As a dress girl, I officially covet these Tufi Duek beauties from Bluefly (an additional ten percent off today).

I would wear this dress everywhere - to work, walking the dog, out to dinner, while taking out the trash. (Or at least while instructing someone else - maybe the dog? - to take out the trash.)


Slightly more reserved, this dress would be awesome worn with platform maryjanes and a bad attitude.

Labels: dresses

I still can't think about denim skirts without recalling the mini-skirt hemmed with deep ruffles - the one sported by a girl I knew in the late '80s. Today's denim pencil skirts are tailored to create a new staple that jumps effortlessly from fall to winter to spring with a simple change of top and shoes.

The high belted waist of this 7 for all mankind indigo denim skirt makes it both chic and work appropriate. Never underestimate the power of cute/able to wear it on a Wednesday morning. (Bergdorf Goodman, $187)


Stretch black denim from Marc Jacobs takes a librarian-esque below-the-knee pencil skirt and adds a little rocker chick sensibility with the zippered pockets and the possibility of legwarmers. Legwarmers aren't usually something I'd recommend, but the model rocks it hard enough that I'm googling "button-up legwarmer spats" (no luck as yet). Shirt suggested during those chilly winter months. (Shopbop, $168)



My indie denim pick of the day is from Dena Pezzano. I love the high-waist (good for the holiday season and all that sneaky fudge) and the front slit on her a-line skirt. ($150)

Labels: skirts

Spoylt and La Perla can be found for under $45 at last Friday's bargains roundup at Knickers Blog, where the lovely Danae posts gorgeous under-duds and I throw in my bargain buys. Cause we all know I'm cheap.

Labels: bargains

Jersey dresses can take you from work (Exhibit A) to out on the town (Exhibit B) to the weekend (Exhibit C). Who knew you could get so much wear out of a fabric that used to be reserved for football shirts?

Exhibit A: Laila Azhar's silk jersey bubble dress is a beautiful option for work. Stylish enough for suit-dreading fashionistas while still appropriate for meetings with the boss and those blasted clients who drop in unannounced. $398 at Intermix.


Exhibit B: Foley for Foley + Corinna Open Back Jersey Dress in cinnamon colored semi-sheer silk is a gorgeous choice for a nice dinner or the theater. Your date won't notice the square neckline and full sleeves - but he'll love the thigh-skimming skirt. $396 at Shop Bop.


Exhibit C: My weekend would be a lot better if I was spending it in this purple v-neck jersey Maude Dress from Park Vogel. Seriously. Le Train Bleu for $143. (Catch the 30 percent off sale happening now.)

Labels: dresses

In honor of this week's mispronunciation of "Miu Miu" in front of someone I would rather have impressed with my knowledge than filled with a vague sense of pity ("Poor girl...she thinks Miu Miu is pronounced "moo moo"), I present to you three pairs of Miu Miu shoes - all on sale.

Eggshell white ballet flats (on sale at Bluefly for $174) are just the thing for dashing out for your vanilla latte before settling back with Harper's Bazaar or, you know, a book. One with a distressing lack of shiny pictures.



Espadrilles may be a wee bit summery, so you could stash these ankle-strap wedges (Bluefly for $237) in your closet for May, or you could saunter out on the town. Your legs will look so hot no one will even notice a little seasonal dysfunction.



Or, if you simply must succumb to the vagaries of the weather, try these tall brown shearling boots (Bluefly for $390) with tucked-in skinny jeans and an oversize cashmere sweater.

Labels: shoes

Silky and detailed, this beautiful Uma satin dress is on sale at net-a-porter for $145. You can pick your jaw off the ground now. It's true. Net-a-porter is a place where you'd be lucky to score a pair mittens for $145. Now you can nab this sweet lavender dress at a price that's within most budgets. Let's have a round of applause for net-a-porter and its 50 percent off fall sale.

Labels: dresses

When you have a stunning pair of red shoes (like these here), sometimes you just need an outfit that foils the fabulousness of your footwear. In that spirit, I present to you the outfit du jour.

Nanette Lepore consistently produces pieces that are ladylike, yet eye-catching. I love the fitted structure and flaring sleeves of this silk georgette blouse ($350). You'll slide beautifully from drinks on Saturday night to breakfast with grandma on Sunday morning. (We know you didn't have time to go home and change, you saucy minx.)


Pair the top with this high waist skirt from Norma Kamali ($135) in matching black with just a hint of flare at the hem.


Restrained beauty with just a hint of vixen is yours at last.

Labels: skirts, tops

This isn't the first time I've wished to be British. It's not even the first time today. From the upper-crust accents to the sweeping moors to the sweet shoes, England is the place for me. Were I to land in London right now (with young William's inheritance of course), I would be racing toward these red patent beauties from Beatrix Ong (199 pounds) as soon as my plane hit the tarmac.

