Red Saffron

After a looooong hiatus...Kimono Clutch by Oroco

2011-03-10T17:21:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, I'm just feeling very uninspired. I'll go on this way for an indefinite period of time (as illustrated in the severe lack of posts) until something totally awesome appears before my eyes. Like this BEAUTIFUL clutch made from vintage kimonos and denim, by Uroco, a husband and wife team based in the UK. Thanks go to my new obsession, Boticca.com, for the referral! $122 from Boticca.

Loteria Negra Charm Necklace -

2010-09-24T14:37:00.000-07:00

A strange but very cool way to hang charms! This necklace features amulets used in Latin lotteries back in the 1700s. A hand adorned with crystal holds 4 charms, each representing faith, fortune, life, and strife.By Sweet Romance Jewelry for $44.95 @ Baby Girl Boutique.

Oxidized Sterling Silver Heart Necklace

2009-04-23T00:36:00.000-07:00

I heart Supermarket. Just picked up this beautifully oxidized sterling silver heart chain necklace. I like how the thick oxidized metal hearts contrast with the delicate sterling silver chain. I like that the name of the necklace is "Cold Black Heart." I also like that it's under $40 with shipping. By Lauren Haupt Jewelry.

Tivi Mixed Media Clutch

2009-04-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

These are the ultimate in mixed media luxury goods. The outside is made from curved wooden panels of maple and walnut veneer, while the inner details are made from a mix of stainless steel and super soft goat skin. A very unique design paired with a fantastically subtle arrangement of colors & textures. Love! (tivi @ supermarket)

Kevia Jewelry

2009-04-09T10:38:00.001-07:00

Things I love about jewelry: gold, hammered gold, semi-precious stones, crystals. It just so happens that Gilt Group has a limited time overstock sale on Kevia jewelry, which include ALL of the things I love about jewelry. Everything is around 50% retail until 4/13.

This is one of those sites where you’ll need an invitation to join and take part in the exclusive sales. Leave a comment and I’ll send you one!!

Akris RTW Spring 2008

2008-11-17T15:16:00.000-08:00

Akris' floral prints felt like delicate digital Spring time. The looks are gorgeously unadorned. I love the simplicity of the makeup on the models too.

Bags I Want at ASOS

2008-11-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

My kind of bag needs to have double handle straps, a bit of leather, and good structure. I'd like one of each please... clockwise from the top, ending the the middle:

Nica Large Shoulder Slouch Bag
Fiorelli Exposed Zip Shoulder Bag
Max C London Plaited Tote Bag
McQ By Alexander McQueen
Billy Bag Large Leather Tote
Dialog Recycled Fabric Peacock Tote Bag

Thanks Aria, for the Asos referral!

Sweet Dreams from Joy by Mel Lim

2008-11-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

These whimsical, collagey designs are both soft and graphic. Limited edition prints are made with soy inks on socially & environmentally responsible paper. I love the embossed/debossed detailing! (Designed as a triptych, sold individually)

Joy by Mel Lim features other beautiful color combinations of the same designs on their totes made from recycled cotton and soda bottles. (Be sure the check out their paper and fabric products from the joy paperie line. We featured those designs on this site last year and they're still contemporary and unique for this season's gift wrapping/giving!)

Shoes to covet Fall 2008 from Galliano & Philip Lim

2008-04-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

Wide bands around the area just below the ankle were seen sprinkled around various Fall 2008 collections. Does anyone know what this style of heel is called? (They're not Mary Janes, right?)

seen at John Galliano

seen at Philip Lim

Plaids for Fall 2008

2008-04-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

Really excited for plaids in the Fall! I like how Wunderkind uses the pattern as an accent.

Clockwise from top left: Adam, Wunderkind, Martin Grant, Alexander McQueen

Alexandre Herchcovitch Fall 2008

2008-04-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

Cool color blocking from Alexandre Herchcovitch. Great compliment of unique colors.

Fall 2008 RTW: AKRIS

2008-03-03T17:41:00.000-08:00

Akris showed us some super sweet monochromatic uniforms for the future. I need a killer pair of light grey suede boots now.

