Ombré Trenchcoat Rides Again!

Well, hello there! Let's talk about trenchcoats. Loyal readers may recall I have a thing for ombré trenchcoats, yet have never actually purchased one. First there was the $200 Anthropologie one dip-dyed orange. Then there was the green-accented Calvin Klein one. Neither of which I purchased. Will I purchase this one, or add it to the list of coulda-beens?





Gradient purple trench coat, $69, made by a tailor in Shanghai. Love those ruffles in the back! This designer has gone and made the annoying trenchcoat flap cute! It's so unique, I might finally pull the trigger....

Thoughts?

Thief & Bandit Makes My Very Favorite T-Shirt

($40, Thief & Bandit, Etsy)

My little sister lives in Richmond, Virginia, and she has tons of friends who are making cool things that I always want to buy. Often I'm super lucky and she buys them for me! Such as my very favorite t-shirt made by her friend Amie Cunningham who created Thief & Bandit -- it's all handmade, and it's all fun, craftsy shirts with fun, tribal-inspired squiggles and designs, and fabric accessories in bright colors. JUST LOOK at that t-shirt and TELL me it doesn't remind you of all things Tom Tom Club!

($48, Thief & Bandit, Etsy)

I hope you like this fabric necklace, but I hope you don't like it as much as I do, because I really want it. So I can wear it with a white t and a blazer. Or maybe even a busy t-shirt, because busy is the new black.

Check out Thief & Bandit's site, their blog, and Thief & Bandit on Etsy and get to buying cute stuff!!

Tom Tom Club - New Music - More Music Videos

It's Time For... CAT FASHIONS!

In honor of my cat Sim's untimely demise, here are a bunch of cheery cat clothes and accessories. Yes, I'm a cat person. DEAL WITH IT. I used to try to air on the side of discretion when shopping for or styling myself with cat-related fashion, so as not to look overly young. But at this point, I'm like fuck it.

($78, Marc By Marc Jacobs, Zappos.com)


($35, Marc By Marc Jacobs, Zappos.com)

Love Marc By Marc Jacobs' Fantastical Tale cat rings in brass and black resin. See? Marc Jacobs gets it!

($76, Your Eyes Lie, Topshop)

British upstart Your Eyes Lie makes excellent, photorealistic digital prints -- like this giant cat print dress -- on the softest jersey dresses. They look fantastic with leggings, run large (yay!), and are super layerable.

($13, Asos.com)

Two baby kitties in a heart ring! Ee!

MAC's Fabulous Felines collection is obviously my favorite collection of all time. When I found out they were doing a cat collection, I almost fell out of my chair. Why I wasn't asked to be a consultant on the collection I will never know, but I'll let it slide. This time.

My favorite of the Fabulous Felines are the Leopard Luxe eyeshadow quad. LOOK at that gold! And that muted orange! So autumnal chic.

($36, MACcosmetics.com)


($14.50, MACcosmetics.com)

Love MAC's Cunning very berry lipstick. It's sold out online, so check your local MAC store.

($25, Paul & Joe Beaute, Beautyhabit.com)

It's CAT LIPSTICK! LIPSTICK IN THE SHAPE OF A CAT! I wrote about it for Naag.

($40, Joseph Aaron Segel, Prettysnake.etsy.com)

Designer and RISD professor Joseph Aaron Segel sources vintage sweater and prints cats and sews hilarious, huge stuffed animals eyes onto them! And check out his Pretty Snake acid cat screenprinted t-shirts!

($38, Joyrich, Karmaloop.com)

LOVE Joyrich because they always have comfie, casual, cheeky streetwear. Love Karmaloop because they ALWAYS have promo codes.

Gold-Dipped Crystal? Um, Why Yes. I Think I Will

WHY has this not crossed my mind before: gold-dipped quartz?

($150, LauraLombardiJewelry.etsy.com)

My style pendulum keeps swinging back and forth between loving gold and not caring about gold. Right now it's very much entrenched in the "YAY GOLD" side of my fickle desires. Same with crystal. So this necklace, by the HIGHLY talented Laura Lombardi, PERFECTLY satisfies my love of mixed materials and chunky shapes and textures. I'd probably swap out the vintage brass chain for a silver one to add a little more intrigue.

