I Bought It: Miu Miu-Alike French Connection Dandy Voile Dress

French Connection

I've been in the market for some slightly more professional dresses -- I work in online content for MTV, so this is pretty professional in my realm. I don't exactly need a Chanel suit or whatever (though Chanel, if you're reading this and have some kind of blogger suit program, I'd be happy to wear one to work and watch people's WTH faces). Also, I've been scratching a LOT of impulse buy itches lately, and this French Connection dress was one them. I was at Bloomingdale's, and this pretty much leaped up into my arms like a lost puppy looking for a home. It practically licked my face. Annoyingly, I paid $148 for it (very unlike to me to whip out one and a half Benjamins, but again, this poor dress, it needed a home -- also, I don't carry "Benjamins." I don't think I've ever seen a real 100-dollar bill in my life except maybe in mafia movies... I really need richer friends) and then I saw it on French Connection online for half that, but it was sold out, so whatever. It fit perfectly, despite the fact that it was about 128 sizes larger than the three sizes I might normally wear. (Looks like I'm not the only one who finds that French Connection likes to size up.)

Anyway, as much as I love Mad Men-style everything (duh -- I'm in my '30s and live in Brooklyn. It's a given), there's a time and a place to dress like Joan Holloway, and a time and place to be not costumey. So while the pleated, nipped-waist style feels retro, the ruffled sleeves keep this from looking like you're swilling a Manhattan and vying for Don Draper's attention. It's like Mad Men meets Gaga.

Oh, and the print kinda references Miu Miu, no?

($1094, Miu Miu, Mytheresa.com)

Hmm. Maybe I did get a good deal after all.

Justify My Love: Wanting. Needing This Sequin French Connection Dress

Current mood: Very strongly leaning toward this French Connection "Fast Sequins" Dress.

($288, French Connection)

And if you're bored by black, it comes in this rich-ass, royal blue:

Obviously you wear a sequined mini dress to a holiday party, and you don't even have to bring a gift, because you're like a walking Christmas present for others to enjoy. But you could also dress it down and go real hard in these chunky, harnessed motorcycle ankle boots by Aussie brand Maurie & Eve:

($288, Maurie & Eve, idontlikemondays.us)

Get them at idontlikemondays, or pick them up at the lovely little Soho boutique Babel Fair, which sources cute things from all over the world -- from designer dresses to cute little edible-looking erasers.

Win a $500 JBAndMe.com Shopping Spree For Doing Almost NOTHING!

For serious -- just go to the new and improved JBAndMe.com -- they just relaunched their site -- and sign up for their newsletter, or create an account or buy something, like the CUTE stuff I've suggested below, and you'll automatically be entered into a drawing to win a $500 shopping spree. Which is probably much more feasible than any of us winning that $2500 Barneys deal.

My picks:

($189, 7 For All Mankind, JBAndMe.com)

A nice halfway point between trouser jeans and look-at-my-butt jeans.

($88, French Connection, JBAndMe.com)

Adoor-a-bell on its own or under a cardi.

($99, Nina, JBAndMe.com)

Oooh, with a little denim skirt and some dark opaque colored tights? Divinity!

So enter now because the contest (sweeps, technically), is only through today. HURRY, won't you?

Oh yeah, and you've got only one day left to enter to win the FashionBinge Napoleon Perdis Angel Baby kit, so GO THERE, DO DAT!

WTF, FCUK?

WTF, French Connection? I love this "seasonal" skirt on the UK version of French Connection's site:




But this gold version ($148) is the only one available on the US version of French Connection online. WTF? I like the gold version, but I don't wanna dress like midcentury Christmas wrapping paper. Or Serge Gainsbourg's bathroom. . I want the silver one, damn it, and I want it in good old-fashioned, worthless U.S. CURRENCY! Dollahdollahbills, y'all!! French Connection, you guys are freaking LIARS! You're neither French nor "connected"... clearly. Bah humbug!