Linda Trent: Jewel Extraordinaire!!

2008-01-14T20:36:00.000-08:00

Linda Trent's mix of gorgeously cut stones are thoughtfully mixed with silver and gold chain accents. It kills me because her designs are the type that inspire me to want to suddenly take up jewelry making, but at the same time toss that thought right away because I'd just want to make exactly what she's making.

So instead, I picked up a few pieces. My favorites are her I.D. -like bracelets. The single jewel hanging from a plate of silver or gold is so delicately luxurious.

Signing up for her email newsletter actually set me up for some amazing deals. For the holidays I got a 50% my entire order. Sooo many gifts for mom and aunties for the rest of the year. You can find her on Etsy too, where she has a selection of year end clearances.

Etsy Love: Ambika's Fabric Handbags

2007-12-17T23:36:00.000-08:00

Ambika offers a great selection of beautiful and thoughtfully designed jewelry in her etsy shop. But she also sells these adorable handbags, some made from vintage fabrics. The combination of textures works surprisingly well. These are super unique and very wearable.

Multifunctional, Transforming, Super Useful Furniture

2007-12-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

Unless I move up 2 whole tax brackets, there will never be enough living space. The concept of furniture that satisfies more than one purpose is pleasing to me and my limited square-footage home.

This is the Nar coffeetable. Check out the website to get an explanation on why it's called "Nar." I like this table because I can keep track of all the books and magazines that I'm in the middle of reading - instead of one under my bed, on the side table, on the kitchen counter, in the bathroom...

I would use the tray stacking seats from Aguiniga Design to eat my cereal while sitting on the couch. Then I could put my laptop on it so I can go on the internet for long periods of time without burning my thighs. Then I could use the tray holder as a table and sit on the trays just like the girl in the picture. I would also drink tea.

Stonewall Kitchen offers this folding chair / footstool. Pretty self-explanatory. VERY useful.

Convertible table/couch from Akemi Tanaka. Utilitarian and beautiful. Made of bamboo plywood, this design was a semi-finalist at the 2006 "designing for a sustainable future" show in Beligium.

The Opus Table from Chicago Textile is shown
on the right in both its forms. Upright, it's a laptop table for your bed or couch. Then, it can be used as a side table when put on its feet. The veneer tops are removable, so you can decide where you want your platforms.

Vintage Inspired Loveliness

2007-12-04T14:43:00.000-08:00

The appeal of day-lab's stuff is that it's unique, edited, AND affordable. I love the vintage-y quirkiness of all of the pieces. Most of these items come from independent designers and smaller companies. Great gifting ideas for the holidays.

Kooba Deals at Neiman Marcus

2007-12-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

I have a self imposed halt on any and all major purchases for myself during the holiday shopping season. This is to ensure that I have enough cash to buy everyone else enough gifts, and also prevents me from buying something that a loved one is perhaps considering getting for me - preventing a lot of potential embarrassment and hassle. So...I would normally have snatched one of these fabulous Kooba bags by now, but since I can't enjoy this super deal, maybe one of you guys can. (Neiman's is also gift wrapping for free until tomorrow!)

The Kooba Sloane Belted Tote comes in honey (shown), bark, and black. ALL are gorgeous, signature, and on sale.
Was $645
Now $226!!!

The Kooba Ginger Braided Shoulder Bag is made of luscious chocolate suede with braided detail on the handles and tie. This one is great if you prefer minimal hardware.
Was $575
Now $201 (seriously)

Anna Sui Causes Cartwheels

2007-11-11T21:08:00.000-08:00

It's so much easier to make daily fashion choices when you stick to a palette of beige, black, white, and navy blue. But it gets boring really quickly. Anna Sui gets me out of this rut. Her Spring 2008 RTW makes me want to consider wearing puff sleeves, purple crochet, and magenta ruffles every single morning. My faves...

Etsy Love: Handmade soaps from Distilled Rose

2007-10-02T22:51:00.000-07:00

I received my shipment of handmade soaps from Etsy shop Distilled Rose a few weeks back, and I've had a chance to put a few of them through a good test run. I loved everything that I ordered, including soap that smells like Nag Champa and vegan Hot Apple Crisp soap that smells just like fresh-baked apple pie with a hint of cinnamon.

