topshop usa

The Topshop US online store opens today! A few of my favorites:

Skinny Ankle Trousers

The season's ubiquitous legging and equestrian trend, all grown up in gray.








Fringe Tiered Tunic

Just do a little shimmy.








Snoopy Hoody

The cheek balances out the schlep factor, and I can already hear "Linus and Lucy" playing in my head.





IMAGE CREDIT: TOPSHOP

a little jaunt to praha

New arrivals have hit j.crew!

Not quite the the fall collection I was hoping for, but there are still plenty of solid items among the lot. The retailer's trend towards luxury continues, with handbags reaching towards the $500 price point and collection dresses topping out at $3,500. As J.Crew continues to rely on more on silks and other high-end fabrics, I've been most impressed by the design team's interpretations of the season's latest trends. In an increasingly fashion-conscious culture, CEO Millard Drexler and creative director Jenna Lyons have done a wonderful job re-branding the khaki-cool of J.Crew past.

My picks?

The Lydia Solid Blouse
An awesome holdover from the Spring/Summer '08 collections, re-done in a delicate cotton/silk blend. Ruffles are big this season, and this top is a chic, easy way to wear the trend.

Sequined Chiffon-Ruffled Cardigan
A gorgeous, Chanel-esque blend of black and blue, sequins and chiffon. Slip it on and channel a little Jackie-O glamour. (I did on Friday and it's a wonderful feeling.)

fall lusting '08: part one

What you want and what you get are two different things. Or so my father still loves to tell me. And so be it. But in the spirit of our last post, here are the things I'm lusting over (and alas, budgeting for) this fall. Play my cards right and maybe what I want and what I get will inexplicably and delightfully turn out to be one and the same.



L.A.M.B. Yoyo Chain Mail T Strap Sandal

Throw these on with a simple black tunic and you've got sexy-chic down pat. Black riding pants, an oversize white shirt, black blazer and gratuitous amounts of delicate silver jewelry and you're channeling the Olsen twins, refined.

I have never, ever thought about paying this much for a pair of shoes, but I am dangerously close to breaking the $230 price barrier (and the bank along with it).



Speaking of black blazers. The jury's still out on the specifics: I can't decide whether to go slimming and cropped or je ne sais quoi -but-I-might-have-stolen-this- from-my-sexy-scruffy- boyfriend. (Though I am leaning towards the latter. Thoughts?) Both of these are well out of my personal price range, so the hunt is definitely still on. After all, fall styling is all about the layers and nothing pulls an outfit together quite like the tradition-evoking sophistication of a good jacket.


Tees

Because they're comfortable, (usually) relatively inexpensive, and because I'm lazy - and nothing radiates effortless, casual cool better than a t-shirt with the right fit, the right attitude, and the perfect pair of jeans. Since I just can't bring myself to spend $100 on a t-shirt, I'll be passing up this awesome Monrow number for something a little more like messy-chic of this American Apparel tee or the barely-there slouch (and gorgeous mossy green shade) of the J.Crew painter's tee. And then sweet-talking my talented designer friend into screen-printing something equally fabulous just for me.


I wish I could say the list ended here, but who are we kidding? Part two to follow ...

IMAGE CREDIT: NORDSTROM

falling leaves of red and gold

Whether it's all those years of back-to-school shopping or simply the siren song of sumptuous fabrics and rich color palettes, fall fashions will never lose their allure for the shopper and stylist at heart. Summer is for amateurs; fall is when the big girls come out to play. But for most of us, no work and all play equals an overflowing wardrobe, a maxed-out credit card and a future "what the hell was I thinking?" So before the games begin:

1. Clean out your closet. Be ruthless. You will not wear that top that you have not worn in the past three years and you will not fit into those jeans that looked so hot your freshman year of college. And that friend who always points out the lipstick on your teeth and hated your last haircut as much as you did? Invite her over for the fun.

2. Salvage what you can: finally take care of those alterations, handbag and jewelry repairs. We're talking buttons, hemming, snapped leather straps and broken chains. Polish your shoes and re-tap the soles if necessary. If you're willing to make the investment, take loved-but-outdated pieces to a good tailor for alterations. Hemlines can be shortened, and on skirts and dresses, transformed into bubble-hems; silhouettes can be taken in for a more modern finish. A good tailor can work wonders.

3, Take the rest to a consignment shop and add to your funds. Or, make a charitable donation to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

4. Think about your needs and wants. Does your work wardrobe or weekend wardrobe need more expanding? Like every other woman on the planet, is your closet a sea of black? Consider adding some color, or, at the very least, expanding your neutral palette of creams, beiges, camels and chocolates. Are all of your handbag colors and sizes serving your current needs, or are you constantly cursing yourself for the brightly colored clutch you don't own? What are the trends you want to take on this season?

5. Set a budget. Tough, I know, but try.

6. Take a deep breath and arm yourself with the appropriate credit card. Click, thumb and peruse away.