Pay It Off To Rack It Up Again

Clothes shopping! How I've missed you! My (final, thankfully) student loan came in and helped me pay off my credit cards in full. Sure, trading one set of debts for another isn't much of an accomplishment, but I'll take my lower interest rates and run with 'em. My recent haul:

What can I say, I'm a Nasty Gal...

Plans To Make God Laugh

Remember how I was going to remain hopeful that 2012 was my year? That the things holding me back from moving forward in my life would start to come together? Yeah, this past week has pretty much all but snuffed out that enthusiasm. Still, there have been a few things this week that along with finally making some good money have made getting out of bed worthwhile.

 A trip to Michael's resulted in the purchase of this package of neon glitter. What am I going to do with it? I dunno, but it's neon! And it was the last one-I couldn't bear the idea of leaving, deciding afterward that I needed it, and then not being able to find it. 

I did top off my nail polish with the glitter, which sort of fluoresces under black light. I plan on using them on candles and maybe for jewelry but for now I'm just happy I have them for when the creative forces strike.

J. Crew is ridiculously overpriced (esp. because the quality is mediocre, at best) but they have good sales on their basics and I scored a bunch of stripy wonders for about $10-15 each. This pink thermal is way more vibrant in person and I'm sort of living in it right now...

Jason Wu for Target comes out on Sunday. Kitty items are obviously adorable, but if I can get my mitts on a dress or two without getting beaten up by another fashion-hungry vulture (or eBay reseller...), I won't complain either.

Let It Shine

The holidays and holiday parties call for glam, merriment, and the wearing of multiple shiny, glittery articles of clothing. Sorry, subtlety and demureness are obviously not my forte. These newest light-bending items are souvenirs from my recent trip to London. Topshop...man, does that store own me. It's a good thing for my closet there isn't one in LA yet. Though, seriously, when is Topshop coming to LA!?!

Look, Don't Touch

Just because I am on a shopping ban until I'm in London doesn't mean I can't look...right?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Zara Goes Online, I Go on A Spree

If you read anything about fashion online, you could hardly escape the news that Zara was opening an e-commerce site on its American website today. I remember when Zara first came to the U.S. I wasn't all that excited, finding most of their clothes to be for the boringly serious professional set and not exactly inexpensive. Within the past few months, however, I've come around to the fact that their clothes are simultaneously fun and sophisticated, and not actually expensive. I don't know if anything within the brand has actually changed or if perhaps it's all just the result of getting older and having changing tastes, but suddenly Zara is churning out looks that I want, like their entire TRF collection. So, suffice it to say that after going to bed last night at 8pm with the flu and waking up at 7am and bored accordingly, I was one of the first Americans to take advantage of the new online Zara shopping experience. With free shipping, there's no reason for me to brave the mass of tourists at Hollywood and Highland ever again!

I also wanted to get these skirts and amazing waxed mustard-colored pants, but while they did hang out in my shopping cart for a while, I had to draw the line somewhere...There's always next paycheck!

Oopsie...

I went to the Grove today to finally pick up a little food processor and a crab cracker to make this evening's grilling a bit less messy (summer has meant lots of little crab shells flying all over the apartment) and made the mistake of walking into Anthropologie while Mark checked out Barnes & Noble. I only ever go in there for home goods; you can pick up some beautiful cracked glass coasters, a rainbow of latte bowls, or an owl-print apron without breaking the bank, whereas the clothes...let's just say I'm not shelling out a Benji for a basic grandpa sweater or doily skirt. And I don't have the scratch to buy the things they carry that are seriously gorgeous. Still, the home goods left much to be desired so I quickly walked towards the back to see if they had a nice soap dish since I've been on the lookout for one since we moved into the apartment a year and a half ago. I never made it to the bathroom stuff-I took one glance at the sale rack and-shit- immediately saw the Gryphon dress I had been admiring not two days earlier, on two different gals. I told myself it was fine to go over and look at the price, they never have my size on sale anyway. Shit, again. It they had a small and extra-small and the price was doable. I spent more time trying to find the dressing room than it took me to decide to try on the dress (which in my world means if it fits and looks good, I'm buying it no matter how much I know I'm not supposed to). It fit. It's adorable. The only time I have ever been thankful to have a ridiculously tiny chest because the cut is crazy and wouldn't work on most of the female population.