The best things were these vegan soap socks made from a nettle plant that's spun into a fiber called Aloo. You just stick your soap in it and start scrubbing. It helps to create a super rich lather and also exfoliates without being too rough.

Prices are sooo reasonable especially when you factor in the all natural vegan ingredients along with cute packaging made from handmade recycled paper.

The Charging Station Conundrum

2007-09-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

After attempting to do a thorough search for electronic device charger organizing solutions ( EDCOS, anyone?), I didn't come up with much. Apparently, this has been a challenge for much of the gadget-loving population. If it's not overly executive-looking, then it's very Martha Stewart-y. Or it's just something made from the same plastic material as your circa 1995 Aiwa boombox with dual cassette player. The following are ones that I considered for a minute.

This one is a good example of "Overly Executive." It's an unassuming dark brown color. If you've got a glass top office desk with dark wood finish, this would blend right in. Just look at the image. This is for someone who needs to have access to 2 pairs of glasses at the same time!

Frontgate @ Skymall

Another executive-ish one. It's more compact so it won't take up too much desk space. I just wish it came in other colors aside from brown and black. I'd like to see it in lime.

Mini Overly Executive @ Kangaroomstorage.com

This Pottery Barn charging station will match your shabby-chic decorator palette. It's simple and elegant. I'm thinking about getting this one, but adding some graphic elements to the sides and/or drawer. Or even just some basic color breaks.

Martha Stewart-y @ Pottery Barn

The Multi-Pot has a different take on the functional design of charging stations by positioning the elements around a cylindrical shape. It looks like all of the plugs insert from the bottom into a multi-socket outlet at the top. The various devices sit at the very top with all of the wiring stored inside. I'm not going for this one for two reasons. 1. The wires are still messy looking and will drive me crazy. 2. It looks like a trash receptacle, no?

The Multi-pot @ The Conran Shop

This one from Kanga Room is my top pick so far. It's slim in design while still being functional. It hides the socket area, but still has a sliding door to make it accessible. And, for the win, your devices stand up so that you can glance at the screen in case you get a call or text message. And at $35, it's totally affordable.
Take a look here.

There are also several DIY projects that address the charging station dilemma. Click the links for a few interesting ones...

Using a box from the Container Store
Ikea Hacker's Floating Charging Station
Lifehacker's Cord & Charger Box

Anyone else find any good solutions?

Matthew Williamson Spring 2008

2007-09-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

For Spring 08, Matthew Williamson stayed away from the sheen of metallics from Fall 07. His take on the cultural traveler was more fresh and crisp this time around, with colorful patterns of South and Central America grounded by safari green and khaki. I really enjoyed seeing bits of textured materials, like suede, linen, and muslin - giving the whole set some nice visual balance. These pieces are wins in terms of achieving that comfy, yet polished vibe.

Heavenly dresses from Spring 2008 RTW

2007-09-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

There were some fantastic offerings in the dress department from the Spring 08 RTW shows. Dresses were, overall, very feminine, uniquely draped, and as a result, generally flattering for different body types.

Much of the palette from the Anne Klein show was subdued, but the muted colors were brought into balance by beautifully finished fabrics.

At Donna Karan, dresses were deliberately draped, creating a series of sleek and glamorous looks. I'm waiting to see who'll wear that baby blue collared number to an upcoming red carpet event.

My favorite L'Wren Scott dresses came in brilliant shades of blue. Both chic and retro, they just scream "bombshell"... especially the black one below.

Monique Lhuillier does Grecian really well, and this Spring 08 RTW show was no different. These dresses were made for goddesses who require their clothing to be no less than ethereal.

Carlo Giovani Paper Art

2007-09-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

Origami is an enviable skill. I can probably make a paper crane and a square-ish looking ball. Carlo Giovani takes paper art to a whole other level.

Joy by Mel Lim

2007-08-28T23:30:00.000-07:00

Mel Lim's site, Joy, features beautiful graphic patterns thoughtfully applied to gift wrap, stationery, and fabrics. Seriously, these are luscious and rich and quirky.

