I’ve never been one to indulge in the Manolo Blahnik craze. Perhaps it’s because I could never afford them, nor did I ever feel like I couldn’t live without a pair of his shoes. However, I’m feeling a change of heart. There is something these shoes have that makes my heart skip a beat. I’m dying to wear them with boyfriend jeans, a see through white tee, and a long casual cardigan. I can imagine the feeling I’ll get when putting these on: love, strength, power and energy. Oh beauteous shoes, you will be mine.
Archive for the ‘Chic Frills’ Category
Not quite haute couture, but breathtaking design nonetheless.
Racy lace.
March 8th, 2010 by CatherineI’ve got a thing for lace, and I can’t wait for warmer weather so I can frolic about in one of these minis. There’s something so sweet and sophisticated about a simple silhouette of intricate late, but what I love even more than the girly factor is how well it pairs with tougher elements. Leather jackets, biker-inspired boots, denim, and even men’s Hanes t-shirts are the perfect contrast to this spring staple.
Daily Diamond: Halston Heritage Plissé Double Layer Silk Maxi Dress
March 7th, 2010 by CatherineI didn’t know these feelings lurked within me until I spied this dress on Net-A-Porter. Now all I want to do is go ballroom dancing and drink Sidecars. Perhaps it’s the Oscars that have sparked my craving for a night of playing ‘dress up’; maybe it’s the zesty orange hue of this dress that’s got me all excited. The reasons, however, don’t exactly matter when the price is far, far from my budget limitations. A girl can dream, though, right?
Owls, owls, everywhere.
March 5th, 2010 by CatherineEarlier in the week, I wrote about my curious affection for these adorable little owl candles. This, in turn, has sparked a budding new obsession with them.
Bills will never go unnoticed when perched on this little guy.
Such a sweet little necklace at an even sweeter price.
I could probably even train my boyfriend to hang up his coat on a hook as charming as this one.
I love nothing more than a big, bold ring. It’s even better when it’s of my new favorite animal.
What I want for spring…
March 4th, 2010 by CatherineWith springtime just a couple weeks away, I’ve got my eye on a few additions…
A sweet, floral fragrance to compliment the new blooms all around.
This Alexander Wang Shirt Dress to wear with just about everything that’s already in my closet.
These darling (and super-affordable!) espadrilles from Old Navy.
This ladylike bag from Coach that’s big enough to tote my necessities, but small enough to comply with my weekend resolution.
Weekend weight.
March 2nd, 2010 by CatherineDuring the week, I tend to accumulate embarrassingly large quantities of things in my oversized purses. Receipts, water bottles, coins, etc. all find their way into the bottom of my bag, and quite frankly, my back and I have had enough. Instead of carting my laptop and other non-essentials around on errands, I’m going to stick with the bare minimum – lip gloss, cell phone, wallet, keys. That’s why I’ve decided to ditch the giant bags each weekend and switch to a more joint-friendly cross-body purse when I can lighten up a little bit. This bag from Marc by Marc Jacobs has everything I’m looking for in a weekend bag, with none of the bulk of my usual picks.


{Classic Q Natasha, Marc by Marc Jacobs, $328.00}
In the clear.
March 1st, 2010 by CatherineI’m usually not the type who follows accessories trends, simply because I can’t stand wear anything that has a shelf life of only a few months, but I’m curiously drawn to this necklace from Madewell. It’s way larger than what I’m used to wearing around my neck, but somehow far from overpowering, which is due to the crystal clear jewels. I love the idea of wearing something so versatile, it can go with anything in my closet.
I’m curious – has anyone else jumped on the clear bandwagon? The trend has been voted one of the hottest for spring, but I’ve got a feeling we’ll see much more of them through the rest of the year.
So many stripes, so little time.
February 25th, 2010 by Catherine
Remember when style experts would stress the importance of staying far, far away from horizontal stripes of any kind? At risk of looking wide and (gasp!) fifteen pounds heavier, we went all vertical, all the time. Thank goodness rules were made to be broken, otherwise we’d miss out on major style points. Just take these picks – can you imagine life without them? They just scream Parisian-chic, and are available at any budget.
I’d cinch the waist of this dress with a chunky brown belt and pair it with peep-toe wedges. And then I’d frolic about town.
The forgiving silhouette is so flattering on days when you’re feeling less-than-flattered.
I’m not sure I can live without this dress, which I’d wear all spring and summer long to dinners and on lazy strolls.
Power pairing.
February 23rd, 2010 by CatherineWhen paired together, I think black and gold pack a huge visual punch. There’s nothing particularly fancy about any of my top home and accessory picks below, but something about the color combination really gets my heart racing.
To buy, click individual images for links to retailers.
Well-heeled.
February 23rd, 2010 by CatherineI did a major double-take when I spotted these gorgeous heels from a store at which I never shop. It’s not that I have anything against Ann Taylor per se, it’s just that up until recently, the clothes just haven’t suited my taste. But in recent months, the brand has overhauled its image, appealing to a broader set of consumers, myself included. This leads me to my new favorite pair of shoes.
Seriously – what’s not to like about these sandals? Similar in design to this pair from Christian Louboutin, the delicate blooms add just enough whimsy to a highly versatile shoe, altogether avoiding the risk of looking like you borrowed from your little sister’s dress up shoes. These would be just as appropriate in a create office environment as they would at a black tie wedding, plus the 3 1/2″ heel won’t leave you barefoot by day’s/night’s end.




