Cutie Dianna Agron first caught my eye with her pink hair, but my gaze quickly moved south.

Fall Forward

This has been a weird summer in LA. June gloom spilled over into mid-July and while it's hot out during the day, by nightfall you need a jacket. So perhaps it's unsurprising I'm ready for "summer" to pack it in and for fall to make its official appearance. While it might not exactly be cool by October, I'm so excited for tights, lightweight maxi skirts, motorcycle boots, punches of jewel tones, and leather-and for the opportunity to throw them into the mix if not cover up completely. My cool weather wish list is already off to a great start with these items:

Suno Estrella platform wedges available here.

Gorgeous colored silk blouse by Funktional, sold out at Pixie Market (like every awesome piece they sell).

Nishe fur-trimmed coat, already sold out from ASOS.

T by Alexander Wang panne velvet maxi skirt available here. I'm hoping they offer the silver color that's available in dress form in this version too.

Feisty leopard print shift dress available at Topshop.

This retro colorblock coat that would make a nice alternative to the rather dark vibe of my current ones, another Topshop find.

Staring at Stars ombre loose knit top available here.

I love the burnt orange color of this sold out Shakuhachi dress and the way the thick ruching looks soft rather than the heavy it easily could have. Plus, anything that keeps arms warm while highlighting the clavicle is okay in my book!

The Agony and the Ecstasy

...of online shopping. How unfortunate that I looked at DKNY's website. Or, should I say, how unfortunate that both my pocketbook and bank account are already empty, because I'd much rather them be empty for having procured the following and the fashion portion of my heart fluttering in delight instead of in despair:

Colorblocking and pleats? Yes, please.

These look like polka dots but they're actually lips!

I Want These Right Now

Sold out KG by Kurt Geiger glitter and satin wedges.

Marc by Marc Jacobs panther print messenger bag, available at Ssense.

Fortune Favors the Brave totem shield ring, available at La Dama.

Alexander Wang crepe jacket, available at the Outnet.

Sea of Bees galactic beam necklace, available here.

Angela Monaco's pineapple crystal ring, available here.

ASOS sequin diamond sweater, available here.

Wild West

After initially saying he wanted to stay home when he gets time off from work between Thankgiving and Christmas, Mark now wants to take a trip; fancy that, because all of the sudden I have this intense desire to go to Wyoming and tour the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. I love the idea of seeing all these uniquely North American animals in the opens of nature, soaking in the quiet snowy wilderness, and experiencing an American culture that is distinctly different from any we've experienced in our lives in LA despite being so geographically close. We're not sure the timing will work since it won't quite be winter season there yet, so in the meantime, I'm crossing fingers and filling my mind with thoughts inspired by the Native American and western cultures that make Wyoming such a vibrant, if accidental, prospect for travel.

T-bird necklace from MijuAndYou

Probably the only cowboy boots I've ever been attracted to, but boy am I, from Old Gringo

Rad "Cuttler" sneakers by Supra (no longer available). I love how the stark black and white turns a traditionally earthy pattern into a graphic, urban one.

Dannijo's Nela necklace

Tank dress by jessalinb

Getting Into Character

This weekend a friend of mine is having a Hello Kitty themed birthday bar crawl, and as to embarrass us all (I mean, have fun) is asking us to all dress us like a Sanrio character. So while I try to quell the anxiety that walking into a full bar on a Saturday looking like a dork has got growing in my belly, I'll leave you with a hint of who I've chosen to portray. Can you guess who?


Have a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend everyone!

What's Old Is Young Again

I am in love with the Hailee Steinfeld for Miu Miu campaign, shot by Bruce Weber. It's genius, because it should look totally ridiculous- a 13 year old babydoll wearing the forties inspired and very adult clothes- and instead makes me want to watch Double Indemnity and buy Miu Miu heels (okay, so I already wanted to, but this helps).

On top of getting me to (want to) buy what they're selling, these ads take me back to one of my favorite periods of modern history, the 1940s and noir. The clothing silhouettes are romantic and sophisticated, the architecture was Spanish-inspired and warm (at least in LA), and the novels were over the top and cheesy (Mickey Spillane, anyone?) but full of such distinct style. Style. It's there.

Even if Miu is using a girl to sell me clothes that make a woman look like a woman, I'm there.


Out of the Past (1947)

Double Indemnity (1944)

Criss Cross (1949)