Fall's coming soon. This gives me a serious head start on the holiday gift giving season since I have the gift wrap part taken care of.

Updates coming soon

2007-08-27T09:50:00.001-07:00

I'm embarrassed at the lack of articles posted these last couple of weeks. Work has been crazy. I swear posts will continue in the next couple of days.

Thanks for checking in!

Reusable & stylish, with no commercials

2007-08-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

I've been on the hunt for reusable shopping bags ever since I

1. started feeling pangs of guilt everytime I threw one away after a trip to the grocery store, and
2. eyed the ones at Trader Joes, but didn't get one because I wasn't about to sign on as a Trader Joes spokesman. (as much as I love TJs)

Here are some that I'm considering:

Envirosax Reusable Bags
These are at the top of my list since they come in a 5 pack with resealable pouch that can be rolled up small enough to fit into my glove compartment or purse. They're recyclable, washable, and very unboring.

Basura Bags

Not only is this particular bag eco-friendly because it replaces non-biodegradable plastic bags, but it's also made from recycled juice packs. AND they are made by a women's co-op in the Philippines.

ECOBAGS

Your basic canvas bag, slightly larger than a paper grocery bag, and much easier to carry. These are one of the most basic and cheapest alternatives, and also available in recylced cotton.

Reisenthel Market Baset

This thing would be great to take with you to the farmer's market since odd-shaped items can be carefully placed inside it. Its durable, lightweight aluminum frame is collapsible, making it really easy to store in your car or take with you down the street.

Target Go International: Libertines

2007-07-16T23:49:00.001-07:00

Up next for the Target's Go International line is the designer duo Libertine - about to debut in stores tomorrow! The looks for this line are in sharp contrast to the images floating around the inter-blogs of Erin Fetherston's Target line coming up later this year. Libertine is a little more spunky...a little more rocker meets prep, while Fetherston manages to achieve a sort of children of the corn/stepford wives look with the line. (See images of Fetherston at Target's press room.)

There are a few good pieces in both, although the Libertine line, as a whole, feels more relevant. I feel like I'm making a stretch here...because overall, the Go International line is starting to look a bit dated each time we see new images come out for future lines. I'm tired of seeing skull and horse prints. Here are the only pieces that I'll be looking out for in stores this week.

From the beginning, GO's reason for being has been to provide fashion-forward garments that are wearable and affordable, while promoting and challenging emerging designers across the globe. There's something lacking here now. By far my favorite so far from GO has been the Paul & Joe line from 2006. Here's a review:

(there were some great color variants offered when this line was still being sold on the Target website - of which I could not pull from anywhere!)

Marchesa Resort 2008

2007-07-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

I know that I'm totally behind with any sort of Resort '08 Collection coverage, but there were a few notable lines that I still need to talk about.

First is Marchesa. Nothing says goddess like these Marchesa dresses from her recent Resort presentation. I'm not one for too many embellishments, and more often than not, simple is best. But! These are luscious pretty things that make me want to hold court in a woodland forest. Or have some cocktails at the top of your standard swanky L.A. hotel.

July 4th, Fireworks, & Bikes!

2007-07-04T00:02:00.000-07:00

Schwinn Red Apple Crate

To me, of all the holidays in the year, July 4th is the most nostalgic. There's something immediately reminiscent about the combined powers of bbq-ed hamburgers, fireworks, and sunlight until just after 8pm. For whatever reason, this makes me want to ride my bike around the neighborhood at night.

After a couple years of neglect, I've finally given my sweet-ass bike a wash. I'm hoping to find a little bit of time to take this bad baby around the block. If the weather permits. If it's not, like, 120 degrees outside.

(click images to see really large)

Turquoise

2007-07-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

At first glance, the work from interior design firm Turquoise seems quintecentially Los Angeles. But if you're familiar with the vastly different communities within L.A., you'll also notice that each of the spaces is designed with that specific area in mind.

The projects in Beverly Hills have a distinctly Hollywood feel that is both contemporary and retro.