I love the round toe, the high (but not too high) heel and, most especially, the strap. A modified mary-jane for Bridget Jones on the pull.

Labels: shoes

Tunics are no longer the sole domain of medieval serving wenches or iron-bedecked knights. (Yes, I saw Spamalot this weekend. Be glad I'm not combing the web for sale armor.)

I can officially announce that Urban Outfitters is fresh out of armor. But they do have some lovely sale tunics. Those little numbers after the dollar signs? Take those prices and slash them an additional 15 percent. That, my friends, is the only kind of math I like.

I love this Free People Fuzzy Tunic, and not just because its official title is "Fuzzy Tunic." The back tie gives it shape that's sweet over skinny jeans or vampish when paired with red patent heels. ($90)



The draped sleeves and rich garnet hue of this Lux Oversized Boatneck Tunic make it a perfect choice for fall. ($30)

Labels: tops

Autumn in New York is chilly. And rainy. This pink cupcake scarf would hold the chill at bay and stop the rain. I would be Eeyore in reverse.



$30 at Pixel Girl Shop.

Labels: stay toasty

Call me a hippie but I love this wood grain necklace. A lovely antidote to department store jewelry, it looks great with a soft cream v-neck sweater.


Silver with red nylon cord, $40.

Labels: jewelry

I have fallen in love with the shift dress. Simple shape, flattering line - they hide all your Ben & Jerry sins while saying, oh-so-innocently, "What Ben & Jerry's?" My "I want this outfit" du jour is Anthropologie's cream shift ($188)...



...and French Connection's flame coat ($328).



Pair with high brown boots or red patent flats and you have one killer outfit. Good for work, going out, meeting the parents, home for the holidays - this one is perfect for just about anything but scrubbing the kitchen floor. (Let's be honest, who here ever scrubs the kitchen floor? That's what I thought.)

[Edit: (Wherein I learn the dangers of working in the same building as Anthropologie.) The above shift dress is now on sale for $99. (Wherein I learn that sizing is totally whack.) The smallest size is a 2. It's a bit roomy. Should I try to find a 0 or just go for it? If anyone has any thoughts (people who say "You have too many clothes already! Start a savings account!" will be ignored), please speak up. (To speak up, just roll your mouse over the big zero next to the title. A place to comment will pop up.)]

Labels: dresses, stay toasty

Corduroy and pink stripes are two of my favorite things. Put them on a clutch (another of my favorite things) and I'm two short steps away from bursting into a rousing rendition of "Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens! [something, something] and warm woolen mittens!"

I will spare you.



I'm a big fan of handbags that dress up a simple outfit. This one would do wonders for a jean skirt and pink cashmere sweater or tee. Pick up your own strawberry stripe clutch here for $26.

Labels: bags, bargains

Bar dark horse competition from an unknown front, these are my two finalists in the ballet flat hunt:

London Sole has simple, lovely ballet flats, though I must here confess my ignorance on what nubuck is, the material used in these shoes. But, orange! White bows! Pretty! Plus, on sale!



Very fond of the shape of Jeffrey Campbell flats. I'm all over the red patent here, though I prefer some of the other JC designs.


It could be argued that black flats would be far more useful, and even more fashionable in these dark days. But I like me some color.

Labels: shoes

Much as we love buying socks for three dollars a package, mass production adds a certain homogeneity to the average wardrobe. Combat the Gap blues by keeping a few indie/handmade/boutique type accessories lying around. Handbags from Anthony Luciano are a good way to go (if you have lots of cash - these babies come straight from Neiman Marcus). Utterly unique, and crafted from unusual materials like sheared mink, persian lamb's wool, velvet and leather flowers, these bags would turn jeans, boots and a simple white top into something that doesn't scream "Old Navy Sale!"


If, like me, you tend to be too lazy to craft a perfectly put together outfit each and everyday, having a bag like this will make you feel less...unbearably dull.

Labels: bags

I disdain and abhor sweater vests. Sweater vests = your Uncle Milton. Man could make a killer three-bean salad but you do not want to echo his fashion sense. Wait, what's that? Oh, that's kind of cute. I'd totally wear that. White long sleeve button-down under, wool pants on the bottom, colorful cashmere scarf, kicky laceup heels...it's official. I am Uncle Milton.



Find it here for $128.

Labels: stay toasty, tops

J.C. Penney was never so much as a blip on my radar. Until I saw this dress:


I love the collar, the side bow, the folded sleeves, the swingy skirt. Who knew a $50 wrap dress from J.C. Penney could be so reminiscent of Diane Von Furstenberg?

Labels: bargains, dresses

Pink suede peep toes with major bling are not my usual style. My usual style is more...sedate. More...mind-numbingly dull. Foot Candy tempts me away from my staid brown footwear with these babies:


$365 from Constanco Basto.

