Shopbop, how I love thee. I love your sales even more because that's the only time I can even dream about affording anything you offer. Kids, don't ever become an arts writer if you like clothes. You will be buying your jeans at Old Navy. And you will be glad, because the only other option is to run about in the altogether and 1. it's just too damn cold for such nonsense, and 2. no one wants to see that.


Gorgeous, gorgeous. Who doesn't want a cashmere skirt? I ask you. Unique style, cozy drape. Yum. Karl Lagerfeld cashmere skirt, on sale for $148.


Not everyone can pull off this look. I certainly can't and was undecided for a long while as to whether or not I would even want to. This photo proves that 1. this particular set of legs can pull it off and 2. I do like it. Very sleek. adam + eve pinstripe herringbone work pant, on sale for $82.50.


I am cringing as I look at this, thinking of the cold artic breezes that would waft up this skirt. I'm thinking that you aren't supposed to wear it any time artic breezes are a possibility. Joie lightweight gauze southside dress, on sale for $157.50.

Labels: bargains, dresses, skirts

Seriously, people. I am three wavering steps from pitching head first into crazy. I don't know why. I don't have polio. I don't have a child who has polio. I'm not working 85 hours a week. I am just totally and completely overwhelmed - with existence, apparently. So I'm trying to return to my hippie roots. (Oh, the roots are hippie. I was almost named Sunshine. We had a dog named Freedom. Family activity when I was a wee thing often included meditation.) I rebelled and hurled my Birkenstocks out the window sometime in my teens but now that I'm on the narrow edge of crazy, I'm wondering if this yoga/meditation/mantra thing is worth revisiting.

But since one can't change one's capitalistic colors over night, I'm thinking I really need this to do the job right. Yes, folks, a $78 pillow is my ticket back to sanity.


Maybe I should just embrace the crazy. Or, you know, use a couch cushion.

Labels: whimsy

Cara Mia Skin Studio in Larkspur, California, is closing on March 25. I got the mini green herbal peel a few months ago and my conclusion, if you're wondering, is that it's quite awesome. It tingled and crackled and did nice things for my somewhat less than perfect skin. I wrote about it in more (read: paid) depth here.


Green goop on the face. No wonder men don't understand women. How can this possibly be fun? And yet, it so is.

Labels: skincare

Back in my day, you didn't just throw on jeans and a t-shirt to run your errands. You wore stockings, gloves, lipstick, a hat and you liked it. None of this just-enough-cloth-to-cover-the-extremities nonsense. Oh, who am I kidding? My day started in 1978. But these are still quite excellent.







Vintage 1950s day dresses from Posh Girl Vintage. Yellow and white check dress, black eyelet dress, blue and white polka dot halter dress.

Labels: dresses, vintage

After driving down the freeway under what appeared to be a low-grade tsunami, clutching the steering wheel, and envisioning life without limbs, I decided to retreat to the couch and shop. These mod vintage coats are awesome - except for the wool, which may smell a tad bit like wet sheep dog after a stroll through the tsunami. Lovely over those post-Factory Girl mini dresses.




Blue green and gray 1960s vintage coats from Posh Girl Vintage.

Labels: stay toasty, tops, vintage

Etsy is an excellent provider of the handmade clutches of whimsy. That sounds almost menacing doesn't it? Tuck in your shirt and brush your teeth or you will be visited by the HANDMADE CLUTCHES OF WHIMSY! Cue fainting and fleeing. Anyway, Etsy is an excellent provider of handmade most anything, but I am partial to the clutches. So much more interesting than the black leather wallet I insist on carrying around.


This is an ant I actually WANT in my house. All ants should be so sweet and turquoise. Ant Clutch ($25) is felt with matching turquoise lining.



I love the Japanese printed twill with fruit trees and small pink birds. Whimsy doesn't get much better than that. Green Trees wallet pouch, ($14).



Asymmetrical denim print clutch ($19), lined with Nigerian print.

Labels: bags, indie design, whimsy

I like the way the quilting enhances the skirt's shape. Also, quilted silk just always seemed the ultimate in luxury to me. No idea why. Maybe because it's soft and pillowy? Unlike the model's abs? Note: shirt recommended with this particular look. Karl Lagerfeld skirt with quilted hem (on sale for $175).


Not quite bootie, not quite pump. Not quite out of price range. In fact, totally IN price range. Hallelujah. Dolce Vita short bootie (on sale for $54).


Could be awesome, could be awesome in how wrong it is: Marie Marie tulip skirt/cape (on sale for $161). Can be worn as a skirt or a cape. I'm not sure I'd buy it online without knowing which awesome category it lands under, but brave souls could have a real find.

Peruse the rest of the sale here.

Labels: bargains, shoes, skirts

I have short little legs. Or maybe they wouldn't look so short if my torso wasn't so long. Hard to say. At any rate, I like short skirts because the right hemline can make even stumpy little legs look, if not like those legs up there, at least less truncated. The rib belt adds to the general deception. I like it. Geren Ford's chambray shirt dress ($218) is just right.

