Favorite Post - I want this! YSL pumps

I’m currently on a family vacation - it’s actually more of a “staycation” with a few little jaunts here and there. So for this week, I decided to repost some of my favorite blog entries from the past. I’m sort of guest posting for myself – ha! If you are a long time reader, you may remember these, if not it’ll be like all new stuff! Either way, I hope you find them interesting and fun! See you back on 7/12!


Still one of my favorite pairs of shoes I've ever laid eyes on.  Now if I could only get a pair for my feet - LOL!  Originally posted 5/26/09

This YSL platform pump just may be the world's most perfect shoe. They are too fab for words. I have been swooning over these shoes forever, okay well, since I first saw them a few months ago. And now they are on sale, of course I don't have an extra $479 laying around for shoes. And sadly, I currently do not have the lifestyle to justify them. So I guess I'll keep dreaming. Ahhhhh....
*special bonus* - they have turquoise soles - double swoon!

Image from YSL

Favorite Post - I want this! Jewelry storage options

I’m currently on a family vacation - it’s actually more of a “staycation” with a few little jaunts here and there. So for this week, I decided to repost some of my favorite blog entries from the past. I’m sort of guest posting for myself – ha! If you are a long time reader, you may remember these, if not it’ll be like all new stuff! Either way, I hope you find them interesting and fun! See you back on 7/12!



I don't know if any of these are still available, but I love them, even for ideas.  My mom used to store/display her jewelry like this.  Though I may need to wait until my 2 year old gets out of the "seek and destroy everything in plain site" phase to implement :o)  Originally posted  5/26/09:


Urban Outfitters has some really cute little jewelry stands right now. I'm always looking for new ways to display what I have so I don't forget (out of sight, out of mind - right?):

"Little Birch Jewelry Stand"

"Oak Jewelry Stand"
"Sea Fan Jewelry Stand"

"Dogwood Tree Jewelry Stand"
"Blooming Branch Jewelry Stand"
These are just a few of my favorites. I think a couple of these mixed and matched on the dresser or vanity would be perfect. There are a lot more options online, check them out here. Did I mention all are extremely affordable?
All images from Urban Outfitters

Favorite Post - Alexander McQueen Spring 2010 - revisited

I’m currently on a family vacation - it’s actually more of a “staycation” with a few little jaunts here and there. So for this week, I decided to repost some of my favorite blog entries from the past. I’m sort of guest posting for myself – ha! If you are a long time reader, you may remember these, if not it’ll be like all new stuff! Either way, I hope you find them interesting and fun! See you back on 7/12!



My heart just broke when Lee Alexander McQueen passed away earlier this year, I had followed his career from the beginning.  A true artist, his work will always hold a special place in my heart.  Spring 2010 blew me away and I had to do a special post on the accessories and detail shots, amazing.  Originally posted 10/18/09

I decided to take another look at Alexander McQueen's Spring collection (see my previous post here), this time focusing more on the details and boy, I'm glad I did.  The accessories and embellishments are quite cool (in an uncomfortable, almost disturbing way).  Honestly, when I first looked at the collection, I didn't even notice that some of the girls were carrying clutches, when in fact they were.  I'll take any one of those said clutches, just beautiful.  And how they walked in those shoes, I will never know.  Here are some highlights in my eyes (there are a lot):

Images via Style.com

Favorite Post - Color coincidence

I’m currently on a family vacation - it’s actually more of a “staycation” with a few little jaunts here and there. So for this week, I decided to repost some of my favorite blog entries from the past. I’m sort of guest posting for myself – ha! If you are a long time reader, you may remember these, if not it’ll be like all new stuff! Either way, I hope you find them interesting and fun! See you back on 7/12!



You know I love a good color trend and a little over a year ago this turquoise/grey one popped out and couldn't be ignored.  I'm still digging it, perhaps I should do a "my take" outfit inspired by it?  Interested?  Originally posted 6/2/09

I'm a magazine-aholic and I had pulled some images over the past few weeks and just stacked them on my desk. I was sifting through them today and noticed a very interesting color palette that emerged. A grey/spa blue/turquoise/silver combination. This also ties in very nicely with my post about The Nines hotel and their gorgeous guest rooms. I really like it!

Image via House Beautiful

Image via House Beautiful

Image via People Stylewatch magazine (June/July 2009) - the colors are so new that they weren't even on Essie's website yet - hence the scan.

The Nines Junior Suite via The Nines

Favorite Post - Inspiration notebooks

I’m currently on a family vacation - it’s actually more of a “staycation” with a few little jaunts here and there. So for this week, I decided to repost some of my favorite blog entries from the past. I’m sort of guest posting for myself – ha! If you are a long time reader, you may remember these, if not it’ll be like all new stuff! Either way, I hope you find them interesting and fun! See you back on 7/12!

A peek inside my massive collection of inspiration notebooks.  Seriously, I have so many.  I've been collecting images from magazines for 20+ years (I'm so old - LOL!).  If you ever wanted a window to see inside my brain, these books are it!   Originally posted 4/21/09:

I'm going to address (finally) my inspiration notebooks that I keep. I refer to them in a couple of posts, and they really are the backbone of my image collecting. I started pulling images out of magazines years and years ago (try 20+ years ago - eek!). I'm not one to keep a whole magazine for one thing, so I pull out what I want and toss/recycle the rest. However, as the images started stacking up and things were getting lost and/or ruined I took action by taking said images and putting them in sheet protectors and then further filing them by category. Since my first love is fashion, most of my categories are designers, with some interior and color inspiration mixed in. What started as a little habit has turned into a massive collection - 37 notebooks in all with 16 different categories/subjects. And it keeps growing. I did a major purge early last year and got rid of a bunch of images and some subjects entirely, then tidied up what was left. Here is a quick snapshot of some of the notebooks on the shelves (they aren't usually kept this way - they are usually in my office, but with our house on the market they had to be out of the way).