An office in Santa Monica is brightly adorned in pastel, but not in a shiny enamel way. This fits nicely with the signature mix of architecture that you'll find in this area.

Sherman Oaks is a suburb of the San Fernando Valley, which is a larger suburb located just outside of L.A. proper. There's a bit more space out there and things aren't quite so fast paced.

Vanessa De Vargas is the designer behind Turquoise, as well as a contributor to ApartmentTherapy.com & IKEA. She also has a fantastic selection of lovingly restored vintage & Mid-Century furniture, accessories, & art featured on the Turquoise site.

Naked & Angry

2007-07-02T14:41:00.001-07:00

Speaking of threadless.com , the people behind it at skinnyCorp have another "consumer/designer/expert-votes-on-which-ones-get-made" concept site called Naked & Angry. But this time it's more focused and the designs that are chosen to be made into actual product are fewer - limited to 5 top designs. This makes the overall tone of the voting exercise and resulting design submissions a bit more serious. But, sweet nonetheless! They've got ties and hand screen printed wallpaper. Don't question the logical progression. Just admire.

Graphic Tees / Not Cheesy Tees

2007-06-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

The crazy increase in screen-printed t-shirts has produced lots of fresh tees showing off some really talented designers. Unfortunately, with everyone trying their hand at this, you also eventually come across shirts that aren't so great. The ones that have slogans that were thought up by drunk frat boys are the best (worst). Some of the greatest include "City girls do it on the subway", "I (Heart) Back Seats", and "My Other Ride is Your Mom." Brilliant.

On the other hand, I like the ones above. It's like a yin/yang thing.

From the top:
Kozyndan Bunny Eater
A Key for Everything
Lions Are Smarter Than I Am

Bottom row from the left:
Leora Lutz Seafoam
Thistle Shirred Cap Sleeve
Dinosaur Tee

Some Etsy Love

2007-06-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

There are so many reasons to love etsy.com. One of those reasons being that you can type in anything in their search box and get a plethora of supremely cute & stylish stuff themed around whatever you want! For example, if you're looking for something with a lotus motif, these are some of the things you'll find.

Lasers & Tjep

2007-06-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

Tjep is a design company in Amsterdam that has produced beautiful work in products, interior design, jewellry and furniture. They're work is both super contemporary & whimsical. They've managed to fully utilize laser cutting technology in some of their most evocative pieces.

Chair of textures was a contribution to a project called Smart Deco, where an entire house was constructed from cut-through layers of different materials and textures. The description on their site isn't definitive about the chair's materials, but it seems to be made from metal.

Love Heart is a brooch made up of all the possible ways to say "I love you!" Potential cheese factor is high, but the end result is so cool. This is supposedly available soon at Moss in NY. Hopefully, they'll update on this soon.

Dancing shades is a kind of chandelier/light show. Heat is generated from the halogen lights, which activate a propellors that give movement to the thin circular cut-outs. This creates moving shadows on the walls and ceilings and looks surprisingly similar to water flowing. Very very soothing. They have a video of this working their site.

They call this one Destructive Deco. It's made of laser etched veneer and the design team's idea was that as the laser does its thing, it digs into the material until it actually ends up causing damage, instead of decoration. Interesting idea. Explains the lamp's title.

Little Black Dresses for Fall 2007

2007-06-05T11:37:00.001-07:00

I covered a little bit about the little black dress last Fall, so I think I'll just go ahead and make it a tradition by taking a look at what's going on with the LBD at the Fall 2007 RTW showings. There was a plethora of varied styles that little black dresses came in this season.

Topshop executed girly without being too frilly. The skirt is super super short, but the leggings bring it together and make it wearable.

Double-breasted jacket details work well with the oversized turtleneck on this Badgley Mischka.

Soft, draped fabric gives luscious texture to basic black. Bottegga Veneta keeps the draping consistent by continuing it onto the shoulders.

Doo.Ri makes use of draping too, but with a chicer flapper feel.

Ruffled shoulders combine with a structured base making this Zac Posen dress both fierce and feminine.

Another Zac Posen. Ruffles are there, but this time in lighter fabric and super layered. I love love this one. It's totally flirty without being gaudy.