BTW, speaking of "cross my mind," can we get in the wayback machine and listen to this TIMELESS Brian McKnight song? So sad, but SO good.

Brian McKnight - New Music - More Music Videos

Cuters Accessories, And Some Not-So Cuters

Several unnecessary but adorbs accessories:

($28, Jonathan Adler)

Many It-designers are overrated. Jonathan Adler is not of them. I LOVE his pottery and I'm especially enamored of his embroidered pieces. They have that excellent 1970s je ne sai quoi that totally reminds me of all the cool shit inside of Roy Scheider's Bob Fosse apartment in "All That Jazz."

($25 per hanky/ $125 for all seven, Jack Spade)

Jack Spade is also one of those designers, though while I do find his much of his pricing to be overrated, I love his design aesthetic. These day-of-the-week handkerchiefs are each named for a different day-of-the-week song title. Days-of-the-week hankies are the new days-of-the-week undies.

Close up:
CUTE! Saturday's prolly my fave.

($25, Patricia Field)

I know I shouldn't like this cute little Patricia Field Barbie mirror compact, yet I do.

($248, Anomaly Jewelry, Etsy)

I'm not a huge fan of babies (not ones that are born or awake anyway), but I do love lobsters. And while a real-life lobster baby would probably break my heart, I'm not sure if it'd break it as much as not owning this piece would.

($274, Sabrina Dehoff, Creatures of Comfort)

I think I may've posted this ages ago, but I'm not the best at "memory." Anyway, it rules.



Now, three things that definitely don't rule:

(Bijules NYC)

Um, I too put a high premium on creativity, but sometimes, you just gotta draw the line. Unless you're Lil Kim. (I do like a lot of this designer's other pieces those.)

($244, Gary Baseman, Thegiantpeach.com)

I know there's an entire world of anime and street artists and stuff that I know admittedly little about, but sometimes I just KNOW in my gut that sometimes, plastic figurines are best left to plastic figurines.


Now, as someone who enjoys making jewelry, I know it's not nice to crap on other people's hard work. But, that said, that's basically what I'm about to do. Okay, I think it's nice that if you're say, 48 years old and have several grandchildren whose likenesses you want to turn into mini acrylic chips that you can wear around your wrist, then you've found an outlet to fulfill that desire. But a Fall Out Boy charm bracelet? (Chris Daughtry and Josh Groban I can sort of understand. It hits that target demo like a fucking bullseye.) But AFI? Breaking Benjamin? And who the fuck is Neal Schon? Should you be able to own a McDreamy Grey's Anatomy charm bracelet? In my opinion, you should not be able to. Also, the egregious misspelling of John Lennon and Van Halen concern me greatly.

It's showtime!

Someone SERIOUSLY Needs To Get These

I've been spending the past three or so hours looking for shoes for my wedding dress (gksafk;ssk;lfsdl!;jsa;dk;l). Four pairs later, hopefully one of those will be a winner. But on an unrelated note, I found these on Etsy, and SOMEONE out there needs to get them PRONTO!

($85, Vintage Donald Pliner, Etsy.com)

... RIGHT?

(Stuart Weitzman, Zappos.com)

And here are the shoes I hope work with my fucking dress.

Vintage Binge: Etsy Seller lecondevetement

Etsy seller lecondevetement has some amazing vintage finds.

Two I'm hot 2 trot 4:

($70, lecondevetement.etsy.com)

I mean, LQQK at those gold closures!!!!

($45, lecondevetement.etsy.com)

Too bad these vintage brocade pumps are super wee -- US 5 or 6, because they're super beauts.

Now, lecondevetement, moar posts, pls!

My Fair Isle Sweater... Et Al...

I don't usually go gaga over Fair Isle sweaters -- there's something a bit too WASPy about 'em for me, but I do LOVE this one:

($325, Chimala, Stuart & Wright/ Refinery29.com)

I like the oatmeal color. Cute cut too, and not too overly "trying-extra-hard-to-look-like-I'm-from-Maine-ish." By the way, I've never been to Stuart & Wright and keep meaning to go but rarely find myself in Ft. Greene. Anyone been? Any good sale stuff ever?

($88, Kersh, Nordstrom)

Nothing earth-shattering here, but cute nonetheless. I like the longer versions -- more femme than the standard waist-length ones.

