color. I like how the ruffles are teeny tiny, keeping the bag from looking too little girly.

Even though this Great&Small bag is described as a coin purse, it's large enough to be used as a small clutch. The little owls are just cute cute cute. This bag also comes in an elephant and bumblebee versions, but I think the owls are the most whimsical without being cheesy. The colors make this purse subtle enough for day or night. It's also only $28, which is quite a bargain for the level of detail!

Who needs jewelry when you can carry this stunning evening bag by Whiting and Davis. I had previously posted on this company before, which specializes in metal mesh. I can picture myself holding this bag by my side and having it magically swish back and forth with every step.

ChrissyGemmillJewels

Though I've never had any desire to work at a Renaissance Festival, there's always been a part of me attracted to the fashion of that era. One day I decided I'd like a wide chain mail bracelet (as in that protective mesh that knights would wear under their armor) and decided to browse one of my favorite places to find accessories - Etsy. I think Etsy (etsy.com) has got to be one of the greatest sites to find one-of-a-kind, reasonably priced and high-quality accessories. During my search I ran across ChrissyGemmillJewels. She is a fantastic metalworker, and I love how her jewelery is intricate and delicate, yet tough at the same time. I've got a couple of her chain mail pieces featured below, as well as some examples of her gorgeous flower necklaces.
You can learn more about her on her blog at: chrissygemilljewels.blogspot.com