Very excited that the 40's was a consistent theme throughout the Fall 2007 RTW shows. It's a distinctive nod to female curves with slim torso sillouettes accentuated by capped shoulders, defining belts, and gloves up to the elbows. This one is Bottega Veneta.

Finally, the 40's was made super contemporary with the addition of pink embellishments at Christian Dior - giving the look a more playful effect.

Sustainable Attainables

2007-05-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

Green is gaining speed and it's looking very stylish! Here's a brief round-up of the myriad of eco-conscious options out there right now.

Shyness and Bloom Shy Bunnies are made from recycled sweaters. So cute.

With fashion's radar turning green, more and more option are available for those who want to be eco-conscious as well as fashion conscious. Panda Snack has created a luxurious line of comfy clothing made of bamboo fiber. A portion of their profits go to environmental and preservation causes.

B. Happybags makes stylish shopping bags to replace paper and plastic. Lots more fabric combinations to choose from on their site.

Viva Terra is a comprehensive online store that offers eco-friendly and handmade goods from around the world. Above are a few highlights.

Bamboo Dining Chair: Each chair is hand-built and made from renewable bamboo.

Vetiver Balls: Vetiver is a wild grass prized in Asia for both its healing properties & soothing woodsy scent. Use for both decor and theraputic aromatherapy!

Reclaimed Oriental Rug: For outdoors and indoors, this rug is made from recycled plastic bottles & packaging materials. It's stain resistant and you can hose it down for cleaning.

Sushi Accessories

2007-05-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

What's better than sushi? Not a whole lot! ...unless it's sushi dipped in soy sauce that's been poured into a Soy Ukiyoe dish. Pour your soy sauce into one of these shallow dishes, and see the subtley sculpted relief reveal itself. (Thanks notcot!) See more here.

For the Jet Set

2007-05-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

There are so many different kinds of luggage to match your taste these days - here are a few sweet ones...

Classic

Left: Adrienne Vittadini Madalene 22"
Right: Tumi LXT Wheeled Duffel

Patterns/Graphics

Left: Orla Kiely Wheelie Travel Case
Right: Roxy Von Karmen Luggage

Sleek

Left: Hideo Wakamatsu Mirror Finish Trolley
Right: Zero HALLIBURTON Zeroroller

Silly
Left: Samsonite Pengiun Trolley
Right: Seahorse Suitcase from Anthropologie

Functional Design Wonders

2007-04-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

100% offers some sweet horizontally integrated products. An umbrella that's also a stand. A cup that also gives you pretty condensation rings. Love!

Michele Varian Super Lush Pillows

2007-04-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

Michele Varian offers unique home decorative soft goods made up of luxurious fabrics paired together in unconventional ways. The Spring 2007 line appears to be inspired by wallpaper motifs, which are enhanced by the pairing of different materials. Yum. It's pricey but worth it. Take a look here.

Plants for dummies

2007-04-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

I have no problems admitting that I'm no green thumb. But, this doesn't mean that I don't have occasional urges to try plant-tending. This usually ends up badly, but it'd pretty difficult to mess up with these Super Bio-Medical Plants. The cactus is my favorite. It's so weird. You can find them here.

Spotlight on Adam + Eve

2007-02-20T23:20:00.000-08:00

Since the weather has turned quite pleasant in L.A., I wanted to revisit a few of Adam + Eve's Spring 07 looks. My favorite is the cropped jacket with trouser pants. This has fantastic proportions.

Method: Cleaning the Environment

2007-02-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

The Method line of cleaning products has been out for a while and is all over Target. They've done an exceptional job with combining environmental friendli-ness with good, clean design.

Deluxe House Plants

2007-02-16T17:20:00.000-08:00

GreenFortune makes a few well designed hydroponic plant products. The Streamgarden is multi-functional greatness. Cleaner air, decorative, natural greenery in public places - entirely customizable.

Dior in Spring

2007-01-29T22:22:00.000-08:00

John Galliano's Spring 2007 couture line for Christian Dior was breaktaking. Emotionally evocative, it defined "spring" in every sense of the word. Let's take one beautiful moment to review...

