Fashion Sunday: Shoes

Only 5 more weeks until bar results.  Yikes.  But, instead of dwelling upon November 5th and the significance of that date, I will think about shoes.  Shoes have never steered me wrong (ha).  In fact, shoes have brought great happiness in times of testing anxieties (see my May posts).  Today the focus is on shoes fit for my intern schedule, i.e. shoes that can go from days of standing to days of sitting and from days of driving downtown to days commuting on the train (with much walking involved).  Additionally, the shoes have to be black (or in the black family).  So with all those qualities in mind, I peruse the interweb:

Christian Louboutin Simple 70 Leather Pumps: $595

If only my intern salary (ha!) allowed for these.  This may very well be my first purchase after getting a job.  Swoon.

Same goes for these, below:

Jimmy Choo Gilbert Leather Pumps: $495

YES! these are women's shoes.  I'm loving the patent oxford look.  These are by Church's;

Patent Burwood brogues: $425

Cole Haan Air Swan Oxford Pump, found here: $225

Nine West Roothy Black Patent Oxford Pumps, found here: $79

Coach Adra Heel $168

I usually swoon for Coach heels, but these are the only ones I would contemplate buying from their current line.  Shame- they fit so well.

Tory Burch 'Amy' Pump in black: $250

Salvatore Ferragamo Femy Low Heels: $524

...and, a shoe to truly dream about and save one's pennies for:

Manolo Blahnik Patent Leather Mary Janes: $645

for real Swoon.

Happy 50th Anniversary!

Happy 50th Anniversary to my Grandparents!

"That we arrived at fifty years together is due as much to luck as to love, and a talent for knowing, when we stumble, where to fall, and how to get up again."
- Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, Ossie and Ruby, In This life Together

Fashion Sunday.

Oh Fall, I love you so - mostly cloudy skies, a chill in the air, the need for long-sleeved t-shirts and chai lattes.  Fall has come fast and furiously to the Dallas area and I couldn't be happier.  I'm SO excited about upcoming sweater weather, falling leaves, jackets, coats, buffalo plaid, etc., etc.
In light of the change-of-weather and my next-weekend plans to explore Canton (on what will hopefully be a perfect fall day), I provide my thoughts on the perfect fall outfit.  BUT, not for women, for men.  My reasons for which include watching the last 3rd season episode of Mad Men (where Don looks absolutely dashing in a sweater/oxford combo) and the fact that I haven't done a men's post in a long time.  So here goes: my idea of the perfect men's casual outfit for fall weather:

Levi's 501 in indigo Ridge Wash: @ J.Crew $98

Quote from Website: "The jean that made denim famous by the brand that made jeans legendary"... so true.  I also like the vintage-slim pair below in a vintage, worn-in wash, also from J.Crew, $96:

I am IN LOVE with the Informal Collection by Thomas Pink, especially this shirt for fall.

There are perfect sweaters, cardigans, and jackets to top off a classic pair of jeans.

For even Cooler weather, I LOVE this jacket from Rugby:

The University Fleece Toggle Coat, $178 at Rugby.com

Rag Rugs

After I posted my last post about Men's Fall Fashion, I looked over at my blog reel and saw that my FAVE design blog's, desire to inspire, most recent post was on rag rugs.  The name of this quirky and country cottage favorite does not do it justice.  In fact, the name "rag rug" is quite a turn-off.  For anyone out there that reads this, let's think of another name for this adorable and wonderful floor covering... but, I digress.  In efforts to become more "earth-friendly," I have begun to repurpose "old" things.  First on my agenda was a way to repurpose old t-shirts into something useful.  Earlier, during the summer, I made a quilt from t-shirts that had been given to me over the years.  But, I still had several t-shirts that, frankly, weren't cute enough to be saved... they were, however, perfect to be cut into yarn that would be crocheted into a rag rug.  Last summer, while living in Austin, my friend Polly was making a rug out of her old college t-shirts and the finished product, which she posted a picture of on her facebook, was AMAZING.  So, I delved into my own project.  I'm not very far in, but I am super excited about the finished project.  AND even more super excited about all the decorating ideas desire to inspire gave me for displaying my own work.  Check out their entire post; these are my favorites:

knitalatte11

katberry

roses&pearls

New Obsession... And Project.

