Fab Finds! - Lands' End Edition

It's Friday!  Yay!  It's Labor Day weekend!  Yay!  We are wrapping up the "Fab Finds" series today, I hope you've enjoyed it and I hope it inspires you to pop into some stores you might not usually go into.  Land's End has always sort of been overshadowed by L.L. Bean in my opinion, they offer many similar options, but for some reason L.L. Bean just was a "go to" for me.  But Lands' End has been trying really hard to make a few more fashion forward basics recently.  And I'm going to put a plug in for their men's button down dress shirts (not only has my Dad sworn by them for years, they are also part of my husband's work "uniform").  Here are my picks:

Left to right - Modern Rain Jacket - $50

Double Row Linear Oval Link Necklace - $40

Bright Sparkle Wool Scarf - $30

Left to right - Long Sleeve Perfect Stretch Poplin Shirt - $55

Long Sleeve Boatneck Shirt - $35

3/4 -Sleeve Boatneck Sailor Tee - $40

 

Hope you have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!  See you next week!

Fab Finds! - Chico's Edition

Okay, we are treading into major middle aged Mom territory here, walking on that "Golden Girls" tightrope heading into a Chico's right?  But stay with me here ladies.  Yes, Chico's is heavy on spangled/printed/colorful/flowy pieces that when piled on can get a bit overwhelming (and kind of aging in a way - who wants to look like their Mom?).  Anyway, when perusing Chico's you want to stick to accessories and some of the layering pieces.  The prints go a long way here, so I gravitate towards the scarves, embellished tanks, necklaces, and maybe a wrap/cardigan.  Here are my picks:

Left to right - Ayla Tassle Necklace - $27

Black Label Haircalf Gloves

River Rock Stripe Ruana - $25

Fenisia Bangle Bracelet - $17

 

Left to right - Black Label Paillette Tank

Ikat Scarf

Black Label Animal Sequin Top

Tribal Rendition Connie Top - $30

 

What do you think?  Can you see yourself popping into Chico's for a look around?

 

Fab Finds! - J.Jill Edition

I have a tendency to write J.Jill off as a catalog/store with offerings for a woman about 10 years older than me and/or a more artsy person.  You know that super cool lady that throws on some handmade jewelry as she runs off to pottery class.  Someone I'm clearly not.  But after doing some digging, it seems that looking at the items as separates make more sense.  They tend to pair the tops with more flowy bottoms that I'm not digging at least for my age group.  When looking at the offerings I gravitated towards the tunic tops (I love a tunic), these are great when paired with skinny jeans/pants.  Check out my favorite items - all on sale - score!

Left to Right (all on sale!) - Silk Charmeuse Pullover - $20

Live-In Crewneck Pullover - $20

Open-Weave Print Shirt - $40

Wearever Wrap Belt - $10 - love, love this belt!

 

 

 

Fab Finds! - The Limited Edition

Okay, so granted The Limited isn't exactly off the beaten path, but it is a great place to get some polished separates.  I wore a lot of their button downs when I was working in an office, they have just the right combination of fit and stretch that made them so comfortable (in my opinion, they are on par with Theory's button downs and a whole heck of a lot less money).  Sometimes they are easy to just write off as a place where I bought almost all of my wardrobe in High School (late 80's, early 90's shout out!), but if you are near a store, I encourage you to pop in and check out their offerings.  Here are some of my favorite picks:

Top Left - Striped Blouse

Bottom Left - Beaded Colorblock Necklace

Top Middle - Polka Dot Blouse

Bottom Middle - Leopard Print Belt

Top Middle - Pave Pyramid Studs

Middle - Star-Struck Scarf

Bottom Middle - Modern Plastic Links Necklace

Top Right - Textured Cutout Cuff Bracelet

Bottom Right - Trench Rain Cape

Left - Body-Conscious Ponte Dress (very similar feel to a Stella McCartney dress - those side panels are so slimming)

Middle - Forenza Mixed Print Dress (a Balenciaga feel here)

Right - Foulard-Print Shirtdress (totally on trend scarf print)

Left - Drew Sateen Shorts

Middle Left - High-Waisted Pencil Skirt

Middle Right - Striped Ponte Skirt

Right  - Double-Waistband Pencil Skirt

 

 

Fab Finds! - Coldwater Creek Edition

Happy Monday! This week starts a series where I'm going to show you some fab finds from places you might not usually shop. What triggered this series is the lace top of mine in the outfit below:

It's a lovely lace tank from Coldwater Creek. Coldwater Creek?!?! Isn't that the store where women of a certain age shop for figure forgiving outfits? (think Bea Arthur in "Golden Girls") Well, yes it is. But my point is there are some gems in that mine, you just have to look. The best part is that when you shop in the stores that aren't in the radars of everyone else in your demo, you may just find something really unique at a price that's right.