Rainy Day Shades of Grey (or Gray)

2007-01-28T23:03:00.000-08:00

Since it's been rainy and cloudy these last few days, I'm in a pretty somber mood. To celebrate, here are some pieces that reflect my current state of mind. Grey is actually a great color for any mood. Too much color on my persons will usually irritate me halfway through the day. Grey tops or pants are a great canvas to add more colorful accessories when you're feeling more festive - which is more my cup of tea.
My linking abilities are not working so well tonight, so let's do this the long way for now. From top left: Rachel Pally Drape Dress, Anthropologie Mariner Pants, Orla Kiely Umbrella, Velvet Tunic, and Brass Plum Krystal Boots from Nordstroms.

Linea Nervenkitt Jewelry: "Simple & Striking"

2006-08-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

I've been wearing jewelry from the Linea Nervenkitt line for the last 2 years. Nervenkitt's designs are unique and simple, which is hard to find with most jewelry designers. They are usually too big, chunky, and brash, or they're really small and overly-delicate - almost little girly. If you can't see, why wear it?

Nervenkitt strikes a balance between the two polars, with clean lines and beautifully hand-formed details. The Corsica necklace shown above (and found here) perfectly illustrates the yin/yang needed for well-formed adornments. The delicateness of the teardrop shape is repeated in gold and topaz. One of my favorite things about all her necklaces is the design of the chain, which veers significantly from your standard chain link. I have the Leilani necklace from the now-retired Circa collection and the gold chain that it comes on is made up of tiny gold boxes that are linked together. I'm not sure if they're still selling the remaining stock, but you can take a look here.

Wall Flower Power Wallpaper

2006-08-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been gravitating towards bold prints for room decor. This curiousity for patterns has gone far beyond lamp shades and throw pillows. The only thing that would make me hesitate to slap this on the wall is the permanence of it. But lo and behold! This company makes their wall covering out of fleece, which, according to their website allows for it to be easily removeable. Just re-wet it, peel slowly, let it dry and reroll. Genius! Take a look here.

Quirky Find of the Week

2006-08-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this isn't my find, it's a find from the September issue of Lucky. BUT, it's so sweet that I had to post it. There's no better combination than hunting and 14k gold. These charms can be ordered here from allcharms.com. Just type "deer head" and "axe" in the upper left search box to find these charms. This site is great because you can find almost any charm in your choice of sterling silver, gold plated, and 10k, 14k, and 14k white gold.

Affordable Find of the Week!

2006-08-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

This Theory top is perfect! It's simple in neutral taupe, but also has a unique cut that's flattering while not being too restrictive or tight. I could wear this with white slacks to work, and still look appropriate for dinner plans the same night. You can dress this up or down with strappy heels (dinner) or embellished flat thongs (weekend). Just add a few hammered gold bangle bracelets and you're good to go.

At Neiman Marcus online it's been marked down from $170 to $70! I've already ordered mine. Now get yours here!

Layout issues!

2006-08-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

Please bear with me as I figure out the HTML issues with these postings. The last time I had a website was in 1996, and the HTML language has changed significantly. I would be very very thankful to anyone with suggestions on how to fix this...

Notebooks As Fashion Accessory

2006-08-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

When I was still in middle school and high school I always assumed that when you got to be an adult, you wouldn't have any use for spiral notebooks, or any pad of writing paper for that matter. I mean, you never saw adults walking around with them. I thought the use of pee-chee folders and notebooks was retricted to students who needed them to take notes during lecture and/or doodle and/or pass notes to friends during lecture.