Labels: shoes

Announcing: Moose Eats Her Words week. I shunned leggings. Shunned them with all the self-righteous fury of one Who Will Never Ever Return To The Eighties. Living through that decade once was bad enough, thank you.

Until I found these little getups. From Juicy Couture, no less. The brand that made velour tracksuits popular is now convincing me to like leggings. Just in: Lucifer is wearing mittens. I give up.

Deliciously girly wine-colored dress AND LEGGINGS!




Lovely wool shift AND LEGGINGS!


I'm so ashamed.

Labels: dresses

Check the trees for pork everyone, I just found shorts I like. Shorts I would, thighs allowing, actually wear. These are not formal shorts, mind. Gingham accents and a vintage feel make these two looks perfect for a 1950s-esque summer. You know, now that it's autumn and no one in their right mind is wearing shorts.

Trade those socks and pumps for some sweet lace-up wedges and this outfit would hit the top of my summer rotation:



I'm not sure if it's possible to improve on this one:



Both from Kate Hurst.

My love affair with cordurounds has hit an all time high. I'm bound and determined to snag myself this smoking jacket:


Hey, look! Reversible:



With lush horizontal-striped corduroy, brocade liner and vintage buttons, is it any wonder I'm scrounging in my couch cushions for the requisite $155 to make it mine?

Labels: stay toasty

When you hear the word "applique" you immediately think "quilting," "prune juice," and "dear god, I hope she doesn't put her teeth on the dining room table again," don't you? I'm happy to report that your secret adoration of the applique can now be ushered out of the closet, because these babies are no longer the sole domain of your great aunt Bessie. Round appliques are a quietly circling (ahem) trend that you probably won't see plastered on the cover of Vogue or prancing past you on the street six times a day.

Here are just a few reasons why I like me the circles (reasons, I would like it noted, that are entirely seperate from the fact that cookies are circles):

Cacharel Satin Circle Dress, $455, available here.


Melissa Odabash Monaco Short Kaftan, $480, available here.


Rebecca Turbow Turquoise Shift, $180, available here.


Pop Art Dress, $129, available here.


For the bonus round of circled goodness, feast your eyes on the Chocolate Wool Dotted Bucket Hat, $48, available here.

Labels: dresses

The Neiman Marcus Last Call Sale is a heartless wench. A tease. The main page says, "Manolos! For $100! Just for you!" Panting and excited, you click through - only to be confronted with This Item No Longer Available. In bold. Just to add insult to injury.

I did find a shift dress for a somewhat reasonable price ($62). It's no Gorgeous Pair of Manolos For Dirt Cheap, but it's an acceptable salve to my wound.

Labels: dresses

I was recently made very jealous by Saint Mere and The Tale of the Bloomingdale's Sweater. Really, such things shouldn't be flaunted. (Says the hypocrite who would SO BE CROWING if she scored such a prize.) But my zen-like wisdom soon sent me floating to a higher plane, a plane where bodily needs are irrelevant and sweaters are unnecessary.

That sound you just heard was the resounding crash of my plummet back to reality. Cause, dude, it's cold in here.

Bluefly to the rescue in the form of a L.A.M.B. cashmere sweater with rhinestone buttons. (What sweater is complete without rhinestones? NONE, I TELL YOU!)



Edit: The monitor at work is so crappy that I didn't even see that big bow over the butt until I went home and took a look on my lovely (guaranteed crap-free) monitor. I am now feeling better about letting this sweater slide out of my grasp.

Labels: stay toasty, tops

My quest for a sweater continues. I won't settle for just any sweater. Discriminating tastes and tender epidermides require cashmere. Preferably from corn-fed goats who reside in the upper mountains of Mongolia. Luckily, the cashmere sweater I found here ($89) may just satisfy my need for Mongolian goats. And a sweater.


Poll: Do we like the above style or the v-neck style here. I totally listened to you guys about the boots, so help for the indecisive is respectfully requested.

Labels: stay toasty, tops

You tend to crave what you need. I say this every time I find myself eating a handful of chocolate chips with no recollection of even walking into the kitchen. Every year, toward the end of September, I begin craving sweaters. One could walk into my closet, look around and argue that I don't need any sweaters, I couldn't be craving sweaters, because all I need to do is pick one off the shelf.

Luckily, no one is ever foolhardy enough to attempt this argument.

My yearly hunt for the sweater has begun. I found one at Anthropologie that keeps pulling me into its seductive force field:



You can investigate the funnelneck cardigan ($198) for yourself here. I love the asymmetrical design and random button holes where no button holes should be. Though one could argue that a creamy sweater worn during the season of cranberry sauce and giblet gravy is a mistake, my preference is for the pale oatmeal color they have in the store.

But you all know better than to attempt to reason with a girl in the throes of sweater cravings.

Labels: stay toasty, tops