So today I'm going to begin with some picks from Coldwater Creek:

 Left to right - Animal Instinct Blouse

Sunset Brights Scarf 

Paisley No-Iron Shirt (how great would this be with some coral skinny jeans?)

Graphic Tiered Shell

 

Left to right - Abstract Jacket

Kimono Sleeve Pullover

Knit Pencil Skirt

Easy Linen Jacket

 

What do you think?  Have you checked out any "off the radar" stores lately?

Tommorow we will check out another store!

 

 

Happy Weekend and My Fall Bag Wishlist

Boy, let me tell you how happy I am that this week is over!  It was real and it was nice, but it wasn't real nice.  Here's to a better next week!  Now that September is knocking on our doors, I've been obsessing over getting a new handbag for Fall.  I'm kind of not feeling my trusty black bag, I want something a little different.  Here are the ones I'm leaning towards:

Top Left - L.A.M.B. $425

Bottom Left - Deux Lux duffle $102

Top Middle - Dooney & Bourke $298

Bottom Middle - Coach $398

Top Right - Coach $398

Bottom Right - Dooney & Bourke $278

 

Obviously I would love to have that L.A.M.B. houndstooth bag, but at $425 I'm not sure I can justify it.  I love the idea of a nice saddle brown bag (though I worry that since I have a LV Speedy monogram that it might be redundant to have another brown bag?).  I'm also digging a blue option.  What do you think?  Do you have any preferences?

 

I've got a fun series planned for next week!  See you Monday!

My Take - Dior Couture Fall 2012

It's been ages since I've tackled a "my take" (basically a more user/wallet friendly version of a runway look).   I'm going to try and tackle some of these "runway to reality" type looks more often, with all of my amateur runway reviews it's nice to see how some of those looks can translate into realistic outfit inspiration.  First up is this look from the Dior Couture Fall 2012 collection:

I noted in my review how much I loved the cobalt blue paired with the pink metallic shoes.  It's a fresh color combo that I hadn't thought of.  And how simple is a blue dress and pink shoes?  I put together a dressier look, one that can be dressed up or down and a more casual version. 

Dress - The Limited $45 (on sale)

Shoes - Type Z $60

 

Dress - Mango $70

Shoes - Gap Scrunch Flats $45

Dress - Gap $60

Shoes - Toms $54

 

 What do you think?  Would you wear cobalt blue and pink together?

 

Dior image via Vogue.com

 

 

 

Target vs Burberry Owls

I popped into my local Target yesterday with the intention of picking up my girl's Pre-K school supplies.  Well that was a huge bust since they were wiped out of every crayon, pencil and eraser ever made.  Seriously it looked like a bomb went off.  Luckily she doesn't "officially" need these supplies until next Monday.  Feeling deflated I wandered over to the clothing section to see what they had.  Research, if you will (I will!).  Remember Burberry's Fall 2012 collection?  Remember all those adorable shirts and sweaters with the critters on them (the standout critter being the owl)?  Let me refresh your memory:

Cute, right?  But these are all just a bit pricey (the sweater is like $1200 and the tees are around $275).  Eeek!

I really hoped that a less expensive alternative would be available.  Well, leave it up to Target to help a girl out!  I was browsing the racks and came upon this cutie:

and to top it off it was on sale for $17 (originally it's $22.99)!  I think it's a nice substitute, so I snapped it up.  I also found this tee (but didn't buy):

It's $12 and would be super cute with some jeans and a black blazer!

What do you think?  Are you into the critter trend?

Images top via Shopstyle.com, middle and bottom via Target

My Five - Armani Prive Fall 2012 Couture

This collection was all about pastels and shine mixed in with lots of grounding black (velvet, no less).  These pastels were a mix of lavenders, blues, mauves, pinks.  It was a very soothing palette that brought to mind outer space for me but the actual inspiration wasn't far off, it was dusk and dawn, those colors and how they play with the night sky.  I actually really love that, those colors and light create a mood - who doesn't stop with awe at the colors of a spectacular sunrise and/or sunset?  Here are my picks:

Images via Vogue.com

My Five - Giambattista Valli Fall 2012 Couture

Giambattista Valli's Fall 2012 Couture collection was all about the garden.  Filled with floral and leaf prints and shapes.  Lots of ruffles, lots of embellishment and butterflies used as accessories.  I love how he designs these very feminine clothes and yet can still keep an edge.  Here are my picks:

Images via Vogue.com

My Five - Givenchy Fall 2012 Couture

If Karl Lagerfeld ever needs to learn how to edit a collection, just boil a collection down to the nitty gritty (and he might want to try that*), then he just needs to give Riccardo Tisci a call.  Seriously, his collections might lack in number of looks, but they certainly never lack in craftsmanship and detail.  Breathtakingly so.  These are certainly not work-a-day clothes, nor are they going to appeal to most.  But that's sort of the point of Haute Couture, no?  Couture is essentially custom built clothing that is assembled by hand with extraordinary attention to detail.  And what details.  Check out my picks below:

Back

Front

front was similar but the back photo showed the fringe better

Images via Vogue.com

*and yes, I understand that Chanel is quite a bit larger of a company and they need to appeal to many more markets/stores than Givenchy, so they naturally need to provide more product options.  However, I still think KL's collections (especially for Chanel) tend to ramble.  Maybe just tighten up the runway looks.  Throwing spitballs people...

My Five - Valentino Couture Fall 2012

This collection was filled with really beautiful dresses in colors to die for.  The company's signature red was overshadowed by the lovely cobalt blues and a deep blue/purple that looked so luxe. I loved the very detailed printed and woven patterned fabrics used, just stunning!  Here are my picks, enjoy!

Images via Vogue.com

My Five - Chanel Couture Fall 2012

I'm going to sum up this collection in two words:  pink and grey.  And fluff.  Basically, there were lots of pink and grey outfits and some of them were fluffy.  It featured the usual mix of textures and classic "Chanel" suit variations.  Very beautiful, yes (see detail shots after my picks), but repetitive.  Look I'm going to be honest I'm down on Karl Lagerfeld at the moment.  He says the meanest most absurd things (like calling Adele "fat" and just a couple of weeks ago said that Kate Middleton's sister Pippa, should just be looked at from the back because her face is ugly or something to that effect) and I'm just kind of sick of it.  Hey Karl, you don't get a "pass" because you are an eccentric designer, mean is mean no matter who you are.  Seriously, if you don't have something nice to say then just don't say it!  Sorry for the rant, but I had to get it off my chest.  Here are my picks, enjoy!

This look is a good way to sum up the collection - metallic mixed with tweed.

Love this metallic grey with the "spray" of the hot pink".

Stunning wedding gown finale.

Detail shots (where Couture lives, in the details)!

Ah, this fabric is so gorgeous!

How awesome is the iridescent (looks to be printed on, but could be woven in - can't tell from this picture) fabric?

Totally digging these leather sleeve/gloves shown with quite a few looks (see above look too).

Images via Style.com

My Five - Christian Dior Couture Fall 2012

Welcome to Couture Week!  Otherwise known as my week long coverage of my picks from the Fall 2012 Haute Couture shows.  Away we go!

This marks the first collection for newly installed Dior designer Raf Simons and there was a mild hysteria over the whole thing.  When I heard that Mr. Simons landed the Dior job I can honestly say that my first reaction was nothing.  I had no opinion.  I felt that Bill Gaytten had found his footing  (see the outstanding IMO Fall 2012 ready to wear collection), but I guess they wanted a "name".  So here we are.  After looking at the collection my first reaction was that he did a great job paying tribute to Christian Dior and the "new look" - nipped in waist, full skirt.  My second reaction was, what's going on with the chests?  The bodices of some of the dresses were weird.  They have foldy out (such technical language from this apparel major) fabric where the breasts are and it makes it look like the girl's boobs are all wonky.  I like to call it the "wonky boob" - see below:

Why do that?  Take that fabric away and you have a beautiful dress.  Sheesh.

Jessica Biel just wore this same dress and now she has a case of "wonky boob"

Enough of the "wonky boob".  Overall the collection was beautifully done, lots of crisp cuts and beautiful fabrics with dashes of pink, yellow, red and cobalt blue.  I think Mr. Simons was out to set the table for his tenure at Dior and not be too radical, doing exactly what he should do, pay tribute to the legacy while pushing forward towards the future.  I'm eager to see what's next!  Here are my picks, enjoy!

Gah, the embellishment on this dress is to die for - that peek of yellow at the bottom is killing me!  Love! (see Alber Elbaz over there on the left with the glasses?  Looks like he's noticing that part of the dress too!)

This dress rocks my world!  Check out Alber looking pensive, which is pretty much how he stayed during the show - lol!

Metallic slab of a belt?  Yes, please!

This dress matches the lady with the cardigan back there - that cardigan is going to haunt my dreams, it's in every. single. shot.

Check out the pink metallic shoes with the cobalt blue dress - I likey!

Black, tailored suit.  Doesn't get more classic than this folks!

 
A couple of beautiful dresses with an unfortunate case of "wonky boob".  Grrr...

What do you think?  Did Raf hit the ground running?

Images via Vogue.com, except for Jessica Biel which is via Day Old News