And that's just some of them. Here are a few examples of what the insides look like - these pictures are from my Misc. Inspiration notebook (I could have scanned them, but hey I got lazy about pulling out the scanner - again stashed away to reduce clutter):
And that's just a few pages from one notebook! These are sort of a chronicle of what I've found interesting and archive-worthy over all these years. I love getting them out and taking a trip down memory lane. It's really a good tool to track what catches your eye or what is inspirational, you begin to see trends. Through these I've learned about what makes me tick design-wise. There are a lot of feelings in those books. I also learned during my massive purge, what things didn't stand the test of time. But I also ran across some images that have not only stood the test of time, but still amaze me (an ad for Yves Saint Laurent shoes with bows on them that I had pulled when I was a junior in High School comes to mind). I sometimes wonder what I will do with these books when all is said and done, who will want them. I'm not sure, but for now I will keep adding and sometimes subtracting. More and more my images are coming from the Internet and I'm filing them away there too. So my notebooks aren't growing as quickly as they used to. I wish I had been better about documenting what year and magazine some images were pulled from, but honestly I had no idea all those years ago that I would be still at it, I'm getting better about that these days. Hope you enjoyed!

Favorite Post - My Take Victoria Beckham casual chic

I’m currently on a family vacation - it’s actually more of a “staycation” with a few little jaunts here and there. So for this week, I decided to repost some of my favorite blog entries from the past. I’m sort of guest posting for myself – ha! If you are a long time reader, you may remember these, if not it’ll be like all new stuff! Either way, I hope you find them interesting and fun! See you back on 7/12!



My first "my take" post was well received and I love it!  Originally posted 5/24/2010.  Enjoy!
About two months ago I posted about how much I loved a look sported by Victoria Beckham.  I wanted to use items that I had (or similar ones) - grey tank (check), black blazer (similar, check), black TOMS (check).  I don't have the green cargos, but these by J.Crew popped up on my Shop It To Me weekly email and they are perfect (and obviously on sale).  I also threw in a couple of alternate shoe choices (though I love VB's heels, I can't rock those running after a toddler - LOL!).

Cropped Pants by J.Crew
Flats by Wanted

Favorite Post - Color Story - Purple

I’m currently on a family vacation - it’s actually more of a “staycation” with a few little jaunts here and there. So for this week, I decided to repost some of my favorite blog entries from the past. I’m sort of guest posting for myself – ha! If you are a long time reader, you may remember these, if not it’ll be like all new stuff! Either way, I hope you find them interesting and fun! See you back on 7/12!


Almost a year ago, I did a couple of "color story" posts, just playing around, doing what I used to do for a living.  My purple story originally posted 8/20/09 and it's still pretty timely.  See the yellow color story post here.  Would you all like to see additional ones in the future?

In my previous life I created many color stories and I'm kind of missing that. I always loved pouring through magazines, books, etc.; pulling images, sifting through them and pulling together trend and/or color groups. It never failed that something would emerge. So please indulge me as I share my first color story with you. I hope you enjoy:



This purple story started with the Bottega Veneta ad and quickly snowballed from there. It's not a conventional purple, it's more of a greyish purple and then a brownish purple - bordering on burgundy (though a straight up purple is represented by the clutch - by Nancy Gonzalez via a Neiman Marcus ad - in the middle of the collage as well as in the room's lighting). In my experience people have very strong reactions to purple - they either love it or hate it, rarely is a person indifferent.
Images (starting clockwise from top left) via InStyle, Mauboussin, Bottega Veneta (2), Neiman Marcus, Vogue (I think - correct me if I'm wrong), Interior Design

Favorite Post - Is Karlie Kloss Everywhere or What?

I’m currently on a family vacation - it’s actually more of a “staycation” with a few little jaunts here and there. So for this week, I decided to repost some of my favorite blog entries from the past. I’m sort of guest posting for myself – ha! If you are a long time reader, you may remember these, if not it’ll be like all new stuff! Either way, I hope you find them interesting and fun! See you back on 7/12!

One of my favorite new models is Karlie Kloss and I had to do a post about how she's just everywhere now.  Recent example - she's in the Fall 2010 ads for Donna Karan and Dior:

Image via Modelina

Anyway, here's my original post from 3/2/10:

Girlfriend is all over, you can't crack open a magazine without seeing her in an ad or editorial and she has been all over the runways this year.  I'm not complaining though, she kind of reminds me of the supermodels of the past.  She is a Model, you know the type, the girls who move and pose so elegantly that their pictures are divine. She's only 17 (which means she was born after I graduated from High School - oh dear) so I have a feeling we'll be seeing lots more of her in the future.

Just a couple runway examples.

Images via Modelinia (from March 2010 Vogue photographed by Arthur Elgort), DVF and Hermes.
Runway Images and Video via Style.com