Beautiful Pieces For Beautiful Fall

YAAAAY! It's FINALLY FUCKING FALL! My favoritest time of the year both weather- and fashion-wise! Here are some beautiful deep, rich, dark fall-colory pieces for one to dream about and potentially buy.

($44, Lian Carlo, Vintageamore.com)

I'm not sure how a purveyor of otherwise super-fugz bridal gowns and eveningwear could create such a thing of Abaete-esque beauty, but they done did it. Unfortunately this is only avaible, from Vintageamore.com, at least, in size 6.

($465, Tufi Duek, Nordstrom)

Dude. DUDE. Dude. Tufi Duek is a god among mortals.

($420, Sass & Bide, Standardstyle.com)

Sass & Bide are NOT far behind. I'd wear this thing every day of the week if I had to.

($302, Madison Marcus, Shopintuition.com)

This looks a lot like that blue dress Jessica Simpson's been running around in, though I like this one better.

($205, Development, Madisonlosangeles.com)

Ooooh so perf with a thin black cardi!

($297, 12th Street By Cynthia Vincent, Bluefly)

Casual yet posh staple!

($94, Oh Deer! Nordstrom)

OMG. Check out the obscenely cute sequin detailing. I think I'm slowly warming to T-straps.

($88, Anne Klein, Amazon)

Pure fall jewel-toned beauty!

($59, Style & Co, Macys)

Very nice...

($128, Michael Kors, Nordstrom)
But not as nice as these. LOVE!



($68, Shopsueyboutique.com)

Yes, I know it's a BLATANT Marc Jacobs knockoff, but I sorta almost don't care because I love the Deco hardware so much.

($48, French Connection)
Sheer fall beauty time! All in one bag!

More Things For To Buy

K, here's some stuff I want, all of it, of course, random:

($328, Juicy Couture, Saks Fifth Avenue)
So demure, yet it's also got a great Alice In Wonderland-meets-Betsey Johnson vibe.

($325, See By Chloe, Frankeys.com)

Do I love these, OR, are they too Bonnaroo circa 2003? They might be a wee bit TOO Joss Stone. Though they could look great with a fitted, tucked-in black long-sleeved shirt and MAYBE these shoes:

($66, Asos.com)
These would also look ruling with some black tights, paired with these...





($88, French Connection, Asos.com)
PERRRRfecto bag for fall, y'all!



($43, Argento Vivo, Bluefly)
Muy elegante, but the length makes 'em sorta not-boring, which is good.



($6, OPI, Goddess-within.com)

This season, I am DETERMINED to figure out how to wear midnight dark nail polishes without looking like the pop-goth chick from Evanesence. That it is all.

JACKETS: PART 1: Everybody In Great Grey Coats!

I'm covered (I wish, literally) in coat choices for what I PRAY is any impending cold weather.
This is my top pick:

($655, Robert Rodriguez, Active Endeavors)
Pristine, though at $655, it's no steal.




($640, Rick Owens Lilies, Net-a-porter.com)
... Or save yourself $15 and go for this amazingly chic yet comfy-looking Rick Owens Lilies wrap. I wanna snuggle up into it and hibernate 'til this God-awful humidity passes.



So... some more eco(-nomically)-friendly options:


($343, French Connection, Asos)
Very Sgt. Pepper's chic.




($308, Mike & Chris, Revolveclothing.com)
Ahhh... Mike & Chris. I'd make some lame fratty joke about the two men I'd most like to be between, but a.) that's lame, b.) I'm too tired to think and c.) Chris actually stands for Christine.



($145, Chan Chan, Asos)
Totally the type of trench you'd wear nothing under. If you're that type of trench-wearer.



($148, Free People, Urban Outfitters)
Highly cute.


(Apprx $170 USD, Topshop)
The Jackie O. look isn't me, but this is still darling.



($319, Walter, Saks Fifth Avenue)
Very uptown.