(via Love Made Visible)

Labels: dresses, indie design

Correction: Everything I think a book should be. You may prefer incisive commentary on the global impact of Greenland's bustling egg trade, but I like relationship stories. Love Walked In twists up the typical Meeting Mr. Right tale, wrings it out, and flattens it down into a much more satisfying description of love as it is, rather than love as you want it to be.

Plus, Mr. Right turns out to be a secondary character. This pleases me.

Labels: book tips

I am enamored of black, high spiky heel, peep-toe, mary jane type shoes. The only way that description could be more convoluted is if I added the cost ratio divided by the population of New Guinea and presented my findings as a scientific paper to a trio of spectacle-wearing ducks.

That's incomprehensible, isn't it? I don't start making sense until I've had three cups of coffee. (I'm holding strong at one and a half, if you're interested.)

Here is a gorgeous patent leather version (Christian Louboutin, $785):


Here is a very similar pair in black suede (on sale at Max Studio for $88):




Both are stunning shoes. Both will win you compliments on your legs (from the men folk) and on your shoe collection (from the women). One also allows you to pay your rent. Which we like, because those shoes would hurt after a few hours pushing a shopping cart full of all your worldly goods. I am all for quality and would truly, truly love a pair of Christian Louboutins one day in the far-flung future. But for those of us budgetary type people, Max Studio is a fine substitute. At least until those dreams of becoming the next Danielle Steele come to fruition.

Labels: bait and switch, shoes

This dress so tempts me to type a sentence like "I adore '50s-inspired daywear." The fact that I am even thinking this proves that I have sold my soul to a pixel and should be forced to spend my days in scratchy rayon. Instead of the pure cashmere with silk taffeta you get with this lovely little number. Can I sell my soul for cashmere? Anyone? Anyone? Hello? Uluru Fritzi dress on sale at Le Train Bleu.

Labels: dresses, indie design

Pear shirt from Marimekko.

Labels: tops, whimsy

Like wearing the pressed leaves of a Japanese maple. Japanese etch pendant, sterling silver threaded with green silk. $49 at Etsy.

Labels: indie design, jewelry

Threadless t-shirts consistently make me happy. That, and a nice cappuccino. Whoever said money doesn't buy happiness is LYING.

Exhibit A: Could she be more happy?


Props to the '80s goodness that is 99 Red Balloons. Here are the details of the 99 Luft Balloons shirt:


I'm also partial to the Fake Pandas Have More Fun design. Beautifully whimsical and almost Gorey-esque:




Both $17 at Threadless.

Labels: indie design, tops, whimsy

I'm fond of whimsy. Especially when whimsy involves both giraffes and a Chloe minidress. Those are, indeed, interlocking giraffes on a jersey a-line.


$265 at Net-a-porter.

Labels: dresses, whimsy

I've never been a huge Marc Jacobs devotee. Of course, if we're going to talk like that, I'm not really a huge devotee of anyone except Old Navy. But there are certainly designers who are first in line when those truckloads of expendable income appear on my doorstep. (Any day now.) Marc Jacobs wasn't really one of them. But I just looked at the Neiman Marcus stock and found multiple outfits that I would wear. Over and over. And then over again. I would even wash them in between. I would even TAKE THEM TO THE DRY CLEANERS. I know.

Outfit Numero Uno:


That's a cashmere hoodie there. I don't think luxury gets any better than a cashmere hoodie paired with a patchwork silk a-line skirt in a color called "parsnip". Lovely. Especially with the shoes.

Outfit Numero Dos


I've been wanting a jean skirt lately. They go with everything - especially stripey sweaters. I like the short-sleeve sweater with long-sleeve jersey look. I will have to try that and see if it works on real people. Have I mentioned the shoes?

Outfit Numero Tres


Another variation on the silk patchwork skirt look - easy yet fetching. So, how about those shoes?

Labels: shoes, skirts, tops

If that's not the perfect "this is February and it's fucking raining out there again" sweater, I don't know what is. Keeps you warm, cheers you up and makes you look good while being all warm and cheery. I love the wrap that accentuates the pointy edges, the bell sleeves, the all-over chic snuggliness. From San Francisco designer Elizabeth Cline.

Labels: indie design, stay toasty, tops

Sorry the posts have been light recently. Apologizing for lack of posts is the height of lameness, but there are no heights to which I do not aspire. So there you go. I am contemplating the direction I want this site (and, to some extent, my life) to head. Apparently contemplation does not equal action. At least in the sense of saying anything and pushing the publish button. There will be an actual post today. (Besides this one.) Promise. There may even, don't get too excited now, a post tomorrow too. Wow.

Also, comments. I would love to have comments, but they ceased to work at some point a few months ago and, as my tech skills extend to turning the computer on and off and maybe shaking it, I was clueless about how to fix it. So I just turned them off. I am lazy. But please feel free to email me if you so desire. I like email.

I am hoping this site will have some aim and purpose in the coming months and I hope you all (all six of you - I see you!) stick around while I figure it out.

Ah, a sweater dress I would love to wear. One that looks like a dress. The pattern, the drape, the "I'm wearing a blanket and you can't stop me" factor. Yum. From Max Azria.

Labels: dresses, stay toasty, trend