For some time, I have thought about amassing mounted deer, elk, and moose heads for my future home.  I find them beautiful, interesting, and, ultimately, ironic- given my usual design preference for new meets old, with a touch of quirk.  On second thought, maybe it's not so ironic.  However, as I strive to become more animal-friendly, this

just doesn't ring "animal-friendly."  But, something even more simply wonderful has come along and replaced my desire for "real" mounted animal heads.  While browsing the anthropologie website the other day, I found these marvelous papier mache animal head wall hangings:

The problem, however, is that I'm not really looking for an African Motif (at least right now).  I'm loving the papier mache, though.  So, I began browsing for papier mache deer heads.  Lo and behold, with one google search, I stumbed upon this Etsy Website.  Ruby's Lounge makes the most AMAZING papier mache animal heads in a variety of colors, patterns, and species.

Here is my favorite:

Font Love @ Ruby's Lounge $335

I am now super inspired to take a crack at making one of these myself.  After I post this, I'm about to search through the garage for some old, very pliable, fencing wire to start making the form.  I'll post updates as I go... or, if the whole thing doesn't work, I'll just buy one of the creations at Ruby's Lounge!

Have a great Saturday! 

 

Purple Part Two

The other day I wrote about deep, lovely shades of purple for the home.
Today, I write about purple for people.  Beautiful, dark, sumptuous shades of plum and violet on anything and everything from silk blouses to purple watches!  These perfectly colored treats make me long for a chai latte and foggy London weather.

J.Crew's Betsey Wrap Cami in dark plum: Select Colors now $40

J.Crew Silk and Sequin scoop-neck tee in dark Plum: $148

I MUST Acquire this NOW!!!

J.Crew Double-cloth Colletta coat: $298: SWOON!

American Apparel Cotton Spandex Jersey Leggings in Eggplant: $26

YSL Muse large leather tote in (TO DIE FOR) Violet Patent Leather: at Net-A-Porter, $1350

Michael Kors Chonograph Watch: $195 @ Net-A-Porter

Versace Leather and PURPLE! Suede bag: At Net-A-Porter, $2950

Diane von Furstenberg Ruched suede ankle boot: At Net-A-Porter $395

Alexander McQueen Cashmere and silk-blend sweater dress: At Net-A-Porter $1095

OMG! This beautifully-colored, perfectly constructed, excitingly original mini dress is by Versace.

Versace Wool Tank Dress with patent leather trim@ Net-A-Porter $1695

...and because nothing will top this dress today, this post is done.

Happy Friday

Currently Reading

I wrote a post earlier this summer about my then-current read.  A few weeks ago, I finished American Original, Justice Antonin Scalia's Biography.  It was a great read, and I can't wait to read Joan Biskupic's Sandra Day O'Connor Biography.  But, that will have to wait because I'm currently reading two other great books that are in my never-ending, ever-growing list of books to read.

First, I started Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie before last semester law school finals had started.  But it never got read because then came finals, and then came the bar exam, but once again I am reunited with this fantastic book.  I was introduced to it by a friend who only reads non-fiction books, but found it as interesting as a novel.  It's the real-life, no-frills, true-story of the last Russian Tsar and his family.  Apart from the 90's movie, Anastasia, I didn't know anything about the Romanovs... but this book lays out everything.  I get so lost in it sometimes, I forget that these are real people, real lives, and very real tragedies.

The second book on my nightstand and in my train-travel bag is The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.  I was told about this book by a good friend who is a certifiable foodie and was introduced again to it by the AMAZING documentary Food, Inc. (which absolutely changed the way I eat and think about food - it's a must-watch for all).  I'm only a little ways in, but I think the message is already clear: do you know where your food comes from?  Sadly, I think most of us don't.  I'm definitely excited about this book and will update with thoughts of wisdom from it.

So, that's what I'm reading- what are you reading?