($49, Max Azen, Modcloth.com)
Vintage, very back-to-basics staple.


($36, Coffee Shop, Nordstrom)
Adorable twist on a standard trench, and the PRICE! Eeee!




($38, Forever 21)
Awesome Mike & Chris knock off!!



($29, Old Navy)
Finally... so no one will mistake this for the Robert Rodriguez version, but it's still really cute.

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

... Like these French Connection studded heels and this new-for-fall Hayden-Harnett bag:

($186, French Connection, Asos)

I don't particularly LOOOOOOOOOOOVE the whipstitching around the top, but I'd walk a mile in heels for those studded cone heels.

($495, Hayden-Harnett)

The most perfectly perfect fall/winter colors. Sigh. Hayden-Harnett: determined to ensure I never stop coveting and lusting after material goods.

Shoegasm & More Sexually Charged Objets

That's seriously the name of a chain of shoe stores here in NYC. Shoegasm. For real. The name is so effing horbs, and I have to give it this Yelper for stating perfectly what's so cringe-inducing about this mindless moniker:

"I really don't like when people put "gasm" on the end of nonsexual things to signify that they are in some way sexually satisfying. It's crass, and moreover, it's tired."

Word.

However, I'm now going to both lean upon a cliche and shoot myself in the foot (har) when I state that the following shoes basically did cause me to climax into a footwear frenzy:







They're both by Hetty Rose who creates MADE TO ORDER shoes from vintage Japanese kimono fabric. Let me say that again: the she makes MADE TO ORDER shoes from VINTAGE Japanese fabric. Shoes to fit ONLY YOU. And the fact that she's London based is just another reason why you won't see tons of other ladies on Ludlow in your very same shoes. They start at about $600 USD. Eek. Not cheap yet so gorgeous, they cast some bizarre infatuation-like spell that'd nearly possess me to worth fly over there first class to pick them up in person.

And now, more amazing stuff but nowhere near as amazing as those above shoes yet decidedly more affordable.


($474, The Jackson Twins, Lollipoplondon.com)
Wait, I take that back. These are totally expensy but possibly worth it. I've been seeing lots of Jackson Twins shoes lately, and I truly love everything I'm seeing. I love the not-too-tall heels (most all under 3"), subtle vintage touches and bright colors. Very similar to Faryl Robin.



($441, Beatrix Ong, Lollipoplondon.com)
Darling, but again, I'm rarely a fan of the ankle strap. I like these perhaps a bit better:



($59, Exchange By Charles David, Smartbargains.com)
Boo again with the ankle strap AND suuuuch a high heel, but then again, the price is right. Also, Smartbargains is having a 3 shoes for $99 sale. Wee! Stock up, bishes!



($59, Arturo Chiang Corina, Smartbargains.com)
Love these in black and in their silver version.



(Apprx $42 USD, Asos.com)
I've been coveting these for a while. I should prolly just get 'em, right??



($17, Soda, Lulusfashionlounge.com)
A good staple.



($275, AKA New York, Activeendeavors.com)
Not overly crazy about the lacy trim at the bottom, but it just looks so comfy and cool for the swampass summer weather.



($451, Paul Smith)
I've stated before that white people should usually not wear pale yellow. But IF a fair-skinned white person were to break my own personal rule, I might excuse if if it were on behalf of this dress.



($88, French Connection, Zappos)
I positively adore this top but plan on waiting for it to go on super sale. (Still waiting...)



($138, Original Penguin, Zappos)
Also very cute.



(Apprx $30 USD, Topman.com)
Cute, but also for dudes. I'm also going to try NOT to smirk at the name "Top Man."



($275, Antoinette Lee, Couturecandy.com)
A most beauts fall bag.


Now, two footwear mortses:


($79, Michael Kors, Smartbargains.com)
Worst.


($193, Loeffler Randall, Creaturesofcomfort.com)
The rare and evasive horbs Loeffler Randall item. Terrible.