($39, Victoria's Secret)

Oh my God. Oh my God. I can't believe I just posted something from Victoria's Secret. I'm fairly sure this computer will blow up as soon as I hit "publish," and/or a giant meteor will crush me to death as I sit here in my home... but this is actually fairly ok-cute.

($34, Old Navy)

Looks like that Fair Isle sweater Old Navy was pushing earlier this season is done, but this pullover is a nice, not-bad comfy staple.

($10, Old Navy)

Comfy pajama pants (or "apartment pants," as my boyfriend's sister humorously calls them) -- ten bucks! Cain't beat dat!

($24, JC Penney)

I couldn't tell you the last time I stepped foot inside of a JCP (closest one's in Jersey), so I'm not too familiar with their jonx, but my sweater search pulled up this cardigan -- it's not Fair Isle, but it's nice and wintery, and it's not bad.

($68, Urban Outfitters)

I couldn't tell you the last time I stepped foot within a one-mile radius of a campfire, but Urban Outfitters' All-Son Campfire sweater perfect! By the way, Urban has free shipping over $50 until Monday, so this totes applies! Git it, shortie!

($98, SandrikasFiberArts.etsy.com)

This scarf, hand made by Etsy seller SandrikasFiberArts, is so adorable and romantic. I'd so wear it camping if I knew how to do that.

Finally, enjoy this super-alluring photo of me in my eBay-scored horse head cowichan. Neigh indeed! And if you're thinking of knitting your own Fair Isle sweater, check out this how-to video. And if you're thinking of knitting your dude a sweater, consult this book first.

drikaB Birdy Tote + Pouch!

Truly, I need another bag like Don Draper needs another random casual encounter, but I've been staring at this one like a pedo on a playground. It's handmade by Etsy artist drikaB, and I LOVE the contrast of the rustic jute handle and Marimekko-inspired boldy bright fabric. AND it comes with a little pouch! TEE!


The whole lot (lady not included) is just $87 at Delight.com, or $67.50 for the tote, $24.50 for the pochette. Super deeeeeelightful!

** UPDATE! BOUGHT! Used promo code Decor8Delight08 = 20% off! **

** UPDATE! TO THE UPDATE!: Just received the tote, and ZOMG it's even better IRL! RUN, DON'T WALK!

Warm Up! Grey-Day Accessories! Plus: Fred Flare's New Store!

The weather went from pleasant to fucking February in like a week. Here are some warmy woolies and stuff in lovely neutral greys to stay warm in, kay?

($14, Lulu's)

Berets aren't usually my thing, but this one does a nice job of straddling that dangerous line between "oui oui hee hee!" and hackeysacking.

($20, Fred Flare)

The sweet pom pom makes me wanna do snow angels, and the wooden button keeps this grey-day hat from a.) flying off yo damn head and b.) being too cutesy-cute. ALSO, you can save save save on shipping with promo code "STORE CUTE." Why? Because FRED FLARE is opening their first-ever brick-and-mortar! FINALLY! Also, I wrote a lil story about it for Metromix New York! Read, believe, ACHIEVE! It's an interview with Chris and Keith (the brains behind Fred Flare), and two sweeter souls don't exist in this world, with the exception of my boyfriend and my cat. Wait... not my cat. He's a total jerkface. Anyway, you MUST go check out the store in Greenpoint and go spend your bucks on Jonas Brothers wayfarers and bags like this... oooh or this We Are the Superlative Conspiracy bag... or this bustier dress in black or red...

($22.50, Alloy)

Yeah, so I really love this grey scarf too.

($21.50, Victorianbird, Etsy)

Stripy fleecy sweatshirty scarf! Sing huzzah!

($9.99, Target)

I like how these heart gloves are like stop-light inspired. JUST THINK of how much funner driving would be if the lights were HEARTS instead of just circular-lights. Of course, then we'd probably just get sick of them and never notice. Ahhhh ennui.

($12, Lulu's)

Perfect winter socks for boots or bummin' around the house. I like to put on some super warmo socks WITH my slippers, for extra-warm crumb bum effect!

OH YEAH: coming soon -- a big-ass scarf post by a special guest poster!! Until then, control your parameters. 'Kay nighty nite!