Now that I'm a full fledged adult, I go through more notebooks that I ever did in school. There's one for work, for work notes. And there's one for home, for lists, thoughts, reminders, and whatever other information I need to keep handy. (That's the one I'm currently using, above) Each of these lasts me about 2-3 months. I still go to school a few nights a week, but these days, that's the only significant activity that i don't have a notebook for (I have a strategy...but that's none of your concern). And I don't know if I was just imagining things when I was younger, but as an adult I totally carry these notebooks around with me ALL the time...in my hands even. So, you could even consider the notebook an acccessory. It consistently has high visibility. With that concern in mind, let's take a look at some notebooks that you'll have no problem coordinating with... "(click image for larger view/click name for where to buy)

Jordi Labanda 3-D Notebooks

Elephant IF'N Books Notebook

Yellow Submarine Lenticular Notebook

Emily The Strange Nightmare Journal

Paperchase Freya Paper Notebooks

Wine and Skulls Spiral Notebook (pattern detail next to image)

Wine and Skulls Spiral Notebook (pattern detail next to image)

Warhol Spiral Notebook

Your Little Black Dress for Fall 2006

2006-07-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

Somehow the little black dress is able to come off as both classic and avant-garde. There are styles that are appropriate for every season and every occasion. I especially like the ones that look casual when worn with a pair of flip flops for the weekend – but then slip on a pair of strappy heels and your good to go for a night out!

Luckily, black is back and in full force as illustrated by the recent slew of Fall 2006 ready-to-wear designer collections. Not only did the color black show up everywhere on the New York catwalks, but the little black dress also made appearances in all sorts of lengths, materials, and fits. Fortunately, or unfortunately, this gives me an excuse to have several favorites. Let’s do a recap!

The Baby Doll
Betsey Johnson and Anna Sui both have a knack for using the baby doll cut to add a sense of playfulness to their lines. In the past, we've seen it come and (thankfully) quickly go when used in combination with florals. There was a short time when baby doll dresses in velvet were ok...I think I even remember Naomi Campbell participating in this pseudo-trend.
Well, thankfully, both Betsey and Anna have reinterpreted the baby doll...and by combining it with the classic black, the effect is far more sophisticated. I'm especially excited about this development because I was never blessed with long legs, and this kind of cut gives me at least a little bit of the lankiness I've always wanted.

Tiered
Another playful alternative to your basic black dress is one that has a tiered skirt. For Fall 2006, we've seen the layers come in several materials, all in one dress. The tiered skirt dress is perfect for those who have a slimmer build and find it hard to add shape where they want it. You can see this type of dress paired with a babydoll waist line from Chado Ralph Rucci (below center). Even Chanel was able to give that stick thin girl some curves. (below left)

The Empire Waist
By far my most favorite take on the little black dress this Fall is the empire waist. Not only is this a variation of the little black dress, but it's also a different take on the more commonly seen white counterpart, with Grecian details. It's edgy and feminine all at the same time - sort of a kin to a black rose. Donna Karan executed this beautifully for the Fall with basic, yet strong lines.

A Few More:

The Shirtdress

(Diane von Furstenberg)

The Cocktail Dress (Emmanuel Ungaro - below left / Luca Luca - below right)

The Power of the Towel: Spruce up your bathroom with a quick and easy swap!

2006-07-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

I like to keep my bathroom décor pretty simple. With the constant overflow of cosmetics, perfumes, sunscreen, lotions, and everything else we need to maintain our natural beauty, adding wall decorations and free standing glass figurines can take the bathroom area into the realm of gaudy – especially if it lacks spaciousness.

I’ve found that the best way to give this part of the home some oomph, while still looking put-together is to splurge on color and pattern with towels. They are the quintessential functional art piece. And with summer in full force, there are many options with which to satisfy your inner decorator.

Target is now notorious for adding style to function in an affordable package. These fresh towels with aqua-esque shaded circles are $24.99

Solid color towels, when used in the right combination of shades, can turn a stark white bathroom into a space of understated elegance. West Elm offers luxurious plush cotton towels with silken terry loops in colors with names like espresso, leek, and cinnabar. $6.00 - $24.00

Coral motifs have shown up on all kinds of product, from dinnerware to bikinis! The upwardly mobile might want to consider the sophisticated look of Neiman Marcus' Coral Towel Set. $65.00 - $75.00

Elements of style

2006-07-28T23:25:00.000-07:00

The original "Elements of Style," written by William Strunk Jr. in 1918, was a guide on composition that intended to guide both the common and accomplished writer in proper expression. Consider Red Saffron a style guide for your everyday life!